Vintage Watches: An Omega 30T2 With A Sterling Silver Case
Today, we’ll take a closer look at a fascinating watch that I recently purchased at auction. As we’ll see, the watch brings together several notable details that separate it from other 30T2 models from the period. It was a gamble, but it has turned out to be a rewarding one thus far.I don’t often participate in auctions. Today’s vintage Omega 30T2 only marks the second time that the word?“SOLD!!” has been yelled from the rostrum in my direction. Here we are, though, and the seemingly endless number of smaller auction houses residing here in the UK have joined eBay as part of my hunting grounds. The UK, if nothing else, has oodles of history, and that trans...
Introducing: The Fleming Series 1 Tantalum
Today, we bring news of a much-anticipated debut. The Fleming Series 1 is finally here, and we were able to go hands-on with a pre-production Tantalum model. This is a stunner in the truest sense, but I warn you that it isn’t an entry-level watch. This watch has an all-star cast behind it. Let’s take a look.It was June 2023 when Fleming dropped its first Instagram post. Since then, dribs and drabs have made it to the brand’s account, revealing small details of the Fleming Series 1. Now, after a sizable amount of anticipation, we get to see the results. Rose gold and platinum make up two of the offerings. Our hands-on was with the third variant, the Tantalum. This is one of ...
Introducing: The New RZE Fratello Resolute Pro "Contour"
What makes a tool watch great? The answer may vary depending on who you ask, but to the folks at RZE and us here at Fratello, a great tool watch is one that inspires you to get out there and make the most of the time you spend with it on your wrist, whether it’s a dive watch that gets you in the water, a chronograph that you can hit the track with, or even a field watch that you can rely on when trekking into the woods. Usually, this will be due to it having the right blend of functionality, specs, and quality. Today, we are thrilled to introduce the new RZE Fratello Resolute Pro “Contour,” a watch inspired by the spirit of adventure and the trusty analog tools that get you...
Hands-On: The Very Green Zenith Chronomaster Sport
What happens when you leave a Submariner Hulk and a Daytona in a room overnight? You get the Zenith Chronomaster Sport in its very green attire. Did I offend any and/or Zenith fans? It was my initial thought when I saw the press pictures of the Chronomaster Sport on a bracelet (ref. 03.3119.3600/56.M3100) and the one on a matching rubber strap (ref. 03.3119.3600/56.R952). From the very start, the Chronomaster Sport gave off strong Daytona vibes, and by adding a green dial and green ceramic bezel, it also ventured into Sub territory. That sounds like an irreversible bad first impression, but judging a watch by looking at it on a screen should always be temporary. A judgment can only be fina...
The Unusual Suspects: A Watch Collection Without The Obvious
At Fratello, we love hypothetical collecting exercises, challenges like What if I could spend 5K or 10K on a three-watch collection? for instance. Today, I want to do one that isn't limited by a specific budget or number of watches. Instead, I would like to simply stray off the beaten path and go for unusual suspects. What if I wanted to build a little watch collection without hitting the expected targets? That means no Submariners, Speedmasters, or Tanks. Let's dive in!These are watches I would choose for myself under the set restrictions. Although I am not setting a specific budget, I will try to stick to the segment in which I tend to buy. It would be too easy to just jump on a bunch of c...
As Light As A Feather: Hands-On With The Ultralight Behrens 20G
I rarely get to follow the journey of a watch’s creation. From the early renders to a dummy prototype to the finished article, the Behrens 20G has been an exciting journey. That said, I am not a patient person. I’m not a fan of waiting for things. I’m sure we all know the frustrations of finishing a season of our favorite TV show only to have to wait a year or more for the next. It was like that with the Behrens 20G for me.I first saw the initial renders about a year and a half ago, followed by the non-working samples at Time To Watches in 2023. Finally, I now have a final production watch in hand and on my wrist. This is not the first time I have written about this particu...
Hands-On With The Titoni Heritage Bicompax Chronograph
Today, we’re taking a look at the latest entry from Titoni. The Heritage Bicompax Chronograph is, as you’d expect, a vintage-inspired piece that takes its cues from historic ’50s and ’60s models. It’s clean, uses a reliable automatic caliber, and is relatively affordable. Let’s take a closer look.As a fan of vintage watches, I must admit that Titoni wasn’t a brand that immediately registered on my radar. A quick look at the brand’s official history page, though, explained why. Historically, Titoni was known first as Felco, then as Felca, and I had indeed heard of its second name. The company supplied watches to the US military during World War ...
Hands-On: The MoonSwatch 1965 The 30th Version
In total, Swatch has introduced 30 MoonSwatch models since 2022. First, there were the original 11 MoonSwatch variants, and then, a year later, we saw 11 others with a Moonshine Gold-plated hand. In 2024, we got two MoonSwatch Snoopy models, three new MoonSwatch Mission on Earth variants, a Mission to the Super Blue Moonphase, and a Mission to Earthphase. Now Swatch brings us the first edition of this year, the MoonSwatch 1965.MoonSwatch FOMOSome of us in the watch media received a private showing one week before the first 11 MoonSwatch models debuted. When I asked Nick Hayek (CEO of Swatch Group) about further plans for the MoonSwatch, he told me Swatch had not developed the concept just fo...
Introducing: The Biver Automatique Japan Edition
When Biver launched to great fanfare in 2023, the debut watch displayed watchmaking maximalism at its finest. Father and son Jean-Claude and Pierre Biver must have asked themselves, “What if we turn everything up to eleven?” The young brand's second model, the Automatique, dialed things down somewhat. Still, it looked distinctly intricate and truly Biver-esque. Today's new Biver Automatique Japan Edition takes a different approach. Watchmaking maximalism meets aesthetic minimalism.I usually refrain from sharing my opinions until the end of an introduction article, but allow me to make an exception. This formula works for me - these are my favorite Biver watches yet! Let's have a ...
OMEGA Speedmaster "First Omega In Space" 1962 BaselWorld 2012
You’ve probably heard it by now, OMEGA introduced the remake of the “First Omega in Space” Speedmaster. The watch worn by Walter ‘Wally’ Schirra on the 3rd of October 1962 during the Sigma 7 flight, was the Speedmaster ref. CK2998. This is a second generation Speedmaster, a few years before it became the official choice by NASA and renamed ‘Speedmaster Professional’ in 1965. We had a look at the new remake of this Speedmaster ‘1962’ during our appointment with OMEGA in BaselWorld and we’d like to share our findings and the pictures we took, with our readers.As you can see, the dial lacks the ‘Professional’ wording and ha...
Audemars Piguet Star Wheel 125th Anniversary Auctioned At Antiquorum For $17500
The?Important Modern and Vintage Timepieces auction hosted by Antiquorum on the 11th of March, included some superb timepieces. Not only did I see some very interesting Royal Oak A and B series fetching quite high bids, I also noticed this Star Wheel 125th Anniversary piece from Audemars Piguet. This stainless steel timepiece was made by AP to celebrate their 125th anniversary in 2000 and has been – of course – restricted to 125 pieces only.This watch was part of the Millenary family of AP, and wears very well on the wrist due to the dimensions of 41 x 37 mm. Movement is caliber AP?2224 and is the?genius?behind the complex sapphire disc system for displaying the hours on the minu...
Platinum Speedmaster Professional Apollo XI 40th Anniversary | Fratellowatches
Apollo 11 40th AnniversaryLast week, we had the Speedmaster Professional Apollo-Soyuz with meteorite dial, submitted to us by Darren Townend. Darren has submitted this week's Speedmaster as well: The Speedmaster Professional Apollo 11 40th Anniversary edition in platinum. This Speedmaster weighs a whopping 248 grams!Speedmaster Professional 311.90.42.30.01.001Most of the Speedy Pro 40th Anniversary models we get to see is the stainless steel version with the silver medallion on the seconds counter. This limited edition of 69 pieces in platinum looks quite similar, but has a solid gold medallion at 9 o'clock and a wonderfully engraved case back as well. The case back has a gold medallion of t...
#TBT Seiko 6138 Yachtman vs Tissot T12 Chronograph
When we last took a reader's survey about 9 months ago, we found out that you’re craving reviews of affordable watches. Well, in today's #TBT, let's talk affordable vintage chronographs. More importantly, let's talk about vintage watches that are actually easy to source and, furthermore, will truly fall within the price ranges I provide.If you're like me, you've read countless reviews about cost conscious vintage watches and it often turns into a discussion about little known brands that used a good Swiss movement, perhaps shared a case with others, and then died an unsung death in the mid to late 1970's once the quartz crisis took hold. These brands made some great pieces, but unless ...
ANONIMO Unveils Its New EPURATO Line, The Essence Of Florentine Elegance
ANONIMO interprets the codes of Italian elegance with the new collection that pays homage to Florentine aesthetics. EPURATO: a third line that uses the main identity elements of the brand with its cushion case, its Swiss automatic movement and its dial displaying the traditional reading triangle. Refined and with a diameter smaller than its big sisters, this refined line is eminently contemporary. The originality of the bracelet and dial evokes the Italian elegance of this bronze model, the first of a new and large family. Successor to a long line of diving watches as robust as they are elegant, ANONIMO completes its range and becomes softer with the EPURATO collection. The ergonomics of the...
Omega Speedmaster Apollo 11 50th Anniversary in Gold Breaking News
It's finally here!? As the first model in what we hope will be a multi-pronged approach, we have official news of the Gold Omega Speedmaster Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Limited Edition.It's no secret that Omega releases a high number of variants based upon its legendary Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch each year.? For Speedmaster fans, and we are most certainly loyal members of that group, the last several years have been fantastic.? The '57 reissue, the Speedy Tuesdays, the Apollo XIII Silver Snoopy are just some of the memorable pieces we've had the pleasure of seeing and enjoying.? But and this is a big but if you're a space fan, a history buff, or one who likes recalling one of hu...
Hands-On Panerai Submersible PAM00959 Review
This year for Panerai is all about the Submersible. The Radiomir and Luminor lines represent the heritage branch of the brand with a more subtle look and elegance. The Submersible family, however, goes back to the core of Panerai; diving.PAM00959These watches are more sporty, bulky and colorful than the aforementioned Radiomir and Luminor collections. Still making a sporty watch, especially if we are talking about a Panerai, does not necessarily mean +46mm monstrosities on the wrist. I know some of you guys dig those watches and I have nothing against Panerai at all. On the contrary, I used to own a Marina Militare a long time ago. Still, those sizes only look good for a very small percentag...
A New Hi-Beat Movement For The Grand Seiko SLGH002
Grand Seiko is introducing a new version of their Hi-beat movement, the 9SA5. And what better way to do it than in an over-the-top gold Grand Seiko limited to 100 pieces only?At least Grand Seiko now has our (and your) attention with this new reference SLGH002 with a retail price of $45,000. Besides the awesome looks of the 44GS case and the use of gold, what is it that makes it so special?For Grand Seiko’s 60th anniversary, the brand has created a beautiful watch that looks like the 44GS design from 1967 and they’ve made it of 18K yellow gold. If that’s not impressive already, Grand Seiko also uses this (relatively) small batch of limited edition watches to introduce somet...
A. Lange & Sohne Secures Golden Balance For Zeitwerk Date
Good morning. In an attempt to deliver you some news you may have missed without causing you to choke on your cornflakes, I will preface it with this: It is wholly unsurprising. In fact, it is such a common occurrence, that perhaps I should start reporting when A. Lange & Sohne doesn’t win at the Golden Balance awards…Awards are good. They provide us with some idea of industry direction. That’s never absolute, but they can be useful for ascertaining more what the industry itself wants us to pay attention to (irrespective of what the buying public are voting for with their wallets). Major awards like the Golden Balance are useful to those of us who cannot afford to buy m...
#TBT Baby Breitling Chronograph ref. 174
This early up-down Breitling ref. 174 chronograph powered by a Venus 170 is truly a rare piece, especially in a black dial version.It would be a killer chronograph if it had a 38mm case. Well, it doesn't, but it still makes for a spectacular timepiece. The design, originality and unique feeling under your fingers when you start playing with the timer functions all contribute to the wow factor of this 33mm Breitling chronograph.Baby BreitlingBigger Breitling watches easily fetch north of $2,000 and getting a decent piece has become more and more challenging. As Mike used to joke, a smaller diameter Breitling is just too small for WatchFred?(check his Instagram, if his name doesn't ring the be...
Did Anyone Order An Oris Aquis Dive Watch With A Cherry Dial?
Okay, I’m going to keep this short, because Oris, for some unknown reason, has decided to release an absolutely drop-dead gorgeous watch with just three images. Normally I would wait until more become available, but I just can’t contain myself. I wanted to be one of the first to share this with you because I think the new Oris Aquis Date cherry dial dive watch is an absolute beaut and deserves a lot more attention than the three images I currently have at my disposal seem likely to get it alone.You know we love Oris as a team. However, within that team, there are three distinct camps. There are the pilots, the traditionalists, and the divers. I am in the latter camp despite not b...