The Master of Skeletons Claude Meylan
With BaselWorld around the corner, the industry is awash with speculation. How will the famous fair fare? Following the sudden, shock-inducing departure of The Swatch Group, uncertainty circles around how the show can remain relevant to the market.Personally, I can't wait to see it all unfold. BW has just released the floor plans. With a strategic reworking of Hall 1.0's (the main hall) layout to fill the void, the stage is now perfectly primed for a whole hoard of Independents to step into the starring role. Among them highlighted in the recent BW news is Claude Meylan, who has been solidly mastering its artistry since the 80s and is ready to show the world their true colours.Claude MeylanT...
Wrist Game or Crying Shame: Seiko SKX007J
Welcome back to Wrist Game or Crying Shame, the weekly series that allows you to decide whether you'd like to wear a watch or socially distance it from your appendage! This week, we head down several pegs on the ladder with a look at the Seiko SKX007J. But firstIn last week's episode of Wrist Game, we were large and in charge with the Panerai Luminor Base Logo. I lamented the use of branding in our modern world but went on to say that this PAM did it in a cool and classy way. Roughly 67% of you took my side and that means that this faux Italian Stallion trotted off with a win. As an aside, a 67% translated to a D+ back in school and that actually sucks, but let's not think in those terms. Le...
Book Review: The Golden Age Of The Swiss Wristwatch
The Golden Age of The Swiss Wristwatch book is not only a showcase of beautifully crafted ads but also an amazing source of information and inspiration for watch collectors.I flipped through the entire 350 pages of the book on the first night it reached me. And I did the same on the second night. I apologize for the post-it notes sticking out of the pages, but I had to mark all the surprising discoveries instantly. Want a teaser? If you remember my ode on the Christopher Ward Trident C60, you know how much I like power reserve watches. In The Golden Age of The Swiss Wristwatch book, there are only three full-page ads on Heuer. The last one dated from March/April 1953 shows an automatic Heuer...
The Seiko Astron GPS Solar Uses Brand's Most Advanced Caliber Ever
For those of you looking for a lightweight, solar-powered, go-anywhere, do-anything beater that can handle life on the beach or in the boardroom, the new Seiko Astron GPS Solar might be the answer. The latest member of the celebrated family is a landmark release for the popular Japanese brand.Functionality? Check. Market-leading technology? Check. Killer looks and extreme wearing comfort? You guessed it… The new Seiko Astron GPS Solar watch is something special. Sure, there will be quartz-detractors dismissing this release as a pointless halfway house between mechanical luxury and Apple Watch connectivity, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a very popular destination for some.L...
Hamilton PSR The Legendary LED Watch Is Back With A Bang
Hamilton is going to shake things up again with their new release, the PSR. A timepiece that, back in the ’70s, brought the space-age era to the dusty watchmaking tables of traditional Swiss watch ateliers is making a comeback. It was the hottest thing on the market back then. And I have to say the new one is not too bad either.The original Pulsar came out in 1970, exactly 50 years ago. To celebrate this anniversary, Hamilton releases the PSR, a remarkable reinterpretation of the iconic ’70s quartz wonder. On the outside, the watch shows a striking resemblance to the vintage model. Inside, however, you find a quartz movement that has been reworked to meet 21st-century expectation...
Meet The AP Royal Oak 15202 in Green
The AP Royal Oak 15202 is one of my big loves. I was amazed to see Audemars Piguet introducing a new variation on the Royal Oak “Extra-Thin” (or Jumbo, for the die-hards) 15202. A green dial version for the AP House concept boutiques.A few years ago, AP introduced its AP House, a place where you can feel at home while exploring its collection of watches. Due to the travel restrictions, I haven’t been able to visit one yet (there will be one in The Netherlands I’ve been told), but it is high on my list. I have been a fan of the Royal Oak for over 20 years, especially the 5402ST and its successors all the way up to today’s 15202.Royal Oak 15202 “Extra-Thin&#...
March Mania Second Round: Gerard And RJ Carry Omega, Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe, And Grand Seiko Onward
Roll up, one and all, March Mania has reached its second round! At this stage, our eight competing writers get a rest. Rob and Dave will present our weary warriors’ remaining four watches over the next four days, with each post featuring the winners of two first-round votes.Here come the last four standing from Gerard and from RJ’s groups. The writers aren’t going head-to-head just yet, so the seedings attached to each watch stay put from the previous round. By the end of the week, we’ll be down to the final two from each initial group of 12 as we barrel towards the showpiece final. As always, what we need from you is simple: vote for your favorite watch and let us kn...
New Watch Alert Montblanc 1858 Split Second Chronograph LE 18
Montblanc is releasing a mesmerizing new model today that pays tribute to Minerva's rich heritage in the most sophisticated way. The brand's latest timepiece, the 1858 Split Second Chronograph Limited Edition 18, comes on a never-before-seen case color with a classy complication.This is an exciting watch. Not only do we have an enticing complication (a manufacture rattrapante, no less) to fawn over, it’s encased in a very unusual - one could?even say unique - case material. If you didn’t know you needed a bit of “Lime Gold” in your life, you’re welcome. With Watches and Wonders just around the corner (starting April 7th, so get it in your calendars), I’m e...
Fratello Is Hiring! Full-Time Staff Writer And Copy Editor Roles Available
Good news! We are, once more, looking to expand our team. Despite the difficult circumstances of 2020, Fratello continues to grow. While the shifting landscape of the watch industry presents new challenges, so too does it throw-up new opportunities for development. Our team is busier than ever, and the work we’re doing behind the scenes has never been more exciting. If you’d like to be part of it, read on…What is Fratello?Fratello was founded way back in 2004 by Robert-Jan Broer. From the very beginning, it has been a trusted resource for watch lovers, collectors, and industry professionals. As the oldest major watch blog still running, Fratello has enjoyed its role as a ke...
SYE MOT1ON Chronograph Silver Edition Meca-Quartz Watch Review
It takes some doing to do something different in the watch industry these days, and yet, there seem to be plenty of brands game for the challenge! However, stepping up to the plate and crushing a 400-yard homer is not the same thing. One brand that seems to be batting above average in its short history is SYE. I first heard of SYE (Start Your Engines) in the run-up to the Baselworld that never was. Having booked a highly anticipated meeting with the brand, I was forced to wait. Almost exactly one year later, I finally wound up with the watch in my hands. And, I have to say, it lived up to my expectations.If you’re a regular reader of Fratello, you’ll know I have a bit of a thing ...
Swatch Goes Wild With Its MoMA Collaboration FratelloWatches.com
Among so many things that always remind me of my childhood, one of the most vibrant ones is the characteristic design of Swatch. Each time I walked past the vividly decorated Swatch store windows, I was amazed by all the high-spirited designs and the courage of the Swiss brand. In the gloomy Polish reality of the 90s/early 00s, stores like Swatch not only stood out from the crowd but also served as a source of inspiration and a reminder to dream big.However, at the time, as an unaware child, I didn’t realize what Swatch’s strongest point was (or perhaps my sweet spot). Today, it leaves no doubt that these were collaborations. You can't imagine how thrilled I was when Swatch annou...
The Moonwatch? Fortis And Omega Want To Be The Mars Watch
Timekeeping has been an integral part of space exploration since long before the first manned rocket flight. To watch lovers, nothing better represents the union of time and space than the watches of the explorers who dared to set out into the great unknown. Until now, the focus - both for the missions and watches - was limited to Earth’s orbit and the Moon. But with missions to Mars on the horizon, watch companies are jockeying to become the brand for Mars that Omega has been for the Moon.Omega isn’t sitting this one out either. If the Omega Speedmaster Professional was good enough for the Moon, it can go to Mars, right? Fortis believes its Official Cosmonauts Chronograph will w...
Serica California TXD Adding Some Fun To The 4512 Lineup
All right, I'll admit it, I'm a Serica fanboy. So please excuse my excitement while you’re reading through this quick look at the latest dial variant in the brand’s 4512 field-watch lineup. I've never actually owned a Serica watch, but I've always been interested in the brand’s designs. Serica is basically a group of watch enthusiasts designing unique, tough, beautiful, and affordable watches for other watch enthusiasts. And I think this new California TXD variant of the Serica 4512 field watch is a perfect example of that. Although, the actual watch might not be perfect in itself. Please, let me explain.If you're not familiar with its watches and Serica as a company, pleas...
North Street Straps Watch Strap Review 58
Watch Strap Review is back after taking some much-deserved time off in February. Ben penned the last two articles, but I had to take the wheel back for this one. Finally, the world is opening again, which means we are back on the road. That, however, does not mean that you will be without your monthly dose of strap reviews. On the contrary, we hope to bring you more from ateliers and events like Watches and Wonders. Today we have a traditional company from Greenwich, Connecticut. North Street Straps sent me four beautiful straps that I’ll take a closer look at today.Four straps, all individually packed with a friendly personal note for me; this was the content of the parcel that landed...
Yema LED Kavinsky Hands-On Watch Review
I believe you have to be a specific person to buy this watch for daily use. I just don’t know HOW specifically specific. But what I do know for sure is that Yema LED Kavinsky hides bucket loads of character.You know that kind of situation when you think you don’t know somebody, but eventually, you realize you know him or her in some way? Well, this happened to me with French musician Kavinsky. My musical preference leans more towards the Stravinsky end of the spectrum, so you can imagine I felt nothing when I found a press release about the Yema collab with Kavinsky. As I was pretty sure Stravinsky doesn’t need a watch anymore, I took to good old Google to figure out who th...
Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Small Seconds Hands-On Review
When the watch brand from Biel dropped a new small-seconds version of the Aqua Terra, I wasn't sure what to make of it. The central-seconds model appears better balanced and therefore remained the superior and preferable AT, in my opinion. But when Jorg and I went through the extensive AT collection online, we spotted something interesting. Something different. Something that got us very curious. Amidst a sea of black, blue, and gray dials, the reference 220.12.41.21.02.005 caught our eye. That’s the 41mm steel AT featuring a silver dial with beige detailing and a matching beige rubber strap. We had to see that watch in the metal, so we asked Omega to send it over. That wasn't a proble...
?Jaeger-LeCoultre Is More Than The Reverso
Jaeger-LeCoultre is a brand with a certain je ne sais quoi, except for its superstar rectangle. For me, the brand is imbued with a similar mystique to but is refreshingly less mainstream. I actually have a rectangular goal for this year, which might involve a Reverso or a certain Frenchie, but what about the rest of the brand’s catalog? Yes, Jaeger-LeCoultre is more than the Reverso, even distractingly so.I still remember Jaeger-LeCoultre from the crazy 2000s when the brand flirted with big tool watches in the Master Compressor series. That now represents serious value for money if you don't mind a big beast on your wrist, and it is my wild card for the pre-owned market. I had a long ...
Review: Doxa Sub 200 In Yellow: A Perfect Summer Watch?
It has been almost a year since I bought my Doxa Sub 200 in yellow. I finally caved after summer upon summer of having this nagging itch for a colorful dive watch. As soon as the sun came out, I felt there was a hole in my collection. I longed for something lighthearted, fun, yet rugged - ideally, a dive watch with a bright dial in an outspoken color. Now have a look at the Doxa Sub 200 in Divingstar yellow. It fits the bill rather well, does it not?Yes, it does! It is the perfect fun summer watch. Althoughperfect? I am afraid it is not actually perfect. In fact, it has some rather odd features that do not serve to make its case. Let's get stuck into it and see if we can grasp what Doxa's en...
Renaud Tixier Makes A Mechanically Innovative Debut
Some 25 kilometers north of Geneva, on the shore of the city’s eponymous lake, lies the town of Nyon. This is the place that Renaud Tixier, the latest Swiss independent watch brand launching today, calls its home. It’s the latest collaborative effort between Dominique Renaud - the renowned watchmaker and co-founder of Renaud & Papi - and the talented up-and-comer Julien Tixier. The project’s ambition is to revisit and reinvent seven different principles of horology, applying the pair’s creativity and know-how in a quest for mechanical innovation. This is a major claim for a brand to make on the day of its inception. But if you understand exactly who stands behind ...
Certina's Surprising DS Action GMT Powermatic 80
Am I being overly dramatic when I think of the word fratricide after seeing the two-tone Certina DS Action GMT Powermatic 80? Well, first, this is Fratello, so it is within the theme. And then there's the watch. Certina's GMT took me by surprise and made me worry about its big brother, the Longines Spirit Zulu Time in steel with a touch of gold. Both Swatch Group creations are flyer GMT watches with a similar aesthetic vibe, but the prices are very different.Not too long ago, I tried on the black and green Certina DS Action GMT Powermatic 80 that Jorg reviewed. The obvious vibes and the sheer amount of heavy metal - stating that the bracelet is solid is a huge understatement - didn't rock m...