The watch enthusiasts among you readers probably remember Favre-Leuba for making mediocre watches during the 1990s. However, what I didn’t know, is that Favre-Leuba is actually quite old (1718). This brand from the 18th century is based in Basel, the city that we all know for the annual BaselWorld show. Fast forward to 1966 (a nice overview of Favre-Leuba’s history can be read here), w

During the Baselworld novelty presentation at Maurice Lacroix, we were happily surprised by the new Masterpiece collection. Apart from the Square wheel' and Mystery' line-up, perhaps the most interesting novelty was the Masterpiece Gravity. We already posted some live wristshots on our @fratellowatches Instagram account. Now, we present our hands-on review of the Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Gravit

Last week, on the 12th of May, Omega hosted the Houston Speedmaster Event to celebrate and introduce the new collection of Speedmaster watches together with astronauts Jim Lovell, Tom Stafford and Eugene Cernan. Oh and George Clooney. His relationship with the Speedmaster and the Apollo program? Keep on reading.I heard about my invitation for this Houston Speedmaster Event during BaselWorld, but t

Tissot Navigator YachtingRoughly 5 months ago I published a #TBT about a vintage Tissot Navigator. That article was titled ?before. Anyone who read that piece knows exactly why I gave that name to the write-up. The watch I bought was in sorry condition, the crystal was cracked and it was not original, the bezel was damaged, the case was dirty and scratched up and last but not least the movement wa

When there is a new watch brand around the corner, we are always interested to have a look at it. Although we all feel the market is flooded by the number of watch brands, in some segments there is room for new brands. Except for a couple of vintage watches, a new Seiko and a few others, what is really available under $500 Euro these days?Our Scandinavian friends from Corniche must have thought th

Last week, Omega announced a little contest for #SpeedyTuesday fans. All you have to do to take part is to post a picture of your Speedmaster on your Instagram feed and tell us your Speedy Story. What makes it special to you? Why did you buy it? Has it seen adventures or memorable times on your wrist? Get snapping and join in the fun. We can’t wait to read your words!Your Speedy Stories shou

A few years back, Fortis was firmly on my radar. Somewhere along the way, I lost touch with the brand. But now, thanks to new ownership and an exciting return to form, the brand is back in my sights.Fortis suggested we test drive some of its recently introduced models. To me, it was like a re-introduction to the brand. Last week, RJ took on the Amadee-18. Today, I’ll take the limited-edition

If you missed your chance at the most recent Breitling Superocean ’57 Limited Edition, you now have a chance at a slightly different follow-up model. Significantly, proceeds will aid charities that support frontline healthcare workers in the battle against COVID-19.Just over a month ago, we shared news of Breitling‘s latest capsule collection. The Superocean Heritage ’57 was anno

Welcome, watch-wearing persons to Wrist Game or Crying Shame! This week, we head back to 2008 to take a look at the Panerai Luminor Marina PVD Destro. Are you “sinister” enough for this one? Before we find out…Last week, I truly enjoyed myself when talking about the original TAG Heuer Formula 1. This cheap and cheerful watch even brought out some great stories from you fine folks

Genta is on-trend right now. Across all areas of the industry, we have seen brands riding the Genta-wave with aplomb. While some trends come and go, others stick around because they’re timeless. I think we can all agree that the designs of one Mr. Gerald Genta fit that timeless category perfectly. But, with so many brands now taking inspiration from the legendary designer, are we seeing the

Surprise, surprise: we get asked this a lot. What’s the best watch to buy? Such a question cannot help but elicit further questions. What’s your budget? Will it be your only watch? What do you like, for goodness’ sake? Mostly, however, despite the well-intentioned questioner desiring a solid, definite, concrete answer, supposed “experts” like my Fratello brothers and

It’s with great pleasure that we announce our upcoming event, “An evening with Fratello” on June 18th, in the beautiful city of The Hague, The Netherlands. That’s right, we can finally meet with you again, and we’re really looking forward to doing so. We love to talk about watches, not only online but also in real life, in a nice environment with a drink and a bite. W

You’d better sit down now. The Turtle Astronaut is a bi-metallic 24-hour watch with a sector dial, lumed, printed, and applied numerals, red detailing, an arrow central seconds hand, a push-down crown, twisted lugs… and a deadbeat Chezard movement. ?Shall I repeat myself, or will you read that again? If I were a gypsy king, the Turtle Astronaut would be my second choice after whatever

Dual-crown divers are enjoying a bit of a revival these days. While some brands are coming out with new designs, others are exploring their back catalogs. Alpina has a rich history dating back to 1883 and was there when diving and dive watches entered the zeitgeist. Launched in 2016, the Seastrong Heritage line was established as a tribute to the water-going watches of yesteryear. Poised as a fres

It’s safe to say the new 3861-equipped Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch caused a big splash at Fratello. Since the launch in January 2021, at least four team members obtained Omega’s first Master Chronometer Moonwatch. All smiles, then? Well, overall, yes. The Speedmaster is one of my most prized possessions, and not just in terms of watch collecting. Every time I wear it, I can’t hel

It’s time for another installment of Fratello EDC, where we’re sharing our editorial team’s Everyday Carry (EDC) items. The third Fratello to share the contents of his bag and pockets is OG Gerard, aka G2. What essentials does he carry with him daily?As a guy who likes to travel light, I don’t particularly like calling these items “essentials.” Rather, I’d

Another Friday, another Top 5! In this series, we take one classic watch and choose our five favorite references ever produced. Four of these references will be based on the historical importance of the specific watch in the grand scheme of things. Though there may be some overlap, it's not a question of which references are the most collectible or of the highest value on the market. The fifth pic

Following a renewed interest in the British watch brand Bremont, I spent quality time with one of its most recognizable models, the MBII. With the hardened stainless steel case and second crown for the internal bidirectional rotating scale, the MBII cuts a striking silhouette. But beneath the solid looks, it is a capable pilot’s watch packed with technology to benefit the wearer in various s

The agony of choice. You might be familiar with that when it comes to watches. I know I am when it comes to composing lists. But not this time. And that's because I already picked one watch under $1,000 in 2023 and actually bought it. Of the three watches I will highlight here, I purchased the 40mm Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 Ice Blue and haven't regretted it since. The other two watches are not in m

Can the Tissot PRX become any more popular than it already is? With a full collection of quartz and mechanical models in different sizes, the PRX is one of the biggest success stories of the watch industry in recent history. It makes you wonder how Tissot can make that story even better. One simple way is by introducing attractive new dial variations. That’s exactly what the brand has done w