Hands-On: Yema Rallygraf Meca-Quartz Alpine Endurance Team
What do you think, is there a need for more vintage-inspired racing chronographs with accessible price tags? Well, brands like Nezumi Studios and even Seiko think so. With the prolific use of the VK series of hybrid meca-quartz movements, brands are also offering us a chance to appreciate thoughtful design and finishing for less. I'm all for it and am still enjoying surfing the retro wave, especially with this Yema Rallygraf Meca-Quartz Alpine Endurance Team piece.Even if I, as a watch writer, see a lot of retro-tastic wristwear, for the average Joe on the street, this might still be a fresh approach and a welcome diversion from his Apple Watch. It seems that wrist computer serves as the gat...
Tissot, Geneva Watch Days 2023, And More
Yes, Fratello On Air is back with another episode where we cover the latest release from Tissot and the highlights from Geneva Watch Days 2023. Of course, we speak about additional topics and watches as well. Oh, and one of your hosts has suffered a recent injury but has still managed to make it to the microphone to bring his voice to the world of watches....
Seiko Watches You Might Not Know But Probably Should
We all know the SKX, the Alpinist, and the Turtle, to name just a few of Seiko’s most famous models. But what do you get when looking further than those usual suspects? I went out on a little stroll through the more than 20,000 Seiko watches currently listed on Chrono24. And instead of picking out the best examples of vintage Seiko divers, I’ll highlight a few of Seiko’s watches that don’t enjoy as much fame as their peers. Here goes today’s Pre-Owned Spotlight.With a long history and a huge global reach, Seiko has manufactured millions of watches over the years. During my stroll, it was surprising to see how many of those watches belonged to the same family. Ap...
Tough-Testing The Casio G-Shock GA-B2100C-9A
Compare it to how an agitated bull reacts to a red flag. The bright yellow Casio G-Shock GA-B2100C-9A CasiOak sure had a strong effect on me. Yellow is a color that is associated with joy but also with danger. And this new and updated CasiOak, which now features solar power and Bluetooth, evokes both. It made us want to test this G-Shock in challenging conditions. So that's what we did. The result was kind of shocking and maybe not suitable for the faint of heart.The different G-Shock CasiOak models are immensely popular timepieces. I get it. The watches have an interesting shape and colorways I can get behind. To my taste, however, two elements were missing in the collection - solar power a...
Hands-On: Tissot PRX 35mm Automatic
There’s no doubt about it: the Tissot PRX is the biggest hit for the brand in a long time. After the quartz and automatic 40mm versions and the 35mm quartz models, in June, Tissot released the PRX Powermatic 80 35mm. This is a watch that I know many of you were waiting for, so I went hands-on with several of them to see if they capture the PRX magic.Here, we have four flavors of the PRX Powermatic - black, blue, green, and a new white mother-of-pearl dial. Let's dive in and see if these are the Tissot PRX versions we have been waiting for!Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 35mm specsLet's get the spec sheet out of the way first. This is actually quite simple: except for the 5mm size difference, ...
What Makes The Omega Speedmaster Calibre 321 So Special?
Out of all the Speedmaster watches in my collection, the Speedmaster Calibre 321 is one of the pieces I appreciate most. Without making this article a love letter to the watch, let me explain several things that make the Speedmaster Calibre 321 incredibly special.For the price that you’ll need to pay for this watch, these are things you can and should expect. The normal Speedmaster Professional Master Chronometer retails for $7,500 ($8,600 for the sapphire version). The Speedmaster Calibre 321, however, has a $16,700 price tag. I've touched upon the ownership of the Calibre 321 in this article and compared it to that other re-edition of a few years ago, the 60th anniversary, here.Speed...
#TBT A Customized Legendary Czech Prim Sport Diver
Imagine taking a $500 watch and giving it to the Artisans de Genve workshop to create something truly unique. That’s sort of what happened to one beaten and forgotten Prim Sport watch, which I received as a Christmas gift from my beloved watchmaker Tomas Sinal in 2019.You have read about Tomas Sinal quite often in the last six years I’ve been carrying the #TBT torch. My watchmaker, now also my good friend, is one of the most curious minds with patience and understanding of my exploratory heart. Many times, I brought him timepieces with movements, complications, or states of disrepair that most watchmakers would not even touch. Although he often had to take a deep breath, he neve...
Introducing: TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Extreme Sport
TAG Heuer isn’t shying away from ultra-modern styling lately. Or, I should say, the brand offers a choice of modern and classic watches, even within the racing-themed Carrera line. For those who tend to prefer vintage looks, there is the Carrera Glassbox. If, however, you are more into futuristic designs, we have something for you today - the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Extreme Sport. What's in a name? Well, in this case, everything. These are some pretty extreme sports chronographs but still slap-bang on-brand for the TAG Heuer Carrera collection.We took the chance to get a sneak peek at three of the four new chronographs. In addition to the watches you see here, there is a fourth o...
New: The Oris Divers Sixty-Five LFP Limited Edition
To me, among all the big brands out there, Oris really sticks out. Ever since I bought my first luxury watch, the dressy Oris Art Blakey, I’ve found it charming how the brand makes everyone smile. The new Divers Sixty-Five LFP Limited Edition, a watch made in collaboration with the French Professional Football League (LFP), should do just that. It also raises awareness of CNAPE, a federation that unites France's children's charities, and its joyful annual children's football tournament. Image: FEP Image: FEP That tournament is called Tournoi des Defenseurs de l’Enfance (Tournament of Defenders of Childhood). The LFP and its partner CNAPE or...
Fratello Talks: Geneva Watch Days 2024
Hello, and welcome to Fratello Talks! Today, we’re talking about Geneva Watch Days 2024. Nacho, RJ, and Lex come together after spending some time in the Swiss capital and recount their experience. They start by giving you a taste of what made this year’s show feel different from the previous three and end up walking through some highlights. They had three intense days with many appointments and hundreds of new watches from seemingly just as many brands, so this episode will only cover some of the watches that truly stuck with them. But before we get into it, let’s see what watches are, quite literally, stuck to their wrists today....
Custom IWC Ingenieur strap by Jacob
When you own a Panerai, it is a simple job to get a decent custom made strap for it. When you own an IWC Ingenieur (ref.3227), it is a bit harder…the IWC soft strap of the AMG version will fit perfectly, but IWC doesn’t make a leather strap for this model.Jacob from Spain creates leather straps for all types and makes of watches. Including a strap for the IWC Ingenieur. I heard about it via e-mail, when a reader of this blog noticed that Jacob was making these straps and did know that I own a 3227 as well ?? The writer of the mail also sent me a link to a short review of the Jacob strap for the IWC Ingenieur on Watch Talk Forums (click here).Before I clicked, I wondered if Jacob ...
Top Watches at Catawiki This Week
Every week online auction platform Catawiki auctions offer over 2,000 watches from around the world. Every watch on the auctions is first reviewed by their team of watch experts to ensure quality and authenticity. Have a few of the top watches selected by their experts up for auction this week below. TurnoGraph 6202Year: 1954Gender: MenCase Material: SteelMovement: AutomaticType: Analogue WristwatchClick to see all detailsVacheron Constantin Quai de l’IleYear: 2014Gender: MenCase Material: Rose GoldMovement: AutomaticType: Analogue WristwatchExtras: Travel box for watch and accessories, documents, certificate of originality and 5 original straps includedClick to see all detailsOmega Sp...
Hands-On: Doxa SUB 300 Searambler Review 50th Anniversary Edition
Fifty years ago, Doxa introduced their SUB 300 in Basel. An orange dial model was called ‘Professional’, the black dial ‘Sharkhunter’ and the silver dial ‘Searambler’. About a year later, Doxa introduced the SUB 300T collection (with a slightly bigger case, larger dial and a thicker bezel) and added a yellow version as well, the ‘Divingstar’. What I have here today is the Doxa SUB 300 Searambler, a remake of the original 1967 model. Doxa also offers their Sharkhunter and Professional as a 50th anniversary edition.Doxa SUB 300 SearamblerMichael already did an excellent write-up on the vintage Doxa 300T Sharkhunter, where he discussed its history...
Egotempo Ego no Logo Hand-made with Italian Passion
Egotempo is an Italian family business, where pride and passion for craftsmanship and watches play an important role. Gianfranco inherited the passion for watches from his grandfather Giancarlo, an Italian musician. Besides music, Giancarlo was also able to work on complicated movements of watches. However, it was his son that founded the Egotempo company.Today, a brief look on the Ego no Logo wristwatch by Egotempo.Egotempo Ego no LogoHand-made watches from Italy, “not a single piece will be the same” as Egotempo claims on their website. This refers to the enamel dial of the Egotempo Ego no Logo watch. A multi-layer enamel dial with gold appliances, available in several colors (...
The BOLDR Globetrotter GMT The Latest Diver's Watches Facebook Group Collaboration
For well over a year now, I've had the pleasure of handling, reviewing, and owning most of the limited edition watches made for the Diver's Watches Facebook Group (DWFG) with 45,000+ members and counting at time of publishing. All of the watches I've reviewed have been worthwhile, thoughtfully designed, and on the affordable side of things. The bulk of these watches have come from micro-brands often founded in Asia and with watches constructed in the same part of the world. Examples of such are pieces from Gruppo Gamma, Crepas, Borealis and Zelos. As mentioned, they've all been worth my time, so I was excited when Andreas Gregoriades contacted me about the group's latest limited edition coll...
Rising Stars of the GPHG 2019
The popular phrase the Oscars of isn't an exaggeration?in the case of the?Grand Prix?d'Horlogerie?de Genve?(GPHG).?Created in 2001 as a celebration of the very best in watchmaking, the awards are the most prestigious?accolades. They honour?those considered to be the most outstanding?examples of their craft.And you know what is less celebrated but rather interesting? Unlike many other arenas in the watch?industry, GPHG is an even playing field for both established names and independents.Independent brands?have a significant presence every year?winning nominations and awards, as official records show. (Well, thanks to my team Skolorr who enjoy the menial digging and tracking.)If the news esca...
Hands-on: Certina DS Action Day-Date Powermatic 80
My initial thought of the new Certina DS Action Day-Date Powermatic 80 was that it's a well-balanced watch. Design-wise.Let's address the elephant in the room; the DS Action Day-Date (from now on this is how I'll refer to it) looks a bit like the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra. Whether it's the long triangle indexes or the shape of the hands, perhaps both, I don't know. Since Omega and Certina both belong to the Swatch Group, the similarity is not that uncanny. Also, the watches are by two different brands and are selling in different price categories. It will be boring if I keep referring to these timepieces as affordable, yet it is very much the case with this model too. But let's talk about t...
Hands-On Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Nekton Review
Last week, Omega introduced its new Seamaster Diver 300M Nekton Edition. I wrote how much the watch reminded me of the Seamaster 300M America’s Cup from 2000, with the white gold bezel inlay.Omega made this new Seamaster Diver 300M Nekton watch available to us for a review. However, with the remark that the watch is not being delivered to the boutiques before October 2020. Well noted.We received both versions of the new Seamaster Diver 300M Nekton edition, with a rubber strap and with a stainless steel bracelet.Omega Seamaster Diver 300M NektonSince I already wrote the introductory article last week (click here), I will leave out the dry specs that were shared. In our hands, we have tw...
Jorg's Top 5 Modern Luxury Sports Watches
Compiling a list of the best modern luxury sports watches is like walking into a death trap. Can you actually come out alive? This is one of those lists that pretty much every watch enthusiast has an opinion on. But we like a good challenge here at Fratello. So I put on my armor and walked straight in. The mission? To come out on the other side, having found my Top-5 of modern luxury sports watches. A Top-5 that is irrefutably inspired by Gerald Genta’s design legacy. But instead by the spirit of his designs rather than a variation on his designs. So without further ado, let’s get out the swords and daggers!Modern luxury sports watches are as relevant as ever. And by that I mean,...
Hands-On: The Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical Bronze
Hamilton's 38mm steel sweetheart has stolen the hearts of many watch enthusiasts around the world since its release in 2018. Almost an exact replica of the Vietnam war era US government-issued field watch, the slightly more modern proportions make it a popular choice for an everyday watch. Unafraid to follow the bronze trend, Hamilton released its already popular Khaki Field Mechanical in (you guessed it) bronze earlier this year. Is this a perfect pick for the peculiar patinating alloy? I got a chance to spend some quality time with the watch to try and find out!Let me start by addressing the elephant in the room: no, the faux-tina used on the hands and markers doesn't bother me in the slig...