Hands-On With The Maurice Lacroix Pontos S Diver PT6248
Pontos S Diver PT6248On March 10th of this year, we already introduced the Maurice Lacroix Pontos S Diver to you on Fratellowatches. However, all we had were the press photos and as you know, we’d like to take our own pictures of (new) watches. So during the Baselworld exhibition in April, we visited the nice people at Maurice Lacroix and had a look at their new collection.The Pontos S Diver is a new watch in the Pontos collection and we think they are going to hit jackpot with it. A very cool looking diver’s watch, either with bracelet or leather NATO strap.Diver’s Watch – Diver’s FeaturesIn order to be a diver’s watch, it definitely needs some necessary ...
Caliber 1863 Speedmaster Professional 3572.50
Speedmaster Pro 3572.50 Caliber 1863It’s Speedy Tuesday! One of our readers, Erik Ebeling, sent us photos of his beloved caliber 1863 Omega Speedmaster Professional reference 3572.50. This discontinued model is similar to the ‘standard’ Moonwatch model reference 3570.50 but with a sapphire case back. In the current Omega collection we still find a Speedy Pro with a sapphire case back, but it also has the sapphire front crystal. This reference 3572.50 from Erik has the Hesalite crystal on top, the sapphire crystal on the back. Erik let us know that the production year of this specific watch was around 1999.As you can see on the photo above, the Omega logo is in the center of...
Longines Heritage Diver 1967 Explained
As most of our readers know by now, here at Fratello Watches we love our vintage watches. Having said that, innovation in watchmaking, usage of modernmaterials and even the introduction of a groundbreaking technique are all crucial things we appreciate. When companies try to combine past and present, I always look at things carefully. What might be an obvious move for the brand might not be that clear for their clients. History is important and having a rich heritage makes things easier, I guess.In this game Longines tends to be on top in recent years. Their Legend Diver for instance was a great hit due to the friendly price and the timeless yet classic design. Careful though; releasing too ...
Zelos : Mako 500m Bronze Diver
The Mako Shark: the fastest shark in the world. Smaller and streamlined, it was an ideal image for the latest dive watch from Zelos.Featuring design cues from the 60s, constructed with modern technology, the Mako Diver is a capable diver’s timepiece. The sapphire crystal has a ‘box’ shape similar to the acrylic crystals of old, without the scratches common with acrylic. A ceramic bezel offers extreme hardness against all the abuse you could throw at it. The watch also features 500m of water resistance to survive any depth you could take it down to.The case is constructed from bronze to offer a timepiece that will be different for each and every piece.?Marine grade bronze (C...
The Top 10 Dress Watches We Love Best
Although a sports watch can be very versatile, there’s always room (and an occasion) for a good dress watch in your collection. That’s why we share with you our top 10 dress watches.For some, there’s only one dress watch: a Patek Philippe Calatrava. Like the Patek reference 5227 for example. A beautiful simple three-hand watch, in precious metal. There’s no solid definition of a dress watch, but for this article, we keep it to two to three hands and a date window as ‘extra’ complication. That’s just what we feel a simple dress watch is about, although we certainly can see a watch with more complications as a dress watch as well.We cover mainly sports...
Atelier Del Sur does it right!
Atelier Del Sur is a small company of long time watch collectors and leather artisans with more than 20 years in the handmade leather business, but just recently felt the need of making what they were looking for years, high quality handmade watch straps with no machine interventions.When you order a strap from Atelier Del Sur the process starts and ends with one craftsman that creates the entire strap from beginning to end. His or her hand makes every cut, application of wax, buff of the hide and hand stitch. That is by far not the most efficient way of making anything, and very few things today are made this way: but it does imbue the final product with a soul as if it was made personally ...
Wrist Game Or Crying Shame: Glashutte Original Senator Navigator
Welcome back to Wrist Game or Crying Shame, the weekly article that lets you play Commander in Chief. This week, we view an uncommon one with the Glashutte Original Senator Navigator. But first…Last week, I showed you a freshly serviced Omega Speedmaster Professional X-33. It turns out that a service, boxes and papers, and a super geeky Speedy are a recipe for success. As such, the X-33 returned to orbit with a healthy 58% Wrist Game win. Not bad for a quartz watch, is it? Well, today, we take to the air in lieu of space with the Glashutte Original Senator Navigator.The Return of Glashutte OriginalI can still remember Glashutte’s return to the USA. It was sometime in the 1990s an...
The Seiko Presage Porco Rosso SNR047 Is A Proper Limited Edition
It is not too often at Fratello that we dive into the world of Japanese anime. However, it is a phenomenon that attracts many fans and enthusiasts worldwide. In partnership with Studio Ghibli, Seiko honors one of the most legendary animated movies ever made. Seiko honors the 1992 animated film Porco Rosso with a set of two limited edition watches. Both watches bring the story of Porco Rosso to life perfectly and are therefore pieces for the real collectors. In the first of two reviews, we go hands-on with the Seiko Presage SNR047 “Porco Rosso”.We have already seen quite a few good releases from Seiko in 2020. The number of watches the brand has shared is impressive. A large numbe...
Interview With Alon Ben Joseph Of Ace Jewelers, Amsterdam
In my career, I have been lucky enough to visit hundreds of top retailers in the Northern Hemisphere. Some I just passed through, picking up information as I went. Others I worked with occasionally, learning a little from each of them. A handful, however, I worked with extensively. Perhaps the retailer I’ve worked with the most is Ace Jewelers in Amsterdam.During my time with NOMOS Glashutte, we produced two special editions together. Since then, the brand and retailer have produced two more. Our working relationship was always fun, mostly because the team at Ace never sits still. They are always moving, always striving, always looking for a way to get ahead of the curve. As such, I th...
Is The Oris Star The Greatest Vintage Diver Of All Time? (2021)
It couldn't be any better. I like everything about the Oris Star. The shape, dial, bezel, wearability, and functionality. The only detail some modern critical eyes might object to would be the 36mm diameter. On the other hand, the watch is perfectly balanced thanks to the original bracelet, fitted with an Oris signed clasp.? I kept my eye on it for a few years. I wasn't actively hunting it, but I stopped and stared anytime one crossed my path. It was the $1,000 plus price tag that always chased me away. When I accidentally bumped into one Oris Star for half the price, I?didn't hesitate and bought it right away. And I?am telling you that even after a?year I?am still surprised at how well bala...
8 Amazing Watches To Wear This Summer
In this article, we show you 8 interesting watches to wear this summer. Summer is about to start, and hopefully, it will be a nice one! We deserved it. And in case you didn’t spend your holiday allowance (not sure if that’s a thing outside The Netherlands, but here it’s 8% of your annual salary you will get from your employer in May) yet, here are some options for a nice summer watch for all budgets.When I go on a holiday, I try to keep the number of watches I take with me very low. Most of the time, I will bring just two watches actually. An all-rounder and something really low-budget, like a Swatch or a Seiko SKX007. It also depends a bit on where I am going. On a campsit...
Independent Insights: Vincenterra, Behrens, Zelos and more!
What up, indie fans - it’s good to be back! It’s always quite exciting writing these columns as it means I’ve found some watches/projects that I think are super cool. I am always excited to hear what you think about them. I have a novel take on the Moonphase GMT concept, with 3D indications, a wandering satellite hours watch, and more. OK, let’s do this.Vicenterra AstroLUNAFirst up is the novel Moonphase GMT concept I mentioned. I’ve come across Vincenterra previously, with the equally excellent Tycho Brahe watch. Still, the new AstroLUNA takes things to the next level. Rather than a standard GMT hand, we have a small hand-painted 3D model of the Earth. You can ...
The Toughest MeisterSinger So Far, The New Unomat
Are you ready for something new from the watchmakers from Munster in North Rhine-Westphalia? If you are, we can introduce you to the toughest MeisterSinger so far, the Unomat. The German brand launches a 43mm steel sports watch that is water-resistant to 300 meters. And because of a soft iron shield and dial, it's also anti-magnetic.The new Unomat beats the 200-meter water-resistant Salthora Meta X and Metris by a margin of 100 meters. And by doing so, the Unomat earns the title of the toughest MeisterSinger so far. It's also quite a shocking watch if you compare it with the sophisticated, soft-spoken Bell Hora with its capacity to softly chime the hour. The burly Unomat is quite the opposit...
Starting A Watch Collection With $5,000: Dave's Top 3 Picks
Earlier in the year, I wrote an article on starting a watch collection with a budget of $10,000. It was quite a challenging task, even though I know that $10,000 is a pretty significant budget. Not many people (myself included) have that kind of money lying around to go out and splurge on three watches. That said, some people do. But to try and make sure we’re covering all bases and budgets, some of my fellow editors and I have decided to half that budget. So, can I come up with a solid starter collection for $5,000?The last time around, I decided on the types of watches I wanted to buy first of all. I picked a chronograph, a GMT, and a diver. I’m not going to be quite so strict ...
NOMOS Watch Club 36 Showing NOMOS Listens To Its Fans
NOMOS Glashutte is well known for its great designs at attainable price levels. Christopher Waluga, founder of the NOMOS Watch Club, set out to go one better on both of those qualities. And he succeeded. Introducing the NOMOS Watch Club 36 ref. 703.S4.Fan inputThe watch came about through a collaborative design process with NOMOS Watch Club, an online fan base of NOMOS owners and admirers. In a less direct process compared to the recent Airain, fans were asked for input on the design. The ideas were collected and formed the foundation for the design we see here.The result is a very attractive watch carrying quite an apt name - Watch Club 36. It is based on the NOMOS Club, but it’s quit...
The Fratello Summer Splash 2022 Kicks Off
Has it been a year already? How time flies! And hopefully, you've all had the fun that causes this fast-forward effect. But enough about time travel. It's time to put on your finest pair of shorts and head to warmer climates - the Fratello Summer Splash 2022 is here! This year, it's a different beast altogether. Instead of looking for the best all-around summer watch, we're on a quest for color. So, leave your black and white dive watches at home. Only the brightest, most summery watches will make the cut. This year, there are also no restrictions when it comes to price or water resistance, so anything goes. Eight contenders will go head to head for the Summer Splash 2022 crown. And much lik...
Serica Introduces A Spectacular Blue Version Of Its 5303 Diver
What are “the right colors” for a watch? For some, it’s simply a matter of picking. For others, it is a make-or-break situation. It’s not just the choice of a color, but it’s all about the right shade of a specific color. I am part of the latter group. A watch cannot just have a blue or a green dial or bezel. Let’s blame it on my former life working for a design agency. But that’s exactly why I love it when brands take the time to pick their colors with care. Leave it up to Serica owner Jer?me Burgert to take this task very seriously. He is dedicated to making sure every detail is meticulously chosen for his watches. It’s why this new blue Seri...
Register For The Fortis Watch Space Munich Event On July 1C2
If you've never seen a Fortis watch in the metal, I can imagine one thing above all terrifying you from afar - those mighty lugs! The redefined tool watches of the Fortis collection, with the exception of the relatively recent Marinemaster, all have that trait in common. Off the wrist, on screen, and under the microscope, their blockish, tall-sided cases culminating in the most intimidating lug profile you've ever seen can look almost illegally aggressive. But once you get the watches in hand and, most importantly, on the wrist, you realize how the whole package comes together to form something truly novel. As always, hands-on experience of a watch is the only way to judge it fairly. That's ...
Fratello Straps: Coming Soon To The Fratello Shop
It is no secret that we love a good watch strap. Not only is it the easiest element to interact with on your watch, but it also offers a great way to customize the aesthetic. We are proud to announce that on Monday, the 13th of June at 9:00 AM CEST, the Fratello Shop is launching three high-quality leather straps. These are straps that our editors love and approve of, and we’re thrilled to bring them to you, the Fratelli, at last.As you know if you follow our Strap Check column, we love how a new strap can change the look of a watch. But a strap also holds your watch to your wrist, and the inability to do so comfortably can be a real deal-breaker. Here at Fratello, we think comfort is ...
5 Tips On How To Deal With Vintage Watch Dealers
What are the best ways to deal with vintage watch dealers? If we all knew the answer, our lives could be easier. Although I am much more of a researcher and writer at heart, I used to make a living in the watch world as a vintage dealer. Having only recently made the switch to full-time writing, the memories of my trading adventures are still fresh in my mind. So are the countless amazing interactions with collectors, as well as the numerous awkward encounters.I thought I should use my experience to share five tips on how to do business with vintage watch dealers. Hopefully, this helps you not only to score a solid deal but to also have a pleasurable experience along the way. But Thomas, why...