The year isn’t over yet, but Grand Seiko has been treating us very nicely so far with a number of beautiful watches. Just recently, during our Fratello Grand Seiko Paris event, I came across a watch that definitely took the top position on my wishlist. To structure my thoughts a bit, I went through all the new Grand Seiko watches in 2021, and realized they actually have more cool offerings t

Yes, I know. I have stated this before (maybe even three or four times), but the term “grail watch” is not static. Rather, it is as dynamic as the watch market is. But I’ll tell you this: I am not all that objective when it comes to Laurent Ferrier’s pieces. In fact, I should be disqualified right now from writing this article on the Laurent Ferrier Grand Sport Tourbillon G

Gold-and-steel watches have been divisive for ages. You either love them or you don’t. There seems to be no middle ground when it comes to the combination of utilitarian steel and luxury gold. Within the Fratello team, opinions differ as well: we have the principle haters, the case-by-casers, and the unabashed lovers of the gold-and-steel combo. But in the last year or two, we have seen a sl

Before we start, please allow me to ask you a few questions. Has your strap collection gradually grown into something that’s hard to overlook? Are your straps stored in several different pouches, cases, and drawers? Have all your NATO straps started to tangle up in that old shoebox? And, most important of all, is this whole situation stopping you from changing straps as much as you’d l

When I was given the task to pen down my thoughts on my perfect watch collection for $5K, I knew one thing: I didn't want to end up with a two-watch assemblage. If you know me (or have ever heard an episode of Fratello On Air), you are aware that I'm a sucker for chronographs, so I needed one of those in the lot. But that's not the ultimate sports tool watch. That label must go to a diver. And wha

It was only last month that I wrote about a new 44GS-inspired Grand Seiko SBGW303. The limited-edition model was met with overall praise, and some asked for more variety from this highly wearable platform. Now we have two more additions to the line, and the good news is that they’re serial-production pieces. The SBGW297 and SBGW299 Kamisen models are worth a look.Yes, we all know that Grand

One of my first serious watches was a two-tone Oysterquartz Datejust ref. 17013. At the time, it was a bit of a misunderstood watch, and perhaps it still is today. Upon seeing the Tudor Royal collection introduced in 2020, I was intrigued by the watches with their Oysterquartz-like shape. And now this steel and gold version makes me think of that 17013 even more. In addition, it has a beautiful

When you think of Yema watches, you probably think of vintage-inspired divers, chronographs, and GMTs. But put all your preconceived notions aside for a moment because this new watch is something else. In collaboration with artist and watchmaker Alain Silberstein, the French brand introduces the Marine. It’s a limited edition of 500 pieces that doesn’t look like anything Yema has done

Although forged carbon may not be a precious or rare material, it does count as an exotic option in watchmaking. Mostly reserved for avant-garde creations by high-end brands, it isn't exactly abundant on the affordable end of the spectrum. Well, if Tissot has its way, we can all get a forged carbon sports watch. I spent a week with the Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 Forged Carbon exclusively on my wrist

Have you ever heard of Grendizer and Spazer? Grendizer, also known as Goldorak, is a giant monster robot that connects and synchronizes with Spazer, a flying saucer that enables the robot to fly. FYI, the robot and flying saucer are characters in the 1970s Japanese manga and anime series UFO Robot Grendizer. How do I explain this to a watch audience not up to speed with Japanese animation? Think o

Every field has them, and the watch world is no exception. I am talking about people with strong opinions. Heck, I am one, and I work in an office filled with them. And then there is the comments section on Fratello, social media, forums, and YouTubeall full of people with strong opinions. Now, that wouldn't be much of an issue if so much of the feedback weren’t negative. But it is, and it c

Adelaide, Australia-based Artem creates some of our favorite high-quality straps. The brand is known for offering sailcloth straps with a rubberized texture. These straps combine leather or rubber with synthetic materials to make a luxury product. Now the Artem HydroFlex presents sportier sailcloth looks and more flexibility. We took a look at the version in khaki green and orange.Artem specialize

When I was trying to answer a question on the WatchUseek Forum, I suddenly couldn’t remember the movement number of the Explorer and Airking. A quick search on Oysterworld.de refreshed my memory.If you are a aholic, go there.

Our friends over at Hodinkee did a very interesting hands-on review with Eric Clapton’s Patek Philippe ref.2499 Chronograph Calendar timepiece in platinum. Only two 2499 watches have been made in platinum, only one of them was sold on the market. Click here to read all about this magnificent Patek over at Hodinkee’s.Watch the video below for Ben Clymer’s visit to Christie’s

Seiko is confusing us a lot with their sub brands, reference numbers and model names, but this can also be the result of the lack of availability of them here in Europe. Especially watches from the Grand Seiko range or the Prospex (Marinemaster) collection we are discussing today, are very hard to get in Europe. Authorized dealers of brands like – let’s say – Breitling, Omega, ,

It’s Speedy Tuesday! We all know the official Omega ambassadors that endorse the latest Seamaster, Deville, Constellation or Speedmaster watch. There is little fun in showing you these guys (or girls) here on Fratellowatches as you probably see them all the time in ads and event reports. As we did with the BMW head of design Adrian van Hooydonk a few weeks ago and with Porsche 911 nut Magnus

We cover a lot of vintage Seiko on #TBT and we do it for good reason. I've spoken at length about the great value one receives when buying a vintage Seiko. The quality of the pieces certainly stand up to almost anything Swiss that was sold during the 1960's -1970's and this relates to the general finishing and robustness of the movements. Due to the latter part, older Seikos are some of the most r

When I was researching about the Tissot Antimagnetique watches for the article we published a little while ago I came across a bunch of interesting documents and information. Some came directly from Tissot, others I found in old books and catalogs. These documents are too interesting and valuable for the vintage community not to be used. So, I figured it would be beneficial if I collected and shar

More than 600 luxury watches are available in Heritage Auctions' Oct. 24 Watches & Fine Timepieces Auction in New York. Read on for some of the exceptional pieces spotlighted in this sale. 14k Gold Ref. 6241 Paul Newman Cosmograph Daytona John Player SpecialThe most coveted and commercially successful model produced by , the Daytona, is being offered by Heritage through an ultra-rare 14K gold

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak is a somewhat polarizing timepiece among watch guys these days.Audemars Piguet is a powerhouse with deeply rooted in the Swiss watch industry. Many of their models are legendary, and after so many years, AP still operates independently opposite the watch conglomerates like Swatch Group, Richemont Group, and LVMH. Not only do they swim instead of sink, but AP is also a