PC-7 Team Training With Fortis In Switzerland Photo Essay
Fortis has been working hard to restructure their brand. Their goal is to keep the old values yet give a modern twist to the Grenchen-based watch manufacture. They skipped Baselworld this year to focus on this restructuring. From time to time we still hear from them though. Let that be a watch review, a bit of an inside information on what the future holds for them or an event. And we love to take part if we have the time to do it. The latter brought us together for a great even in Switzerland with PC-7. Here's our photo essay. Private LabelNot sure if there's another brand out there with close ties to flying squadrons, companies, and rescue forces than Fortis. Their Private label is a servi...
Rethinking Diameter Measurements With The Visual Impact Index
Have you ever read the diameter of a watch and instantly dismissed it as too small or too big for your wrist? We see this a lot. Oftentimes, in comment sections particularly, readers express a violent allergy to certain diameters. But the reality is that watch diameters on paper rarely reflect the way they look in real life. As such, I’ve started working on a formula that can give watch collectors a better idea of real-life appearance. I hope that we can refine it together and that it will become of some use to the wider WIS community.Since initial publication 7 am CET, July 17th, I’ve made a couple of explanatory updates and added a couple more dial elements, redefined the ̶...
CODE41 X41 Aerocarbon Watch 4th Edition Debuts
The CODE41 X41 Aerocarbon - the 4th edition of the popular X41 series - brings something new to the table. With a case made from a high tech carbon fiber material, more commonly found in the aeronautics and aerospace industry. With this new material containing the brand’s proprietary caliber, the Aerocarbon hopes to be the latest success in the brand’s ever-growing catalog.CODE41 has featured on Fratello in the past. As such, the team is very aware of the brand. Prior to writing this piece, I asked my colleagues for their opinions. They were decidedly mixed. And who can blame them? When watch brands push every ounce of energy they have into designing something that will stand out...
Hands-On With The Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight Navy Blue
Amongst Fratello team members, we were joking around what the review of the new Black Bay Fifty-Eight could be. Watch journalist life the easy way…” This is the new Tudor Black Bay 58!!! What’s new? It’s blue. Thanks for reading!” Oh, you’re still here? Let’s find out if there is more than a color change to the story of the Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight Navy Blue.As soon as word came out, Tudor was releasing a new watch; the buzz was everywhere. For the brand, releasing the blue version of the Black Bay Fifty-Eight is not only a logical next step but also a smart one. The overwhelming success of the initial Black Bay Fifty-Eight has created a massive d...
UNESCO Recognizes Watchmaking As An Intangible Cultural Heritage Of Humanity
It took place not long ago, but here at Fratello we still think it’s worth having a look back at the significance of UNESCO recognizing watchmaking as an Intangible Cultural Heritage Of Humanity. Before we begin, we can all let out a collective sigh of relief. Because yes, dear watch lover, you were right all along: watches and watchmaking have meaning and relevance. Watchmaking has shaped the architecture, urban landscape, and everyday social reality in the countless French and Swiss Jura towns watchmakers are active. Watchmaking continues to do so today, in keeping with its rich tradition. And it’s all thanks to those determined watchmakers who act as the Guardians of Watchmaki...
The New URWERK UR-100V P.02 Is Ready For Takeoff!
Forgive me if you already know of Collective (yes, there’s no “The”). I was not quite as fortunate as you until these past couple of weeks. I wasn’t acutely aware of Collective even though I had previously seen its collaboration with Zenith among my daily watch news scrolling. It was a handsome watch in a clear and stark white & grey color scheme. Now the fine folks at Collective are back with their third collaborative project, one that got me incredibly excited when I first caught wind of it: the URWERK UR-100V P.02.I am fortunate to get the inside track on many happenings in this beautiful industry before they become general knowledge. Such is the privileged pos...
Fratello On Air: URWERK & Collective In The Studio (2021)
Over in article land, my good friend Dave Sergeant has written up the new release from URWERK and Collective today, so please feel free to check that out at your leisure for a detailed look at the watch itself and Dave’s hot takes, and what is his favorite base model in the URWERK catalog.On the Podcast today, however, we’re diving into the background of this project with Martin Frei of URWERK fame and co-founder of Collective, Asher Rapkin. Collective is a US-based group of watch lovers that works directly with brands to create thoughtful, imaginative, and emotive special edition pieces available to the members of the movement only....
Bremont Apex Waterman Limited Edition Hands-On
Nothing beats a watch with a good story. The most popular kind is undoubtedly a historical story about the actual watch. Such a tale is easy to relate to and often gives a watch instant credibility (if the story adds up, that is). But with so many historical watch stories out there, it can be hard to develop a relatable narrative for an actual new watch. Bremont's latest, however, comes with a story that I love. The Bremont Apex Waterman was developed for the brand’s new ambassador, Laird Hamilton. He is one of the biggest names in big wave surfing and, more specifically, one of the inventors of tow-in surfing. So I was more than happy to take this watch out for a ride.My interest in b...
New Spinnaker Spence 300 Automatic Dive Watch (2022)
Spinnaker is the name of a type of headsail used for yachts or racing boats. It is also the name of a microbrand specializing in nautical-style watches. The brand's team has been teasing its fanbase via the website and social channels that a new watch is due to launch in the coming days. Here’s a sneak peek at Spinnaker’s latest creation, the attractive and approachable Spence 300 automatic dive watch.Spinnaker has been around for some years now with a reputation for its affordable watches among forum enthusiasts. It is one of a dozen stablemates in the brand portfolio operated by a UK-based company called Dartmouth Brands Limited. Spinnaker’s watches are made in the Far Ea...
Diving With The Bicolor Oris Aquis Date Calibre 400
What happens if you take a watch diving that obviously isn’t aimed at divers? Admittedly, Oris offers the Aquis as a divers’ watch, and within the collection, some models do fit that role… If any mechanical divers’ watch would, that is. But the two-tone Oris Aquis Date Caliber 400 that I took out for diving undoubtedly aims to be more beautiful than functional. Nevertheless, it surely didn’t disappoint. Here’s the story.A week or so before my diving trip to Croatia, I discussed with my colleagues at Fratello HQ which watch(es) I should bring. Coincidentally, at the same time, our local Dutch Oris hero Gijs (pronounced “gice“, rhyming with ̶...
#TBT The Pumped-Up Tourist RotorAutomatic
I don’t know if it was the early power reserve indicator, the epic case style, or the -like novel printed on the dial, but I wanted this Tourist RotorAutomatic the second I spotted it. Oh, and it didn’t help that I’m a sucker for this brand.The not-too-significant Tourist watch manufacturer holds a special place in my heart. My relationship with Tourist started to form some five or six years ago when I landed the?dead-seconds Tourist Radio-Top. The world’s first electrically lit watch, the?Tourist Everlight, fascinated me so much that I decided to get together the entire range. After that, my sensors became fully atuned to the slightest Tourist mention.Tourist RotorAu...
Introduing: The Ianos Chronopassion Mihanikos
Collaborations embody a strong sense of partnership between brands and those passionate enough about the brands to assist in designing watches alongside them. Additionally, if a collaborator is also an authorized seller of the brand, execution is doubly important. The Ianos Chronopassion Mihanikos is not your average brand/retailer collaboration, as we will see.Pre-order surpriseThere are many high-profile names in the world of horology. From collectors to retailers to brand owners, when certain names are involved, enthusiasts’ attention follows. As the founder of Chronopassion, a retailer established in 1988 and based on an enthusiasm for horology, Laurent Picciotto needs no introduct...
Hand-Winding Perpetual Calendars: Watches We Just Don't Get
I just don't get it! It's a phrase often heard inside Fratello HQ. Most of the time, this cry of despair relates to aesthetic matters and incomprehensible design choices. But sometimes it also involves functional matters. And that's what this new series is all about. Watches We Just Don’t Get is about stuff we can't wrap our heads around from a practical and functional standpoint. You can expect personal views/rants on automatic watches with a power reserve indicator on the dial, dive watches with a tourbillon movement, and my kick-off contribution to the series, hand-winding perpetual calendars.Writing about watches is not without risk. It can reveal personal flaws and inconsistencies...
Fratello Talks: Watch Photography
Welcome, one and all, to this week’s episode of Fratello Talks! Today, two of the men behind the lenses here at Fratello sit for a chat about watches, photography, and the sweet spot where those two things meet. Morgan and Nacho share their stories on how they first discovered photography and eventually started shooting watches. They also share some tips and tricks they’ve found (the hard way), which may help you become a better watch photographer. All that and more, but not before…...
Hands-On: Cuervo Y Sobrinos Historiador Crongrafo 1946
I have a great soft spot for Cuervo y Sobrinos. The brand with Cuban roots offers exotic timepieces that stand out immediately. Quite a few of them could be described as an acquired taste. But if you like the brand’s style, there is plenty of goodness to be found in its collection. The latest addition is the Cuervo y Sobrinos Historiador Crongrafo 1946. It’s a limited-edition chronograph that is a tribute to the year that the inaugural Historiador model debuted. This new chronograph takes inspiration from the great age of classic chronographs and combines it with modern execution for exceptional results. Cuervo y Sobrinos pleasantly surprised me again!My love for Cuervo y Sobrin...
Hands-On: The Cimier 711 Heritage Chronograph
You may have never heard of Cimier, but in the early 1970s, the brand produced over 1.5 million watches annually. Unfortunately, despite developing a quartz movement, Cimier struggled during the Quartz Crisis. Eventually, the company reopened its doors in 2003 after mechanical watches had become “cool” (again), opened the Watch Academy in 2010, and started to work on new collections. Today, Cimier’s HQ is in Bienne, Switzerland, and the folks there have sent us the 711 Heritage Chronograph for review.Cimier 711 Heritage ChronographAccording to Cimier, this watch takes inspiration from the brand’s Sport Chronograph, with the sub-dials in unusual positions at 11 and 7 o...
Another OysterQuartz
Another OysterQuartz fansite here. However, only for the people who can read German. However, if you click here, you can download some QuickTime movies on these watches and their movements....
Omega Speedmaster: 39 years ago it became the Moonwatch
This is an older article, in the meanwhile, some new facts came to light to NASA and OMEGA. We did a new write-up, validated by OMEGA, on how the Speedmaster became the Moonwatch. Click here.39 years ago, on July 21st 1969, 2:56 AM (GMT), Neil Armstrong became the first man to set foot on the moon. For us watch freaks, it is nice to know that not Neil Armstrong was the first to set a foot on the moon wearing an Omega Speedmaster Professional but Edwin ‘Buzz’ Aldrin was the first astronaut to wear the Omega Speedmaster Professional on the surface of the moon. The technical debrief in 1969 states that the Neil Armstrong’s watch was left behind in the capsule since the mission...
Interview With Morten Linde of Linde Werdelin
Interview with Morten LindeLinde Werdelin is headed by Morten Linde and Jorn Werdelin. These two Danish guys have been friends since childhood and decided to start a watch brand together in 2002. We have interviewed Jorn – who’s responsible for the commercial side of the brand – a couple of times, but now decided to ask Morten Linde a few questions. Morten Linde is the creative director of the brand, which means that he is not only responsible for the design of the watch, but basically for the whole watch, packaging, the website and so on.Fratello Watches: Morten, can you tell us something about your background as a designer?Morten Linde: I like to be surrounded by beautifu...
Speedy Tuesday Speedmaster GTG Dusseldorf Event Report
A few weeks ago we announced that we would host a Speedmaster GTG in Dusseldorf and last Saturday was ‘the day’. As close to the 20th of July as possible, when the moon landing took place in 1969. In this article you will find our event report, with lots of images taken during the day and evening.If you were there we hope you had a blast and if you were not there, I hope it is an inspiration to join us next time. A special thank you to Christopher Haas who helped us finding a great location for the event and who made the reservation. Another thank you to all 30 guests who joined us last Saturday. We had a wonderful time and were happily surprised by the watches you brought with y...