6 Discontinued Seiko Watches Collectors Love
With watch collectors, the old adage “absence makes the heart grow fonder” could hardly be more true.? We take a look at 6 Discontinued Seiko pieces that are as hot today as they were during their production run.A Discontinued Seiko Doesn’t Always Equal RareWe’ve watched Seiko change quite a bit over the past several years as they’ve made more of a concerted effort to market themselves globally instead of focusing on Japan and casting some odds and ends to the rest of the world.? In accordance that change, the Japanese brand has more rigorously subdivided its collection into lines such as “Prospex”, “Premier”, “Presage”, ̶...
Wrist Game or Crying Shame: TAG Heuer Tiger Woods Professional Golf Watch
Welcome to the first Wrist Game or Crying Shame of 2021 and we’re starting things off with a look at the TAG Heuer Tiger Woods Professional Golf watch. But first…I ended 2020 with a watch from with an anti-magnetic personality. The Milgauss attracted a 69% Wrist Game vote along with some pretty heavy criticism. Folks called it portly, a weak performer, and hardly deserving of its professional-grade nomenclature. This week, we have an incredibly focused watch up for your voting pleasure. Enter the TAG Heuer Tiger Woods Professional Golf watch. I have a prediction on how this will go, but much like a Tiger Woods tournament entry these days, you just never know if it will end in a ...
Podcast Rob and RJ Talk About The New Speedmaster Moonwatch Master Chronometer
Yesterday was the big day for Speedmaster fans all around the world! The introduction of the new Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Master Chronometer.Four new models basically, two steel variations and two in gold. You can read all about the new Moonwatch here. Rob and I decided to host a podcast on the new Moonwatch and answer some of the hottest questions we’ve read in the comments and on social media....
Grand Seiko Sk Frost SBGH295 and SBGA471 (2022)
Western culture likes to take things easy. Take the seasons, for example. We have four of them. But Japan has 24 “sekki” that mark nature's ever-changing seasons. And that's a good thing because the nuances of these 24 periods are way more subtle than the ones we know. For example, in Japan, they have a name for the time when autumn turns to winter. They call that “sk”, the time of the year when the first frost blankets color the landscape. The Grand Seiko Sk Frost SBGH295 and SBGA471 are frosty beauties with a warm afterglow that capture the natural phenomenon. The two watches are U.S.-exclusive special editions (NOT limited editions, “just” special o...
#TBT The Yema Digital Jumping Into 2022
When I was putting together my #TBT publishing plan a few months ago, I thought about what watch would pay a nice farewell to 2021. When I laid my eyes on the Yema Digital, I knew I found my “jumper” watch in 2022.The watch seems familiar, you just arent sure about the Yema branding, right? Well, I bet there isn't a single collector out there that hasnt seen this brick-like watch design, home to the best of the 1970s. I think we would need three stand-alone articles to list all the B-class brands (pardon my French) that featured a design identical or similar to that of today's hero.Yema triggerI have never been particularly fond of this design, as it had so little in common with ...
The Swatch Clear Collection Has Five New Models For 2022
Making a strong start in 2022, Swatch has announced the release of five new watches for the Clear Collection. A long-time fan of the classic Jellyfish models of yore, I couldn’t help but get excited when the press release came in earlier this week. But it’s not just the Gent getting the transparent treatment. In fact, the Big Bold, Skin, and New Gent join in on the fun. Keeping in line with the brand’s mission for sustainability, the materials used for three of the five models are bio-sourced. And in keeping up with the latest tech, a special Big Bold model, the Clearly Pay, will feature the SwatchPAY! NFC technology in selected countries.Swatch has a long history of making...
Greubel Forsey Hand Made 1 My Unattainable Grail
I'd like to take credit for this Fratello story idea, unashamedly so. All of us have that one watch we long for, whether it’s a rare $500 Seiko or a hyped-up Patek Philippe. And what a diverse set of very personal quests it has turned out to be. “Grail watch” is a vague and deeply personal term, and that is the way it should be.As you can tell from RJ's and Ignacio's stories, each of us has our own interpretation and meaning behind this very personal term. Wikipedia describes the term thus: “The term ‘holy grail’ is often used to denote an elusive object or goal that is sought after for its great significance.” This is why I feel that my grail watch ...
A Condensed Guide To Seiko Releases In 2022
Seiko and Grand Seiko reliably grace us with numerous brilliant releases every year. To recap 2022, we decided to create an overview of these brands' new watches that we covered on Fratello over the past 12 months. In this second of two articles, we will put the spotlight on Seiko. In 2022, the brand released close to 300 watches, a jaw-dropping number compared to most brands! But it also means there was something for everyone, so let’s look back at another great year for Seiko.Compared to this one, writing the article for Grand Seiko was a walk in the park. Yes, with 278 releases in 2022, Seiko presented a staggering amount of watches to the public. In this overview, we will not be co...
Not All Watches Have To Be Within Your Price Range
The title of this article is actually a command, or it could be one of my own New Year’s resolutions. It’s just that I’ve realized that my (dis)interest in certain watches has been due, largely, to how much they cost. For a long time, I simply looked away when I suspected the price of a watch would not be within my reach anytime soon. And that might sound quite logical to you because it also did to me. But it also means that I didn’t allow myself to enjoy a lot of the beautiful watches out there that I’ll probably never be able to afford.As a beginner watch enthusiast, I had a certain budget, and that budget determined my focus for my first watch. I genuinely th...
Saving Up For The Breguet Tradition In 2023
Just like Lex's resolution for 2023, I am aiming to be ambitious this year (spoiler alert: Breguet Tradition) and not to be side-tracked by impulsive watch purchases that I don't end up wearing. Ultimately, they are a waste of money, especially because I don't sell them off. I am not sure why, but I am just not much of a watch seller. It also means I am not much into flipping pieces, unlike some of my colleagues. I hardly ever sell or trade a watch from my collection, but perhaps I should.My watch purchases in 2022Anyway, for a long time, I didn't have the itch for a new watch. It was a very comfortable feeling, yet I found myself buying several watches in 2022. Some were affordable - a few ...
A Vintage Eterna 852 With An Incredible Black Dial
Today, we’ll take a look at a lovely vintage watch. An Eterna 852 has graced the pages of Fratello previously but in a different format. Our subject for this article isn’t a famous reference or even a military piece. Heck, it doesn’t even have a proper model name. It’s just a great-looking watch with a nice movement. It’s also a reminder that a wealth of under-the-radar opportunities still exist.We often forget that within the world of vintage watches, wanting something and then making it happen isn’t a matter of snapping one’s fingers. Sure, it’s relatively simple to find a nice vintage Speedmaster or a 1675 due to their immense popularity an...
Watch Brands On Instagram How Do They Approach It?
Instagram is often touted as a significant factor in the current popularity of mechanical watches. Whether it is celebrities and influencers normalizing expensive watches or aficionados sharing wrist shots, the platform is flooded with horological content. Some of my colleagues - primarily Daan, Morgan, and Nacho - are very deeply involved in the Instagram watch community. Compared to accounts of such aficionados, the actual brands' accounts can feel a little clinical at times. We felt it was about time to have a look at them and see what's what.With pretty much all brands present on Instagram, their approaches differ from one to the next. At the same time, there are some big common denomina...
New: The Oris ProPilot X Calibre 115 Year Of The Snake LE
Oris proudly introduced its ProPilot X Calibre 115 in 2019. The launch event back then took place in Shanghai, China. Now, five years later, the brand introduces a new limited edition of its impressive ProPilot X with a 10-day power reserve for the upcoming Chinese New Year. According to the Chinese, 2025 will be the year of the Wood Snake, encouraging inner reflection and outward progress. Oris decided to honor this occasion with a limited-edition ProPilot X Calibre 115 dedicated to the year of the Wood Snake.When Oris introduced the ProPilot X Calibre 115 in Shanghai, the emphasis was on the fully skeletonized movement. This allows the wearer to behold and fully enjoy the impressive mechan...
Visiting Seiko UK And Witnessing A Tuna Battery Change
Last month, I had the opportunity to visit the Seiko UK headquarters in Maidenhead. As a die-hard Seiko fan, I’ve always wanted to see what happens here. Does the site outsource much work, or is this a fully functional service center? The answer may surprise you because Seiko UK can handle practically everything when servicing modern Seiko watches.In October, I chatted with the Seiko UK team and asked about touring the headquarters. After all, we have many UK readers who also love Seiko. A couple of emails later, we decided on a date in early December. I rode the “Lizzie Line” down to Maidenhead where my friend Lawrence (@mostlymovado) picked me up at the station and then d...
Quartz watches
I rarely cover quartz watches, because they are seldomly regarded as ‘interested’ amongst us watch fanatics ?? However, besides quartz ladies watches and the OysterQuartz models, quartz watches with special features/functionality like the Breitling Aerospace or Omega Speedmaster X-33 can also be quite interesting. If you travel a lot, or have to do a lot of stopwatch/countdown timing, a digital watch like the Aerospace, X-33 or B1 might be the right pick for you. User TimetoLive over at TimeZone posted a few pictures of his B1 in the Breitling forum.Because these quartz watches are not as sought after as the mechnical watches of the mentioned brands, you can get these type of w...
SIHH2010: Vacheron Constantin Historique Ultra-Fine 1955 and 1968
The SIHH 2010 will be held from the 18th of January till the 22nd of January 2010. During this show, Vacheron Constantin will be presenting their new Historique Ultra-Fine 1955 and 1968 time pieces. In today’s world of horology, it seems that watches can’t be bulky enough while a few decades ago, it showed true craftsmanship when a time piece was as flat as possible. Since a year or so, I noticed that there is quite a number of fellow watch collectors and aficionados that is akin to reduce diameter sizes and heights. Vacheron Constantin is the brand they’ll need to take to look at in 2010, with their Historique Ultra-Fine timepieces.In the 1950s and 1960s, Vacheron Constant...
#TBT Jardur 850 Chronograph
First off, I'd be remiss if I didn't wish you, our readers, a Happy New Year. With a new year comes an entire 366 days, Blaise informed me of the leap year, of excitement and uncertainty. Regarding the vintage market, we can't predict what will occur in 2016, but it's likely that things will remain hot. Therefore, we'll continue to try and scope out value in a market increasingly devoid of both deals and supply. Today's subject meets that criteria and despite its case color, I think you'll end up liking it. We'll talk about a watch and a brand that we haven't discussed on #TBT or Fratello Watches to my knowledge. It's icy cold out there in many areas (that oddly warm Christmas is now seeming...
MINASE : 5 Windows Uniquely Minase
MINASE : A Japanese ManufacturerIn 1963 Minase's parent company, Kyowa, opened for business manufacturing cutting and drilling tools for the watch industry.? They entered into watch manufacturing making private label watches for many world-famous brands in parallel to their tool business.? In 2006 they launched their own brand, Minase, with the goal of creating the perfect watch.MINASE FIVE WINDOWSMinase’s designer, HIROKUNI YAMAMOTO: The 5 windows?breaks most of the watch design concepts I have learnt and worked with all of my life, it is a genuine piece of art.The 5 Windows uses ETA’s 2824-2 movement (customized by Minase).? All 5 surrounding anti-reflective sapphire “win...
Zelos : Skyraider Takes Flight
The Douglas A-1 Skyraider was one of the last few propeller driven attack aircraft to enter service. It arrived late for World War 2 and during the start of the Jet era, yet it enjoyed one of the longest careers in the US Air Force. Despite being outclassed in speed and technology by the latest jetfighters, the Skyraider held its own with a heavy payload and agility. The Skyraider served in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars, and it proved invaluable in providing close air support; for which jets were unsuitable.We christened our latest flieger the ‘Skyraider’ as it was developed around the handwound ETA 6498 movement.For more information please visit www.zeloswatches.comMuch like ...
Hands-On With The Corniche Heritage Chronograph
This will be a bit of a controversial review. In general, we’re not that fond of watches with fancy names and quartz movements. So it would have?been understandable if we had passed for the Corniche Heritage Chronograph as well. But we didn’t. I don’t exactly know why to be honest, hopefully, the review will make it clear.Corniche Heritage ChronographFor investigation purposes, I’ve done a little query on my Instagram account and asked what the first thing was people thought about when looking at a picture of this watch. The majority answered ‘Patek Philippe, reference 5170’ and some said ‘Lange?1815 Flyback Chronograph’. The Patek was the firs...