Speedy Tuesday Omega Speedmaster Apollo XVII 45th Anniversary in Gold
On January 16th of this year, Gene Cernan passed away. He was the Last Man on the Moon during the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. Before that, he flew on the Gemini 9A and Apollo 10 missions. This year, Omega introduced the 3rd Speedmaster Apollo XVII limited edition. In two flavors. In stainless steel (1972 pieces) and in gold (72 pieces). We have a closer look at the gold model.Omega Speedmaster Apollo XVII Reference 311.63.42.30.03.001In all honesty, the rendered images that I came across before the official launch did not make me very excited about this watch. But as always, you need to see a watch in the flesh before you can judge it (best). The Omega Speedmaster Apollo XVII 45th anniversary...
William L. 1985 Automatic Chronograph: The perfect budget chronograph?
As you probably know we sometimes have guest writers on Fratello Watches. They either have a great story to tell, an awesome watch to introduce or an angle, which we find interesting to look at a watch from. This article is a result of the latter case.Frieder, the writer of this piece, is not only a friend and colleague of Balazs but also a watch geek. He brought William L. to our attention and we thought the project was worth a review to the Fratello audience. What could be a better angle to introduce an interesting Kickstarter project than by someone who is a passionate watch lover and a true fan of this project? We believe he has a great eye for details. Also not “spoiled” by ...
Klokers Novelties Baselworld 2018: KLOK-08 And New Accessories
Visiting Klokers is always a pleasant surprise. They have a different approach towards watches. Releases are somewhere between watches, design, and fashion. This year Klokers has several novelties. Let’s look at the four new watches and two accessories.KLOK-01 in Midnight BlueThe KLOK-01 has already been covered by us a while back (review here). It displays time by counter-clockwise rotating discs and slide rules. This year Klokers expands this series with a new color variation in midnight blue. It is more subtle and accents are not that extreme like on the white version. As with all the Klokers watches the watch head is interchangeable with the accessories via the patented interchange...
Christopher Ward C65 Trident
British watch brand Christopher Ward asked us to review one of their new C65 Trident Automatic, vintage-inspired, diver’s watches. An updated model from the manual winding version which had been available for some time already, and which is one of their best selling products. Not only mechanically updated with an automatic movement and date function, but the dial of the C65 Trident Automatic also became more sophisticated with raised circular indexes.Christopher Ward C65 Trident Automatic?on a 25-day journeyWhile the below $ 1.000,= segment of vintage-inspired?diver’s watches gets pretty crowded nowadays, we see a high interest in it from our readers as well. So, of course, we we...
#TBT Dead Seconds Tourist Radio-Top
Killer movement for your next GTGSome people put it on their list of the most useless watch complications of all times. What are we talking about this week? The dead beat seconds aka ‘seconde morte’ or also known as jumping seconds aka ‘seconde sautante’.Foreword on dead secondsYou look down at the dial and instead of a sweeping, continuous motion, the hand jumps! Sixty precise leaps per minute of the central second hand. To illustrate, imagine a highly possible scenario of your first encounter with this movement in the real, offline world: you just met a collector, taking a quick look at his wrist. You think you are looking at a quartz watch. Basically, you're not ve...
Watch Strap Review 40 Nero Biglia Straps From Italy
Another month, another Watch Strap Review. In February we introduced Genteel Handmade Straps to you guys and for March we have yet another interesting company - Nero Biglia (Black Marble). Surprise, surprise, this brand hails from Italy! Let’s see if the nation’s reputation for fine craftsmanship holds up under scrutiny. might have guessed that we’re reviewing an awesome Italian brandIf you are looking for exotic leathers and crazy creations you will be disappointed. Nero Biglia does not offer such extravagances. What it does offer, however, are excellent quality straps at very reasonable prices. These straps are beautiful. The focus on manufacturing and material quality me...
March Vintage Inspiration: Zenith Piggy Bank Clock
The Zenith Piggy Bank proves marketing genius lives for centuries. This is the story of a clock that helped people save money.? I met my friend Matej a few weeks after he lent me his Seiko Superior to be reviewed for 52Mondayz. I was about to give him the Seiko back when my subconscious autopilot threw a mandatory question at him. The one all curious watch nerds give and get all the time: Any new vintage additions to your watch collection? As proven on multiple occasions, I didn't even have to wait until he opened his mouth. I knew immediately I would hear something that would keep me from sleeping.Zenith Piggy BankMatej mumbled first about some Seiko watches he likes a lot, then jumped over...
March Mania: Quarter Finals Vacheron Overseas QP Vs. A. Lange & Sohne Lumen
We are at the stage where our writers go head-to-head and hope to battle their way through to the semi-finals. At this point, each of our writers has only one watch remaining. Today, we have our last quarter-final that sees a bust-up between Ben and Bert. We need your help to find out who will be one of the four final contenders. Where will your votes fall?We’re at the sharp end now. Ben has one watch left, as does Bert. We need you to pick your favorite in this March Mania quarter-final. Following this round, the semi-finals commence this coming Monday, so you’ve not got long to register your opinion. Go hard or go home. It’s time to leave it all on the court…Login t...
Fratello On Air: WASP 5.0 Superstars and Superwatches Omega, Minase, MB&F, Richard Mille, Casio, And More
Welcome to WASP 5.0, the fifth edition of the Fratello On Air Pod-column, Watching Sports and Sporting Watches. This week, Rob and Balazs celebrate reaching their fifth episode by sharing some of their favorite players from around the four major North American sports leagues.R&B had planned to pick one player each and assign each superstar an on-field/court/rink watch and one off-field/court/rink ticker. Apparently, this was Rob’s idea. Unsurprisingly, Rob got confused and just picked two players from each league and gave each of them a very special timepiece....
Hands-On With The Bvlgari Octo Finissimo S With A Stunning Steel Silvered Dial
Back in January when the new Bvlgari Octo Finissimo S with a steel silvered dial was introduced, Rob called it a possible contender for the watch of the year. But is it really? Time to find out. I had a chance to go hands-on with the steel Octo Finissimo model that is closest to the original concept of the titanium version that was introduced in 2017. The big question is whether it is better than the black and blue dial versions in steel? With those two models appealing to a broad audience, could the monochromatic steel version take the Bvlgari Octo Finissimo crown? As it turns out, the answer is not that simple.As most of you know by now, quite a few Fratello team members are fans of the Bv...
Jamaal Parham Shares His Watch Collecting Journey
Jamaal Parham is a commercial director, filmmaker, and watch collector living in Brooklyn.? Currently, a director signed with ArtClass, next-gen production company, and a creative consultant at AKA, international marketing and advertising agency. The LA native’s passion for filmmaking transported him to the East Coast, where he developed said passion at NYU Tisch School of the Arts. He cut his teeth at the editing desks of several post-production houses in LA, New York, and London, where he helped create several award-winning spots. Parham worked his magic on short films, fashion editorials, comedy specials, feature films, and high-profile music videos. His love for storytelling then t...
Watches & Wonders 2022 Fratello Watches Coverage
Fratello will be on location in Geneva from March 30th to April 5th to cover all of the hottest news and releases from Watches & Wonders 2022. It’s the first year this exhibition is available physically for press, and we’ll be there to show you the latest from brands like , Cartier, Tudor, Patek Philippe, Jaeger-LeCoultre, A. Lange & Sohne, Vacheron Constantin, Oris, TAG Heuer, Panerai, and many more.Keep an eye on our landing page here, to see all Watches & Wonders coverage from our editorial team. It’s the first large watch exhibition since 2020, and we’re very much looking forward to seeing all the new watches introduced by the participating brands (nea...
Unusual Suspects: Omega Planet Ocean 600M 39.5mm In Ceramic
The Planet Ocean series is a go-to choice if you want a cool alternative to the Submariner, and one you can actually pick up from an AD (remember that feeling?). This is perhaps the most important sports watch range from Omega, and as such, you would surely think this is a bonafide diver's tool, right? Considering the image of its burly 43.5mm size in classic steel and blue, or black with a tempting pop of orange, I understand the sentiment. But, like many popular ranges, the Planet Ocean series has morphed into a veritable sub-brand with a full 28 references. You could go diving with white gold and diamonds, or take this understated 39.5mm Planet Ocean 600M in stealthy black ceramic.As I a...
Hands-On Watch Review: Casio Rainbow Metal GM-5600SN
I’m currently in a lot of trouble with my girlfriend. No, it’s not another woman. No, it isn’t about the drink, drugs, or my burgeoning interest in model railways. The problem is truly holographic. Yes, that’s right: I’m into holographs and holograms in a big way. Recently, my obsession with holographic material has extended to bubble jackets. At the best of times, my beleaguered paramour has to deal with me dressing like a member of the Beastie Boys in 1986. Now she must contend with a new look, which I’ve dubbed BB2086. The perfect watch to complete this futuristic hip-hop ensemble? The perilously fruity Casio GM-5600SN and/or its funky little brother, t...
Laco Flieger Pro Configurator: You Decide! (2022)
While the Laco brand’s history of supplying the German airforce during World War II is a controversial topic on these pages and others (especially because the brand still engraves the side of its cases with the item code assigned to Pilot’s watches by the Third Reich’s Reichsluftfahrtministerium), many of the luxury brands (and plenty of the humdrum) found themselves on the wrong side of history during those dark days.You need only mention brands such as BMW, Hugo Boss, Kodak, or IBM to realize that a troubling level of collaboration or at least association existed between the heads of those companies and the Nazi regime. Despite the dark chapters in these companies’ ...
MoonSwatch Release Aftermath, A New Daytona, And More
I'll have a coffee and every Omega Swatch MoonSwatch to start the week, please. Do I have to ask what you did last weekend? Do you want to talk about camping outside the nearest Swatch boutique? Please share your adventures and let me know if you scored one of the eight, not eleven, possible planets - the Sun is a star, the Moon is a satellite, and Pluto is NOT a planet according to the International Astronomical Union (IAU). Or in the very possible case that it’s been mission impossible, it’s good to share your frustration over a coffee to get it out of your system. If you really don't want to talk about it, maybe speculate with me on an updated Daytona; what should it look like...
Casio Edifice Watches And The Magic Of Heat Gradation
The deliberate and controlled oxidization of metal has been around in watchmaking for many, many years. In fact, the original technique has existed for centuries. It was devised as a way of protecting metal components from rust (which itself is a form of destructive oxidization). Watch hands were very commonly subjected to this treatment. This is because hands, given how thin and delicate they have to be, are particularly susceptible to rust. By heat treating, or “force oxidizing” the hands, a protective and aesthetically pleasing layer coats the base material. While blue is the most commonly seen color derived from this process, a whole gamut of hues can be achieved. With its He...
It's Real: The Studio Underd0g Aubergine Chronograph
That’s right, everyone’s favorite April Fools’ watch from last year is going into very limited production. Brought to you by Studio Underd0g and Fratello, the Aubergine dial project will raise funds for the fight against Testicular Cancer while, hopefully, putting a smile on your face.April Fools’ Day watches have become a thing. I remember the first time I became aware of the industry’s burgeoning ability to poke fun at itself was while I was working for Bremont. Bremont has done some fantastic spoofs of the brand’s own watches over the years, with other brands piling in on the act. It’s always a fun day for journalists and (I hope) consumers of wat...
Introducing: Trilobe Une Folle Journee Dune
A year after the release of the Une Folle Journee collection, Trilobe adds the brand-new Dune version. Trilobe makes a small change with big results for an all-around rather spectacular watch.Une folle journee is French for “a crazy day,” and this is quite applicable here. It is not often that you run into a day displayed in three elevated circles, but that is what you get here. Let's have a closer look!Excuse me, what time is it?My natural tendency when I get this question is to stick out my watch toward the person asking. I seem happy to dislocate my shoulder, elbow, and wrist to provide a readable angle. I am not sure why I do this rather than just tell the person what time it...
Herms Releases The Most Sporty H08 Yet
The Herms H08 is a watch that breaks away from the typical style of the French fashion maison. Upon its introduction at Watches and Wonders in 2021, it was already clear that Herms wanted to create something a lot more sporty. But that certainly doesn’t mean that the H08 isn’t as original or good-looking as the more classic watches in the collection. And now the designers dared to take the sportiness to yet another level. At this year’s Watches and Wonders, the brand is introducing an H08 with a case made of a light and sturdy glass fiber composite.Back in 2021, Lex highlighted the sporty character of the Herms H08. But he also mentioned how it’s still very recogni...