Fratello EDC: George Cramer Reveals His Everyday Carry
In the Fratello EDC series, editors and freelancers alike come together to share their daily carry items. Whether it’s for the daily grind, travel, or both, you’ll get an inside look at what’s in everybody’s bags. Though much of what we carry every day is basically the same, our individual choices are also a way to express our own tastes - the same in essence, but different in form. Other than watches, it’s these everyday carry items that get most of our discussion time at Fratello HQ, so we thought we’d share them with you. Who knows? Maybe you’re looking for that perfect bag, set of headphones, or wallet, and here’s where you might find it!As...
Watch Passion Is Not Shallow: A Personal Tale Of Two Seamasters
Is watch passion shallow? Whenever I am asked about my work at a party, the bystanders seem to instantly divide into those who are interested in watches and those who feel the irresistible urge to point out that it is a rather “silly” and “shallow” hobby. Although most will avoid being overly confrontational about it, a remark along the lines of I do not need a physical status object to feel good about myself tends to cause a guaranteed awkward silence at some point.I would love to share with you a personal tale of two Omega Seamasters to illustrate why these haters are wrong. Our beautiful watch passion is anything but shallow.Hunting for a ’60s SeamasterThe st...
Fratello's Top 5 Seiko 5 Sports References Ever
Another Friday, another Top 5! In this series, we take one watch or watch series and choose our five favorite references ever produced. This week, we decided to focus on the Seiko 5 line. This obviously led to the question of whether to go with modern or vintage/discontinued Seiko 5 models. To make things easier, this week’s article will focus on the current Seiko 5 Sports series, and we’ll create a different list for the Seiko 5 models of the past.When we discussed this list in our weekly editorial meeting, some people were not necessarily gung-ho about the topic. Seiko has released an incredible amount of Seiko 5 Sports models since the introduction of the series in 2019. There...
New: Aquastar Model 60 The Brand's First Diver Returns
Aquastar has been on a tear since its relaunch in 2020. Since then, we’ve enjoyed a new Deepstar chronograph in two different sizes. The Deepstar II has also been a great success as a time-only rendition of the chrono. Today, we’re excited to share a new dive watch that strays from the Deepstar formula. The Aquastar Model 60 brings back the brand’s first-ever diver with modern specs.Yes, we’ve really enjoyed Aquastar here at Fratello. Under Rick Marei’s leadership, the brand has produced some truly attractive watches. Until now, though, all of the new watches have been based on the Deepstar. Today, that changes with the release of a modern version of the Aquasta...
The New Naoya Hida & Co. Type 4A
I know this is subjective, especially knowing that sub-38mm watches are hot this year and I covered another one just two days ago. But that was a sub-$1K watch, not just sub-38mm, and what comes out from Hida-san's Tokyo atelier exists on a different plane altogether. That might sound pompous, and that's on me. But to my mind, every watch recognizably from the pen of Naoya Hida has been marked by greatness. Thus far, we’ve seen three 37mm base models and several iterations, each proudly displaying a recognizably raw metal dial and a purity of line that echoes a Calatrava case.To me, one of the strongest pieces yet was last year’s collaboration with Mark Cho of The Armoury. The Ty...
New TAG Heuer Skeleton-Dial Monaco Watches
TAG Heuer gives one of its most enduring timepieces a serious revamp, mixing a crowd favorite with a bold skeleton-dial approach to mark the 80th Monaco Grand Prix. The Monaco Grand Prix is one of the iconic modern races in motorsport. I remember seeing footage of Formula 1 races in Monaco from the 1950s and 1960s, showing sleek, rocket-like shapes blurred against the backdrop of a beautiful Mediterranean city. It is romantic and heady stuff.TAG Heuer's Monaco, a mainstay classic for the brand today, also has strong Formula 1 ties. Actor Steve McQueen wore one in Le Mans (1971), a white-knuckle racing film drama about the 24-hour race of the same name.?Skeletons on displayToday, to mark the ...
Would You Ever Buy A Watch From A Fashion Brand?
In general, I do not consider myself a purist when it comes to watches. However, I will raise an eyebrow or two regarding fashion brands entering the industry of luxury mechanical watches. And honestly, it’s more a story of believing in specialist brands rather than being turned off by a fashion brand and its image. There are plenty of fashion brands I like and even some I like a lot, so that’s not it. But the idea of staying in your lane is one that I value, especially when it comes to “specialist” products like watches. Having said that, I am always curious to check out new watches from non-traditional brands. Recently, I have seen some seriously interesting release...
Collector's Perspective: Do You Share Your Watches?
My wife isn’t into watches that much. I mean, she really likes the Cartier Tank Solarbeat that I got her for her 40th birthday last year. But she doesn’t have any other watches other than that and a Timex that tries to be a Datejust. I do know other couples, though, in which both people are watch enthusiasts. And what I found interesting was that some of those couples share their watches, while others absolutely don’t. Some even have two of the same watch! So that’s why I’d like to ask you today, do you or would you share your watches?Let’s go over these different scenarios because I think there’s something to be said for both. And I’ll start w...
Vintage Watches: Movado Disco Volante
Today, we’ll take a look at a vintage Movado Disco Volante. This is a lovely watch with an incredible case. It also marks the first article I’ve written about Movado. Hopefully, that’s a good thing because there are more on the way about this oft-forgotten brand.Since moving to London, my interest in watches from the 1930s through the 1950s has risen dramatically. Tanks, pointer dates, and dress watches are styles that have recently entered my collection. Today’s Movado Disco Volante falls into the latter category but is not a run-of-the-mill formal piece. As we will see, the small details are incredible. It’s another reminder that there are amazing vintage watc...
Introducing: The William Wood Dunkirk Watch
By now, it’s pretty clear William Wood has gone all in with its firefighting-themed watches. For its latest creation, the brand pays homage to the sea with a dial inspired by the twin telegraphs of the Massey Shaw fireboat. This vessel played a part in the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940, saving 600 lives, and the later formation of the UK’s National Health Service (NHS). Not only is the watch commemorating the fireboat, but it is also due to take part in the 80th anniversary of VE Day next year. With Massey Shaw having such a storied past, William Wood bases its new Dunkirk Watch on many notable features of its design. Do all the elements come together? Let’s check it out.First...
Hot Take: TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph In Black DLC Titanium
If you read this article shortly after publication, you are probably missing the Monaco Grand Prix. Or you are multi-tasking, which I would not recommend; eyes on the road! Either way, TAG Heuer is releasing a new version of its Monaco Chronograph in celebration of the Monaco race.Join me for a first look at this new model from TAG Heuer, dressed in black and blue with yellow accents.A new outfit for the TAG Heuer MonacoUnder the hood, this is the same watch as the TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Automatic ref. CBL2111.FC6453. It shares the 39mm case and caliber Heuer 02 (TH20-00). The differences may be primarily aesthetic, but they are far-reaching ones indeed.For starters, the case is now Gr...
Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT Vs. Black Bay Master Chronometer
Grab a cup of coffee, and get ready for a new Sunday Morning Showdown. For this week’s battle, we have selected two new Tudor introductions. During Watches and Wonders this year, many watch fans agreed that Tudor’s releases were more exciting than ’s. So what if we put two popular Tudor watches up against each other? Let’s find out which one is the Fratelli favorite. Robert-Jan picked the Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT, while Jorg picked the black-dial-and-bezel Tudor Black Bay Master Chronometer. You get to decide which watch wins!This week’s match-up is somewhat different than our usual Sunday Morning Showdowns. Instead of letting two different brands go head to head,...
Vintage straps for the Omega Speedmaster (pre-)Professional
As you probably may know (or not), the Omega Speedmaster was introduced in 1957 as a watch for racing drivers. At least according to their own advertisements from that period (who are included in a.o. Omega SAGA). We all know the Speedmaster (pre-)Professional watches for their share in the Apollo (and current) space programs by the NASA.Since Omega was my first introduction to serious watches, and my first proper watch was (and still have it in my collection of course) a Speedmaster Professional 145.012 from 1967, I regulary search the internet for similar watches or for accessories for this particular watch (or my 145.022 from 1969 that I also own).????Last week I came across a vintage rac...
Bell & Ross Aviation Collection 2013 HEADING INDICATOR, AIRSPEED and CLIMB
BR01 Aviation Collection 2013Bell & Ross and its iconic BR01 Aviation collection has a few new instruments this year: the Heading Indicator, Airspeed and Climb. Limited to 999 pieces only, although the first 99 pieces are only available in a collector’s box that also contains the BR 01 HORIZON, ALTIMETER and TURN COORDINATOR (introduced in 2012). So basically, there are 900 pieces for sale if you don’t fancy this collector’s box.BR01 HEADING INDICATORThe Heading Indicator piece shows the time using rotating discs. Three discs are in place, for hours, minutes and seconds. Bell & Ross made the dial look like the original heading indicator instrument, using the W, E, S...
OMEGA Speedmaster Mark III 176.002 From Ben Oliver
It’s Speedy Tuesday! Just last weekend I’ve met Ben Oliver, a car journalist from the United Kingdom who writes for a number of titles. He told me about his love for mechanical watches and vintage chronographs in particular. One of the watches he carried with him last weekend – it was during the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2014 in Italy – was the 17mm thick Omega Speedmaster Professional Mark III from 1972. A watch that is quite difficult to fit under your sleeve. The Omega Speedmaster (Professional) Mark III reference 176.002 was introduced in 1971 and featured an automatic chronograph movement for the first time in a Speedmaster. Omega and Lemania j...
New Objectivity MeisterSinger relaunches the Neo
MeisterSinger manufactures single-hand watches. The leanest and flattest of these is the Neo. It is one of those timepieces that appears ultimately familiar in its measurements and design, as if it had been around for decades. Its diameter of 36 millimeters, the thin bezel and the Hesalite glass make the Neo seem like it was created in the 1950s. However, not in an old-fashioned way, but embracing the modern aspects of the decade. After all, the 50s was a time of creative awakening and, above all, the renunciation of superfluous embellishment. The unadorned clarity of the dial also follows this tradition, although it was only designed half a century later by Manfred Brassler, the founder of ...
Watch Strap Review Part 21. Shkira
ShkiraAnother month another Watch Strap Review. For May I have a really cool company lined up for you. We add yet another country to the ever-growing list of places we virtually visit to search for the best strap makers around. The place we are having our latest craftsman from is the picturesque city of Ternopil in West-Ukraine and the company is SHKIRA. As with in most cases Shkira does not only sell watch straps but wallets, iPhone holders, card holders, notebook covers, iPad sleeves and such. What really took my attention was however not the items at first but the quality and composition of images Stepan (Mr Shkira himself) used to illustrate his products. So we exchanged a few messages a...
RIP Astronaut Alan Bean (Apollo 12) The 4th Man on the Moon
You come to Fratello for everything Speedmaster (related). Well, this also includes sad news of course. Yesterday, on May 26th, Apollo 12 astronaut and 4th man to walk on the Moon, Alan Bean passed away.Astronaut Alan L. Bean, lunar module pilot for the Apollo 12 mission, is about to step off the ladder of the Lunar Module. (c) NASAAlan BeanBorn in 1932 in Texas, Bean was selected by NASA in 1963. Initially for Gemini 10, but was placed into the Apollo Applications program instead. Together with astronauts Pete Conrad and Dick Gordon, Alan Bean was assigned Apollo 12.Alan Bean, wearing his Speedmaster BA145.022. Image (c) APOn November 14th, Apollo 12 was launched and flew 250.000 miles in o...
Angelus Military Vintage Chronograph Collector's Guide
If you are a vintage Angelus fan or a military watch geek, you'd probably want to read this article.Angelus Collector's GuideThe latest issue of Klassik Uhren for our German readers…a lot of dealers offering these watches are far from being honest.Some of you remember that around this time of the year in 2017 we published an article that contained a pdf about a similar topic. Good friend and vintage Angelus expert Dr. Christoph ohm-Kuhnle have written extensively about Angelus, covering the brand from its early days until today. I was asked to help with a few topics, and this is when the idea of the below project was born. I had been already doing some research on military Angelus chro...
Summer, BBQ and Smoked Dials
The sun is shining, the weather is nice, the BBQ is warming up… It’s summer! While I already covered the tropical dial, there was one other dial that came up to me when I was thinking of my favourite season:Smoked dials are hot! Some recent releases are the Hamiltion Intra-Matic and the?Mido Multifort Patrimony. Let’s zoom in a bit on the details of this smokey face.Focus on the centerThe smoked dial is actually quite functional from a design perspective. With the radial gradient from dark to light, it leads the eye to the center. Visually, it attracts attention to the center of the watch head. From there the viewer has an optimal starting point for reading the time. With a...