Seiko SPB317 Vs. Baltic Aquascaphe Titanium
As the title shows, this week’s Sunday Morning Showdown is between the Seiko SPB317 and the Baltic Aquascaphe Titanium. But this showdown doesn’t just involve two particular watches. On top of that, it’s also about the differences between the more established brands and the new kids on the block. It’s impressive heritage versus young bravura. It’s being too big to handle versus being lean, mean, and agile. And it’s also Daan versus Jorg because they will take each other on in today’s battle.They will go over the differences between the two and why you might choose either one. And indeed, there’s definitely something to say in favor of both side...
New: Two Bicolor Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatches
Today, Omega is expanding its Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch collection with two new bicolor/two-tone models. It’s an exciting day for those who may have wanted the latest movement and updates but found the all-steel models too boring and all-gold versions too expensive. In other words, these two new Moonwatch variants could be the perfect middle ground.For a long time, aside from special and limited editions, Omega's Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch was only available in stainless steel with a black dial and either a Hesalite or sapphire crystal. After introducing the current Moonwatch with caliber 3861 in 2021, the brand added Sedna, Moonshine, and Canopus Gold models. A few mo...
Back To Basics: How To Read A Watch's Spec Sheet
I am happy to bring you another installment of Back to Basics, the series aimed at newcomers to our beautiful watch hobby. This time, we will have a closer look at watches’ spec sheets. A spec sheet serves as the manufacturer's effort to capture a watch in numbers and facts. But what do these mean, and how should we value them in our evaluations of a watch and, ultimately, purchase decisions?I will try to answer those questions here. As always with Back to Basics, the primary aim is to help budding watch enthusiasts find their footing. However, if you are a seasoned collector, there may still be something here for you. Everyone is also invited to weigh in with additional tips in the co...
Hands-On: New Seiko Astron Limited Editions With Starry Dials
Maybe it's because the Seiko Astron is the world's first GPS solar watch that I have a weak spot for it. From the moment the very first ginormous 47mm version came out, I was sold on the idea of having a watch that connects to the GPS network and gets all its necessary energy from light. In particular, I strongly believe that using a solar-powered quartz movement is the way to go. I know I'm not the only one who hates to deal with battery changes, though my concern for the state of our planet drives my appreciation for non-battery movements even more. Anyway, Seiko has released two new Astron limited editions, the SSH157 and SSJ027. Both use solar-powered movements and are limited to 1,500 u...
Hands-On: The Praesidus C-47 A-11 D-Day
On the 6th of June this year, it will have been exactly 80 years since D-Day took place on the beaches of Normandy. By that day’s end, 156,000 Allied troops successfully stormed the French beaches during Operation Overlord. To commemorate this historic day, Praesidus releases the special C-47 A-11 D-Day. This version of the brand’s A-11 field watch features a dial made from two “Hamburger” doors of the C-47 airplanes that were part of D-Day. I had a chance to go hands-on with one of these special timepieces that reminds us of the day that eventually led to the end of World War II.Over the past few years, I’ve gone hands-on with several Praesidus watches. The bra...
Bas and his rattling Speedmaster Pro
Bas van Dorp emailed me the following story:Some months ago, I went snowboarding for a week with some friends. As everyyear, I just wear my Omega Speedmaster Pro during snowboarding. I figured thata Speedmaster Pro should be able to deal with this quite easily.However, after a few days on the slopes, I noticed a rattling sound comingfrom my watch. It sounded as if something had come loose. Ooops! The watchwas was still running, but I had these visions of what could happen when apart would get stuck in the escapement or somewhere in the geartrain. Igathered all my courage and I decided it was the best thing to to open thewatch immediately.I didn’t have a caseback tool at hand, and th...
Cartier Santos 100 Carbon To The Gym
Today, I had a drink with some watch friends and one of them was wearing this Cartier Santos 100 Carbon. Geo, the owner and moderator of the Cartier forum over at Revo-Online, handed over the watch and I was blown away by the stealth look of this otherwise ‘classic’ watch brand. The stainless steel case had a ADLC treatment, the bezel and crown have been made out of titanium and the folding buckle is also a combination of ADLC stainless steel and titanium. This watch comes with a black fabric strap which perfectly underlines the ‘stealth’ look of this Santos 100 Carbon.The case measures 51.1mm x 42.6mm and with these dimensions, you better get some exercise to make it...
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Watch 1
Earlier this year, during a visit to Munich, I walked into this little watch shop near the city center and I was amazed by the collection they had. Tried on an AP ROO Diver and decided that could become my next watch, or at least earned a spot in my want-list. I am talking Meertz World of Time in Munich here. A cool watch store with a lot of vintage , Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos clocks and a lot of other brands.Today, I noticed that Meertz has this cool Royal Oak Concept 1 watch by Audemars Piguet up for sale. It dates back to 2004 and was limited to 150 pieces only. Introduced in 2002 (there was a special catalogue for this model and also AP’s famous #1, #2 and #3 catalogues? mentioned th...
The Omega Speedmaster That Went To The Moon
Omega Speedmaster Pro ‘Moonwatch’This is our second Speedy Tuesday on Fratello Watches and this week’s pick is the Omega Speedmaster Professional with reference number 105.012 and caliber 321 movement. Every Omega Speedmaster enthusiast knows that this is the same model that went to the Moon on the wrist of Neil Armstrong (we covered it here).Besides the pictured Omega Speedmaster ref. 105.012, astronaut Collins was wearing a similar model, the Speedmaster ref.145.012. Buzz Aldrin supposedly wore the 105.003 (pre-Professional), but this watch got stolen afterwards.Speedmaster fan Jmsrolls (John) shot a picture of his ref.105.012 Speedy on a 1969 copy of National Geographics...
Sinn 656 L with its luminous dial on 52Mondayz week #23
It can easily be told that I love watches with black dials. I just mentioned that only 5 of the last fifteen 52Mondayz watches were not equipped with a black dial. This week will be number 6, the Sinn 656 L.Sinn 656 L, ref 656.015 52Mondayz, week #23During Baselworld 2011 Sinn presented a 656 with, what on first sight looked, a cream dial. It was a prototype just to test the water. Sinn wasn’t sure about the reactions of the public, and would produce the watch depending on the reactions at the fair.Looking like a cream dialThe dial, during daylight with a colour as cream as the Explorer-II cream dial, turned out to be a so called lume dial. A dial on which the base material has the lu...
Photoshoot IWC Ingenieur Chronograph Sport Edition AMG 50th anniversary
It’s not everyday that you get to drive an AMG but with the launch of the new IWC Ingenieur Chronograph Sport Edition for the 50th anniversary of AMG we received an invite that brought back memories of our AMG on Ice experience earlier this year. Only this time we went to the AMG headquarter in Affalterbach, near Stuttgart in Germany. With a tight schedule in multiple countries we travelled there by car instead of the usual plane.So after picking up our rental we went towards Germany where we arrived after a few hours. Time to change the Mercedes 180 for an AMG GT s and the AMG E?63 s. As soon as we sat down behind the wheel we wait for the magic words “ESP off”, but that i...
Speedy Tuesday Meet Bruno Balic, Who Creates 3D Renderings Of The Speedmaster
One can be creative on many different levels. Today we want to introduce Bruno Balic to you. Bruno creates stunning renderings of objects, including the Speedmaster chronograph.Besides following certain people on Instagram, I also follow everything #SpeedyTuesday of course. I see the most beautiful images that people made of their Speedmaster or Speedmaster collections. About two weeks ago, I came across some stunning 3D images by an Instagram user called @mrspeedmaster. I’ve always had an interest in computer graphics and in a far past, I used some AutoDesk software myself to create drawings (study related). To cut a long story short, I admire one who masters the use of creating 3D mo...
Visit Report: La Lune Exhibition In The Grand Palais
Frequent readers know that, here at Fratello, we love things related to space travel. Probably ignited by the Omega Speedmaster Professional, a.k.a. the Moonwatch, however meanwhile extended to general astronautics. Of interest are space crafts like rockets, space shuttles, manned satellites, and more.The entrance of the exhibition at the Champs Elysees side of the Grand PalaisLa Lune Exhibition in ParisOur interest goes to flown objects, watches at best, but even pieces of protective foil will do. Then there are?space-related?items, like astronaut-used pens, cameras, and even space-related toys and comics. As examples, I want to mention LEGO models of the Saturn V rocket and lunar lander, a...
Hands-on with the Urwerk Black Cobra UR-111C
When you think of Urwerk the first thing that comes to mind is their hi-tech and futuristic designs. Just one of those exotic brands that you will recognise from a mile away. And all of that right from Switzerland which is more known for its ski resorts rather than sunny beaches. Yet the name of this creation makes up for that. Time to meet the Urwerk Black Cobra.Urwerk Black CobraEver since the founders Felix Baumgartner (master watchmaker) and Martin Frei (chief designer) first met back in 1995 they have made some crazy works of art. Although technically they make watches it’s a term that doesn’t do justice to their innovative designs. Hence they are always on our agenda when w...
Pre-Owned Picks 3 Contemporary Watches By Jaeger-LeCoultre
This is now my fifth article in the Pre-owned Picks column, and I thoroughly enjoy scouring Chrono24 for inspiration. This week I am looking back in the not too distant past at three modern timepieces from Jaeger-LeCoultre.Readers may notice I often side-step the likes of the GMT Master II Pepsi or the Daytona Cerachrom. That is not to say these are not worth the time to seek out. Quite the opposite, these watches are in such demand that secondary market price is typically double the asking price brand new.Rare beastsInstead, I select the rare and perhaps unloved darlings in the deep, dark corners of watch collecting. Watches such as the Breitling Emergency Orbiter 3, or IWC Aquatimer Cous...
New Master Control Memovox And Memovox Timer By Jaeger-LeCoultre
Although it’s one of the more straightforward horological complications, the alarm function is still rare among modern timepieces. Then again, most watch complications are obsolete these days. We can use our phones instead of a chronograph, a moon-phase, triple date, and, of course, timekeeper. But watchmaking is not always about practicality. Sometimes it’s about style and tradition. And what could be more stylish than a mechanical alarm? Specifically, a Master Control Memovox by Jaeger-LeCoultre…The Vallee de Joux, where JLC resides, represents the unspoiled and peaceful nature, Switzerland is famous for. It was here, where during the long winter months, watchmakers of th...
You Asked Us: Can Watches Be Engraved
Nowadays, it seems everybody wants something that is exclusively their’s. In the upper echelons of watchmaking, this can go as far as unique pieces created for extremely wealthy clients. But what about for the rest of us? What do those of us with shallower pockets do when we want to put our individual stamp on a timepiece for ourselves or a loved one? The time-honored art of engraving is still alive-and-kicking. But it doesn’t make sense in every case (literally)…Engraving can be a fine solution for adding a personal flourish to a watch purchase. It can be done by hand or machine, but it isn’t sensible for every watch. The first question you need to ask yourself is wh...
Klokers Klok-01 Blue Note French design, Swiss Made (2021)
Sometimes a few press images are enough to know if the watch you were going to receive would hit that sweet spot for you or not. This does not happen often, but it certainly was the case with the new Klokers Klok-01 Blue Note. I got the watch, and it was everything I expected. And then some.The watch came in stylish but straightforward packaging, just what you expect from a brand that makes watches such as the Klok-01 Satin Blue. Still, the essential part is the feeling when you strap it on your wrist for the first time.If you do not know much about Klokers, let me bring you up to speed. We have featured the brand in the past on Fratello. If you want to check out the sister of today’s ...
Return Of The Jeweler: Is It Time To Visit Your Retailer? (2021)
During the pandemic, we all inevitably became online shoppers. Now, in many countries, the third wave is abating. Finally, we can go shopping again. But do we want to?Visiting the high street near your home now, after you couldn’t do so for months, because everything was closed, will probably leave a bitter taste in the mouth at first. You will notice all those shops that didn’t survive. Maybe, you recall the last time you were buying something there, and perhaps you remember the people who worked there.Possibly, you don’t notice anything like that because you’re just exuberantly happy to return to normality and to meet other people again in an almost relaxed atmosphe...
The Best Breitling Watches From The 1970s (2021)
We like to talk about vintage watches a lot within the Fratello team. While the daily routine is largely focused on the most recent developments in the world of watches, the most fun for many of us lies in the world of vintage watches. It's a world full of history, remarkable watches, incredible stories, and quirky details. It inspired us to come up with a series of articles focusing on the best watches per decade from a select group of brands. Some of them priceless, some of them still affordable. In this installment, we will take a look at the best Breitling watches from the 1970s.In the 1960s, we witnessed developments that challenged the status quo of watch design forever. The sheer amou...