Omega Globemaster One Of Their Best Kept Secrets
When the Omega Globemaster was introduced in 2015, I was super excited. Not only because it was a great new addition for the Constellation collection, but also because it was the first Omega watch with the Master Chronometer certification. That year was Silver Snoopy and James Bond, which made the Globemaster disappear to the background a bit.Not only that, the delivery of the Omega Globemaster watches to the boutiques and authorised dealers took a very long time. I would say that the momentum was gone at some point. In the last months, or perhaps last year even, I would say that I see that the Omega Globemaster is finally receiving some credits from collectors and enthusiasts. On Instagram ...
Hot Take: Geneva Watch Days Carl F. Bucherer Brings The Color
As a retailer, Bucherer is becoming increasingly famous. As a watchmaker, it is often ignored. That has a lot to do with the fact it is seen as a retailer first and maker second. And while that may be fair enough, there is some interesting stuff coming out of the Swiss brand.The first thing presented to us was the Carl F. Bucherer Patravi Travel Tec in four bright colors inspired by the seasons. Green for spring, yellow for summer, orange for fall, and blue for winter. It sounds like a great idea but you would need one heck of a personality to pull off one of these wrist monsters. The size of the thing is 46.6mm. Furthermore, the colors leave absolutely nothing to the imagination. I'm not ag...
Hot Take: Geneva Watch Days Bovet 1822 Shows Off Its Skills
Bovet's watches are not typical Fratello or Fratelli fare, but they are undeniably impressive creations. A haphazard meeting introduced several novelties to us that placed hand skills front and center. We had the chance to watch an engraver creating components for the House of Bovet's latest creations before our eyes. He made it look simple. It's not. I'm looking forward to having a crack at it when I visit Bovet's manufacture. I'm also looking forward to sharing with you all the mess I make of it. Hopefully, it will be incredibly embarrassing. A laugh at my expense is a laugh nonethelessOff the wrist, I really can't stand the ostentation of the Bovet. My mind tells me its all way too much a...
Our Editors' Favorite Watches From Geneva Watch Days 2021
It’s been a long and intense week packed full of expectedly unexpected twists and turns a fair can throw at a team of intrepid watch journalists navigating their first major event in a year. We met with pretty much every brand on the calendar, made it to the Geneva Watch Days tent every night (if only for a quick hello/goodbye on Thursday), and set some exciting projects in motion.You can’t beat the face-to-face interaction you’re confronted with every day at Geneva Watch Days. It makes such a difference to once more see our friends and colleagues after such a long absence, and those relationships that have deepened in different ways due to the pandemic suddenly seem inject...
Summer Splash: First Round Reflection, DQs, and more (2021)
It’s been a ropey two weeks for the integrity of the internet’s favorite summer watch competition, with wild controversies, heated disagreements, and heinous incompetence on display over the first fortnight. Despite this (or perhaps because of it), it’s been a roaring success, with articles catching fire the moment they go live and several votes running very closely! Let’s take a moment now, before the quarter-finals commence, to reflect on the happenings of the contest so far.I thought the rules were simple. It seems, however, I was wrong. While I’m not trying to shirk responsibility for my gross incompetence as the head steward of this event (I will do later, ...
Buying Guide: The Best Zenith Watches From The 1980s (2021)
We like to talk about vintage watches a lot within the Fratello team. Though most of what we write about is largely focused on the most recent releases and developments, for many of us, a lot of the fun can be found in the sometimes weird and often wonderful world of vintage watches. It's a world full of history, remarkable watches, incredible stories, and quirky details. It inspired us to come up with a series of articles focusing on the best watches per decade from a select group of brands. Some of them are priceless, some of them still affordable. In this installment, we will take a look at the best Zenith watches from the 1980s.While the 1970s were a decade filled with tremendous change ...
Dear Audemars Piguet, Bring Back The Royal Oak 26300ST
Sometimes the love for a watch is as simple as a dial design or a set of colors. In my mind, the best example of that is the Daytona “Paul Newman”. These Daytona models sat on the shelves for years because clients clearly preferred the regular dials over their exotic counterparts. But we all know what happened with the appreciation for the “Paul Newman” dials in the decades after. But I’m not here to talk about that Daytona. Well, maybe I am a little bit. Because the influence these exotic dials had is clearly visible in the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph ref. 26300ST. It proves that the exotic dials also work well with the iconic Royal Oak design. It&#...
Breitling SuperOcean 42 Vs. Zodiac Super Sea Wolf
Another Sunday Morning, another Showdown. This week, we pit two dive watches against each other. It’s the new Breitling SuperOcean 42 versus the Zodiac Super Sea Wolf Aquamarine Dream edition designed in collaboration with our colleague Ariel Adams from aBlogtoWatch. Mike Stockton takes it up for the Breitling, while I will root for the Zodiac.While the Zodiac Super Sea Wolf Aquamarine Dream isn’t mine, I truly enjoyed wearing it for a bit. I think Ariel did a great job choosing these colors, which remind him of the turquoise water in Key West. The Zodiac retails for US$1,495 and has a 40mm case. Mike’s blue Breitling SuperOcean has a 42mm diameter and a retail price of $4,...
Do Your Nice Watches Make You An Unpleasant Person?
Here is a tough question for today: do your nice watches make you an unpleasant person? This is tough because it is a highly complicated and culturally dependent subject. But it is also a tough question because we, watch lovers, may not like the answer too much. Sometimes you just have to face the tough questions head-on, so, Fratelli, let's bite the bullet and dive in.For starters, we should split the question in two. One: do other people perceive you differently if you are wearing an expensive watch? And two: does wearing an expensive watch actually change your behavior? As a former consultant in subconscious consumer behavior, this is right up my alley. So let's see what we can uncover.Wh...
The "Simple" Tissot Heritage 1938 Automatic COSC
Ah, the simple pleasures in life a good night's rest, a summer-evening sunset, and the smell of freshly brewed coffee in the morning. Somehow, the new Tissot Heritage 1938 Automatic COSC also kind of falls into the Simple Pleasures category. Inspired by Tissot watches from the 1930s, it’s a traditional-looking piece that doesn't need all the bells and whistles that watchmakers can come up with to make it attractive. This watch is the equivalent of a black coffee made in a percolator with premium beans you ground yourself. You really don't need a Grande Complication watch or a quad venti white mocha cappuccino to enjoy a good start to your day.I don't know how much a quad venti white m...
Retro Styling In Watches: Cool Or A Little Disingenuous?
When I recently reviewed the Tudor Black Bay 54, I mentioned that I felt I might get bored with it. The reason was its retro styling, which makes it feel a tad - for lack of a kinder word - disingenuous to me. This point seemed to resonate with quite a few readers. Have we maybe seen enough vintage reissues? And how does faux patina fit into that notion?I wrote an article celebrating the nicer shade of white not too long ago. Your comments were quite clear. A warm tone of lume is fine until it makes the watch look like something it isn't - old. Today, I would like to explore what makes a watch feel real and honest as opposed to a bit of a sentimental throwback.A traditional designTraditional...
IFL Watches Introduces The Seiko 5 GMT Voyager
IFL Watches has quickly made a name for itself with eye-catching modified versions of popular watches. Not too long ago, I wrote about the latest CasiOak that the Sweden-based team modified in spectacular fashion. Most watch fans will probably also be familiar with the brilliant Tissot PRX series that IFLW spiced up with pointillism dials. This time, it’s all about the popular Seiko 5 Sports GMT, and in good IFL Watches tradition, reference SSK001 gets a remarkable makeover. For this new Seiko 5 GMT Voyager, IFLW fits the watch with a unique enameled dial depicting Earth as a tribute to world travelers.The Seiko 5 Sports GMT series was among the most talked-about Seiko releases in rece...
Hands-On: The Grand Seiko SBGJ273 "Yuka Momiji"
When looking at the Grand Seiko catalog, most of us will likely gravitate to the Heritage collection. That is where iconic silhouettes from the past like the 44GS and 62GS come to life in fresh, modern versions. But the brand’s Elegance collection might be the right place for you if you are in the market for a more traditional but equally stylish timepiece steeped in Grand Seiko’s rich history. I sometimes overlook the Elegance collection because it has that more traditional ring to it. But with the new Grand Seiko SBGJ273, I am again reminded that plenty of goodness can be found in the Elegance lineup, especially regarding great GMT watches.When we first got the new Grand Seiko ...
New: The Longines Legend Diver In Terracotta, Gray, And Green
We were all quite excited here at Fratello when Longines announced a new 39mm version of the Legend Diver last November. Not only did we love the new dimensions, but the omittance of the date was also met with applause here. With a denim-like blue and a black version on offer, something told us more colors might be on the horizon. So while this new release does not surprise us, we do appreciate the additional choices.This is the 39mm Longines Legend Diver as we know it from last year, now with three more dial options. You have a choice of terracotta, green, and gray. Let's have a closer look!The historical context of the Longines Legend DiverThese three new dials aren't just random additions...
The Omega Swatch MoonSwatch: Now Available Online!
Surprise, surprise! Swatch will offer the Omega Swatch Speedmaster MoonSwatch for sale online in the United States and China starting today. Most likely, the brand chose these countries because they have huge areas without any Swatch boutiques nearby. But while they are the first, with some luck, they won’t be the last.The online sales will start only for the following four models of the MoonSwatch - Mission on Earth, Mission to the Sun, Mission to the Moon, and Mission to Mars. These models were among the first 11 versions that Swatch debuted in 2022, which was easily the biggest watch launch we have ever witnessed. Interestingly, the MoonSwatch still draws a lot of attention from peo...
Hands-On: The New Unimatic Modello Quattro U4-GMT
It’s no secret that I am a fan of both Unimatic and GMT watches. And in all fairness, the Italian brand has released some amazing GMTs that I would have loved to add to my collection. But there is a right time for everything, and the timing just might be right with the release of the new Modello Uno U1-GMT and Modello Quattro U4-GMT. The two watches return to Unimatic’s beginnings with a Japanese Seiko movement, which makes them the most affordable GMTs the brand has ever released. I had a chance to go hands-on with the Modello Quattro U4-GMT. It introduces a new fixed stainless steel 24-hour bezel that is purposeful and looks awesome to boot.Immediately after I laid eyes on the ...
The Best Watches Under $10K: Lex's Picks
With $10K to spend, I decided to play it safe on the brand side and a little wilder on the color side. That's why I ended up with a furiously red Grand Seiko, a sinister black IWC, and a Zenith that makes me slightly indecisive: do I decide on the version with the green or the black dial? I will choose at the end of this Best Watches Under $10K article.First up is a watch that Grand Seiko released very recently. It is a limited dial variant of an existing Elegance model. My watch of choice is the C-shaped SBGY035, an edition of 700 pieces priced at $9,200. I considered the Omiwatari (SBGY007) with its pale blue dial for this shortlist but decided on something more punchy.The best watches und...
Hands-On: Casio G-Shock Rainbow Brick Wall Collection
One of the most recognizable elements of the early G-Shocks is the famous brick-wall pattern. Did you know the pattern was deliberately chosen to emphasize the toughness of G-Shock’s timepieces? It’s a fun visual play on one of the brand’s key features. G-Shock has created six new references with a rainbow brick pattern to celebrate that toughness in style. First, there are three versions of the G-Shock “Square” 5600, and second, the brand created three similarly themed versions of the G-Shock “CasiOak” 2100. I had a chance to check out five of the six new models to find out which one is my favorite.When five new G-Shocks land on your desk, it can be...
Again a wrist watch posting from my hand which is not a wrist watch...
Right, Robert-Jan is out on holiday, we can post what we want – h?? h??!. Although it’s not a watch, it ??s a Panerai – so he will be happy with it anyhow. Only 100 pieces of this huge instrument (60 mm diameter!) will be produced. I guess this is the most expensive compass I’ve ever seen…Here’s a review/article on paneristi.com: https://www.paneristi.com/reference/vendome/images/sihh_press_pics/BLACK_SEAL_COMPASS.htmCheers,Gerard...
Hysek X-Ray Perpertual Calendar
Jorg Hysek, designer of watches and pens for Tag Heuer and Cartier. Hysek also manufactures watches under his own label.As Hysek writes in their press release of the X-Ray Perpetual Calendar, this watch is a result of traditional watchmaking and high-tech style ‘n’ design. The X-Ray watch is made out of 18ct rose gold (including the folding clasp) and uses rubber for some parts of the watchcase as well.This watch features a perpetual calendar function and an impressive dial which gives a view on the highly worked movement. Months and bissextile leap year indication at 12 o?????clock, date indication at 3 o?????clock, day counter at 9 o?????clock and second GMT indication...