A New AP House Has Opened In The Heart Of Amsterdam
With the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum on one side and the most luxurious shopping street in Amsterdam on the other, the new AP House location in the Museum Quarter is the perfect spot to pause and gaze at some Audemars Piguet watches.AP House Amsterdam welcomes you!Last week, Audemars Piguet invited us to visit the newly opened AP House in Amsterdam. Bringing this location to fruition took longer than expected as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the planning quite a bit. But the result of the brand’s efforts is nothing less than impressive. The new AP House is located in a typical Amsterdam-style building. It follows other significant cities around the globe (e.g., New York, Los Ange...
#TBT Flying Into Autumn With The Pre-1963 Yema Skin Diver
I always wanted a vintage Yema Superman with the iconic locking bezel, but I could not find one for a long time. Then, when the sudden opportunity for a pre-1963 Yema Skin Diver 660 Feet came, I jumped on it. I didn’t know this would happen, but since the watch landed, I haven’t longed for the Superman anymore.I don’t enjoy this time of the year very much. The Sun disappears suddenly, the temperature drops by 15, the blue sky becomes gray, and the roads and my heart are wet. The moment I forget that the evening darkness tried to suck out all my energy, I wake up into morning darkness that tries to do the same. It comes every autumn, always without asking.Changing habitsIt ...
Introducing: Breguet Classique 5177 And 7787
The Breguet Classique line - contrary to what its name suggests - always reminds me of Baroque music. I can hear Scarlatti when I see the coin-edge cases, welded lugs, swirly Breguet numerals, and guilloche or enameled dials. They exude the same regal, exalted, masterful feeling as Mikhail Pletnev interpreting Scarlatti on piano.Today's release is a little bit different, though. This time, the Breguet Classique goes heavy metal - platinum, to be precise. Moody black dials underscore this turn towards darkness. The Shigeru Kawai concert grand piano makes way for an Ibanez guitar through a dimed Mesa Boogie amp. The question is: is the music still masterful?The Breguet Classique and platinumI ...
Sign Up For The Breitling Event In The Hague On November 29th
Breitling is celebrating its 140th anniversary in 2024, so we thought it would only be right to host a special Breitling Fratello event in The Hague, Netherlands. Vintage Breitling expert Fred Mandelbaum will be there as a special guest to discuss the brand's incredible heritage.The Breitling boutique in The Hague - Image: Jelle DraperBreitling Fratello eventBreitling has always been one of the most popular watch brands in the Netherlands. Due to a strong distribution network, great advertising (often word of mouth!), and, of course, great watches, Breitling holds a special place in the Dutch market. Whereas other brands stick to the capital of the Netherlands for their boutiques, Breitling ...
The Seiko SKX173: A Lesser-Known Take On The SKX007
Seiko’s SKX007 dive watch is a modern classic. Today, we’re looking at a different and, I’ll argue, better-looking version. The watch is known as the Seiko SKX173. Read on.Recently, I wrote about Seiko’s SKX007 dive watch. This was not a review, per se, but an assessment of the SKX007’s role in 2024. The article asked the question, “Is the Seiko SKX007 still worth your time in 2024?”The Seiko SKX007 in 2024Long story short, the answer was a qualified “yes.” Several factors have shifted significantly since Seiko discontinued the SKX007?in 2019. When it was in production, the SKX007 represented the entry point to the magic dive-watch formul...
Fratello Talks: The Best Watch Bracelets
Hello, and welcome to Fratello Talks! Today, Nacho, RJ, and Thomas discuss some of the best watch bracelets, looking at every element that goes into one, from end link to clasp. There’s nothing worse than a bracelet that feels cheap or like an afterthought. The way you fasten it to your wrist is truly an important part of any great watch. And, as opposed to straps, which are ultimately “disposable” products, a bracelet feels much more like an integral part of the watch as a whole. In this episode, the guys take a look at examples of great bracelets from , Tudor, Omega, and more. Thomas even lends us some of his insights from having recently worked on designing and producing...
The A. Lange & Sohne Lange 1 30th Anniversary Watches
It’s hard to believe that 30 years have passed since the first Lange 1 was introduced. Yet, here we are, and to celebrate this special occasion, A. Lange & Sohne has crafted four new limited-edition versions of the brand’s most famous watch. As we’ll see, Lange is bringing a pair of dial and case materials to two models.The memory of the original A. Lange & Sohne catalog sitting by my dad’s easy chair is as clear as day. In 1994, Wempe in New York City sent a booklet made of embossed heavy-stock paper. Even then, as a teenager, I knew it was something special. A brand I had never heard of was going all in with fancy marketing materials. Then, there were the wa...
Watch auction
Yesterday, Antiquorum had their ‘Timless Beauty’ acution and it seemed to be a good one for them. You can read all about it in their report, click here (you’ll need Acrobat Read for this).A Patek Philippe Calatrava, only 3 pieces made, in 1961 fetched the most… an amazing amount of 1,413,000 USD!! Besides a few more Pateks and es, Panerai acquired a lot of 5 diving instruments for their Panerai Museum. A wristwatch, compass, depth gauge, diving knive and a Morse code device made for the Italian Navy commandos. This went for 80,000 USD. Twice as much as estimated. The “Ferrari Red” Daytona below, went for 240,000 USD. Click here for all its specificatio...
IWC Ingenieur
Although most IWCs are not my cup of tea, I make exceptions for the Portugieser and the Ingenieur as pictured below. This photo was taken by a TimeZoner by the name of ‘Lauranceyap’ at the IWC Forum.Actually, this IWC is the only IWC I can see myself wearing in the future. I guess my weakness for integrated bracelets plays part! It is 42mm in diameter and has the inhouse IWC caliber 80110. Pricing seems to be on par with other brands that use inhouse movements or movements of similar quality. In the Sales Corner over at TimeZone and on Chrono24.com?you can find pre-owned 2006 models for around 4000 Euro....
Introduction of the Lange 1 Tourbillon Handwerkskunst
Yesterday, A. Lange & Sohne celebrated the 20th anniversary of their Lange 1 watch. What better way to come up with a stunning version of their classic Lange 1, with a one-minute tourbillon, a beautiful black enamelled dial (and silver applied sub dial for the seconds) in a classic 38.5mm platinum case?Lange 1 Tourbillon HandwerkskunstUnder laud applause Lange’s Anthony de Haas presented the Lange 1 Tourbillon Handwerkskunst to the crowd (who went wild). Due to the poor light conditions of the – otherwise – beautiful place in Dresden, it was almost impossible to take a proper photo of the new Lange 1 Tourbillon Handwerkskunst without using any specific equipment.Only 20...
Speedy Tuesday Speedmaster Artwork by Cay Broendum
Speedmaster ArtworkOnly a few months ago, we did an interview with Danish artist Cay Broendum in this article. Not much later, we had an exchange of emails about Speedmaster artwork. Now that it is done and ready for ordering, let’s have a look at this piece of art and tell you about some of its details.You saw it here first, on Fratello Watches’ Speedy Tuesday!Speedmaster 105.012/145.012As inspiration for this Speedmaster artwork, Cay Broendum used the Omega Speedmaster Professional 105.012 / 145.012.You can recognize this due to the use of the applied Omega logo at 12 o’clock, the Dot Over Ninety bezel and drop counter weight chrono seconds hand. This could still be a tra...
Hands-On Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 2017 Review
This year, Omega not only introduced the 60th anniversary ‘Trilogy’ and the ‘Speedy Tuesday’, they also brought us the Seamaster Aqua Terra 2017 models. Not too long ago, we published an article on the 15th anniversary of the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra (you can find it here), showing you an overview of these models since the start.Every year, the number of new references that Omega introduces in Basel is just mind-boggling. I wouldn’t mind if they would take it a notch down, but I guess that there’s a market for each and anyone of them. Most people think I am a ‘Speedmaster’-guy, which is surely true, but I also have a weak spot for the Constel...
#TBT Girard-Perregaux Chronometer HF Before the Dawn of Quartz
Today on #TBT, we'll take a look at the Girard-Perregaux Chronometer HF. It's a watch that I grew up seeing a lot as a child since it belongs to my father, but it also spent some time with me recently while being serviced in Europe. The GP's distinctive cobalt blue dial was always attractive to me, but it was only somewhat recently that I recalled my Dad's comments about the watch's distinctive movement and decided that it deserved a little time on our site.GP isn't a brand we feature heavily in general here on Fratello Watches, but a scroll through our archives does reveal that we've covered a vintage piece before aside from today's Girard-Perregaux Chronometer HF. In fact, the article was ...
John Glenn's Breitling Navitimer 809 to be Sold at Auction
The early 1960's Cosmonaute reference 809 Wide Bezel' models are enough of an elusive piece for any vintage Breitling collector, so the news that one owned by Astronaut John Glenn will be coming up for sale is an absolutely awesome moment that might get some of us a little bit excited.On the 10th December 2019, Phillips Watches will be holding their Game Changers' auction in New York City where two of John Glenn's watches will feature, notably his Navitimer 809.John Glenn’s Breitling Navitimer 809 CosmonauteThis particular auction is already well known to be featuring Marlon Brando's GMT-Master as worn in the Film Apocalypse Now among other iconic watches.John Glenn Jr. was a United S...
Hot Take: The New Hamilton Khaki Pilot Schott NYC
Today we're reporting on a partnership between Hamilton and Schott NYC. About a month ago, I visited Hamilton's HQ in Biel, Switzerland. They gave me a quick run-down on what was still to come for the brand this year. I saw some exciting watches, including this Khaki Pilot Schott NYC.The watch is the result of a partnership between Hamilton and Schott NYC. A limited piece that pays tribute to the heritage of both brands and what bonds them together; the United States Armed Forces. To celebrate their shared history, they released a timepiece today. Both Hamilton and Schott were companies that supplied gear to the Armed Forces, namely watches and jackets, as well as other garments. Furthermore...
What Is The Difference Between 316L And 904L Stainless Steel?
When you read the reviews and articles on Fratello Watches, I'm sure you have probably seen us talk about stainless steel watches. I mean, it's tough to get away from steel, as it's the most commonly used metal for watch cases and bracelets. It's a relatively affordable metal that offers excellent strength compared to its price to produce it. Sadly, as with anything in life, it's not just that simple. There are different types of stainless steel, each with its own pros and cons. You may have seen us classify different watches as using 316L or 904L steel. The thing is, what does that mean? What is the difference between 316L and 904L stainless steel?First things first, what is it?Technically ...
IWC Strikes Again With Two New Black Ceratanium Pilot's Watches
With Top Gun 2: Maverick on the horizon, IWC is here to ensure that pilots and fans of pilot's watches alike can gear up appropriately for the long-awaited movie. To cater to different needs and tastes, there's a wide variety of Top Gun watches. Some in beige ceramic, some in blue, and black is also an option. But the color black means you're not looking at just any ordinary ceramic. No, black ceramic at IWC is called Ceratanium. Now, IWC strikes again with two new Pilot's Watches in black Ceratanium: The Pilot’s Watch Timezoner Top Gun Ceratanium and the Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Top Gun Ceratanium.IWC and ceramic go way back. All the way back to 1986, with the launch...
New Release: Norqain Adventure Neverest GMT Watches (2021)
It seems like just last week we were talking all about Norqain's Adventure Neverest dive watches. In fact, we were. That trio of stunning divers was a perfect summer release. However, as summer starts to wind down, temperatures drop, days get shorter, and the leaves turn brown. A lot of you will also go back to work, and this will likely imply travel. So what better way to welcome the chilly days of fall than with a travel-ready companion in the form of a GMT. Especially one that will look just as good in the office or on the plane if you decide to hit the trails!We only covered it recently, but Norqain’s previous release saw the brand give us three brilliant dive watches. Now, followi...
Making Sense Of The Louis Moinet Space Revolution Watch
When we first saw the Louis Moinet Space Revolution watch for the first time a while back, most of us at Fratello thought the brand’s driving force, Jean-Marie Schaller had lost his mind. We thought it was a stunning piece of Haute Horlogerie and a micromechanical marvel, but we also thought the man has lost his marbles. Earlier this year the Space Revolution watch got a well-deserved GPHG nomination. We got in touch with Jean-Marie to talk about the watch, further explain it, and reveal the origins and workings of what must be one of the most original complications out there. But to be honest, the videos explain more than a thousand words.For Jean-Marie Schaller, it's all about the sp...
Hands-On: The MeisterSinger Edition Planet Earth
Our favorite North Rhine-Westphalia-based producer of one-handed watches released their latest limited edition watch just last month. I am, of course, talking about the unmistakable MeisterSinger and its Edition Planet Earth model, created in collaboration with the WWF (World Wide Fund For Nature). I was given the opportunity to test this one in person and was excited to not only see that wonderful depiction of the Earth on the dial, as well as to experience one of their new vegan leather straps (more on that later). In teaming up with the WWF, the Munster brand looks to do its part for the future of our planet, a cause that I think we can all agree is more than worthy.The MeisterSinger Edit...