Even though I’ve loved watches since I was a small boy and have now been writing about them for four years, I still get excited about new releases. Increasingly, events are focused on the important markets far south and east of Europe, but does it matter? After all, we are digital now, and many of us buy most of our watches online, including me. The 2023 LVMH Watch Week might have taken plac

I was recently brushing up on my knowledge and understanding of chronographs when the news popped up: Yema is releasing new color variants of its popular Rallygraf Meca-Quartz. This super-vintage-inspired chronograph now comes in five color variations and is powered by the Seiko VK64 movement. Being a meca-quartz watch means it will be rather affordable and easy to wear. Indeed, it retails for $36

It’s always cool to write about a brand that’s never been featured on Fratello before. But this time, it’s even cooler, literally speaking, because Chronotechna is launching its signature SeaQuest Dive in a Frozen Deep limited edition. The brand does so as its ambassador and freediver David Vencl will try to achieve the impossible. He will attempt something that no one has ever d

When I started collecting watches, it was incredibly hard to get some accessories as simple as a proper replacement strap. For a long time, we played with the idea of opening up the Fratello Shop as well to offer straps and accessories to our readers. But we also realized that if we did it, we would need to do it properly. That means fast shipping, good customer support, and a nice selection of go

Charlie Paris is one of those brands that I knew by name but had never gotten a chance to check out in real life. But when the new Concordia GMT caught my eye, I knew I had to learn more. This beautifully styled GMT mixes the classic aesthetic of a dive watch with a nicely integrated GMT function. On top of that, the brand chose some rather attractive dial colors to enhance the style even more. I

Welcome to another Sunday Morning Showdown! We hope you woke up with a nice cup of coffee this Sunday morning and are ready to vote for your favorite watch in this week’s battle of the divers. This week, it’s going to be like David versus Goliath. In one corner, we have the new Formex Reef 39.5mm, which came out in December of 2023. It’s going up against the Seiko Prospex Marinem

Ever since the Big Bang Meca-10 came out in 2016, the watch has stood out thanks to its 10-day caliber with a Meccano-inspired architecture. This year, though the 10-day power reserve isn't new, some other things are. The re-engineered Hublot Big Bang Meca-10 now measures 42mm in diameter and comes in three variations. You can choose between lustrous King Gold, technical titanium, and lightweight

TAG Heuer and Porsche are well-known names in motorsport. In 2023, the two teamed up for a pair of special TAG Heuer Carrera models to celebrate the original Porsche 911. The Carrera Chronosprint Porsche now gets two more additions to the lineup. These watches celebrate the Porsche 911’s first rally success at the 1965 Monte Carlo Rally. The first is a regular stainless steel version, and th

Jump-hour watches are a fascinating branch within the world of horology. They often only show you the exact information you need when you look at your watch - the hours, the minutes, and sometimes the seconds. In 2009, Louis Vuitton, with the help of master watchmakers Michel Navas and Enrico Barbasini, introduced the Spin Time, an original take on the concept. Two numerals spin around each hour t

Some watches are so perfectly on-brand that you have to look twice to see if they're actually new. I had this experience with this Zenith Defy Skyline Chronograph Skeleton. Between the regular Defy Skyline Chronograph and several Defy Extreme and Defy skeleton versions, this looks comfortably familiar. Still, this watch is indeed new. So let's look closer at this addition to the Skyline collection

Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air. This week, we discuss our favorite divers from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s. We also offer more affordable alternatives. Enjoy this lengthy episode! For our listeners, the watch content begins after 27 minutes.

One of the best elements of wearing watches is forging memories with them. Sometimes, though, those memories can be a bit traumatic and leave true battle scars on the watch! Today, I’ll share how my Tudor Heritage Ranger survived a serious motorcycle accident and came away with some scars.When we think of watches showing their age, our minds probably go to something like the patina that deve

It is Speedy Tuesday and we have this Speedmaster Missions box for you! Although I’m at the SIHH in Geneva, following presentations and doing pictures for our #instagram channel (follow fratellowatches on instagram), nobody can hold us down!!?Today’s Speedmaster topic is the suit case with all the Speedmaster Missions models, a Speedmaster 1957 re-redition and a spare OMEGA caliber 186

Omega unveiled the Seamaster Planet Ocean Orange Ceramic in platinum and the Seamaster Planet Ocean in platinum in black set with a diamond in the ceramic bezel, diamonds in the case and a diamond shaped Omega logo on the sapphire case back. Yes, that’s right, although everyone expected a novelty in orange (after some teasers on the official Omega Facebook and instagram channels) Omega decid

You probably have read it by now, but Montblanc seems to be the big surprise of the SIHH show in Geneva. Again, as the brand from Hamburg could really enjoy some positive and overwhelming responses during the SIHH in 2014 as well.Let us add some words on Montblanc and its position in the Richemont group – or the watch universe in general – at the end of this article. First, we speak ab

This year at SIHH, Baume & Mercier introduced a number of new watches dedicated to?ladies. However, they did have a very nice watch for gents to present as well: the Baume & Mercier Capeland Shelby Cobra 1963.Already last year Baume & Mercier introduced a Capeland Shelby Cobra watch, paying tribute to the famous blue and white-striped sports cars. Now, Baume & Mercier is introducin

Looking to wear a sober watch this week, friend of the show Alon Ben-Joseph (CEO of Ace Jewelers in Amsterdam) offered me to try his watch. A special and limited edition of the Nomos Orion 38, the ‘100 Years De Stijl’.Nomos Orion 38 De Stijl Limited EditionLast summer, this special edition was initiated by Alon’s family-owned company, Ace Jewelers in Amsterdam. We showed it to yo

The year 1957 was a spectacular one for Omega. It was the year when Omega introduced the?Speedmaster,?Seamaster 300?and Railmaster. The first two are probably best? known, the Railmaster is a bit more a ‘collectors only’ piece these days. However, that is the watch we are covering in this review. The 60th anniversary edition that is, that was introduced last year.You've all seen the Om

Where bespoke timepieces were once an option offered only by luxury brands or independents, Schaffen was founded to push the boundaries on watch customization. Since its inception in 2016, Schaffen has made hundreds of personalized timepieces. Today, we take a look at the next phase of development of the young brand as it releases its new collection of automatic watches.Schaffen Reference 65The fi

Nowadays it seems that something new is coming out of the Omega Headquarters in Biel/Benne every week. If you think like that you are not far from the truth.As the die-hard Omega fans might know, the brand did not start its life as Omega SA.? Louis Brandt established his business in 1848 in the city of La Chaux-de-Fonds. The name if the company; La Generale Watch Co. ?After the founder's death his