Fortis Watches: Testing Watches In The Arctic Circle And Space...
A journey north with Fortis Watches…Sunday, November 7th, 2021My bag is packed. My watches are all synchronized. I’m standing outside my flat in Dresden at 7:30 am and the rain is pouring straight down. I might as well have showered with my clothes on. I begin a lead-footed trudge through the sodden streets, dragging a heavy suitcase behind me. I’m trying not to sweat my very essence out of my eyeballs as I struggle to stay cool in a parka built to withstand -40 degrees.My destination? Dresden Neustadt train station where I’ll meet my FlixBus bound for Berlin Brandenburg Airport. But that is just the first leg of my travels. Ultimately, I’m heading off to Kiruna...
Best Boring But Brilliant Watches Vacheron Constantin Patrimony
The origins of Vacheron Constantin go back to 1755 when Jean-Marc Vacheron (1731-1805) founded his watchmaking business. This makes it one of the oldest watch brands in the world. In 1819, Fran?ois Constantin joined the company, leading to the name Vacheron & Constantin. Much later, in 1970 to be precise, the & was dropped, and the name Vacheron Constantin was born. Sound like a dull history lesson? Well, at least it fits our The Best Boring But Brilliant Watches In The World series perfectly. Let's have a look at the Vacheron Constantin Patrimony - an underwhelming watch collection or the ultimate essence of a historical maison?In the early 2000s, watch brands tried to convince the ...
WatchStrapHeaven: My New Discovery For Vintage Watches
Have you ever blissfully enjoyed your leather watch strap creaking subtly from time to time? Well, I didn’t even know it was possible. Simply put, I find no other watch straps to be as truly “leather-ish” as the straps from WatchStrapHeaven are. Let me explain…I am very much a fan of thin leather straps, and for me, it’s an important parameter when pairing with moderately sized vintage watches. There are thin straps out there, that’s for sure. But no strap I’ve tried (and I’ve tried many) feels as thin as WatchStrapHeaven straps do. Every tenth of a millimeter of thickness counts. If I were to pinpoint the major point of difference in WatchStra...
The Zenith Calibre 135-O For Susan G. Komen
Supporting charities through the sale of luxury items is nothing new. However, this particular auction of a salmon-dial Zenith Calibre 135-O single edition was quite special because there was only one of this watch made and there won't be a second. Ever. While it's one thing to auction out regularly stocked items, whether it's watches, jewelry, or cars, I was particularly interested in this watch, again, because of its unique nature and context. And not only is there only one of these, but it is the story behind it that is particularly interesting.?I am by no means a Zenith expert, but that is OK since Brandon wrote an excellent article about the ten Calibre 135-O pieces released this past s...
Hands-On: Roger Dubuis Excalibur MB Black Ceramic 42
Sophia Loren (Rome, 1934) went from an Italian starlet to an international icon. Her astounding and distinctive beauty captivated fans as soon as she appeared on the scene in the 1950s. And in 1962, she won an Oscar for her role in the Italo-French war drama La Ciociara. From competing in a beauty pageant judged solely on looks to being named one of the greatest female stars of Classical Hollywood cinema by the American Film Institute is quite a remarkable feat. The Roger Dubuis Excalibur MB Black Ceramic 42mm is like Sophia Loren in a beauty contest. The extremely photogenic watch is judged by its spectacular looks alone and not by what’s inside. Luckily, the Excalibur MB Black Cerami...
Bargain Hunting: Haute Horlogerie Features On A Budget
Haute Horlogerie - the world of precious metals, true craftsmanship, and ultimate rarity. Exotic watches that showcase the very best of what humankind can do. Chiming bells, rare gemstones, perpetual calendars, and hand-carved bridges. If you are anything like me, you admire all of this from afar, knowing that it is and will forever be out of reach. Or is that really the case? Is there such a thing as “Haute Horlogerie pour le peuple”? Can we find little tasters of what is normally reserved for the rich and famous? Or are we, like Tantalus, forever reaching in vain?Join me on a quest to find Haute Horlogerie features at Prt--Porter prices. Life is expensive enough as it is, rig...
Video: Tough-Testing A Casio G-Shock GM-B2100D-1A
There's no denying that I thoroughly enjoyed tough-testing the bright yellow CasiOak two months ago. And guess what? There was also a full-metal Casio G-Shock GM-B2100D-1A in the office. This shiny and sturdy-looking watch seemed more than ready to undergo a rigorous test. That's why the Fratello Tough-Test is back, and this time, we put a metal CasiOak through the wringer. We'll let the four elements water, air, earth, and fire try to do their worst to the watch.After roughing up the bright yellow G-Shock GA-B2100C-9A on a racetrack, we thought it was best to go back to the basics. There were a couple of wild ideas about how we could put the full-metal Casio G-Shock GM-B2100D-1A through the...
Can A Microbrand Pull Off High-End Watchmaking?
Just over a year ago, I wrote an article about the rise of microbrands. It was a musing on why small, independent watch brands seem to rapidly gain ground. Little did I know that today, a year later, I would be building a brand of my own. It was already a lucid dream then, but due to illness in the family, there was no room for such risky frivolities. Relief in the form of a clean bill of health for my loved one came unexpectedly soon after. So I decided that life is too short to wait and set off on my journey.This, for transparency's sake, is the background with which you should see my answer to a question posed by Nacho, our managing editor: can a microbrand pull off high-end watchmaking? ...
The Piaget Polo Then And Now: From Vintage To Vogue
You probably know Piaget as the maker of the legendary Polo collection, which has swung back into the limelight since its 2016 revamp. Did you know that when the Polo premiered in 1979, it was never intended to be simply a sports watch? Cue the famous quote from its creator Yves G. Piaget: The entire Polo philosophy can be summed up in one sentence: it's a watch bracelet rather than a mere wristwatch.Yves G. Piaget and Ursula Andress, the original Bond girl and spokesperson for the Piaget PoloThe fourth-generation heir of the family firm might have recognized the promise in the Genta-designed sports-luxe timepiece integrated with a bracelet in the early 70s. But by 1979, Monsieur Piaget had ...
The Zenith Defy Extreme Diver Silver Dial
In April 2024, Zenith introduced the Defy Extreme Diver, a bold and modern dive watch. The brand is most famous for its chronographs, so a new diver is big news. The initial release brought a pair of black- and blue-dialed watches. Today, an icy silver version joins the lineup as a serial-production model.This year’s Defy Extreme Diver is a heavy-duty water-ready watch with styling traits consistent with other Defy models. An angular case, textured Skyline dial, and El Primero (sans chronograph) movement make it recognizable as a Zenith model. Feedback was split when we reviewed the initial releases, but most commenters agreed that the watches are impressive in person. For those on the...
Girard-Perregaux Casquette 2.0 Vs. Amida Digitrend
Welcome back to another Sunday Morning Showdown! Grab a coffee, take a nibble of your croissant, and warm up your voting finger. Daan and Thomas are back at each other's throats this week. Today's theme? Casquette-shaped watches with roots in the 1970s. How about that for a niche? Don't go complaining that this is apples and oranges this time, Fratelli! How similar do you want them to be?You may struggle to get your hands on either of these contestants, though. The Amida Digitrend is sold out, and the Girard-Perregaux Casquette 2.0 is the final - and limited - version of the model. But that doesn't mean we cannot let them loose in our fighting cage for a good ol’ Sunday Morning Showdow...
Custom made watchcase
Or should I say, Paneristi-case? Jerrel showed us his Panerai collection at P-Day 3 in Frankfurt. Not only his watches were incredible, but the way he presented them to fellow Panerai collectors was incredible as well. He made this case by himself, complete with Panerai crown-guard system lock and a nice (working) Panerai clock on top of the case. Also pay attention to the buckles on this case, Pre-Vendome stilo…Picture was made by someone on the Paneristi forum, I think it was Yogi, I am not sure though....
Omega Speedmaster CK2998-4 From The Davidoff Brothers
The Omega Speedmaster CK2998 seems to be one of the most sought-after vintage Speedmaster watches. On a weekly basis we get a couple of questions whether we know one for sale. A few weeks ago, I met with Roy Davidoff of the Davidoff Brothers boutique in Geneva. He told me that their shop specializes in vintage watches and that they have a huge?love for Speedmasters (and Speedy Tuesday). Their collection of watches always include a couple of Speedmaster watches when possible.That’s why they sent me photos of this Omega Speedmaster CK2998-4 with a so-called tropical dial. As you can see on the photo below, the dial has turned into this dark brown color over time. Collectors refer to this...
Veterans Day: A Vietnam Era Seiko 6105-8110
Today we take a look at a Seiko 6105-8110 “Captain Willard”, but this one has a story that’s quite fitting for today.? Happy Veterans Day!I think we can all agree that conversing electronically is a fairly cold and impersonal method.? Plus, in its worst form, it emboldens people who are probably otherwise quite polite to act like jerks on social media.? But for all the grief our most popular methods of communication receive, it’s nice to know that you can “meet” some really interesting and sincere people without ever truly meeting them in person.? Such is today’s case of a vintage Seiko 6105-8110 that has a nice story behind it.If you follow our seri...
Time Travel #1: The 1980s Tissot RockWatch
What happens if you put together ten Fratello Magazine editors from around the world on a late evening team call? Besides a lot of jokes, you get a lot of ideas for new features on Fratello. Welcome to one that made the cut – Fratello’s Time Travel.We have decided to do the dirty job of looking more closely at often overlooked categories of watches for all the enthusiasts out there. All watches will be anywhere between 1980 and 2000. Embarking upon the quest of digging deeper into our archives, forgotten drawers, or watch-sleeves, we will sift through old catalogs, booklets, and ads with this new challenge in mind. The idea is to shed light on watches from that specific era, wher...
FORTIS: Special Edition for AMADEE-18 Mars Mission
In 2018, FORTIS has become the official timekeeper for the AMADEE-18 Mars Analog Mission and equipped the Austrian-led team with the Special Edition AMADEE-18 chronographs during simulations of a Mars landing conducted in the Desert of Oman.Directed by a Mission Support Center in Austria, the small field crew has conducted experiments preparing for future human mars missions in the fields of engineering, planetary surface operations, astrobiology, geophysics, geology, life sciences and many other. For this mission FORTIS created the official mission watch AMADEE-18.LONG SPACE HISTORYFORTIS, founded in 1912, has long been associated with rugged pilot's watches and became part of the official ...
Wrist Game or Crying Shame: Omega Seamaster Bullhead
Wrist Game or Crying Shame returns with a look at the Omega Seamaster Bullhead, a kooky chronograph from one of our favorite brands. But first…Last week, we went double pusher with the Oris Chronoris 2005 Replica Edition. This rather lovely symmetrical chrono walked away with a startling 80% Wrist Game win. This week, we keep things extremely uniform with the Omega Seamaster Bullhead. Now, it was apparently one Winston Churchill who stated that, “if you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bull.” On that note, let’s see just see how brilliant this Bullhead is!Omega Seamaster Bullhead Chronograph from 1969 from the Omega Museum’s collectionTh...
Seiko SPB189 Dive Watch Has Sharp Hands And A Contrast Bezel
Earlier today, I covered the release of the SPB185. And already we have another fetching model to share with you. The Seiko SPB189 dive watch is just about as clean and functional an adventure tool as the modern frogman could ask for. With its sharp, highly-legible hands, and warm, contrasting bezel insert, this one has the potential to be a subtly satisfying daily wear that keeps on giving long after it leaves the box in favor of your wrist. Take a look at the images we’ve put together to show this thing from all angles. It is a testament to the Seiko brand. Better still, it is a fine ambassador of how Seiko continues to make the commonplace exceptional…UPDATE: Following further...
Seiko SPB185 Dive Watch With A Smart "Shovel" Seconds Hand
Often, it is the little things that make all the difference in life. In watchmaking, that is almost always the case. Sure, these ticking marvels are tiny to begin with, but upon these minute canvases, the minutest flourish or novelty can transform a watch’s overall character. When it comes to the SPB185, that is certainly true. What is otherwise a very solid, fairly-priced, handsomely designed dive watch, is vaulted to the next level by a flash of red upon the “shovel-style” seconds hand. Inconsequential or invaluable? Take a look at the photos and you tell me…There’s a lot of good news coming out of Seiko right now. We’ve waxed lyrical ad nauseam about th...
A Vintage Tissot 6216-4 With A Moonwatch Movement Inside
Anytime I wear my Tissot 6216-4 and the sun shines onto the dial, I am overwhelmed with the thought that I am gazing down at what is likely the most beautifully aged, untouched dial and hands still around on a watch like this. For today’s #TBT I’ll be doing a little show and tell with this incredible vintage Tissot chronograph. Time to show off some lume!If you remember my last year's Christmas #TBT Special about the scarce Alpina 943, you might also remember this Tissot. One day I?simply got an email from a?Swedish gentleman, who happened to have some vintage watches. There was also a Vulcain Cricket in the batch, another watch I?admire. He wasn’t a?collector, he was just ...