Watchy A New Tool To Buy And Sell Your Watches
There’s a new mobile app on the market that helps you to buy and sell your watches: Watchy. We all know apps like Chrono24, WatchPatrol and WatchRecon, and even some retailers have their own app where you can buy their watches or do a trade-in, like WatchBox.All these apps mentioned have their own way of dealing with offering watches, searching watches, commissions etc. Chrono24 is probably the biggest player on the market, but charges a fair amount of money when a deal is made. However, you do get a lot of reach for that. WatchRecon and WatchPatrol scrape listings from all sorts of forums and other sources, where you (mainly) buy from private sellers who want to offer their watch or d...
Hands-On: Breitling Navitimer 806 1959 Re-edition
Today, we're excited to bring you a hands-on look at something we've been anticipating: the Breitling Navitimer 806 1959 Reedition.For many of us, we thought this day would never come, but lo and behold, we have finally arrived and Breitling has? delivered a watch that should please fans of its impressive back catalog.? With the announcement of the Breitling Navitimer 806 1959 Reedition, we are getting a no excuses watch that ticks every box (aside from it actually being from 1959); there's honestly so little to complain about that it should silence even the most persnickety critics.? We'll talk about why that is, what went into making this watch and what you'll be getting should you be luck...
Hands-On Grand Seiko GMT SBGN005G Review
It is no secret we love Grand Seiko here. Almost all of our editors have one, be it new or vintage. But are we open-minded enough to buy a Grand Seiko with quartz movement?In a recent article, we answered one of our reader's questions about spending a significant amount of money on an expensive watch with a quartz movement. The watch we have here today, is a Grand Seiko GMT SBGN005G with a caliber 9F quartz movement. A watch for the traveller that needs a precision piece with the ability of reading the time at a glance in other time zones. There are cheaper watches that offer this functionality of course, but those who appreciate craftsmanship, superb finish and a companion for life might be...
Hot Take: Rado Captain Cook Automatic 2019
Today, we have news of the Rado Captain Cook Automatic 2019, a subtle update to a favorite that first debuted at Baselworld 2017.At Baselworld 2017, Rado truly surprised the watch media by reintroducing a long-forgotten name, the Captain Cook.? First introduced in 1962, the 35mm stainless steel diver had classic looks, decent capabilities and a specific trait that’s highly desired by collectors: an inward sloping bezel.? We reviewed an original model a couple years back here on Fratello and you can see it above.Rado Captain Cook 2017Rado Captain Cook – A Well Played ReissueThe 2017 model brought things into this millennium – but just barely – by upsizing the case to a...
Sunday Morning Showdown: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore
In this Sunday morning column, 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, we plumb the depths of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore’s character to see how it stands up under an uncomfortable level of scrutiny.I didn’t expect to be sitting here on a 3-2 win/loss ratio after the way voting on last week’s column began. The Vacheron Constantin wa...
Independent Insights: Echo/Neutra, Second Hour Watches, Furlan Marri, And Studio Underd0g
As seen from the comments and engagement from some of our recent micro and independent brand articles, we have a portion of the Fratelli who are very interested in the indie community. Indeed it’s one that I have followed for a long time and been an active part of. As such, I decided it’d be nice to occasionally round up some of the projects I find worthy of mention here on Fratello. Here’s what caught my eye this week.Echo/Neutra hits funding goal for the new Averau 39mmItalian microbrand Echo/Neutra has hit its Kickstarter funding goal for the new, updated Averau 39mm. The 42mm model was released in the middle of 2020 and hit its funding goal in around 45 minutes. The fol...
Video Introducing the Blancpain Tribute to Fifty Fathoms No Rad
Today, Blancpain introduces its Tribute to Fifty Fathoms No Rad. A limited edition (500 pieces only) that grabs back to its divers watch from 1965. In this video, Karina and RJ talk about the Blancpain Tribute to Fifty Fathoms No Rad.Additionally, we share with you two videos on the history of the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms. Enjoy!The Fifty Fathoms History – Part One Blancpain:The Fifty Fathoms History – Part Two Blancpain:Click here to go to our YouTube channel to see more watch videos....
Watch Giveaway: Lima Automatic Meca02
Get ready to smile. Honestly, this one lit up not just my day, my week, or month. No, when I first laid eyes on the Lima Automatic Meca02, I felt that perhaps 2021 wasn’t going to be so bad after all. I laughed. Genuinely, I laughed out loud. Not derisively, but rather in disbelief that something so cute, so cool, and so totally off my radar could exist. Even after spending the entirety of my adult life in the watch business, I’m glad there are surprises left to discover.I was contacted out of the blue by Herman Tantriady about possibly reviewing his irreverent creations. I’d never heard of Lima watches before so I checked out the site. The Meca02 offered here for one of yo...
Hands-On With The New Blancpain Tribute to Fifty Fathoms No Rad
The Blancpain Fifty-Fathoms from 1953 is the first modern dive watch. There were dive watches before but the introduction of the Fifty-Fathoms in 1953, set a new standard.Blancpain’s Fifty Fathoms watch was originally designed for the French navy. French officers Bob Maloubier and Claude Riffaud started to work together on requirements in 1952 for a watch to be used during under-water missions. Diving watches at the time were essential tools, upon which men depended. In those days, they could make the difference between life and death.After testing some watches, they were quite disappointed with the results. That was until they met Jean-Jacques Fiechter, CEO of Blancpain from 1950 till...
March Mania First Round Proper JLC, Vacheron, Omega, Blancpain, And More March On...
Welcome, one and all, to the first round proper 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 (super-size Coke, please) 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 first round proper, your task is a bit different from your task in the preliminaries. Below you will find the eight remaining timepieces of each of our Fratello competitors in four head-to-head contests of two timepieces. The seedings in the preliminaries dictate t...
Minase Seven Windows Is A Sculptural Masterpiece From Any Angle You Choose
If you like original watches packed full of conversation-starting elements, then you'll love Minase's 7 Windows, the brand's latest collection. An obvious evolution of the 5 Windows concept, the 7 Windows collection is both smart in its construction and beautifully finished, with its Zaratzu polished parts. The 7 Windows is, first and foremost, an embodiment of Minase's vision of the world - imperfect yet beautiful.Minase was born just over 15 years ago, in 2005. However, the brand was available exclusively in Japan until it began its international adventure in 2017. To mark that special occasion, Minase launched a limited 40-piece edition of the 7 Windows. It sold out quickly, and, despite ...
Video Review: NOMOS Metro And Tangente Neomatik 41 Update
Last year, NOMOS Glashutte released two new models powered by the brand’s famous DUW 6101 caliber. The new additions landed in the Tangente and Metro lines, which was a welcome alternative for the former family and the first model to use this movement in the latter. Predictably, I got my hands on them at the time, and now, at long last, my video review of them is ready to be unleashed on the world.https://vimeo.com/682515138Hands-on reviewsBoth of these watches received dedicated written reviews of their own at the time of release. You can check out the Metro review here and the Tangente “Seahawk” review by clicking on this link right here. When this video made it through t...
The 5 Best Omega Seamaster Watches Of All Time
With the introduction of the new Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Ultra Deep in titanium, the line-up of Seamasters has become even more interesting. It is the oldest collection in the Omega catalog and started all the way back in 1948. Before the Constellation (1952), Speedmaster (1957), and De Ville (1967). In these almost 75 years of Seamasters, Omega made some pretty iconic watches you should definitely know about.Although the first Omega Seamaster watches looked nothing like a dive watch, this changed in 1957 with the introduction of the Seamaster 300. At the same time, Omega also introduced the Railmaster and the Speedmaster. Despite the fact that I have a weak spot for these first Seamast...
Is The Omega Speedmaster A Good Investment?
, Audemars Piguet, and Patek Philippe watches are not the only ones people buy as investment pieces. I often receive questions about investing in Omega watches as well, especially when it comes to Speedmaster models. The Speedmaster Silver Snoopy Award from 2015 saw an increase in value few modern Speedmasters could match. Because of this, a noticeably larger audience has suddenly started considering the prospect of investing in Speedmasters.Whether a watch is a good investment or not isn’t something only flippers care about. I find that those looking to make their first big purchase also consider this question as well. Buying one’s first luxury watch is often a big deal, and man...
Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Diver In White Hands-On Review
Though the season for ice diving is quickly coming to an end, Bell & Ross celebrates those brave enough to dive under the frozen surfaces with the BR 03-92 Diver in white. Winter will not officially be over until the 20th of March. But the days have already started to get longer, and temperatures have begun their steady ascent. Soon, in those places where it is still present, the ice will begin to melt. Lakes will go back to their usual liquid state, as the surface layer melts away. However, in some of the northernmost regions, ice diving was still possible until just a couple of weeks ago. Just as hazardous as cave or wreck diving, ice diving is not for the faint-hearted. With todayR...
FOA: Meet The Strapmaker Alex Gravelle From Velle Alexander
In the second episode of “Meet The…”, Balazs chats with Alex Gravelle, the man behind Velle Alexander, a strap company from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Alex tells us why he chose this path, what watches he's into, and which timepiece is on top of his wish list....
Hands-On: The New TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4
No stranger to the world of luxury smartwatches, TAG Heuer launched its first line of Connected watches back in 2015. In the seven years since then, we have seen a number of improvements take place. Currently, we find ourselves in the fourth generation of Connected watches, which debuted last month in the form of the TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4. Just last week, I had the opportunity to experience these watches in person. The specs sheet looked rather promising, and the 42mm model seemed like a perfect match for my wrist. As such, I was very excited to get up close and personal with these watches. Today, I'll do my best to explain what makes this latest generation so special and express ho...
Made In France: Pequignet Royale Saphir Bleue
Last October, I had my first encounter with the French brand Pequignet. I had come across this brand name before when fellow collectors mentioned it as an insider’s tip for advanced in-house watchmaking at attractive prices. You rarely stumble upon anything written about this brand or its watches, which was reason enough to make me curious.Pequignet is located in Morteau, a French village near the Swiss border and not far from Le Locle. Founded in 1973, the brand has had a bit of a checkered history. It now offers a broad range of watches and even some jewelry. Among Pequignet’s offerings are elegant ladies’ watches with quartz movements and more masculine models in both el...
New: Girard-Perregaux Aston Martin Laureato Ceramic
The Aston Martin Formula One team has turned it around for the 2023 season. The F1 car is operating at a consistent pace, only surpassed by current champions, Oracle Red Bull Racing. That's also considering that one of its drivers, Lance Stroll, broke his wrists two weeks before the inaugural race, and the other driver, Fernando Alonso is now in his forties. Maintaining a fitness and focus level this far into an F1 career is a challenge, but Alonso still managed a podium position at the first race in Bahrain. This upward spike in popularity and support for the Aston Martin F1 team has undoubtedly raised the profile of its timekeeping sponsor Girard-Perregaux. To kick the season off, GP unvei...
The New Angelus Chronographe Medical Massena LAB
…but it won’t be easy to beat the Angelus Chronographe Medical Massena LAB. It’s an unexpected release, and thanks to the special movement inside, it’s quite different than most of the re-editions out there. So is its price tag.In the last couple of years, a kind of race has taken hold of the watch industry - finding a “free” trademark of a vintage watch brand and looking at its past lineup to find a potential candidate for a relaunch. I have to admit that I feel bipolar when it comes to the topic. On one hand, it pleases me to see all the nostalgic designs from Aquastar, Airain, Nivada, and Vulcain coming back. On the other hand, I want to cry when I see ...