Meet The New IWC Portugieser Collection
The story on the iconic IWC Portugieser watch is one that is well known in enthusiasts' circles. Today, IWC introduces an update of their entire Portugieser collection. From a three hands watch to a perpetual calendar.But first, let's do a quick rundown of the Portugieser and why it is such an iconic watch. Back in 1939, IWC watchmakers created a big watch on special request by two dealers from Portugal (hence the name) that had the precision of a pocket watch. At that time, IWC was well known for its precision pocket watches and the Portuguese dealers wanted to have that same level of accuracy in a wristwatch. Smaller wristwatches were the trend in those years, but unable to deliver the sam...
Top 10 Chronographs Under 5,000 Euros
A chronograph is one of the most sought-after complications. Not only do I use mine to time a journey, task, or during cooking, it also makes you really interact with your mechanical watch. You visibly set a mechanism in motion when pushing the start button. When the watch has a transparent case back, it is even more fun to watch the parts respond to your command.Omega was one of the remaining big names that had something to offer in this category, but with the introduction of the new Moonwatch Master Chronometer, this belongs to the past as well. With the Moonwatch moving out of this league, I wondered what chronograph under $5,000 (or $5,000) I would buy.I am aware I should know better but...
The NOMOS Glashutte Tangente Neomatik 41 Update "Seahawk" Has Landed
In the past, I have spoken at length about the importance of color in watch design. Recently, thanks to a dear friend who suffers from quite serious color-blindness, I’ve come to appreciate just how lucky those of us that don’t really are. The thought of not being able to appreciate the subtle use of shades employed ever more daringly by watchmakers around the world, in their effort to stand out from the crowd, genuinely saddens me. What a loss it would be to not pick up the new NOMOS Glashutte Tangente 41 Update in midnight blue and not be able to enjoy those vivid flashes of “Action” green…That kind of colorblindness - the kind that makes it difficult to diffe...
Buying Guide: The Best Heuer Watches From The 1960s
We like to talk about vintage watches a lot within the Fratello team. While the daily routine is largely focused on the most recent developments in the world of watches, the most fun for many of us lies in the world of vintage watches. It's a world full of history, remarkable watches, incredible stories, and quirky details.This week we will be looking at some of the best Heuer watches from the 1960s. It’s a world of some of the most iconic chronographs we know. It’s what made Heuer one of the most important brands of the decade.In the 1960s, we witnessed developments that challenged the status quo of watch design forever. While the 1950s introduced the sports watches next to the ...
Hands-On With The Vaer Atlas A3 : A Perfect Everyday Watch
Recently, I have been obsessed with a specific type of watch. It's not quite a dive watch, it's not exactly a field watch, and it definitely isn't a dress watch. However, it's a watch that has the best of all of those genres. I call it the everyday watch. This is not a new category or something I claim to have come up with. Far from it. It's more of a feeling of where a watch that doesn't seem to belong to one of the three basic genres can fit. The Vaer Atlas A3 is a perfect example of an everyday watch. In fact, it's designed to be just that. It’s a watch that makes just as much sense for a day at the office as it does for a weekend of hiking and camping out in the woods.Sure, this is...
Dear Omega, Bring Back The Amzing De Ville Chronograph 145.018
Sometimes, there are watches you love that are not always top of mind. Once you are reminded of their existence, however, you instantly know what makes them so brilliant. The Omega De Ville Chronograph 145.018 is one of those watches for me. Every time I see the watch, it’s like falling in love all over again. The piece fits into the mold of sporty 1960s chronographs but with plenty of characteristic elements that make it stand out. It is one of those beloved chronographs from Omega’s rich history that is very popular amongst Omega collectors. But as this watch is quite a rarity and Omega currently does not have a model like it in its collection, I would love to see it return. Ti...
The Monta Noble Mint Dial Is A Breath Of Fresh Air
It’s hard not to enjoy what the folks at Monta are doing. Making well-finished sporty watches with great bracelets is part and parcel of the job for the St. Louis-based crew. Today, we’ll briefly cover their fresh new release, the Monta Noble Mint Dial.That’s right, Monta makes some of the nicest watches around if you’re looking for an approachable daily driver. Rather than diving into the retro theme or doing something too avant-garde, I’d categorize the independent company’s watches as mature. They’re fantastic alternatives to big-brand watches and can be worn for years without apology in almost any setting. Plus, if you’ve ever met Mike and ...
Nomos Debuts Four New Tasteful Tetra Watches
With Easter in the rearview mirror and summer a mere speck on the horizon, we’re well into the spring season. We find ourselves in that magical time of year when the trees grow greener with the passing of each day. Some, however, don’t play along and get pinker by the day instead. Magenta buds begin to open up into light pink blossoms. This is a quintessentially Japanese phenomenon that has even made its way to Glashutte. And though Nomos doesn’t quote this as the direct inspiration for these new Tetra watches, a more global vision of spring can undoubtedly receive some credit. What we have here is a tasteful amalgam of tones that only a brand as experienced with combining ...
The New Boldr Pokemon Collection
How do you catch a Boldr Pokemon watch? Don't worry, I will walk you through the necessary steps later. But first, just enjoy the fact that Boldr is launching a special Pokemon collection that includes pop-culture heroes such as Pikachu, Charizard, Blastoise, and Venusaur. The watches look fun and tough and robust at the same time. And the catchy dials show the colors that embody the four selected Pokemon. You gotta catch em all!(Pokemon!) Gotta catch em all / It's you and me / I know it's my destiny (Pokemon!) Oh, you're my best friend / In a world we must defend (Pokemon!)Any watch that makes you sing is good, don't you agree? Anyway, Boldr is launching a limited series of four Pokemon wat...
Restoring My Grandfather's Tissot Seastar: Is Refinishing A Crime?
Heirloom watches are special, and I have a few, including two pocket watches. But there is one in particular that has given me sleepless nights while hiding in a dark corner of my case. Finally, I set out on the mission of bringing my grandfather’s Tissot Seastar back to its glory. And after a three-month sojourn in England, it has returned - with a (shock, horror!) repainted dial.Why was this heinous crime committed, and why me, who should know better? You should never repaint a dial or polish up a vintage case - that’s the gospel. You will ruin the value and legacy of a family heirloom, right? Well, except when someone in his early watch-collecting days had a dial repainted in ...
Now In The Shop: Handmade Crocheted Watch Rolls With A Story
Today, in the Fratello Shop, we’re excited to bring you an item with a real story. These are watch rolls, but they’re a little different than the everyday, mass-produced holders found online. No, these rolls are handmade and come from a small village in Slovakia. The reason for their existence relates to one of our longstanding editors. There was never a plan to bring these to market, but after another Fratello team member saw them, a plan to offer them in the Fratello Shop?came to fruition.In 2011, I moved from the United States to Germany. At that time, I owned a few decent watches. Still, in all the craziness accompanying an international move, I was concerned with safely stow...
Hands-On: SpaceOne Jumping Hour Destro Forged Carbon
A few weeks ago, after many months of nagging, I finally received a SpaceOne Jumping Hour for a hands-on review. As someone in constant communication with Guillaume Laidet, the brand’s founder, I was fortunate enough to have followed the project from the jump-off to the point where, last year, my much-deserved beer at the Grand Duke pub in Geneva after a long drive from Germany was spoiled by him showing me one of the prototypes. Like the one I have here, that watch was a carbon model, albeit not a Destro. I told him he needed to send me one whenever the project was a go. That day finally came, and the SpaceOne Jumping Hour Destro Forged Carbon landed on my table.Full disclosure: I'm n...
Gerard's Favorite Watches And Wonders 2024 Releases
As with the years before, I looked forward to this year’s edition of Watches and Wonders. I looked forward to the buzz, the week-long immersion in top-shelf horology, the close cooperation with Fratello team members, and, of course, being reunited with several colleagues from the industry. Beforehand, expectations on what the brands should present weren’t hotter than lukewarm. During the last year, it became clear that the watch industry seems to sail in challenging weather. Nevertheless, Watches and Wonders didn’t disappoint me, even without a real show-stopper.After the show made clear that the industry is indeed holding back, news on the worrying market situation continu...
IWC Mark XII, 1998 special Mark IX Homage
Check this nice essay, written by SteveG.Photo by SteveG.Click here to read it....
TAG Heuer Party Squad
Tennis star Maria Sharapova just turned 21 years old on the 23rd of April. TAG Heuer organized a big birthday party for their ambassador of sports watches. The press release states that TAG Heuer was honored to do so. Yeah ??I understand the whole ambassador concept, it seems to attract potential buyers. But why giving a birthday party AND brag about it in press releases? Anyway, it does produces some nice pictures ??...
1961 2011: 50 Years of Sinn
For Watchuseek, I just finished this article on 50 years of Sinn Spezialuhren. A German brand with a focus on functionality and technology, celebrating their 50th anniversary this year with a special pilot’s chronograph Model 358.Personally, I have a weak spot for Sinn watches. Not only their price – quality ratio is magnificent, I also like the link between their Sinn 142 (based on the Sinn 140) and the space program. I used to own a Sinn 142.St.S (black model) but unfortunately sold it a few years ago. You can read more about this particular model here, here and here.Another great ‘cult’ Sinn is the EZM1, which was reviewed for Fratellowatches by Bas van Dorp. Click...
Don Draper's Omega Seamaster DeVille in Mad Men
After the Explorer and Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso, Mad Men’s Don Draper has now been spotted with an Omega. In episode 6 of the 5th season of Mad Men TV-series, Don Draper impatiently checks his Omega Seamaster DeVille watch sitting in a diner waiting for his lady.Despite being introduced as a watch with a water resistant case, the 1950s Seamaster watches were very elegant and not that far away from the more luxurious Constellation collection. In the 1960s, Omega started to develop the Seamaster as a diver’s watch, as we know it today, and introduced the Seamaster DeVille as their more dressy collection of watches.Don Draper wears a Seamaster DeVille with a black dial and a date i...
Baselworld 2013 Hublot Masterpiece MP-05 LaFerrari
Tribute to Ferrari and Haute HorlogerieToday we’ve visited a number of brands, but one of the most impressive pieces was definitely the Hublot Masterpiece MP-05 “LaFerrari”. This watch is not only a tribute to the manufacturer of super cars from Maranello, it is also a watch that proves the watchmaking skills from Hublot. A power reserve of no less than 50 days due to its 11 barrels in the movement and a vertical tourbillon.The caliber HUB9005.H1.6 movement consists of 637 parts of which 108 are used for jewels. The large movement measures 45.8mm x 39.5mm. Hublot is producing this Masterpiece MP-05 “LaFerrari” in a series of 50 numbered pieces. Each with a price...
Omega Speedmaster Dark Side Of The Moon Caliber 9300 Hands-On
OMEGA Novelties At BaselWorldTo our surprise, Jean Claude Monachon (Head of Product Development) of OMEGA showed us not only the new Speedmaster 9300 line-up (Dark Side of the Moon and ’57 editions) and Aqua Terra 15.000 Gauss, but also a new OMEGA Seamaster Bullhead. If you are following us on instagram, you probably have seen our quick snaps of these watches already. However, here are the pictures we took during the presentation with a decent camera.OMEGA Speedmaster 9300 Dark Side Of The MoonThere was already some buzzin’ around just before Baselworld, perhaps OMEGA did that on purpose, perhaps not. The new caliber 9300 Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon is made out of one bloc...
Hands-On With The Breva Genie Collection Mechanical Smart Watches
Although our focus is on affordable mechanical watches, we once in a while zoom in on watches that are either very special or plain beautiful. In this case, it is both. We have to admit that we didn’t make it to see this relatively new brand called Breva during last year’s Baselworld, but we wanted to make up for it this year at least. So we had the opportunity to look at last year’s introduced Breva Genie 01 and this year’s introduction of the Breva Genie 02.The title of this article is one with a wink, as it refers to the Genie collection as being mechanical Smart Watches. Not your digital Smart Watch that has been recently discussed here by Prof. Dr. Jan Adriaanse,...