G-Shock 40th Anniversary Recrystallized Series
If you had the choice between regular cornflakes and frosted ones, which would you pick? Forget about the fact that the sugar-coated ones with the tiger on the box contain more calories than the plain cereal. Go on, treat yourself; have the Frosties (or Frosted Flakes if you’re in the US and Canada). Now, if you had the choice between a regular G-Shock “Square” and a frosted one, which one would you choose? After reading about the three G-Shock 40th Anniversary watches from the Recrystallized Series, you might be able to make a balanced decision.It was in April 1983 that Casio quite literally shocked the watch world by dropping the very first G-Shock on the market. The inde...
Up Close And Personal With The Tudor Heritage Ranger
Tudor has once again been in the headlines with a swathe of new releases for Watches and Wonders 2023. But this is a story about a release from the last decade. This is the story of why a large 41mm tool watch is irresistibly quirky for this slim-wristed writer, despite its replacement having, for many, even better dimensions.?The cold wind is on my face as I shift from fourth up to fifth gear. The motorcycle, a silver BMW R80 from 1985, growls in response. The 800cc engine pauses as the crisp clunk of the gearshift takes effect before roaring back. I'm riding what's known as the Highland Lakes Road, a 150km stretch that goes through the guts of Tasmania, an island state off the coast of Aus...
A Conversation With A Neo-Vintage Breitling Collector
I have talked about hidden gems from the 1990s in several articles over the past year. Based on that coverage, I received a message from a Dutch watch collector who focuses on Breitling watches from the 1990s. Curious about his Breitling collection and motivation, we invited him to the Fratello office to listen to his story and look at his marvelous collection.Our reader’s Breitling collectionDuring our conversation with this Dutch Breitling collector, we mainly discussed the following models (as pictured above) - the white gold Breitling Emergency J56321, Chronomat Frecce Tricolori A13050.1 (LE 4,000 pieces), Chronomat Red Arrows A13050.1 (LE 1,965 pieces), Chronomat 50 years U.S. Air...
Grand Seiko SLGW003 Vs. Chopard L.U.C XPS Forest Green
It’s Sunday morning, so it’s time for another Sunday Morning Showdown. After two battles featuring and Tudor, it’s time to move on to something else. This week, we put two classic dress watches up against each other. Both came out at Watches and Wonders, and both impressed journalists and watch fans alike. Robert-Jan’s pick is the Chopard L.U.C XPS Forest Green, which was much talked-about as one of the most stylish releases of the show. Jorg’s pick is the Grand Seiko SLGW003 Birch Bark with a stunning new manual-winding movement. Which watch will triumph in this week’s battle? You get to pick your favorite, so let’s find out.In the first few weeks ...
Atelier Wen Makes Watches In Geneva And Shows Off Tantalum
Atelier Wen was present in Geneva at the Beau-Rivage Hotel during Watches and Wonders 2024. However, the brand wasn’t content with a small booth and a handful of watches on display. Master Cheng, the only master guillocher in Asia, made the trip and was accompanied by one of his rose engines. The young brand also announced a bold upcoming watch made entirely of tantalum.It’s no surprise that the folks from Atelier Wen were in Geneva earlier this month. Indeed, several independent brands exhibit their wares within the Beau-Rivage Hotel at an event running parallel to Watches and Wonders. The fact that Atelier Wen brought a 450kg rose engine by plane from China, though, was a shock...
Fake Watches are for Fake People
Fake WatchesExactly two weeks ago, I was dining with a friend and we were sitting outside (one of the first days with nice weather here in The Netherlands) and next to us, there was a table with three guys. One of them was wearing a Patek Philippe Nautilus in red gold. Although, that is what I thought it was at first glance. In the evening dusk, and without my glasses it was hard to identify it correctly the first time. However, giving it a better try, I noticed this was a replica version of the Nautilus in red gold on leather strap. The edges were way too round, the strap was crappy and the bezel was too thick. Furthermore, the dial was far from refined as Patek Philippe makes them. Even th...
Omega Speedmaster TinTin Reference 311.30.42.30.01.004
It’s Speedy Tuesday! One of our dear readers and Speedmaster enthusiasts has contributed a number of photos of his recently acquired Omega Speedmaster Pro Tintin watch. We discussed this watch already even before it was released in BaselWorld and then were the first to tell you about the association with Tintin. Jean-Claude Monachon –?Vice President and Head of Product Development – told us about the initial plans for this watch when Omega designed it, making it an official Omega Speedmaster Tintin timepiece. Instead, it became the Omega Speedmaster Pro Racing as the owners of the Tintin copyrights (probably) did not like the idea of having this watch as a tribute. As our f...
SEIKO FACTORY VISIT TRIP REPORT PART 3: Seiko Museum visit and interview with Mr Hattori
June 8, 2017: You can now sign-up for the same adventure as described in this article. Sign-up for the Grand Seiko Experience with Fratello Watches.Last year in October,?I traveled to Japan to join the Seiko Media Experience 2015 tour with 6 other journalists (a.o Jason Heaton, from the Grey Nato, Thomas Wanka from Uhren Magazine?and James Buttery from Watch Pro). It was a trip to remember and I decided to report about this trip in three separate articles.Part 1 Visit to the (Grand) Seiko and Credor facilities?in Morioka and Shiojiri;Part 2 Astron GPS and Prospex collections;Part 3 Seiko Museum visit and interview with Mr HattoriThis is the third and final part of my Seiko Factory Visit trip...
Hanhart Pioneer One With A Blue Dial Hands On Review
The Hanhart Pioneer One collection just got better, with this new blue version of their military-inspired watches.If you are a friend of the brand that resides in the Black Forrest, you are probably familiar with the Pioneer models. They are the most authentic in looks as far as the history of Hanhart is concerned. Hanhart was among the brands who supplied chronographs for the German Air Force during World War II. Those vintage pieces are very sought after and hard to come by these days. Partly because they are military timepieces, partly because the king of cool, Steve McQueen also wore one.Steve McQueen and his Hanhart 417ESHanhart has three major collections, but the military-inspired one...
If the GoT Guys wore Watches
Shockingly, it's all about to end. Yes, we're several feature-length rollercoaster rides away from finding out who is finally going to park their keister on the Iron Throne (spoiler alert: It won't be Ned Stark).As the armies of Westeros prepare for battle, we thought we'd help them out by selecting the finest (and most appropriate) watches for their wrists to ensure their strategies can be executed with military precision.GoT WatchesAnd because the only thing more enticing than absolute power over a sex/blood/power-mad kingdom is following the independent watchmaking industry, all of our choices come from makers who are beholden to no one or thing but their own genius.Jon SnowThis one is to...
Tutima Glashutte: High Time
Stand out from the crowd! The transition from lush deep green to darkest midnight green on the dial of this latest addition to Tutima's new Flieger series underscores the collection's sportily elegant look. These newcomers continue the tradition of legendary pilot's watches from the 1940s and do so at prices that are unequalled in this class.In addition to the Grand Flieger Classic and Airport series, the Flieger family thus gains a modern entry-level model in a new design that goes perfectly with an active lifestyle.For more information visit tutima.com/watch/flieger-automatic-6105-30/The night green, anthracite or black dials accentuate the masculine note and assure a clear overview. The n...
Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Tourbillions For Women
If the concept of owning a mechanically-groundbreaking watch resonates with you, Vacheron Constantin's new releases will be your thing. The Traditionnelle Tourbillions fit neatly into this storied Swiss brand’s catalog while evolving the modern idea of ?Haute Horlogerie?for women.2020 has been a good year for women’s watches. It started with Bvlgari‘s Serpenti, released during the LVMH Watch Week in Dubai. That watch was fitted with the world's smallest tourbillon. Following its release, I had high hopes. The mold was breaking. Brands were becoming more experimental. At last, they were taking risks with women’s timepieces. I had hoped that this year, we might finally ...
Sinn Baselworld 2020 novelties. 8 new watches in 3 model lines
Under normal circumstances, today would be press day at Baselworld 2020. We would be preparing to spread ourselves throughout the fair, visiting brands, and learning about their novelties for 2020. One of them, for sure, would be Sinn. To mark what would have been the opening salvo of Baselworld, let’s dive into the Sinn novelties for 2020.It is certainly a shame we have not had the chance to try these pieces on our wrists yet. Rest assured. That day will come. And with it, so will a more personal touch to our opinions. For now, Close your eyes and imagine that nothing has changed. Here are Sinn’s 2020 novelties which were originally planned for Baselworld. You may open your eyes...
Mido Radiotime (2021): The Holy Grail Watch You've Never Heard Of
I?have been getting ready to write this article for years. Alongside other obscure brands and watches, it was always the Mido occupying top positions of my list of holy grail watches. No , no Omega, no Patek. Let's travel back to 1939 when the Mido Radiotime was born.?? It's noon on a Sunday and we are all sitting around the dining table. There are six of us, so it’s loud and busy. There is always a radio playing in the kitchen background. What happens next is burned into my memory and sits in an imaginative drawer of my all-time most vivid memories. A series of short radio pips that ends with a final, longer pip followed by a microphonic voice announcing the time. I don’t rememb...
Unique Omega Tourbillon At Antiquorum May 2021 Auction
I am delighted to be sharing my research on a newly discovered and unique Omega coming up for auction at Antiquorum in Geneva. You can see the full catalog here. But first, I will go back through a bit of history to put things in context.When we think of Omega watches, each of us will likely have an image of a particular watch pop into our minds. In my case, it's usually a Speedmaster. However, among its peers of the biggest brands at the top of the Swiss watchmaking industry, Omega is one of the most varied. Historically speaking, it might even be the broadest. It has covered more categories, made more references and calibers, and ventured into more prototypes than many of its peers.A uniqu...
Omega Seamaster Professional Automatic Chronometer 300M Diver Midsize Watch In White Gold
It will be difficult to not use the name Yacht-Master in this write-up. One glance at the midsize Omega Seamaster Professional Automatic Chronometer 300M Diver watch is enough to show you very clearly what I mean. Doesn't that bezel ring a bell? It does, doesn't it? The edgy shape of the uni-directional white gold bezel is distinctly Seamaster and the same goes for the wave pattern on the deep black dial. This dressy Seamaster is quite the sophisticated yachtsman. Or noble diver, if you prefer.With its 36.2511.5mm white gold case, the midsize Omega Seamaster Professional Automatic Chronometer 300M Diver watch (ref. 2652.50.91) is a very versatile creature. Because of its modest size, it sli...
Sternglas Naos Argo Automatic Is A Multi-Colored Marvel (2022)
Before another year comes to pass, I will have spent two full decades working in the watch industry. In that time, I've seen many things. I have seen good times and bad. There have been periods during which money seemed to rain from the sky and others when the industry's stability was threatened by the global financial crisis. I have seen novelties aplenty and, in recent years, I’ve been involved in creating several models myself. With that experience behind me, I can say this: the new Sternglas Naos Argo Automatic will not change the world. Its release will barely register on the watchmaking Richter scale. And yet, given its funky design and sub-$400 price tag, I can't help but imagin...
The Speedmaster MoonSwatch Is The Hype Still Alive?
Where were you when the MoonSwatch landed? I know where I was because the build-up to the launch promised a big bang. And it certainly delivered. As soon as the eleven Omega Swatch Speedmaster MoonSwatches touched earth, it seemed like the entire world went mad. The watch world, that is. Swatch boutiques were surrounded by hordes of watch fans young and old trying to get their hands on a Bioceramic MoonSwatch. Find out how I experienced the touch-down of the Speedmaster MoonSwatch, what I think of the watch itself, and my perception of the concept; is the hype still alive?Omega Swatch Speedmaster MoonSwatch - Creating turmoil worldwideSo, is the hype surrounding the MoonSwatch still going st...
Introducing The Brellum Pandial LE.1 DD Chronometer
I’ve always been a fan of panda-dial chronographs. Although I’ve never actually owned one, whenever there’s one in the office, it immediately grabs my attention. And that’s exactly the case here as well with the all-new Brellum Pandial LE.1 DD Chronometer. One reason is that it uses blue instead of black to contrast with the silvery-white dial. And if you know me, you know I love blue! Let’s take a closer look at this hot new release from the independent Swiss family-owned brand. You’ll see that it packs an impressive amount of heritage and value for a surprisingly modest price.I wasn’t actually all too familiar with Brellum’s offerings, but Na...
Fears Garrick Setting A High Bar For British Watchmaking
Nicholas Bowman-Scargill is quickly moving up the ranks of a new wave of British watch manufacturers with the Fears family brand. Watches from Fears feature traditional styling and are spot-on for today's vintage resurgence. One could say the same about the timepieces from Garrick, and that can mean only one thing: the Fears Garrick has the potential to set the collaboration bar pretty high.Fears watches have a distinct language, and Garrick pieces remind me of marine chronometers and Breguet, a brand that has long fascinated me. When Nicholas from Fears reached out, revealing a secret that was four years in the making, I had a feeling it would be good. And I wasn't wrong. In fact, the two b...