Claude Meylan Lac Motorities
It was our, to date only?female, contributor Sky Sit who drew attention to Claude Meylan for the first time at Fratello only a month ago. She named them the Masters of Skeletons. Today, after having visited Claude Meylan at Baselworld 2019, we would like to give that a follow-up.After a brief first visit during SIHH this year, we were able to reserve some more time during Baselworld 2019 to learn about the novelties Claude Meylan introduced.Some historyIn the middle of the eighteenth century, Meylan was one of four families bringing fine watchmaking into the Jura region. Through?the manufacture of pocket watches equipped with music discs, fine watchmaking becomes a family tradition.?Generati...
Hot Take: Mido Multifort Patrimony
We take a first look at the new Mido Multifort Patrimony, an affordable vintage-inspired automatic.Well, we're clearly seeing the Swatch Group's strategy on display now that they've exited from Baselworld.? With new models coming weekly, if not even more frequently, we're not exactly sure of what we'll find in our mailboxes when we awaken.? This morning, for example, I received news of the new Mido Multifort Patrimony from the USA and some additional information later in the day from Germany.? This follows the attractive?Rado Golden Horse Collection that we showed you yesterday.? It's a lot of fun to see new things everyday with the only concerns a lack of hands-on pictures and, therefore, n...
Pre-Owned Picks 5 References Of The IWC Aquatimer
This week I am highlighting five of my picks of the IWC Aquatimer, ranging from 1968 to the present day.The concept of a bespoke, wrist-worn timing device for deep ocean diving began earlier than most people appreciate. Omega and Hamilton had novel ideas to retain waterproofness in the 1930s. Most famously, Panerai provided a luminescent and over-sized wrist-watch, with a case made by , for the Marina Militare. Not often were these watches commercially available outside of naval use.Turning the tidesBut there was a seismic shift by the middle of the 20th Century with the introduction of the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms in 1953. Soon after came the Submariner. At the time, these watches were a ne...
New Release: MING 27.01
It’s clearly new release season and that means that even smaller independent brands are in on the fun. With today’s news, we have the new MING 27.01.Last year, I had the opportunity to go hands-on with the new MING 17.06. I came away so deeply impressed that I sent some emails to the small global team asking to purchase the prototype (shown below).Naturally, this request failed, but I put my name down for a release that will hopefully show itself later this year. I loved the finishing on the 17.06, the thoughtful use of materials and the low price of 1,250 CHF. You apparently loved it too because the first run of several hundred watches sold out in minutes. Today’s MING 27....
You Asked Us: Why Do Watches Tick?
After a couple of more open-ended topics, here we have a nice, simple, technical question to answer: Why do watches tick?Almost all watches tick. Generally, you will hear people saying that quartz watches tick and mechanical watches sweep. While this appears?true on the surface, it isn’t technically correct.?There are very few mechanically-powered watches that don’t tick. The most famous of which is the Grand Seiko Spring Drive?system. Exactly how that works and how it differs from more regular escapements is a conversation for another day. In the meantime, let’s get back to the straightforward question posed: Why do watches tick?Every watch has a power source. For the sake...
The Ultimate Zenith Buying Guide For The 1960s (2021)
We like to talk about vintage watches a lot within the Fratello team. While the daily routine is largely focused on the most recent developments in the world of watches, the most fun for many of us lies in the 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 priceless, some of them still affordable. But all of them are interesting watches. In this installment, we will take a look at the best Zenith watches from the 1960s.In the 1960s, we witnessed developments that challenged the status quo o...
NOMOS Glashutte Tangente 38 Medecins Sans Frontires At 50
The red twelve. It’s iconic. I really mean that. I say it without a note of shyness. Yes, the most overused word in the watch industry is not one I reach for very often but I like to when I think it perfectly sums up the little things that brands do that end up snowballing and becoming far bigger than they could have ever hoped to become. The NOMOS Glashutte Tangente 38 - 50 Years Of Doctors Without Borders has a long name but an even longer history behind it. Let’s dive into that now.Doctors Without Borders is known around the world by many names. In English-speaking countries, we call it the DWB. In NOMOS’s homeland (Germany) the company is called ?rzte ohne Grenzen (or ?...
Panerai Radiomir Eilean Experience A New Web3 Adventure
Brace yourself, Web3 is coming at you, whether you get it or not (yet). Panerai is not the first major watch brand to enter the NFT waters, and it certainly won't be the last. As?the brand’s entry ticket into the Web3 territory, the Italian-Swiss watchmaker has chosen a new product-release concept for the Radiomir Eilean Experience Edition.The keyword here is Experience. Panerai is offering you a multi-dimensional experience, packaged with both physical and digital components, along with one on the wrist - the new Radiomir Eilean. This is the first Panerai Experience Edition watch that is accompanied by a sailing trip on the Mediterranean and an exclusive NFT in a cryptographic wallet....
Bvlgari Octo Finissimo And GMT Chronograph Anniversary Models
Well, now, this is something rare! I’ve seen a great many watch concepts in my time. I’ve seen just as many great watches. What I haven’t seen so much of, however, is a watch that pays such literal respect to the sketches that birthed it into our material world. Here, the Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Automatic 10th Anniversary (reference 103672) brings the original pencil sketches of Bvlgari's Product Creation Executive Director Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani to the dial.This is too cool. I’ve loved the Bvlgari Octo Finisissimo from afar since it was launched. And while I still maintain that the Octo Roma is a better fit for my wrist personally, I will stand on any mountaint...
Dear Omega, Bring Back The Seamaster GMT 2538.20.00
I’m starting to think I might have a very specific type when it comes to watches. The Omega Seamaster GMT Great White 2538.20.00 is a watch that certainly ticks all the boxes. It’s a rugged stainless steel sports watch with plenty of water resistance and a GMT function. It has the classic Seamaster looks, but with a twist or two that make this a very attractive piece indeed. However, the fact that I’m writing about it in this article means one thing - it's no longer in production. Omega axed this particular model sometime in the early 2000s, and that makes me very sad indeed. But I'm sure we can all agree that the Omega Seamaster GMT's comeback is long overdue. And when the...
Tudor Black Bay GMT "Root Beer" Yes Or No?
Is Tudor owned by ? Yes, it is. But does that allow the brand to legitimately use designs from ’s past for its own catalog? Furthermore, if Tudor is in fact allowed to do so, are the results even worth your money? Let’s see what RJ and Brandon have to say about this as they debate the merits of the new Tudor Black Bay GMT “Root Beer”.If you’re looking for our hands-on review of the Tudor Black Bay GMT “Root Beer”, you can check it out here. But if you’d like to read a discussion between two editors about the sense and non-sense of this Tudor release, please stick around.RJ - In defense of the Tudor Black Bay GMT Steel & Gold M79833MNAs soon...
Unimatic Introduces The New Modello Quattro UT4-B
Unimatic is a brand that continues to surprise us with its new releases. While every one of the brand’s new watches uses the same design canvas, the variations that we have seen are nearly endless. The Unimatic Modello Quattro UT4-B is a new take on the brand’s modern military-style watch. This release features a slim case and a quartz movement enclosed in an in-house-designed protection system. This ensures that the new UT4-B is the toughest Unimatic release yet. Additionally, the watch features a new dial design with a full set of numerals. That is not something we have seen a lot from Unimatic. As a result, the new Modello Quattro UT4-B shines a new light on the minimalist Uni...
The New Oak & Oscar Olmsted 38 "No Date"
It’s been a while since we’ve covered a new release from Oak & Oscar, but today is the day to share something new. Granted, this is a rather subtle highlight, but it’s worth mentioning because it pertains to one of my favorite “field watches” from a small independent brand. The no-date Olmsted 38 comes to us via Chicago, and it’s a nice addition to the lineup.We have to travel back to November 2019 before the world went upside down to when I last saw Chase Fancher, the founder of Oak & Oscar. He was actually in Frankfurt, so we met over some drinks, and it was there that I got to see the new Olmsted in person. The no-frills automatic was such a hit...
Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 "Ice Blue" At The Races
Whether it's the scream of an Italian-made V4 or the howl of an inline-four Japanese engine, nothing disturbs the cool and collected look of the Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 with its soothing ice-blue dial. It's like being so deeply in love that even an endless stream of flirty text messages from Eva Mendes doesn't make an impact. Tissot quietly released the light blue PRX automatic watch, but that didn't go unnoticed. That's why I had a very personal rendezvous with the watch at the famous Assen TT circuit.It was during an afternoon at Fratello HQ that we were all of a sudden confronted with the existence of the Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 Ice Blue. The editorial team present that day reacted with...
Pre-Owned Spotlight: Vintage American Watches
For today's pre-owned picks, we’re going all-American, baby! I go on the prowl for some true gems from American brands in the vintage realm. Now, of course, I could approach this challenge that Nacho set for me in a million different ways. In fact, there is so much to choose from that you could run a Fratello-like magazine focusing exclusively on American watches. I have decided just to follow my tastes and share some pre-owned picks that I would happily own and wear myself.So without further ado, let's get into three of my favorite American watches on the pre-owned market today.Image: Oliver & ClarkePre-owned pick #1: Benrus Type ILet me kick things off with a watch that, in my ey...
New: The Nodus Contrail GMT With A Flyer-Style Movement
Nodus is a relatively new brand that has quickly made a name for itself. With a passionate focus on creating increasingly better products, the Los Angeles-based brand has gained a dedicated following. We covered multiple prior Nodus releases that show great design versatility. It makes it interesting to follow the brand’s journey. With the new Contrail GMT, the third generation of the Contrail line, Nodus has created a series of traveler’s watches that immediately piqued my interest. A modern flyer-style GMT in a relatively slim case for well under $1,000 - what’s not to like?Nodus has been around since 2017, but I first discovered the brand in 2022 when Dave wrote an artic...
Welcome Back: The TAG Heuer Formula 1 Kith
For many of us, today’s announcement of the TAG Heuer Formula 1 Kith represents a return to where everything began. The original Formula 1 watch from 1986 was groundbreaking, and for many collectors, it was their first luxury Swiss watch. This may sound like “PR speak,” but it rings true for me as it was, in fact, the first nicer watch I owned.Message to TAG Heuer - it’s about damn time! I say that lovingly because I’m sure that bringing back the original Formula 1 from 1986 was a carefully considered decision. Should the watch come back differently? Should it be larger? Or should the materials differ from the original? Thankfully, as we’ll see, the new TA...
Hands-On: Louis Moinet Moon Tech
Maybe you’ve heard of it, but Kapton is not a material I'm familiar with. Before being introduced to the Louis Moinet Moon Tech during last month's Watches and Wonders, I did not know the material existed, let alone its different purposes, such as insulation, chemical resistance, and heat control. It’s used by NASA too, you know? And in the case of the yellow slice of this polyamide film under the dial of the new Louis Moinet, it's from the Apollo 11 mission. The Kapton in the watch served as thermal protection for the astronauts in the Command Module. Apollo 11 was the mission that put the first people on the Moon, and its crew consisted of astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin ̶...
Opinion Revision: I Really Like Hublot Watches
Hublot is easily one of the most controversial watch brands among enthusiasts. The brand seems to thrive but not necessarily in connoisseur's circles. It catches a ton of flack, in some cases deservedly. I have to admit I hardly paid the brand any attention for the longest time. But I find myself coming around. There are a few Hublot watches that tickle my fancy, and I think it is about time I admit it.Now, this article isn't really about me. I will take my taste as a starting point, but I aim to look at why Hublot catches so much flack and, more specifically, how much of it still holds up in 2024. Let's dive in!So, what is triggering the controversy among enthusiasts in the first place?Hubl...
A Vintage Hanhart Chronograph For Auction At Bonhams
Auction house Bonhams 1793 is hammering watches (pocket watches and wrist watches) on the 22nd of May. Their catalog has been published today for this auction in Knightsbridge (London) and has some nice pieces.Between the fair share of usual suspects (, Omega, IWC etc), this 1940s Hanhart chronograph with hand wound caliber 40 movement caught my attention. Not because of the condition, which seems to be quite poor, but because it resembles with Hanhart’s current ‘Pioneer’ collection so well. Their MkI watch from the Pioneer collection with black dial and Arabic numerals is based on those very first mono pusher chronographs with caliber 40 movements (1938).Hanhart uses a mov...