Universal Geneve Senna 41, ref 998.310 52Mondayz week 41
You’ve probably never seen this Universal Geneve, and probably can’t even imagine they ever made such a watch. Obviously they did.Universal Geneve Senna 41, ref. 998.310First model in the UG – IAS colaboration, the Senna 41In the late 1990’s Universal Geneve teamed up with the Ayrton Senna Institute (IAS). Founded in 1994 by Ayrtons Senna’s family and presided by Viviane Senna. Viviane being Ayrton’s sister, and mother of Formula One driver Bruno Senna.The cooperation resulted in two dedicated watches, from which part of the profit was donated to the IAS. The first watch was the chronograph model ‘Senna 41’, the star of this article. The second...
Top Watch Sales at Catawiki
With over 2,000 watches in auction every week, you can imagine that some true treasures have been bought and sold at online auction platform Catawiki. Looking back at their previous watch auctions, you'll find a number of intriguing timepieces. Their team of watch experts, who review every watch and curate each weekly auction, have shared the unique stories behind a few of the best watch sales.Omega Seamaster XVIThe rarity of this Omega Seamaster XVI which came up for auction is attributed to the design. It was never released for commercial sale. Omega has been the official timekeeper of the Olympic games since 1932, and as such has created a number of commemorative watches to celebrate the ...
Gold Speedmaster Professional Jubilee 27 CHRO C12 Reference 3191.50
Limited editions are a hot topic today, bot in sales as well as in discussions. Perhaps in the pre-internet age, it was less transparent and as a result, less complaining. What we have here today is a perfect example of a limited edition without a real reason, yet it is starting to become a really sought-after watch.27 CHRO C12This gold Speedmaster Professional dates back to 1992 and was limited to 999 pieces to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 27 CHRO C12 movement, the predecessor of the famous calibre 321 movement. That is right. It celebrates a movement that was not even used in the Speedmaster, but its successor was. But does it affect the coolness of the watch? Heck no. This watch ...
Wrist Game or Crying Shame: Zenith Rainbow Flyback
Welcome back to Wrist Game or Crying Shame where you, the reader, get to vote on whether you think the watch in question is a fair deal or not.? Let's see what you think of today's multi-colored mechanical, the Zenith Rainbow Flyback.But before we get to the Zenith Rainbow Flyback, let's talk about last week's contestant, the Seiko Marinemaster 300.? First of all, we hit a record number of overall votes and comments, so thanks for that.? But more importantly, 58% of you felt that paying well north of $2K for a Seiko is a good deal.? How about that?? Now, there were some vocal opponents out there who clearly don't like their watches like their steaks- and that means thick.? The Seiko is one c...
Watchee, an iOS App for Watch Collectors
Anssi Hakkarainen from Finland has been programming for almost 35 years. That’s approximately the same period that he has a particular interest in watches. So quite naturally, Anssi developed an iOS app for his own watch collecting needs, Watchee.Developing started some years ago, but it was only October 2018 that friends encouraged him to share the app via Apple’s App Store, and today, it's been available there for about a full year. Now that it’s is on sale in the App Store, Anssi had the chance to improve it every once in a while. The Watchee app meanwhile saw many updates, some of which provided additional new features to the app.Watchee is useful for whom?If you’...
Oris Topper Jewelers "Maxi" Diver Hits Shelves In Burlingame, CA
Don’t say the words “heritage re-issue”. It’s become a sometimes tiresome term over the past few years, with every brand under the Sun mining its back catalog for inspiration, only to artificially age the resulting “re-issue” so it looks both new and old at once. The Caplan brothers of Topper Jewelers in Burlingame, CA, don’t seem to mind being inspired by the past with the latest limited edition to hit their shelves. But with the Oris Topper Jewelers collaboration, you find any pre-aging whatsoever. Instead, you have an entirely new piece inspired by perhaps the brand’s most inventive period. Intrigued? So was I…I’ve worked with Ro...
Pre-Owned Picks 5 Omega Seamaster James Bond Watches
Now that the James Bond No Time To Die has been postponed, I’d like to cheer you up with a selection of used Omega Seamaster “James Bond” watches.Since 1995, Omegas have adorned the wrist of secret agent James Bond. In Goldeneye, he could be seen wearing the quartz version of the Seamaster Diver 300M, reference 2541.80. When No Time to Die?eventually hits theaters, he will be wearing a titanium Seamaster 300M with an in-house-developed self-winding movement. Besides the watches he wears in the movies, there are also some limited editions dedicated to 007.In this article, I will show you 5 Omega Seamaster James Bond watches. These are all used Seamaster limited editions that...
Hands-On Aquastar Deepstar Re-Edition (Video)
We have exciting news today with the announcement of the new Aquastar Deepstar Re-Edition. This legend of the deep returns as a thoughtful modern update. AND we have live images already (and that’s just as well, as this is a seriously photogenic watch)!2020 will go down in history as one of the worst years on record. Really, what a mess. On the other hand, if you’re a watch person, I’d actually wager that this is one of the better years in recent memory. Just have a look at our Watch Releases 2020 subsection and you might confuse this year with a very different “Roaring ’20s.” Regarding dive watches, it’s been an especially good year. We have a new S...
Hands-On With The Christopher Ward Super Compressor
The team at Christopher Ward knows how to surprise us. The brand’s latest model, the C65 Super Compressor has a lot of attention traps that you can fall into. A bit of sentiment for cult dive watch fans, re-discovered innovation, an unusual shape, or cheeky youthful colors. Oh, and all for under $1,000.British company Christopher Ward has been my favorite “horology vigilante since 2014 when it introduced the SH21 movement regulated to COSC accuracy. Bold moves make history. While the industry stood frozen with its eyes wide open due to COVID-19, CW jumped on TV promoting their sapphire dial watch. I’ve started keeping a bag of popcorn on-hand 24/7 in case another embargo em...
Best Brands From Small Nations: anOrdain, Straum, Arcanaut (2021)
When we think of watches, we probably don't immediately think of the small nations worldwide. Likely we think of Switzerland, Japan and maybe Germany? Of course, in reality, the world of watchmaking expands across the entire globe. Much of the actual manufacturing indeed takes place in those countries, and China too, of course. That said, It's not just the usual suspects that have all the fun in terms of watch design. Today I want to look at a few of what I consider to be the best brands from European small nations, the homegrown heroes if you will! I imagine at least one of the names on this list will be familiar to you, but what about the others?So, where will we be traveling to in today's...
Buying Guide: The Best G-Shock Watches From The 1990s (2021)
We like to talk about vintage watches a lot within the Fratello team. While the daily routine is largely focused on the most recent developments in the world of watches, the most fun for many of us lies in the sometimes weird and often wonderful world of vintage watches. It’s a world full of history, remarkable watches, incredible stories, and quirky details. It inspired us to come up with a series of articles focusing on the best watches per decade from a select group of brands. Some of them are priceless, some of them still affordable. In this installment, we will take a look at the best G-Shock watches from the 1990s.While the 1970s were a decade filled with tremendous change in the...
The Case for Obsessive Specs: The Seaholm Collection
Humans have been making mechanical pocket watches since the early 1500s. Ever since then, they have been concerned with keeping the movements safe from outside nefarious elements. First, it was dust and water, then, magnetism and shocks. Technologies to keep watches ticking constantly improve, and the more time passes, the better they become. Most of us probably don't need high levels of protection against water, shock, and magnetism on a daily basis. However, some of us do. You may if your profession involves diving in the darkest depths of the oceans or exploring intricate cave systems. Or, if you are like me, you might simply like to know that your watch is ready for any adventure.There a...
Dear Omega, Bring Back The Seamaster Ref. 105.005
The Omega Seamaster name holds a very special place in my heart. I have a particular fondness for the vintage Seamaster line from the 1960s. My dad owns a Seamaster De Ville from 1966, and it’s the watch I saw him wear while I was growing up. While that model will always be special to me, Omega produced more great watches at that time that stood out. One of them is the brilliant Omega Seamaster Chronograph ref. 105.005. It has the same 1960s Seamaster looks I know so well from my dad’s watch and combines them with the brand’s legendary caliber 321. Time to shine a light on this very special 1960s chronograph.It’s funny how the Speedmaster has played such a dominant pa...
Cartier Santos Vs. Omega Speedmaster Professional
Usually, the Sunday Morning Showdown involves two quite similar watches - a chronograph against a chronograph, a diver against a diver, or a GMT against another GMT. And normally, two our editors compete against each other. Well, not today. This Sunday Morning Showdown will feature two very different watches and is a one-man show(down). I didn’t come up with this all by myself. It is inspired by a question I get asked quite frequently. On Instagram, people occasionally send me DMs about which watch to get next. The one I receive most often is the Santos vs. Speedmaster dilemma.Don’t get me wrong; it’s not that I don’t enjoy receiving these questions. But because of th...
Hands-On: The New Sternglas Sedius:
Sternglas is back again, this time with a new release that taps into an elegant aesthetic. It’s one not often seen at the truly affordable end of the market. Externally, the Sedius is trimmed with leaf hands, a graceful case, and a shimmering sector dial. On the inside, a Seiko meca-quartz movement is a healthy compromise of accuracy, convenience, and dynamism. When also considering the price, the Sternglas Sedius has some serious appeal.This model is described by Sternglas as “Bauhaus meets Art Deco.” My inference is that the brand, which often delivers the Bauhaus look successfully, is now trying its hand at Art Deco as I don’t see a lot of Bauhaus remaining in this...
Nuno Gomes: Setting Diving Records With His G-Shock
The world's watery depths are some of the most remote and hazardous places to explore.? Deep-cave diving, then, is perhaps an extreme sport within an extreme sport. Fratello speaks to one man who has set world records for diving in these forbidding places and who relies on Casio watches for life-risking work underwater. He has taken G-Shocks rated at 200 meters to over 300 meters deep. Like deep-sea diving, deep-cave diving requires focus, technical ability, mental resolve, and experience. Aside from the risk of getting lost or equipment failing due to immense pressures, breathing deep-dive gas mixtures at extreme underwater pressures - usually, a combination of helium, nitrogen, and oxygen ...
Afterthoughts: The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 3
In the very last paragraph of the introduction article for the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 3, I asked you to let the watch and its price sink in. I also wrote that I would do the same and return with a follow-up article in which the Fifty Fathoms was put in its natural habitat. No, not the ocean. I mean the highly competitive world where other luxury dive watches roam and fight for survival. Well, that day has come. On a Monday, no less. Here’s some food for thought to start the watch/work week.The reactions on the most recent Blancpain?dive watch, the Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 3 (5901 5630 NANA) lead to more or less unanimous reactions. The watch is limited t...
Introducing: The Yema Yachtingraf Tourbillon Mareographe
Well, we can certainly put the new Yema Yachtingraf Tourbillon Mareographe in the “Things We Didn’t See Coming” category. After all, Yema is a recently reborn successful player in the affordable retro space. When we hear the word “tourbillon,” affordability is nowhere on the radar, but there is some semblance of approachability here. Shall we have a look?During the early part of my vintage-chronograph-collecting cycle, I stumbled across Yema. Well, that’s not entirely true. Enablers like Fred Mandelbaum were instrumental in exposing me to these previously unheard-of brands and, shortly thereafter, helping me deplete my bank account. Yema made some intrigui...
Hands-On: The New Jacques Bianchi JB200 Maxi Dial
Jacques Bianchi has quickly found a place in the hearts of watch enthusiasts who love the brand’s history and timepieces. With numerous notable releases, the brand has stood out more than once in the past three years. The first ones that come to mind are, without a doubt, the models with illustrations on the dial. From a diver on the dial of the JB200 Meduse to an octopus on the dial of the JB200 PoulPro and the limited-edition JB200 Night Diver that we collaborated on with the brand, they stand out immediately. Another future fan favorite is the new JB200 Maxi Dial. This model is more serious in its approach and will be part of the brand’s permanent collection starting in early ...
New: Kurono Tokyo Reserve De Marche "Sensu N.O.S."
It might still be a niche brand in numbers and worldwide sales, but Kurono has built a strong following for its colorful wares. Hajime Asaoka's accessible brand seems to have come at the right time for the small-case trend, but for Sensei, this is nothing new. But by introducing the Kurono Tokyo Reserve de Marche “Sensu N.O.S.,” he opens up a new leaf in his book of dial designs.Asaoka-san designed his first watch with a 37mm case. With its enigmatic 15mm balance wheel and big barrel, the Tsunami ushered in the Art Deco style he is known for, which has carried over to the accessible Kurono Tokyo range. With deep urushi (lacquer) dials plus a balance of minimalist three-handers an...