Watch Strap Review Part 29. Crafter Blue Strap Review
It is no secret that we like (Grand) Seiko here on Fratello. From the low cost mechanical watches till the Grand Seiko models with Spring Drive movement. It is also no secret that we (well, especially me) are no fan of some of the bracelets that come on these watches. It is mainly the appearance that bothers me, not the build quality. In short, I was looking for a nice alternative for one of my favorite go-to watches, the Seiko Marinemaster 300.Seiko Marinemaster 300There are a couple of articles and reviews on that Seiko Marinemaster Professional 300 on Fratello, the latest one being the 52Mondayz feature from Gerard, where he talks about the watch he will be wearing that week. The current ...
Most Iconic Timepiece for the Modern Woman The Constellation Manhattan
A watch is a bold statement and a piece of jewellery for the modern woman as it needs to be practical and distinctive. Timelessness, modern design combined with excellent craftsmanship and quality make ultra-feminine watches desired and suitable for both basic tee with leather pants, and more formal – satin slip dress. Meet the new Omega Constellation Manhattan.Modern Woman's Choice?For the past 37 years, the Omega Constellation Manhattan has dominated the world of women's watches. To update its iconic luxury ladies timepiece, Omega has launched a new version of legendary Constellation. The classic design by Carol Didisheim has revolutionised unisex watches, as its remarkably versatile...
VIDEO: All The Vintage Seiko Divers Through 1980
It’s video time here on Fratello and this time we’re taking a long look at Vintage Seiko Divers. However, we’re not looking at some of them - we’re going through all of them.It has been almost two years since we published an article on the top vintage Seiko divers. I gave a brief rundown on every model that Seiko produced starting in the 1960s up until 1980. The article continues to generate serious traffic, but we felt that it was high time to add a more personal touch through the medium of video.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKdsGkYX20UA companion piece to a popular article on vintage Seiko diversRecently, I made my way up to Fratello HQ and I brought my complete ...
My Favorite Under-The-Radar Omega Speedmaster Watch
Last week I showed you my five picks for an Omega Speedmaster watch under 3,000 USD. Someone commented about the Speedmaster’57 “Replica” 3594.50. That Speedmaster watch wasn’t in there, and it should have been.I stand corrected. The Omega Speedmaster watch with reference 3594.50 is actually one of my personal favorites in my Speedmaster collection. The fact that it wasn’t in there, is that I thought it would be more expensive than $3000USD. But in fact, when looking on Chrono24, I can actually see some offers that are just below this amount. And that, my dear Speedmaster friends, makes it a very interesting purchase. So yes, the Speedmaster’57 “Repl...
Top-5 of vintage watches that I actually wear on a daily basis
Real watch aficionados love vintage watches. With real aficionados, I mean people who collect and admire watches for what they are as products. Investors love vintage watches as well. We’ve all seen vintage watches fetch dazzling prices at recent auctions. But are vintage watches, like their contemporary counterparts, suitable to wear on a daily basis?We need to get something out of the way here first. When is a watch considered vintage? Antique dealers consider a product antique when it’s 100 years or older. They consider a product vintage when it’s over 20 years of age. But in my opinion, a 20-year-old product can just be old as well. It seems that there’s more need...
Should The Tudor Submariner return?
The deep quietude of an odd summer brings about meandering thoughts. One such thought that came to mind is whether we should desire the return of the Tudor Submariner.Last week was a pretty big deal in the watch world. Tudor unveiled a new blue Black Bay Fifty-Eight. I wrote a quick summary of the release and explained that while it was a pretty simple move, it answered the call of many hungry fans. Since that time, we’ve seen nothing but positive comments on this relatively affordable in-house diver that happens to wear beautifully. And look, I like it - I really do, but I have my concerns. My concerns aren’t really related to this watch, but about Tudor in general. Somehow, I a...
Wrist Game Or Crying Shame: IWC Fliegerchronograph IW3706
Welcome back to Wrist Game or Crying Shame where, this week, we take a look at a mid 90s classic. The IWC Fliegerchronograph IW3706 is in focus. But firstLast week, we looked at the TAG Heuer Carrera 1964 that was reissued back in 1996. You lot truly enjoy a retro manual wind chronograph! Despite the fact that this model was a bit overpriced, it stopped, started, and reset all way to an 87% Wrist Game win. Let's stay in the same era and the same color scheme for that matter. Will the IWC Fliegerchronograph IW3706 have an on-time arrival or will it fail to leave the terminal?IWC rocked the ’90sI know that I bring this up somewhat frequently, but I just can't help it. IWC really had thei...
Are You Willing To Say Goodbye To Leather Straps? (2021)
Greubel Forsey has announced that it will cease to use leather straps across the board. Although I still use and buy leather straps, it is a move that I applaud. Not because I am against the use of leather, but because it helps raise awareness of some of the environmental issues the watch industry should be considering now before it is too late.With this step, Greubel Forsey wants to make the sacrifice and suffering of animals a thing of the past. This ban will become effective on January 1st, 2022. From that moment onwards, Greubel Forsey will only use high-quality plant-based materials. The specifications for the new plant-based straps are exactly the same as for its leather straps. They w...
We Have A Winner! SYE MOT1ON Automatic Giveaway (2021)
Well, it's been a long time coming but there was a moderately good reason for the delay: if you've not seen our latest limited edition release yet, check it out here - I've been eating, sleeping, and breathing Czapek for the past month as we cantered towards yesterday's reveal. Now, however, with the Antarctique birthed into the world, I had time to comb through the raft of brilliant answers to pick out my favorite and some honorable mentions. So, after a few weeks/2.5 months of waiting and wondering, let's find out who won the SYE MOT1ON.I was so impressed by so many of the answers you gave to my question - What is the cost ceiling for start-up brand watches powered by non-Swiss movements, ...
The Return Of The King: The Casio G-Shock GXW-56-1AER (2021)
All kneel! Let's celebrate the return of the King, AKA The Casio G-Shock GXW-56-1AER. And he's better than ever. To keep up with the times, the King now packs Multi-Band 6 for automatic radio time syncing. And although he's classified as a Classic by Casio, the King is also Tough Solar-powered - old-fashioned batteries be gone! The generous dimensions of this full digital watch remain the same and justify the nickname the King of G-Shock.The GX-56-1AER is dead, long live the GXW-56-1AER! One letter makes all the difference. The extra W means that the King of G-Shock has re-invented itself to stay on the throne for years to come. The king ditched the battery and got himself some Multi-Band 6,...
Baltic Aquascaphe Titanium A Lightweight Heavy Hitter
When I think of young, small, independent watch brands, two spring to mind as particularly interesting - Serica and Baltic. I do not know what it is about the French, but they just seem to have the aesthetics down to a tee. You may like or dislike their work, but you cannot deny that they have an eye for design. Baltic's new release is no exception. So let’s have a look at the brand-new Baltic Aquascaphe Titanium.The concept behind the Aquascaphe Titanium is simple. It is a more hardcore Aquascaphe Classique. It is the AMG or M version, if you will. A bit more performance-focused. Everything dialed up a notch.It is not all in the nameIt seems like the name might say it all. This is jus...
#TBT Fortis Marinemaster Ref. 8001 Discovering The Truth
On the “imaginative expectations vs. reality” chart, the Fortis Marinemaster ref. 8001 was instantly catapulted to one of the supreme positions. It’s a killer summer vintage chronograph. I invite you to take a look at the best shots ever taken of a GRAY Marinemaster.You see, there are two different Fortis Marinemaster ref. 8001 models. The first is the one with red-accented hands and striking yellow/red sub-registers - Mike already introduced it on #TBT a long seven years ago. And then, there is another one with blue-accented hands and black/blue sub-registers. I have to say that the yellow/red 8001 was unequivocally my preferred option. Well, it’s not anymore.Image s...
Rubber B SwimSkin Ballistic On The Omega Seamaster 300
I am seemingly on an endless quest to explore the strap options available for my Omega Seamaster 300. Admittedly, Omega limits the out-of-the-box choices for the new model. You have the stainless-steel bracelet - which is the one to go for - or the leather strap. And that’s it. At least for the previous models, there were two-tone bracelets (rose or yellow gold) and even titanium. But the latest 2021 reference 234.30.41.21.01.001 focuses only on stainless steel or leather. Omega offers a rubber strap option for the Seamaster Diver 300M, but there is none for the heritage-inspired Seamaster 300. While the aftermarket choices are plentiful, despite the awkward 21mm lug width, very few fo...
Hands-On: Hamilton Ventura XXL Skeleton Automatic
I love things that are quirky and out of the ordinary. They spice up normal life and make the world interesting. Of course, not all quirky things have a place in our hearts. But if an avant-garde asymmetric watch was good enough for Elvis, it's good enough for me. Let’s check out the Hamilton Ventura XXL Skeleton Automatic.Since breaking ground in 1957, the iconic Hamilton Ventura has evolved and stood the test of time from a design perspective. It has stayed relevant even as our wrists have grown in size. Hamilton came out with the Ventura XXL 13 years ago to cater to the big fellas. This year, the Ventura XXL Skeleton Automatic is not only a 46mm statement piece, but it's also a mech...
The Top 5 Quartz Watches You Can Buy New Today
Another Friday, another Top 5! After two lists of the worst and best brand ambassadors, it’s time to get back to watches - quartz watches, to be more precise. They are a curse to some and a blessing to others. There is no doubt that quartz watches influenced the way we experience the watch world today. Usually, we associate them with cheap and mass-produced timepieces, but there is most certainly a place for quartz in the world of luxury watches too. That’s why we picked a list of five quartz pieces that are simply great watches.When stating that a quartz watch is a “great watch,” it’s not just about accuracy. While this was the main driver behind the developmen...
Furlan Marri's Secular Perpetual Calendar For Only Watch
Fresh-faced watch brand Furlan Marri has announced its latest creation in collaboration with Dominique Renaud and Julien Tixier. The Secular Perpetual Calendar for Only Watch 2023 is a thoroughly impressive timepiece that combines innovation, precision, and fine watchmaking. This handcrafted unique piece features an all-new secular perpetual calendar module, marking a significant milestone for the brand as its most complex development to date.The Furlan Marri Secular Perpetual Calendar boasts an array of functions, including hours, minutes, the date, day of the week, month, and leap year indication on a central hand. Its perpetual calendar module is designed to accurately calculate time over...
The Latest Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Watches
Concept cars are the best cars in the world. The toned-down versions that reach production always show the permanent scars of endless meetings and cold, calculative Excel sheets. The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon GMT and Split Second Chronograph GMT Large Date show no signs of scars. These wild watch concepts are actually for sale! The only hindrance in acquiring an AP ROC is, of course, the very steep price. Luckily, at Fratello, we come across awesome Haute Horlogerie creations that we might never own but get to experience anyway.The fact that the first Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept watch made it to the shop floor in 2002 was never the brand's original intention. ...
Hands-On: Longines Spirit Zulu Time 39mm L3.802.5.53.2
This new Longines Spirit Zulu Time is yet another example that the St. Imier brand is on a roll lately. The people at Longines seem to listen to the watch community, which has clearly voiced a demand for smaller watches. After the initial Spirit Zulu Time debuted in a 42mm case, the watch also became available in a 39mm size. I went hands-on with the new 39mm reference L3.802.5.53.2, the gold and steel model with a brown ceramic bezel insert.Longines Spirit Zulu Time in steel and goldLongines shipped us this watch a few weeks ago, but I had the opportunity to try it on earlier this year. Although the 42mm version is not too big for me, I immediately concluded that the 39mm size was very comf...
Fratello Talks: Useless Features
In this 28th episode of Fratello Talks, hosts Lex, Thomas, and RJ discuss useless features in watches. It’s not only about complications that one never uses but also about useless functions, such as a power reserve indicator on an automatic watch or a screw-down crown on a 30m-water-resistant watch (yes, this exists). We also try to come up with features that haven’t been invented yet but would be useful....
Hands-On: Yema Skin Diver Slim CMM.20 Limited Edition
Yema’s latest release, the Skin Diver Slim CMM.20, celebrates the classic ’60s skin diver aesthetic in style. As a modern-day remake of the original Yema Skin Diver from 1963, the watch takes us back to the early days of the French brand. With the addition of a proprietary micro-rotor movement, we get the best of Yema’s vintage and modern sides. I had the opportunity to find out how the two sides of the brand match.Over the past few years, we have seen multiple re-editions of Yema’s famous Skin Diver from 1963. In 2020, the brand released the Superman Heritage 63, the first of two models celebrating the style of the first Yema dive watch. The return of the Skin Diver ...