SIHH 2017 Richard Mille RM 50-03 McLAREN F1 (Live Pictures)
We are always looking forward to the SIHH presentation by Theodore Diehl, who works for Richard Mille. He is a great talker, and author, and today he presented us the Richard Mille RM 50-03 McLAREN F1 timepiece. Richard Mille is known for his brilliant technical timepieces, but with this 40 grams tourbillon split seconds chronograph things got just more brilliant.Richard Mille RM 50-03 McLAREN F1Aside from the 980.000 Swiss Francs (excluding 8% sales tax that is) price tag, this Richard Mille is not for everyone. It is a highly complicated and technical looking timepiece, that doesn’t tick everyone’s boxes, but it is definitely an impressive watch whether you are into these type ...
A New Prospex: Seiko PADI Special Edition 200m SPB071J1
Already announced in late 2017, there will be a new PADI Special Edition 200M Automatic Diver’s watch available. Based on their first professional diver from 1965, this new model, with reference SPB071J1 has a cool dial with a color gradation from blue to black and features a wave pattern.Seiko SPB071J1For $910 (approximately), you will receive a 42.6mm diver’s watch from their Prospex (‘Professional Specifications’) collection. This is not the first PADI Special Edition, we wrote about the earlier models here.The reference SPB071J has the Seiko 6R15 (automatic) movement which has a power reserve of 50 hours. This movement ticks at 21,600vph. The watch has a screw-dow...
Montblanc TimeWalker Manufacture Chronograph First Look
Montblanc has some interesting watches for you in store this year. One of them is the Timewalker Manufacture Chronograph. In this article, we will give you a first look and some of our thoughts. Starting at just below $5000 Euro for an in-house chronograph (up to $5290 depending on the strap / bracelet combination), it could become a very serious option for those who love chronos with a manufacture movement.TimeWalker Manufacture Chronograph Panda DialDuring the presentation, Montblanc actually referred to this watch as ‘Paul Newman’ style themselves (sigh), but if you can look past that statement, there’s actually a cool watch being offered here. It is powered by a three r...
Zenith 50 Years of El Primero Anniversary Set and Live Pics!
This week, we've seen loads of new releases from brands that showcase their wares at SIHH in Geneva. However, and we've mentioned this, other brands that don't attend often show new pieces while the world has their eyes on watches in general. As an example, Breitling showed their new Capsule Collection focusing on the Golden Age of Aviation with Navitimers inspired by Swissair, Pan Am, and TWA. This was a digital release, but we also saw at least one brand set up shop at a local hotel in Geneva to take advantage of all the watch-related traffic in town. Zenith was there as part of their “Geneva Days” and they rolled out a number of new products, some of which we will cover at a l...
SIHH 2019 Last Day Recap
This is our last instalment of the SIHH 2019 recaps. It has been quite an interesting SIHH, more so than the 2018 edition, especially when it comes to the presented watches.SIHH 2019The 2019 edition of the SIHH was the last one held in the month January, as of next year, it will be right after Baselworld 2020. In the past, this was already the case, but then the SIHH decided to have theirs in January. So next year, we will have two huge shows back-to-back for about 10 days in total. I am very interested in what Audemars Piguet will do for example, but even more in what Swatch Group is planning to do. Will they stick to doing their own events as they will in 2019, or will they go back to Base...
This Week In Watches
With bags of goodies from LVMH hitting the market at the same time, there’s a lot to choose from. The stand-out piece? The Zenith Pilot Type 20 Rescue.Take a look at these new releases from Zenith and let us know which one you’d like to see covered in an in-depth review in the comments below.Zenith Pilot Type 20 Rescue 03.2434.679/20.I010You’ve heard about the fact that Zenith is the only watch company actually allowed to put the word Pilot on the dial, right? You hadn’t? Wow, I hope the rock you’ve been living under was nice. Seriously, as much as I love Zenith (and I do love Zenith), I’ve repeated that fact so many times I’ve started saying it in m...
The First Omega With A Date Seamaster Calendar Reference 2627
The Omega Seamaster Calendar ref. 2627 is such an exciting and historically significant watch. Yet, aside from the hardcore Omega fans, it seems as though it mostly flies under the radar for the average vintage collector. Nevertheless, this 1950s beauty deserves a lot more attention. In this article, we’ll try to give the watch just that.Reference 2627 is not a huge watch, nor was it made in endless executions. However, the Seamaster Calendar was a technologically advanced piece for its time. So much so that even today, one can wear it proudly and enjoy its useful features.History Of The DateThe brand introduced the earliest Seamaster watches in 1948, just a few years after the end of ...
Fans Of Linen Dials Rejoice John Robert Archetype Prepares To Launch On Kickstarter
Recently on Fratello, we’ve been talking a lot about the importance of dial texture. It is something that has been on my mind personally for quite some time. I’ve been keen to see more mainstream brands experiment with different finishes and materials on the faces of their watches for years, but, all too often, this charge falls to the novel, more liberal brands to advance. This week, we’re taking a look at another such brand, this time, from Melbourne, Australia. The John Robert Archetype is a new line of watches soon to hit Kickstarter with a range of handsome, linen-dialed watches. Read on to learn more…It is fascinating to examine brands from all corners of the gl...
The Future Is Bright; The Future Is Bvlgari The Roman Revolution Is In Full Swing
I’ve always been a fan of Bvlgari, but in the last year, my fandom has changed significantly. Once upon a time, I was attracted to this roguish Roman revolutionary because of the fashion-first aesthetic. The watches were loud. The watches were proud. Crucially, however, they were cool. That was enough for me. In the past five years, Bvlgari’s investment in manufacturing techniques has snowballed. Consequently, show-stoppers like the Bvlgari Octo Finissimo, which we’ve covered extensively on Fratello have become the norm. But all this research and development got me thinking……where could this lead? It would seem that Bvlgari’s potential is now limitless. Th...
Tomas's Top 7 Striking Vintage Dial Designs
Some watches are impossible to overlook due to their cult status. Others due to massive value appreciation achieved thanks to massive exposure and popularity among collectors. Let's not forget the watches you might have only seen once before and are forever etched on your memory. Let's take a look at some of the most striking vintage dial designs. As the design is a matter of personal taste at the end of the day, we might be treading through dangerous territory today. Well, Ive decided to go for it anyway! It might sound unusual to try to separate the dial design from the case shape, the bezel, or the hand style, but I believe it is a worthwhile exercise. To narrow down the shortlist, I list...
Value Play: The Vintage Seiko Sportsman Dolphin J13035
In this article, we review the vintage Seiko Sportsman Dolphin J13035 and come away more than pleased. This may have been an entry-level watch, but it still impresses.Whenever I write an article about some obscure or unheralded Japanese watch, I get some kidding/not kidding comments about creating a pricing surge on the market. If this is truly the case then apologies are in order, but I can assure you that today’s Seiko Sportsman Dolphin J13035 won’t suffer an inflationary fate. It’s not a sports watch and it’s quite simple. As we’ll see, though, that doesn’t stop it from being an incredibly satisfying watch.Vintage Japanese manual wind watchesMost of the...
Cheap Seiko Watches Under $1000 Available Today
Ahhh… Seiko! An indisputably beloved brand in the world of watches, mechanical and otherwise. The brand’s incredibly diverse catalog caters to those new to the watch world, as well as to those more experienced looking for a serious watch. And that’s without getting into Grand Seiko territory! Today, we’ll be taking a look at some of the affordable options in the Seiko catalog. I spent a couple of hours looking through the current lineup and picked out my five favorites under $1000. And there’s also a bonus sub-$300 pick at the end.This top-five list is an update to Jorg’s list published back in 2020. And though I tried to mix things up and not pick only di...
The Brightest #LUME Watches And Gear To Light Up The Night
There is nothing like a flash of #LUME to brighten up those gloomy winter days. And it's no longer a gimmick; it has been embraced by the big hitters of horology and fashion. Who would have thought that we would see bright lume on a Lange dial or the fabric of a high-tech sports jacket?I get seriously frustrated by weak lume. I stay off-grid while I'm sleeping, with my cell phone left downstairs and a watch on my wrist. While we have a digital clock radio on the night table, I prefer peering sleepily at my wrist to ask myself why I'm awake at 5:00 AM. I’d love the full effect of a lume dial while having a late-night walk, or for the more adventurous among us, while hiking or camping. T...
Fortis Marinemaster M-40 The Best Tool Watch I Own
The way in which I find myself falling for watches matters more to me as I age. I must admit that it took a while for me to own up to that fact. In my youth, I’d been intensely product-focused. I wouldn’t say I pooh-poohed those that bought and wore watches for purely emotional reasons, but I regarded them as a different breed. For me, the build quality, the refinement of the design, and the intellectual merit of the mechanics mattered more.Nowadays, while those things still matter to me more than anything else when it comes to adding watches to my collection, deciding which watch leaves the box every morning and spends the day on my wrist is most definitely a matter for the hear...
Top 5 Alternatives To The Omega Speedmaster
The Omega Speedmaster needs little introduction. It is one of the most talked-about chronograph watches in the world - at least here on Fratello. But as strange as it might sound, the Speedmaster doesn't please everyone. Maybe you don’t care about its Moon-going history, or perhaps you don't like the shape of the case. There could be any number of other reasons why the Omega Speedmaster doesn’t suit you. With that in mind, I decided to make my own list of the top five alternatives to the legendary Moonwatch.Back in the late 1990s, when I was looking for an Omega Speedmaster Professional, there was one alternative that I briefly considered. It was IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph ref...
Cheap Seiko Watches Under $1000 Available Today
Ahhh… Seiko! An indisputably beloved brand in the world of watches, mechanical and otherwise. The brand’s incredibly diverse catalog caters to those new to the watch world, as well as to those more experienced looking for a serious watch. And that’s without getting into Grand Seiko territory! Today, we’ll be taking a look at some of the affordable options in the Seiko catalog. I spent a couple of hours looking through the current lineup and picked out my five favorites under $1000. And there’s also a bonus sub-$300 pick at the end.This top-five list is an update to Jorg’s list published back in 2020. And though I tried to mix things up and not pick only di...
Large Watches For Small Wrists And Vice Versa Fratello On Air
Fratello On Air returns with what we think is a fun episode. We talk about big watches that work for smaller wrists and small watches for larger wrists. Balazs and Mike exist on both sides of the wrist border, so there’s plenty of personal experience on this subject.Balazs and Mike are here to talk about large watches for those with small wrists and vice versa. It’s a show chock full of ideas and, thankfully, watches. Some other topics weave their way in as well.“Handgelenks Kontrolle” and Sneakers!Before hitting the main topic of large watches for small wrists and the reverse, though, Balazs talks about one of his favorite other subjects - sneakers. First, there̵...
Three Omega Speedmasters Up For Auction In Monaco
Auctions are an interesting platform to see the appetite for certain watches, or in this case, Speedmasters. We recently touched on the topic of auctions and their absurdity, but that's of course not always the case. Regardless of some of the amazing results, auctions give an indication of the popularity or unpopularity of a certain watch or reference.Antiquorum's Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces Monaco auction will take place today, January 18th, 2022, at 4:00 PM local time. Nine lots out of the 178 are Omega Speedmasters. Let's have a closer look at three of the Omega Speedmasters that are on the auction block today.Speedmaster BA145.022-69 Apollo XII’ve covered this watch h...
NEW: The Grand Seiko Chronograph SBGC247 And GMT SBGE275
There's a cold wind blowing from the East, and it carries the Grand Seiko Chronograph SBGC247 and GMT SBGE275. Both watches are limited editions that have something to celebrate. The GMT celebrates the 20th anniversary of the first Spring Drive GMT watch. The chronograph, the 15th anniversary of the… what again? Exactly. And what did Grand Seiko use as a source of inspiration for the celebratory dials of the watches? That’s right - nature. “Nature again?!” some folks would complain. But is that a bad thing? Let me answer that question in this article. And while I'm at it, I will also address something that is a hot topic amongst Grand Seiko fans and followers here on ...
Launching Today: The New Vulcain Skindiver Hands-On
Sometimes watch releases just come out of left field. Truth be told, I hadn’t focused too much on Vulcain since the relaunch of the Cricket last year. But I was expecting many things from the Swiss maison… just not a skin diver. From time to time, I get an email from DHL telling me that I should expect a delivery from Vulcain SA. That's always exciting news as I usually don't know what's in the parcel. That is precisely how these two beautiful Vulcain Skindiver models came to me last week, just in time to check them out before the official launch today.And while I had them both, the watches took a trip to Frankfurt with me to our latest Fratello On Air recording. Make sure you ch...