Hands-On With The Behrens Kung Fu
It’s funny; I was in this same position last year. Having recently attended Watches and Wonders, one of the watches that most caught my eye during the week of releases was not actually at the show. Instead, it was over at Time To Watches. Behrens, one of my favorite brands, released a new watch in a new collection. I’ve made no secret of my appreciation for Behrens. I’ve waxed lyrical about my love for the brand’s modern stylings and excellent relative value for money. With the hyper-modern appearance of the 20G and futuristic leanings of the Perigee, I would forgive you for thinking the brand is perhaps a one-trick pony in this regard. However, when Behrens announced...
Speedy Tuesday Omega Speedmaster Racing 145.022-68
One of the fun things about Speedy Tuesday is that there are so many models and references, we will probably never run out of material to cover. We started on May 29th 2012, almost four years ago, and it doesn’t take much time to think of a new subject to cover each single week. If there isn’t a new Speedmaster to talk about, we try to answer a Speedmaster related question from one of our readers or focus on something vintage or special. I also believe that the Speedmaster is one of the few watches around that makes it possible to give it weekly coverage, for almost four years now.A few weeks ago, Bert and I visited the Davidoff Brothers in Geneva to have a look at their extensiv...
Grand Seiko Spring Drive 8-Day Power Reserve SBGD201
Last year, Seiko introduced the Grand Seiko Spring Drive 8-Day Power Reserve SBGD001 during BaselWorld, but did not show it to everyone. It was on display, but available to a few markets only. This year, we came prepared and asked them to take it out of the display for us to take some decent photos and fiddle around with it for a while. Nothing much changed about this piece for this year, but as Grand Seiko became a separate entity (and organization), they also changed the dials on existing models. Including on this flagship' Eight-Day Power Reserve in platinum. It is now being referred to as SBGD201 and swapped Seiko' on the dial for Grand Seiko'.This watch has been developed and manufactur...
#TBT The Citizen Chrono Master A Vintage Alternative to King Seiko
Today, on #TBT, we'll continue to expose vintage Citizen as a real opportunity for collectors. This time, though, well step away from tool watches such as divers or chronographs and go the classy route with a look at a dress watch. The 1960's Citizen Chrono Master is a watch worth discussing, especially if well-built precision Japanese watches are of interest.Every time we discuss Citizen, it's impossible not to mention the brand's arch-rival: Seiko. The two companies went tit for tat during the 1960's and 70's to the point that some of the watches are indiscernible from 5-10 meters of distance. Harken back to our article on the Citizen Uni, a light diver from the 1960s, that's so close in l...
Kermit and The Hulk Paved The Way Sinn 104 St Sa A G
Let me start by saying that this green dialed Sinn?104 St Sa A G with its list price of $1250 is just a slightly different version from the standard Sinn 104.The 104 could be seen as the entry-level watch from the watchmaker from Frankfurt am Main in Germany. But that doesn’t mean it is cheap. I would say that the Sinn 104 is on my shortlist when it comes to watches around a 1000 Euro. This new green version that was introduced during Baselworld 2019, is slightly more expensive than the regular version (starting at $1150), but I am sure that this difference can be neglected.Sinn 104 St Sa A GSinn has a special place in my horological heart. Although I currently do not own one of their ...
Zenith El Primero 36,000vph Chronograph 42mm (2021)
We all like the three, differently colored sub-dials on a Zenith chronograph, don't we? It's a distinct look for sure. And it stands for something; it clearly says In know my chronographs. But that connoisseur-approved look can also be very present. What if you want something a bit more understated. The distinguished Zenith El Primero 36,000vph Chronograph 42mm with its black dial could just be the chronograph for you.I don't want to step on anyone's toes so I'm not going to make a ranking based on qualities, but I think the unofficial chronograph Top 3 must include the Daytona, the Omega Speedmaster, and a Zenith El Primero-powered model. But which El Primero? Is it going to be the El Prim...
Independent Insights: Maen, Cyrus, Serica and Boldr!
Hello and welcome to another issue of my Independent Insights column! I wanted to thank those who have reached out in the comments, and by email, to say that you’re enjoying these columns. I enjoy putting them together, and it’s always cool to unearth awesome new projects! This week I have a few microbrand projects and one featuring a musician that helped define my guitar-playing years growing up! Without further ado…Maen Greenwich 38 GMTDon’t you just love it when something particularly cool finds its way onto your radar? That’s kind of how I found out about the upcoming Greenwich 38 GMT from Dutch microbrand Maen Watches. One morning, I checked my inbox and fo...
Lex's Best Five Sub-$1,500 Watches Money Can Buy (2021)
I knew this was going to be fun. What would you do if the boss gave you 1.5k to spend on a watch of your choice? That was the question RJ (not Bruce Springsteen) posed me the other day. But wait until you hear this sneaky rule: I couldn't look for a nice vintage watch. It had to be new. As such, I have spent many hours trying to compose my virtual list. Yes, I searched catalogs, magazines, websites, and social media looking for watches I could buy with my set budget AND would actually wear. Not virtually, but actually. So, what five watches did Lex (that’s me) pick for $1,500?Splurging $1,500 on a new watch is good fun. Because a good splurge will cheer up anybody, right? And also beca...
[Video] Talking Speedmasters With Omega CEO Raynald Aeschliman
It’s our pleasure to present our video interview with Omega CEO and President Raynald Aeschlimann. He talks to Fratello about his all-time favorite Speedmaster watch, as well as his first Speedmaster ever. And yes, of course, we ask him about the MoonSwatch.I remember meeting Raynald Aeschlimann for the first time during a golf event in Switzerland in 2014. At the time, he was Omega’s Vice President of Sales (worldwide). We spoke briefly, and he made a remark about Speedy Tuesday. I can’t remember the exact wording, but from what he said, it was clear that he liked the initiative. The fact that he even knew about it caught me by surprise, as Speedy Tuesday had just started ...
Speedy Tuesday Event In Milan On July 5th Sign Up Now!
Recently, we started holding our Speedy Tuesday events again, the first of which took place in Biel, Switzerland. Today, we’re announcing our next Speedy Tuesday event and opening up the registration to you. This event will take place on July 5th in the wonderful city of Milan, Italy.The Omega Speedmaster and Italy have a special relationship that goes way back. Did you know that the first Speedmaster “limited edition” was made for the Italian market? We’re talking about the Speedmaster Apollo-Soyuz from 1976 that commemorated the mission of 1975.Later on, more specials for the Italian market followed. The most famous perhaps - besides the Apollo-Soyuz - was the ̶...
Fratello On Air: Balazs & Mike Talk Bulova
Fratello On Air is back with another brand-focused episode. This time, Balazs and Mike focus on Bulova. Finding six favorites from this legendary brand was a real task, but we’ve pulled out some winners. We hope you enjoy it!...
Vacheron Constantin Metiers d'Art Tribute To Great Civilizations
The Louvre is probably the most famous museum in the world. Vacheron Constantin has been a partner of the Parisian museum since 2019, and after an intense collaboration with its curators and historians, the brand now releases four very artistic Metiers d’Art timepieces. The starting point of the watches are symbols of four different eras. These artistic masterpieces are at the center of an exceptional watchmaking show staged by skilled craft makers. The Louvre and Vacheron Constantin reinterpreted iconic symbols from Ancient Egypt (2035-1680 BC), the Persian Empire of the Achaemenids (559 330 BC), the Hellenistic Greece of the Antigonid dynasty (277 168 BC), and the Roman Empire of the...
Go #DIGITAL: G-Shock, Girard-Perregaux, URWERK, And More
If I actually kept track of my most-worn watch this year, I'm sure my red all-metal G-Shock would come out on top. Thanks to its unfeasibly comfy single-link bracelet, it sits softly on my wrist despite a bulky case and long-ish lug-to-lug. To be truthful, I might even be particularly close to my G-Shock as I’m one of the oldest editors here. I'm not saying how old, but I remember the first time digital displays were cool. With a return to form in 2022, the best brands want us to go #DIGITAL, and there are plenty of cool reasons.As a kid, the last thing on my mind was whether or not a movement was mechanical, how many jewels it had, or something called power reserve. Today, #DIGITAL co...
My Vintage Universal Geneve Ferrovie Dello Stato "FS"
Railway watches are a special kind of cool. There are no two ways about it. This Swiss-made classic for Italian railway workers goes a long way in proving my point. Allow me to set the scene… You look down at your watch, its fine, pale enamel dial greets you, glistening in the gloom of the railway station as the sub-seconds hand laconically moves closer to 60. It marks the arrival of an ETR 250 Arlecchino train, translated to English as “Harlequin.” You smile at the train's handsome livery as it comes to a stop under the embrace of the broad, arched metal roof of the train station. It's the 1960s, and Italy is booming.?I imagine this is the sort of scene that my watch may h...
?Hands-on With The Maen Brooklyn 36, An Unusual Panda
That subtitle was meant for me, as I have a confession to make: I don't need a chronograph. That doesn't stop me from having at least five watches in the genre, but do I use the top-right pusher to time anything? Never. Boo, tsk tsk, shame on me. And yes, I understand your anger. Perhaps my fault lies in being too honest. But have a long, hard think about it. When was the last time you actually timed something remotely sporty with your mechanical chronograph?I thought so, so why not admit to being a bit shallow like me? I love the dial designs of great chronographs, especially with two horizontally opposed sub-dials, preferably named after a particular two-tone Chinese bear. But trust me, yo...
Celebrity Watch Brand Ambassadors: Are You Being Influenced?
Celebrity watch brand ambassadors are paid cheerleaders. These carefully selected cheerleaders embody a brand or offer a look at what a brand wants to become in the near future. And that's why you see them shine in lavishly styled advertisements and enticing mini-movies - Ryan Gosling trying to steal a TAG Heuer Carrera from a movie set, for instance. If that isn't enough, when it's that time of the year again for the Met Gala in New York, the Oscars in LA, and the Cannes Film Festival, stars casually show off timepieces from brands you didn't even know they're affiliated with. Do these Cinderella moments inspire you, annoy you, or leave you indifferent? And what about the more meaningful, l...
WGCS: IWC Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Ref. 3750
If I were to ask what IWC’s worst model line is, how many of you would say, “the Da Vinci”? While perhaps not everyone would share that opinion, I’ve always found it unfortunate how many people think so. Granted, I like IWC’s pilot’s watches and the Portugieser just as much as the next enthusiast. I also understand that stylistically speaking, many find them much more recognizable and “iconic” than the Da Vinci. But in my time collecting watches (over 15 years now), I’ve seen so many decry the Da Vinci based on looks alone. Perhaps understanding the significance of the watch in IWC’s modern history would help abate that sentiment so...
Hands-On: Casio G-Shock Frogman MRG-BF1000R-1A
G-Shock has been pushing the limits over the past few years. We have seen an increased number of luxury offerings from the brand that show that there is much more to it than affordable do-it-all watches. We have seen the introduction of new materials, coloring techniques, case constructions, decoration patterns, and modules, resulting in spectacular watches. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Frogman series, G-Shock now introduces the titanium MR-G Frogman MRG-BF1000R-1A. This second commemorative 30th-anniversary Frogman model takes things to new levels. It features a full-titanium case constructed of 70 parts, the most of any of the MR-G models. Let’s take a closer look at this...
Fratello's Top 5 Piaget Bracelet Watches
Another Friday, another Top 5! After last week’s auction article, it’s time for something different. For this article, we have selected five stunning vintage Piaget watches that show the brand’s brilliance when it comes to stylish bracelet watches. We picked five vintage gold models from the 1970s and 80s that instantly boost your baller status. So be prepared to see some proper old-school bling. But don’t think that these watches don’t have horological merit. Some of them come with nice ultra-slim mechanical movements. It’s time to find out more.This week’s Top 5 is a typical love-it-or-hate-it list. You will either understand the attraction, or you...
Watch Photography For Beginners: The Gear To Get You Started
Watch photography has come a long way in a short time. Not too long ago, a good photo was one where the watch was properly lit and sharp. Today, watch photography is a genre of its own with many creative sub-styles and trends. Social media has surely been a strong driver of that quick development. Now, all of those fancy shots can be intimidating. You might have a good camera, but you still don't get the results.Of course, it is a matter of skill more than anything. However, a few bits of gear can make life a lot easier. I am not qualified to teach the skills as I am merely a fledgling student of our own Morgan Saignes, as proven by my mediocre shots in this article. However, I can share som...