Collector's Story A Dead Stock 1977 Omega Speedmaster Professional
For this week’s Speedy Tuesday we have a cool story on how one of our reader’s bought a dead stock Omega Speedmaster Professional from 1977. Omega Speedmaster collector Alexander experienced something that a lot of us can only dream about: finding an unsold (and basically unused) vintage Speedmaster, complete with box and papers. Without further ado, here is Alexander’s story.Dead Stock Omega Speedmaster ProfessionalI have been collecting vintage watches long enough to know that unless you cross your path with a watch lover like yourself, talking too much about your hobby could become boring for the ordinary people. Since 99.99% of the world's population tends to think abou...
Hands-on: Tudor Black Bay Bronze with Slate Grey Dial
Baselworld 2019 brings us a new Tudor Black Bay Bronze, this time with a slate grey fume dial.Today, we had the opportunity to take in Tudor’s annual press release at Baselworld 2019.? It’s an event that flows quickly with a narrated introduction to all the new releases followed by a more than adequate hands-on period with the watches.? We’ll cover all the new pieces in upcoming articles, but thought we’d kick things off with what will likely become one of the more popular releases: the newest Tudor Black Bay Bronze.The Third Tudor Black Bay BronzeIf you’re keeping tabs, this is the third incarnation of the Tudor Black Bay Bronze.?Thus far, we’ve had a bro...
Hot Take: Breitling Superocean Collection Newly Updated
Yesterday, just prior to the start of Baselworld 2019, the new Breitling Superocean Collection debuted.? We had the chance to take a look at a couple different sizes.When most think of Breitling, chronographs come to mind.? With a stalwart such as the Navitimer (you can read our recent review of the new 1959 Reissue), other models often don’t get the same level of press, but Breitling has actually been making dive watches since 1957 and they’re quite popular.? With the new Breitling Superocean Collection, the brand updates its collection (versus the prior Superocean II) with an astounding five different diameters – 36, 42, 44, 46, and 48mm.? So, there’s truly somethin...
CITIZEN introduces Caliber 0100 New Eco-Drive watches
Slated for launch in the autumn of this year, CITIZEN unveils three new Caliber 0100 watches, named after the Eco-Drive movement, that delivers the world's most precise time-keeping accuracy of within 1 second per year.Eco-Drive The passion for precision and ecologyFor over 40 years, CITIZEN has pursued higher precision always with Eco-Drive. Since the advent of quartz watch technology in the 1970s, CITIZEN was quick to understand the shortfalls of quartz watches, namely the relatively short battery life, the inconvenient process of replacing batteries, and most importantly the environmental issues of battery disposal.In the search for a better way to power watches, CITIZEN began developing...
Hot Take: MONTA Atlas A Sleek New GMT
From St. Louis, the home of the Gateway Arch, we have news of the new MONTA Atlas, a rare slender GMT that should please both fans of the brand and prospective new customers alike.We’ve been following MONTA since they first arrived at Baselworld a couple years back.? Since that time, the brand has repositioned itself slightly in terms of its value proposition and they seem to be doing quite well.? With a tight lineup that includes the Oceanking (a 42mm 300M diver), the Skyquest (a 42mm 300M GMT with rotating outer bezel), and the Triumph (a 38.5mm field watch), the brand has decided a new model for 2019.? Enter the MONTA Atlas, a bezel-less GMT that shares its case with the Triumph.A 3...
Pre-Owned Picks Cool Finds Under $1,000
Last week’s Pre-Owned Picks included some pretty expensive watches, so let’s tone it down a notch and have a look at what’s out there to buy under $1,000.Every week we pick a few pre-owned watches from Chrono24, the largest market place for wristwatches in the world - watches that we love ourselves, or think they will be interesting to you. So to be clear, we picked the watches, Chrono24 only sent us the images without their watermark and in a proper resolution.With this week’s budget, we can’t include a or Patek Philippe of course, but there’s more than enough other interesting stuff out there, that can bring just as much fun as one of the heavy hitters....
The Show Must Go On
The world is still turning, but there are some moments these days it feels like it’s not really a smooth rotation. Here, at Fratello, our spirits are high, but we all see the news and effects of the Coronavirus and Coronacrisis.It seems like months since show cancelations began. At the time, some thought it was nonsense, too early, a knee-jerk reaction. But, in hindsight, we can say that Mr. Hayek and the? Swatch Group were totally right and I have to say I am grateful that he decided not to go forward. The same applies to the Grand Seiko Summit and all events that would have taken place in those early days of the Coronavirus.Fratello Office(s)Even the other week, I found myself travel...
Laco Wurzburg Pilot's Watch Ready For Take Off
A new addition to the German brand's Pilot line, the sub-dial-sporting Laco Wurzburg makes full use of the ETA 6498.1 base caliber's attributes beating away inside its 42.5mm case.I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with Pilot's watches. There are some, like the Zenith Extra Special Pilot's (time-only) series that I love. There are others that leave me cold. Laco's output falls somewhere in between these two camps and isn't averse from switching sides on what seems like a release-by-release basis.I'll start off with the good - the very good. There is only one brand in the world - in watchmaking and all other industries - that I will tolerate pre-aged goods from. That brand is Laco. Its ...
Taking A Look At The New Zenith DEFY 21 El Primero Felipe Pantone
I am happy to admit that my taste in watches spans from the classic and reserved to the more “out there” and wacky pieces. I’ve made no secret of my love for avant-garde and non-traditional watch design. It’s not always easy for brands to step outside of conventional design, either by their own self-imposed boundaries or by what they perceive to be their fanbase’s boundaries. Sometimes, these boundaries can only be overcome by the input of someone not connected with the brand or its history.Such collaborations can often end one of two ways. A big swing and miss, or something which adds a valuable point of difference and indication that a brand is willing to expe...
Introducing: The Batavi Geograaf GMT And Wereldtimer
With its origins in a love for vintage and a fascination for microbrands, Batavi is a brand that has aspired to bring something unique to the table. Whether in terms of design or color, the Dutch brand's watches have always had a unique flair to them, resonating with its motto, “modern design, vintage soul.” Today, we are happy to introduce the latest addition to the brand's offerings, in the form of the Batavi Geograaf GMT and Wereldtimer models. The brand uses the same clever mechanism on both to achieve the rather useful complication. Coming in well-aligned to the brand's previous offerings, the four new models introduce new colorways in pleasant pastel tones.You might already...
Dear Tissot, Bring Back The Mediostat
Almost every brand has watches everybody knows and wants in their historical product timeline. And then, on the flip side, are the watches nobody really cares about. Yet nearly every brand also has a few unique “one-off” models that hold a very special place in particular collectors’ circles. The Tissot Mediostat is such a niche vintage watch. But I am telling you, it has a lot of potential.As a warmup, you could start by reading my second-ever #TBT story published on Fratello. The Unstoppable Tissot Mediostat Chronograph covers all you need to know about the Tissot Mediostat. Today, three years after publishing the Mediostat story, I will keep it short and simple. Here are...
Available Now: Fratello Nivada Grenchen Racing Chronograph
The first month of spring is a special one for many reasons. At Fratello, it is mainly due to our latest collaboration, the new Fratello Nivada Grenchen Racing Chronograph. We are offering five dial variants with 10 watches in each color for a total of 50 pieces. The exclusive pre-order week starts NOW and ends on the 26th of March at midnight CET. This week, you can get one of the 50 Fratello Nivada Grenchen Racing Chronographs for a special price of only $1,499 (excluding VAT). Head over to the Fratello Shop and get yours now.But only after you have read the article. We are super excited about this collaboration as it focuses on a genre of watches that most of us love - chronographs. Not o...
Three?Cool?Dive?Watches For?Under?$300
Don’t get me wrong, I love writing about unreachable grail watches from brands like Laurent Ferrier, Vacheron Constantin, and Greubel Forsey. But I also remain rather grounded in real life, with my all-metal G-Shock in red probably my most worn watch this year. And I started with Seiko and microbrands on a sub-$500 budget. Seiko might have pumped up its prices, but both Japanese big-brand and microbrand watches can still be found with serious specs for under $300.And let's address the “dive watch” terminology too, for real. I've never strapped on a set of air tanks (yet), but I have always loved the genre. A 200C300m depth rating simply spells Solid with a capital S to me, ...
Wearing My First-Edition l Seiko Astron GPS Solar Again
When the press release for the new Seiko Astron GPS Solar Medecins Sans Frontires Limited Edition SSH133 dropped in my mailbox, I thought of two things. My first thought wasn't related to Seiko, surprisingly enough. I saw the symbolic red color of Medecins Sans Frontires (Doctors Without Borders in English) combined with white and silver tones and thought of the Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch Tokyo 2020 Limited Edition “Rising Sun.” It was only after I cleansed my color palette that a completely different-looking Seiko creation came to mind. And although it’s almost a diapositive watch, the watch that came to mind made the new one happen. I was thinking about my 2012 ...
Back To Basics: How To Tell If A Watch Is Good
In this installment of Back to Basics, we will go into a seemingly simple question that has a deceptively hard answer. How do you tell if a watch is good? As always, this article is aimed at newcomers to the watch hobby, but I see many veterans still struggle with this too. We see watches with very similar specs but sometimes with prices orders of magnitude apart. Sometimes that is justified, and sometimes it isn't. But how do you tell? What are the giveaways that show you whether you are dealing with a quality watch?As always with Back To Basics, I would like to invite you to share any of your additional insights in the comments below. These articles are to help newcomers find their footing...
Hot Take: The Aquastar Model 60 Greenwich Edition
Last year, Aquastar released a modern interpretation of one of its earliest watches, the Model 60. The no-nonsense black dial paired with a utile skin-diver case made it an instant hit. Now a new dial color joins the fray. The limited-production Greenwich Edition has a dark green dial that works well with the design.It took nine months, but Aquastar is back with a second dial color for its popular Model 60. It’s a familiar move from the brand and a name consistent with past releases of modern Aquastar models. The Greenwich Edition features a dark green dial and “Old Radium” Super-LumiNova. The idea is simple enough, yet it brings a decidedly different look to an otherwise s...
Hands-On With The Zenith Chronomaster Sport Titanium
If you are not a fan of titanium watches, the Zenith Chronomaster Sport will confirm the number-one issue you might have with them. Straight out of the box, this new Chronomaster Sport feels super lightweight. If you want a watch to have some substantial heft, this is not the watch for you. But that’s the only reason I can think of why you would not want this brilliant monochromatic Zenith Chronomaster Sport Titanium. I had a chance to go hands-on with it and was surprised by the tricks that the watch uses to make you fall in love with it. Let me uncover what makes this new titanium version of the Chronomaster Sport extraordinary.Daan explained in his introduction article that the Zeni...
Introducing: The New Horage DecaFlux
Before moving to London, I was forced to admire the Horage brand from afar. In the last year, though, I’ve seen several pieces in the metal at various events. They’re impressive and funky and compete against watches that are often boring. Plus, Horage focuses on innovative movements at fair prices. The new DecaFlux is an affordable watch with a new in-house caliber made to withstand our daily encounters with magnetic fields.The last Horage model I reviewed was the Omnium K2, a modern take on a dress watch. With vibrant dial colors and faceted crystals, the various versions presented an alternative for those tired of the same formula. Today’s new DecaFlux also ushers in brig...
New: The Ressence Type 7 Integrated-Bracelet Sports Watch
Integrated-bracelet sports watches have been and still are a very popular genre among watch enthusiasts. And even though it’s a slightly more recent trend, GMT watches are also in high demand. That’s probably why Beno?t Mintiens, the designer and founder of Ressence, decided to combine the two in one watch. We assume it’s a way to tap into a new target group, or maybe it’s simply a logical addition to Ressence’s ever-expanding collection. In any case, the all-new Ressence Type 7, with its full-titanium dial, case, and bracelet, offers something radically different from the brand’s other offerings. Don’t worry, though - Ressence’s signature orbi...
Spending Time With The Black-Dial Zenith Chronomaster Original
When Zenith first introduced this black-dial version of the Chronomaster Original in September 2023, it felt like a dej vu. At first glance, it immediately felt like a dial variant that the brand would have released in the early ’70s. We know that didn’t happen, but here we are, 50+ years later, with a dial variant that felt like it came straight from Zenith’s extensive archives. I had the pleasure of taking the watch for a thorough spin, only to confirm what I already knew: it’s time for me to start that Zenith collection I’ve long talked about. Yes, it’s safe to say that the black-dial Chronomaster Original was more than just another watch. Let me expla...