#TBT The Hamilton Military Chronograph An Affordable MoD Pilot's Watch
Today on #TBT, we'll have a look at what's become a rather popular vintage watch, the Hamilton Military Chronograph. It's a popular watch because it hits on two of the more collectible sub genres: the military and the chronograph categories. I stared at these watches, and their identical, yet other branded brethren, for what felt like a long time before I became serious about acquiring one. While I generally consider myself well timed in finding things, this was one of those cases, though, where I really struggled to find an example. Chalk that up to a vintage market that remains piping hot. So, yes, we'll talk a little about the buying experience because it was a new one for me.The Hamilton...
In-Depth Vintage Omega Constellation Watches
The vintage Omega Constellation is the watch that basically started it all for me. The passion for watches that is. A number of relatives of mine had (and have) an Omega Constellation and it were these timepieces that got me interested in watches in the first place. I inherited a nice vintage Omega Constellation from 1968 which I truly cherish as it has been on the wrist of my grandfather for over 40 years (on a daily basis).?I also bought some Constellation watches myself as well through the years.So, it is about time I give the vintage Omega Constellation a bit of well-deserved attention here on Fratello Watches. A few months ago, we (Bert Buijsrogge and I) visited a collector of rare and ...
In-Depth Vintage Omega Constellation Watches
The vintage Omega Constellation is the watch that basically started it all for me. The passion for watches that is. A number of relatives of mine had (and have) an Omega Constellation and it were these timepieces that got me interested in watches in the first place. I inherited a nice vintage Omega Constellation from 1968 which I truly cherish as it has been on the wrist of my grandfather for over 40 years (on a daily basis).?I also bought some Constellation watches myself as well through the years.So, it is about time I give the vintage Omega Constellation a bit of well-deserved attention here on Fratello Watches. A few months ago, we (Bert Buijsrogge and I) visited a collector of rare and ...
NOMOS Glashutte Ahoi For DWB 52Mondayz, Week #20-2020
Full disclosure right off the bat: I worked for NOMOS Glashutte for three years in International Sales. You might think, therefore, I am unfairly biased. And maybe I am towards models like the Zurich Weltzeit or Orion, but not to all. If there is one family that never got my love, it was the Ahoi range. But thanks to a timely collaboration with Doctors Without Borders, the tide of opinion might finally be turning in favor of NOMOS Glashutte’s most rugged timepiece.It always struck me as odd that, as a man whose watch collection is replete with dive and tool watches, the Ahoi never resonated with me. Then again, although NOMOS likes to market this handsome ticker as a go anywhere, do an...
Are We Living Through A Crisis In Watch Design?
It can also be called a?crisis of us, the consumers, that not only encourage watch manufacturers to create re-editions but even crave them!I?can't decide, whether watch re-editions popping up over the last couple of years is a?problem of?watch manufacturers or customers. It is, as I see it, a typical chicken-or-the-egg question. In my opinion, way too many re-editions flooding the market. It is already becoming a?legitimate, natural, and even expected product update drill. And that's where I?think the problem begins.Don't get me wrong. As a?vintage watch collector, I?personally love most of the re-editions out there. I?don't feel troubled at all if they influence the value of vintage pieces ...
What Makes The Bvlgari Octo Finissimo In Steel So Great
The Bvlgari Octo Finissimo in steel is the talk of the town since its introduction earlier this year in Dubai. During these events, you only get a few moments with the watch, to take some pictures and do a quick try & feel with the watches.It is certainly not enough time to really let the watch really work into you. It could be me of course, but often I need some time to have it all processed. Especially when it concerns an unusual design as the Bvlgari Octo Finissimo (yes, Bvlgari and not Bulgari). To me, it wasn’t love at first sight, that I will have to admit. I like the fact that the watch has its own identity, that you can basically recognize an Octo (Finissimo) from 20 meters...
Omega Speedmaster Calibre 321: One Year On, Would I Buy It Again
When Omega showed me the 39.7mm Speedmaster Calibre 321 reference 311.30.40.30.01.001, I wasn’t left with much to think about. I knew I needed it. And so it happened that a year ago, I received the message that mine was ready. I picked up the Speedmaster Calibre 321, had it resized for my wrist and started wearing it. One year on, it’s time to assess whether what was certainly one of my easiest buying decisions was also one of my best…I’ve done a video about this watch and written a hands-on review, but I thought it would be interesting to have a proper look back at my ownership of this watch. Am I still as enthusiastic as I was a year ago? Do I still think it would h...
MB&F Launches Three New Editions Of The LM101
I never quite knew the exact inspiration for the Legacy Machines until I read the latest press release MB&F had sent over. It was very much a what if? fantasy, and I adore these types of hypothetical daydreams - indeed, I indulge myself regularly in the horological make-believe. So, the story goes that Max asked himself: What if I had been born in 1867 rather than 1967?. He hypothesized how he would have designed watches had he been born 100 years prior and designing watches in the early 20th century rather than the 21st? Well, the Legacy Machines were his answer.Mechanical watchmaking 101In 2014, Max Busser released the LM101. After the zany success of the LM1 and LM2, collectors and fa...
TAG Heuer Releases The Carrera Green Special Edition
Green really is the color of 2021 so far; at least TAG Heuer believes so. Hot off the heels of the recent launch of the green-dialed Monaco, the Swiss brand has decided to green up another of its classics. This time, the Carrera gets goods with the TAG Heuer Carrera Green Special Edition.A new shade of greenThankfully we're not seeing a direct port of the Monaco's green dial color here. I say that with a healthy dose of respect, though, as that shade was delicious. For the Carrera Green Special Edition, TAG Heuer has chosen a very different shade of green, verging on teal. It's a softer color and one that actually quite suits the Carrera silhouette, with the mixture of blue and green hues th...
Audemars Piguet Black Panther Versus Kross Death Star (2021)
It's time for Two For Tuesday where we consider a pair of watches that just might have to go head-to-head to make it onto your shopping list, or in this particular case, your wish list. Today, we look at a couple of outrageously exuberant creations and present you with an epic showdown between a couple of outrageous tourbillons. Two For Tuesday: Audemars Piguet Black Panther Vs. Kross Studio Death Star promises to be a battle between good and bad, the establishment versus the newcomer, man against machine.When two tourbillons do battle things go wild. If we could travel back in time, we would be able to witness Louis-Abraham Breguet in action when he took his tourbillon creations to the Cham...
Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Chronograph Skeleton Automatic
If you have read some of my articles already, you probably know a little bit about my taste in watches. Typically, I like to keep things rather sporty and affordable, with a side of vintage goodness, and Cartier for dessert. But sometimes, opportunities come up to dive into watches that take me fully out of my comfort zone. Lately, it seems that no other brand does that more often and better than Bvlgari. Last week, I had the opportunity to do the horological equivalent of skydiving or stepping into a lion's cage. I'm talking, of course, about wearing the Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Chronograph Skeleton Automatic in platinum for a day.?This platinum stunner is a follow-up to Bvlgari's ...
Hands-On: A. Lange & Sohne Datograph Up/Down In Platinum
Some Haute Horlogerie creations can have a deterring effect. Sometimes it's the price, sometimes it's the style, sometimes it's the materials used, and most often, it's a combination of the three. Yes, watches can be very intimidating creations. So what happened when the A. Lange & Sohne Datograph Up/Down in platinum appeared at Fratello HQ?? Everybody looked at the $102,200 watch in awe and with the utmost respect. That included me, and once I put it on my wrist, my respect grew to even higher levels. But I also felt an unexpected, extremely high level of comfort. And whaddayaknow? The platinum reference wears like a pair of slippers!The Datograph Up/Down is a member of the Saxonia fami...
Finding Joy In Variety Why It's More Fun Than Saving For A Grail
Let's start with the elephant in the room. Yes, I wrote a story on consolidating my collection. That was only three months ago, and I haven't changed my mind. I’m still culling the herd, but I’m keeping the variety. There is a big difference between going from 18-25 down to 10-15 watches and a “grail purge” that leaves you with just two or three beauties. This is a policy adopted by some members of the #watchfam, I know, and while it is admirable, it is not for me. For some, it means selling off 70-80% to carefully distill the box down to 3-5 personal grails. But why? For many, it is simply because they panic after watching a TV program on hoarders. But starting with ...
Unimatic and Huckberry Introduce The Earthform Collection
Another week, another Unimatic release. It’s remarkable to see how many collaborative efforts the brand has brought out in the past couple of months. And a lot of them were very good. Granted, I am a fan of the Milan-based brand’s aesthetic, so the likelihood of me liking a piece is big. As I explained multiple times in previous articles, the Unimatic guys have created a canvas that works time and again, so it’s hard to make something that doesn’t look good. For the brand’s latest collaboration, Unimatic teamed up with Huckberry to create the Earthform Collection. In my view, these three colorful Modello Quattro models make for a great trio of summer watches.Wit...
#TBT Two Coronation Days With My Alpina President
The very ’70s Alpina President is a great example of a low-budget watch that you can keep talking about for hours. I won’t keep you for hours today, but perhaps you will find this watch as interesting as I do.?I like nice coincidences. You know, those that make you find pleasure in otherwise meaningless things. Call it the beauty of everyday life…The Alpina President comes from the shadowsIt came from the darkness, actually. After years of sitting in my safe, it finally turned its face into the sunshine. Last week, I was thinking about the #TBT lineup for May, and my eyes got hooked by this barrel-shaped piece by Alpina. I don’t have to add that it doesn’t get m...
Is Fume The New Green For Watch Dials In 2023?
Is fume the new green? It seems like only yesterday that every single brand released green-dial variants of its watches. By now, the color is about as ubiquitous in the watch world as blue has been for some time. So what's next? Well, it seems the next big thing has already gathered pace. Now that the green dust has settled, it seems to leave a dark ring. A fume, degrade, or vignette-style ring, to be precise.Just this past month, we have covered new watches by Christopher Ward, Squale, Boldr, H. Moser, Von Doren, Straum, Baltic, and Montblanc on Fratello, all with fume dials. Tell me that's not a trend.Green dials - from rare to hot to normalIt is funny how these trends develop. After the e...
Jorg's Favorite Watches Under $1,000 In 2023
As some of you will know, I like making lists. I am one of those list freaks. I do it with music and watches, which are my passions. So making a list of my favorite watches under $1,000 should be a walk in the park, right? Wrong. There are simply so many watches to choose from that anyone is bound to forget some amazing options Additionally, I often find that at least one detail throws me off and keeps me from falling in love with many watches. But despite that, there are some amazing prospects out there.When Nacho signed me up for the task of picking my favorites under $1,000, the first pick was an easy one. But what would be my other two? It’s easy to pick the watches you already kno...
Fratello Talks: Omega Swatch Speedmaster MoonSwatch
Welcome to this week’s Fratello Talks. In today’s episode, Nacho, Lex, and Thomas light a candle, dim the lights, and get nice and cozy as they touch on the topic of MoonSwatch. After a stunning debut, the Omega Swatch Speedmaster MoonSwatch has struggled to follow up on its initial hype. We have been following along with the latest developments and have been left a little bit baffled. So we ask ourselves the question: how do we feel about the current state of the MoonSwatch? We also look at what the future of this collaboration might look like, making some wild guesses and predictions....
Trying To Make Sense Of The Current Watch Market
In March 2022, the global watch market was at an all-time high. A stainless steel Daytona was worth just over $50,000, any new limited-edition watch would sell out in a matter of minutes, and sites like Fratello attracted a lot of new readers. Since then, things have cooled down substantially. According to Chrono24, that same Daytona is currently worth somewhere around $30,000, we’ve experienced two lukewarm editions of Watches and Wonders, and a limited edition selling out in an instant seems a thing of the past. However, to speak of a watch market in crisis also doesn’t seem completely accurate. How should we describe its current state, then?In August of 2022, Thomas wrote an ...
Road-Testing The Baltic Tricompax Tour Auto 2024
There is an inescapable bond between chronographs and the world of motorsport. Many of the most celebrated examples take their names from races like the Carrera Panamericana or the Daytona 500. So what better way to test the new Baltic Tricompax Tour Auto 2024 edition than on the race that gives it its name? Well, it just so happens that Baltic didn’t just name the watch after the race; the brand is the event’s official timekeeper as well. Not only that, but both of its co-founders also entered to compete in the Tour Auto this year. I joined them on the road for a couple of days in the stage-opening cars to follow the action and even enjoy the experience of co-piloting in a coupl...