Speedy Tuesday A Video Interview With Astronaut Terry Virts
During our stay in New York for the Speedy Tuesday Event there, we interviewed Terry Virts.Terry W. Virts Jr. (1967) is a former NASA astronaut, and Colonel in the United States Air Force and was the special guest of our Speedy Tuesday Event in New York a few weeks ago. A full report on that event can be found here. Before the event took place, we had a brief moment with this former Space Shuttle astronaut and resident of the Internation Space Station. We sat in the bar of The Beekman Hotel in New York City and talked about how one becomes an astronaut, the difference between the Shuttle and Soyuz space crafts (he flow on both), the Speedmaster X-33 he used onboard, his watch collection and ...
A Look Back On The Modern Seiko Alpinist
We’re big fans of all things Seiko here on Fratello. Up until now, we’ve covered almost all the notable lines from the brand, but it’s high time that we give the modern Seiko Alpinist its due.The Seiko Alpinist is a fascinating watch. It’s a watch that was originally conceived for adventurers. As you’ll read below, it started off as a simple piece during the late 1950s and early ’60s. Then, after an incredibly long absence, it returned as a far more formidable timepiece with greater capability. Today, we’ll spend the bulk of our time focusing on this more recent era with a focus on models with twin crowns and an internal compass bezel. First, though,...
#TBT Ten Crazy Seconds Hand Vintage Watches
I came up with the idea for this article almost two years ago. Anytime I spotted something unusual that belongs to this category, I saved it. Last week I?finally shortlisted the TOP 10 craziest seconds hands I’ve seen (so far). Let us know which models you would add to this list in the comments section below.It’s probably no surprise to learn that a few odd-ball brands have made it onto this list. Strangely, however, you more established (and often more conservative brands) such as Longines Citizen also make an appearance. Alongside some “classic” central seconds hands, I’ve added a couple of curveballs for your pleasure. Enjoy!Sicura Satellite“It's humong...
TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph 39mm Calibre Heuer 02 Automatic
Last year, TAG Heuer celebrated the 50th birthday of an icon. The Heuer Monaco was one of former CEO Jack Heuer’s finest contributions to watchmaking (and, unwittingly, the silver screen). Following a rush of special edition timepieces dropped in 2019, TAG Heuer treats us to three more references (two dial colors) in the same vein. As 2020 slides towards non-existence, the TAG Heuer Monaco reminds us that it is still a relevant player in the sports chronograph category, now more than half a century after its debut.It’s tough to do the same thing over and over again while remaining interesting. Even though I am not a huge fan of the TAG Heuer Monaco, I respect it plenty enough to ...
Hands-on With The Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 Watch (2021)
Let me start with the price because if I say the easiest, you’ll likely want to know how much it costs. Well, for a Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 watch in steel with either a blue or a black dial you’ll pay $670. Alternatively, you can add an extra $25 for a version with a white dial and rose-gold-colored accents. What you get for that price is something not previously available at the price point! Is it for everyone? Maybe not, but now, after wearing the PRX for a few days, I'm thinking that there are way more potential fans out there than there will be haters.Let me start by being a little bit negative. Here goes. The PRX looks like a Oysterquartz 17000 and a Royal Oak 15202 Jumbo ...
Fluco Forest Green Shell Cordovan Chicago Strap Review (2021)
Getting bright, consistent, and crucially long-lasting colors out of vegetable-tanned Shell Cordovan leather is difficult. In fact, it’s so tough to guarantee colorfastness that only a handful of options are available. You can get pretty much any color you want using chromium dyes, but the resulting quality of the strap and its appearance, suppleness, and lifespan is often the trade-off. Fluco decides against trading-off with quality and, instead, brings us probably the most exciting color you can get in Shell Cordovan, and that’s a rich forest green.Back in 2017 when NOMOS Glashutte opened an account with Harrods, I commissioned the green Shell Cordovan strap from Horween that w...
Photo report of the Grand Seiko Fratello Paris event.
That’s right, we’re back at it again! And gosh, how we missed it. Brand events where our readers can meet, mingle and learn are finally possible once more. Our first post-pandemic event took place at the Vendome Grand Seiko Boutique in Paris. Frederic Bondoux (CEO Grand Seiko Europe) and his team treated us on an unforgettable, information-packed day. Finally traveling again, to our Paris event with Grand Seiko Grand Seiko Fratello Paris EventOf course, we understand that a report like this is specifically enjoyable to the people who attended the event. So don’t be alarmed; this won’t be a lengthy articl...
Securing Patek Philippe For Future Generations
Under his reign, Thierry Stern saw a sports watch morph into a hyped commodity. I am, of course, referring to the basic steel Nautilus. When the hype was in its early days, Stern tried to deal with the annoyance by raising the price of the watch to an unrealistic level. But that didn't scare off anyone. It led to the rather Draconian measure of canceling the watch altogether. Stern now focuses on a younger target audience by treating them with models that are sporty, retro, complicated watches in precious metals. It’s a collection befitting Patek 2.0, a contemporary watch brand firmly based on tradition. Will this approach be successful - is Thierry Stern securing Patek Philippe for th...
Hands-On: The New Maen Skymaster 38 MKIII
It might seem like a cliche, but big watches can wear smaller. Sometimes, though, this flips back the other way, and this time, it's a compliment. By introducing the Maen Skymaster 38 MKIII, the Swedish brand proves that a 38mm case diameter can feel more substantial than you’d think. And that suits the accomplished evolution of Maen’s vintage-tinged chronograph to a tee.Today, vintage-inspired watches are simply the norm for many brands, especially when it comes to panda dials and their reverse brothers. And why not? Sure, with the Skymaster, there are a plethora of options to choose from. But for me, nothing beats a clean-cut reverse panda, and the Maen Skymaster 38 MKIII also ...
What Makes A Watch Movement Good Or Bad?
The movement is one of the most crucial and costly parts of a mechanical watch. No wonder, then, that it is often used to judge a watch's quality and value proposition. But aside from comparing watches with the same or similar movements, how do we judge them? Sometimes we go by proxies, such as in-house or not, decoration levels, or accuracy. But do those really tell you whether a watch movement is any good?Debates about movements often end up in either anecdotal evidence (Mine broke down or Mine never failed me) or the spec sheet (It runs at COSC spec or This deviation is unacceptable at this price). Is there anything more substantiated we could say about a movement's quality? Let's have a ...
Introducing: Four Panerai Submersible Navy SEALs Models
Panerai is known for its Navy SEALs collection created in honor and in the spirit of the US Navy SEALs. The brand recently released a quartet of new models within that adventure-focused collection. This time, the watches feature a desert theme with beige accents and desert-camo straps.The release consists of four new references - the time-only PAM01518 in steel, the time-and-date PAM01669 in titanium and Carbotech, the chronograph PAM01521 in titanium, and lastly, the GMT PAM01513 in Carbotech. There’s plenty to unpack, so let's dive in!Panerai Submersible QuarantaQuattro Navy SEALs PAM01518Reference PAM01518 forms the entry into this new sub-collection (pun intended; I apologize). Thi...
Hands-On: RZE Resolute Pro Date And Spruce Green
At first glance, the two new Resolute models in this review look very familiar. But don’t be fooled because they are new additions to RZE’s Resolute series. One is a beautiful Spruce Green version of the Resolute Pro. RZE created this special edition with Project Forest, an organization with a mission to capture carbon by rewilding Canada's backyards. While it is technically just a new dial color, the story behind it is interesting, and the color is nothing short of stunning. The other addition to the lineup is a date version of the Resolute Pro. This model comes with the same Jet Black enamel dial as the time-only version and will certainly please a lot of watch fans. It’s...
Are Military Watches OK For Everyone?
Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we discuss military watches new and old. We’re not here to discuss our favorite models, but we hit upon some major themes with these pieces. Some of them come from disgraced regimes, while newer models are similar to high-fashion collabs. Stick around to see what we think!...
The 41mm Zenith Defy Skyline Pink Fights Against Breast Cancer
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For the third year in a row, Zenith presents a limited-edition watch to support this noble cause. In 2022, the Swiss brand made a Chronomaster Original with a very pink dial. Last year was the Chronomaster Sport’s turn, and now the Zenith Defy Skyline lends its dial to raise money. No less than 20% of the proceeds of the 100 limited editions will go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Its vision is a world without breast cancer. In the meantime, the Foundation tries to save lives by investing in breakthrough research.Let’s take a look at the new 41mm Zenith Defy Skyline in pink, which supports the fight against breast cancer.The 41mm Zenith...
The Glashutte Original Sixties Chronograph Annual Edition
Aside from making complicated wonders, Glashutte Original has a Vintage Collection that takes inspiration from former models. The Sixties references have consistently been some of my favorites since launching in 2015. During this lengthy production period, the German watchmaker has produced several limited-series models with gorgeous dials. The Sixties Chronograph Annual Edition we’ll review today is from late 2023, but it’s so pretty that it’s worth revisiting.Indeed, the Sixties Chronograph Annual Edition with its gray-black dial debuted in September 2023. However, some examples are still available, and in this environment of non-stop new releases, sometimes it’s ni...
Richemont buys Minerva
Fresh from the press, Richemont acquires Minerva… There goes their independancy, but here comes (probably) watches!! Finally, after all those prototyping, rumours etc… this might??be their chance to fight themselves back on the market.Here is the article as it was published this morning on Richemont.com:“Richemont, the Swiss luxury goods group, is pleased to announce that it has acquired Fabrique d???Horlogerie Minerva SA in a private transaction from G. P. P. International SA, Luxembourg.The watch brand Minerva was established by Charles Robert in 1858 and is based in Villeret, Switzerland. It has 22 employees and is today specialized in the development and manufacturing o...
Omega Speedmaster Professional First Love
When I bought my first Speedmaster Professional (on the 1st of October, 1999), I was completely captured by the beauty of this historical chronograph. Weeks, perhaps even months, I was browsing the internet for more detailed information on the Speedmaster series. It rapidly occurred to me that buying a vintage Speedmaster wasn’t something easy, as it – like always – is in the details. Luckily, the world wasn’t craving for tropical brown dials and all original flimsy bracelets, so at some point I was quite comfortable buying my first caliber 321 Speedmaster Professional ref.145.012 for approximately 800 euro (2000 Dutch guilders).The fun thing is, that I always seem to...
We've Found An Astronaut's Speedmaster Professional
An Astronaut’s Speedmaster!Fratellowatches is excited and proud to show you one of the actual astronaut’s Speedmaster Professional watches worn by Reinhard Furrer. Reinhard Furrer was one of ESA’s astronauts during the Space Shuttle mission in 1985.On the 30th of October 1985, the Space Shuttle Challenger lifted off from Pad A of Launch Complex 39 at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA. This mission, a Spacelab mission that was funded and directed by [West] Germany was ‘nicked’ D-1 besides the official Space Shuttle program code STS-61-A. D-1 stands for Deutschland-1 and a part of this succesful mission was controlled by the German Space Operations Center in Ober...
OMEGA Takes First And Second Spot In The TOP 3 Of Most Valuable James Bond Watches
Last Friday, Christie’s in London was having “the 50 years of James Bond” auction, where Bond fans could bid on officially used items in the famous 007 movies. We are – of course – especially interested in the watches that Bond wore in his movies.In Skyfall, 007 is again wearing an OMEGA Seamaster on his wrists. Both an Aqua Terra and a Planet Ocean, two sub collections of the famous Seamaster series. The Planet Ocean that Daniel Craig wore during the movie shoot, has been auctioned for the stunning amount of 157,250 GBP (?$254,273 USD / CHF 236,473).There was a lot of rumor and gossip around this watch, as OMEGA kept it quiet for a long time which watch would ...
#TBT Extra: Seiko 6159 Tuna original owner
It’s October and that means it’s #Seikoctober for those of you who play along on Instagram.? As I write this, Robert-Jan also happens to be in Japan checking out all things Seiko.? So, what better than to talk a little about one of the brand’s most famous pieces: the Seiko 6159 Tuna.Welcome to what we'll call a #TBT extra on Fratello Watches. Every so often, a reader writes into us with an interesting story or question on a vintage watch. Sometimes, it even results in me hurting my account! Today's brief account, though, is really about a reader who asked some questions on where to service a Seiko icon, the 6159-7019 original Grandfather Tuna. We had a much longer review o...