Three Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Watches I?Would Buy Tomorrow
The JLC Reverso is one of the most admirable watches around. It's one of the few concepts in horological history that constitutes its own category that few dare to copy. ?You could mimic a Reverso, but you run the risk of looking ridiculous (of course, as a vintage collector, I have seen some similar concepts but none quite like the slide-out-and-back-on-itself that makes the Reverso so robust and, thus, respected). Even if you made a solid fist of it, it is unlikely anyone would pay attention. And that's probably why nobody even tries. The random and quite unexpected vintage branded Tellus (still shrouded in mystery) soon to feature in our ?#TBT column is as close as you can get to a Revers...
Hands-On With The Sinn 105 Series A Fresh Take On the Day/Date and GMT Complications To Brighten Darker Days
I thought I was totally over white dials. I thought I had given in to the dark side. Give me black dials, green dials, even a moody blue, and I’ll be happy. I really didn’t expect to be charmed by this goody-two-shoes, butter-wouldn’t-melt, choirboy of a watch. But I can’t help it. There is something about the levity of this design that just kind of works. Let’s dive into the highlights of my week with the Sinn 105 watch.Okay, look: when we shot this watch, we chose to shoot it in a particularly summery way. We did that after it made us feel that way during the wear test, not before. The bright background may well be the most extravagantly colored thing about th...
NEW: Breitling Super AVI B04 Chronograph 46 GMT Watch Review
For the past few years, there's been one thing you can bank on: Breitling nailing its new releases. Under George Kern, the brand has gone from strength to strength, leaving a rocky start to the relationship that saw the startling redesign of the Navitimer in its rearview mirror. Now, the focus is on the AVI collection, which has, over the past couple of years, defined its own design language with aplomb. Today, we're taking a look at five of the new Breitling Super AVI B04 Chronograph 46 GMT watches. But be warned they are not for the faint-hearted.Using the original 1953 Co-Pilot ref.765 AVI as its base, Breitling has released five chronographs inspired by four iconic fighter planes. There ...
NEW: Greubel Forsey Double Balancier Convexe (2022)
The Greubel Forsey Double Balancier Convexe is not a name that rolls easily off the tongue. But without even seeing the watch, you just know what's coming. If your collection consists of scratched-up G-Shocks and military field watches, you'll have one of two reactions. For me, it’s like listening to my wife, the astrophysics buff, talk about black holes and neutron stars. I’m simply left feeling slightly inadequate. Alternatively, you will consider selling your tool-watch collection to buy 147 lottery tickets in a rush of enthusiasm.These are valid reactions to any new watch from Greubel Forsey, and the Double Balancier Convexe is no exception. Like the Greubel Forsey Balancier ...
Buying Guide: Best A. Lange & Sohne Watches From The 2000s
We like to talk about vintage watches a lot within the Fratello team. Though most of what we write about is primarily focused on the most recent releases and developments, for many of us, a lot of the fun can be found in the sometimes weird and often wonderful world of vintage watches. It’s a world full of history, remarkable watches, incredible stories, and quirky details. It inspired us to come up with a series of articles focusing on the best watches per decade from a select group of brands. Some of them are priceless, and some of them are still affordable. In this last installment of the series, we will take a look at the best A. Lange & Sohne watches from the 2000s.By the turn...
Dear Seiko, Bring Back The Navigator Timer
Seiko has been on a GMT kick lately. While the Seiko 5 GMTs were a fan favorite from last year, the new Prospex “Baby Marinemaster” and “Sumo” diver GMTs are great additions to the catalog. One item is missing, though - a true mechanical traveler's watch. One with a rotating bezel. It's time for the Japanese giant to give the people what they want. Dear Seiko, please bring back the Navigator Timer!I am not quite sure how the Seiko Navigator Timer entered my consciousness, but I am sure I have Michael Stockton to thank for it. My confusion stems from my collecting timeline and this article of his. I got into watch collecting in 2017, and this article was published in 2...
NASA Astronaut General Tom P. Stafford Passes Away At Age 93
Yesterday, NASA astronaut Thomas P. Stafford (September 17th, 1930 March 18th, 2024) passed away at age 93. Stafford was one of the 24 astronauts who flew to the Moon. Before the Apollo program, he was part of the Gemini 6A and Gemini 9A missions.Apollo 10 astronaut Tom Stafford touches Snoopy for good luck just before the launch on May 18th, 1969 - Image: NASA.Apollo 10 SnoopyTom Stafford was the commander of the Apollo 10 mission, which was considered the “dress rehearsal” for the Moon landing (Apollo 11). Apollo 10 took place right before Apollo 11 from May 18th, 1969, to May 26th, 1969. This particular mission was also where the Peanuts characters Charlie Brown and Snoopy wer...
Hands-On: The Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Paris 2024
Last July, Omega decided it was time to introduce the watch for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Ben wrote about the new Seamaster Diver 300M Paris 2024 edition here. The combination of the white dial and Moonshine Gold bezel insert struck a chord with me, but it wasn't until a few months later when I spent time in Switzerland for a golf tournament that I could try it.Seamaster Diver 300M Paris 2024One of the other guests at the European Masters in Crans Montana - a Fratello reader and guest of one of the Speedy Tuesday events in 2022 - was wearing his new Omega Seamaster 300M Paris 2024 edition.He was wearing it on this beige NATO strap and handed it over for me to wear for an afternoon. I ...
How A Colorful Watch Strap Can Lift Your Timepiece Game
Watch enthusiasm is often marked with periods of restlessness. A desire to expand a watch collection can lead to either a sense of achievement or sometimes regret. Before taking the plunge, it is also worth considering a colorful watch strap to mix up the look of your existing collection. It could save you thousands.It has been muggy here in Sydney lately, with summer-like storms lingering and periods of relatively high humidity. Something about the fickle weather has had me in a funk. Sometimes when I get this way, I will start looking at new watches more, like window shopping to keep my restless mind occupied. Having come out of this process, my advice is to look into a much more affordabl...
Fratello On Air: Wearing Vintage Watches On Airplanes
Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air. This week, we discuss flying on airplanes with our vintage watches and why we avoid it. We also cover several other watch-related topics before and after the main subject. Enjoy the show!...
New: Seiko Astron GPS Solar Dual-Time Chronograph
As you may have read on Fratello before, Seiko is celebrating the 100th anniversary of having this brand name on its watches’ dials this year. The house is introducing limited anniversary editions of new models throughout the year to commemorate this. Today, the Astron line sees a big new release, including an anniversary LE.These are the Seiko Astron SSH151, SSH153, SSH155, and the limited SSH156. So, what's new? Well, they mark the first time that Seiko has combined the Astron GPS Solar Dual-Time technology with a chronograph. This is thanks to a brand-new caliber, the 5X83. Let's have a closer look!The new Seiko Astron caliber 5X83The new caliber 5X83 features sub-dials at 6, 9, and...
New: Trilobe Une Folle Journee Rhodium-Plated Editions
Une folle journee is French for a crazy day. When you first put a Trilobe Une Folle Journee on your wrist, it is not a normal day anymore, even though it might have started like any other. That's quite an achievement for the young Parisian watch brand. The Crazy Day with its time displayed by three elevated circles is not new, but the Trilobe Une Folle Journee Rhodium-Plated Editions in black, blue, and green are. Let's look at the three watches in their 40.5mm titanium cases with movement bridges showing a rhodium-plated finish to enhance their architectural qualities.Although Trilobe is still very young - it was established in 2018 by Gautier Massonneau in Paris - the brand's creations hav...
Exploring Evergreens: The Patek Philippe Nautilus 3700/1A
After spending time with the Submariner ref. 5508 and the A. Lange & Sohne 1815 Chronograph, I get yet another chance to explore a personal grail watch today. Yes, life can be good when you have special access to some of the world's finest watches. This time, I got to strap on a 1978 Patek Philippe Nautilus ref. 3700/1A.Again, the stakes are high. Does spending time with the Nautilus cement it as one of my all-time favorites, or does it buckle under pressure? Let's see how we fared together!The original Patek Philippe NautilusPatek Philippe introduced the Nautilus in 1976 with this reference 3700/1A. This was a bold watch by any measure, from its Jumbo 40mm diameter (42mm from ear to ea...
Vintage Love Leonidas Triple Calendar Moon Phase
A little while ago we published this article about affordable vintage moon phase watches. It is no secret that when I was writing that article, I just acquired a vintage moon phase watch myself and all the material I gathered during the research process formed the backbone of the article. The acquired watch with moon phase complication needed a watchmaker badly, or as our contributor Gerard Nijenbrinks wisely put it, a very very good one in order to bring it back in her former glory.For starters, I had to source a donor movement (amongst other things) and I had to find a watchmaker that was up to the task. Luckily, I came across a watchmaker’s website and after a short email correspond...
Chronoswiss Sirius Artist Regulateur Jumping Hour
Chronoswiss presented a couple of new models at BaselWorld 2015, which can be divided into two categories. One is the somewhat modern sporty collection (a.o. a collaboration with German band Fanta4) that will speak to a young – and perhaps new – generation of watch enthusiasts and then there is the more classic line-up, that seems to be designed and developed in the spirit of Chronoswiss founder Gerd R. Lang.We will soon cover the modern sporty collection, but I would like to start with showing you the beautiful blue Chronoswiss Sirius Artist Regulateur Jumping Hour with blue dial.To start with the dial, it is made of solid sterling silver (925) and then received a guilloche and ...
Baselworld 2015: The New Seiko Marinemasters
As an admitted Seiko nut, I've always had a hard time with the brand's release strategy at Baselworld. Sure, they release the new Grand Seiko pieces and cover the Astron line, but hardcore devotees of the brand are usually left wanting when it comes to the sports-related pieces: especially Prospex. Well, I am here to tell you that while Seiko did not bring everything Prospex-related to Basel, they are taking steps forward to offer a more global product line. Recently, participants?in Seiko forums have seen grainy catalog pictures showing a variety of new professional pieces and while we won't get all of these globally, we will see some. Also, stay tuned as Fratellowatches will fill in more d...
Breguet Marine Chronographe Reference 5823
The Breguet Marine Chronographe ref. 5823 was introduced to us today in BaselWorld and it commemorates the 200th anniversary of Abraham-Louis Breguet’s work as chronometer-maker to the French Royal Navy. King Louis XVIII appointed Breguet for this important job (remember that marine chronometers were essential to navigate ships at sea at the time) on October 27th in 1815.While I believe that one doesn’t need to find an excuse to create a beautiful timepiece (as you – as a consumer – also really don’t need an excuse to buy a watch), it seems that brands think otherwise. Although I have seen stories that are more sought-after, I truly believe that nobody is going ...
Fortis Baselworld 2016: the Novelties
At last year's Baselworld, Blaise and I visited Fortis as we really hadn't made contact with the brand during the last several years. We were pretty impressed with their new offerings at the time and their overall range. In fact, I reviewed the then-new Tycoon chronograph and Blaise reviewed a Monolith. We enjoyed the watches, and therefore, were looking forward to the Fortis Baselworld 2016 releases. I'll go ahead and surprise the hell out of you with this statement; Fortis brought amongst the best if not the most attractive and reasonable all around new collections of sports watches in the entire show. Believe itor don'tbut let's take a look.All about the details for 2016… The indice...
Armand Nicolet: a hidden treasure brought back to life in the Original Historical Movements (O.H.M) Series
The story of Armand Nicolet begins around 1875 in Tramelan, Switzerland, a little town in the Bernese Jura. Armand Nicolet, son of a watchmaker, after a brilliant? apprenticeship set up his Atelier d'Horlogerie.Between the 30’s and the 70’s Armand Nicolet had one of the most specialised ateliers in the T1 process (the finishing, assembling and fine setting of all these parts to create a perfectly working mechanical movement).At the end of the 70’s, when the crisis hit the Swiss Watch Industry because of quartz movements making their big entrance on the market, unlike other brands which either closed their factories or underwent a conversion process, the Armand Nicolet facto...
Conex Watches SA Launches On Kickstarter
Introduced at the CES 2018 of Las Vegas early this year, The X-ONE H1 is the Swiss answer to Smartwatches. It is combining a Swiss mechanical movement with an electronic module to enhance the mechanical functions of the watch.Conex Watches SA launched on February 27th on Kickstarter an iconic watch in which the digital empowers the mechanical movement. At a starting price of $750 on Kickstarter for the super early birds, X-ONE expects to bring a paradigm shift in Swiss watch making. The X-ONE H1 available at a retail price of $1490 in different versions and materials addresses amateur of mechanical watches and people looking for a unique experience with a smart mechanical watch.A unique expe...