Reverse Panda The Return of a Design Classic
Reverse PandaAround this time of the year some watch websites already start to speculate about the latest novelties brands will release during BaselWorld. There are trends however, patterns if you like, that come in waves year after year and will have an impact on the novelties. Just think about the emergence of smart and connected watches or the bronze cased models from a few years ago. It seems that this year watch manufacturers are again reaching back to their old playbook. They are pulling out something that worked for them many years ago and as a matter of fact, never went out of style. It is not a case shape or complication rather a design element that characterizes the whole watch; pa...
Ferro Watches: Swiss Made Timepieces inspired by Vintage Aviation
Inspired by Vintage Aircraft, Ferro & Co. designed 2 distinctive styles of Pilot Watches that reflect the aesthetics of 1940’s Aviation World.On February 15th 2017, Ferro Watches launched a crowd funding campaign to fund their first production batch of Swiss Made timepieces called Ferro AGL (Above Ground Level).? Designed to resemble the era of 1940’s aviation, this is a watch that is both unique and functional.Since Ferro & Company’s birth in 2014, thousands of watches have been shipped around the world, and now the company shifted its production from Far East to Switzerland. Ferro’s mission is to produce high quality Swiss Made watches at accessible prices t...
Speedy Tuesday Speedmaster 145.022-69 Three Musketeers
This week, we have another collector’s story for our Speedy Tuesday feature. Our reader Alexander submitted this story about his collection of Omega Speedmaster Professional watches from 1969. A special year for the Speedmaster, as it became the Moonwatch on that day in July 1969. Something that did not happen by accident, of course, but was the result of an official procurement process and some rigorous testing. We covered that entire process here. Although it was the reference 105.003 that was subject to these tests and the later 105.012 and 145.012 references that were sent to NASA for actual use by astronauts, the 145.022 received the case back with the “First Watch Worn on t...
Does It Make Sense To Spend So Much On A Quartz Watch?
One of the first things that you learn from watch magazines, blogs and collectors is that quartz watches are off limit. They lack soul, they are cheap or at least cheapen the watch and basically can’t be taken seriously when you’re into collecting watches.Whenever someone asks what my profession is, I tell him or her that I write about watches. Mechanical watches. As this makes the explanation that I am only writing about serious watches redundant. But it is of course not the truth, there’s more to this than the movement of a watch. Gerard wrote about his love for G-Shocks a number of times, including in one of the recent You Asked Us features. But what about more expensive...
Schwarz Etienne The White Label' Manufacture
Even now, almost two decades since the Swatch Group announced their intention to cease supplying their rivals with ETA calibres, it seems the world's most famous movement manufacturer is still the number one choice for most small brands.But if we dig beneath the surface we find that there are plenty of independent maisons to choose from. The bulk of which were founded or massively expanded in the wake of the Swatch Group's expected departure from the market.?Somewhat surprisingly, however, there are a few that have been surviving and thriving for a very long time indeed.Schwarz EtienneOne such manufacturer is Schwarz Etienne. A one-stop-shop for calibre creation, SE has been beavering away i...
Artisans de Genve Introduce Tribute to 6240 Tropical
Artisans de Genve introduce the Tribute to 6240 Tropical, an exclusive and innovative homage to the legendary Daytona 6240 model that acquired over time a very special and sought after tropical patina. An edition limited to 15 pieces, entirely made upon request.A unique tropical dialIt took Artisans de Genve several years to achieve a natural oxidation process that would lead to a uniform amber patina. Their skilled craftsmen will carefully prepare each dial and send them to the Bahamas, to mature under the tropical climate. The length of this ageing process will depend on the color of the patina that is expected: Artisans de Genve offers the opportunity to choose between two delays/tone...
#TBT Tissot Navigator Chronograph Reference 45501
If this Tissot Navigator chronograph looks familiar, it’s no coincidence.Last year, Tissot released a new watch that took inspiration from this slice of 1970s awesomeness. I reviewed it soon after it came out. To be honest, I bought this watch for that review. I was browsing eBay, this example came up, and I thought it would be nice to buy it and compare it to the modern version. However, it needed some care, so right after I got it, I sent it off to my watchmaker. Little did I know that he’d experience some health issues and would not be able to work on my watch for months. By the time it came back, the reedition article already had to be published. So, I kept the watch and deci...
How To Overcome The Fear Of Losing Money On A Watch
I have been attending watch get-togethers and gatherings for many years, and I truly love them. They were never very different from the ones we organize or attend today, but times are changing. If there's one thing that I've noticed in recent years, it is the constant talk about investment potential and/or value appreciation during these get-togethers or events.I've seen the increase of interest in mechanical watches from the 1990s till today. Of course, not everyone starts to collect watches for the same reason, but the investment' aspect has become a very unhealthy one in my opinion. Let me elaborate.I am a member of several watch related groups on Facebook as well as an avid Instagram use...
MeisterSinger Perigraph Range Updated For 2020
You may love the one-hand concept, you may hate it. But beyond MeisterSinger’s traditional mode of time-telling lies a handsome collection of watches. One of the catalog’s stalwarts - the MeisterSinger Perigraph - receives a welcome update, and looks fantastic in its new livery.You could write a book on the philosophy behind single-hand watches. In fact, over the course of its history, MeisterSinger has written enough words on this subject to produce a definitive tome. Ultimately, though, it can be broken down to a very simple, very American mantra: Don’t sweat the small stuff.We have Robert S. Eliot, MD, to thank for that slice of wisdom, and the late Richard Carlson to th...
Fratello On Air: Episode 38 Maurice Lacroix Launches The Aikon Venturer GMT
Rob dials in Maurice Lacroix HQ to speak with Thiebaut Bentz, International Product and Marketing Director of the brand to discuss Friday’s release of the Aikon Venturer GMT. A short and snappy episode, tune in to stay on top of this week’s watch news....
March Mania Preview: Rob's Favorites And Dark Horses Take To The Center Circle...
We’re two days out from March. Normally, that wouldn’t get me so excited. I hate spring. It’s my least favorite season. My dear old mum used to express horror at how openly I derided the gamboling lambs, fresh green shoots of optimism, and the soft, diffused post-winter sunlight. What can I say? All that new life puts me on edge… Give me autumn - the season of death - any day. But not this year! Oh no, this year, spring holds the greatest treat of all - another knock-out competition on Fratello. This time, we’ve admitted 96 watches we reviewed last year to the March Mania arena. Only one will walk away victorious… It’s time to play ball…As you ...
The Seiko Prospex 1959 Alpinist Modern Re-interpretation Collection
Just yesterday, we reviewed the new limited edition Alpinist 1959 Re-creation. That watch was an expensive throwback to the original Laurel Alpinist. Today, we look at a series of new pieces dubbed the Alpinist 1959 Modern Re-interpretation series.It’s clear that the release of the limited edition 1959 Alpinist Re-creation was a proper surprise. Granted, this watch kicked off a series of watches that is now quite popular. Still, the original Alpinist was and is incredibly rare. The fact that Seiko went down this path is a benefit, though. I say that because almost every time they announce a reissue of sorts, they bring moderately priced serial production watches with modern touches. To...
Patek Philippe Calatrava Pilot Ref. 7234G-001 Unusual Suspects
Pitching this series of stories to our Managing Editor came naturally to me, as I am contrarian by nature. I'm not saying that I feel in any way better or more worthy than rappers or rock stars. And I don’t know if I am correct or just old, but surely, social media shouldn't dictate our taste in watches, right? This is probably a dumb rather than rhetorical question, as some influencers are rich for a reason. Consider this series, The Unusual Suspects, my attempt to shed some light on some unsung heroes hidden in plain sight. And the Patek Philippe Calatrava Pilot Travel Time ref. 7234G-001 is a perfect example of what you’ll find once you look outside of Instagram.In my role as ...
Dear Jaeger-LeCoultre, Bring Back The Master Control Chronograph
Some of my fellow Fratello editors have seemingly requested (demanded?) the return of vintage models to their chosen brand’s current catalogs. I’m all for this too, but there is a slight catch. Solely relying on a nostalgic kick is fraught with danger. I enjoy a vintage reinterpretation but prefer a watch taking what it needs from the past while still moving forward. That method is essentially what has been doing for the last 30 years and it seems to be working well. My request for a watch model I’d like to see return is one that was recent yet short-lived. Like a moonflower vine that blooms two months in the year and only at night, sometimes beauty passes us by. That̵...
Seiko Stories: Nacho's Grandfather's Seiko 7009-8081
Here at Fratello, we are a varied bunch. As watch journalists, collectors, and enthusiasts, we are all a little different. Some of us can't get enough of proper tool watches, others love vintage - there's definitely a lot of love for Speedmasters - yet some prefer the value-for-money microbrand offerings. Others gravitate towards the wildly futuristic independent watchmakers. But there's one thing that brings us all together - the fact that, without exception, we have all owned or currently own at least one Seiko watch. The Japanese brand is the great equalizer. It is a brand for all, with offerings ranging from several hundred euros up into the thousands (and that's without counting Grand S...
The Awe-Inspiring Patek Philippe Nautilus 5980/1A-001
Thank heaven I don't need to own every watch I like, see, and try on. If I did, my life would be a living hell. Instead, when I come across one of the most exquisite, rare, complicated, or coveted timepieces, I just try to savor the moment as much as I can. And because I have limited time with a mesmerizing watch, the experience is more intense. So when one of Fratello's close friends swung by HQ with a Patek Philippe Nautilus 5980/1A-001, I didn't feel envious of him or sorry for myself that I didn't own that awe-inspiring chronograph. On the contrary, I felt lucky to be able to wear, operate, and find out what it's like to sport it for a couple of hours. Well, the time-counting 5980/1A-001...
Pre-Owned Spotlight: Sinn, King Seiko, And Blancpain
As a watch enthusiast, you never really know when you’re going to buy your next watch. It could literally be at any moment if you get inspired by a friend’s watch, some new release that came out, or an offer that you found on a forum. And that’s exactly what today’s Pre-Owned Spotlight is based on as well.Luckily, I’ve been able to hold myself back and not buy anything. But I’ve certainly saved a few new posts on Instagram and put some new pieces on my watch list. But the fact that I haven’t bought any of them yet also tells me that I’m not quite convinced about them. And that’s a good thing because, as I said, the next big purchase could...
The February 2024 Fratello REM Strap Caliber 3861
In 2019, Omega introduced the hand-wound caliber 3861 in both Speedmaster Apollo 11 50th Anniversary editions. Then, in 2020, the brand used it as the movement for the Omega Speedmaster Silver Snoopy Award edition with an automaton on the case back. One year later, Omega introduced an update of the Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch, featuring a new case, dial, hands, bracelet, and movement. Caliber 3861 became the successor of the Lemania-based caliber 1861, this time with a Master Chronometer certification by METAS.The first caliber 3861 was introduced in the Apollo 11 50th Anniversary in Moonshine GoldCaliber 3861The new 3861 movement uses antimagnetic alloys, providing resistance to magn...
Introducing: The Zenith Defy Skyline Tourbillon
What if you like the looks of the angular Zenith Defy Skyline with its 12-sided bezel, but the running 1/10th-of-a-second indicator on the dial makes you nervous? The Defy Skyline Tourbillon with its 60-second tourbillon at 6 o'clock is the way to go. Yes, it's a pricey alternative, but before we dismiss this Defy on price, let's take a look at the two versions that Zenith has concocted. There’s a blue-dial steel version that comes on a bracelet and a color-matching rubber strap, and there’s another in black ceramic that also comes on a bracelet and a rubber strap.Let's not regurgitate the origins of the tourbillon here, but let's look at Zenith's latest iteration of the 18th-cen...
Fratello On Air: Opportunities For The Watch Industry
In this week’s episode of Fratello On Air, we ponder what’s wrong with the watch industry. Before you jump to conclusions, we’re not upset. We have a wish list and think that certain areas within this sector could use further thoughts or updates. Get ready for a lengthy episode!...