#TBT Why The "Orange Boy" Is The Best Vintage Nivada CASD
Would you believe me if I told you we have never featured a dedicated article about a vintage Nivada Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver article on Fratello? I had to check twice, but it’s true. Let’s fix this with a scarce version of the Nivada CASD. This one is one is ref. 85004/4076, aka the “Orange Boy.”The Nivada Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver is one of the very few chronographs that got tens of different executions and dial/hand configurations. Created in 1961, the watch stayed in catalogs through the ’70s. The CASD reached iconic status (among watch lovers, at least), and it’s a stable pillar in many chronograph collections. It can be found under differe...
Is The Seiko SKX007 Still Worth Your Time In 2024?
The Seiko SKX007 is one of the most popular entry-level mechanical watches ever produced, period. But is it still worth adding one to your collection in 2024, even though it was discontinued five years ago? Let’s find out.The Seiko SKX007’s popularity is no small feat, even for a large and culturally powerful manufacturer like Seiko. The SKX007 succeeded the Seiko 7002-7000 back in 1996 and would stay in production for nearly a quarter century until 2019. The Seiko 7002-7000 was the 1980s successor of the 6309-7040/9, which spawned the Seiko “Turtle” of today. If you want to read more about those vintage 6309s, you can check out this article. Today, though, we are not...
The Longines Flagship Heritage Moonphase In Three New Colors
The Longines Heritage collection is my favorite one in the brand’s catalog. I especially like the Sector Dial, but many other models are also tastefully done. Last year, Longines added the Flagship Heritage Moonphase to the collection. Lex looked at the version with a silver sunburst dial, but blue and matte silver versions also came out. Now Longines has added green, anthracite, and beige versions to the lineup. However, the definition of “beige” might have been stretched a bit here.I just read Lex’s hands-on introduction article to see what he thought about the Flagship Heritage Moonphase. His biggest takeaway was that it’s a very elegant-looking watch, but it...
Fratello Talks: Limited-Edition Watches
Today, on Fratello Talks, the topic of discussion is limited-edition watches. Nacho, RJ, and Daan share their thoughts on brands’ special releases because not all LEs are created equal. The discussion starts with some favorite limited editions and gets into the nitty-gritty of what makes some LEs better than others. They also dive into different methods of limiting these special watches, from small production runs to numbered releases. But what is it that, ultimately, makes a limited-edition watch great? Tune in to hear their thoughts. But before we start, let’s check out what’s on their wrists....
Introducing: The Louis Moinet Starman Flying Tourbillon
The Louis Moinet Starman is the latest release from the small Swiss brand that specializes in creating rare and extraordinary watches. The brand often blends exotic materials with high-level complications. Because of their low production numbers, Louis Moinet watches aren’t for everyone, but they’re always worth a look.Every release from Louis Moinet is worth further investigation. Owner and Creative Director Jean-Marie Schaller is a fun person to speak with, and while he and his team create serious watches, they seem to have fun while doing it. We’ve seen that during events like Geneva Watch Days, and it’s a breath of fresh air after so many hotel-room discussions. T...
Wrist Watch Forums
I just received this email from Rambler, about a new forum on watches. Visit www.wristwatchforums.com and check their Omega, and Panerai forum!...
Text message when your watch is serviced
A quick look on the website of Kwekkeboom Juweliers (in Netherlands) learned me that jewelers and watchsellers who don’t do business on the web are better informed than some of us would think. This jeweler will text you (Short Message Service) on your mobile when your watch is ready to be picked up from service or repair. Ofcourse, they will first try to call you, but as busy as we are, we are not always able to answer every call.Oh btw, hurry up, they are having sale in both their shops (IWC, Ebel, B&M, Zenith etc)....
IWC Ingenieur 3227 For Sale : Sometimes You Need To Pave The Way...
Sometimes, you need to pave the way for something new. Therefore, my IWC Ingenieur 3227 01 is for sale. I have written several times about this watch (here and here for example), but there comes a time of letting go some of your collection pieces to get something else.This type of Ingenieur isn’t in production anymore and is therefore probably the ‘shortest in production’-Ingenieur model, from 2005-2009. List price was 5.900,= Euro which was a bit steep, I am asking 4.100,= Euro. Offers are welcome though, but if it doesn’t fetch enough, it will remain to be in my collection of course.The watch comes complete with box, papers, booklets, IWC soft strap etcetera. As com...
Tudor Heritage Chrono Does It Live Up To Its Hype?
Introduced at the BaselWorld 2010 exhibition, the Tudor Heritage Chrono was the talk of the day for months to come. Authorized /Tudor dealers created waiting lists for people who desperately needed one. The vintage Tudor Monte Carlo Chronographs ref.7149, 7159/0, ref.7169/0 and the 7031/0, the original models on which the Heritage Chrono is based, skyrocketed to 10K Eur and over. I have written an in-dept and chronological story on the Tudor Monte Carlo a while ago already for MotoringExposure, click here to read it.The Heritage 70330N and the Monte Carlo ref. 7169/0, photo courtesy of Ryan5446A few months after the Heritage Chrono became available in stores in June, I see them popping up fo...
An Anniversary Omega Constellation Pie-Pan?
Just recently, I wrote an article for the German WatchTime portal about Omega’s Constellation and the uncelebrated anniversaries of both the original 1952 model and the 1982 ‘Manhattan’ edition. Just now, I noticed this teaser image on Omega’s Facebook page (over 200.000 fans today).In case you’re not on Facebook or not one of the 200,000 people, below is the image they just released.For those of you who can’t read German, I will re-post the English version of the Constellation article I did for WatchTime below. I guess some of the conclusions are old now (already), but it still gives you a nice overview of what happened with the Constellation collection t...
Mike Mellia Photographs Harry Winston Pieces At TimeCrafters In New York
Photographer Mike Mellia, friend of the FW show, had access to some stunning Harry Winston timepieces during the TimeCrafters show in New York City last September. The event was held at the Park Avenue Armory in NYC, where many great brands show cased their new watches to the public.Mike Mellia had press access via Christie’s watch department and took his photo equipment with him to do some fabulous shoots. The following photos are exclusively for FratelloWatches and if you click them, you’ll get to see a larger version. Also make sure to visit the Christie’s blog Longitude, where more work of Mike can be found.HW Project Z1 Triple Retrograde ChronographHW Ocean Triple Retr...
Cartier Fine Watchmaking Tourbillon Complications
When most people think of Cartier, the Fine Watchmaking collection might not be the first thing that come to mind. Their Santos and Tank models are more famous amongst the crowd. Due to our friend Geo (owner of the Troisanneaux website and moderator of the Cartier forum over at Revolution) I became a bit more knowledgeable about this collection myself.In short, the Fine Watchmaking collection is Cartier’s showcase for their watchmaking skills. This collection was introduced in 2008 (as a successor to the Collection Privee Cartier Paris (CPCP) collection) and since then a lot of new in-house developed movements and complications have been presented to the watch loving crowd. The focus o...
The New Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Flyback Chronograph BOC II
BOC IIBlancpain introduces the new Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Flyback Chronograph Blancpain Ocean Commitment II (BOC II). This might be one of the longest names for a watch we’ve come across so far. The Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe was presented a couple of years ago, as the new re-interpretation of the late 1950s divers watch by Blancpain. This particular watch, the Blancpain Ocean Commitment II edition, is limited to only 250 pieces. For every sold piece, Blancpain donates 1000 Euro in?support of scientific expeditions. We know you can do your math, but in the end there will be 250,000 Euro wired for a good cause. Quite an impressive amount.Let’s have a look at the watch.Fifty Fath...
Fratello Watches x Grand Seiko Reader's Journey Part 2
In part 1 you’ve read that during our reader’s journey to Japan, we’ve been visiting the Grand Seiko manufacture in Shiojiri. In that location, we witnessed the creation of Grand Seiko and Credor models, using their Spring Drive and 9F quartz movements. We also had a workshop in polishing cases in the ‘zaratsu’ style and applying indexes on the Grand Seiko dials. Grand Seiko made sure that we not only got a tour, but also received a couple of masterclasses to show how difficult some of the skills are.Grand Seiko Reader’s Journey – Part 2After our first days in Tokyo and Shiojiri, we had a ‘day off’ on Wednesday. Needless to say that most ...
Oris Movember Edition 2018 Supporting A Good Cause
We all know someone who has or had this awful disease called cancer, perhaps you do or did yourself. Did you know that prostate cancer is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among men? Prostate cancer usually grows very slowly, and finding and treating it before symptoms occur may not improve men’s health or help them live longer.?Today, 5.6 million men are living with or beyond prostate cancer. Testicular cancer continues to claim young lives. Every year, 500,000 men take their own lives that's one a minute. Keep on reading, there’s a watch to talk about as well.The Movember FoundationYou might have heard about the Movember Foundation, or at least...
Interview: AP Ambassadors (And Golf Players) Andrew Beef' Johnston and Matt Wallace
A few weeks ago, we were invited to join Audemars Piguet in a trip to Montreux where we were able to talk to golf players Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston and Matt Wallace. They’ve been ambassadors with Audemars Piguet relatively recently, so we thought it would be nice to ask them some questions regarding watches and golf (we covered the topic on wearing watches while playing golf here).Andrew ‘Beef’ JohnstonRobert-Jan: Just recently, but 25 years too late, I started playing golf myself. And I've noticed it is very addictive and I find myself reading golf magazines, while only understanding half of its contents sometimes, but I don't care. Can you imagine that people fin...
Hands-On: Citizen Promaster Tough Ray Mears
We go hands-on with a serious all-arounder, the Citizen Promaster Tough Ray Mears.I know I’ve mentioned this before, but I’m here, once again, to tell you that I constantly find myself in a state of discovery when it comes to watches.? Whether we are talking about modern or vintage, once I think I’ve seen it all, something new pops up that I’ve either never seen or, more likely, cared about in the past. A perfect example of this ongoing phenomena within my head is today’s Citizen Promaster Tough Ray Mears.The Citizen Promaster Tough Ray Mears – Kind OfNow, before the local “Citizen”ry get all up in arms about calling this piece the Citizen Prom...
Hands-On Oris Big Crown ProPilot X Calibre 115 Review
Oris’ new Big Crown ProPilot X Calibre 115 has been a surprise. Not that no one believed Oris could make such a watch, but virtually nobody expected it. With this watch, Oris proudly expose their ability to create extraordinary movements. Besides, they present a strong statement on their vision of the design for a future pilot watch. Fasten seat belts and let’s lift-off to an exploration of this remarkable timepiece.In 2014 Oris reverted to manufacturing own movements. After a break of decades, they celebrated their re-establishment as manufacture by creating Calibre 110, a watch named after its movement, whose name, in turn, reflects Oris’ 110th anniversary at which they p...
Sunday Morning Showdown: Dogfighting Pilot Chronograph Watches
In our Sunday Morning Showdown, two of our writers go head-to-head in an epic showdown for the ages. Strong opinions and hysterical hyperbole are welcome (so feel free to join in with the fun in the comments section below). And don't forget to let us know which watches you'd like to see torn to shreds/effusively exalted next week. We'll try and feature as many of our readers' choices as we can. After a month out, we return. Re-energized and ready to take to the skies with the Blancpain Air Command Vs. the Breguet Type XXI.It has been a while since our last Sunday Morning Showdown. And that is for a good reason. At the beginning of each edition, just like above, we ask for suggestions from ou...
Three New Timex Watches: Marlin, Expedition, and Green Q (2021)
The watch world spins around quite fast. As I struggled to find time to write about the Marlin California, Timex has introduced another two exciting new watches. Get your wallet ready. Or perhaps you’d better hide it? If you are susceptible to temptation, read on at your own risk.Rob recently wrote a?fascinating piece that digs deeper into controversy about so-called “California dials”. In this absolute must-read, you will explore that there is much more behind the term coined for a half-Arabic half-Roman dial design. To most ‘California Dial’ means ‘fake dial’,” Rob wrote, quoting Jeff Hess. In the 1980s many customers used to sent their badly...