Florijn F03 52Mondayz, week #42 Dutch glory and ultimate robustness
Florijn, Dutch Glory! In the 52Mondayz line up this is the second watch brand with its origin in The Netherlands.The first one I covered was Fred Dingemand’s d.m.h., and now it’s the Florijn brand designed and produced by Hans Heuvelman. Teun Heerebeek mentioned the brand in his Watches & Pencils #20 before, we never dit a review on the watches though.The Florijn F03 on my wristFlorijn F03So here’s the watch I’ll be wearing this week, the Florijn F03. Currently the Florijn watches come in three variations, very conveniently named F01, F02 and F03. F01 fully in bare stainless steel, F02 in stainless steel with a black unidirectional bezel, and the F03 (the one I...
Tissot Ballade Powermatic 80 COSC Hands on review
Technological development has always been one of the key features of Tissot. Tissot has several achievements under their belts. Did you know for instance that they assembled the first non-magnetic watch in 1929? Or that Tissot was the first company to release watches made of plastic, stone and wood? Surely, once the brand from Le Locle became part of Swatch Group they were repositioned to serve the affordable segment. This however only fueled their desire to offer cutting edge technology timepieces at a very competitive price. The watch that we have here today for you is the result of such desire. A timepiece that offers a lot for way under $1000. I'm talking about the Tissot Ballade Powerma...
Pilot Chronograph Tricompax
Classic design, engineering precision and high functionalityClassic design, engineering precision and functionality are the guidelines for the outstanding Pilot Chronograph watches of ARCHIMEDE. The first Pilot Chronograph was rewarded several times: Winner and 3. place at the Golden Balance, 3. place at the award ‘Pilot watch of the year 2012’ of the German FliegerRevue.ARCHIMEDE intends to continue this success on Flieger Chronographs with the launch of the very special, brand-new Pilot Chronograph Tricompax. A remarkable, quite rarely seen timepiece among Pilot watches. The magnificent ETA 7750 Top movement is equipped with Tricompax module, Glucydur balance, Nivarox hairsprin...
Speedmaster Tokyo 2020 Limited Edition Set Hands-On Review
Between the introduction of the Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday “Ultraman” and the Speedmaster Hodinkee Limited Edition, Omega decided it was the perfect moment to introduce the Speedmaster Tokyo 2020 Limited Edition series. Only meant for the Japan market, but also outside this beautiful country, it received some press (also by us, of course). Omega will be the official timekeeper for the Olympic Games in 2020, and it has become a tradition that they present a number of watches dedicated to the Games. This time, but I assume we will see some more in 2020, five different Speedmaster models that can be bought as separate watches (and limited to 2020 pieces each) and one set with all fi...
Wrist Game or Crying Shame: Omega Ploprof
Welcome, friends, to Wrist Game or Crying Shame, where we ask you to vote on whether a watch is worth its salt or simply worth what salt is worth.? This week, we’ll go (O)mega with the Omega Ploprof, but first…Somewhere over the Rainbow, way up high…? Well, you folks were clearly high on a little Zenith Rainbow because this child of the 90’s soared to a colorful 61% Wrist Game win at time of publishing.? We received a lot of colorful responses from folks who lamented the 60’s British/French/Italian car reliability of these watches, but a majority of you felt strongly enough about this colorful character to give it?la victoire.? Ah, and we received some cranky re...
Hands-On: Breitling Aviator 8 Mosquito
With the latest special edition release, the Breitling Aviator 8 Mosquito bolsters the brand’s lineup while taking a look backwards.The way of the (watch) world today appears to require a steady stream of new releases.? With near-instantaneous supplies of news, social media posts, and endless collaborations between brands and “influencers”, it seems that the only way to succeed is to join in the torrid pace.? Gone are the days of the annual watch shows and then waiting another 12 months for the next stream of products.? It’s pretty funny because the formerly (albeit sometimes still) antiquated watch industry held true to this annual pace of introduction up until just ...
Podcast We Talk With Xavier Ligero From Longines About The Spirit
Recently, we did a hands-on review of the new Longines Spirit watches. It is a pilot’s watch, new to the Longines Sport collection. We talk to Longines Head of Product Development Xavier Ligero about the Spirit and how it came to life.Our Fratello on Air podcast is available via Buzzsprout, Soundcloud, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Deezer,? Stitcher, and Spotify....
Seiko Alpinist SPB199J1 European Limited Edition Release
We’ve been teasing it for the past few days. We hope you were excited about this latest Seiko launch as we were. It’s been a long time coming, but we’re proud to announce a very special European exclusive from one of our favorite brands. The Seiko Prospex “Alpinist” SPB199J1 just hit the shelves of selected points of sale in Europe. Winter was coming. Winter is finally here…The latest “Alpinist” SPB199J1 from Seiko Prospex has an unusual gray/green sunburst dial. The color of glacial lakes found in high, mountainous regions served as its inspiration. As such, this model has been nicknamed the Mountain Glacier. Those chilly climes gave rise to o...
Buying Guide: The Best TAG Heuer Watches From The 1990s (2021)
We like to talk about vintage watches a lot within the Fratello team. Though most of what we write about is primarily focused on the most recent releases and developments, for many of us, a lot of the fun can be found 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 TAG Heuer watches from the 1990s.This week we will continue our journey through wa...
The new Laurent Ferrier Square Micro-Rotor, two new references
I do envy Laurent Ferrier's background. The man lived a rather full life before starting his own brand. As a Patek Philippe designer and watchmaker of over 30 years, he had time for Racing, coming third at the 24 hours of LeMans in 1979 ahead of Paul Newman. And this was well before he made his mark on the Independent scene. My life seems fairly devoid of panache compared to Laurent's achievements. Somehow this is an intrinsic part of his particular design language. Perhaps the trademark designs of ultra-smooth pebble cases are subconsciously inspired by the aerodynamics of his racing past? Regardless of where the inspiration came from, the new Laurent Ferrier Square Micro-Rotor Retro adds a...
How Watches Work: What Are Blued Screws? (2021)
Blued screws: we’ve likely all seen them before through display case backs. If not, we’ve probably heard the term used before, and it’s pretty self-explanatory. The real question is “why”? Why did watchmakers blue the screws of their movements? Well, as we’ve found out with many other finishing techniques, blued screws hold a functional benefit as well as an aesthetic one.Many lower-cost modern watch movements try to jump on the bandwagon when it comes to decoration. Blued screws are more attractive than their bare metal counterparts - there’s no denying that. The catch here is that they rely on simple, cheaper methods to achieve the blue color witho...
Buying Guide: The Best TAG Heuer Watches From The 1990s (2021)
We like to talk about vintage watches a lot within the Fratello team. Though most of what we write about is primarily focused on the most recent releases and developments, for many of us, a lot of the fun can be found 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 TAG Heuer watches from the 1990s.This week we will continue our journey through wa...
Dear Seiko, Bring Back The Ashtray
Seiko divers rank among my favorite watches of all time. I tend to believe that Seiko has carved out a relatively unique design language for a genre that spawns multitudes of copycats. Four-o’clock crowns, signature hands, and a penchant for simplicity are some of the traits that come to mind. The Seiko Ashtray?series that debuted in the mid-’80s is unmistakably a Seiko. However, it’s different than anything else in the collection, and frankly, I love it!It’s true that less than a decade ago, I was wondering if Seiko would join the already burgeoning retro trend. Fast forward to today, and I’m hard-pressed to name a famous former model that hasn’t been rec...
Hands-On: Formex Essence Leggera FortyOne
I recently reviewed the Formex Reef GMT. As much as I admired that watch, it did not quite strike a chord with me. It was a tad too elaborately styled for my liking. I hinted that I would try another Formex that might be more up my alley. I strapped on the Essence Leggera FortyOne for a few days of testing but ended up wearing it for several weeks. In fact, the Formex Essence Leggera played a funny little trick on meThe Formex Essence Leggera FortyOne is a forged carbon and ceramic evolution of the brand's innovative do-it-all line. While it might be stylistically less versatile than its steel siblings, it is even more impressive.Exotic materials, exotic constructionFormex cleverly combined ...
Wearing The Tudor Pelagos FXD "Alinghi Red Bull Racing Editions"
We took these photos the day after the Greenland Grand Prix, where Fratello Racing Daelmans Dutch Stroopwafels Team took home some well-deserved points in the fight for the championship. Monday-morning testing is always tough, just like the first day of a workweek in a regular office, I presume. But it was also nice that we could test two Tudor Pelagos FXD Alinghi Red Bull Racing Edition watches while we put the car through its paces. It made us think of Tudor sponsoring a Formula 1 team. sponsors the whole F1 circus already, so why wouldn't Tudor be interested in backing a participating team? How about the Red Bull Team, for instance, since Tudor and the energy drink company already work t...
Case Hardening For Steel Watches: How Do They Do It?
You know the feeling, right? You finally get your hands on that dream watch after months of research and online prowling. It is now sitting proudly on your wrist, shining away with its perfect surfaces. You walk to the bathroom and then it happens - bang! The doorjamb and watch meet, leaving a big scratch on the lug. Ouch, that first one always hurts! Some manufacturers try to protect you from this pain with case hardening technology. Sounds great, right? But what is it, technically?There are, in fact, many different technologies on the market to make steel more resistant to scratches. Today, we will have a look at the most common and see how it is done.Can you make steel as scratch resistan...
Nomos Club 701.1: A Reintroduction Of The Reference 701
What do you do as a brand when you’ve discontinued one of your references but people keep asking for it? Well, if you think anything like the people at Nomos do, you bring that reference back, of course. There’s a challenge, though, because you want to bring the design up to today’s standards and not lose the appeal that the original watch had. Well, don’t worry because the designers at Nomos have found a way to do just that. The result is the new Nomos Club reference 701.1. Now, bring your loupe, and let’s take a look.The Nomos Club reference 701 was the first Club model back in 2007. With its big numerals at 2, 4, 8, 10, and 12 o’clock, its more rounded ...
New: The Girard-Perregaux Neo Constant Escapement
When it comes to horological innovation, we often wonder if we have seen everything there is to see. Have we reached the pinnacle? Can watchmakers reinvent the wheel once again? It’s the mission of all serious horologists to do just that. But with watchmaking having been around for so long, most angles have been covered. Innovation is a noble thing to strive for but one that is notoriously hard to achieve. Few independent watchmakers and even fewer brands earnestly seek to reach it. However, it is not an impossible target to aim for. Once in a blue moon, a brand will achieve this elusive goal. Girard-Perregaux has done so this time with the new Neo Constant Escapement.As with any innov...
New: The Fears Garrick Salmon LE For Collective Horology
Two years ago, British watchmakers Fears and Garrick joined forces. Together, they presented the aptly named Fears Garrick. Fears ensured the watch looked charming and elegant, like a true gentleman. Garrick was there to impress us with the exposed balance wheel and the overall finishing of the watch. Now the two parties are back with a new version - the Fears Garrick. This time, it has a frosted salmon dial and is limited to just five pieces.These are available exclusively through independent watch retailer Collective Horology, the first American retailer for both Fears and Garrick. Let’s take a quick look at this very exclusive version of the Fears Garrick.The Fears Garrick Salmon fo...
New: The Krayon Anywhere Arborea Metiers D'Art 2024
Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to attend an event in London hosted by 289 Consulting. Roughly 25 brands attended, and we were free to sit in a casual, albeit dark, environment to view the newest watches. It was an enjoyable day with many highlights. A standout was the new Krayon Anywhere Arborea.Geneva Watch Days 2024 was so crammed with meetings that I could not make the Krayon appointment with Dave, my partner in crime. The relatively young Swiss brand, established in 2013, produces highly complicated, exclusive watches. Reportedly, Krayon makes 40 watches annually, so I figured I would need to wait another year to see one. Then, I received an invitation to the London event. The Anyw...