Today is the 50th Anniversary of the Chronomatic Our Top 10 Chronomatic List
In a recent installment of This Week in Watches, we mentioned that Jeff Stein noted Heuer collector and creator of On the Dash and Fred Mandelbaum noted Breitling collector would be hosting a bit of a celebration for the 50th anniversary of the Chronomatic movement.? Their respective Instagram accounts (@on_the_dash and @watchfred)? will serve as ground zero for the events, but we have a feeling that some others will get in on the act.? As a reminder, begin using the #chronomatic50 hashtag starting on March 3rd through the 10th to participate.? First, though, we thought we'd provide a little background on the famous movement and I put together a brief Top 10 Chronomatic list of my favorite p...
Speedy Tuesday The Speedmaster Apollo XI 35th Anniversary 3569.31
The early 2000s saw some great Moonwatch variations for collectors. Unfortunately, it was during a time where I was still a student and didn’t have the means to go after that Mitsukoshi, Snoopy, Japan Racing, or this Apollo XI 35th anniversary edition from 2004.All of these watches have long since sold out, but you can still find them on the pre-owned market. Very occasionally, you might find them in NOS (New Old Stock) condition. When it comes to regret, there are few watches I regret missing out on more than this Apollo XI 35th anniversary model. One year before its release, Omega released a special edition for a?Japanese department store called Mitsukoshi (an AD of Omega’s at ...
Breitling Navitimer B03 Chronograph Rattrapante 45 Red Gold
Breitling has been delivering hit after hit over the last twelve months. The Breitling Navitimer 1959 re-edition is a favorite of many including some of the Fratello team members. But does everything the brand touches turn to gold? Let’s take a look at another recent release, the Navitimer B03 Chronograph Rattrapante 45 in 18k red gold.Let’s just dive in straight away and compliment Breitling with making waves in the industry. With Georges Kern at the helm, the brand has found relevance amongst watch enthusiasts with a great number of releases. Some of them are re-issues of well-known classics like the Navitimer 1959 re-edition and the AVI Ref. 765 1953. Another release that stoo...
Photo Report: Jean-Claude Biver Retrospective at PHILLIPS PERPETUAL
Jean-Claude Biver is a living legend and has been a purveyor of high-end watches since he was 18. His passion for watches stems from his childhood joy of steam machines and mechanical objects. In bustling West London, PHILLIPS PERPETUAL hosted a collection of Jean-Claude Biver’s treasured collection of watches. During the evening, Biver divulged his story on his rise to the Head of the LVMH Watch Division.Spear-heading the marketing for the Royal Oak soon after its launch, Jean-Claude left Audemars Piguet for Omega. Appreciating the art of watch-making from AP and understanding the business at Omega gave him the great impetus to purchase the fledgling Blancpain brand. In a short time, ...
March Mania Preliminary Three: Gerard Seiko, Omega, Sinn, Patek Philippe, And More...
Welcome, one and all, to the preliminary round of March Mania 2021, here on Fratello. Are you a watch maniac like we are? If so, you’re sure to love our month-long feature. 96 watches reviewed last year line up for a battle royale like nothing that’s gone before. We need your votes. We want your comments. Help us decide the champion and share in its glory! Let the games commence…In this round, your task is simple: vote for your favorite watch. Below you will find a selection of 12 timepieces that we covered here on Fratello throughout 2020. Why not refresh your memory by clicking the links and reading those eruditely penned odes to wrist-wear? Once you’ve made your se...
Introduction: G-Shock MTG-B2000PH Blue Phoenix-Inspired Beauty
I am not a G-Shock collector like Gerard is, but I do have my share of them in my watch collection. G-Shock is gaining quite a bit of popularity amongst our readers, and we can surely imagine why. There’s a lot of value for money, and they’re also just fun to collect and wear.The first G-Shock I bought was a 2003 20th anniversary model of the original watch. A few more followed, in all sorts of shapes and colors, but mostly made of resin. This new G-Shock MTG-B2000PH Blue Phoenix is made of metal and resin. Most important though is the motif on the case. A rainbow ion plating on the case and bezel of the MTG-B2000PH.MTG-B2000PHThe G-Shock that is now introduced, is clearly someth...
Hands-On Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean America's Cup Review
From March 6th till March 15th, the 36th edition of the America’s Cup will take place. Just recently, Omega introduced its Seamaster Divers 300M Chronograph America’s Cup edition, with chrono lock. We wrote about it here. But last year, Omega debuted a very handsome Seamaster Planet Ocean America’s Cup Limited Edition, to celebrate the 36th race. We had the chance to go hands-on with it not so long ago and thought it would be nice to give it some attention right before the start of this year’s America’s Cup.Planet Ocean America’s CupOmega’s Seamaster family consists of many members. We have the famous 300M, the heritage-inspired 300, the versatile Aq...
Wrist Game Or Crying Shame: Vacheron Constantin Chronograph 47101
We’re back - and on time - with Wrist Game or Crying Shame. This week, we offer a look at the charming Vacheron Constantin Chronograph 47101. Let’s see if you have the courage to go out on your own or if those influencers will pull you back into the fold. Before we get to that…Last week, I served up a dinner plate full of IWC with the Portuguese Vintage. An astounding 69% of you arrived hungry and ready to dine on this massive manual wind throwback and sent it on to a great Wrist Game win. I enjoy seeing IWC up to some positive behavior, so well done on that. This week, we touch on another brand that escapes fawning praise from the collective doofuses that make up the hip c...
#TBT The Most Captivating One-Eyed Elgin Diver's Watch
I don’t remember many three-handers which have made me ooh and ah as much as this Elgin diver. It’s rich in details and colors, yet it’s still pretty elegant. When I hear the name Elgin, I associate it with Waltham or Illinois watches. And I mostly think of pocket watches with beautiful dials. Anytime I visit my watchmaker, there is a new Elgin pocket watch laying around.Elgin in your pocketThe original Elgin company, founded in 1864, was an old American watch manufacturer that closed down in 1968. During those 104 years, the company produced about 60 million watches. We haven’t covered Elgin much in the past, but the brand has many decent and interesting watches in i...
Why You Can't Help But Love The Cartier Tank Watch
The pursuit of perfection is a doomed undertaking. Take the creation of the perfect watch, for instance. Building an ideal watch that is entirely without technical and aesthetical flaws, defects, or shortcomings is the watchmaker's vision. Unfortunately, it’s one that will never materialize. But when you change perspective from creator to audience, perfection is something that can be perceived. Some hear perfection in Bach, see it in a statue by Michelangelo, or experience it when wearing a Cartier Tank Solo. And that experience can lead to strong feelings - love, even. Let's try and find out why you can't help but love the Cartier Tank.The Cartier Tank was designed by Louis Cartier at...
Strap Check: This Zulu Is Perfect For My Unimatic Modello Uno
Welcome to Strap Check, a column on Fratello where our editors showcase their favorite watch/strap combinations. We all know the feeling. When you've been wearing a watch for weeks on the same strap, there comes a time when the excitement starts to fade a little bit. Maybe that's the time when you start looking. But looking for what? A brand new watch? Sometimes the answer lies not in the watch, but the strap on which you wear it! From the classic to the unique. From cheap NATOs to bespoke leather and special bracelets. This is where we get excited about perfect combinations that make you feel like you've got a brand new watch on your wrist. So tune in every week for a new Strap Check. Are y...
Forstner Model J Jubilee Bracelet For The Tudor Black Bay
Oh, how I love my Tudor Black Bay! It was my first “good” watch and the rebirth of my collection. My Black Bay also marked the birth of my first child, and for these reasons, it has tremendous sentimental value. But to be completely honest, it is not a perfect watch. My main point of contention has always been the bracelet. The end links have always seemed a bit too wiggly-jiggly, and the sides of the links feel weirdly sharp on my wrist. It’s unfortunate because I love the rest of the watch, but also because the oyster bracelet just sits in the box. I hardly ever wear it because it’s just too uncomfortable, and I’ve been longing for a bracelet that could cure a...
Fratello's Top 5 Omega Seamaster 300M References Ever
Another Friday, another Top 5! In this series, we take one classic watch and choose our five favorite references ever produced. Four of these references will be based on the historical importance of the specific watch in the grand scheme of things. Though there may be some overlap, it's not a question of which references are the most collectible or of the highest value on the market. The fifth pick is our Fratello favorite that takes the current market price and collectability into account, potentially making it a sleeper reference. As such, the last pick could be described as our wild card. This week, we’ll take a look at the Omega Seamaster Professional 300M. What are the best refere...
?The New Garrick S6 Is British And Customizable
The Garrick watch company, headquartered in Norwich, is run by Dave Brailsford, and it is one of the brands surfing the wave of resurgence in British wristwear. The new Garrick S6 is unlike watches from tool masters Bremont and hot-collab king George Bamford, playing on more classical strings. Last year was a quiet one for Brailsford's bespoke brand, except for a strong collaborative effort with Fears. These two brands and Farer take inspiration from a more formal elegance in vintage watches, with some very British touches.Call Garrick eccentric, but you can't ignore the bold nature of the signature handset on its S4 and S6 models. What makes the brand’s low-output pieces so different ...
Introducing The All-Black Boldr Safari Vogelkop Superb
I’ve always wanted to be a bird-of-paradise a little bit. But that’s exactly the problem; you should go all in or you’ll never really become one. I guess I’m just too modest to be one. If you’re just like me, Boldr now offers you the opportunity to at least pay tribute to a recently discovered bird-of-paradise, the Vogelkop Superb (Lophorina niedda). And the good thing is that the watch is not all that outgoing. That’s because the Boldr Safari Vogelkop Superb is almost all black. There are just a few light blue Super-LumiNova accents on it to pay tribute to its inspirator. Let’s take a quick look!Last year, Boldr launched its all-black Venture Singul...
Fratello's Watches And Wonders 2023 Predictions
What watch will be the star of Watches and Wonders 2023? The 70th-anniversary Submariner, perhaps? Could be. Could very well be. I have no clue what it will look like, though; maybe a brown dial with a light blue ceramic bezel? Or is that way too wild? On the other hand, a new Milgauss might be easier to foresee and make a mockup of. So that's what we did. And Fratello's Watches and Wonders 2023 predictions also include visuals of a new Rainbow from Zenith, two versions of last year's star of the show, the Vacheron Constantin 222, plus a very blue Tudor Pelagos 39, a dive watch that could very well become the star of W&W 2023.The 2021?Pelagos FXD showed us the way to come up with a blue ...
Hands-On: The CWC W10 Navigator
I am fond of Cabot Watch Company, also known as CWC. It is a no-nonsense British watch brand that has focused on tool-watch designs since the early 1970s. Something about the design ethos of CWC reminds me of the golden epoch of 20th-century mechanical watchmaking. Today, we’ll look at the CWC W10 Navigator Automatic General Service Watch.When I think of a watch, sometimes I imagine a scenario or narrative that accompanies it. This reflects the watch’s “vibe” and gives it a story. When writing about the vintage Certina DS-2, a scene of a dock in Sweden came to mind (Certina, for example, was historically popular in that part of the world). With the CWC W10 Navigator, ...
Zenith Pilot Automatic Vs. IWC Pilot's Watch Mark XX
Welcome to another Sunday Morning Showdown here on Fratello. Please get yourself ready because today’s confrontation promises to be a good one. In 2022, IWC introduced a new version of its Pilot’s Watch - the Mark XX. Then, last year, Zenith took it one step further with a complete revision of its Pilot line. That’s why we thought it was a good idea to put these two updated fighters up against each other and let them battle it out.Both of these 40mm stainless steel pilot’s watches feature highly legible black dials with big white numerals. They also both have a date window and fat sword hands that hover over the dial. But apart from all these similarities, there are a...
Hands-On: The Papar Anillo GMT And Why I Love It
There are two ways to handle the peculiar watches in the picture - with a focus on the design or the specs. Both are impressive. The steel and rose-gold-PVD-treated models are available in a limited run of 100 pieces each. Because there's an automatic Miyota 9075 flyer GMT movement inside their architecturally shaped cases, the price of US$750 makes these bang-for-the-buck watches. That is if you like the loud bang these watches make. The brutalist-inspired case shape and minimalist dial sure are an acquired taste. But I will be “brutally” honest with you: I love the Papar Anillo GMT.Let's round off the specifications of the Papar Anillo GMT Steel and Rose Gold so we can focus on...
The Best Vintage Watches Under $5K: Jorg's Picks
Welcome to another installment of Fratello Favorites! If you’ve been following Fratello recently, you’ll know that this time, we are sharing our favorite vintage watches under $5K. After Thomas kicked the series off and Daan presented his picks just before last weekend, I am third in line to present mine. Selecting them was fun but also quite a challenge because the set budget allows plenty of great options. Then again, I always try to find the watches that I would buy and would want to keep for a long time. That’s when the search gets a little tougher. But just like the rest of the Fratello team of writers, I was more than happy to take on the challenge!As Thomas explained...