My family and I moved to a new house last week. It was a stressful time full of packing, cleaning, moving, and unpacking. But apart from that, it was also a good opportunity to get some of our belongings in order. We finally got rid of some stuff that had just been sitting in the closet since the last time we moved. But there were also some positive surprises, one of which was finding my old Seiko

March is not my favorite month. It is still cold, windy, and often rainy in Germany. So, what is there to do to beat the early spring gloominess? Book a trip to a warm place with a subtropical climate, preferably across the pond. That’s how I ended up in New York…okay, eventually in Miami, but that came a few days later. As it happened, I was on a business trip in New York and Miami in

We’re back with another episode of Fratello On Air. Balazs has just stepped off a plane from New York and is ready to record. In this episode, we kick off with a healthy dose of banter, touch on some news, and review the two watch shows that just concluded. Watch content starts after roughly 25 minutes.

We watch fans are a funny breed. As enthusiasts, we are always craving something new. But when we are presented with something new, the first thing we do instinctively is find watches from the past to compare it to. Once we’ve pinpointed the references to existing timepieces, that often becomes a reason to disqualify a design. Why am I telling you this? Because the new Seiko Prospex SPB481,

Since a few days, the new Milgauss has been hitting stores (authorised dealers as well as they grey market dealers) and visitor ‘page’ on TimeZone is probably one of the first to show his!This ref.116400 features an inhouse automatic movement (caliber 3131) and measures 40mm in diameter. As big as the current sportsmodels (Submariner, Sea-Dweller, GMT, Explorer II????etc). ‘Pag

Xetum, the Californian based watch brand from Jeff Kuo and Friend of Fratellowatches for years now, shows us their upcoming November release of the new Xetum PVD Tyndall watch. Now, there already was a PVD Tyndall timepiece, but this time Xetum introduces a limited edition model of 300 pieces only with a carbon fiber dial.Altough the official press release will go out in November, Xetum lets you k

On December 9th 2014, I joined Omega’s press conference where they introduced their new standards and certification?and the?important role of?independent institute METAS. A long-winded and opinionated report about that announcement can be found here.Since then, Omega has worked hard to set-up the processes needed to meet these new standards and to realize them in such way, that it can be don

Our last photo essay from not too long ago was about the 6-hour race held at the Nurburgring in Germany. We were invited by Chopard and Porsche and had an amazing time there. Now a few months later and a couple of degrees lower we are back with a new photo essay from a new race. This time it was the DTM (German Touring Car Masters) and the companies graciously presenting us with some entry tickets

A design hommage with many details done right, the Monta Oceanking. Its looks clearly remember us of dive watches as seen half way the last century. Modern techniques make sure this watch stands out from a crowd however.The Monta Oceanking on my wrist for 52Mondayz week #43Monta Oceanking 52MondayzAuthor Michael Stockton already wrote an extensive write up on the brand after Monta had decided to p

Right before the Christmas madness will break loose, Oris introduces to you their new Artelier Date Diamonds models in 33mm. A mid-sized case watch for women whereas the watch was previously only available in a small 28mm. This Artelier Date with 12 brilliant-cut diamonds on the dial might be a great gift (for your wife, girlfriend, or yourself of course!) for Christmas.Oris Artelier Date Diamonds

MILENEAL a new and emerging brand of men's watches will be catering to an exclusive niche – the young and dynamic working class mainly comprised of millennials, the watch design is a stylish combination of comfort, quality and versatility. Its inspired design is an ode to geometry and nature.The new micro brand's tagline is “be complete now”, giving the idea that that millennials

An introduction to mechanicsPlates, axes, wheels, gears. For all those who spent hours building and dismantling technical constructions, experimenting in the engineering world, the Big Bang MECA-10 offers itself as a transitional object. It took two years to develop and refine a new manufacture movement with on-board mechanics. Atypical architecture with Meccano-type design. Following the launch o

Even though Kickstarters brought Lebois & Co a lot of success, the owners of this revived 80-year-old brand thought it was about time to become more serious. Last April co-founder Tom van Wijlick already let us know that Lebois & Co want to start a different route. The opportunity to become a shareholder of Lebois & Co was introduced. Now, six months later, Lebois & Co introduce to

When RJ and I discussed the topic for this week's Speedy Tuesday I had no idea how timely this is. See, for someone who loves vintage Omegas and especially chronographs (Seamasters and Speedmasters alike) the Speedmaster 125 is always in the back of their minds. It's an odd-one-out in a good way for so many reasons. Reasons which we will talk about below. So after our discussion, I said to myself;

Welcome to Wrist Game or Crying Shame where we take the vote to the streets each and every week.? This week we go in a very different direction with the one and only Cartier Santos.Before we class things up, let's focus on last week's subject, the Omega Ploprof.? We featured an all-steel 1200 meter modern Ploprof for your perusal and guess what?? Despite those persistent hipsters, stylemakers and

Tropic Sports straps are making a comeback, so we take a look at them.How it all started for meI was still just a vintage-watch-rookie, a regular at forums, especially WatchUSeek's Omega group, when I came across a watch on eBay. It was about 15 or so years ago, and the timepiece in question was a cheap diver by the name of Cordura. I think I bought it for $25. It had a large case, a cool bezel, a

During the summer, I went hands-on with three variations of the Vacheron Constantin Overseas Perpetual Calendar in pink gold. To say I was a bit spellbound would be an understatement. Of all the watches that have come my way this year, the full gold Overseas was my favorite. But like any sin, it comes at a price. Which is why this week, I am selecting four classic Vacheron Constantin watches that

It seems that Certina can’t put a foot wrong when it comes to diving watches. If you want a mechanical, Swiss made, budget diver, chances are Certina has something for you. Recently, another fine example - the Certina DS Super PH500M - landed on my desk. The story of this watch is like a movie that takes us from the Caribbean Sea to Germany.Along our journey, we’ll meet NASA engineers

During the last watch event we attended, Bvlgari introduced to us its Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Chronograph Skeleton Automatic. According to them, it broke another world record, that of developing an ultra-complicated movement with a thickness of just 3.5mm.Somehow, I feel that this new watch got a bit snowed under by the introduction of the more affordable Bvlgari-Bvlgari Aluminium collection. Of

Anyone with an interest in watches knows that Kickstarter brands are a dime a dozen. They come and go, sometimes releasing a watch that gets talked about for a few weeks, then quickly forgotten. However, we also know that with the right formula, greatness can also emerge from the popular crowd-funding platform. Brands like Zelos, Furlan Marri, Xeric, and Brew Watch Co. have since gained popularity