As I’ve grown older and my wrist has grown hairier, I’ve become more and concerned with what I use to cover it. Watch straps are a hobby within a hobby and it was one that took some time to reveal itself to me. When I was a young collector, I trusted brands a bit too much. I assumed that no watch head would ever look better on any other strap than the one its designers intended for it.

Enamel dials are, to some degree, the darlings of the watch industry. A famously fussy material that takes great skill to work with and master. We sit up and listen when we see brands launching watches using enamel dials. Why? Because when done well, enamel dials look absolutely incredible, adding a level of depth and visual appeal quite unlike any other material. So, what are some of the best ena

I considered underplaying the importance of case material when it comes to a brand known for its iconic silhouettes but I quickly decided I was being ridiculous. The conversation of what makes any Casio feel truly great on the wrist cannot ignore something as integral to that experience as the case material. And acting like the memorable aesthetics of the models we’ve come to adore over the

Rob and Lex are lucky boys! Wrapping up what looked like an absolutely killer week at Geneva Watch Days, the two of them got a chance to visit F.P. Journe. There, the debonair duo got hands-on with four of the master’s greatest works. A tad more thrilling than my view from a cubicle at the public library, I’d imagine. Biblical levels of envy aside, it’s my pleasure to give you a

You could call the Certina DS Powermatic 80 in its new gold attire a dress watch. You would be selling the watch short, however. Change the light brown leather strap for a more adventurous color and in a different type of leather, or even a multicolor NATO strap, and you’ll witness a complete transformation. I tried on the yellow gold PVD version with a matching gold-colored dial that came o

Last week, on September 1st, Omega raised its prices for many (or all) of its watches. On most models, we find an increase of 6%. This marks the second price increase from Omega this year.Since its introduction in early 2021, the retail price of the new Moonwatch Master Chronometer (reference 310.30.42.50.01.001) rose from $6,200 to $6,700 earlier this year and now to $7,100. Prices in the EU migh

Hamilton is a sponsoring partner of Syroco. This French startup is dedicated to maritime innovation, especially with the intention of reducing carbon emissions. Syroco’s team is currently buckling down to break the sailing-speed world record in an effort to show what is possible. Well, I when say “break,” I really mean shatter. The current record is set at 121 km/h. Syroco, howev

Fratello On Air checks in with a new episode, and Geneva Watch Days 2022 is the subject. Balazs and Mike discuss some of the key new releases. As always, expect banter and clear views on what’s happening around us in the world of watches.

Do you like it short and sweet? I hope you do because this article about the new dials and ceramic bezel inserts for the Seiko Astron GPS Solar 5X53 Dual-Time is going to be just that. But it’s not because I don't like the watches. On the contrary, I've been a fan since the very first satellite-connected, solar-powered Astron debuted in 2012. In the 10 years since then, the watches have show

Remember Geneva Watch Days? It happened only last week, but it almost seems like an eternity ago. The last few days have allowed us to recharge our batteries, but we have not remained idle during that time. Not at all. We have all continued to mull over everything thrust upon us in the meetings that filled our tightly packed schedule. We’ve looked beyond the sensory overload that is the whit

Today is an exciting day. No, not because it’s Tuesday; after all, Tuesday isn’t renowned for being an exciting day. It’s exciting because we are releasing our second collaboration with Minase in the Fratello Shop. Yes, the Fratello Minase M-3 “Very Peri” is here! For the first time, the M-3 is available outside of Japan, but this one houses some special changes that

If, like me, you have ever found yourself going down the Panerai rabbit hole, you have undoubtedly come across Panerai strap culture. If you haven't, trust me, it's a thing! Paneristi are more than typically likely to get something custom made for their prized square possessions. Browsing the internet, you'll find several aficionados who have acquired leatherworking skills just to make straps for

Whether you love or hate the MoonSwatch, it worked miracles for the Swatch company! Since March 26th, 2022, Swatch has been back on everyone's mind again. I had never seen queues in front of a shop for a watch before. I’d also never seen so much coverage about watches on television, in newspapers, and other non-watch media. The no online sales approach infuriated many people, especially thos

The new Panerai Navy SEALs collection is the expansion of a collaboration that began in 2022. This time, there are three new limited-edition models and an ultra-limited piece that comes with an “experience.” Not only do we have more watches to choose from, but the pieces are now available outside of the USA at Panerai boutiques.Last year, the Panerai Navy SEALs collection debuted with

With the Zandvoort race approaching, I had the opportunity to talk to former F1 World Champion Jenson Button about racing and watches. I am one of those guys who only started watching F1 when Max Verstappen entered the competition in 2015. Before that, I occasionally watched it when my friends or roommates were in front of the television to see Michael Schumacher clinch many Grand Prix victories.

I just watched Band of Brothers and The Pacific again on HBO Max, two very impressive shows of 10 episodes each on World War II in Europe and Asia, respectively. Closer to home is the story of my grandfather, who received a navigator’s watch from an American pilot at the end of World War II. Unfortunately, that watch was lost somehow after it broke down and got put in a drawer. My father, ho

Another Friday, another list! This week, we look at five gentlemen’s GMT watches that stand out because of their distinguished presence. These aren’t your typical GMT-Master-influenced timepieces. No, this is a list of the more classical-looking GMTs, multi-time-zone/traveler’s watches that fly a little more under the radar. So don’t expect any colorful rotating bezels wit

Conveniently, “spinnaker” is one of those words that is the same in English as in Dutch - and French and German, for that matter. That makes it easy to remember this watch brand’s name. And with a name like Spinnaker, chances are that the brand has a link to the aquatic world. Indeed, its portfolio confirms this as most of it consists of dive watches. For my first hands-on taste

Our schedules were full at Geneva Watch Days 2024, but one of the most anticipated sessions was a late-afternoon meeting with Biver. We knew the young brand had a secret new release on the way, but details were scarce. The team, including Pierre Biver, showed us the new Biver Automatique line comprised of four references. Thankfully, we didn’t have to wait long for the embargo date.We were e

The 2024 edition of Geneva Watch Days was the hottest ever. Not only did the temperatures soar to unprecedented heights (30+ degrees Celsius), but more brands also showed their goods than ever before (52), and the number of visitors compared to last year increased by more than 70% (13,800). Some watch insiders expected an event held under a dark cloud due to slowing growth numbers. But the vibe wa