Monta Line Up from Basel World 2018
BaselWorld is highlighted by the big brands like Omega, or Patek. Journalists as well as fans of the brands contemplate about the latest releases, wishing for a steel Pepsi or the 4th edition of a legend. However, the fair is not only about them. Smaller, lesser known brands, the underdogs of the industry, are also represented in quite a large number. One of these brands since last year is Monta; a brand brought to life by a group of guys from the US who are producing Swiss Made watches. Our very own Gerard reviewed one of their first models last year. This year they are back with some new and improved models. They tackle sea, air andwell, land. One watch for each territory. So, let's have ...
Hot Take: Sinn 206 Arktis II
Remember the Sinn 203? Or even the Sinn 203 Arktis? Well, that was 20 years ago and now Sinn introduces its successor, the 206 Arktis II. Here’s our hot take on it.The Sinn 203 chronograph was a very popular watch so no way Sinn would have just discontinued it without a proper follow-up. So Sinn replaces their 203 and 203 Arktis with the 206 St Ar and 206 Arktis II.Sinn 206 Arktis IIWe will soon write a proper hands-on review on the Sinn 206 Arktis II, but let’s have quick look at it first to give some explanation about this update of the 203.?I will focus on the Sinn 206 Arktis II, which has two advantages over the regular 206 (St Ar).First, the main advantage is the fact that t...
Cartier Santos Galbee 52Mondayz, Week #13-2020
The impossible happened. The Cartier Santos Galbee changed my mind about bimetallic watches. Just a bit, but every bit counts.Every time I've seen steel and gold mixed together on a watch face or a bracelet, I give it a wide berth. Maybe it's just my childhood memories of walking through cheap markets full of rubbish goods (calling them gadgets would be an overstatement) from Russia or China. As much as I love debating with people and encouraging them to try new things on their wrists, I remain chained to my radical views on bimetallic watches.Gold and steel togetherWhen I see cold steel and warm gold together, I have to cover my eyes to un-see an outfit ready for a local ’90s disco. I...
Meccaniche Orologi Milano
Clocks (for the wall, instead of watches for the wrist) are rarely in focus here on Fratello. While this already yields a perfect reason to write about them, a young brand in this metier increasingly attracts attention: Meccaniche Orologi Milano (or MOM).Their name tells you where they are located. Italy has a reputation as a hotbed of style, and the styling of MOM’s products is what sets the brand apart. However, it’s not just the outward appearance that is entirely different from what one usually expects from a clock. The movements of these clocks are totally exposed. What sounds like a very technical approach is realized in an airy and delicate way. The movements seem to float...
New Raymond Weil Freelancer Calibre RW1212 is Going Green
New from Raymond Weil in their adventurous Freelancer range is this green dial version. Working with Sellita, Raymond Weil created the exclusive Calibre RW1212 to power the automatic, smart-casual timepiece.When people ask about my hobbies, and I tell them I write for an online magazine about watches, I get a few standard follow-up questions:Is that a thing?Do people still wear watches?Are there enough watches to warrant an online magazine?These questions I tend to bat off without going into too much detail as I can predict the intended audience would lose interest.But there are a few questions that perk me up:My family member gave me a service watch. Would you know anything about it?Could y...
Unimatic Pays Tribute To The 1975 Apollo Soyuz Mission With The Modello Tre U3-AS
We are used to seeing minimalistic timepieces from Unimatic. Watches that challenge the norm of watch design by removing elements or redesigning them. It’s all done to make sure that the results are as clean as possible. Apart from some spectacular collaborations, we generally see a toned-down aesthetic from Unimatic. That approach has proven very successful. With the release of the brand new Modello Tre ref. U3-AS, the Italian brand lets go of its minimalistic approach in favor of some pretty outgoing results. But don’t think for a minute that this piece is not as much about the design as all of the brand’s prior releases. On the contrary, it’s all about design.Here ...
Meet The Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Velcro Watch Straps
Speedmaster enthusiasts and collectors love accessories for their watches. I am no exception myself, to be honest. Omega has just introduced three new Speedmaster Moonwatch Velcro straps. We received two of these to try out.As you know, astronauts who used the Speedmaster during EVA (Extra-Vehicular Activity), wore them on velcro straps over their spacesuit. Ed White even wore two of them in 1965! That same year, the Omega Speedmaster (105.003) was qualified by NASA for all manned space missions. You can read about that here.These Velcro straps came in handy for the spacesuit, but are way too long for your wrist, of course. The original velcro strap also has a special internal NASA code: SEB...
Zenith Introduces The New Defy 21 Ultrablue Watch
I remember when Zenith first released the Defy 21 back in 2017. I was invited to a showcase event where many of the new watches from that year’s Baselworld. It was the first time I was able to see these watches up close and personal. I was rather excited as that year had seen a few new watches released that I was eager to see up close and personal. One of these was the Zenith Defy 21.The Zenith El Primero Defy 21 was a big update and upgrade on the original El Primero movement from 1969. The movement’s frequency was given a bump up from 5Hz to 50Hz, in turn giving a considerable increase in timing precision from 1/10th of a second to 1/100th of a second for chronograph readings. ...
March Mania Sweet Sixteen: Breitling Vs. Breitling And Lange Vs. Laventure Vote Now!
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.Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to finally help us decide the champions of Mike and Tomas’s groups. The last two pieces standing trade blows for the right to exit the group stage as king of the castle, and march on to the quarter-finals with their head held high…Login to your Fratello account and drop us a comment. Who did you vote for and why? What’s your prediction for the later roun...
Hands-On: The Full Ceramic Omega Seamaster 300M Black Black Dive Watch
Meet Omega’s latest addition to the 300M collection: The Seamaster Diver 300M Black Black reference 210.92.44.20.01.003. This 43.5mm diameter diver watch looks similar to the titanium and ceramic edition of? 2019, but now in all-ceramic.What I love about the 2019 Seamaster 300M Diver in titanium & ceramic (reference 210.92.44.20.01.002) was the diameter size of 43.5mm and the fact it has no date. I am a sucker for no-date watches, as I rarely use the date on my own watches. Consequently, I prefer to keep things clean. So, I am giving the new no-date Seamaster 300 Black Black a very warm welcome to the collection. Without further ado, let’s have a look.Omega Seamaster 300M Bla...
Hands-On: The New Omega Seamaster 300 In Bronze Gold
Omega updated its Seamaster 300 collection and added a bronze gold version (reference 234.92.41.21.10.001) as well. Bronze certainly isn’t new to the industry. Nor is gold new to the Seamaster 300. However, this fresh new alloy - the aptly-named bronze gold - is something new to us all.The Omega Seamaster 300 collection receives a few subtle changes, including an upgraded movement (caliber 8912, Master Chronometer certified) and modified case proportions. The 41mm diameter remains, but the case band and bezel combined are slimmer than before, with the old height retained by virtue of a boxy sapphire. The classic Broad Arrow hands and straight lugs remain. Without further ado, let’...
Hands-On With The New 40mm Omega De Ville Tresor In Stainless Steel
You might expect a dress watch to exude a certain sex appeal, exotic class, or self-confident verve. But for the new 40mm Omega De Ville Tresor in stainless steel, it is much more than that. There is a tone of substance beneath the style. The combination of a steel case, diamonds, and a burgundy dial makes for an unusual visage but a really compelling proposition, from top to bottom.? It is certainly an off-base choice for men, but, as you can see from the below images, it doesn’t look all that uncomfortable on a male wrist either.The 40mm De Ville Tresor collection is quite well-known not only among men but also among women. The history of the De Ville Tresor line dates back to 1949. ...
Double-Talk: The 40mm Yellow Gold Omega De Ville Tresor
In our double-talk, two of our editors share their bold opinions on just one watch. This week Karina and Robert-Jan discuss the new Omega release - the 40mm Yellow Gold De Ville Tresor.Although Omega is well-known especially for its sports watches like Seamaster Diver 300M or Speedmaster, its more elegant lines De Ville and Constellation are as significant as the ones mentioned before. Largely due to the remarkable stories of both lines and simply awesome designs. However, today let's have a closer look at the novelty from the De Ville Tresor line.?The De Ville Tresor CollectionThe Tresor watches were launched originally in 1949 and housed Omega's famous 30mm caliber. In 2014, Omega decided ...
Omega Puts An Elegant Spin On The Ladies' Seamaster Aqua Terra
Natural lines and precision engineering combine in a collection of timepieces designed especially for women who seek-out elegance with an edge. The well-known dial in new colors, couple with Omega's female-focused communication strategy surely foreshadows the success of the new Seamaster Aqua Terra for ladies.Among many ladies' releases of 2021, the ones I was waiting for the most have just appeared. As the creator of Omega Ladies Club, Omega watches are the ones I love and the ones I wear. Therefore, last week when Omega’s novelties arrived at HQ and landed on my desk, my heart immediately went out to the new Seamaster Aqua Terra for ladies.The Powerful DialThere are few better additi...
Omega Unveils Its New Two-Tone Constellation Petite Seconde
Regardless of the season, the only thing we need to complete the fashion game is the watch. A captivating alternative to boring jewelry that we will not be able to part with after a while. Ladies, Omega just introduced a timepiece worth your attention like no other - the two-tone Omega Constellation Petite Seconde.In my previous article, I talked about the Sedna gold Constellation Petite Seconde which is an effortlessly modern ladies' watch with a distinct edge. This one is different - luxurious yet utilitarian. Its classic style makes it a very versatile option. That trait is exacerbated by its slick bicolor case.The Chestnut Dial?The two-tone Constellation Petite Seconde's timeless aesthet...
A Closer Look At The Sedna Gold Omega Constellation Petite Seconde
The Omega ladies' novelties are here to shine and this collection is no exception. The Constellation Petite Seconde in Sedna Gold adds a bit of the sparkle we all need in life.?From Cindy Crawford to Nicole Kidman, the iconic Omega Constellation was seen on the wrists of many it-girls - especially in the late ’90s and early 00s. The last few years have seen something of a revival. I've met so many wonderful women wearing the latest generation of Constellation or its previous versions, so much so that Omega has decided to bring back another well-known model - the Constellation Petite Seconde.The Very First Constellation Petite SecondeAs part of the Constellation collection, in 2016, Ome...
New Omega Seamaster 300 Dive Watch With Luminous Sandwich Dial + Video
As you can probably imagine, last week was a very exciting week at Fratello HQ. We were lucky enough to receive a special package from Omega, jam-packed with some of the brand’s tastiest novelties of the season. We divvied up the watches among the team and set to work. By complete chance (and a happy one at that), the Omega Seamaster 300 with a rich blue dial landing on my plate.The cynic might ask how many times a brand can keep reissuing or redesigning the same concept while remaining interesting. I don’t have an answer for you, but I can tell you this: Omega hasn’t reached that cut-off point yet. In fact, the brand is far from it if this new diver is anything to go by.In...
Omega Swatch Speedmaster MoonSwatch Hands-On Review
Meet the Omega Swatch Speedmaster MoonSwatch. A watch made of bioceramic (a unique mix of two-thirds ceramic and one-third material derived from castor oil) that looks very similar to the famous and iconic Moonwatch by Omega. As we're pretty fond of Speedmasters ourselves here at Fratello, let's have a look at this new MoonSwatch and tell you what we think of it.A week before this official introduction, Swatch Group CEO Nick Hayek, together with Omega CEO Raynald Aeschlimann and Swatch CEO Carlo Giordanetti, invited us to come to Biel in Switzerland where they surprised us (and a select group of other journalists) with a collab that nobody expected to happen. Ever.Omega Swatch Speedmaster Mo...
URWERK UR-100V Time and Culture I The Birth Of A New Line
I always enjoyed history lessons at school, but most of the history taught in UK schools revolves around Britain. So, that’s the Romans and the Celts, the Saxons and the Norman Invasion, as well as the likes of Henry VIII. Of course, World War One and World War Two also received extensive coverage. The likes of ancient civilizations such as the Greeks, the Aztecs, and the Mayans, however, were left entirely untouched. Thankfully I had my trusty Horrible Histories books to cover that part. Now that my beloved URWERK has introduced the new and fantastic UR-100V Time and Culture I, I’m feeling ready to dive into “The Angry Aztecs” all over again!That’s right, the U...
Erling Haaland's Custom Watch: The Micromilspec GoldenBoy
Last year, in one of my Independent Insights articles, I covered a rather exciting watch project. Borussia Dortmund striker, Erling Haaland, had commissioned a custom timepiece from Norwegian independent brand, Micromilspec. I hadn’t heard of the brand at that time, but I was intrigued, so I got in touch with the folks behind the brand to find out more about the Micromilspec “GoldenBoy”. Earlier this year, I saw the finished watch in hand before it was presented to the player himself!For any watch fans who use Instagram, I have no doubt you’re inundated with posts about the latest flashy and unobtainable watches celebrity sports stars have on their wrists. It’s ...