Zenith Releases All New Chronomaster Sport, Revival A385, And More
Last year, LVMH brands Bulgari, Hublot, and Zenith held a lavish event in Dubai, showcasing their latest and greatest. Sadly, that is not possible in 2021, but that does not mean that we’ll go without any timepieces. On the contrary, Zenith has prepared four fresh models for us. Along with new watches like the Chronomaster Sport and the Chronomaster Revival A385, we will see an iteration of the Defy 21 called Urban Jungle, as well as the Pilot Type 20 Silver Chronograph.“For Zenith, 2021 is the year of Chronomaster,” as the brand puts it, and it could not be more true. Aside from a vintage classic rendition, the A385, the Swiss brand also released its all-new Chronomaster S...
Hands-On With The Breguet Tradition Quantime Retrograde Ref 7597
I was instantly attracted to the Breguet Tradition when it was introduced in 2005. Despite the movement being based on Breguet’s historical Souscription and Tact pocket watches, using the design as a wristwatch was no less than groundbreaking. Never before had Breguet used this construction to show the mechanics of the movement above its baseplate, resplendent for the wearer to admire.When it comes to watches I love two things: simplicity and mechanics. The Breguet Tradition ticks both boxes. In its initial form, it is a simple two-hander, with only a power reserve indicator as a complication. Which, by the way, I consider an adequate feature for a hand winding watch. Looking at the wa...
The Sternglas Asthet Automatic Watch Hits Kickstarter
We’re quite fond of Sternglas here on Fratello. The brand occupies a very different niche from our usual fare, of course, but that doesn’t mean its watches don’t deserve a place in our collection. When it comes to making very affordable, timeless dress watches, there are few brands that stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Hamburg-based outfit in this price bracket. As such, we’re thrilled to see the brand return to Kickstarter to launch its latest model, the Sternglas Asthet.Sternglas has a pretty wide catalog already. Within that catalog, I’ve frequently marked the Hamburg dial as my favorite. I love the crisp, highly technical layout and the super-bright lume ...
Bvlgari Octo Finissimo S Chronograph GMT 103467 With Reverse Blue Panda Dial Is A Multi-Functional Masterpiece
It’s Bvlgari time. As you can see, the most visible LVMH player on Fratello has just dropped a rash of new releases. And, boy, are we excited! I’ve already covered the new Octo Finissimo reference 103464 (our lead article for January 25th, 2021, in case you’ve yet to check it out), but this column is concerned with the latest complicated addition to the Finissimo range. The Bvlgari Octo Finissimo S Chronograph GMT reference 103467 is a vibrant and vexingly complex addition to an already stellar range.You know we (Fratello) love the Bvlgari Octo Finissimo range. We wholly believe in the concept and genuinely love the products. That’s a good basis for excitement wheneve...
The New Monochrome Bvlgari Octo Finissimo S 103464 Brings Stainless Steel To The Dial
2020 was a challenging year for everyone involved in the watchmaking industry. The calendar was turned upside down, and expectations turned inside out. No one had any clue of how to successfully navigate a now, almost-entirely digital landscape. However, through a mixture of good timing and exceptional design, Bvlgari came through a difficult 12 months looking stronger than ever. The new monochrome Bvlgari Octo Finissimo S reference 103464 is a continuation of that success and sets up 2021 to be even better than the year before.As it turned out, LVMH’s decision to drop the majority of its brands’ releases in January last year couldn’t have worked out better. No one knew the...
Why I Bought The Omega Speedmaster Mark II A Collector's Tale
The 1969 Omega Speedmaster Mark II was based on the original Alaska Project watch that Omega developed for NASA. For a long time, these watches were completely underrated. They could be had for less than $1000, and sometimes, even for half of that.Those days are behind us, but the Speedmaster Mark II 145.014 is still a very interesting watch to acquire. It has the same movement as the normal Speedmaster Professional from that period, which is the Omega caliber 861. The watch also has a number of “improvements”. I use quotation marks, as many collectors perhaps don’t see them as such. But for Omega at the time, they certainly were, hence the Mark II designation for the Speed...
Oris Big Crown Pointer Date Bronze Now With A New Bracelet
The patina comeback kid bounces back into the spotlight, trending again after a few quiet years. Bronze is cool, but I don't think we can stress this enough: not all bronze is exactly the same. The entire point of bronze is the fact that it is the only watch case material that becomes a part of you. And I don't mean the green wrist-circle you got from that huge 45mm crusty green bronze diver back in 2014. The Oris Big Crown Pointer Date Bronze is a sleeker and more elegant twist on the golden-tinged alloy, and it now comes on the brand’s most comfortable bracelet.Bronze does develop a patina, just like a Submariner from the ’60s. Born when it was an actual tool, it all but loses...
Giveaway Winner Decided! Who Takes Off With A Dekla Pilot Watch On Their Wrist?
Hi and hello dear watch lovers. After a few weeks of pondering, I have finally made my decision as to which one of you should receive the totally unique Dekla Flieger pictured in this and the previous article. Warning: get your smart trousers before you read this article as some of the Fratelli’s answers were brain-boggling, to say the least…As usual, I picked my favorite responses to share with you. I hope you enjoy the top six as I saw it, and please feel free to continue the conversation in the comments section below. Check out the initial article here and don’t forget to visit the official Dekla website here, where you can design your own vision of pilot perfection̷...
Oris Aquis Sun Wukong Artist Edition Dive Watch
When a brand states that it is independent, it's challenging for buyers to make a distinction. To the end consumer, a nice watch is a nice watch. Whether it’s financed by an umbrella corporation or benefactor, to us, a timepiece is a product of design and watchmaking. However, when it comes to Oris, the independent nature of the brand seeps through to the fresh, innovative, and occasionally bonkers watch concepts. Today's release combines those three sentiments - the Oris Aquis Sun Wukong Artist Edition. I delve into what makes this new Sun Wukong limited edition such a left-field curveball from the team in Holstein.I always get excited whenever Oris brings out a new Aquis limited edit...
TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 200 In Two New Sizes
TAG Heuer dives into 2022 with a lite version of the recently introduced 43mm Aquaracer Professional 300. The Aquaracer Professional 200 is ready for the life aquatic in any of its myriad and sundry forms. You can go swimming with it in the pond behind your house, the pool, the lake, or the sea. And it also will hold its ground while ice-climbing - ice is frozen H2O after all - and in an urban setting too. A refreshing dive in the city-square fountain, perhaps? Anyway, TAG Heuer presents us with sporty watches that come with black or blue dials and in two sizes - a petite and elegant 30mm and a perfectly conservative 40mm.You would think that Jack Heuer spent all of his time trackside. But a...
Fratello On Air: Exotic Materials Tudor, Zenith, And More
Exotic materials - titanium, ceramic, and carbon. What do we think of them for our watches? Tune in to the latest episode of Fratello On Air to find out what Balazs and Mike have to say.What happens when two vintage watch lovers come together to discuss exotic materials? Well, we had to open our minds and consider alternatives to our beloved stainless steel. In the first of a two-part series, we talk about materials that find their way to watch cases. Titanium, ceramic, and carbon are in play, and while they aren’t our favorites, we come up with some suggested models.Getting into exotic materialsAs always, we begin with the Handgelenks Kontrolle. Balazs is rocking his vintage Heuer Mon...
The New King Seiko Collection (2022)
Whether we’re talking about Seiko or Grand Seiko, both have been on a weekly tear regarding new releases. Each week, we seem to get something. This week, it’s time for something different, though, with the all-new King Seiko Collection. These watches answer a lot of asks for the purists out there with only a few questions left remaining. Let’s have a look.We’ve watched Seiko tap into its back catalog with serious regularity over the past four or five years. In general, I’m a fan. Yes, I’d like to continue to see a healthy mix of new designs, but I still enjoy the occasional nod to the past. With today’s new King Seiko Collection, the watches take us ...
?Japanese Independent Watchmakers Had A Big Year In 2022
I do have a soft spot for the quirky, unmistakable style of Japan’s smaller watchmaking ateliers. It might have something to do with a tattoo on my forearm saying “contrarian,” but it’s more than that. The entire ethos of Japanese craftsmanship is about honing a design to its point of perfection with the best materials, no matter what. Whether it is a watch or a pair of exquisitely crafted selvedge jeans, the price is not the starting point. And in 2022, ever more buyers tuned in to this way of thinking, making it a big year for Japanese independent watch brands.Yes, we even had our very own Fratello Minase collaboration, the M-3 “Very Peri”. This was a bi...
Hands-On With Three Lorier Watches: Hyperion, Falcon, Neptune
Lorier has been on my radar for quite some time now, but I just never had a chance to check the watches out in the metal. In fact, except for Thor's interview with the brand's owners, we have not yet covered them on Fratello, so it is long overdue. I requested three of the brand's most popular watches for review and spent some time with them on the wrist. This is how I got on with the Lorier Neptune, Hyperion, and Falcon.In case you are new to Lorier, we are talking about a New York-based microbrand. Its owners Lauren and Lorenzo Ortega are a married couple, former teachers living the watch aficionado's dream. They outsource production but do everything else themselves. Drop Lorier an email,...
Balazs And Mike Talk About Retro Watches
Fratello On Air has returned, and we cover several subjects this week. However, we spend the most time on a topic initiated by one of our readers about retro watches. Namely, are they at the end of their rope?...
Hands-On: The Impressive Titoni Seascoper 600 Retro
Titoni never ceases to amaze me with its timepieces. I have reviewed several of the brand’s models, and I am deeply impressed with the incredible quality Titoni offers every time, especially for the price. While my favorite model was always the Seascoper 300, I was more than interested in taking the new Seascoper 600 Retro for a spin. With its vintage-inspired looks, this new iteration of the brand’s top-of-the-line diver has a distinctly different feel than most of the Seascoper 600 models we have seen recently. It’s a look that suits the diver well - really well. Let me explain why.Over the past couple of years, Titoni has rapidly expanded the number of offerings in its S...
#TBT Finding A Gallet Multichron Clamshell While Buying A Car
I am so excited that I don’t even know how to start. This particular version of the Gallet Multichron Clamshell was on my wishlist for years. When I think back on how it crossed my path, I find it so amusing, and I still can’t believe it.A few weeks ago, I mentioned that my Gallet collection grew big time over the last few years. So I guess you will not be surprised to see a few more spectacular Gallet chronographs this year. To highlight the grandiose entrance into 2024, I chose a scarce Gallet Multichron Clamshell.The Gallet Multichron Clamshell familyTo demonstrate the real variety of Multichron Clamshell models, I used a snapshot from the old Gallet Facebook page. One of the ...
Artem Straps Are Now Available In The Fratello Shop
For several years, Artem has made it its mission to provide high-quality alternatives to luxury brands’ OEM straps. Initially focusing on sailcloth straps seen by the brand’s founders as an afterthought (and an expensive one at that), they decided to develop a more affordable alternative without compromising on quality. Since then, the brand’s catalog has expanded to include nylon straps, deployant buckles in several styles, many new colors, and a hybrid sailcloth/rubber strap known as the Hydroflex. For now, a selection of the brand’s products is already available in the Fratello Shop. We’ll slowly expand to carry the entire range over the coming months.We are ...
Hands-On: Nomos Orion Neomatik New Black Models
It's the little things that matter. If you believe so, please take a closer look at the new Nomos Orion Neomatik New Black, which comes in three iterations. At first glance, these watches all look pretty much the same, but they're not. There are three sizes, for instance, and Nomos also plays with different color combinations of hands and indices. Plus, one model comes with a date function. What nearly all watches from the German watchmaking town of Glashutte have in common, though, is a minimalist approach to design. And in the case of these three new Orion models, the deep (new) black dial is also a common denominator. By doing a hands-on with all three, I picked the one dark Orion that fi...
New: Longines Conquest Heritage Central Power Reserve
There's almost no limit to the things you can celebrate. If you’re a watch brand, you can celebrate the anniversary of your founding, for instance, or a particularly significant watch. What you can also celebrate is the birth year of a watch collection. With the new Conquest Heritage Central Power Reserve, Longines does just that. This release honors 70 years of Conquest watches. It does so with a remarkable watch with the date at 12 o’clock and a power reserve indicator on a rotating disc in the center of the dial. There are three versions to choose from.For the 70th anniversary of the Conquest collection, Longines probably had to deal with the agony of choice when it came to re...