Daan's Favorite Watches And Wonders 2024 Releases
Maybe it’s because I experienced Watches and Wonders from a distance this year, but I have the feeling there weren’t really any big showstoppers among all the novelties. However, that certainly doesn’t mean there weren’t any good releases. And who buys those showstoppers anyway? That’s why, for my list of favorites, I’ve chosen a trio of watches that I would want to wear right here and now. Whether it be the Santos de Cartier Dual Time, the 38mm Hublot Big Bang Integrated, or the Herms Cut, I would be very happy to add any of these watches to my collection.Yes, indeed, there are some great new releases on the dressier side as well. Look, for example, at t...
Why Is There A Snoopy On The Dial?
Aside from Apollo 11, NASA’s 1970 Apollo 13 mission is probably the most talked-about one from the Apollo program. It was a mission that failed - almost fatally! On April 17th, 1970, the Apollo 13 crew landed safely on Earth after some incredibly scary moments onboard the module. The Speedmaster played such an important role on the return trip that NASA decided to give Omega a Silver Snoopy Award on October 5th of that same year. Some think the Snoopy cartoon on a Speedmaster is a bit childish, but often, those people don’t know why it is there. In this article, we’ll explain how Snoopy ended up on the dial of a Speedmaster.In 1970, NASA astronaut Thomas P. Stafford present...
Hands-On: Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 40mm In Rose Tone & Blue
Tissot relaunched the PRX five years ago. Time flies when you're having fun, doesn't it? The integrated-bracelet sports watch has become something of a fan favorite in the meantime. It graces the wrists of many newcomers to the watch hobby and veterans alike. Tissot blessed us with tons of variants to choose from. Different sizes, materials, colors, movements, and even complications are available. Today, I get to try on a particularly flashy number, the Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 40mm in rose gold and blue.Of course, this isn't real rose gold but, rather, a PVD coating. That enables Tissot to keep the price nice and accessible at $895. Will it charm its way into my heart, or is this one step t...
Exploring Evergreens: The Cartier Santos Galbee XL
Welcome to another installment of Exploring Evergreens, a series here on Fratello in which we get our hands on watches that have been around for over a decade - or long enough to feel ubiquitous - and ask ourselves if they've managed to stand the test of time. We'll address whether they're still relevant, how they feel today, and, ultimately, if they're worth their current prices. In some cases, when the authors own/have owned the specific pieces, they'll dig into how their feelings about them have evolved and whether or not they still deserve a spot in their collections. Today, I’m honored to feature my beloved, all-steel Cartier Santos de Cartier Galbee XL from 2006. Yes, I think tha...
Hands-On The Panerai Luminor Marina Titanio PAM03325
Over the last two weeks, we’ve spent much time with the new Panerai Luminor Marina collection. Today’s watch, the Titanio PAM03325, visited our headquarters for a comprehensive photo shoot. We saw it again, and the rest of the collection, at Watches and Wonders 2025 a week later. Suffice it to say, the changes to the collection and the reintroduction of a titanium model may not sound like much, but Panerai went to work and made significant changes.I must admit that Panerai can be a frustrating brand for the small-wristed. I’ve pined over certain models and simply couldn’t squint hard enough to make the case sizes work on my 6.5″ wrist. Therefore, the Panerai I o...
Why Is There A Snoopy On The Dial?
Aside from Apollo 11, NASA’s 1970 Apollo 13 mission is probably the most talked-about one from the Apollo program. It was a mission that failed - almost fatally! On April 17th, 1970, the Apollo 13 crew landed safely on Earth after some incredibly scary moments onboard the module. The Speedmaster played such an important role on the return trip that NASA decided to give Omega a Silver Snoopy Award on October 5th of that same year. Some think the Snoopy cartoon on a Speedmaster is a bit childish, but often, those people don’t know why it is there. In this article, we’ll explain how Snoopy ended up on the dial of a Speedmaster.In 1970, NASA astronaut Thomas P. Stafford present...
Why Is There A Snoopy On The Dial?
Aside from Apollo 11, NASA’s 1970 Apollo 13 mission is probably the most talked-about one from the Apollo program. It was a mission that failed - almost fatally! On April 17th, 1970, the Apollo 13 crew landed safely on Earth after some incredibly scary moments onboard the module. The Speedmaster played such an important role on the return trip that NASA decided to give Omega a Silver Snoopy Award on October 5th of that same year. Some think the Snoopy cartoon on a Speedmaster is a bit childish, but often, those people don’t know why it is there. In this article, we’ll explain how Snoopy ended up on the dial of a Speedmaster.In 1970, NASA astronaut Thomas P. Stafford present...
Why Is There A Snoopy On The Dial?
Aside from Apollo 11, NASA’s 1970 Apollo 13 mission is probably the most talked-about one from the Apollo program. It was a mission that failed - almost fatally! On April 17th, 1970, the Apollo 13 crew landed safely on Earth after some incredibly scary moments onboard the module. The Speedmaster played such an important role on the return trip that NASA decided to give Omega a Silver Snoopy Award on October 5th of that same year. Some think the Snoopy cartoon on a Speedmaster is a bit childish, but often, those people don’t know why it is there. In this article, we’ll explain how Snoopy ended up on the dial of a Speedmaster.In 1970, NASA astronaut Thomas P. Stafford present...
What are you wearing today?
Almost all watch forums seems to have these weekly or even daily threads about what’s on your wrist today. Well, in my case it is quite easy, the vintage Submariner I recently got is hard to beat on a sunny day like this ??Our friends over at the German Forum (Das Forum) are clearly having fun with this “What are you wearing?”-thread, hence the 469 pages (and counting) filled with the most beautiful watches AND photos. Forum member Kurt tops the last few pages with his white gold Cosmograph Daytona (I love the dial on the white gold version), this picture could easily be in the catalogue if you asked me.This white gold Cosmograph Daytona has reference number 116509 (in...
Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Compressor Geographic Hands On
The first Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Compressor I laid my hands on was a Master Compressor Memovox in 2004 and as far as I recall, there were no other Compressor models at that time. I really liked it – and still do – but it seems that the Master Compressor models in general are not as well received by collectors and enthusiasts as the more conservative Reverso and Master collections. I’ve tried and tested Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso and Master watches in the past, but never gave the Master Compressor really a chance.In the past, we’ve reviewed a couple of Jaeger-LeCoultre watches, like the Gyrotourbillon, the Reverso Gyrotourbillon 2, the Master Minute Repeater, Master Tou...
#TBT Gallet Multichron Pilot
As I write the latest installment of #TBT somewhere over the Atlantic, looking down at my left wrist, I am constantly reminded of something; there is no justice in the world of vintage watches. I say that because if justice truly prevailed, today's featured watch would be far more valuable than it is today. I'd be crazy to suggest that watches such as vintage Heuers are overpriced because, as a devout free-market supporter, I believe that consumers speak loudly and freely with their wallets. What I am here to tell you, though, is that there are credible alternatives out there for now that might allow you to keep some of that hard-earned green in said billfold. Without further ado, today's #T...
An interview with Jean-Christophe Babin, CEO of Bvlgari.
One of our first appointments during Baselworld 2018 was with Jean-Christophe Babin, CEO of Bulgari. Besides an appointment to learn about the new models for 2018 (which we will publish within short as well), we had this interview to learn about Bulgari more in general and Mr. Babin specifically.Before we took off, we were happy to learn that Mr. Babin was well aware of our magazine, and complimented us on our achievements. Always a good start. Of course, we did some homework, and after a bit of waiting, we were allowed to shoot our questions. Here we go!Jean-Christophe Babin InterviewGerard Nijenbrinks: When you started in 2013 with Bulgari, what were the first things you thought needed to ...
Longines Skin Diver Hands On Review Of A Future Classic
Longines simply can't make a bad Heritage watch.Out of all the Swatch Group brands, Longines is the one company that nails their vintage reeditions 99% of the time. They are also doing it with a very small but talented design team in house. I should know, I've met them in Basel last year (thank you Swatch Group Germany!). For many years now the Longines Heritage models are the favorites of the press (first) and the enthusiasts (as soon as the pieces hit the stores). This was exactly the case last year when during this aforementioned visit the guys showed me not only one but two future-Heritage watches. The first was the Military Pilot, which I reviewed in March. The second was this cool piec...
#TBT Meet Date Pioneer Chronograph Eberhard Contodat
Saving the Eberhard Contodat, the first chronograph with a single disc date display gave me a big headache.The golden rule of watch collecting has been repeated numerous times on Fratello Magazine pages. Condition, condition, condition. Did your eye-brow pop in disbelief after you looked at the Eberhard Contodat pictures? Well, let me reveal a caveat to the golden rule. Sometimes, rarity wins out.And I don't mean unpolished--Submariner-rare I'm talking about models produced in way lower production volumes that come up for sale once a year or even less often. The exception to the golden rule also follows, that if?a better example of the same model surfaces (and I highlight the IF here), you t...
Introducing The New Breitling Chronomat B01 42 Collection
Introducing the new Breitling Chronomat that takes design cues from the future-classic 80s watch. The new Chronomat continues a burgeoning trend of revisiting heritage models from Breitling's esteemed back catalog.Under the leadership of Georges Kern, we have seen the Ref 806 from 1959, and Ref 765 from 1953 get the revision treatment. Also, the recently announced Top-Time with bow-tie dial. But these come from the Willy Breitling era. For some collectors, Breitling didn't begin until the 1980s.Legendary FutureFirst, a little bit of history. Breitling, during the 70s, was in a bit of a rut. This was true for many Swiss brands, left reeling from the onset of the quartz crisis. and Patek Phil...
New Release: Breitling Superocean Heritage '57
A surprising release comes our way in the new Breitling Superocean Heritage ’57 and we have all the details. Let’s dive in…Breitling has been on a roll for a couple of years now. When looking at releases such as the Premier, the various limited edition reissues, or the reintroduction of the Top Time, it’s clear to us that the brand has returned to form.Under the leadership of Georges Kern, Breitling has done what so many have us have been asking for such a long time. That means producing watches in human sizes and respectfully honoring its back catalog. With today’s Breitling Superocean Heritage ’57, the trend continues. Oh, and let’s add a little sp...
Hands-On With The Bvlgari Octo Finissimo S Chronograph GMT "Reverse Blue Panda"
I don’t usually buy into the hype around things. When people around me are all praising something, I typically try to avoid it. For example, when Game Of Thrones was on TV, my friends were raving about how fantastic it was and how I simply had to watch it. I declined and didn’t even give it a chance. My friends later tricked me into watching an episode, which turned out to be just as good as they had promised, so I went back and watched the entire thing. Curses! At least I wasn’t trapped in the “one episode a week” and “months/years between seasons” cycle. The same goes for Bvlgari and its Octo Finissmo watches. The hype and praise are unanimous and ...
Hands-On With The RADO Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic
Captain Cook? No, it's Captain Nemo I'm thinking of when I look at the black, shiny, and semi-transparent aquatic watch on my wrist. Let's go hands-on with the RADO Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic as we welcome a little steampunk to our lives…According to Wikipedia steampunk is a retro-futuristic subgenre of science fiction that incorporates technology and aesthetic designs inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery. I couldn't have said it better myself. One look at the black RADO Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic and ?I think of Jules Verne's Captain Nemo aboard his futuristic submarine Nautilus - a vessel both incredibly luxurious and technically advanced. It must be th...
The Top-5 Hottest Small Brands Of The Moment
Coming up with five new small brands is easy. The market is flooded with new brands that all try to create their own success. But in the world of watches, getting your name out there is tough. Additionally, the challenge to remain relevant and profitable is an even bigger mountain to climb. But there are watch brands out there whose watches have become hot property. Let’s take a look at five that currently are the talk of the town.Creating a list of five successful small brands is easy. But before we dive in, it’s good to elaborate a bit more. There is a big difference between the small high-end brands and the small, more affordable brands. For this list, we will focus on the lat...
Finding Hidden Gems Outside Watches & Wonders 2022
Outside of the excitement of Watches And Wonders 2022 at Palexpo, an explosion of indie and boutique-brand events was going down in Geneva town. As the first in-person major watch shows to happen in two years in Switzerland, the dynamics of these events have somewhat shifted. Thankfully, though, everything bears good signs of recovery. And with the recent heightened interest in independent brands, the FOMO on their watches was real.If you know me, you already know I love advocating the independents and exposing hidden gems. So what did we find other than the 38 brands at Watches And Wonders?The view from Doxa’s suite in the Beau RivageGreen shoots everywhereA number of brands that have...