New: The "Winter Cool" Tissot PR516 Automatic Chronograph
Tissot is expanding its PR516 collection with new chronograph models. Two quartz versions in PVD rose gold and bicolor and one stainless steel model with an automatic chronograph movement will join the lineup. The latter is based on a Valjoux A05 movement, an update of the famous Valjoux 7753. It’s this full-steel model with automatic movement that caught our attention!Tissot PR516 Automatic ChronographTruth be told, I wasn’t overly impressed by the three-hand PR516. That wasn’t because I didn’t like the design or didn’t appreciate the fact James Bond wore one in Live and Let Die but because of the fixed 60-minute bezel. I think it’s a missed opportunity, ...
Branding 101 How Luxury Watch Brands Do It
Branding is everywhere. Branding is how companies show the outside world what they stand for and who they want to attract as customers, partners, or other stakeholders. Most of us even engage in personal branding to some degree, whether consciously or not. The profile picture and title you choose for your LinkedIn profile could be considered personal branding efforts. Branding in our beloved watch world is fascinatingly homogenous. Most luxury watch brands use very similar branding with only marginal differences to vie for your favor.The subject came to my attention as I am in the process of building a small watch company myself. I covered the first two years in a series of articles ambitiou...
New: Oris ProPilot X Miss Piggy Edition
It’s The Muppet Show with our special guest star, the Oris ProPilot X Miss Piggy Edition! So please welcome to the stage the very first 34mm version of the ProPilot X, a fabulous collaboration with Miss Piggy. The striking pink dial befits the most fabulous pig in the universe, and so does the glimmering baguette-cut diamond that doubles as the 12 o'clock marker. But where is the diva herself, you ask? She's backstage, so to speak. The case back has a spyhole revealing Miss Piggy's glamorous portrait.Miss Piggy's influence spans half a century, during which time she has inspired and empowered pigs and people alike. If Kermit gets a watch in his honor, it's only logical that Miss Piggy ...
Dent No. 1508 Marine Chronometer
Earlier this week I had a short but interesting mail exchange with Nick, owner of https://www.clockmaker.com.au/. He pointed this article out on his website, regarding the Dent 1508 Ship Chronometer.For collectors with a passion for accuracy, ship chronometers might interest you!Nick writes:Dent No. 1508 Ships Chronometer, signed “Dent, 82 strand LONDON”. Purchased by Admiralty in March 1841. Used as navigation instrument on HMS ‘Virago’ – 1847, HMS ‘Plover’ – 1869, HMS ‘ Sattelite’ – 1886, HMS ‘Carysfort’. Serviced in 1879 Cape Observatory, 1895 Cape of Good Hope, 1895 by Mercer (famous Marine chronometer himself)...
Chopard L.U.C Engine One Tourbillon
No need to get your hands dirtyMy fascination with cars started at an early age. Matchbox cars were diligently arranged in neat rows. No collisions took place for fear of scarring the paintwork. Boxes were carefully stored, a trait I continue to uphold in adult life.A psychologist would read the first paragraph and diagnose Obsessive- compulsive disorder from a pre-school age. I have always fussed over the minutiae. Small details have always been excessively valued. It is probably this fascination for fine details which has fuelled my obsession for haute horology.Ironically for someone with such a predilection for the mechanical, I have no aptitude for the hands-on fettling of oil clad compo...
Collecting Watches My Personal 7 Rules!
I always tell myself I am not collecting watches, even though my wife thinks otherwise, but as a Speedmaster aficionado I have to admit that I do own a collection of those. Normally, I just buy what I like and what I am actually going to wear. So my ‘collection’ consists of a couple of evergreens from , a Royal Oak (or should I say the Royal Oak) and of course a couple of Speedmaster watches and so on. So perhaps I am collecting watches, but only Speedmasters. The other purchases are just that, purchases of a watch that I like to wear on a regular basis.Every Thursday we publish an article on a vintage watch with some buying tips and we did some specific buyer’s guides, but...
Updates for the Gronefeld 1941 Remontoire Timepieces
Despite our somewhat different focus when it comes to watches, we have a lot of respect for Bart and Tim Gronefeld, also known as the horological brothers, and their amazing timepieces. Just before SIHH 2017 kicks off, they introduce us a couple of new variations of their?Gronefeld 1941 Remontoire. A stainless steel version of his watch, limited to 25 pieces only and a couple of bespoke engine turned dials by the legendary?Kari Voutilainen. Without further ado, let’s have a look.Gronefeld 1941 RemontoireThe grandfather of the horological brothers, Johan Gronefeld, was responsible for maintaining a 1913 church clock that was equipped with a remontoire mechanism. Later on, when Johan Gro...
The Day After Omega Speedmaster Professional Speedy Tuesday Limited Edition
Yesterday, Omega announced the Speedmaster Professional Speedy Tuesday limited edition. Watches were available for reservation immediately via the official Omega website. We weren’t sure if people would truly take to the watch and the process, but you did. Massively. Yesterday was an unreal experience and I would like to share some of it with you today.First of all, if you reserved one of the 2012 Omega Speedmaster Professional Speedy Tuesday Limited Edition watches, congratulations! All watches were reserved in just a few hours time and that was beyond expectations. I reckoned it would take a couple of days, but it went faster. Far faster.We feel sorry for those who missed reserving a...
The Top Modern Classic Watches Under 4000 Euros
When it comes to those I surround myself with, I'd guess that I'm like a lot of watch-crazed addicts. I have friends who suffer from the same affliction, friends who are mildly interested in timepieces, and those who truly couldn't give a rip (funny, this latter group is generally comprised of folks who can easily afford a great watch).Those who have slightly more than a passing interest are the ones who often ask me questions about why I am so fascinated by watches and they generally turn into the type of person who asks about what nice watch they should buy when considering their first significant purchase. Sometimes they know the brand or the style/category of watch they want, but often t...
New Release: Breitling Navitimer Swissair Edition with Thoughts
There’s nothing like news on a Friday and today some colorful, and attractive, information hit our mailboxes with the introduction of the Breitling Navitimer Swissair Edition.? In stainless steel and 43mm (as a Navitimer should be sized), Breitling tells us that this watch is the first to come of within a “capsule collection” of models that will harken back to the golden age of civilian airline travel in the 60’s and 70’s.? The watches will feature the names of historic airline brands and the colors that they used.? Honestly, I think it’s a relevant idea for the brand, especially since Breitling has earned its reputation as a pilot’s watch.? It doesn...
Romain Gauthier Insight Micro-Rotor Lady Opal Only Five Pieces
Romain Gauthier produces approximately 60 watches per year, all manufactured in-house and with hand-finished movements. We introduce to you their new Insight Micro-Rotor Lady Opal, with a production of just five pieces in total. That is right, a high-end watch for ladies only, and it is a blessing to see more watch brands introducing ladies watches with a strong focus on the mechanical movement. That said, this watch does come with a beautiful opal dial. The used opal comes from?Coober Pedy in South Australia, often described as the opal capital of the world.Now, this new Romain Gauthier Insight Micro-Rotor Lady Opal might look familiar to you, and that’s correct. Two models were previ...
Tockr D-Day C-47 A Piece Of Literal Aviation History
I think anyone who’s ever heard of Tom Hanks and is a fan of his work has seen Saving Private Ryan (1998). You can say whatever about to movie, but one thing is for certain; it has a strong opening scene. Steven Spielberg, the director, wanted realistic interpretation and he went the extra mile to achieve it. ?They shot this roughly 20-minutes scene in a course of 4 weeks. Hundreds of extras came to the set. The crew even had original vehicles that were used on that actual day in 1944. The historical event I'm talking about is, of course, the Normandy Landings also known as D-Day. This operation, that happened on the 6th June 1944, was a complex one involving not only naval but airborn...
Wolbrook Skindiver "Worldtimer" Neil Armstrong's Other Watch
Wolbrook/Douglas is not a brand we often mention when we talk about Neil Armstrong, the first man on the Moon.You are reading Fratello Magazine, and while we talk a lot about the Moon landing, most of the time, it’s another brand we mention in connection with this event. This time, however, we would like to bring your attention to something else. We don’t feature Kickstarter watches often on this site. It’s not because we dislike them, but we like to focus on watches that offer something special. I firmly believe that Wolbrook is such a brand. There’s also the fact that most of the team at Fratello are, to some extent, space geeks. So, anything that has something to d...
Calling All Adventurers! New Launch Coming To The Fratello Shop!
Our goals for the Fratello Shop this year are big. We have lots planned and we are very excited to embark upon this journey with you. As luck would have it, the first such launch of 2021 is nearly upon us…Over the last few months, we have worked on some fantastic new releases and we've had a lot of fun in the process. We've gotten to know our customers and fellow-Fratelli very well, and it's been really great hearing the awesome feedback from new watch owners.This is why we do what we do - being able to bring new and exciting releases to market and share in the excitement of our community is really rewarding. With this in mind, our eyes are always on the horizon, looking for the next b...
Hands-On With The Visitor Duneshore Shallows Dive Watch
In 2020 we once again saw a great number of releases from small microbrands. Some you might forget rather quickly and some stick with you for a longer period of time. The latter was the case when I had the pleasure of reviewing the Linden Snowfall from Visitor Watch Co. during the summer of last year. The brand has its unique take on watches and definitely stands out from the crowd. Just before the year was over I had a chance to go hands-on with the all-new Visitor Dunshore Shallows dive watch.Before I laid eyes upon the Visitor Duneshore Shallows, I had already seen pictures of it online. From those images, it was clear: this was not your average dive watch. As soon as I received the Dunsh...
The Fratelloris Watch Project Big Crown Bronze Pointer Date
I didn’t make “Fratelloris” up, it was one of the persons who purchased it last week. But it does sum it up perfectly, it was a great effort from both sides.Mike shared the entire story on how this watch came to life in his head, and how it finally came to us last week. You can read all about it here. The oxblood or burgundy red dial found its way into the bronze case of the Big Crown Pointer Date and it just looks amazing. What I noticed during the past week, is that the watch is very difficult to capture in pictures. Some of those who purchased it shared their images on Instagram and in the Oris Watch Club Facebook group and they did a better job than me.Wrist shot by Jam...
The Vintage Citizen Super Crystal Date And Super Jet Auto Dater
We’re back with more vintage Citizen. Today, we take a look at a trio of fantastic watches that are just a bit different than anything from the era. Prepare yourself for the Citizen Super Crystal Date and Super Jet Auto Dater.I was having a look at some of the vintage Japanese watches in my collection the other day. The sheer variety of styles always gets me. More than that, though, I still walk away with a bit of a need to talk about them. You see, I’m of the belief that the Japanese watch companies were making some epic stuff during the ’60s. I always bring up the fact that we see so much Seiko, but, comparatively speaking, so little Citizen or Orient. Let’s shed so...
Moon DNA By REM Straps A Strap For Moonwatch Fans
What better way to spice up your Moonwatch than with a strap that includes fragments of lunar meteorite? Meet the Moon DNA strap from the Scandinavian company REM Straps. The brand is the brainchild of watch enthusiasts Totte el Siddig and Roger Clementz. Totte has a background in design, and Roger is an engineer. The straps they sell originate completely from Sweden, from design and manufacturing to packaging and shipping.The leather that REM Straps uses comes from Nissafors, a very small place with less than 300 inhabitants. Tanning of the leather takes place in T?rnsjo, another small place north of Nissafors. There, the leather is tanned and processed using traditional plant-based methods...
Watch Dating Profiles: Grand Seiko, Kurono Tokyo, And Casio
In the land of the rising sun, the love runs strong, and the heart ticks away the moments worth remembering. These Japanese watches are prime eligible bachelor(-ette?)s looking for their ideal wearer to pick them up and while away the hours in sweet adoration. Today, it’s the elegant Grand Seiko SLGA007, the jazzy Kurono Tokyo Chronograph 2, and the shamefully easy Casio MQ24-7B2. They’re all fun, in their own way. It’s just up to you to which watch you’ll say, “ˤϡäǤ” (Konnichiwa, daisuki desu - Hello, I love you).We here at Fratello have been showing Japanese watches a lot of love lately, to which I say, “Kanpai!” From a flurry of artic...
Meet The Grand Seiko SLGA009 White Birch II The Megablast
There’s no stopping Grand Seiko! Today the brand introduced its third new reference for 2022, the Grand Seiko White Birch SLGA009. Granted, the other two (SBGA471 and SBGH295) were US-market exclusives, but that’s not how the internet works, of course. When news of the new White Birch reached our inbox this morning, I had to look twice to see how it differs from the 2021 Grand Seiko SLGH005. But after taking a closer look, I can confirm that it indeed does!If you’re as old as I am and used to playing computer games on PC, Amiga, or some old-school consoles, the title of this article might sound familiar. It refers to a proper old-school game from 1989, called Xenon II - The...