Today on #TBT, we'll discuss the Seiko SBCM023 Perpetual Calendar Diver. Yes, it's another Seiko, but hopefully one that you've either not heard of or have stumbled across a review. Plus, the SBCM023 may look very familiar upon first glance, but I think you'll agree that there's a lot more at work than meets the eye. If nothing else, I hope to provide a look at what can be deemed as a brief stopga

In this weekly Pre-Owned Picks series, a Fratello editor will select some watches from the pre-owned market and explain why it is an exciting offer (or watch).The pre-owned watch market is very significant. People who don’t want to pay the full price for a watch, seek for a discontinued model or collect (vintage) watches rely on the offers in the pre-owned watch market. Unlike car manufactur

Today we will take a closer look at some of the creations of a very sympathetic brand from Singapore: Delugs Straps.When it comes to brands that we feature on Watch Strap Review, the process is simple. We get in touch with them and offer them the opportunity to have their straps featured on the site at no charge. We do not review straps for money. Sometimes, however, it's the other way around. Bra

The Group Stage is in the books. It’s time for the head-to-head contests to begin. Over the next two weeks, we will run two quarter-final match-ups each weekend. One on Saturday; one on Sunday. Our intrepid warriors made it through blood baths of their own making, but now they need your help to fight another day. Only one man can progress from each quarter-final to the next stage. The choice

By means of a sport-focused utilitarian background, the Girard-Perregaux Laureato stands out in today's upper-tier luxury steel sports watches. It is based, though very broadly, on the Girard-Perregaux Deep Diver. This cushion-shaped, no-nonsense dive watch had a standout design feature - a 14-facet bezel. It was a design feature that brought no value other than aesthetics. After all, who wouldn't

I believe I am the only one that ended up with a pretty unusual draw where two models from the same manufacturer face each other. The first round of The Fast And The Fratelli is slowly but surely coming to an end, and you get to decide which of these two French Yema chronographs makes it through. ?The last Summer Splash series made me (in)famous because both watches that I nominated were against t

In an industry predominantly inspired by the spirit of the past, Ressence is a breath of fresh air with its modern approach to watchmaking. Technically stunning solutions and a minimalist approach to design define the brand’s pieces. We generally think of stylish black-and-white executions that bring the vision of Ressence to life. But the new Type 1 Slim DX2 developed with Ahmed Seddiqi &am

Are you tired of ambassador-led special editions? Well, it sure seems as if the watch industry isn't done with them quite yet. And while this practice may elicit (in some) a weary roll of the eyes, it is fair to say there are good and bad examples of ambassador-inspired watches. The partnership twixt Panerai and Mike Horn has always felt like one of the more natural ones. Perhaps that has somethin

We love a bit of retro here on Fratello. I’ve certainly fallen for the “new/old” stylings of Forstner bands over the past couple of years. I find myself gravitating towards them whenever I need to freshen up a tired watch head. This latest release, however, is so vintage, I was concerned it might take me a while to get used to it. What I decided from the get-go, from the very mom

In the last year, I received such a large number of requests about the long-discontinued Omega Speedmaster ’57 Broad Arrow Replica, Reissue, or Relaunch that I felt it was about time to write a (mini) buyer’s guide on this Speedmaster variant.Omega used a very unfortunate name for this Speedmaster 3594.50 but did so with all the best intentions. It was Omega’s first attempt at cr

There is one type of watch that I have always found particularly attractive - the sporty chronograph. Watches of this type are capable of much more than just telling the time. Often, they indicate the day/date, they can time events of up to 12 hours, and they are robust. They typically come with decent water resistance and a bezel that adds extra functionality. So I was excited to see Yema releasi

Meet our second collaboration with the brand from Holstein, the Oris Divers Sixty-Five Fratello Limited Edition. The entire Fratello team and I are incredibly proud to present this new Fratello Oris collaboration. We never made it a secret that we love vintage watches and appreciate a well-done re-edition of a timepiece from the past. The Oris Divers Sixty-Five Fratello Limited Edition is heavily

Rounding up 2022 in the form of my favorite watch releases was quite the undertaking. This year reinstated the grandeur that accompanies watch launches. Therefore, sharing the experience and the reaction to specific releases sticks with you over the year. Take, for instance, the MoonSwatch phenomenon generating excessive queues. Could we have known the extent of demand worldwide without witnessing

I adore the combination of black and gold. There is something magical about that combo that immediately draws me in. So when this trio of Baltic Gold PVD watches landed on my desk, I was keen on taking them for a spin. The black and gold colors in combination with three of the brand’s much-praised vintage-inspired models look like a winning formula, especially knowing that each of the three

In May of this year, Holthinrichs introduced its Deconstructed model. The all-titanium, 3D-printed, and hand-finished piece looked more like a concept watch than anything else. But to many people’s surprise, you could (and still can) actually buy that watch. It looks wild with its coarse finish, open-worked dial, and the unique way the strap and bracelet connect to the signature skeletonized

The time has come, everyone! We've reached the final round of Fratello's Seiko World Cup. It was a lot of fun because we all got to pick our absolute favorite Seiko dive watches of all time. Interestingly enough, we are ending up with a modern Seiko SPB317 Turtle Origin and a discontinued Seiko Marinemaster 300 SBDX001. The first is a modern $1,000 Seiko Prospex that seems to offer everything one

At the beginning of 2024, Tissot introduced four watches under the name PR516. They were all chronographs, three of which had quartz movements while the last one housed a hand-wound mechanical caliber. Just like the new time-and-date models we’re looking at today, they were inspired by Tissot watches from the ’60s. However, these new Powermatic 80 versions have a smaller 38mm diameter

Brellum is back with another limited-edition watch, the Pandial Bicompax Black DLC Ti Chronometer. As we’ll see, it has a familiar case shape with a new case color. Also, it’s the second piece from the brand to use a chronometer-certified La Joux-Perret movement.Brellum focuses on small runs. Therefore, the releases come frequently. The latest model reminds us of a piece from this past

It is no secret that I greatly appreciate Titoni’s efforts to create great watches at affordable prices. The brand has surprised me multiple times with its creations. In particular, the Seascoper line is a big personal favorite. But Titoni has plenty more to offer with a varied collection of watches. Another important line is the Airmaster series. These watches are elegant and classically st

The Sinn 717 debuted in 2021 and has won at least two major German design awards. It’s a large and legible chronograph with looks inspired by the NaBo 17 cockpit clocks from the legendary Tornado jet fighter. We’ll look at the 717 again and shed light on an interesting NaBo 17-related story that surfaced.My colleague Lex covered the Sinn 717 in late 2021 after its release and enjoyed i