The Glashutte Original Fratello Tourbillon Event
Join us on Saturday, June 16th for the Glashutte Original event that we host together with the Tourbillon Boutique in Baden-Baden, Germany.Glashutte Original will bring their Baselworld 2018 novelties, some vintage pieces from their archives and a dial-maker who will demonstrate how they achieve to create these fabulous dials. This is something not to be missed.Held in the Tourbillon Boutique in Baden-Baden, a wonderful spa-town in South-Western Germany and on the border of the black forest. We will have only a limited availability for this event, so if you want to join us make sure to fill out the form below.The Glashutte Original event will take place on Saturday 16th, starting at 11:00AM....
The First Person In The USA To Receive His Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday
Remember when the first Omega Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday came out in 2017? Our reader Shawn was the first to pick it up at an Omega boutique in the USA. Now, 2 years later, we ask him about his fascination for the Speedmaster.The Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday wasn’t his first encounter with Omega or the Speedmaster though. The story of Shawn is probably recognizable for many of you, but definitely interesting to read. He talks about the Speedy Tuesday community, his grail and the story about picking up his first Speedy Tuesday making him feel like a wrist model.Q&A With Speedmaster Enthusiast ShawnOn January 10th, 2017, together with Omega we introduced the first Speedmaster Speedy Tu...
CITIZEN PROMASTER Spirit of Challenges
From its debut in 1989, the Promaster has been a firm favourite with professionals who challenge their limits. It has been taking performance to a higher level to meet the needs of the pros who blaze the trails others follow.Promaster marks its 30 years anniversary in 2019. However the natural environment, the Promaster has been challenging, has degraded badly over that time. That's why Promaster, as the watch for explorers who enjoy the challenges, possibilities and wonders of nature, has chosen to use its anniversary to celebrate sustainability's unsung heroes - the people who actively protect the environment every day.For more detail visit www.citizenwatch-global.com/promaster30th/Save th...
When The Chronometer Standard Isn't Good Enough (Anymore)
For some watch brands, the chronometer certification is just not good enough anymore.? The world has changed since 1973, when the Contr?le Officiel Suisse des Chronomtres, the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute, was founded.Lebois & Co is proud to introduce to you their new watch, the Venturist. Besides a handsome watch (I will come to that later), this watch has more to it. It has been tested by Timelab and received an?Observatoire Chronometrique+ certification.? To understand what this is, we have to recap the regular chronometer certification.ChronometerWith a chronometer (not chronograph) certified watch, you can trust your watch is very accurate. To be more specific, it h...
Omega's Coloring Book: Get Creative and Share The Result
If you, or your kids, find yourself bored in the house and in the house bored, you can now grab your Caran d’Ache coloring pencils and download Omega’s coloring book.To be honest, I have lots of things to do and when I am not working I have my newly founded hobby with my fellow Fratelli to work on (click here). But if you have a kid, or more than one, you will probably run out of ideas at some point to keep them occupied. These days can be quite a bit of a challenge, as you know.Omega Coloring BookYesterday, Omega sent out a link to a wonderful book with drawings to all their newsletter subscribers. You can download the 20-page book from their website, print them, and start color...
#TBT Sword-handed Tissot "Dark Deco" Watch
Would you believe that I get more spontaneous offers for this little charming Art Deco Tissot than the majority of vintage pieces in my collection??I?am never startled when I?get a?buyout offer after I?post the shiny Mido Rainbow, the cult voice-recording Seiko, or the recently featured card-board-like dialed Cartier Santos on my Instagram. I?remember that the first time I?shared a picture of the Art Deco Tissot, I immediately got an offer to sell it. Well, I?was pretty surprised. I?didn't expect a simple three-hander by Tissot to be so aspirational for my Instagram audience. Come to think of it, this Tissot is now the most demanded watch in my collection, with spontaneous offers coming in h...
The New Doxa Sub 300 Carbon Aqua Lung US DIVERS
Doxa has made many amazing timepieces since the brand entered the watch market in 1889. Still, if you ask most watch guys about the first model from the Swiss brand that comes to mind, they’d probably say it’s the Sub 300. This 1960s icon was the quintessential diver’s tool of the time. With the new Doxa Sub 300 Carbon Aqua Lung US Divers, the brand gives a modern look to their iconic timepiece.Although the case is not the only feature of this watch, that’s worth talking about. To understand where Doxa and the Sub 300 is today, we need to go back a bit in time. The year was 1967 when the brand launched its revolutionary new model, the Doxa Sub 300. The rest, as they s...
Baselworld 2021 est Mort, Vive Baselworld 2021
This morning, we received the news that Baselworld 2021 that was planned in from the 28th of January till the 2nd of February 2021, will not take place.We reported repeatedly on Baselworld in the last few months, but this morning we received another update worth sharing with you.?The Baselworld organization let us know the following, in full:The MCH Group and representatives of the exhibitors at Baselworld have reached agreement on the settlement for the cancelled Baselworld 2020. In collaboration with the Swiss Exhibitors' Committee, an amicable solution has been drawn up, unanimously approved by the Comite Consultatif and also supported by industry associations.“I welcome the constru...
Hands-On: Norqain Adventure Sport Automatic N1000
By now, you probably have heard about Norqain. The brand that was founded in 2018 by Ben Kuffer, is gaining popularity and appreciated by many enthusiasts. But what makes them so special? In this hands-on review, I will take a closer look at the Norqain Adventure Sport Automatic reference N1000.A young brand that gets the support of Swiss watch industry vets like Ben Kuffer’s father Marc? (+25 years at a private label watch manufacturer) and Ted Schneider (former Breitling), probably knows what it is doing and therefore I am curious to give one of their watches a try. On my wrist is the Norqain Adventure Sport Automatic reference N1000, on a black rubber strap.Norqain Adventure Sport A...
The Darkest Horse Of Watches & Wonders 2021 The Selections Of Wei, Andrew, Frank and RJ
This second installment of the W&W 2021 wrap by Time+Tide, Revolution, Monochrome, and Fratello is about the biggest Dark Horse released. What does it mean? The unexpected gem of the show, basically.The surprise killer watch of W&W 2021In this category that Frank from Monochrome hosts, and the four of us will give our choice for this darkest horse of Watches & Wonders 2021. Which watch surprised us the most? No budgets or limitations, just the horological surprised that we liked best! Share yours in the comments below and you can win this watch roll from Monochrome.What and when are the next categories up and who is hosting what?Saturday 8th May, 10pm AEDT, 2pm CET, 8am NYC Wei K...
The Best Watches Under 10K Of Watches & Wonders According To Wei Koh, Andrew, Frank and RJ
Normally, these talks take place in a different setting, with beers and schnitzels. Or cheese-fondue. But in a year where even your parents and grandparents know what Zoom is, we have to make some concessions when talking about watches on pub-level. Wei Koh from Revolution, Andrew from Time+Tide, Frank from Monochrome, and me, will tell your our favorites in our own made-up categories.Our W&W 2021 favorites under 10KHere’s the first episode, and the second one will follow quickly as well. Andrew from Time+Tide watches will start with this “under 10K” category, where each of us gives our favorite picks. The other three categories are titled Dark Horse, Batshit Crazy, and...
Yema Navygraf Marine Nationale GMT Limited Edition (2021)
The French Navy, or Marine Nationale, has been sailing the seven seas since 1626 making it one of the oldest naval forces in the world. When a watch fan hears the words Marine Nationale they think of watches and watch straps instead of frigates. In the recent past, members of the French Navy used sturdy watches from brands like Tudor, Doxa, and Longines. These are generally collectible watches nowadays with a traceable and detailed history. The YEMA Navygraf Marine Nationale GMT Limited Edition watch is not a replica of a vintage YEMA. The newest Navygraf marks the start of YEMA's military career since the company is now, for the first time in its history, an official partner of the French N...
Vintage Omega Watches (2021): RJ's Top Ten Classic Watches
Just recently, I wrote why I love Omega watches so much. I received many wonderful responses, including a lot of questions about vintage Omega watches. This led me to the idea of creating an overview of the 10 vintage Omega watches I like best.It is not easy, to come up with an overview of just 10 vintage Omega watches that are my absolute favorites. It sounds easy and I could just mention 10 Speedmaster references, but we've published an overview of my favorite Speedmasters before. And, not many people are aware, but I also collect Constellations and have a weak spot for some other (vintage) Omega watches as well. So I tried to come up with a nicely balanced overview of 10 vintage Omega wat...
Vintage Angelus 210 Chronograph Collector's Guide
My love for Angelus watches is well documented. In the past, I’ve featured many models on these very pages. From the Chronodato and the Holy Trinity to collector’s guides on military 215s, the articles I wrote for your (and my) entertainment span a wide variety of models. Angelus is a fascinating brand and has much to offer for a vintage guy like me.Though arguably, those models are some of the coolest ones out there, Angelus has much more than a few military pieces or a triple-date chronograph. To name a few, the Dato12, 25x calibers, or those awesome travel clocks and other timepieces are all part of the Angelus family. In this article, I want to talk about another type of watc...
Top 5 Microbrand Watches Under $500
Creating a top-five list for anything is daunting because what we choose to put on the list is somewhat subjective. But I like a good challenge. And with the perpetual expansion of the microbrand market, things can quickly become confusing. Too many brands, too many options - and a lot of good watches and an equal amount of terrible ones. Therefore, to create this list of the five best microbrand watches under $500, I had to self-impose two rules. First, as always, I only write about watches I've experienced in the metal. Second, I was looking for watches that balance value (specs-to-price ratio) and originality in design. And to make matters more fun, I picked one watch from five different ...
Introducing: Mr Jones Watches "Berry Late!"
Mr Jones Watches is back at it again with a new release. “Berry Late!”, designed by Ana Dias, is a swirling pink pastel alphabet soup of a watch most of the time. But once every hour, the cute letters and strawberries align to spell out a very clear message. It literally says, “Fuck it! Time is just a social construct.” It’s cheerful nihilism at its best and a sentiment I’m here for.It’s not every day I get to use the “F word” in a release article (though I have thought of doing so often enough). Regarding Mr Jones Watches, though, it seems par for the course, if still a pleasant surprise. Mr Jones Watches notoriously makes affordable art...
Tonda PF Micro-Rotor Vs. Streamliner Centre Seconds
In our Sunday Morning Showdown series, two writers go head to head in an epic showdown for the ages. Strong opinions and hysterical hyperbole are welcome (so feel free to join in with the fun in the comments section below). And don’t forget to let us know which watches you’d like to see torn to shreds/effusively exalted next week. We’ll try to feature as many of our readers’ choices as possible. Today’s showdown is all about two modern sports watches that have gotten a lot of praise - the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF and the H. Moser & Cie. Streamliner Centre Seconds.Sports watches with integrated bracelets remain all the rage. We see new brands inspired by ...
Hands-On: The White Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch
After Omega introduced several Speedmasters not aimed at Moonwatch enthusiasts (e.g. the Speedmaster Super Racing with Spirate technology and the updated Speedmaster Apollo 8), the white-dial Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch finally came out on March 5th, 2024. I use the word “finally” because Omega had already shown it in October 2023 on the wrist of former 007 actor Daniel Craig during a red-carpet event in New York.Omega sent me the new white Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch to wear for a few weeks, so I did. I wondered if it would meet my expectations. Would it still make the same impression on me as when I saw it in the flesh for the first time?The white MoonwatchThe int...
New: The Carbon Fiber Mido Ocean Star 200C
When I hear the name Mido, the first Ocean Star watches that come to mind are the vintage-inspired models. I like the Ocean Star Tribute, the Ocean Star Decompression Worldtimer, and the Ocean Star GMT. They all have an undeniable charm that is hard to ignore. But the brand also makes a series of modern Ocean Star divers that tick all the boxes for affordable and capable tool watches. The latest addition to these modern models is a limited-edition carbon fiber Ocean Star 200C. It takes the aesthetic of the Ocean Star to a different level. Additionally, the watch is powered by a COSC-certified version of the Powermatic 80 movement. It’s time to find out more.When I first saw the images ...
Robot Watch Adds A Customized Spin To Its Modern Designs
Watches and robots have a closer relationship than you might think. Early 18th-to-19th-century automatons were built to mimic human or animal movements and were powered by clockwork engines, not unlike those found in a complex wall or table clock. This might seem a very lateral way of introducing the Robot watch brand, but bear with me.Robots are also automatons, and like Robot Watch, the name has a Czech origin. The term was coined in a more than 100-year-old play written by a Czech playwright, using the Czech word for forced labor, robota. I bet Elon Musk doesn’t know that, but what does it have to do with this small brand?Robot WatchesAfter starting as Bohematic, entrepreneur Josef ...