TAG Heuer Carrera Red Dial Limited Edition
Athletes have always been in the spotlight. Some have even turned into style icons. George Best (1946C2005) was probably the first football player to reach playboy status because of his swagger. Yes, the Northern Irish winger for Manchester United from 1963 to 1974 was a truly phenomenal player, but he was also known as a hard-partying, womanizing, and fashion-conscious jet-setter. You either wanted to be like him or be with him. Unfortunately, it didn't end well for Best, but let's not get into that right now. Instead, let’s stick with watches and style. Best would have rocked a red-dialed Heuer Carrera reference 2447 if only Jack Heuer had released such a colorful version back in the...
Bespoke Holthinrichs Ornament On A Beige Kaufmann Strap
The Strap Check series is a favorite of mine as I am an unrepentant strap-a-holic. If I look down at my wrist, chances are that the watch I'm wearing is on one of four or five straps that I like to swap around. It is by far the easiest way to renew a watch while keeping one’s collection small and focused (despite how much I struggle with the latter). Some straps, however, find their forever home, and in this case, that is true for a Kaufmann alligator strap on a very special Dutch watch.I could easily name my bespoke Holthinrichs Ornament “The One”, the watch that I will never sell. It is one of my more expensive pieces, but that's not the reason. I got it to mark a big bir...
The Seiko SPB143 Revisited Is It A Perfect Dive Watch?
To some of you, it may come as a surprise to hear that I first got my hands on the Seiko SPB143 only a couple of weeks ago. The watch has been out for a couple of years now and has quickly become a crowd favorite. It's readily available at most Seiko ADs and boutiques, and Seiko HQ was happy to send one over for me to check out and review. But there was a certain build-up of expectations that took place over the last year and a half because the model became widely popular. I saw it almost every day on my Instagram feed.Expectations were high, and sometimes that makes for a disappointing reality. Therefore, my idea was to allow the hype and expectations to die down before finally meeting a wa...
Fratello's Top 5 Modern Watches Indiana Jones Would Wear
Last week, Fratello’s very own no.1 Barbie fan, Thor, created a list of watches with hot pink dials. Not salmon, but loud, in-your-face pink. His fun list was inspired by the worldwide release of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie. This week, we continue the topic of combining movies and watches. It’s been roughly a month since the fifth and last Indiana Jones movie, ‘The Dial Of Destiny,’ came out. While reactions to the movie have been lukewarm, the movie does mean the end of an era. An era we discussed more than once at the Fratello offices. Part of those talks were also Indy’s watches. Is there space in Dr. Jones’ watch box for more than the official Ha...
The New Swatch Bioceramic WHAT IF? Collection
It is the start of the 1980s, and the executives of Swatch are deciding whether to launch their first watch in a square or round case. In a photo of Swatch's prototypes from 1981, we can make out a square option being considered. But in the end, they chose to focus on the more common round watch face designs. Swatch went on to have a massive influence on the history of Swiss watchmaking. But today, the brand looks back and considers the alternative. Today it introduces the Swatch bioceramic WHAT IF? collection.Swatch has now released this new?collection to riff off the design path that the watchmaker may have gone down if history had gone a different way. Even Swatch's video advertising of t...
Introducing The New Fears Brunswick Boutique Editions
Dial colors are always contentious, trust me. While I certainly understand the versatility and legibility of a matte black dial with big lume plots, it also makes me feel a little depressed. But there is a perfect middle ground inhabited by chameleon-like darker colors, and the new Fears Brunswick Boutique Editions might hit the sweet spot better than most.Exclusive colors and boutique editions usually come with a price tag and a real-or-created time pressure, building up on the collectors’ FOMO. But Fears Managing Director Nicholas Bowman-Scargill plays the magnanimous card with these two, with no premium or limited numbers. But what exactly does Mallard Green bring to the table?First...
The Original Swatch Grand Prix Vs. The Neon To The Max
One of the most coveted Swatch models is the famous 1992 Grand Prix reference SCJ101. Unlike Nacho (who bought several of them), I have never found one in good condition and for a reasonable price. A NOS example will easily fetch $800 or more, which I find too much for a disposable watch. Because when it's broken, it's probably unrepairable. You can find examples for half of the mentioned amount, but often with a little defect or significant damage to the case. Let's also not forget that the plastic straps of the time don't age well and will break at some point.The lucky guy himself is wearing his original Swatch Grand Prix SCJ101The 1992 Swatch Grand Prix SCJ101The Swatch Grand Prix SCJ101 ...
The Trilobe Reconciliation For Only Watch 2023
Trilobe has unveiled the Reconciliation as its entry into the Only Watch 2023 line-up. Drawing inspiration from Kintsugi ( @ ), a Japanese art form that turns broken pottery into a fine object, this one-of-a-kind timepiece is set to take center stage at the tenth edition of the biannual charity event. There, it will be auctioned off to support research into Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a severe neuromuscular disease primarily affecting young boys at a ratio of 1 in 3,500.The backstory of Trilobe’s involvement in Only Watch is as bold as its timepieces. A few months after launching Trilobe, Gautier Massonneau (the founder and Creative Director) had a chance encounter with Luc Pettavin...
Hands-On With The Handsome Tuseno Windseeker V2
It seems that the genre of elegant, everyday sports watch will never cease to be popular. This type of timekeeping device could best be described as the perfect candidate for a “one-watch collection.” For some enthusiasts and collectors, it's the one they can reach for every morning regardless of what's on the schedule. A day at the office? No problem. A family hike on the weekend? You got it. A first showing of the latest Scorsese movie in Hollywood? You're ready. In other words, it’s the kind of watch that strikes the perfect balance between functionality, everyday elegance, and robustness.Today, we're going to take a look at one such timepiece that, I believe, is within ...
Ocean Star Decompression Timer Vs. C65 Super Compressor Elite
It’s finally getting warmer here in the Netherlands, and many people are already enjoying their summer vacations. That means it’s time to dig up those funky, colorful dive watches and wear the hell out of them while diving, swimming, hiking, or relaxing next to your tent. We’ll do the same today during another Sunday Morning Showdown. This time, it’ll be a heated battle between the recently introduced C65 Super Compressor Elite from Christopher Ward and the Mido Ocean Star Decompression Timer 1961. These are two lively and colorful dive watches, each with a distinct flair and features.Both these watches display a colorful decompression scale on their dials. Divers use...
Oops, they did it again...
We all know that Omega was chosen to be the supplier of the watch for NASA astronauts, this watch, is the famous Speedmaster Professional. Until now, every once in a while Omega introduces some sort of tribute to the Moonwatch. Most of them are standard Speedmaster Professional models with inscriptions on the caseback or on the side of the case. Like this one here.Omega also presented a case full of ‘Mission’ Speedmaster Professional models, these had a missionpatch on the subregister at 9 o’clock. For the “Last Man on the Moon” mission, they even introduced a model with a Snoopy figure in the subregister at 9 o’clock and a big Snoopy picture on the case...
Knight Industries Two Thousand
Knight Industries Two Thousand, or K.I.T.T, the car driven by Michael Knight in the 1980s hit TV-series ‘Knight Rider’. Michael Knight communicated with his fabulous car (based on a Pontiac Trans Am) via his wrist watch.A??guy over at the Dutch ‘DeZinVanLuxe‘ watch forum, asked for a replica of this K.I.T.T. wrist watch. It seems to be a Nelsonic or Advance Digital Radio Watch.Someone in the forum replied that there is this Japanese site, with full instructions on how to build your own K.I.T.T wrist watch. The only thing you need, is a car to communicate with. Click here for the Do It Yourself page.However, if you prefer a more up to date wrist watch with similar feat...
Leather One Watch Winder
I am a huge fan of watch winders. The practical ones that is, the ones that don’t take up too much space and do the job right. Now, I have written on winders before (a 2009 watch winder review and one in 2005) and always wrote that you should be on the look-out for a programmed or programmable winder. This means that the winder will work a few programs in such a way that your watch gets enough excercise to keep on running. Although I can’t imagine that you are still able to overwind your watch, a running watch is still better than a watch that stands still. This probably has something to do with the synthetic oil that thickens a bit after a long period of non-wear.Anyway, the Lea...
Vintage Speedmaster Mark II Buyer's Advice
Buyer’s Advice: A vintage Speedmaster Mark IITo everybody who likes watches, this might sound familiar: when it comes to purchasing a new watch your friends, family members or colleagues might seek out advice from you. Not too long ago a friend of mine asked me which vintage Omega he should buy. His criteria were: it should be reliable, shouldn’t break the bank, can be used as a tool, and have a nice wrist presence. So when he asked me which watch should he get I gave him some buyer’s advice and said “Omega Speedmaster (Professional) Mark II”. If you are into vintage and fancy any or all of the above features this is the watch for you too.Let's start with the ob...
The Seiko Boutique Opens in Frankfurt
There's no doubt that Frankfurt is becoming a watch shopper's paradise. Aside from several prominent multi-brand retailers, the city now features boutiques from Omega, Jaeger Le-Coultre, Patek Philippe (as part of Bucherer), Hublot, TAG Heuer, Sinn and, the latest, Seiko. The Japanese mega brand is the focus of our story today as a new boutique has recently opened in mainland Europe's financial center. A view of the showcases along the right wallEurope has been undergoing some serious heat, and Friday, June 17th was no exception. I met up with Robert-Jan in the early evening in front of the new Seiko boutique and the temperatures were still in the mid 90's (mid 30's for the Celsius-inclined)...
Grand Seiko SBGM021 Automatic GMT Hands-On Review
Grand Seiko SBGM021The Grand Seiko SBGM021 is not a new model. Actually, it has been in the collection for a couple of years already. However, I had a closer look at it while I was in Japan and have admired it ever since. In fact, my interest was sparked even more when I saw it on the wrist of – friend of the show – Jason Heaton. Even though it does not have the sharp and long lugs and case shape like the Grand Seiko SBGH001?for example, I feel it is one of the nicest Grand Seikos out there.The ivory dial of the Grand Seiko SBGM021 and high polished markers and hands give this wonderful contrast. At first glance, it may not register as a ‘Hingucker’ (eye-catcher) as t...
Seiko Marinemaster 300 SLA021J1 Still the best in class?
Without creating any noise about it, Seiko sneaked in a new version of the Marinemaster: the Prospex Marinemaster 300 SLA021J1.The Marinemaster 300 was my introduction to the more expensive Seiko diver’s watches. I had a Sumo at the time, which I loved, but then I got to meet the Marinemaster 300 with reference SBDX001. It was a real eye-opener to see what Seiko was able to do for the $2000 price tag it had. The review I wrote back then, became one of our best-read articles of all-time. Since then, in early 2015, the Marinemaster 300 became a very loyal companion on many of my trips. Both professionally and privately, especially when there was a pool or a sea involved.Marinemaster 300 ...
Seiko Prospex SRPE29 And SRPE31 Hands-On Watch Review
Some years, certain brands can do no wrong. And that isn’t to say that I personally adore every single release Seiko has put out this year (I don’t), but I must commend the company for dropping so many stars in what has been a busy year for the brand already. And I find myself thanking the heavens that Seiko was able to step up to the plate during such uncertain times. How awful would 2020 have been without this wealth of news? Models like the Seiko Prospex SRPE29 and SRPE31 make lockdown all the more bearable…Let me expand on my feelings towards the watches Seiko has released this year. I said they weren’t all to my liking. You deserve to know exactly what I mean by ...
Hands-On With The Rado Captain Cook in Green
The Captain Cook collection has been a tremendous success and is, quite simply, responsible for putting Rado back on the map for many enthusiasts. And I’m including myself in that category. So let’s take a closer look at the new green version of this 1962 classic to see if we can figure out why.Back in 2017, Rado surprised me - and probably all of us - by reintroducing the Captain Cook range. I always associated Rado with the ceramic watches that I saw so often back in the 1990s on the wrists of neighbors, friends of my parents, at the tennis club, and so on. The only Rado in the collection that appealed to me was the Diastar. But, that changed in 2017. The Captain Cook was intro...
??#TBT Vintage Lume Perfection The 2nd Generation Lanco Barracuda
If you don't have thirteen grand to spend on the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Barakuda, I might just happen to have a solution to your problem. Do you find yourself in this predicament? Then go on the hunt for a vintage Lanco Barracuda! I wouldn't recommend actually diving with it, but it can certainly save you about eleven or twelve thousand to spend elsewhere - On other watches of course.At the end of the day, Blancpain even doesn't even put “Barakuda” on the dial. And just take a look at that magnificent font that Lanco used when writing “Barracuda” on the dial between the eight and four o'clock positions. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Let me take you through ...