Genteel Handmade Releases New Straps In Seasonal Shades
We last covered Genteel Handmade back in August this year. Since then, a whole season has passed. Summer made way for autumn and now, as we introduce the “fall shades” from Genteel Handmade, autumn finds itself giving in to the onrushing winter. And as the months get colder and the nights draw in, we all need something positive to focus on. Thankfully, these inviting hues and tactile leathers from Genteel Handmade are just the ticket…The Genteel Handmade brand is growing. As its reach widens so too does its portfolio. New leathers arrive regularly. Different colors are played with on a seasonal basis. The craftsmanship is ever more refined with each subsequent release. This...
#STEALTH is the word, and we'll get you kitted out for your mission
This could be a life philosophy or just love for the suave look of black, you may interpret this in many ways. Some people (let's call out the architects and fashionistas) dress in minimalist black every day, but why? Let's just admit it, we all want to acquire that air of mystery sometimes, and what better way? Whether you're a wannabe secret agent, MIB fan, or believe in the slimming effect of black, it's all good, #STEALTH is the word.This style lies between mission-tough and dark elegance. Should you go splurge-crazy and acquire all the items in this story, I'd be sincerely flattered. But don't put everything on while wearing black trousers and a black polo and driving the Defender. You'...
The Fast And The Fratelli: Breitling Shelby Cobra Vs. Carl F. Bucherer Manero Flyback
Welcome back, race fans, to another installment of The Fast And The Fratelli! We’re on a mission to determine the best racing chronograph of the last ten years, and Week 1 of the prelims was packed with excitement. Two Speedmaster favorites wiped the floor with their opponents. A mean Massena LAB proved fairer than a Farer, while a snazzy Seiko toppled a tried-and-true Tissot. A Chopard slapped a Singer, a Sinn trounced a TAG, and a righteous roasted a racy Richard Mille. Oh, the drama. Oh, the speed! And oh, the alliteration!The rules of the contest are simple. All contending chronographs must be mechanical. They must be capable of tracking elapsed time for at least one minute, and t...
NEW: The MB&F Bvlgari LM FlyingT Allegra Is Utterly Dazzling
Blame it on my sharing nature while writing this story, but I fear my wife wants to remortgage the house. OK, I might be exaggerating a bit. But that is the Italian way, after all, and she’s from Milano. I am only wearing one ring (and a bracelet or three; call me metrosexual), but it is a B.zero1, and so is hers. Yes, Bulgari made our wedding rings, I didn’t really have a say in the matter. So I should have been more careful about sharing this watch. She’s smitten with it, and it’s all my own fault.And you know what? Maybe she’s on to something. MB&F and Bvlgari just had a beautiful love child, and its name is the LM FlyingT Allegra. I am wearing a tool wat...
Top 10 Best Omega Watches In 2021
In this article, we show you the top 10 best Omega watches you can buy in 2021. It’s a completely subjective list, but I will explain to you why I think each Omega watch listed here deserves its spot. And don’t worry, it’s not all Speedmasters.If you want to learn more about the Omega brand, have a look at our article about Omega’s highlights through the years. Omega is not only the brand whose watches were worn on the Moon and on the wrist of James Bond. But the brand also has a rich history when it comes to (ultra-deep) diving watches, the Olympics, and high-precision chronometer movements.Omega’s new manufacture in BienneTop 10 Best Omega Watches You Can Buy ...
New: Omega Seamaster Diver 300M James Bond 60th Anniversary
Introduced in the city where MI6 resides, the new Omega Seamaster 300M celebrates 60 years of 007. Although James Bond has been wearing various watches from several brands in the past 60 years, since 1995, it has been the Omega Seamaster. In the presence of no one else than Daniel Craig, the most recent actor to fulfill the role of 007, the new Seamaster Diver 300M James Bond 60th Anniversary has been introduced to the press and special guests.But before discussing the new Omega Seamaster 300M, let’s step back for a brief moment and look at the other Seamaster watches dedicated to the secret agent from London. As written in the introduction, it has been since 1995? that James Bond has ...
Watch Strap Review 64 Joseph Bonnie
Do you know why I love doing the Watch Strap Review column? One would think that watch straps are a boring subject. You could not be further from the truth, though. So many fabrics, designs, ideas, and unique straps are on the market that the options are endless. Whether you are looking for a specific style, like the Bund, or straps made of Icelandic reindeer leather, there's undoubtedly an atelier making them. And we have reviewed them already. However, this month's brand, Joseph Bonnie, is not remarkable for the above. Instead, it’s for the audience that I feel the brand caters to. Collectors of vintage watches are a special breed of enthusiasts - a group of people that is hard to pl...
Hands-On: Varon Chiri Blazer A Versatile Newcomer
What is Korea most famous for? According to foodies, it’s kimchi. Motoring enthusiasts say it’s cars, and Android users claim it’s Samsung. But what do watch fans say when they think of Korea? Maybe Rolens because it reminds them of the Swiss king of watches, but my guess is that a lot of watch aficionados stay silent when they try to connect Korea with timepieces. That could be a very positive thing for microbrand Varon Chiri, which will launch its very first watch on Kickstarter come November 29th. The Varon Chiri Blazer is presented in five colors, and we received the blue version of the ambitious all-arounder.With globalization comes knowledge, among many other things. ...
The Most Soulful Submariner Mod Ever?
I have just had a chat with Phil Toledano, known as @misterenthusiast on the Gram and from his podcast Viva Bastardo. Phil is a conceptual artist and connoisseur of Italian four-wheeled exotica. His cars are always of the quirkier kind, and so are his watches. In a world of diminishing love for the politically incorrect smell of petrol fumes, Phil's studied garage is as fascinating as his off-trend wristwear. In my story on modified watches a couple of weeks ago, there was one watch I omitted for a reason. The question is, with this Submariner mod, did Mister Enthusiast and King Nerd go too far?Phil made a short run of modified Air-Kings and Submariners?with renowned engraver Johnny Dowell...
Lex's Best Watches Of 2022: Grand Seiko, IWC, And More
This year has been a pretty exciting one for watches. I had the most pleasurable experiences during Watches and Wonders 2022 with Patek Philippe, IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, and Grand Seiko. And later this year, I bumped into my favorite MoonSwatch at Zurich Airport. And when I put this list of the best watches of 2022 together, I realized it's a very eclectic list. That’s not because of the different brands, but rather, it’s because of the different materials used. There's a platinum, a steel, a titanium, a ceramic, and a Bioceramic watch on my list. And every single one of the watches I picked was on my wrist this year. That was a criterion that every single watch had to meet to mak...
It's Time To Invest In A Dress Watch Fratello's Top Picks
Back in the day, things were simple. You just bought one watch - a single timepiece that would do the job at all times. Today, even if you’re not a watch collector or enthusiast, you probably already own several watches. And I don’t know about you, but my watch collection consists mainly of sports watches. However, there are occasions when a sports watch isn’t very appropriate, especially from a style perspective. In those instances, I will often choose one of my vintage watches because they’re generally smaller (and thinner) and fitted with leather straps. Finding a nice, modern dress watch is difficult, especially with a limited budget. For this article, I asked the...
#TBT Vote For The Best Vintage Alarm Watch
I love alarm watches, and you know that. I always say that a vintage watch collection isn’t complete without an alarm watch. Recently, I realized how many alarm watches I have and how different they are. If there were only one vintage alarm watch you could choose, which one would it be?The competition is pretty tough as we’re comparing the incomparable here. How is that possible? Well, they are all alarm watches, but the Citizen is disguised as a diver, the Nivada as a GMT, the Vulcain as a dresser, and the Basis, well…I don’t even know how to categorize that one. Let’s dig deeper into each of them.Citizen Alarm Date ALDS 52902-YI have to say, we have more optio...
Highlights From The 2023 WindUp Watch Fair In NYC
It’s a good time to be a watch enthusiast. No, actually, it’s a great time to be a watch enthusiast. Although the enormous number of brands currently in existence might be overwhelming, it's also a good thing. More brands mean more options for style, price, quality, and uniqueness. More brands also mean more intense competition and the need for each to excel in something, whether it be coming up with particular colors, movements, or techniques to assemble dials. In 2022, I was blown away by the sheer diversity and creativity of the brands I saw at the New York City edition of the Windup Watch Fair. A few weeks ago, for the 2023 edition of this event, my mind was doubly blown away...
Grand Seiko Media Experience Tour 2023 In Japan Part 1
In October 2023, I got the call. No, not from an AD to pick up a long-awaited watch but from the folks at Grand Seiko Europe to join them on the 2023 Media Experience Tour in Japan. I was just as excited - no, even more so. I’d never visited Japan before and had always been eager to understand the values behind the Grand Seiko brand better. I always felt that there was something else behind the technical perfection and beauty of the watches - something more profound. Here’s what I saw and learned about it.Grand Seiko Media Experience TourI’ll skip the 14-hour flight and the subsequent jet lag. Arriving in downtown Tokyo around 10:00 in the morning was quite perfect. The aft...
Fratello Talks: Watch Accessories We Can't Live Without
Today’s episode of Fratello Talks is all about accessories. And no, we’re not talking about wallets, scarves, and pinkie rings, don’t worry. Listen as your host, Fratello managing editor Nacho, editor Daan, and shop manager Laurits discuss the watch accessories we can’t live without. Despite the somewhat hyperbolic title, these are all accessories that we use almost every day. Most watch enthusiasts face the same challenges - storage, transport, and strap changes. So, rather unsurprisingly, all three guys are aligned in their picks. However, there are some twists in the individually chosen accessories to suit their needs. But before we check them out, it’s time ...
Hamilton Watches For The Festive Season
As another Thanksgiving comes around, we're swiftly gliding into the holiday season. Hamilton steps up with a festive showcase to bring out the explorer’s spirit in us. Featured are six of the brand’s popular models, including the versatile Jazzmaster Performer, the sleek Khaki Field, and the retro quartz classics PSR and Ventura. Get ready to be dazzled by a selection that inspires adventure in every gift.This year, Hamilton's festive campaign takes on a dazzling theme highlighted by the enchanting northern lights. Interestingly, its timing couldn’t be better in tapping one of the world's most awe-inspiring natural phenomena. As it happens, the 2023/24 aurora season is set...
Hands-On: The Black And Pink TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph
This weekend, Max Verstappen will vie for victory in the Formula 1 World Championship in Las Vegas. The Dutchman won his first F1 title in 2021 and could now win his fourth consecutive title to become the sixth driver to achieve that milestone. As most of you know, TAG Heuer is a proud partner of the Red Bull Racing team. Coinciding with Verstappen’s opportunity to win the title, the brand releases the latest version of the Monaco Chronograph. The colorful Las Vegas skyline at night inspired the watch’s look. It features a stealthy black aesthetic brightened up by vibrant pink elements. It’s a watch that will surely light up the race in Las Vegas, regardless of whether Vers...
Hands-On With The New Jacques Bianchi JB300
French brand Jacques Bianchi releases a new model today. Or, I should say, it reintroduces a historical reference. The Jacques Bianchi JB300 is a modern take on a 1990s military-issued dive watch. My review of it is one of very few surprises. Every once in a while, a watch is simply exactly how you imagined it would be. This is such a case. Without wanting to give away the entire story in advance, I can say this much: the JB300 does exactly as it says on the tin.The new Jacques Bianchi JB300 is not a 1:1 remake of the original, but it sure is close. Let's get into the details of what's new and what isn't together.Jacques Bianchi JB300 historyTo get a feel for the watch I have on my wrist at ...
Hands-On Review Of The Girard-Perregaux 1966 In Pink Gold
Girard-Perregaux is one of the brands that is being undervalued by a lot of watch enthusiasts. Undeserved in my opinion, as it is a true manufacture with their own in-house developed movements with superb level of finish. I noticed that the interest in this brand has been growing over the past 12 months (according to the latest figures from Chronolytics) and also note that our previous articles on Girard-Perregaux (especially the review on the F1 Chronograph and Opera series) are quite popular amongst FW readers.The new Girard-Perregaux 1966 41mm in rose gold is a timepiece that I had on my wrists for quite a while. When I first opened the box, one of my first thoughts were “Finally, a...
Report Seiko x Watching Event in Amsterdam
Just before we left for the SalonQP in London we took the opportunity to join this Seiko event co-hosted with a Dutch magazine called Watching. The Seiko event was held to introduce the Seiko Prospex and Seiko Astron models to the Dutch market.Although these collections are certainly not new, you have to understand that Seiko does not distribute the same models to all countries in the World. The Seiko boutique in Amsterdam carries the regular Seiko collection as well as some models from the Grand Seiko collection. However, the Seiko Prospex models so far were so-called “import”-models and only available in a limited way.During the evening, the different Seiko models from the Pros...