How I Got Into Watches Through The Omega Speedmaster
I know, I know. You were expecting RJ to bring you an article for this week’s Speedy Tuesday, but you are going to have to deal with me, the photographer. Remember me? I introduced you to my Explorer ref. 124270 in my first-ever article about my GADA watch, which you can read here if you haven’t already. But don’t worry; I will tell you the story of how I met your mothe-… Wait, no, that’s not it. I will tell you the story of how I got into watches, and it is going to be legen…wait for it…dary! Legendary!In September 2023, I was part of the team that went to Japan for the Speedy Tuesday event that took place at the Nicolas G. Hayek Center in Ginza, T...
A Closer Look At Miyota And Its Movements For Microbrands
Miyota is one of the biggest players in the modern watch movement market. The subsidiary of Citizen is a favorite among microbrands and larger brands alike. With the 9000 series and new customization options, Miyota broadened its scope to higher-end watches. We felt it was about time, then, that we have a closer look at this Japanese movement maker.If you have recently purchased a watch from Baltic, Nodus, or RZE, chances are you are already wearing a Miyota caliber. And we have a feeling that the list of client watch brands will only get longer very soon.Miyota 90S5 caliberHistory of MiyotaMiyota got its name from the town of Miyota in Nagano, central Japan. Citizen built a movement factory...
Frederique Constant's Classic Tourbillon Meteorite Manufacture
Frederique Constant is a brand with many faces. These days, the sporty Highlife line plays an important role in the brand’s catalog. However, in the beginning, Frederique Constant made a name for itself with a classically inspired collection. That’s why it makes total sense that Frederique Constant chose a classic silhouette to celebrate its 35th anniversary. And this is not just any watch. The new Frederique Constant Classic Tourbillon Meteorite Manufacture has a platinum case, a meteorite dial, and a completely hand-finished Manufacture FC-980 tourbillon movement. Talk about a celebration in style!I like what Frederique Constant has achieved as a brand. With a diverse collectio...
The Best Watches Under $5,000: Balazs's Picks
You’d think it wouldn’t be too challenging to pick watches under $5K. There are so many fabulous timepieces on the market, and $5,000 is plenty of money to get a model from so many brands. This is all true. On the other hand, if you have five grand to spend on a watch, you probably won’t want to pick something for 12 hundred. Instead, you’ll want to aim for something that maximizes the budget. In that case, it gets more complicated. You still have many options, but there are far fewer brands to choose from. It also happens that I’m among the last editors to give you the list of what I think are the best watches under $5,000. That means many brands have already b...
#TBT The Unobtanium Gallet Multichron 12 Decimal Chronograph
The Gallet Multichron 12 Decimal is as rare as a hen’s teeth, with only three examples known before this one. Watch purists may not accept this one because I managed to put it together from old parts. Still, everything is genuine and correct for the period.First, I encourage you to read Mike’s eight-year-old story on his “basic” Gallet Multichron 45 Decimal, which doesn’t have a 12-hour totalizer. These seldomly models pop up, but you can find them. One is available on Chrono24, but the asking price is very optimistic. No matter the listing, they are pretty valuable and quickly sell in the $4,000C8,000 range, depending on condition. So imagine what the price tag...
New: Ulysse Nardin Freak One Navy Blue
Bow down. The Freak deserves your respect. In fact, the Freak is the mack daddy of everything we call Nouvelle Horlogerie. In 2001, a bizarre and unexpected watch appeared from the Ulysse Nardin atelier in Le Locle, and it shook the world of watchmaking on its very foundations. This world was not yet ready for an alien-like mechanical watch without hands, without a crown, and without a dial that told time. The men responsible for creating this abnormality were Ulysse Nardin’s visionary former CEO Rolf Schnyder and genius watchmaker Dr. Ludwig Oechslin. The movement of the Freak took center stage in a whole new way and blazed a trail for wild creations from experimental high-end watchma...
Hands-On: Hamilton Engineered Garments Khaki Field Titanium
To start this article, let me ask a quick question: can an abundance of something good lead to overkill? Let me be a bit more specific. I love the Hamilton Khaki Field collection. It’s one of the watch world’s most loved and respected series. I adore multiple models, like the white-dial Khaki Field Murph, the black-dial version of the Khaki Field Mechanical in bronze, and the black-dial Khaki Field Auto on the bracelet. And these are just three out of six or seven versions that tickle my fancy. With the introduction of the new Hamilton Engineered Garments Khaki Field Titanium Limited Edition, another one joins that list. But how does it rank among its peers? Let’s find out....
New: Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Self-Winding Ora ?to
The Vacheron Constantin Patrimony feels like a classic collection that has been around forever. However, you may be surprised to learn that it celebrates only its 20th anniversary this year. Still, it stands on the shoulders of much older VC creations in spirit and style, as we will see in a moment. To mark the occasion, Vacheron Constantin collaborated with designer Ora ?to.?to has carefully pushed the Patrimony Self-Winding into new territories while respecting its heritage. The resulting watch, limited to 100 pieces, is familiar and jarring at the same time. It is a watch worthy of closer inspection.Ref. 6187 from 1957Vacheron Constantin PatrimonyThe Vacheron Constantin Patrimony collecti...
Fratello Talks: Humor In Watches
Welcome to this week’s episode of?Fratello Talks. Watches are many different things - functional objects, fashion accessories, charming anachronistic timekeeping companions… The list goes on. But one thing they aren’t is funny. In the world of watches, the only thing more serious than the timepieces themselves is their prices. But does that mean there’s no room for humor and levity in the watch world? That’s the question Nacho, RJ, and Lex set out to answer today. In an industry that tends to take itself rather seriously, we look to find rare examples of humor and levity with varying degrees of success. Though not always visible at a glance, when you delve deepe...
NATO Straps
A few months ago, I wrote about the non-fitting NATO strap on James Bond’s watch in the Goldfinger movie (click here for the article). I also stated that I really don’t like NATO straps on watches.Still from GoldfingerIn one of the comments by Dell Deaton (THE James Bond watch authority), he more or less wrote me that I shouldn’t be so harsh on NATO straps “Live and let live”. Perhaps he was right, as I got a few NATO straps a few days ago from UK Watch Strap and I am slowly getting used to wearing such a strap on my t-dial Sea-Dweller.The straps start at 5.99 UKP (add one pound for the striped models) and are of excellent quality. Attaching them is a piece of...
Vintage Seiko Definitely Interesting To Investigate
I am the first to admit that the coverage on Seiko watches here at Fratellowatches is far below par. However, I will try to end that trend and report more often about these Japanese gems. Currently, there is a thread active on the TimeZone forum that asks members to show off their precious Seiko watches. The Seiko Sports 100 watch as posted by Robmks got my full attention, what a beauty!Seiko Sports 100 by RobmksAside from the wonderful picture, this stunning Seiko (7A38 – 7029) has a wonderful finish on case and bracelet and look at the beautiful grey dial with black sub dials. This 38mm diameter watch is part of the Seiko Sports 100 Chronograph series, which had a lot of different de...
Speedy Tuesday OMEGA Speedmaster Mark III
Omega's remarkable first automatic chronographIn 1971, Omega launched the Speedmaster Mark III Automatic, the first automatic chronograph of the brand. It was presented as the next step in the Speedmaster-series: a self-winding Speedmaster. The watch featured the new, automatic chronograph movement c 1040, housed in a funky chunk of steel. In retrospect, there is a lot to love about the Omega Speedmaster Mark III, its ridiculous case and the inconsistent Mark-line.Omega Speedmaster Mark IIIThe automatic chronograph became available to the public in 1969 by Zenith, while Breitling and Heuer/Leonidas were also completing their versions (ChronoMatic). Seiko had already released the very first a...
Certina DS Podium Chronograph Lap Timer Hands on Review
It was 2007 and I was window shopping at a watch store that had low to mid range watches. Brands like Festina, Casio, Tissot and Certina were in there, mostly sports models and of course mostly chronographs. Two watches stood out of the crowd for me; the Tissot PRC 200 (which I bought, not there and then but that's a different story) and the Certina DS Podium. It was a fairly new model line within the Certina family that the brand offered in both quartz and automatic versions. Though at the time the automatic was out of my price range I loved the look of the watch and its sportiness. Exactly 10 years later I finally managed to put one on the wrist. During my review of the Certina DS Podium C...
Introducing: Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Bucherer Blue Editions
Collabs are hot. Whether it is in fashion, cars or watches, people love the collaborations that lead to creative results. Bucherer has been doing collabs with watch brands and labelled them “Bucherer Blue Editions” for quite a while now. Just recently we showed you the Vacheron Constantin Bucherer Blue Editions watches, and now it is time to make it a bit more sporty with the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Bucherer Blue Editions.Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Bucherer Blue EditionsThe use of blue is appropriate when it comes to this collab, as the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe is a true diver’s watch. Originally, the Bathyscaphe was developed by Blancpain at...
Get Your Copy: Fratello's Omega Seamaster 300M Diver Magazine
We are thrilled to announce the release of our exciting new publication: Omega Seamaster 300M Diver Magazine. Tracing 25 years of an icon in 25 articles, this methodically-researched magazine?follows on from the success of our Speedy Tuesday edition. From the icon’s birth to the release of Omega’s current model, this publication plunges deep into the details of the Seamaster Diver 300M, covering stories as diverse as dive watch history, dial design, famous wearers, limited editions and of course – James Bond.This comprehensive profile of the Diver 300M is a fantastic resource for watch fans and passionate collectors. So be sure to grab a copy of Omega Seamaster 300M Diver M...
Hands-On REC RJM-04 Bluebird Review
Simple but strong. If you value the story and originality more than the movement inside your watch, REC watches should stay on your radar. Today we take a closer look at their recent release of the REC RJM Bluebird, a limited run of 334 pieces.Your watch doesn't need to be signed by a watch manufacturer that was founded 200 years ago to have one hell of a story to tell. And if you like WW2 stories, I bet your eyes won't stay dry after watching the video about the REC Bluebird.The slightly sunk middle part of the dial got rid of any surface structure, printed tracks, lines or letters you could find in RJM 01, 02 or 03.My eye on REC WatchesI had to search in my mailbox to find that I first sig...
Linde Werdelin completes a remarkable trilogy with the Oktopus Volcano
Linde Werdelin has always been a brand that has chosen its own path in the watch industry ever since Morten Linde and Jorn Werdelin founded the brand in 2002. From creating the ultimate functional tools to releasing unique pieces of art, the brand has made some remarkable watches over the last 17 years.The all-new Linde Werdelin Oktopus Volcano is the latest remarkable release that shows once again that the brand has great respect for craftsmanship outside the watch industry to create another exceptional timepiece.It might be a little strange, but the first thing that comes to my mind when thinking of Linde Werdelin is their highly creative press kit from years back that was developed with F...
Watch Strap Review 45 Time Team Roma Straps
I think I have told this many times, but here it comes again; the beauty of the watch community is that it’s so vast and colorful that even after many years, you’ll still find new and exciting things to discover. Sometimes, thanks to the internet, these things come to you. Most of the time, I’m the one hunting for new brands for our Watch Strap Review series. Other times, luckily, these brands find us and the collaboration forms. That is how today’s review of the fantastic straps by Time Team Roma came into being…I have been doing this series for over six years now. I have had my fair share of exciting straps, be they exotic leather, limited edition, or future c...
The Best Leather Goods When You Least Expect It: AnOrdain (2021)
Some brands focus on providing excellent leather goods, whereas, sadly, some other brands seem to treat them as an afterthought. It was, then, somewhat refreshing when I first came to see and learn more about the Scottish brand, anOrdain's approach to what I think are some of the best leather goods around at this price point.I don't know about you, but I have found that my love of watches has taken me down a few different creative rabbit holes. Over the years, I have enjoyed a few different yet associated crafts related to watches, but the most recent one is leatherwork. I have developed a love for this natural material, and as such, I find myself paying more and more attention to leather go...
The Allure of Japanese Independent Watchmaking Part One (2021)
As soon as we mention Japanese independent watchmaking, from microbrand to Haute Horlogerie (please message me the Japanese translation, someone), you will get immediate associations to the dial art of Grand Seiko, so strong is their brand in 2021. The rise and expansion of GS as a separate brand has only just opened our eyes to Japan's more hidden horological offerings. So while you might think it's about the dials, as with many crafts emanating from the Land of the Rising Sun, there is a deeper meaning, even for a Self-Confessed (should that be Obsessed?) dialaholic. If dials were music, the discs from Japanese top indie watchmakers are like vinyl records for the soul, emitting the soft to...