Buying Guide: The Best Sinn Watches From The 1990s (2021)
We like to talk about vintage watches a lot within the Fratello team. Though most of what we write about is primarily focused on the most recent releases and developments, for many of us, a lot of the fun can be found in the sometimes weird and often wonderful world of vintage watches. It’s a world full of history, remarkable watches, incredible stories, and quirky details. It inspired us to come up with a series of articles focusing on the best watches per decade from a select group of brands. Some of them are priceless, and some of them are still affordable. In this installment, we will take a look at the best Sinn watches from the 1990s.This week we will continue our journey through...
Top 10 Watch Photographers On Instagram And Beyond
All watch enthusiasts, at some point, experience the epiphany that opens the gateway to wristwatch passion. While my enthusiasm stretches back to James Bond’s Omega Seamaster, Instagram was the tool to discover similarly afflicted aficionados. Through hashtags and IG accounts, I experience a variety of watches vicariously through each person’s lens. Over time, certain photographers have influenced the content I enjoy and the inspiration for my posts. This list compiles a selection of my favorite content creators from Instagram and beyond social media. These photographers create a distinct identity, and their posts are instantly recognizable.This won’t be a deep dive into ea...
Tudor Pelagos Vs. Tudor Pelagos 39
This week’s Sunday Morning Showdown is a much-discussed topic that hadn’t been made into a proper match-up until now. But we read your comments, dear Fratelli! Last week, Jorg wrote an article about the best titanium dive watches and selected the recently introduced Tudor Pelagos 39 as one of them. Some of you, however, would have rather seen the Pelagos LHD or even the regular Pelagos on that list. That sparked the debate about which one to choose. But instead of leaving the decision out on the Fratello office floor, we decided to make it into a Sunday Morning Showdown. This time, you guys get to vote for your favorite and settle the matter of which Pelagos is better once and fo...
Hands-On: Paulin Modul C Mechanical And Modul B Quartz
If you are a regular reader of Fratello, you might have read that Paulin Watches was acquired not too long ago by fellow Scottish brand anOrdain. This sparked an interest in the Glasgow-based brand for many watch enthusiasts. I had read about Paulin but never had a chance to witness the brand’s products up close. So when the Modul C Mechanical and Modul B Quartz arrived at the Fratello office, I was more than happy to jump on the opportunity to learn more about these two charming Paulin models.At first glance, the Paulin Modul C Mechanical and Modul B Quartz look like fun, modestly sized, vintage-inspired watches, each of which could be an off-beat addition to your collection. But once...
New Japanese G-Shock Collabs: BAPE And Porter
You thought you could ease your way into the new week. Well, you thought wrong! You may have seen Mike’s early morning article on the exquisite?G-Shock MR-G Shougeki-Maru already, but the hits keep on coming with two more Japanese G-Shock collaborations. First up is the GM-6900BAPE-1, a special model celebrating the 30th anniversary of BAPE, the Japanese streetwear brand that's famous for its camouflage patterns. Second is the made-in-Japan GM-B2100VF-1A, a CasiOak in aged steel that's part of the G-Shock 40th Anniversary Limited Edition Porter Collection Bag Set.If you like camo, A Bathing Ape (or BAPE) might be your brand. It could have been for three decades because the Japanese str...
Hands-On: Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M Summer Blue
After a hot and steamy summer, September was also relatively warm, at least here in Germany. Sadly, October brought us drizzles and much lower temperatures, which shocked me. I don't know about you, but I felt I needed a dash of summer on these chilly fall days. What better way to bring the July sun back to my life than with one of the recent Summer Blue releases from Omega's Seamaster line? So I asked the lovely people at Omega to send me one of the recently released Aqua Terra 150M Summer Blue models to brighten my mood.I have had the pleasure of wearing one of the previous versions, the Aqua Terra 150M in (deep) blue, and I loved it. So I knew what to expect. Still, I was intrigued by the...
Tissot's New T-Touch Connect Sport Is Ready To Get Active
The new Tissot T-Touch Connect Sport is the latest iteration of a popular watch that first debuted back in 1999. The well-loved and approachable ana-digi timepiece from Switzerland has been a favorite for hikers, mountain climbers, and the like. Now, though, it features a new app that centers on activity and fitness. Of course, it also contains helpful features like notifications.With all of the fantastic mechanical watches as of late from Tissot, it’s important not to forget the T-Touch. This ana-digi model has been blazing trails (literally) for nearly 25 years. Since that time, several variations have come our way. Of course, connected watches have grown in stature during this time,...
New: The 40th-Anniversary G-Shock MR-G Shougeki-Maru
The 40th anniversary of G-Shock continues to roll on, and the latest piece is the MR-G Shougeki-Maru. It’s inspired by a kabuto (samurai helmet) and contains a hand-inscribed bezel. Yes, this is a special watch, and we expect that diehard G-Shock fans will love it.A lot has happened over the past ten years with G-Shock. I can still remember buying a lovely 30th-anniversary model back in 2013. It’s a great piece, but it pales in comparison to what the brand has been doing to celebrate its 40th. For example, take a look at the recent Dream Project #2 G-D001 to see how things have progressed. Well, today’s MR-G Shougeki-Maru continues the party, and while it’s less audac...
Introducing JLC Reverso Tribute Chronograph Limited Edition
The new stainless steel Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Chronograph was among our favorite releases during Watches and Wonders 2023. The contrast between the clean blue/gray sunburst dial and the open-worked chronograph dial especially earned our admiration. Of course, the version with a rose gold case and indexes on its black sunburst dial was also very impressive. But somehow, we didn’t give it the attention it deserved. Maybe that’s why Jaeger-LeCoultre has now introduced a new Reverso Tribute Chronograph limited edition on which even the dial and bridges are made of rose gold. Just to make sure we were listening this time.Both Lex and I were in awe of that stainless steel Re...
Hot Take: The Panerai Luminor Destro Otto Giorni PAM01655
Panerai recently released the Luminor Destro Otto Giorni PAM01655. What's in a name? Well, the fact that it is a Luminor with an eight-day power reserve that is supposed to be worn on your right (destro, in Italian) arm. That pretty much sums up what this new Luminor is all about.So, is everything right about this new destro PAM, or should you walk right by? Let's have a quick first look!Luminor Destro Otto Giorni PAM01655If you own a Panerai Luminor Otto Giorni PAM00915, you can press its crown guard against a mirror to see the new PAM01655. Well, technically, you will see a PAM01655 with unreadable reversed dial printing, but it’s close enough. What I’m trying to say is that th...
Photo Report Of The SalonQP 2010 Event
The SalonQP event in London, held from the 11th of November till the 13th of November, was a great success. I’ve been to the event on Thursday (opening night) and Friday, and on Friday I’ve made a few pictures to give my precious readers an impression of SalonQP.Of course, I also took some pictures of the timepieces that were there on display. However, for all photos, please visit the Photo Report topic over at WatchUseek (by clicking here).If you haven’t been there this year, try to visit the SalonQP 2011. I surely had a great time looking at all these magnificent watches, talking to the people over there and meeting with Gerard Nijenbrinks of Horloge Platform Nederland, A...
Heuerville Fratello Watches Strap Review
We love our watches, there's no doubt about that. That's why you're here, right? There are all those other things surrounding them though; watch winders, watch rolls, tools perhaps but most importantly straps. No decent watch site can function without a strap review. That was in my head when I came up with this idea and presented it to the team.Nevertheless we gave it a twist. We would like to introduce some of the lesser known craftsmen to the wider audience. People whose work we find interesting or out of the ordinary. Who most of the time hand make their products at home, educate themselves and improve their technique so when their product reaches you and you put it on your timepiece you ...
HUBLOT CLASSIC FUSION "RACING GREY"
THE SUBTLE BEAUTY OF GREYWhich grey best suits your personality?Hublot is releasing its CLASSIC FUSION collection in on-trend yet timeless grey. Following on from its Spring/Summer 2015 blue collection, the Classic Fusion quintet now boasts a total “Racing Grey” look. Less harsh than black, more timeless even than blue, this grey inherently neutral and universal reinforces the model’s versatile elegance. An androgynous hue with many different facets. From yuppies to gypsetters, tweed to iridescent satin, grey works with every style from the understated?to the ultra-sophisticated.The case is available in a choice of 4 dimensions and with three movements, to suit any wrist:33...
ABSOLUTE CREATIVE FREEDOM : THE MONTFORT STRATA
MONTFORT WATCHES Co. builds luxury, quality form follows function' timepieces. Their maiden model the Strata' is a sport-chic automatic wristwatch that boasts the following impressive credentials:Scratch resistant Super Stainless Steel3D printed stainless steel dialsSwiss madeUnbeatable valueFounded by two watch enthusiasts, Philippe Kuratle and Jeremie Senggen, MONTFORT WATCHES Co has innovation at its heart. With TIME TO INNOVATE as their leitmotif, they've brought some pretty interesting solutions to their Strata model that make it stand out and not just another watch project.Model JamesThe scratch resistant Super Stainless steel is obtained by diffusion of nitrogen and carbon in the surf...
TAG Heuer launches a special-edition watch designed by Max Verstappen
Dutch Formula One driver Max Verstappen unveiled his third watch, made by?TAG Heuer. The?TAG Heuer Formula One Max Verstappen Special Edition 2018 was presented during an exclusive event at the Hotel Arena in Amsterdam.TAG Heuer launches a new special-edition watch designed by Max VerstappenThe 2018 Max Verstappen Tag Heuer on my wrist during the event in Hotel Arena in AmsterdamThe new special edition timepiece is limited to 1.300 pieces, and as said, was designed by the racer himself. Rumour goes that all 1.300 pieces have been sold instantly.?After the launch of two successful special editions in 2016 (we covered that one here) and 2017 (and this one here), TAG Heuer decided to continue t...
Hands-On With The MeisterSinger Lunascope That's A Big Moon!
When I started collecting watches about 20 years ago, I loved to browse those big books that showed a huge amount of watches that were either categorized by brand name, price or complication. The moonphase?(and calendar) complications appealed to me most at the time, as I love that big gold moon on a dial. Perhaps it is not the most useful complication in the world, but that also is part of its charm. The problem is, like with many nice things that are for sale, that these mechanical moonphase complications do not come cheap most of the time.The MeisterSinger Lunascope is an automatic watch with moonphase indicator, and retails for just below $3000. The Lunascope combines the well, although ...
60 Watches & Pencils Drawings In One Book
I could have let Teun write his own book promotion here, but I want to take the opportunity to tell you a bit about him and his book.In 2015, Teun reached out to me to talk about his passion for watches and how we could collaborate. We decided to meet somewhere in the middle and ended up in a cafe near the train station in Breda. We talked about previous projects he did on watches, but also about his daytime job and his love for watches. One of the topics we discussed were his drawings, and how this could work for the watch enthusiasts that visit Fratello. On September 14, 2015, Teun published his first cartoon on Fratello, called ‘The Wild Bullhead,’ and it was a huge success. T...
TAG Heuer Monaco Piece d'Art and Heuer 02
This year, 2019, commemorates the 50th anniversary of the end of the 1960's. I don't mean that just numerically. The year, 1969 really marked the end of an era. The free love movement culminated with the Woodstock '69 festival and the great human achievement of the USA landing men on the moon brought about a new era of scientific discovery.Designs of the times were certainly inspired by the whirlwind of events including the retro-futuristic Heuer Monaco. Introduced to sit between the Heuer Autavia and Carrera, the Monaco takes its name from the jewel in the crown of the Formula One calendar that is the Monaco Grand Prix. Racing on the streets of Monte Carlo requires precision and focus but t...
This Week In Watches: November 14, 2020 The Celebratory Edition!
Another week, another butt-load of news in the watch industry. I get the almighty power of deciding what was cool enough to make it into my column. This week, it was a celebratory Minase, a new Urwerk, and a deep blue Credor that really caught my eye…plus I couldn’t ignore the GPHG Awards 2020. Read on!Minase's celebratory sweet 15!Who doesn't love a good birthday celebration? There's usually cake, sweets and other treats involved. When Minase got in touch to tell us a little more about their birthday celebrations, they indeed treated us to a rather stunning new release. For its 15th birthday, the brand has produced a limited edition of its signature 5 Windows model, limited to j...
Omega Speedmaster World Cup Group G: Bert
Welcome to the Speedmaster World Cup. In the absence of Euro 2020, we thought our beloved readers might enjoy a tournament of a different kind. We've assembled eight groups (ACH), each governed by a different Fratello team member. Each writer has been assigned four watches, which they will pitch to you during the group stages.All we need you to do is vote for your favorite to move on in the competition. The next round will be the quarter-finals, which will see the eight group winners go head-to-head for your votes. The four winners progress to the semis. Following that, a third-place play-off will precede the final round, due to be held on Sunday, December 13th (get the beers in ). If you ha...