NOMOS Glashutte Lambda IN STEEL With Three Dial Colors
I worked for NOMOS Glashutte for three years. I traveled all over the northern hemisphere on behalf of the brand. Wherever I went, the questions were always the same. “Will NOMOS ever make a bracelet?” As it turns out, yeah, the brand did exactly that in early 2019. I thought it was fine, but I never needed my NOMOS watches on bracelets anyhow. No, I was more interested in the second (at the time), ridiculous question: “Will NOMOS Glashutte ever make the Lambda model in stainless steel?” Hahaha. No. Never. Or so we thought…LIVE FROM GLASHuTTE: NOMOS Glashutte HAS released the Lambda in stainless steel. I bet you never saw that coming (what do you mean I gave it ...
TAG Heuer Connected New Technology Leading The Charge
Hold up, hold up. Smartwatches have a place in our industry. I’m not going to tell you you need to shelve your mechanical babies in favor of a modern, super-duper, all-singing, all-dancing, endlessly connected contraption. No. I’m not that guy. But I am a guy who is becoming a little more comfortable with keeping one of these luxury gizmos in his stable. I haven’t always felt this way, but the latest TAG Heuer Connected has started to change my mind.When I think about my former opinion on luxury smartwatches, it didn’t really make much sense. I was quite comfortable dismissing them out of hand. Sure, I knew they were highly functional. Sure, I knew they could, in theo...
Norqain Celebrates NHLPA Partnership With Adventure Sport Chrono Limited Edition
Spoiler alert: if you don’t want to know the result of the Stanley Cup Final between the Dallas Stars and the Tampa Bay Lightning, look away now… In the wake of a thrilling, if somewhat unconventional, end to the professional hockey season, Norqain has announced its new partnership with the NHL Players’ Association. The Norqain new Adventure Sport Chrono NHLPA Limited Edition, limited to 500 pieces, marks the moment…Was it ever in doubt? Did anyone really think the Stars could hoodwink the quick-striking Lightning in the same way they did my beloved Golden Knights in the conference finals? As Tampa Bay skates off into the history books with its second Stanley Cup triu...
Union Glashutte Belisar Chronograph Moon Phase Review (2021)
This won’t come as much of a surprise to any of you that read Fratello regularly, but I have more than a soft spot for watches that originate in Germany. Some of my favorite brands (A. Lange & Sohne, NOMOS Glashutte, Lang & Heyne, for example) hail from this part of the world. One brand that doesn’t get anywhere near the airtime of the big hitters that call Glashutte home, is Union. Today, I’m taking an honest look at the Union Glashutte Belisar Chronograph Moon Phase to establish whether or not that needs to change.What do I love about German watchmaking? I love the way that form so clearly follows function. German watches tend not to be as glitzy, glamorous, or mi...
Hands-On Review: The Omega Speedmaster Chronoscope (2021)
As promised, a hands-on review of the new Omega Speedmaster Chronoscope. This new 43mm Speedmaster collection was introduced a few weeks ago in Milan, Italy. However, we've been fortunate enough to have two of these watches in our Fratello offices and were able to give them some time on the wrist.Aside from the new 43mm case size and new movement (the hand-wound caliber 9908), it also brings a new dial design to the table. One with two additional scales to the existing tachymeter scale.Did you know that the Omega Speedmaster was the first watch to have a tachymeter scale on a bezel? Before its release, watches with a tachymeter scale had it printed on the dial. In 1957, Omega decided to come...
The New NOMOS Glashutte Autobahn Director's Cut (2021)
Ambitious watch design is always divisive. To create true novelty you have to walk the path untrodden. Genuine newness often scares people into rushed hot-takes, polarized opinions, and a babbling state of confusion in the first moment. I was no different. When I first saw the NOMOS Glashutte Autobahn (designed by Werner Aisslinger) I didn’t quite know what to make of it. Now, with a bright trio of “Director’s Cut” watches released here, today, at the NOMOS Glashutte forum, I think I get it. What “it” is, however, is still sure to split the pack. Let’s take a look.If you’re running late this morning, skip the coffee and scroll through these ima...
Best Boring Watches In The World: Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso (2021)
Boring is best. I consider it soothing and much better to deal with than large periods of extreme excitement. I like a watch that soothes rather than tries to whip me in a state of frenzy. And nothing soothes like a classic steel Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso with small seconds, blued hands, and a bit of guilloche on a silvered dial. But I won't call that type of Reverso a masterpiece, that title is reserved for a very picturesque and rare version that still has a boring side to it.The fact that I like boring watches like the doesn't mean I've always liked the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso. I mean, I liked it, but I never really loved it. That's why earlier this year I conducted an experiment with a R...
How To Start A Watch Microbrand: Part One (2021)
Tell me the truth, how many of you, like me, nurture the secret wish of having a watch on your wrist with your name on it, or your napkin-sketched logo from that chat you had with your retro-obsessed best mate? While it might seem easy with the help of Kickstarter and other crowdfunding sources, there are as many pitfalls as well as there are success stories when it comes to microbrands.But that doesn’t make it any less enticing, actually CREATING something of your very own. I’m probably not alone in thinking I might be set for success as a watch designer (daydreaming? moi?), but how does one go about it, could we entice brand owners to share the secrets of how to start a microbr...
Hands-On With The Audric Strider
Our taste in watches evolves constantly. One day, we may like dressy watches and the next day, sporty ones. We may prefer large cases that make us feel the watch is sitting confidently on our wrist, or we may get tired of that and opt for smaller, lighter timepieces. I am not immune to changing tastes, and recently, I realized that I naturally gravitate toward fixed-bezel sports watches with angular cases. They just speak to me. I like them for their versatility (fixed bezel), visual interest (the angles on the case), and sturdiness (they generally come with great specs). We must wear what we are attracted to and embrace our changing tastes.?Following my train of thought, I would argue that ...
Hands-On With The Full-Metal "CasiOak" Watches
When something or someone gets a nickname, there must be love involved. After all, why go through the efforts of coming up with something creative and catchy for something you don't like? And that's why the headline reads Hands-On With The Full-Metal CasiOak Watches and not Hands-On With The Casio G-Shock GM-B2100; sorry about that, Casio. The three new models, in three colors with a steel case and matching bracelet, must be some of the most anticipated watches of 2022. Let's see if they can live up to the expectations.While writing the intro and typing in the word “nickname”, I realized I had no clue where the word comes from. I was pretty sure Nick has nothing to do with it, bu...
Hands-On: The Citizen Promaster Mechanical Diver 200m
Take a classic dive watch from 1977. Combine it with a modern movement and all the specs you might come to expect from a contemporary diver. Now, make the case titanium, and keep the price well under $1,000. Sound too good to be true? Well, it isn't - the Citizen Promaster Mechanical Diver 200m (also known as the NB6021-17E) ticks all of those boxes. I had a chance to spend some quality time with the watch, and today I'll tell you all about how it fares on the wrist. Spoiler alert: it's good. Actually, it's more than good. All things considered, this watch is damn near the best thing you can get at its price point. Sure, titanium isn't for everyone, but if you love a lightweight sports watch...
Introducing: Unimatic Modello Uno U1S-PD3 and U1S-PD5
At first glance, you might think that these two new Unimatic models look like ones you've seen before. And you wouldn't be wrong. However, you will see that the design does indeed differ from the brand’s previously released models. As always with Unimatic, the devil is in the details. But there is more to these releases than just their looks. The Unimatic Modello Uno U1S-PD3 and U1S-PD5 form a set of new ProDivers with some seriously nice new features. The U1S-PD5 takes things to new depths for the brand thanks to its 500m water resistance rating. And the best thing is that the changes required to achieve that make it even cooler.Unimatic has brought out several new watches this year. ...
#TBT NOS Zodiac Sea Wolf Automatic With Shovel Hands
The automatic Zodiac Sea Wolf with a calendar and “shovel” hands has been on my wish list for a long time. One finally came to me recently, and it came untouched, with not even a scratch on the lugs or a crack in the bezel. It’s safe to say that it doesn’t get much better than that.About two years ago, I wrote a story about my sunshine Zodiac Sea Wolf 1781W, which rightfully belongs among the most desirable vintage Zodiac watches. Design-wise, it is pretty far from the original Sea Wolf, but the radiant orange with light blue bezel makes it an ultimate vintage summer watch.Image: Wanna Buy A Watch?Discovering the shovel-handed Zodiac Sea WolfIt may have been a year or...
The Best Independent-Brand Watches For $1,000C2,000
For the past few months, I've been pondering something: is there a limit to how much value we can get in a watch? We might not be able to answer this question today, but I wanted to pose it anyway. And why have I been pondering this? Well, over the past three years, I've reviewed dozens of micro- and independent-brand watches. Today I’ll share the best ones I’ve found that retail between $1,000 and $2,000, watches we can wear every day, not keep in a watch box or bank safe. You know what I've realized? I don't believe that spending more than this could get us that much more value. In other words, would spending $3,000 really make a difference? How much more can we get for the add...
The Best Watches Under $5,000: RJ's Picks
In our The Best Watches Under $5,000 series, I noticed some of my colleagues had already selected some great pieces. Some of their picks could have been on my list, like the Nomos Zurich Weltzeit and the Tudor Pelagos LHD. As with our previous series, where we had set the budget to a more modest $3,000, we apply the same rules - three new watches and one pre-owned watch, each under $5,000. These days, the euro is nearly equal to the US dollar and Swiss franc. There's just often a big difference in VAT. All prices mentioned include VAT, though.There's so much out there that can be had under $5,000, but as we also already did a guide for watches under $3,000, I selected watches between $3,000 ...
Fratello Talks: Parallel Passions Beyond Watches
This week on Fratello Talks, RJ, Lex, and Nacho discuss their parallel passions beyond watches. Because, believe it or not, it’s not just watches that these guys spend every waking hour of their lives on. However, the approach and nature of their passions are no different. It has been an ongoing discussion here at HQ, so today we share with you our parallel passions (or PPs, as Lex so elegantly put it)....
New: Grand Seiko SBGY040 And SBGW321 European LEs
Meet the new Grand Seiko SBGY040 and SBGW321, a pair of limited-edition watches made specifically for the European market. Similar to most exclusive releases from the brand, these also gain inspiration from Japanese nature. Gardens, specifically ponds and the colorful koi that inhabit them, help define the dial artistry.Grand Seiko has mastered infusing the natural landscape into its dial designs. Today’s new SBGY040 and SBGW321 take cues from one of the most idyllic characteristics of Japan, the traditional garden. Within the garden, ponds and koi are typical. The colors are deep and rich, perfect backdrops for watch dials. Let’s briefly look at these pieces before returning wit...
Hands-On: The Charming Undone Urban Automatic
It’s been a while since we covered an Undone watch. The Hong Kong-based brand is widely known among watch enthusiasts for its affordable timepieces. Undone’s latest creation is the Urban Automatic, a triple-calendar watch that’s the first mechanical model in the vintage-inspired Urban series. I have always liked the Urban line because it takes inspiration from iconic chronographs of the 1940s and ’50s, resulting in a very charming series of watches. I took the new Urban Automatic for a spin and was pleasantly surprised by how much of the vintage spirit it captures. Let me explain why.Out of the 10 collections Undone currently offers, I find the Urban and Basecamp line...
Omega Forum Masterhead
We are about to change the masterhead (logo on top of the page) on the Omega Forum, and YOU can help us pick one. Till last monday, everyone could contribute a logo or picture to be the new masterhead. Tomorrowmorning, I collected all contributions and put them in a gallery on my webserver and now you can participate picking one of the fabulous Omega pictures / photos to be on top of the Omega Forum page. If you are an Omegan, you should click here and participate!....
Reversible Watches Famous And Less Famous ModelsJaeger Le-Coultre Reverso, UG Cabriolet, Cartier Basculante
For many people, a watch is not only a device that tells time, as numerous other devices surrounding us can do that today. It is also a piece of art, jewelry, perhaps a status symbol or perhaps equipment for something else as well. From diver watches to chronographs with pulsation scale on its bezel for specific pusposes.? Then you have those watches that people wear all the time; even when playing sports.We all know the history of Jaeger-LeCoultre's Reverso and the British polo players. Have you heard about Cartier's Basculante or Universal Geneve's Cabriolet though? Read on!Reversible Watchesphoto from rg_watches from eBayphoto from Universal Genevephoto by Jaeger Le-CoultreFor those of yo...