#TBT Seiko SBCM023 Perpetual Calendar Diver
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 stopgap period of technology before something user-friendlier came on the scene. Let's get to itThe Seiko SBCM023 Perpetual Calendar Diver is a quartz-powered 200M ISO-rated dive watch. It contains a perpetual calendar movement (caliber 8F35) that's accurate to a jaw-dropping 20 seconds per year (normal q...
Pre-Owned Picks A Panerai, Audemars Piguet, IWC and Omega
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 manufacturers, watch manufacturers neglected the pre-owned watch market for a long time. Incredible, as it is an important and profitable part of the car industry. Some watch manufacturers also slowly trying to get a grip on the pre-owned business by introducing their Certified Pre-Owned program. However, bra...
Watch Strap Review Part 36. Delugs Straps From Singapore
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. Brands get in touch with us to bring their products to our attention. The strap makers' scene is getting bigger by the day. We cannot keep up with all of them. When we received an email from Ken, the name behind Delugs Strap, I admit I had no idea about the brand. However, it did not take me too long t...
Omega Speedmaster World Cup Quarter Final 4: ST1 Vs. Snoopy III
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 of who receives that honor rests with you. Will it be the Snoopy III or the ST1? You decide…With three Quarter-Finals in play, the sharp end of the competition is, well, sharpening.?It looks likely that the Final Four will comprise the Omega Speedmaster Silver Snoopy Award 2015, the Tintin (h...
New Release: The Girard-Perregaux Laureato Eternity Edition
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 want to look good under 20 meters of water? The quartz Laureato debuted in 1975, at a time when a steel sports watch was the watch to have. The Laureato Eternity Edition is its latest iteration, released at a time when luxury steel watches are more popular than arguably ever before.A steel, luxury ...
The Fast And The Fratelli: Yema Rallye Andretti Vs. Yema Speedgraf
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 the rules. Slightly embarrassing, but I made it through without being fired. So, to make sure I am aligned this time, let’s repeat The Fast And The Fratelli basics. We (or you, to be precise) are about to vote for the best racing chronograph of the past ten years. Nominated watches must be able...
NEW: The Arabic Inspired Ressence Type 1 Slim DX2
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 & Sons shows the incredible versatility of Ressence’s approach to design. It’s a versatility that results in a stunning new timepiece.Ressence is one of those brands that is universally praised by watch enthusiasts and journalists alike. For good reasons, I might add. The brand carved o...
NEW: Panerai Mike Horn Luminor Submersible PAM01291
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 something to do with its duration, Horn's earnestness, or the fact there aren't so many Panerai ambassadors to dilute the attention afforded the increasingly renowned explorer.Whatever it is, whenever Panerai releases a new Mike Horn watch, I find myself liking it. It's totally possible it's just a coincide...
Forstner "Thin As A Dime" Bracelet The Most Retro Model Yet)
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 moment I unboxed the Forstner “Thin as a dime” bracelet, was that the success or failure of this model rests entirely on the watch you pair it with. And so, into my watch box I dived.I’m a lucky little watch collector. I have a lot of watches. Honestly, I’m not sure how many. I ...
Buyer's Guide: Omega Speedmaster '57 Broad Arrow 3594.50
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 creating a re-edition of the first Speedmaster CK2915, and the watch debuted as the Speedmaster ’57 Replica. Apparently, the folks at Omega were unaware of the negative connotation that this term has for watch collectors and enthusiasts. Even just recently, one of our readers and fellow Speedmas...
A Hands-On Introduction To The Yema Navygraf Chrono
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 releasing two Navygraf Chrono models with Valjoux 7750 calibers. In good Yema fashion, they are available in two colors and are, from a spec-to-money ratio, rather inexpensive (I know, everything is a matter of perspective).If you’re a regular reader of Fratello, Yema is a brand that will need no int...
Introducing: Oris Divers Sixty-Five Fratello Limited Edition
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 inspired by what I believe is one of the most beautiful vintage Oris watches I’ve seen to date, the Oris Star dive watch from 1968.Whereas our first Fratello Oris Big Crown Pointer Date collaboration - nicknamed the “Fratelloris” - was a classic model with a modern twist, I would s...
Ben's Best Watches Of 2022 Omega, Fears, And More
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 the long lines? The MoonSwatch was not the only collaboration between two powerhouses. From Bremont and Bamford to Breitling and Triumph, it has been quite the year for combining efforts. But as you’ll see from my list, gold is the theme linking the best releases of the year for me.In my mind...
New: Baltic MR01, HMS 002, And Bicompax 002 Gold PVD
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 models goes for well under $1,000. Is this another home run from Baltic? It’s time to find out more.When I say that I love the combination of black and gold, I usually mean real gold. So when Nacho handed me these, my first question was whether Baltic had dared to create gold watches. That tur...
New: Holthinrichs Deconstructed In Aventurine And Meteorite
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 lugs. Now, Michiel Holthinrichs is back with two new versions of the Deconstructed. This time, the watch features a dial made of either aventurine or meteorite.The original Deconstructed looks exactly like the watch that Michiel, who’s an architect by trade, always wanted to make since he fou...
Seiko World Cup Final: Daan's SPB317 Vs. RJ's SBDX001
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 will need from a modern diver. The other is a discontinued but iconic Seiko Marinemaster model manufactured in the same facility where mechanical Grand Seiko watches come to life, even sharing some of the same case finishing and movement platform.Now it's time for our editors Daan and RJ to defend t...
Introducing: The New Tissot PR516 Powermatic 80
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 and feature a different bracelet. Let’s take a closer look at the four variations of the new Tissot PR516 Powermatic 80. Tissot PR 516 (ca. 1965) - Image: Catawiki Tissot PR 516 Chronograph (ca. 1970) - Image: Oreficeria Lupetta In his article on the Tissot PR516 chrono...
New: Brellum Pandial Bicompax Black DLC Ti Chronometer
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 summer. The Pandial Marina Bicompax Titanium Chronometer also used a titanium case and a blue dial, but the execution was lighter in color overall. Today’s focus is on a darker, sportier watch that wears its black coating well.The Brellum Pandial Bicompax Black DLC Ti ChronometerThe Pandial B...
Hands-On: The Vintage-Inspired Titoni Airmaster Pilot
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 styled timepieces predominantly on bracelets. With the newest addition to the lineup, Titoni has created a true Airmaster that embodies the name perfectly. This classic pilot’s watch might be the best Airmaster yet, and it has some surprising details in store.At first glance, the new Airmaster P...
Hands-On: The Cockpit-Clock-Inspired Sinn 717
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 its bold presence. The watch has remained as a catalog fixture since then and is impressive in the metal. There’s no doubt that Sinn makes a well-built watch with a strong focus on functionality. The 717 defines this mantra with its cockpit-clock looks and impressive features. We’ll revis...