Speedy Tuesday Omega Speedmaster Professional 3595.52 "Apollo XIII"
If you already own an Omega Speedmaster Professional “Moonwatch” or two, and you decided that you want to collect them or at least want more of these, you will find yourself browsing the web for vintage references as well as limited editions. And let’s be honest here, there are quite a bit of limited editions when it comes to the Speedmaster. They surely do not all appeal to me, but there are a couple of ‘no brainers’ between them as well. What about ‘basically’ any of the Apollo XI commemorative models? The beautiful blue Gemini IV, the Panda dial Mitsukoshi or the Apollo-Soyoz with Meteorite dial are all worth collecting, to mention just a few. The...
The Revolo Chronograph Same Concept, New Complication
After Revolo had a very successful campaign with their first watches, they decided it was time to add a complication (other than a date) to the game. The Revolo Chronograph! In this article we explained the concept of configuring your personal Revolo, so I don’t go into that today.What you see here is the new Revolo Chronograph with self-winding movement. Revolo will also offer one with a? quartz chronograph movement, but my guess is that your primarily focus are mechanical watches. For those who don’t mind a quartz movement, you can be an early bird for $279 via this link.Be An early BirdNow, the only condition for this Revolo Chronograph to happen is that their Kickstarter proj...
This Week in Watches November 24, 2018
Today we'll kick off what I think (and hope) will become a fixture on Fratello Watches called This Week in Watches. For those of you who follow baseball, perhaps you grew up watching something on TV with a similar name but focused on baseball. Well, we won't have the San Diego Chicken here and the Wizard of Oz won't be doing any backflips, but what I aim for is a loose recap of what's gone on during the week. I (or perhaps my colleagues may jump in as well) won't cover everything, but we'll try to hit the high and low points along with other random findings that we come across as the week progresses. As for publishing, we'll shoot for later Friday (Central Europe time), but the weekend may b...
This Week in Watches: November 24, 2019
It’s This Week in Watches for November 24, 2019 and we come to you just before Thanksgiving – that fantastic tradition that involves stuffing your face and snoring on the couch.? Let’s see if we can help fight indigestion with some watch news…DAEM x Basquiat WatchesBrooklyn-based DAEM Watches sent us news of three new pieces that tie into the works of iconic artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.? The watches will release on December 4th and each feature an work by Basquiat on the dial along with a strap designed to fit the theme of the piece.There’s Undicovered Genius (which incorporates a piece commonly known as “Skull”), Now’s the Time (this pays trib...
Your Speedmaster Stories #6 A Speedmaster Pre-Moon from '69 And A Speedmaster 3250.50 from '96
We love those Speedmaster stories appearing in our mailboxes. This week on Speedy Tuesday, we have two more for you. One about a Speedmaster that helped someone with a problem with his hearing, the other one about getting that perfect daily wearer (a Speedmaster 3250.50 Mk40).The first story is submitted to us by Marcus from Switzerland. The land of watches and chocolate, but apparently only the latter applied to Marcus for a long time. Let’s find out why.Speedmaster Professional Pre-Moon from 1969Marcus: I am Swiss. So it is very difficult to avoid watches. But I did so successfully for the first forty years of my life. However, that was suddenly changed. An accident flipped the scrip...
Opinion On The New Calibre 400 From An Oris Aquis Owner
The end of October brought a flurry of news surrounding the new Calibre 400 Aquis. A lot of the usual press channels covered the details. But what was interesting was the number of influencers on social media sharing their shots of the watch. Oris, in its wisdom, sent out examples of the new Aquis to many in the community to maximize its reach under COVID-19 restrictions. Smart move, but with the dust settling and social media checks clearing, what do current Aquis owners think of the new Calibre 400?Robert-Jan Broer went into great depth with his hands-on review of the new Aquis Calibre 400. I am pleased, but not too surprised that he was captivated by the blue gradient dial. The sunburst A...
The MING 20.01 Series 2 Makes Me Question My Buying Habits
The MING 20.01 Series 2 debuts today. Not only has MING become one of my favorite brands, but this watch itself also has to rank as one of my favorite releases so far. To me, at least, this watch is stunning. Whether it’s the details, the materials, the colors, or the movement - wow! There’s one issue, though, and that’s the small matter of CHF 35,000, which happens to be the price of this watch. In fact, it has me questioning my buying habits. Should I be saving my ducats for watches like this, instead of adding numerous, less expensive pieces? Deep stuff…Folks, if you’ve read my articles and followed my collection, you’ll know that I do own what I consid...
Roger Dubuis Excalibur Eon Gold Can I Pull Off A $153K Watch?
The secret to wearing a watch the price of a Porsche 911 is to just do it. It's really that simple. That's because in the case of the Roger Dubuis Excalibur Eon Gold, people will notice your exuberant watch, but they may not recognize it. A gold is as conspicuous as the Porsche, but no matter how extravagant the Excalibur with its flying tourbillon might be, it won't attract the (negative) attention a gold watch with a Cyclops most unfortunately does nowadays. You might even say that if your everyday playground is in the upper echelons, the Excalibur Eon Gold is a safe choice. This is how I experienced wearing it as a daily beater for a week.What I like best about the Roger Dubuis Excalibur...
NEW: The MING 37.05 Brings A Date Display And A Whole Lot More
It’s time for the new MING 37.05 and this watch brings a host of changes that should please a variety of fans new and old. There’s a lot to mention here, so let’s get to it!It’s been a while since we’ve seen a new MING watch. In fact, the last releases centered around the 17.09 models. Aside from the much-discussed hand alignment issues, the styling was well received. However, this watch marked the end of an era for this case design, and we were left wondering about a follow-up. The MING 37.05 is here and, surprisingly, it contains - wait for it - a date.The MING 37.05 contains (gasp!) a date windowFor those who seemingly cannot live without a date window, the M...
Norqain Releases The Adventure Neverest Night Sight DLC (2021)
A full lume dial? A sand-colored dial and strap? You have my attention! There is something spectacular about watches with dials that light up brightly in the dark. Norqain is one of the brands that recognize the practicality and style of a full-lume dial. Today, the young Swiss brand releases its all-new Norqain Adventure Neverest Night Sight 40mm DLC. Could this be a great new addition to the world of full-lume dial watches? Let’s find out more.Guilty as charged! I have an incredible soft spot for full-lume dials. Whether it is related to childhood memories of growing up in the 1980s - a decade defined by neon - or simply because full-lume dials wake up the kid in me, I’m not su...
The Fast And The Fratelli: Omega Racing Co-Axial Vs. Nivada Chronomaster
Finally, it’s my turn to step into the arena. I’ve enjoyed taking a backseat so far in the competition and watching the track-based carnage unfold, but I’ve got to say, I’m excited to buckle up for what is sure to be a thrilling race to the finish. Maybe, just maybe, I’m doubly excited because I actually think I might win this. Why am I confident? Check out my picks: the Omega Speedmaster Racing Co-Axial Master Chronometer Chronograph 44.25mm 329.32.44.51.01.001 and the Nivada Grenchen Chronomaster 86010M. Both are stunning watches, but there is one clear favorite (in my opinion) when it comes to snaring the crown of the greatest modern racing chronograph.For my...
#TBT An Outstanding Jardur Bezelmeter Chonograph
Jardur never reached the level of fame that Longines and Breitling did. That’s probably the reason that the brand often stays under collectors’ radar. Yet, the black-dialed Jardur Bezelmeter with genuine red markings is one of the most intriguing and attractive vintage chronographs for me.I will never be a pilot. That means I’ll never use my Jardur Bezelmeter for its intended purpose. The closest it gets to real use is when I sit on a plane and take it for a business trip abroad. This week, I am in London, so I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to take the Bezelmeter up to the sky and show it to you on this week’s #TBT.Jardur redRed printing on a dial is alway...
Is A Swatch Flik Flak The Perfect First Watch?
The holiday season is upon us, and while most of us Fratelli may be hoping for a watch box under the tree, giving the gift of the horology bug to someone else can be a bit more challenging! Luckily, if you are like me, you have impressionable children on whom you might impart the wisdom of how important timeliness is and give them the gift of being a cool watch person like Dad (or Mom). Ours is a fun hobby, so why not start them young? In fact, they might have already noticed your obsession!Origin storiesIt is interesting that most of us have that singular moment when we started on the journey to watch collecting (you can read mine here). Regardless of the particular milestone in our lives, ...
Casio Edifice ECB-2000D-1A Inspired By Race Cars
When we talk about Casio, the first thing that pops up in most people’s minds is G-Shock. But Casio also offers several models under its Edifice sub-brand for people who are into watches inspired by the world of motorsports. The designs of many of the Edifice watches can be described as modern and sometimes even futuristic. Additionally, the timepieces offer a wide array of different functions, making them modern tool watches that incorporate the fast-paced racing world. The latest addition to the Edifice collection is the ECB-2000D series, which takes design inspiration from the suspension of formula race cars. Additionally, the Edifice Sospensione ECB-2000D-1A introduces a new case c...
Daan's Best Watches Of 2022 Cartier, Seiko, And More
This is a special article for me to write simply because 2022 is the year that I started writing for Fratello. It’s nice to look back because boy, did I enjoy it! But I also thought it was going to be a difficult article to write. Choosing the best watches from all of the great releases this year seemed like a monumental task. But actually, when I looked back at them and my own purchases this year, the list quickly filled up. Most of them are fairly unexpected and within reach for most of us. However, there’s also some surprising grail material in there to keep dreaming about in the years to come. Did I say years? Maybe I should even say decades.Becoming a writer at Fratello has ...
Fratello Talks Dress Watches Podcast
Fratello Talks dress watches! In this first episode, editors Nacho and Robert-Jan are joined by shop manager Laurits, and the three of them talk about dress watches. What is a dress watch, and why would you need one?...
Hands-On With The New Titoni Seascoper 300 Diver
Titoni has been knocking out releases at a rapid pace lately. The latest is the brand-new Seascoper 300 dive watch. It is a new addition to the Seascoper lineup after the Seascoper 600. This new diver combines familiar influences with typical Titoni elements. On top of that, it is powered by a COSC-certified Sellita SW200-1 movement. Is the new Seascoper better than its bigger brother? Time to find out more about the new Seascoper 300.Straight out of the box, the new Titoni Seascoper 300 has some strongly familiar vibes. In a category defined by the Submariner’s design, the Seascoper follows the archetype in many ways. But there are definitely design elements that make it recognizable...
The Best Dive Watches Of 2023: Fratello's Top 10 Picks
With Dubai Watch Week behind us, the last big watch event of the year is over. This usually means that all the big releases have been unveiled. And as the end of the year is approaching quickly, it’s time to start looking back. So, in the upcoming weeks, we’ll look back at some of the best releases of the year. This week, we will begin with the best dive watches of 2023. The most popular watch category has seen an impressive number of great releases. We have lined up our ten favorites of the year for our first retrospective list.The list season has officially started! I am a sucker for lists, as you would expect. After all, I have been writing lists for quite some time for Fratel...
Breaking Down The Brand Blancpain: Old And (Almost) Forgotten?
Imagine a brand that goes back to 1735 and is the oldest still-existing watch manufacturer. Consider that this same brand launched a timepiece in 1991 that, at the time, was the most complicated wristwatch ever produced. Surely, this brand must be the most famous and prestigious name in watchmaking, right? Wrong. Blancpain is not the most famous and prestigious name in watchmaking. Seniority and the creation of the 1735 Grande Complication, a platinum watch with a 740-part movement that took a year to assemble, didn't propel the name Blancpain to the absolute top of the watchmaking pyramid. What happened, what's happening, and what's about to happen to the brand? Today, we’re breaking ...
Hands-On: The Budget-friendly Timex Expedition North
Am I exaggerating from the start with such a bold claim? Maybe not, as it turns out, and as for conquering the subarctic, that's easy for me living in Norway…or is it? Unlike fellow The Grey Nato podcast listener and managing editor Nacho, I'm not the most outdoorsy type. But the light and robust Timex Expedition North coaxed me into the harsh subzero woods.We live in an era of eroding watch etiquette, where you'll see big 45mm pilot’s or diver’s watches with sleek suits. Sure, you might not use this fabric-strap field watch with a pinstriped business suit, but on the other hand, you don't need to love the outdoors. A good field watch riffs on many categories, including pil...