For the people that are Grand Seiko devotees - like we are at Fratello - keeping up with the slew of new releases this year has been a full-time commitment. Now imagine if you are a watch enthusiast that is just getting into the magic of Grand Seiko. The maze that Grand Seiko has built can be hugely overwhelming. Do you go for mechanical, quartz, or Spring Drive? Do I go for a timepiece from the E

Traveling out of the central GWD hub to visit Jaeger-LeCoultre might sound like a slog when you consider how packed our schedule was, but trust me, this is a brand that rarely leaves me wanting. While I’m often a bit on the fence when it comes to press shots of JLC’s master collection, they truly come to life in the metal. Jaeger-LeCoultre has a magic touch. When it comes to imbuing th

With the summer still very much still alive and kicking, it is time for our third Summer Splash quarter-final. In our third of four match-ups, we have two watches lined up for you that are on totally different ends of the spectrum. The “serious” Omega Seamaster 300M came out on top in Robert-Jan’s battle of the divers. It takes on the absolutely bonkers-looking G-Shock MTG-B2000P

Much time has passed since the last Fratello event, for reasons known to all of us. So, we are extremely happy to announce that we will be having our first event on October 1st after an extensive hiatus. We feel very proud that it will be in partnership with an incredible watch brand: Grand Seiko. To top things off, the event will take place in a very special location - la ville de l’amour -

To find a sleek Gallet Excel-O-Graph chronograph watch from the 1970s with the desirable Excelsior Park movement is no easy feat. Many Gallet collectors are out there, searching for one even as we speak. What always puzzled me is the fact that for such a striking design coming in at an admirable 42mm diameter, it is a vintage watch that gets suspiciously little coverage. ?Think of any top-of-the-l

In case you’re not fortunate enough to own a perpetual or annual calendar, we’re now in September. The 9th month. So that’s three-quarters of the way through the year. We’ve seen plenty of new releases, but some were better than others. I appreciate that it’s hugely subjective, so I thought I’d do a roundup of my top five watches of 2021. I’ll also be prov

Genteel Handmade is one of our preferred strap makers for good reason. Aside from the wealth of leathers, linings, and stitching options, there is always someone on hand to assist with the creation of the perfect custom strap. However, before you set about building your dream watch band, you need to get a feel for what kind of strap looks good with what kind of watch. Having been inundated with qu

Reborn brands are all the rage these days. In fact, they’ve been popping up apace for the best part of a decade. However, it isn’t so common they meet with long-term success. By now, you all know about Czapek. You’ve probably heard of Vertex and Fears (especially if you, like me, spend a lot of time in England). But have you heard of Charles Girardier? No? We hadn’t either&

The world of watches is very much part of the wider universe of style. Wearing a watch the right way is not a stand-alone thing. Clothing can elevate the presence of a watch greatly. It’s no coincidence that the legendary men are often also considered style icons because of their choice of watches. Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, and Sean Connery are just three examples of icons whose names are

It almost looks like it’s becoming a tradition now. For the third consecutive year, Seiko is launching a limited edition of the Prospex Alpinist. And again, it’ll be exclusive to the European market. It certainly seems like there’s a strong fanbase here for Seiko’s adventure watch. This year, it features a gray textured dial and blue accents all around. Let’s take a q

Iconic chronographs. For most of us, a list of five or six watches immediately pops into our minds when thinking about them. Chronographs have become culturally significant ambassadors of this watch world and have helped shape it into what it is today. In this article, we dive into what we feel are the must-haves if you’re serious about building a full chronograph collection or if you’

Great weather and warm temperatures make us thirst for outdoor activities. For watch lovers, these conditions are a welcome justification to grant sporty watches on bracelets a prominent role in their rotations. It was in doing so that I discovered some of my Sinn watches once more. I guess my ever-persistent focus on watches on bracelets has sharpened my perception of bracelet designs. Anyway, I

I'm still big on vintage-inspired watches, and I have a particular fondness for the Steve McQueen connection of my Hanhart 417ES. It comes on a black leather Bund with an Alcantara lining and is very comfortable for a big, legible pilot's watch. This has actually made me toy with the idea of trying a Bund strap on some more modern watches, but Hanhart seems to have beat me to it. The #FliegerFrida

The King Seiko 44-9990 is a classic reference from the Japanese brand that seemingly makes (or has made) a watch for everyone. Incredibly, this dressy watch is approaching its 60th birthday. Good design is good design, though, as it is the basis for an incredibly popular current series of watches with the King Seiko name. Today, we’ll look closely at this style icon and discover why it’

Once again, we covered Geneva Watch Days this year, and what a show it was! I had two intense days there filled with big impressions from small brands. And within the barrage of glamour from these contemporary grails, some impressions remain on my wrist. Should I leave it unwashed for luck?I was unhappy last year, having to stay home for the third GWD, so it was good to be back. Sure, the brands w

This certainly won’t be my last article about vintage Grand Seiko on Fratello, but it does represent a milestone. The Grand Seiko 44GS is easily my favorite vintage reference from the brand and one that definitely belongs in any collection. This is a landmark piece with highly unique styling and world-beating finishing. I couldn’t be happier to finally add one.In 2013, I was fortunate

We have all heard the phrase “time is money,” but what if you could make it come to life visually? Leave it to the team at IFL Watches to put a fun spin on that. For its newest release, the Stockholm-based brand whimsically embodied the concept using the dial of a Citizen Tsuyosa Automatic. It’s another limited-edition IFLW take on this watch that once again shows how its classic

If one thing is true about Laurent Ferrier’s watches, it’s that his designs are boldly understated. The watches don’t try to impress anyone with skeletonized dials, and the case shapes are nothing out of the ordinary. These aren’t watches you wear because you want to impress people from a distance. With timepieces like these, it’s all about the details. You wear a Lau

You’re a happy and lucky soul if you can put sunshine in your pocket. But if you can't manage to do so or that's too abstract, what about putting some sunshine on your wrist? All you need to do is strap on a Christopher Ward C65 Super Compressor Elite, and you're golden. This watch will help you treasure your summer vibes and will even keep the blue Mondays that are coming at bay.Say what yo

Have a quick look at the images in this article. Isn't the 156 just the archetypal Sinn watch? Wellno, it’s actually not. This model is an adaptation and evolution of Bundeswehr-issued pilot's watches from other brands. However, you can leave it to the good people at Sinn to take a good thing and make it better. These are the new Sinn 156.1 and 156.1 E.The latter model is a 300-piece limited