CastellationsLooking back in history, ramparts would provide protection to those residing within the confines of a city or castle. Indeed, there have been many noblemen who have been grateful for the protection afforded by substantial castellated walls.The battlements of medieval castles appeared to majestically interface with the clouds above whilst keeping the inhabitants safe. Their strength ha

Custom Made Strap For A Speedmaster ’57It’s Speedy Tuesday! Just last week we received an e-mail from one of our readers that he just bought his first Omega Speedmaster hand-wound watch. It is an Omega Speedmaster ’57 reference 3594.50 that was in production from 1997 to 2003 (roughly). Our reader adds that his watch has a custom made strap. Made by… himself!Our reader Jan

If you're a regular Fratello reader, then you've likely noticed that we've started to focus heavily on watches from Fortis and today we take a look at what is probably one of their most eagerly followed pieces: the Fortis Classic Cosmonauts Chronograph.In 2015, Blaise and I met with the brand in Basel and we could tell that things were moving in the right direction with the launch of some newer, a

Last Friday evening, we hosted an event in Amsterdam together with Seiko, to celebrate the introduction of the new Prospex LX collection.The new Prospex LX collection was introduced in Baselworld and received with a lot of enthusiasm. From us as well, as these watches seem to be the next big step in their professional series. All equipped with a Spring Drive caliber 5R movement and the case and br

We all know meanwhile that many Swiss Made labeled watches are not entirely made in Switzerland. The ‘Swiss Made’ label is protected by Swiss law since 1971, and its requirements several times strengthened since. Even the last enhanced requirements, dating from January 1st, 2017, do not specify that a watch has to be entirely made in Switzerland.Ultramarine Morse GMT 3914A is I.O.E.S.S

And we’re back with another episode of Wrist Game or Crying Shame, the weekly go or no go article where you choose whether to launch. This week, we take a look at a modern rendition of the Speedmaster Mark II. But first…The old saying of size doesn’t matter rang true regarding last week’s Air-King for $3,950. Despite its un-kingly diameter of 34mm and lofty price tag of $3

Today, Omega introduces its gent’s Constellation 41mm. We had the opportunity to go hands-on with the new Constellation 41mm, a watch based on the 1982 “Manhattan”.If you’re looking for a historical overview of the Constellation Manhattan, check out our previous articles here and here. The Omega Constellation 41mm watch is very similar to the recently introduced 39mm versio

If you were to ask watch enthusiasts what their favorite complication is, the answers will be very diverse. Ask them to list the most practical, and it is likely that GMT functionality would land near the top. Especially for frequent travelers, a GMT watch is the perfect timepiece. The all-new quartz Grand Seiko SBGN011 and SBGN013 could be the ideal travel companion for many of those frequent tra

Since 2018 (!), Omega has been introducing special watches to commemorate the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. I secured my favorite from the five Speedmaster Tokyo 2020 watches, and afterward, they also introduced a beautiful Seamaster Diver 300M, Aqua Terra, and Planet Ocean that commemorates the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Now, however, it is time to bring the big guns. Meet the 18ct gold Omega Seamaste

It's not impossible to get your hands on them today. They pop up a few times a year, but you need to be very careful and check the condition very thoroughly. Especially if the asking price approaches the $5,000 mark.Speaking of the price. While it seems quite high for a?Mido watch, actually it's not that much when you compare its quality, features, and uniqueness with any other highly regarded chr

We have been a fan of the Unimatic brand for some time now at Fratello. Their fresh approach to watch design combined with a constant flow of exciting limited offerings has delivered outstanding results. When the word came out that the guys at Unimatic and our friends from Hodinkee have been working on a limited edition release, I was all ears. But as it turns out, we were in for a surprise. The H

Some may know Hong Kong-based Crafter Blue for its aftermarket rubber straps to customize your Tudor or your Seiko for instance. But Crafter Blue also makes watches. The deep-diving Hyperion Ocean 600m with its powerful neo-retro appearance, for instance. The latest creation is a diver's chronograph that one day miraculously showed up at Fratello HQ without any information accompanying it. That's

When we introduced the watch last week, the reception was overwhelming. The Czapek love is real, and today I'm super excited because the watches are available to pre-order over on the Fratello Shop. The Fratello Czapek Antarctique Passage de Drake Viridian Green is a limited edition of only 50 pieces, so pre-order now to avoid disappointment!If you've been following along the pages of Fratello, yo

Switzerland, again. The mood on the train changes dramatically as we depart Basel Badischer Bahnhof in Germany and sidle over the border. Masks are removed and suddenly the carriage erupts with a chatter that had been previously stunted by the face coverings still mandatory in Deutschland. Soon, the wide, sun-scorched landscape of Baden-Wurttemberg gives way to the lusher, greener fields of Neucha

In July of 1952, Commander James Simpson of the British Royal Navy led a group of scientists and military personnel on a mission to Northern Greenland. This mission, known as the British North Greenland Expedition (or BNGE) involved conducting seismological and gravimetric surveys. Additionally, a number of scientific studies in geology, meteorology, physiology, and glaciology were also carried ou

There weren't a lot of classes that I liked during high school, but I did enjoy the history lessons. I hope you felt and still feel the same because you need to know history to fully appreciate the Waltham brand. The Waltham Watch Company, also known as American Waltham Watch Co. and American Watch Co.,was an American company from Waltham, Massachusetts - why think of a fancy brand name, right? Th

Just like that, the 2022 edition of the Fratello Summer Splash has come to an end. But don't be sad, my dear reader. There's no need to fret! While the Summer Splash may be over, the summer has only just begun! We hope that this month-long quest has inspired you to keep things colorful this summer. I say this despite the fact that our finalists were a little bit on the conservative side. Thankfull

It’s time to talk about Baltic! With the Premier Quantime Perpetuel, the young French brand is making a grand second appearance at the illustrious Only Watch charity auction in Geneva on November 5th, 2023. This biennial event attracts the crme de la crme of the watch industry, all rallying for a worthy cause - combating Duchenne muscular dystrophy. There’s something about a room fu

As a trained anthropologist, I’ve always been taught that you should tell people what your starting point is. So I’ll also do that in the case of this hands-on with the large Cartier Santos in both green and blue. As you might already know, my Cartier Santos Galbee XL is one of my favorite watches. I think a Cartier watch should always be a little smaller than average with a white/silv

If you’ve been into watches for a while now, you’ve likely come across the Tornek-Rayville name. The brand behind the Tornek-Rayville Paradive, which I’ll be reviewing today, has a brief but fascinating history in the world of military watches. But it won’t be just the name that rings a bell. Looking at the watch in question, you’ll likely recognize its asymmetrical c