??#TBT An Obscure Activity Watch From Toyota Orient Puma (2021)
I?intentionally left the watch sitting on my desk in the office for a few days. Almost everyone who passed by and saw it froze and asked me the same bewildered question: What is that?! This ladies and gentlemen is the utterly crazy Orient All Weather Type II quartz watch.Quartz watches do not hold strong positions in watch collectors minds. They find it really hard to sneak into someone's collection. And if they do, they have to be really special. Today I?will try to explain why the Toyota Orient Puma Weather Type II is a?hot candidate for your next unplanned quartz watch purchase.My lighting soft spotI?have stopped counting how many watches were brought to my attention by fellow collectors....
Hands On With The Nivada Grenchen Jellyfish Depthmaster
Romaric’s latest collaboration with Nivada Grenchen only confirms that we can hardly ever get bored with his creations. Meet a blue queen of the oceans, the Nivada Grenchen seconde/seconde/ Jellyfish Depthmaster.It has been almost two years since I?got to know Romaric Andre. I?instantly fell in love with his strictly limited runs of daringly creative and carefully manufactured watch hands he installs in vintage classics. We already had the chance to review one of them, the Omega Seamaster 2759-7SC 2761 from 1956 with a replaced second hand in the shape and color of the Cousteau cap. From vintage to modernI was sure it would only be a matter of time before Romaric and his company second...
The Christopher Ward C60 Concept Takes Calibre SH21 Up A Gear
Christopher Ward has long been a British staple brand for collectors looking for a well-made and well-designed watch that offers serious value for money. Over the last few years, the brand has released a multitude of watches that built its serious reputation and allowed it to explore the concept of an in-house movement. In 2014 it first launched the Calibre SH21 movement, an in-house British-designed movement made in Switzerland. It's this beautiful caliber that powers a new model released today: the rather exciting-looking Christopher Ward C60 Concept.When Christopher Ward launched the Calibre SH21 back in 2014, it was the first commercially viable movement designed by a British watch brand...
Why I Bought The Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch
Buying your grail watch. Something that some would say can only happen once. But others, myself included, would say can happen as many times as you want it to. As we progress into the world of watch ownership we are constantly redefining terms. Most of us will be able to look back to a fairly humble first most expensive watch we ever bought. A term that is typically redefined by your latest purchase. At some point, those lucky enough to take the leap will find themselves owning a true luxury watch. Would I have ever thought, way back when I bought my first mechanical watch, that just three years down the line I'd have a Speedmaster to call my own? Probably not. I didn't even think it three d...
Delugs Rubber Straps For The Tissot PRX Are A Perfect Fit
The watch that made the biggest impression on me this year is the Tissot PRX that I bought just before the summer. The amount of sheer joy I get from wearing the watch has been priceless. It’s the perfect affordable daily wearer for under $1,000. A big part of the joy of wearing it comes from the great bracelet. It is the perfect proof that a bracelet of an affordable watch is an asset rather than a liability. But recently, I have been wearing the watch on several Delugs rubber straps specifically made for the Tissot PRX. They are the perfect alternative to the bracelet, making the PRX an even more versatile watch.I must confess that I have never been much of a strap guy. Usually, I pr...
Hands-On: Ferdinand Berthoud Chronome?tre FB3 SPC
Finally. Yes, finally, I can write about the time that Nacho and I were locked in a tiny, scorching-hot room with no windows. It all happened months ago in Geneva during an event called Watches and Wonders. What happened is that we were shown the phenomenal Ferdinand Berthoud Chronome?tre FB3 SPC, but we were not allowed to write about it or show the fabulous pics that Nacho took of the different executions of the new watch. But now, my Fratelli, the cat is out of the bag.One of the highlights of Watch and Wonders 2022 that took place earlier this past spring was, without a shadow of a doubt, the new Ferdinand Berthoud Chronome?tre FB3 SPC. Yes, the fact that the watch was cloaked in secrecy...
Should I Get A Vintage Watch As My First Piece?
We receive many questions from people asking us to help them decide on their watch purchases. Most of the time, these come through the website, but often also directly via a message or phone call. Just recently, I suddenly received a Whatsapp message from a friend of a friend, asking me for help regarding a watch purchase. This person let me know that it was time for him to buy a nice watch, but the question was whether it should be a brand-new watch or a vintage one. In our exchange of messages, the following concrete question was asked:I think I am more interested in new watches, as the idea of owning someone else's watch doesn't sound attractive. I never buy pre-owned things, but there's ...
Fortis Talks: Fratello's RJ Broer Meets Fortis's Jupp Philipp
A few months ago, I traveled to Fortis in Grenchen, Switzerland, and sat down with CEO Jupp Philipp to talk about watches. Jupp bought the Fortis company back in 2018, and during our talk, he explained how his journey with watches began. In the watch industry, a person like Jupp Philipp is quite a rare breed since he doesn’t like the old-fashioned way of working that many brands follow. Despite running a watch company that is over 100 years old, he treats Fortis as if it were a startup.Fratello FortisOn a very late evening in Grenchen, I sat down with Jupp Philipp and Marketing Manager Andreas Bentele, who moderated the talk. As you probably know, it’s great to talk watches with ...
Watch Lovers, Beware Of Instagram's Influencing Power
I’ll just come clean straight from the get-go: my watch-collecting journey was heavily affected by Instagram’s influencing power. I most definitely bought a few watches because they looked so pleasing in pictures on the social media platform. I’ll also quickly add that I’ve already sold most of those watches because they didn’t fulfill the high expectations that all those perfect pictures led me to have.I already wrote a story on how I think Instagram influenced my watch-collecting behavior. But the fact that I’m posting pictures of my watches also means I’m influencing others into buying their next watch. And this isn’t something that I’...
What Does The Future Of Audemars Piguet Look Like?
There's a new wind blowing at Audemars Piguet. Well, it's about to start blowing, anyway. On January 1st, 2024, Ilaria Resta, who already joined the brand last August, will assume her role as Audemars Piguet's chief executive officer. She will take over from long-time CEO Fran?ois-Henry Bennahmias after his 30-year tenure at the Le Brassus-based high-end watch manufacturer. AP grew into the stratosphere under Bennahmias, but the luxury market has come under pressure. How will Resta fill Bennahmias's big shoes, and what does the future of Audemars Piguet look like?Swiss Firmenich SA is the world's largest privately owned perfume and taste company. Ilaria Resta worked as President, Global Perf...
Hands-On: Gerald Charles Maestro 4.0 Ducati 30o Anniversario 916
During Geneva Watch Days 2024, Gerald Charles announced the exclusive Maestro 4.0 Ducati 30 Anniversario 916 created in collaboration with Italian motorcycle manufacturer Ducati. The watch celebrates the 30th anniversary of the legendary Ducati 916 motorcycle. It features Gerald Charles’s well-known Maestro case with a ruby-red vulcanized rubber strap for the occasion.Gerald Charles Maestro 4.0 Ducati 30o Anniversario 916The Maestro 4.0 Ducati 30 Anniversario 916 is a collaborative vision of CEOs Federico Ziviani from Gerald Charles and Claudio Domenicali from Ducati. Both companies carry on important artistic heritage from their former designers. This heritage influences the design ...
New: TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon Senna
Ayrton Senna da Silva (1960C1994) was much more than a brilliant Brazilian racing driver. He was a unique talent with a particular character and an inspiration to many. This year marks the 30th anniversary of his tragic death following a crash at the Imola circuit. Later this month, the six-episode Netflix series Senna will come out. For all you petrolheads/watch freaks out there, yes, the series will show the Senna S/el Chronograph S25.706C, and no, there is no word of a rerelease/reinterpretation of that ana-digi two-tone icon. Instead, TAG Heuer is releasing the Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon Senna in a limited run of 500 pieces.The TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon Senna (CBU5081....
New: The IFLW Tissot PRX Arabian Night Concept
IFL Watches keeps surprising us with creative new artwork gracing the dials of watches from various makers. With the Stockholm-based brand’s newest customized dial, we are transported to the world of Arabian Nights. The canvas for this creative journey is the black-dial version of the quartz Tissot PRX. It forms the perfect backdrop for IFLW’s artists to create an instantly recognizable image that immediately takes you to the enchanting world of Arabian culture. Let’s closely examine the new IFLW Tissot PRX Arabian Night Concept.Sometimes, it takes just one glance at a piece of artwork to understand what it’s about. But one step beyond that is when the artwork creates...
Hands-On: The Dennison A.L.D. Stone Dials Collection
Over the past year, I’ve collected watches from the ’40s and ’50s. Watches with Dennison cases are impossible to avoid when focusing on this early period. The Birmingham, England-based company was a notable case maker for Omega, Longines, and more until its closure in 1967. Today, the name returns with a very different set of watches. The A.L.D. Stone Dials look like what could have been had the brand survived.I’ll put this out there from the beginning. I was skeptical when I first saw the Dennison A.L.D. Stone Dials in photos and online. Here was a revered brand coming back under a very different guise. Dennison made watch cases in Birmingham, England until 1967 for ...
Kiber Gran Specchio
Kiber launched their new watch line, Gran Specchio, which means ‘big mirror’. This obviously has something to do with the mirrored edge combined with carbon look silver dial. These watches come in a luxury wooden box, an extra leather handmade Kiber Race band and a spring bar tool. All pushers and crowns have a screw attachment ????? the watch is 5ATM water resistant ????? and the stainless 48mm case has a sapphire front glass and a see through glass on the back. The chronograph has an automatic mechanical movement, based on the famous Valjoux (ETA) caliber 7750. The non-chronograph has an automatic mechanical movement based on the ETA 2824-2 caliber. The chronograph is ava...
Photo Essay: Chopard LUC Chronometer
The subject of today’s photoessay is the seldom seen, but utterly sublime, Chopard LUC Chronometer. A modest 38mm in diameter, it’s powered by the Chopard LUC 1.96 movement. The movement has twin barrels providing a 70 hour power reserve, and a solid gold micro rotor for winding; not only do I think the finishing is amongst the best I’ve ever seen – even under heavy magnification – it seems that the folks awarding Geneva Seals thought so, too. Interestingly, it’s also a very flat movement for an automatic – just 3.3mm. No doubt the micro rotor architecture contributes meaningfully here; it uses an ingenious lobed cam to drive a rocking pawl that ratc...
Speedy Tuesday Ken Mattingly's Omega Speedmaster
It’s Speedy Tuesday! As you might have seen in our Speedy Tuesday Event report, Omega brought the original gold commemorative Speedmaster Professional BA 145.022 with them that belonged to astronaut Thomas Kenneth Ken Mattingly II. This Tuesday we discuss his gold Speedy that he – and other astronauts – received as a gift from Omega. Only 1014 of these Speedmasters have been made and even fewer were – of course – particularly for astronauts and other VIPs and have a slightly different engraving then the public models.?Thomas Kenneth Ken MattinglyKen Mattingly worked for NASA from 1966 to 1985 and flew on NASA missions Apollo 16, STS-4 (Space Shuttle) and STS-51-...
#TBT Croton Skymaster Chronograph
Whew, I had a lot of fun writing the Vintage Market Update that we published earlier this week, but it was a long article! Since then, I've had some time to reflect on it and I've come away with a couple thoughts. First, I really enjoy sharing my thoughts with you, our readers, about vintage watches and the marketplace. Second, it's great to give a previously non-discussed watch center stage for a period. Sure, it results in newfound attention for the watch, but I like to err on the side of exposure versus keeping something in hiding because it makes sense to discuss worthwhile pieces. Well, today's #TBT focuses on a watch that really hasn't received much press anywhere and that's a shame be...
FROMANTEEL ANNOUNCES NEW AUTOMATIC GMT: PENDULUM TRAVELER
Pendulum Traveler Pre-order Campaign Will Kick off This WinterAMSTERDAM, NOVEMBER 5th – Ever since starting out, Fromanteel has had one clear goal: creating high-quality Swiss Made timepieces with an understated design, while keeping them affordable. With the Pendulum Traveler, they show that they haven't lost sight of what's important. This sympathetic GMT watch, the third member of the automatic Pendulum series, is the most sophisticated piece in their collection.The Fromanteel Pendulum Traveler is now available. Order your Limited Edition watch at https://www.fromanteelspecials.com/traveler before the pre-order campaign ends.A Perfect Traveling CompanionEver since the 1950s, the GMT...
Antiquorum Geneva My Favourite November Auction Watch
I got the opportunity to stop by Antiquorum Geneva and check out the watches in their upcoming November sale.? I am luckily based in Geneva and enjoy walking over to see in advance what is coming up for sale. Antiquorum typically has large catalogs and in May of this year, they had over 620 lots to look through, which means it takes a while.To take a look at the Antiquorum Geneva online catalog, you can click directly here.November 2018 Geneva AuctionsThis Antiquorum watch auction, which takes place on Sunday, November 11th in Geneva, is comprised of 571 lots (less than the previous sale). There is a wide variety as always and some gems hidden in the thick catalog.NautilusI decided to take a...