Hot Take: Geneva Watch Days Ulysse Nardin
I'm going to be straight-up honest and level with you (and any UN reps that are reading this): I wasn't excited about the visit to Ulysse Nardin. While I have a passing fondness for the brand that started my silicon obsession with the Freak what feels like a million years ago, those days, and the wide-eyed watchmaker that believed that by 2020 everything would be made from silicon, are long gone.But I came away from the Ulysse Nardin boutique impressed. Partly by our genial host Marie and her open, humble presentation, but also by the watches - especially the crazily high-end pieces. Don’t tell the three suitcases full of tool watches I have in storage. I might have a new love…If...
#TBT The 1970s Citizen Crystron Quartz 8600 "Blinker"
A flashing light and an unusual movement? That's a must-have watch for me. Imagine, back in the day these models had a price tag higher than the finest mechanical Citizen pieces back of the 1970s. Still, not many collectors know of them today. But what fun they are to play with. Meet the Citizen Crystron Quartz 8600.I?guess that younger collectors might really struggle to understand what this weirdo movement was for in the?life of common people. There is a?pretty decent red light that flashes every 60 seconds on Citizen Crystron. It blinks for a?short moment every time the second-hand passes by the 12. No need to be a Harward graduate to understand it signals the minutes and thus blinks 60 t...
The Best Ten Watches Of The Geneva Watch Days (2021)
With Geneva Watch Days 2021 coming to an end, it’s time to line up the best releases we have seen this week. We will be covering more of the releases in-depth here at Fratello in the upcoming days and weeks. But for now, we have lined up the most spectacular ten watches of the Geneva Watch Days. The selection criteria? It’s simple, really: the wow factor!Gerald Genta Arena Retro Mickey Mouse DisneyTalk about the wow factor! The Gerald Genta Arena Retro Mickey Mouse Disney made me smile the moment I saw it. It brings back memories to my own childhood and the 1980s and 1990s when Gerald Genta surprised us with a series of Disney character watches. One of his creations in the ’...
Hands-On With The Grand Seiko SBGY007 Omiwatari (2021)
The Grand Seiko SBGY007 Omiwatari was presented to you in June, so it's about time for a hands-on review of this classic-looking Grand Seiko. As I wrote in an introduction article last month, the Grand Seiko SBGY007 is part of the Elegance Collection. A Spring Drive powered dress watch whose dial pays tribute to the frozen waters of Lake Suwa. I explained the origin story of the Omiwatari in this article, so make sure to read that if you want to know more. This hands-on review of the Grand Seiko SBGY007 article is about the watch itself. No storytelling, just the watch as it is.Grand Seiko SBGY007 OmiwatariGrand Seiko has been on a roll this year, first showing us the White Birch, but also t...
New Release: The Sinn U50 S Mother-of-pearl S LE (2021)
All jokes and stereotypes aside, we all know Sinn as the go-to brand for those looking for no-nonsense, bomb-proof, functional tool watches. This is a brand that is not afraid to err on the side of utility. However, it's not all deadpan, business-only, no fun allowed. More and more, Sinn has started tentatively bending its knees up and down to the beat, shaking its hips, and even swinging its elbows from side to side in the corner of the disco. The Sinn U50 S mother-of-pearl serves as a clear example of this newfound bravery and desire to get groovy. If the brand keeps this up, they'll be dancing like Travolta on the colorful dance floor of watchmaking before we have time to say Perlmuttziff...
The Art Of End Links: Overlooked But Crucial Elements
I recently purchased a Doxa SUB 200 as a fun summer watch. I showed it to my colleague Gerard this morning, and we ended up discussing the end links more than any other part of the watch. And that includes the crazy bright yellow dial! It might sound silly, but I find that the end links often make or break a bracelet watch for me. The humble end link is so often obviously a compromise or an afterthought.However, when end links are done right, they can make such a big difference. This is true not just for the fit of the watch but also for the overall aesthetic congruence. So let's explore the art of the end link. Let's see what sets apart the good, the bad, and the ugly.Although stylistically...
Pocket Watches: Who Needs 'Em? Seiko, Tissot, And Patek
I’m going out on a limb here and assuming that at least some of Fratello’s readership is interested in pocket watches. Sure, they’re outdated, but in this case, that also indicates a rich history. Their larger size allowed for some of the most complicated watches ever made. Today, a handful of watch companies still make pocket watches for those few going for uber-sophistication (or irony). And there’s at least one company making old pocket watches into something completely new. Taken out of context, today’s pocket watches seem like an anachronistic novelty. However, companies like Seiko and Patek Philippe have a strong history with the form. And - believe it or ...
Singapore's Watch Industry: Zelos, Vario, Boldr, And More
Singapore, the world’s last true independent city-state, has a surprisingly large watch industry. Sure, like most affluent metropolises, there’s a high consumption of watches and other luxury goods. However, Singapore differs in its relatively large concentration of independent watch brands. With ones like Zelos, Boldr, Vario, and more, watch and strap manufacturers in Singapore offer quality products that the rest of the world values. Furthermore, these companies emphasize the enthusiasm of being a watch enthusiast.My first exposure to the Singaporean watch industry was through Zelos. This was back around 2017, not long after the introduction of the Hammerhead dive watch. The Ze...
Tudor Pelagos 39 Vs. Sinn T50 Titanium Dive Watches
Welcome to a slightly different Sunday Morning Showdown! As Jorg explained last week, at the time of writing this article, the team is deeply buried in work due to Geneva Watch Days. Part of the crew is in Geneva, and I am one of the few safeguarding our home turf. In short, that means I am doing this showdown as a solo endeavor. Sorry, no friendly banter among colleagues this time. You will have to make do with personal ramblings today.Never fear; we will be back to the familiar format next week. We will also surely cover many of the great suggestions you made when Jorg asked you what watches you want to see pitted against each other. So stay tuned for all of that! Now, onto today’s b...
Can I Swim With My Omega Speedmaster Professional?
Every once in a while, we see comments and questions on the Speedmaster that need to be addressed. One of them is about the water resistance of the Speedmaster. It’s often mocked for the lack of water resistance, but what many don’t seem to know is that, according to Omega, it’s safe to swim while wearing the current Speedmaster Professional with caliber 3861.We’ve covered the iconic Speedmaster nearly every (Speedy) Tuesday since 2012. But Fratello goes back to July 2004, and between then and 2012, the Speedmaster was a recurring topic as well. This resulted in receiving a lot of questions about the Moonwatch and all of its variations. For this article, we have selec...
On The Go At Geneva Watch Days 2024
Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we have a different episode style. Your friendly co-hosts check in while on the go at Geneva Watch Days 2024. Ultimately, we try to give you a feel for the non-stop schedule and what it’s like to be at a show. There’s no banter beforehand, so let the audio roll!...
Hands-On: The OX Frog300 Shark Skin And Depth Rainbow
Tool watches are not only popular but also often uncomplicated and dull from a design point of view. How refreshing it is to see and wear the Frog300 from Oceanix (or OX for short). It has a non-conventional case shape, modern-styled bold hands and indexes, and refreshing colors. Furthermore, it contains an innovative safety feature, so let’s dive into it!The OX Frog300The story of Oceanix/OX started in 2021 at a beach bar in Andalusia, Spain. It was then and there that Joseph Bolart decided to create the “nearly perfect” diver’s watch. His vision was to earn respect in international watchmaking by creating remarkable timepieces that challenged conventional norms. Aft...
The Grand Seiko 45GS Returns: The SLGW004 And SLGW005
While the 44GS might be Grand Seiko's most famous model, another impressive watch came out just one year later. Aptly named the 45GS, this was a high-beat hand-wound watch in a similar design. Now Grand Seiko is reviving that model with the new SLGW004 and SLGW005. Grand Seiko opted to remain faithful to the original, which shows in several authentic details. In short, these are surely worth a close look.Before we get into the nitty-gritty, the headline is that the SLGW004 is 18K gold and priced at $32,200. Grand Seiko will make only 200 units of this watch. The SLGW005 is stainless steel and priced at $10,400. A total of 1,200 pieces will see the light of day this November.Grand Seiko 45GSY...
Can I Swim With My Omega Speedmaster Professional?
Every once in a while, we see comments and questions on the Speedmaster that need to be addressed. One of them is about the water resistance of the Speedmaster. It’s often mocked for the lack of water resistance, but what many don’t seem to know is that, according to Omega, it’s safe to swim while wearing the current Speedmaster Professional with caliber 3861.We’ve covered the iconic Speedmaster nearly every (Speedy) Tuesday since 2012. But Fratello goes back to July 2004, and between then and 2012, the Speedmaster was a recurring topic as well. This resulted in receiving a lot of questions about the Moonwatch and all of its variations. For this article, we have selec...
Can I Swim With My Omega Speedmaster Professional?
Every once in a while, we see comments and questions on the Speedmaster that need to be addressed. One of them is about the water resistance of the Speedmaster. It’s often mocked for the lack of water resistance, but what many don’t seem to know is that, according to Omega, it’s safe to swim while wearing the current Speedmaster Professional with caliber 3861.We’ve covered the iconic Speedmaster nearly every (Speedy) Tuesday since 2012. But Fratello goes back to July 2004, and between then and 2012, the Speedmaster was a recurring topic as well. This resulted in receiving a lot of questions about the Moonwatch and all of its variations. For this article, we have selec...
Speedy Tuesday OMEGA Speedmaster Professional Chronometer Apollo XI '1969 1994'
We know you’ve been waiting for Speedy Tuesday! We know we have! This week’s Speedmaster is a very rare model, a white gold 25th Anniversary Speedy that has been chronometer certified.This Speedmaster Professional Chronometer ref. BC 148.0062 (ref. 348.0062 with the white gold bracelet) was introduced in 1994 together with a version in stainless steel and a version in platinum. The white gold version is the only one that has been chronometer certified. It is basically a caliber 861 movement but since it was regulated to become a chronometer (and received chronometer certificates), it has been numbered ‘864’. Omega also did some decorative work on this Lemania based mo...
Notable Sale: the "earliest" Blancpain Fifty Fathoms?
This week has been an interesting one on eBay. Yesterday, we covered the sale of an interesting “panda” Heuer Autavia and today we'll talk about the sale of an equally rare Blancpain Fifty Fathoms. Before we do that, though, I'll use this article to give an overall opinion on something: eBay. I have contacts that are reluctant to buy on eBay and while I don't disagree with their concerns, it is, by far, the largest marketplace for vintage watches. Like any marketplace, it's fraught with con artists and schemers, but there are loads of honest sellers. In addition, there are also those sellers who are clearing estates and have no idea about what they're posting. This is typically w...
Photo Report: Historic Grand Prix Zandvoort x TUDOR
For the sixth time, the Historic Grand Prix Zandvoort was held last weekend on this famous race circuit near Amsterdam. Tudor partners with this event and the trophies (12 x a special engraved Tudor Chronograph) were presented to the 12 different winners yesterday.On Saturday and Sunday, Fratello Watches was attending this event for the 3rd time (go here for our reports on the 2015 and 2016 editions).Historic Grand Prix Zandvoort 2017Besides fans and followers of Lady Gaga and David Beckham, Tudor also focuses on a different type of customer. The ones that have a passion for speed, mechanical things, the smell of gasoline and burnt rubber. Tudor has been partnering with the Historic Grand Pr...
Speedy Tuesday Tribute To Chuck Maddox
One of our readers contributes a tribute to the late (and legendary) Chuck Maddox. Some of the Speedmaster enthusiasts that have been around a bit longer already, have probably encountered Chuck Maddox on one of the forums or via his own website. In 2004, RJ published a multi-part interview with Chuck Maddox here on Fratello Watches. Later on, it has been republished in one complete article for your convenience. While it is already 14 years old, some of the topics discussed are still valid. You can find the complete interview with Chuck Maddox here. If you are not familiar with Chuck Maddox, who sadly passed away in 2008, he was one of the first Speedmaster (and chronographs in general) coll...
Speedy Tuesday Tribute To Chuck Maddox
One of our readers contributes a tribute to the late (and legendary) Chuck Maddox. Some of the Speedmaster enthusiasts that have been around a bit longer already, have probably encountered Chuck Maddox on one of the forums or via his own website. In 2004, RJ published a multi-part interview with Chuck Maddox here on Fratello Watches. Later on, it has been republished in one complete article for your convenience. While it is already 14 years old, some of the topics discussed are still valid. You can find the complete interview with Chuck Maddox here. If you are not familiar with Chuck Maddox, who sadly passed away in 2008, he was one of the first Speedmaster (and chronographs in general) coll...