Hands-On With The Peren Nera, A Transylvanian Gem
Okay. I know what’s going on. I know you and your workmates are probably running a Skype-based sweepstake centered on how many sentences it’s going to take me to make a vampire-based pun. This is an article about the Transylvanian Peren Nera, after all. The answer is six…Do you remember when you were first bitten by the watchmaking bug? For Peren founder Andy Bica that moment must loom large in his mind as he steers his uniquely Transylvanian ship towards its second mechanical model. I stress mechanical as Peren has a few quartz-powered models in its back catalog. I’m going to rip the band-aid off in one go and say this: I do not like any of them and the company only ...
Fratello On Air #13 Mike and RJ talk about some of the Grand Seiko 2020 releases
Yeehaa! The 13th episode of Fratello on Air, talking about some of the 60th anniversary Grand Seiko releases.The main topic of this podcast is a preview on some of Grand Seiko’s novelties for 2020. It is a BIG year for them, due to the 60th anniversary of Grand Seiko. Corona or Covid-19 ruined it a little bit, as Grand Seiko was about to host their first Grand Seiko Summit in Japan, but decided to introduce their new watches nevertheless. Mainly digital, but we see that some of the new releases are traveling around the world to be introduced to journalists and collectors. Since this week, we have a few of them (see our Instagram feed), but that was after we recorded this podcast.After ...
Seiko to introduce the limited edition 5 Sports Brian May
Seiko has introduced a limited edition of its new 5 Sports model. Brian May’s guitar, the Red Special, inspires the dial echoing the design of the guitar, which Brian and his father built in the early 1960s.Seiko 5 Sports Brian MayThroughout his career, rock legend Brian May has relied upon his “Red Special” guitar to create the sound that helped make Queen one of the world’s most celebrated rock bands. And although the model name of Seiko’s Limited Edition watch seems to be “Sports 5 x Brian May”, the watch itself is inspired by his guitar.?The dial has the same red and black color scheme as the “Red Special” and features a delicate wood...
Meet The Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Perpetual Calendar In Two Different Materials
Let’s forget about the 60 international awards (and 7 world records) for the Octo Finissimo watches for a brief moment. That’s important, especially for marketing purposes, but, in the end, it’s the watch itself that counts. Today, we bring you the latest iteration of this new icon: the Octo Finissimo Perpetual Calendar.Bvlgari’s Octo Finissimo has grown up to become emblematic of the brand in an incredibly short period. That is a true accomplishment, especially today in an era in which many brands claim to have an “icon” (some brands even going as far as to name their product line “Aikon”). But icons are special. Icons are not simply anointed ...
Fratello on Air: Rob and RJ And Their Top 3 Picks From Watches And Wonders 2021
On the third day of Watches and Wonders, we can make up the balance and share our favorite watches from the show. Three watches each, and a bonus watch, so we talk about 8 watches in total.Surprisingly, no watches from Patek Philippe, , or Tudor are in this overview of our favorites. Instead, with one or two exceptions, we selected pretty wild watches (at least for us). Included are A. Lange & Sohne (twice!), a Cartier, a Moser & Cie, a Louis Moinet (actually a set of 4), a Louis Vuitton, a Nomos, and a Jaeger-LeCoultre.Our Watches and Wonders Favorites...
Hands-On With The Louis Vuitton Tambour Street Diver
Back in 1854, voyaging was extremely expensive. The main form of transport was a carriage or a train and there was no luggage. Louis Vuitton exploited the full potential of the growing automotive industry and by designing the first collection of trunks with a view of customers' needs. Le Voyage - is the most significant manifesto of Louis Vuitton’s brand identity.Today, Nicolas Ghesquire and Virgil Abloh shape Louis Vuitton. They not only represent more contemporary references in their collections but also mix comfort with an extreme fashion statement. I believe that so many of you are fans of bags decorated in all-over Louis Vuitton monogram, or reinvented streetwear. But what about ...
Sinn U50 S BS A New Option For A Fantastic Diver (2022)
The Sinn U50 S BS is a limited-edition take on the highly successful U50 diver. By the time you read this, it will likely be gone - at least from Sinn’s official site. Still, I think it’s worth taking a look if only to get some hints about what could come next.It seems that Sinn was successful with this year’s novelties. Then again, there were just 1,600 pieces of the colorful 556, 500 EZM 1.1 S models, and now just 500 of today’s Sinn U50 S BS. A quick jaunt to the brand’s official site shows that all of the watches are sold out online, but retail partners may have some in stock. Let’s see why this new U50 moved so quickly.The Sinn U50 S BSPerhaps it̵...
Thoughts From Afar: My Take On Watches And Wonders 2022
While it’s nice to see a gradual release of watches throughout the year, I love the horological assault that shows like Watches And Wonders bring. All these new watches released in one go are like a massive sugar overload. As a bit of a sugar addict, I’m all good with that. Some brands played it relatively “safe” with their launches, bringing small, incremental updates and conservative tweaks - you know the stuff. But some brands went big and threw some real curveballs. I like being caught off guard. When brands think outside the box and have the gumption to “have a go”, I think calculated risk is a good thing. It should be encouraged. This kind of approac...
Dear Seiko, Bring Back The Stylish SCVF007 "Red Alpinist"
Liking or loving a watch often comes down to small details. There is an abundance of watches that I like, but there is only a small number of watches that I love. Often, the distinction lies in details like color, typography, a logo, numeral style, or even case curvature. So many factors propel a watch from a nice addition to the overall watch universe to a watch that I want. A perfect example is the current Seiko Alpinist. I think the Alpinist is one of Seiko’s most characteristic watches currently available. But I miss this little spark that makes it a watch I would buy - a spark that is all in a name. What is a Seiko Alpinist without the Alpinist name?That might sound a bit cryptic ...
Zenith Pilot Big Date Vs. Chopard Mille Miglia Chronograph
I’m sure many of you still remember the episode of Top Gear in which Richard Hammond races a Eurofighter Typhoon in a Bugatti Veyron. It was the battle between an RAF fighter pilot and the presenter, who also happens to be a driver with balls of steel. I’m not saying today’s Sunday Morning Showdown is going to be as epic as that race, of course. I just wanted to use it as a nice reference to introduce today’s battle between the Zenith Pilot Big Date Flyback and the Chopard Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph. Which, again, is a race between a pilot and a racing driver.Both of these watches were presented at Watches and Wonders last week. Their names, however, have alread...
New: Alpina Alpiner Extreme Quartz & Seastrong Diver Extreme
Ever since Alpina introduced the updated aesthetic for its Alpiner Extreme collection in 2022, we have slowly seen more introductions with the same design signature. The newest addition to the Alpiner Extreme collection is a series of exciting quartz models. The four new releases include smaller cases, a Swiss quartz movement, and new dial colors. On top of that, Alpina also updated its Seastrong Diver series with a cushion-shaped case. The new Seastrong Diver Extreme Automatic models inject the Seastrong collection with new vigor. Let’s take a closer look at the latest Alpina releases.We’ll kick things off with the new Alpina Alpiner Extreme Quartz models. Thomas wrote about the...
Patek Philippe Double Denim: New World Time, Nautilus, Aquanaut
Patek Philippe does double denim at Watches and Wonders 2024, and I'm all for that. The brand from Geneva is casually showing some laid-back novelties that are, of course, not as casual as they appear to be. The complicated World Time Date 5330G first debuted as a limited edition at Patek Philippe's Watch Art grand exhibition in Tokyo in 2023, and now it makes its debut in the current collection. The watch pairs a delicate dial motif with a calfskin strap with a casual denim pattern. The same type of strap also made its way to the much sportier Nautilus self-winding flyback chronograph that now comes in a new white gold version with an opaline blue-gray dial. Following the looks of the Nauti...
Introducing: The Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT
Almost ever since the Tudor Black Bay 58 came out, people have been craving a GMT version. But, of course, this isn’t the first GMT watch in Tudor’s collection. The regular 41mm Black Bay GMT debuted in 2018. After that, the smaller 39mm Black Bay Pro showed its face in 2022. However, both of those watches are 14.6mm thick and might feel a bit intimidating on smaller wrists. That’s exactly why Tudor is now introducing the slimmer Black Bay 58 GMT.I wore that 41mm Tudor Black Bay GMT for a week on my 17cm wrist and experienced just how bulky the watch was. Yes, it had the classic Pepsi/Black Bay look with the red and blue 24-hour bezel and the snowflake hands. But it was jus...
Hot Take: The New Tudor Black Bay METAS Is Back In Black
As Watches And Wonders 2024 kicks off, Tudor introduces the latest incarnation of the upgraded Black Bay model. Following in the METAS-certified footsteps of last year's introduction, in 2024, the red and gold accents are stripped away in favor of a monochromatic look. And it turns out that when you take away the signature livery we've known since 2012, you get something reminiscent of something from Tudor's past. Long have people wished for Tudor to bring back its Submariner model. So long that it felt like a far-away dream. But it seems that this dream has become a reality today. But is this latest Black Bay the Tudor Submariner we've all been waiting for?Tudor introduced the Black Bay in ...
New: 31 Colorful Versions Of The Nomos Tangente 38 Datum
What should a watch brand do when it physically attends Watches and Wonders for the very first time and wants to be noticed? I think that’s exactly the question the people at Nomos asked themselves. Their answer was to launch 31 new and colorful versions of the brand’s signature Tangente 38 Datum. Yes, you read that right - 31 different versions. Some color combinations are more modest and obvious, while others are a lot more extravagant and surprising. The idea is that you can choose exactly the version that best suits your personality.Since 1991, the Tangente has been a bestseller for Nomos. It’s available in many different sizes, with and without a date, and there’...
Introducing: The Gerald Charles Masterlink
The new Gerald Charles Masterlink arrives just in time for Watches and Wonders 2024. It’s a modern take on Gerald Genta’s famous Maestro case paired with an integrated bracelet. There’s no mistaking this watch for anything but a Genta-inspired design, yet it’s a thoughtful and new evolution.Last November, I had the opportunity to attend WatchPro in London. Among the exhibitors was Gerald Charles, the brand that officially continues Gerald Genta’s legacy. Admittedly, the Maestro case design with its characteristic “smile” arc at 6 o’clock wasn’t a real head-turner for me. However, I decided to try it on, and my impressions changed. The wat...
Grand Seiko New Releases At Watches And Wonders 2024
Besides one or two focus releases, Grand Seiko releases a plethora of new variations to its current models every year. In this article, we’ll summarize most of Grand Seiko’s Watches and Wonders 2024 releases, which will be available later this year. There is plenty to enjoy with a beautiful addition to the Evolution 9 lineup, a brilliant dial for a new Sport GMT, two new Tokyo Lion sports models, and a stylish “starry night” addition to the Elegance collection. Allow these to show you the great diversity of offerings from the Grand Seiko brand.The big Grand Seiko news at this year’s Watches and Wonders is the SLGW002 and SLGW003 that Thomas covered. With new han...
Introducing: The Cartier Santos Rewind And Dual Time
Whether it’s the more elegant and classy Santos-Dumont or the sportier Santos de Cartier, Cartier’s Santos collection continues to be immensely popular. No wonder the French Maison adds a few new references to the lineup every year. Understandably, 2024 is no exception, and there are even a few surprise appearances here. What to think of a dual-time Santos de Cartier and a Santos-Dumont with an inverted dial layout, for example? Let’s take a quick look at these two highlights and other novelties within Cartier’s Santos collection.Of course, I’m curious to see what all the brands have to offer at Watches and Wonders. But as the Cartier Santos Galbee XL is one of ...
Introducing: The Ulysse Nardin Freak S Nomad
If you're new to watches and have noticed the big wave of retro love sweeping the world, the Ulysse Nardin Freak will surely shock your system. And it will stun you even more if you are not privy to the fact that this is an ever-evolving creation that is already over 20 years old. That's right; Ulysse Nardin does not intend to rest on its laurels, and the new Ulysse Nardin Freak S Nomad dials up the brand’s creativity volume.This is not the first time, of course. Every one of the brand’s Freak(y) releases seems to have a curated future-crafted vibe. The Freak S Nomad, however, is an absolute knockout, I'm all about daringly juxtaposing tech-forward carbon fiber with centuries-old...
New: Grand Seiko SLGW003 & SLGW002 Birch Bark
As part of the Watches and Wonders 2024 releases from Grand Seiko, here we have the Grand Seiko SLGW003 and SLGW002. These are two new additions to the Evolution 9 collection. This is Grand Seiko's newer design language that, while rooted in the 44GS, aims to push the brand forward. Today, Grand Seiko adds two new models to the lineup, both powered by the new caliber 9SA4.We get one addition to the standard collection in Brilliant Hard Titanium, the SLGW003. Additionally, there is the 18K rose gold SLGW002, a limited edition of 80 pieces. Let's have a look at these new watches from Grand Seiko.The new caliber 9SA4 inside the Grand Seiko SLGW003 and SLGW002Grand Seiko introduces a new caliber...