The Best Watches Under $1,000: Thor's Picks
It may seem like an odd starting point, but with this $1,000 budget, I'm making a concerted effort to put myself in the shoes of a budding watch lover. And to be honest, I have a lot of baggage with my value-driven collecting focus. Seiko watches still represent great value, so one of those will surely sneak in.On the other hand, my GADA watch is still a $600 steel G-Shock, so that brand still has what it takes. In addition to those two, the allure of microbrands is still tangible, so let's see if I can step back from my watch-buying history and offer some sound advice on what I feel are the best watches under $1,000 in 2024.The best watches under $1,000 - Pick #1: Orient Bambino 38As a bran...
Introducing: The Orient Star M Collections
If you're already into watches, Japanese brands have a different design mindset and offer big value. Orient Star is a brand you’ll think of if you're a seasoned watch geek like me, especially if you actually remember watch forums (ask your dad or an uncle). Most brands have a lot to offer, but with microbrands on the rise and prices rising, it's a different market.Orient has maintained a great entry point with its fan-favorite Mako and Bambino. However, like Toyota, it has a Lexus-level brand - Orient Star. These top-notch offerings have a distinctive design language and a Japanese take on premium with signature details. And the new Orient Star M Collections might just have what it tak...
The Breitling Pop-Up Museum In Zurich Chapter 3: Land
On February 1st, Fratello published the second chapter dedicated to Breitling's Then & Now Pop-Up Museum in Zurich. Today, we come to the final chapter, featuring Breitling's third universe - landborne watches. As mentioned in the previous chapters, under Georges Kern's leadership, Breitling has returned to the three universes of Air, Land, and Sea with an equal emphasis, while under the Schneiders, the brand was unequivocally dominant in air-related timepieces.To use Georges Kern's phrase, In the Schneider era, Breitling was akin to a shark in a swimming pool. Under the new leadership since 2017, essentially, this shark has returned to its natural habitat, where it seems to have made it...
My First Gold Watch: A Vintage IWC Cal. 8531 From 1961
Once again, we find ourselves with an article by yours truly on an IWC. Oh well, I’ve bought another vintage watch from International Watch Company Schaffhausen. It’s starting to become a bit of a running joke. This time, though, I haven’t gone for steel. Instead, I bought my very first gold watch.I seem to gravitate to IWC. There are a few good reasons for this. First, I have a family connection to the brand. Second, there is something about the no-nonsense designs that appeal to me, particularly with the brand’s neo-vintage pilot watches. Third, historically, the company has just made great, robust watches.My connection to IWC?I am the proud owner of an IWC Mark XV,...
Buyer Beware Mulco Escafandra and a Mea Culpa
Last week, I published an article on a newly received Mulco Escafandra in my #TBT series of articles. You'll note that the article is no longer online because I have serious doubts about the legitimacy of the watch. Actually, they're really no longer doubts. Readers, for this, I hope you accept my apology and lay off watching or buying these pieces. Mea culpathese are not good pieces.Buyer Beware!? This Mulco Escafandra is not real!First off, I want to thank one of our readers, Kit Bloodkrishna Chung for contacting us at Fratello Watches with a rather complete explanation of why he felt the Mulco Escafandra was false. He cited a number of things related to the case back (a stamped EPSA logo ...
What The Industry Can Learn From The Apple Watch Bracelet!
Almost a year after the release of Apple's first watch, it is often said – and even on watch forums – that the succes of the Apple Watch is part of the?reason for the disappointing results of the Swiss watch industry, that has led to an immediate staff decline, at several large Swiss manufactures.To me this is very questionable, not to use the word non-sense. Any person who loves high quality watches, may buy the Apple Watch, just because it’s fun or out of curiosity. But that $300 dollar sexy gadget, what the Apple Watch is, will not change people’s interest in good, or high-end, mechanical watches. It is still a fact is that the watch industry in general, is not amu...
Seiko At Baselworld 2017 A Big New Collection
Visiting Seiko at Baselworld 2017 was, once again, an experience marked with numerous new releases and an exciting blend of technology mixed with retro cues. We showed a preview of the Grand Seiko releases the minute the press conference had concluded (which coincided with the embargo lift) and we'll show some more pictures of those here. The focus, though, will be on the watches from the parent brand. Let's take a look.Seiko at Baselworld 2017The Seiko SLA017 62MASThe most eagerly awaited release from Seiko at Baselworld 2017, and perhaps one of the most anticipated overall, was the reissue of the famous 62MAS. We ran, and reran, an article on my original piece from 1965 in advance of the s...
#TBT Why I Ordered the New Omega Speedmaster 1957 Reissue
Today's #TBT will be Baselworld 2017 focused as we're still basking in the afterglow of the show. And, even though we've covered it already, I'll use this column as a platform to discuss why I, a vintage diehard, ordered the Omega Speedmaster 1957 reissue. Maybe my purchase of this watch surprises you and maybe it doesn't, but let's discuss it anyhow.The trio of 60th Anniversary Pieces during our AppointmentA Trio of Beautiful WatchesOmega, if you've not yet read, debuted a trio of 1957 reissues to mark the 60th anniversary of introduction for the Railmaster, Seamaster and the Speedmaster. Omega allows you to purchase these watches in one of two ways: individually or as a set of three. To cl...
Junghans Meister Chronoscope Terrassenbau from Basel World 2018
For years now, one of my personal highlights of BaselWorld is to visit my friends?from Junghans for lunch. Their HQ for the week is just a stone throw away from the BaselWorld location in a nearby hotel. Junghans releases great watches year after year – just take a look at their last year’s lineup. As you know, design plays a key part in their product line, especially in their Max Bill line. This how however I’ll take a closer at the? Meister Chronoscope Terrassenbau. An equally interesting?new novelty from Junghans.Meister Chronoscope TerrassenbauThe name Terrassenbau (Terrace Building) comes from the old Junghans building that they opened in 1918 and considered an archite...
Seiko Turtle SRPA21K1 PADI Edition 52Mondayz, week #14-2020
Would you ever turn to a Pepsi dial besides for a GMT-Master? Before I bought the Seiko Prospex SRPA21K1 PADI Edition, that thought had never even crossed my mind. Wearing my PADI Edition diver for this installment of? 52Mondayz is a good reminder of why blue and red is a great color combination for watches in general and why the “Turtle” is such an impressive watch.We have featured quite a few Seiko watches in 52Mondayz and there have been a number of articles on Seiko’s retro-styled ‘Turtle” diver. But the Turtle was never featured in our 52Mondayz articles. That’s why it seemed appropriate to wear my Turtle PADI Edition for a week and collect my though...
Hands-On With The Omega Constellation 39mm In Sedna Gold
Earlier this year, I reported about the new Omega Constellation 39mm Gent’s collection. The lines of this model are a bit sharper than the previous model, and they are now all equipped with the in-house caliber 8800/8801 movements. My only concern, as I wrote in this article, is the thickness of the case. Let’s see if that has been addressed by Omega.I never really took notice of the Constellation “Double Eagle” collection from 2003 and the later 2009 Constellation collection (38mm). They were much bulkier than the Constellation watches that were made from 1982 to 2002 and somehow I simply didn’t warm up for them.The new Constellation 39mm Gents’ collectio...
Alligator Watch Straps From Genteel Handmade
In a world where differentiation is more important than ever, Genteel Handmade offers you the freedom to create your very own alligator watch strap for your timepiece. Made to order, made for you.Genteel Handmade is a business that distinguishes itself on the market through a passion for uniqueness. Through years of practice, they managed to perfect their craftsmanship and also to focus on quality and variety. One of the most important things for them is to offer as many customizable options as possible.Genteel Handmade valuesThe alligator watch strap perfectly aligns with Genteel Handmade values. Using carefully selected and ethically sourced skins ensures a top-quality product. Master craf...
March Mania: Semi-Final A. Lange & Sohne Datograph Lumen Vs. Zeitwerk Date
When we started the competition, we had 96 watches; now, we’re down to four. The remaining writers are now into their second head-to-head match-up. The winner moves on to the final; the loser goes home. At this point, it’s simply the best of the best. Your favorite four watches battle it out for eternal glory. Who will be crowned the winner of March Mania? It’s up to you to help decide who will be the King!We’re at the sharp end now. We have four heavyweights left in our March Mania competition. The semi-final stage starts now! All four of our contestants can see the finish line where eternal glory awaits. Tomas and Bert clash in the second of our semi-finals. It̵...
The Sedna Gold Adds Glam To The Omega Speedmaster 38
Today is, of course, #SpeedyTuesday. So what better time to talk about the Omega Speedmaster 38 in Sedna Gold? Don't be fooled into thinking that this is just another downsized version of a men’s watch. It really isn’t. The Speedmaster 38, which is clearly has a fondness for the now-defunct Speedmaster Reduce, has been designed specifically for its female customer base. As such, its no-holds-barred approach to feminine design results in something quite distinct from its more male counterpart.In 2017, Omega introduced the Speedmaster 38 designed especially for women. Last year, the Swiss brand released the same model in full yellow gold and full Sedna Gold. Prior to those stellar ...
The Unbelievable Restoration Of Vintage Seiko And Grand Seiko By The Lapinist
Part of me was scared to over-hype this interview/podcast in case you’d feel let down by the end of it. Then I re-read the interview, listened to the Podcast (enduring an hour of my own voice), and revisited the Lapinist’s Instagram account and realized that, if you class yourself as a fan of vintage Seiko or Grand Seiko, you won’t possibly be disappointed. On the contrary, I’m willing to wager you will be totally amazed…About a week ago, I conducted an interview with Kamil, otherwise known as the Lapinist (@lapinist_watchrestoration on Instagram). He wasn’t comfortable coming on Fratello on Air himself, but after sharing the content (and the images of Kam...
New: IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph Lake Tahoe And "Woodland"
At Watches and Wonders 2022, IWC dazzles your eyes with the snow-white ceramic Pilot's Watch Chronograph Top Gun Edition Lake Tahoe and calms you back down again with the camouflaged green “Woodland. Many people have told me that I have “gone beige lately. And that's right, I like a bit of beige in a watch - IWC's Mohave models, for instance, but also the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Small Seconds I tried not too long ago. With that knowledge, you would expect me to prefer the blended-in Woodland over the blizzard-like Lake Tahoe. But it's the black-and-white Lake Tahoe that stole my heart.Love at first sight. It happened to me back in August 2021 in Geneva during a visit to the IW...
NEW: Panerai Submersible QuarantaQuattro Collection
New Panerai releases are always a guilty pleasure for me. Whether it’s new materials, colors, or sizes, the bold brand always comes through with something that I like each and every year. Today, we break down a trio of new divers, the Panerai Submersible QuarantaQuattro collection.The Submersible models are the “true divers” in the Panerai lineup. With their rotating bezels and more impressive depth ratings, the watches do battle in the crowded luxury diver market. They compete in a way that only a Panerai can. Submersibles utilize the locking crown and bring big, beefy dimensions - or at least they always did the latter up until 2017. When the Submersible debuted in 1998, ...
New: Chopard Alpine Eagle Flying Tourbillon (2022)
Chopard is a brand that I truly believe is criminally overlooked in the watch landscape today. But for over 25 years now, the brand better known for its jewelry has taken phenomenal strides in truly in-house watchmaking. Chopard’s first manufacture movement, caliber 96.01-L, debuted in 1997 in the now-legendary L.U.C 1860. The 3.3mm-slim foundational caliber boasted a micro-rotor, double barrels, COSC certification, and the Geneva Hallmark for its immaculate craftsmanship and finishing. Since then, these four characteristics have become a signature of many of Chopard’s jaw-dropping high-horology creations. And now, at Watches & Wonders 2022, the brand finally brings them all ...
Grand Seiko Evolution 9 GMT SBGE283 And SBGE285 (2022)
It's time for a new GMT from Grand Seiko! This is exciting news because you, dear readers, have a thing for watches that measure more than one timezone and especially when they come from this upscale brand. Are you ready to check out the Grand Seiko Evolution 9 GMT duo?It's true that Grand Seiko offers all types of watches from dress to sport. However, the brand’s GMT pieces are some of its best. Within the Sport collection, one can find a GMT powered by Spring Drive, a Hi-Beat automatic, an automatic, and even quartz! Sign me up for one of those tasty SBGJ Hi-Beat references! Today's models represent a very slight departure from the Sport collection because these watches are termed th...
Cartier Masse Mysterieuse Doesn't Leave Much To The Imagination
I'm always a bit ashamed when people ask me what movement is inside my own Cartier Santos Galbee XL from 2006. It houses a very reliable ETA 2893, which can be serviced by basically any watchmaker in the world. So it's certainly not something to be ashamed of, especially because the watch looks so good. But ever since Cartier launched its Collection Prive, Cartier Paris (CPCP) in 1998, the brand has been trying to impress us not only with that beautiful skin, but also with very impressive movements underneath it. Today, those efforts result in the launch of Cartier's most technical and complex piece to date. Behold, the Cartier Masse Mysterieuse.Here at Fratello, we look at numerous press re...