Seiko World Cup: Semifinal 1 SPB317 Vs. SKX009
Welcome to the first semifinal of Fratello’s Seiko World Cup. Four Seiko divers have already been kicked out of the competition. The other four are still very much alive and ready to take on their next opponents. Today, Daan’s SPB317 and Thomas’s SKX009 will compete against each other. It’s promising to be a very close battle, and that’s not just based on our intuition. It’s actually based on an earlier encounter between these two editors and their Seiko divers.That previous confrontation took place this past February during one of our famous Sunday Morning Showdowns. As it stands now, Daan’s SPB317 took the win there with 51% of the votes. Let’...
Introducing: The G-Shock Polychromatic Collection
For its ongoing 40th-anniversary celebration, G-Shock is rolling out loads of attractive new models. This latest four-piece drop has been dubbed the Polychromatic collection. It’s a more colorful take on some of the brand’s most popular models and should please fans. Let’s take a closer look at this kaleidoscope of colors.It’s not a surprise that G-Shock has decided to make colorful pieces. After all, there are a number of aftermarket companies offering modified variants, and they’re doing it successfully. There’s something comforting, though, about buying exactly what you want directly from the factory. The warranty, the quality, and the availability all ...
Taking A Look At The GPHG 2024 Winners
We published an article with our favorite picks for this year’s GPHG 2024 awards ceremony two weeks ago. Then, during last week’s ceremony, we got to see whether our favorites won. We were happy to see several of our picks take home the award in their respective categories. But we also were completely wrong about some others. Also, some watches we picked ended up winning in different categories. Let’s go over all the winners of the GPHG 2024 and find out how well we did!As watch enthusiasts, we were eager to discover the winning timepieces of the GPHG 2024 awards ceremony. This event is a yearly celebration of the wide variety of watch brands and their creations, and it hig...
The Fratello Watch List: RJ's Pre-Owned And Vintage Favorites
It has been a while since I bought a new watch. And by that, I mean not a pre-owned or vintage one. Just last weekend, I bought another vintage Constellation at a local auction to satisfy my hunger. One of the reasons I refrain from buying new watches these days is that prices of certain ones have risen so much that the pre-owned and vintage alternatives often beat them. Of course, those who are mainly into vintage already know this. So, as some of my Fratello colleagues already have, I hereby share some of the pre-owned and vintage pieces on my watch list.Image: Amsterdam Watch CompanyMy watch listAdmittedly, a few recent releases are on my watch list, such as the white-dial Speedmaster Moo...
New: Maen IFL Watches Manhattan Graffiti
Watches and street style go together quite well. While this combination might not be for everyone, there is a huge audience for modern timepieces that celebrate the best in street culture. But what if you combine the colorful graffiti world with the traditional shapes of horology? That’s exactly what Maen and IFL Watches have done with the new Manhattan Graffiti collaboration. The canvas for the art is the popular Maen Manhattan 37, and the artists at IFLW created special graffiti dials that celebrate the most iconic New York boroughs and neighborhoods. The result is a colorful tribute to the city that made graffiti a worldwide phenomenon.With the collabs that IFLW creates, the dial te...
Ofcourse, the Grand Seiko...
Kucimo wrote me an e-mail about two weeks ago, stating that I shouldn’t forget about Grand Seiko, after my negative rant on collecting Seiko or other Japanese watches.On the one hand I think he is absolutely right. Look at this picture below, which Kucimo attached to his e-mail, this looks perfect. You can see that Seiko put a lot of work in this to reach perfection in a watch. Everything on this watch ‘fits’ and every detail is probably discussed for hours at the Seiko R&D meetings. On the other hand, who is going to pay 5.000 USD for a Seiko. The money a Grand Seiko costs, easily buy you a great Swiss watch as well. It is like having a lot of money and spending it on...
Audemars Piguet ROC 26300 One Of My Favorite Watches Explained
Exactly one year ago, I bought an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph (also nick named ‘ROC’) ref.26300 to?accompany?my precious Royal Oak ‘Jumbo’ ref.15202. I added the ROC because I missed the thicker bracelet and case of the Royal Oak ‘Date’ ref.15300 I previously owned.The AP ROC has become one of my favorite watches and is always in my weekly watch rotating programme (something I learned to do from Chuck Maddox). The ‘Newman’ or ‘Panda’ dial combination has become a?popular model amongst the Audemars Piguet ROC fan base, given the times this exact configuration pops-up at the ‘new watch’-threads at TimeZone’...
Watches & Pencils #7 Omega Darth Vader (ST 145.0023)
Today Watches & Pencils goes into hyperspace. Let's talk about the helmet shaped big boy (44mm x 51mm, 15mm thickness) from the 1970s with reference number ST?145.0023, a.k.a. Darth Vader. Chuck Maddox?came up with this fantastic nickname.?Scratch-resistant and lightsaber-proof with a glossy Jet Black finished tungsten metal jacket and armed with deep red sub-dials it beats several watches in appearance. If you use your imagination you could even match/blend it with the typical helmet of the lord himself:Omega Seamaster “Darth Vader” (ST 145.0023) with aftermarket leather racing strap.Two layersJust like Darth Vader, this watch also wears a suit': it is build out of two separ...
Lepsi Watch Technologies
Walking into a prestigious watchmaker's, you browse the glass cabinets for your perfect timepiece. This a luxurious experience, where attention to detail is a must. It is then when you spot it and instantly, you know this is the one for you. To try the watch on, you ask for assistance and wait excitedly as they unlock the cabinet and gently remove it from the cushioned stand. You then slide the watch onto your wrist and admire the beauty of this outstanding piece of craftsmanship. I'll take it, you reply.As one of the world's leading Swiss watch analyzer for smartphone and tablets, Lepsi watch technologies understands that after finding your perfect watch, you want to maintain its quality fo...
Holthinrichs Watches officially introduced at Faculty of Architecture TUDelft
Holthinrichs Watches Officially IntroducedMichiel Holthinrichs yesterday officially introduced his watch brand ‘Holthinrichs Watches’ together with his first watch model, the ‘Ornament 1’. Holthinrichs, being a recent Architecture graduate, choose the Faculty of Architecture of ‘his’ Technical University in Delft (Netherlands) as location for the presentation.This not being our first introduction event, we were positively surprised by how the event was organised and the ambiance it breathed. The Faculty of Architecture seems to inspire one. When entering the building you want to pick up your drawing book and start designing – that kind of feeling.Ins...
Comparison The original Oris Diver vs Sixty-Five
Ever since the introduction of the new Oris diver watches, the Oris Divers Sixty-Five models, people have been praising them. A cool retro watch with a very affordable price tag. We have reviewed a couple of the Oris Divers Sixty-Five variations ever since (the original Sixty-Five, the 42mm model, and just recently we reviewed the green dial version).ComparisonThis article however, is not another review, but a comparison between the retro Divers Sixty-Five and the watch that inspired it. The original Oris diver ‘Waterproof’ from the 1960s. How close is the Oris Divers Sixty-Five to the original? What is so good about the Sixty-Five and what could have been done better in our opin...
Hands-On with the Zelos Diver Medic Technician
Happy Thanksgiving to all our American readers!? At Fratello Watches, we've followed the activities of the Diver's Watches Facebook Group with real anticipation. The group's 35,000+ members plus their insatiable appetites for all things diver, from inexpensive to dear and vintage to new, it's a good place to scroll through and blow through a few minutes each day. Plus, the group has enough clout to help create Limited Edition divers from known brands; they've worked with Aquadive and Doxa, as well as newcomer microbrands. What's similar about all the watches? They've all sold well. We've discussed several of the pieces and tested pieces as well. First, we went hands-on with the Gruppo Gamma ...
Report Amsterdam Seiko Boutique Opening
On Wednesday evening we joined the official (re)opening of the Seiko boutique in Amsterdam. It was one of the very first Seiko boutiques in Europe, and they felt it was time to update it. In the center of Amsterdam, the Seiko boutique almost can’t be missed.Seiko Boutique AmsterdamThe boutique?has received quite an overhaul on the inside and outside. The large doors give access to the most important Seiko collections. On the left side of the boutique, it has all been reserved for Grand Seiko. They have an impressive collection of Grand Seiko watches in?stock, including the rare platinum (here) and gold (here) Spring Drive pieces with 8-days movements. On the right side of the boutique,...
Watches That Have An Emotional Value To Us
One of the questions we get a lot is which watch you should buy. Or which one is considered a good investment. First of all, I think you should buy a watch to wear and enjoy as that's what they are made for in the first place. But when collecting, it sure helps when a watch keeps value. But many have watches with emotional value.Balazs, “I hope that some of my watches will become heirlooms for my kids one day…”These watches can be priceless for various reasons. This could even go for watches that are not even that valuable. It is something that comes to mind occasionally so I asked our team if they have watches that are emotionally valuable to them. Here are the stories beh...
Black Friday Free Phone Wallpaper by Watches and Pencils
Normally Black Friday is about big discounts, but we like to do it differently. And therefore I decided to create a screensaver from my latest illustration (‘Crown Guards’) and make it free to download for just this Black Friday.?It’s our way to show you our appreciation for supporting us and being engaged to all our activities.Download offline (24/11/2018)It is strictly forbidden to duplicate, print or spread this wallpaper without permission of me (Teun van Heerebeek). Please respect the artist. More information about the piece can be found in the latest episode of watchesandpencils or via my personal website: watchesandpencils.com.The download will ONLY be available this...
Three Gift Ideas for a Watch Nerd Part 2
Gatsby’s style sign from . Original Seiko Date Tee and last, but not least, an Omega Speedmaster poster.A few weeks ago, we shortlisted our first three gift ideas. We created this series to show you what’s out there for watch nerds like ourselves, besides watches - cool things to have.Creative lightingI once bought an all original 1975 Ford Coke bottle Cortina from an old fellow from the Czech Republic. I also noticed a big Ford sign hanging down from his ceiling. I thought to myself, “If you don't ask, you don't get it”. So I asked, but I didn't get it. But three weeks after I bought the car, I got a call from him. I was not asking this time, but I got it. I restored...
For the Love of the Hunt Why The Waiting Is The Best Part
We all love watches here, otherwise, you wouldn't be reading Fratello Watches, we love them because of their design, technology, mechanical marvels, or just simply love them for no particular reason (some people say this is the best reason to love). Sometimes this love drives us to collect vintage watches which is a path of equal parts of joy and frustration. Over time, however, I’ve found that the largest amount of time is dedicated to the hunt. Learning to love that part of the process makes building a collection all the more enjoyable.According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the definition of the verb “to hunt” is, to pursue with intent to capture or to search out (s...
Hands-On: TAG Heuer Formula One Senna 2020 Edition Automatic
After his recent triumph in the 2020 championship, Lewis Hamilton’s name is the one on most peoples’ lips these days when it comes to Formula One. After all, he is now the most decorated driver to ever get behind the wheel.His latest win ties him with Schumacher’s 7 World Titles. Hamilton also holds the outright records for the most wins (94), pole positions (97), podium finishes (163), points finishes (227), career points (3,738), and points in a season (413). Pretty impressive stuff. That said, to many people, there’s another great who tragically left us long before his time. That man is the Brazilian racing legend, Ayrton Senna. In certain circles, he is still cons...
How Longines Mastered The Art Of Heritage-Inspired Watch Design
When it comes to watch design, “vintage” has been the magic word for quite some time. Call it a re-issue, a modern re-interpretation, or simply an updated version of a classic. It’s hard to think of a watch industry without vintage-inspired pieces. One of the brands that has mastered the art of vintage-inspired timepieces superbly is Longines. The brand’s Heritage collection is full of great watches that link to Longines’ estimable past. We dived into the collection to find out why the designs make them such great pieces.Retro design is here to stay. It’s hard to think of a watch industry without newly introduced watches inspired by the archives of all the...
Linde Werdelin Black Badger Oktopus Blue Sea
I love my job. Seriously, it's a very humbling position to be in where my employment affords me the chance to write about the things I love. Not a day goes by where I am not thankful for the opportunities I have to do this. Today is one such opportunity where I have been lucky enough to speak to some of the people behind two of my favorite brands and their latest collaboration: the Linde Werdelin Black Badger Oktopus Blue Sea.James Thompson is the man behind the Black Badger moniker. He's the man who's worked on some pretty impressive projects as an advanced material consultant with the likes of MB&F, De Bethune, and George Bamford. Rob did an interview with James earlier this year - it&...