Give-Away Tickets for the Salon 0024 in Amsterdam
Last week we told you that our contributor Teun van Heerebeek will exhibiting his art work during the Salon 0024 in Amsterdam from April 29th to May 1st (more information here).Salon 0024 is offering 5 free tickets for our readers (value: $25 Euro). The only thing you have to do to get these tickets for the Salon 0024 in Amsterdam is shoot us an e-mail with your name and on which day you’d like to attend this show (Friday 29th of April, Saturday 30th of April or Sunday 1st of May). (1 ticket per person)The event will take place in the?InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam.Click here to send an e-mail. First come first serve....
QlockTwo: The most natural way to read the time
The creators Marco Biegert and Andreas Funk explain their conceptAll people learn to read the time using the hour and minute hands. Biegert & Funk throws this idea?overboard and interprets the time in words with their?QlockTwo?concept. Asked whether this intuitive time indication was the focus of product development, Managing Director Marco Biegert answers: “It is the intuitive way of reading the time, it’s may be the most human way of reading the time. When you ask?someone what time it is, the answer would sound?“It’s half past four.”. We use words for that”.“It’s a direct way, you don’t need to translate it, you can just read it,...
Speedy Tuesday A French Collector Tells Us About His Speedmaster Reference 105.003-65 and 145.022-69
Once in a while we ask a reader about his Speedmaster or Speedmaster collection. For today’s Speedy Tuesday, we asked Clement from France about his Speedmaster reference 105.003 and 145.022.Take your pleasure seriouslyIn this installment we ask a collector to tell us a bit about his Speedmaster watches. He showed us a few pictures in a short conversation on one of the social media channels, and we thought it might be a nice?idea to share his story with you.FW: Clement, please tell us a bit who you are.C: My name is Clement, I am 28 years old. I am a collector of design and vintage watches since about ten year, and I decided to make it my job three years ago after my law studies (amongs...
Eqvis Varius Hands On Review Of A Contemporary Timepiece
Eqvis Varius is probably a brand you’ve never heard of. Neither did we, so don’t worry. The Eqvis Varius reminded me a bit of playing with LEGO: switch and swap straps and bezels on this watch (yourself).The variations are endless and allow you to customize the watch to your attire, mood and, of course, wallet. Some brands offer customization by changing the strap of your timepiece. Others might have a bezel swapping feature. You rarely find one on the market that has both thoughand more. The Eqvis Varius is such a watch. I'm going to start at the beginning.Eqvis Varius – From Germany with LoveEqvis is the love child of two German gentlemen – Bjorn Matthiesen and Simo...
Chasing Time A Vintage Watch Collector's Log Book
Chasing Time is a book written by an experienced watch collector, who highlights vintage watches that have gone through his hands being a collector and dealer.This book, written by Alistair Gibbons, takes you on a journey of being a watch collector (and dealer). Many different watches – including those from unknown brands – are being described in detail and most of all, what makes them so special. It is not just a book that lists (vintage) watches and their specifications, no, Alistair made sure to make it a worthwhile read by adding some very interesting facts about these watches. It also gives an insight into the mindset of a collector, showing the things that matter most when ...
The Gruen Airflight A Watch With A Smart Complication For Under $1000USD
Looks like a watch with 24 date windows, no? Well, look again.Let's not beat around the bush: the Gruen Airflight has twelve see-through apertures in the dial. At 1 pm a thin under-the-dial plate shifts automatically to expose the numerals 13 through 24. How cool?!My problemWhen I unboxed my Gruen Airflight, I immediately wound it and tried the hour change mechanism. I wanted badly to know how it works from the inside. If my new' Airflight hadn't stopped just 2 hours after being on my wrist, I never would have made the video you can see below. The balance wheel stopped balancing after a few seconds each time I made it move. The biggest disappointment in a watch collector's life: you just bou...
Editorial: Love Of Watches In The Time Of Coronavirus
Uncertainty seems to be the only certainty at present. It’s an odd time indeed and for some there’s little comfort to be found. Let’s do our best to focus on the watches we enjoy today and will continue to enjoy after life returns to a relative state of normalcy.It was February 14th - Valentine’s Day for the single and forgetful - that I flew to Orlando with my family for a weeklong vacation. We saw “the mouse”, made a light saber, took a Disney cruise, and I picked up a couple watches including the fantastic Oak & Oscar Olmsted. It was a great vacation, but it was already a little strange. The USA had cut off travelers from China and the large groups ...
Bert's Photo Book Part 3 Watch Macro Photography
When writing my first photo book article, it brought up some of the things I have learned over time. It also shows some specific topics related to watch photography which I find fascinating. So after mentioning lume photos, there is another topic which is about the details. Though the years I've created many watch macro photos that reveal details that can be hard to see with the naked eye.Watch macro photos simply reveal the true beauty of a watch, or, occasionally, the not so perfect craftsmanship. Thankfully that rarely happens but through the years only a few blemishes have crossed my lens. When this is something you don't want to find on a new watch, vintage watches are something differe...
Fratello On Air: WASP 7.0 Our Sporting Icons And Robley's Believe It Or Not Omega, Richard Mille, Bvlgari, Patek Philippe, And More
Welcome to Episode 51 of Fratello on Air, otherwise known as WASP 7.0. Today we're going to discuss our three favorite sporting icons and which watches we'd gift them if we had the chance.We’ve got disgraced and redeemed French cyclists, Swiss footballers and tennis stars, Hungarian and Irish soccer legends, a swaggering quarterback, and arguably the GOAT of all GOATs for your listening pleasure. The watches we’ve handed over to these sporting heavyweights range from the ludicrous to the luxury....
How It All Began RJ On Rico's Watches Podcast
Eric from Rico’s Watches Podcast asked to appear on his show, which I gladly did, to talk about how I got into watches, starting Fratello and about collecting watches.Not only did he record a podcast, but it is also captured on video (YouTube) so you will be able to see the watches I am talking about. The Rico’s Watches Podcast is great fun (he had a number of known and lesser-known guests) and he’s a great interviewer.The podcast can be found on Spotify (click here), but also via Apple Podcast (click here), Google Podcast (click here), or simply go here to see on what others channels you can tune into Rico’s Watches Podcast.Rico’s Watches PodcastAs always with ...
Sunday Morning Showdown: Pilot's Paragon IWC Vs. Breitling
In our Sunday Morning Showdown, two of our writers go head-to-head in an epic showdown for the ages. Strong opinions and hysterical hyperbole are welcome (so feel free to join in with the fun in the comments section below). And don’t forget to let us know which watches you’d like to see torn to shreds/effusively exalted next week. We’ll try and feature as many of our readers’ choices as we can. This week our writers try to conquer the skies with two Pilot’s watches: The new IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 and the Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43.With the online extravaganza that was Watches & Wonders 2021 behind us, it’s time to bring you ...
Le Rhone Launches Moon Aventurine Titanium And NFT Debut
Le Rhone is a curious one. Curious as in offbeat. I was introduced to the brand on the business side a handful of years back at Baselworld. In fact, intermediaries who were not even representing the company encouraged me to “check them out”. Usually, that signaled something noteworthy in the sea of exhibitors. Le Rhone’s reps ushered me into a meeting with one of the brand’s founders, and boy, did I see a stunner. I can still vividly remember the way the Moon model dazzled me, especially with its aventurine dial and craftsmanship. When an impression is that memorable, it's definitely quite something.Now comes the curious part. I didn't learn much about the brand. I al...
Breitling Chronomat The Watch Of Wing Commander Roly Falk
At the end of the 1955 Farnborough Airshow, the British Prime Minister, Sir Anthony Eden, flew in an Avro Vulcan bomber. Though most pilots were bundled up in military flight suits and helmets, one figure stood out, cutting a dash in his tailored Savile Row business suit, shirt, and tie. It was the Vulcan’s flamboyant pilot, Wing Commander Roland ‘Roly’ Falk, and that was his standard flying garb.Overalls were from the biplane and propeller era. Falk saw the modern jet cockpit as an extension of his office and dressed accordingly. One of the maxims he applied to an aircraft was, “If it looks good, then it will fly well”. This was certainly true of the Avro Vulca...
Coffee Corner Watch Talk: G-Shock, Omega, F.P. Journe, And More
How did the Easter Bunny treat you this weekend? No, don't tell me, keep it to yourself. And since you might not want to share too much with your colleagues either, here's a bit of coffee corner watch talk to kick off the week featuring G-Shock, a space-going Omega Speedmaster in yellow gold, a rare and complicated F.P. Journe creation, plus an upcoming exhibition at the Musee International d’Horlogerie in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland.Some people mix and match like there's no tomorrow. And by that, I mean they combine watches and clothing without considering if the soul of the watch matches the spirit of the attire. But others do, and for those picky G-Shock-wearing mixers and matche...
Citizen CA7090 Chronograph In Super Titanium
Not long after announcing its upcoming Promaster retro diver, Citizen is back again with a new chronograph inspired by ’70s design - the CA7090 in Super Titanium. For a 104-year-old company, introducing a brand-new design may be too radical, so how about throwing in a few familiar faces? Oh yes. The Japanese giant is adding not just one, but nine vintage-inspired models to its 2022 Super Titanium collection.First of all, it's worth highlighting the fundamentals marked on all their dials. All nine models embody two of Citizen's signature technologies - Super Titanium and Eco-Drive light power. Super Titanium is the brand's trademarked material that is 40% lighter and five times harder t...
Hands-On: Casio Vintage A1000 MA-7EF And A1000 MGA-5EF
Casio has added two attractive models to its A1000 Premium lineup. The series now consists of silver-, yellow gold-, rose gold-, and multi-colored digital watches. The A1000 Premium models are part of Casio’s Vintage Iconic collection, a successful attempt to revisit Casio’s digital-watch roots.Casio A1000MA-7EF and A1000MGA-5EFLet’s start by putting these new Vintage Premium models where they belong. You probably all know the ultra-cheap plastic and metal-like digital watches that Casio has produced for ages. Who hasn’t seen an F-91W or an A164W? And although A1000 models from the Casio Vintage Iconic line may look more or less similar, technically, they’re not...
Your Chance To Own An Astronaut's Omega Speedmaster
Currently, RR Auction is hosting its Space Exploration and Aviation auction. Ending on April 20th, 2023, the auction includes several watches that belonged to astronauts and cosmonauts. Among them are three 18K gold Speedmaster Professional “Tribute to Astronauts” watches. This is your chance to own a lovely horological piece of space-exploration history, assuming your pockets are deep enough.Just last year, NASA astronaut Wally Schirra’s gold Speedmaster BA145.022-69 fetched US$1.9 million (including buyer’s premium) from the same auction house. This might have triggered the other owners of the astronaut-owned gold Speedmaster “Tribute to Astronauts” BA14...
The Collective Czapek Antarctique P.04 Lanikai
There is a reason that Fratello released a collaborative effort with Czapek in 2021: quite frankly, we love the brand (a lot!). And the Antarctique has played an instrumental role in that love, that's for sure. On its own, it is a sharp take on the hotter-than-July integrated-bracelet sports watch, but it has also proven itself an excellent vehicle for lateral projects. The open-worked Antarctique Rattrapante that Czapek launched in 2021 has been a milestone in the collection, but perhaps that stands to fall. With the Czapek Antarctique Collective P.04 Lanikai, searingly bright blue minimalism lifts the watch to a whole new level of cool.Collective Horology is itself a near-mythical collecto...
Hands-On With The Tissot Chemin Des Tourelles Collection
Tissot has been making waves over the past two years with the PRX series. As some of you might know, I own a PRX Powermatic 80, and I love that watch. In my opinion, it is easily the best watch for less than $1,000. But despite the great success of the PRX collection, the brand is definitely not a one-trick pony. With the Seastar and Gentleman collections, Tissot has two more modern lines that offer stylish daily wearers that will not break the bank. The Heritage collection offers timepieces that are great homages to classic Tissot pieces. And when it comes to the more classically styled watches, Tissot offers multiple options. One of them is the Chemin des Tourelles collection. Tissot recen...
Fratello On Air: What's Up With The New IWC Ingenieur?
Fratello On Air returns after a bit of a layoff, and we discuss a number of things, including the new IWC Ingenieur. We’re glad to be back with you, and we hope you enjoy today’s candid show!...