New Release: Three Stone-Dialed Louis Erard Regulateurs (2021)
The latest release from Louis Erard sees the Jura mountains-based manufacturer dig deep into the earth and bringing three stunning minerals into the dial of one of the brand's historic models. Thanks to the use of these natural materials each watch's dial is unique. The speckles, layers, and lines found in these minerals are the product of millions of years of formation and are all on display on the dial of these watches. Their execution, not just a work of art, but a technical challenge in stone cutting and fine watchmaking.Here at Fratello, we are no strangers to Louis Erard. We got a chance to play with the Louis Erard Alain Silberstein which left quite an impression on some of the editor...
NEW: Ulysse Nardin Marine Torpilleur Limited Editions for 2021
Aside from perhaps the Freak, Ulysse Nardin’s Marine Chronometer is without a doubt the brand’s most recognizable model. And indeed it should be, for when Ulysse Nardin first established his workshop in 1846, he set his sights on producing the finest marine chronometers the world had ever seen. Through the rest of the 19th and early 20th centuries, Ulysse Nardin’s superbly accurate chronometers became indispensable tools for over 50 navies worldwide. In 1996, for the brand’s 150th anniversary, the marine chronometer aesthetic finally made its way into a wristwatch.In the 25 years since then, the Marine Chronometer has proven to be a very successful style indeed. These...
Ferdinand Berthoud FB-T.FC-RS Hits Geneva Watch Days (2021)
The caliber FB-T.FC-RS with tourbillon and fusee-and-chain transmission. Only 20 examples of the new Regulateur Squelette movement will be produced and housed in a choice of round or octagonal cases. You can pick the shape of the case and the material. I asked if there were any limitations regarding materials and the answer was clear, it had to correspond with the historical context of the brand. So recycled plastic is a no, ceramic probably a yes. And platinum and any type of gold won't be a problem either. The one in the picture I took a few snapshots of much nicer images will follow in the near future on Fratello is carburized stainless steel. It's called the FB 1RS.6.FB 1RS.6Party in the...
Breitling's New Top Time Classic Cars Capsule Collection (2021)
Just a quick heads-up regarding Breitling's new Top Time Classic Cars Capsule Collection. Together with Mike, I witnessed a green 1968 Mustang, a blue Shelby Cobra, and a red Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray roar through an enormous hall at Palexpo in Geneva. The cars were a prelude, though. They introduced the 42mm Top Time Chevrolet Corvette, the Breitling Top Time Ford Mustang, and, my personal favorite you see in the picture, the 40mm Breitling Top Time Shelby Cobra.Nice detail; the squared-off circular registers. The car logo's on the dials are probably not for everyone. But I suspect that (especially my shiny blue chronograph of choice) could be nice enough to deal with the prominent repti...
The Sinn 717 Cockpit Wristwatch Pilot's Chronograph (2021)
When form follows function, great things can happen. It's not inevitable, like death and taxes, but in the case of the Sinn 717 Cockpit Wristwatch, the original form sure led to something good-looking for the wrist. The black chronograph on my wrist has a history that stems back to the Panavia Tornado fighter jet, a late 1970s swing-wing airplane that was in service with the German Luftwaffe. And when I was young, I had a small Matchbox model of the Tornado in a gray camouflage livery. Another good reason for me to take this particular Sinn for a spin.Who wanted to be a fighter pilot when they were young? That's what I thought. Me too. I also wanted to be either a drummer in a famous rock ba...
New Release: The Longines Spirit Now In Titanium (2021)
Longines has done a brilliant job in combining classic vintage looks with quality modern construction and movements in its Spirit collection. Now, the young line expands in an exciting direction with the introduction of the new titanium models. But that's not all, a new dial color as well as detailing in gold give these new models a classy edge. These details elevate the watches well beyond what was already available in the lineup. A new strap option is a cherry on top of this already appealing new offering.The watches found in the Longines Spirit collection walk the line between the pilot and field watch aesthetics. This is certainly well-trodden ground when it comes to watch design. Howeve...
Bernhard Lederer Novelties From Geneva Watch Days 2021
Bernhard Lederer is a giant. Not just in the physical sense - the man sure is tall - but also very much in the horological sense. He's on a quest for precision in the tradition of John John Harrison by using Abraham-Louis Breguet's natural escapement. This kind of escapement is the best of both worlds, being the Swiss lever and detent escapement.Last year we saw a prototype and now the Central Impulse Chronometer is ready. The concept is part of a long tradition, and although the dial side looks classic, the back with the massive box shaped crystal is very contemporary.The way to achieve the best possible precision is to stabilize the power in the movement, according to Bernhard Lederer. And...
Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph LE (2021)
Two hundred years ago, Nicolas Rieussec invented the world’s first chronograph. It was a clever device that did not only measure time but could also record it with an ink drop on a rotating disc. Rieussec named the device chronograph, a combination of two words taken from the Greek. “Chronos” stands for time, while “graphien” meaning writing. The world’s first “time writer” was born.Montblanc pays tribute to this tremendous horological achievement by releasing the Montblanc Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Limited Edition 200. The watch is a new iteration of the brand’s already existing model with a new look.Chronograph by RieussecFor a long ...
Hands-On: The Oris Aquis Upcycle Reclaimed PET Plastic Dial (2021)
Oris’s dedication to land and sea conservation is renowned. Following the Oceans Trilogy, this new limited-edition Aquis Upcycle supports the clean-up of non-recyclable plastics from our ecosystem. More so than a single species or localized environment, the impact of certain plastics is widespread and devastating. To bring awareness to the plight of our oceans, Oris represents the appearance of plastic-strewn beaches on the dial of the Upcycle. Used plastic products are shredded and molded into a colorful mosaic pattern. Coloured PET plastics are notoriously challenging to recycle and often end up in landfill sites or release toxins during incineration. Oris elects to upcycle the PET, ...
#TBT The Elusive Gallet Medigraph
A pulsation scale on a dial makes any chronograph a bit more gentle and human. The Medigraph is one of the most romantic Gallet chronographs of all. And it’s certainly not easy to get your hands on one…I am not a doctor. No one close to me is a doctor. I never wanted to be one. I didn’t watch Chicago Hope, and I know Hugh Laurie only as a singer. So why am I always brought to my knees when I see a chronograph with a pulsation scale? It has to be very personal, I guess.Self-observations with the Gallet MedigraphMy newly acquired Gallet Medigraph arrived recently, and having it for a few next days on my wrist made me think a lot. And I believe I got to the bone of my affectio...
Rubber B Strap For The Omega Swatch MoonSwatch
Today, I am checking out the Rubber B VulChromatic strap for the Omega Swatch Speedmaster MoonSwatch. The blue stripe in the center matches the Mission to Neptune’s blue Bioceramic case. A contrast to the primarily black strap, the blue is a separate rubber mass that is molecularly bonded for life thanks to the VulChromatic technology. The strap also includes solid inserts at the ends, known as “blocked integration”. This rigid structure allows the curved ends to sit flush against the case with no gap or articulation for a bespoke feel. All this technology is excellent for a $280 rubber strap. But does it suit the intended $260 watch? Let’s find out.These days, I have...
Introducing The Seiko SLA063J1 Prospex Limited Edition
Seiko’s dive-watch legacy is magnificent. We are reminded of that every time we see a new re-edition of one of the brand’s classics. And with the release of the Seiko Prospex SLA063J1 Aurora Limited Edition, the saga continues. But something about this new release felt very recent. Indeed, the new limited-edition Prospex takes after the SLA049J1 that was released in the spring of last year. This new model, however, adds a touch of brilliance with a blue gradient dial that looks stunning. The dial “expresses the aurora that shines in the polar sky” and results in a stunning presence. Let’s find out more about this Seiko Prospex SLA063J1 Aurora Limited Edition.It ...
Seiko SRPH93J1 And SRPH95J1 Join The Presage Line
Seiko introduced the first series of Style60's watches to the Presage line in 2021. When Lex covered these on Fratello, they were met with a mixed response from you, my dear Fratelli. Well, Seiko is sticking to its guns and expanding the lineup today with the SRPH93J1 and SRPH95J1. These are still very much style-first watches with basic specs at an accessible price point. Let's have a look at what the new additions entail.What we have here is a new version (SRPH93J1) on an Oyster-style bracelet a white-dial version paired with a maroon bezel. The second new model (SRPH95J1) comes on a leather NATO strap in a full black PVD-coated case with a black dial and bezel. There is also a new all-blu...
New: Breguet Classique 7637 Repetition Minutes In Rose Gold
Today, we take a look at a watch from a brand that has certainly become more popular here on Fratello. Rightly so, Breguet is getting more notice around here, and we can count at least two of our team as owners. They’ve been enjoying relative bargains on the secondary market for stunning older pieces. Well, the new Breguet Classique 7637 Repetition Minutes in rose gold will likely never reach easy affordability, but it’s still a gorgeous piece!It’s nice to see that Breguet is entering more and more conversations among watch enthusiasts these days. Thankfully, folks have turned their attention away from the unavailable brands and have begun to take notice of other brands tha...
Introducing: Three New Sinn 356 Chronographs
Let me introduce you to three brand-new Sinn 356 chronographs! The German brand celebrates 25 years of its 356 with these three new models. Lovers of vintage chronographs rejoice: Sinn has opted for a dual-register layout. Let's have a closer look at the latest additions to Sinn's comprehensive chronograph catalog.The new Sinn drop is comprised of an anthracite limited edition, a vintage-inspired model with a vignette dial, and a white panda-dial version. In short, there should be a little something for everyone here.Celebrating 25 years of the Sinn 356Sinn's popular 356 chronographs go back to the mid-’90s. In reality, the story started a little more than 25 years ago in 1996. Sinn br...
Introducing: The Seiko Prospex SPB377 And SPB379
It’s a return in style! These two new Seiko models are not the first GMTs ever in the Alpinist lineup. They are, however, the first mechanical GMTs that the brand has created within its popular line of adventurer’s watches. With the Prospex SPB377 and SPB379, Seiko has brought back a much-desired version of the Alpinist. There will be a lot of fans that will like these two new GMT versions. But are they as impressive as the quartz titanium Red Alpinist GMTs from the early 2000s? Time to find out more.When Seiko sent us the press information for these two new Alpinist GMTs, I was really happy to see a return of a GMT version to the lineup. While Seiko has released both quartz and ...
Trilobe: Rewriting The Rules Of Time-Telling
For centuries, we’ve read time in the same way - with moving hands and fixed counters on the dial. But in a world where the traditional has been challenged across all spectrums, why should time be left untouched? Enter Gautier Massonneau, who has reimagined the wheel, quite literally, with his avant-garde French brand Trilobe. In Trilobe’s watches, time is captured in a series of rotating rings, each carrying a gradation of time - hours, minutes, and seconds - and breaking away from conventional hands.This Trilobe concept is a method of time-telling that makes sense today, would have done so a hundred years ago, and still will a hundred years from now. I've recently spent some ti...
New: The A. Lange & Sohne Datograph Handwerkskunst
We knew there would be plenty to celebrate going into this year. As the 25th anniversary of the final year of the last millennium, there is a lot to reflect on. Indeed, 1999 was a defining meeting point for fashion, art, technology, and culture. The onset of the new millennium inspired a surge of influential works that are still resonating today. One such horological masterpiece is the A. Lange & Sohne Datograph from 1999. Today's release continues this year's celebration with a 25-piece limited-edition Datograph in yellow gold with a delicately adorned dial and tremblage engraving. Otherwise known as handwerkskunst (or craftmanship), this sophisticated style has been applied to exclusiv...
Urwerk EMC SR-71 Vs. MB&F HM8 Mark 2
Our Sunday Morning Showdowns are usually quite sensible. Okayrelatively sensible. We often pit two attainable everyday watches against each other to see which wins the popular vote. Well, today is a bit different. Today, we have a brawl between two Nouvelle Horlogerie watches that, unless you are reading this from the sundeck of your 200-foot yacht, are completely unobtainable. This is the Urwerk EMC SR-71 versus the MB&F Horological Machine 8 Mark 2, two high-end, ultra-modern, highly creative, and unconventional watches.We are sometimes criticized if two SMS competitors aren't perfectly comparable in every way, including specs, price, genre, color, and so on. Well, today is a statement...
Vintage watch catalogues
On the Dash, a website about Heuer Chronographs (for both on your wrist and in your racingcar) has a very nice section on vintage catalogues on chronographs. Click here for the vintage catalogues. The gallery of fake Heuer watches may come in handy when you are looking for a vintage piece to add to your collection. Great website!...