My Dream Omega Speedmaster Is A Rare NASA Watch
In this edition of Speedy Tuesday, we look at an experimental Omega Speedmaster that is a thing of real beauty. NASA introduced my dream version in the early 1970s, but sadly, it was never a production model.The Omega Speedmaster needs no introduction. Suffice it to say, the Speedmaster is one of the most iconic watch designs not just of the mid-20th century but also of all time. The Omega Speedmaster is also a watch that I’ve never owned nor seriously lusted after. In fact, I must admit that I don’t currently even own a watch from Omega, whether vintage or modern (that needs to change). It seemed my time to write about this sad state of affairs was overdue, and what better oppor...
Our Favorites From Geneva Watch Days 2024
It’s time for another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we cap off Geneva Watch Days 2024 with our favorites from the event. We saw some fascinating watches and met new and old acquaintances. For our listeners, there’s not much banter in this episode!...
Introducing: The King Seiko SJE103, SJE105, And SJE107
Seiko introduces three new dial variants to its higher-end King Seiko models. These are last year's SJE089/SJE091 under the hood but with fancy new dial textures and colors. This pushes them a bit further away from their austere 1965 KSK ancestor and into modern territories.Today, Seiko releases a lavender (SJE107), blue (SJE105), and red (SJE103) model. Each has a unique pattern, while all three share a color gradient or vignette effect. Meanwhile, the price remains the same as last year's silver and black models at $3,400. Let's have a closer look!A quick recap: SJE103, SJE105, and SJE107 specificationsConsidering the pace at which Seiko drops new watches, you would be forgiven for not kno...
Away for 2 weeks
I am away for my work for the next two weeks. Egypt, Tunis and Morocco to be exact. I don’t think there will be any time to post about watches, unless the hotels have an internet connection available in the rooms.Anyway, when I am back I will finally post the Speedmaster article (new vs vintage) I have been working on last weeks. I only need to update some photos and it is ready to post.Flying on the 11th of september still doesn’t feel very comfortable though....
Long Term Review: Jaeger Le-Coultre Reverso Grande GMT
Click on all images for larger.After many sleepless nights of deliberation, it was time for a change. I sold my Lange 1815 to make room for something new in the collection. What would it be? After much hunting and poring over catalogs and visiting dealers, I decided on a Jaeger Le-Coultre Reverso Grande GMT (RGGMT from here on) in steel. The standard alligator strap wasn't very flexible or comfortable for me, and left the watch sitting high, so I went for the bracelet model.That was in early 2009. Two and a bit years on, am I still in love?Let's back up a little. There are three things that can happen to a watch after you've owned it for a while: either it grows on you, you like it as much a...
Long Term Review: Jaeger Le-Coultre Reverso Grande GMT
Click on all images for larger.After many sleepless nights of deliberation, it was time for a change. I sold my Lange 1815 to make room for something new in the collection. What would it be? After much hunting and poring over catalogs and visiting dealers, I decided on a Jaeger Le-Coultre Reverso Grande GMT (RGGMT from here on) in steel. The standard alligator strap wasn't very flexible or comfortable for me, and left the watch sitting high, so I went for the bracelet model.That was in early 2009. Two and a bit years on, am I still in love?Let's back up a little. There are three things that can happen to a watch after you've owned it for a while: either it grows on you, you like it as much a...
Speedy Tuesday Two Speedmaster Professional Watches With A 45 Year Age Difference
Speedy Tuesday is here! I thought it would be nice to zoom in on the differences between a Speedmaster Pro from 1967 and a Speedmaster Pro from the current collection. We get a lot of questions per e-mail (and Facebook) about Speedmasters and which one people should get, so our comparison might help you (or them) to make the right decision.The Speedmasters pictured above are today’s subject of Speedy Tuesday. On the left you see a 1967 Speedmaster Professional ref.145.012 and on the right a 2012 Speedmaster Professional ref.3570.50, both on [time correct] stainless steel bracelets and in their original Omega boxes.BackgroundI don’t want to do the whole Speedmaster rehearsal here,...
A Month on the Wrist, the Apple Watch
As a die-hard watch freak, and gadget addict as well, of course I couldn’t allow the Apple Watch to pass by. So two months ago I bought the 42 mm Space Grey aluminum Sports version with the black rubber strap. The watch hardly hasn’t been off my wrist ever since. I now dare to say that I’m able to substantively write something about it.Apple Watch ReviewFirst I want to clear that I don’t think the Apple Watch is a watch. It’s a device worn on a wrist which can be described as a communicator or informer. In fact it’s probably best described as a remote display of your iPhone. And so, just like your iPhone, it tells the time and much more information as well...
Omega Speedmaster Professional 145.022-69 52Mondayz, week #37
That wasn’t easy. It’s alway difficult for me to take my GMT-Master II, which I wore for 52Mondayz week #36, off my wrist. Something serious has to be brought into position to manage that. What else could that be except an Omega Speedmaster Professional?The Omega Speedmaster Professional 145.022-69 Straight Writing on my wristOmega Speedmaster Professional ref. 145.022-69And I decided to go vintage this week. Reference 145.022 was the Speedmaster which came onto the market around the period the moon landing took place (here is our story on how the Speedmaster became the Moonwatch). In 1968 the 145.022-68 took over from the 145.012-68. The 145.022-68 was a bit of a transitional m...
Top 10 Watches at Catawiki This Week
Every week online auction platform Catawiki auctions off 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. Oyster Perpetual Day-DateYear: 1991Gender: UnisexCase Material: Yellow goldMovement: AutomaticExtras: Certificate, original box and declaration of originClick here for the lot. DateJustYear: 1985Gender: UnisexCase Material: Gold/SteelMovement: AutomaticExtras: Full set including box and papersClick here for the lot DatejustYear: 1964Gender: UnisexCase Material: SteelMovement: AutomaticExtras: Box,...
Speedy Tuesday The Original Omega Speedmaster Ultraman
Since the release of the Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday Ultraman, we get some questions about the original version from 1968. Time for us to recap our article from 2016 about the Speedmaster Ultraman reference 145.012-67. This will give you some more background on the original Speedmaster Ultraman.For the Speedy Tuesday Ultraman, Omega and us (Fratello) wanted something more colourful, like the 2004 Speedmaster Professional Racing for the Japan market. A few brainstorming sessions later led us to Ultraman. The original Speedmasters with the orange hand from 1968 that can be seen in the 1960s TV series Ultraman are simply amazing and appreciated by many collectors.Omega Speedmaster UltramanWe don...
Wrist Game or Crying Shame: Panerai Luminor 1950 Fiddy
Wrist Game or Crying Shame returns with a look at a true legend: the Panerai Luminor 1950 Fiddy.? Do you have what it takes to wrist-tote one of these giants?Last week, on Wrist Game or Crying Shame, we asked you to envision taking a time machine back to the 80's or 90's, working hard, but then playing equally as hard on the ocean blue.? Along with this traveling and choice of leisure activities, we also bade you to consider wearing the Submariner 16803 Bluesy.? And while the watch we showed you quickly disappeared from internet history (remember, it was listed in Miami), roughly 64% of you were happy to channel your inner Robert Redford or later career Kevin Costner and saddle up with this...
Podcast: Fratello On Air Episode 5
Due to the holidays and travelling schedules, episode 5 of our podcast is a bit later than planned, but we made it. Available on Buzzsprout, Soundcloud, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast and Spotify....
Hands-On With The Hamilton Jazzmaster Skeleton Auto Watch
Hamilton further expands its collection with a new jazzy case to showcase the H-10-S movement. The Jazzmaster occupies the dressy-casual void that seems distant from the Khaki Field and Scuba watches. With a variety of dial hues and case shades, the Jazzmaster is sure to complement a plethora of styles.Jazz may not be an obvious inspiration for a wristwatch, yet it is not uncommon. Just this year, I went hands-on with the Oris James Morrison. While the Hamilton may be less overt in displaying the source of inspiration - the Oris has a trumpet symbol on the back - the roots remain. Hamilton has a longstanding association with the arts, mostly in Cinema. But watches like the Ventura are well-r...
Ben's Top 5 Modern Iconic Chronograph Watches
Welcome to my top list of chronographs that have become icons. The focus is on modern interpretations of chronographs that have stood the test of time. Whether by sheer brilliance or historical significance.My list is made up of modern timepieces but the core design DNA stretches back decades. There are some examples in this list that are square-millimeter-perfect recreations and some whose design and mechanisms have evolved over time. No matter the evolution, the term “iconic” applies to all of these chronographs. But I am always keen to know your personal choices. Especially on any watches I may have missed. Importantly for me, an icon needs to be identifiable with only the sil...
What Is The Best Summer Splash Watch? Doxa Vs. Zelos
Hopefully, you enjoyed the exposure of corruption and scandal in the group stages of the Summer Splash earlier this week. What’s a sporting competition without little friendly misdemeanor? I mean, I WAS involved, but not on purpose, I swear! But the time for masking this corruption with chit-chat has long gone. It's time for things to get serious. In the final of the quarter-final match-ups, I will take on B-Dawg Balazs for a place in the final four. Our champions? The Hound of Hungary brings in the uber-cool Doxa Sub300T Forged carbon while I, “Bob” Sergeant, sit in the corner of the underdog, the Zelos Mako V3 Titanium. Let’s be having it!Let's kick things off in th...
Microbrand Dive Watch Review: Clemence Photic Diver (2021)
Dive watches are incredibly popular in the watch collecting community. Not necessarily because everyone fancies themselves are the next Jacques Cousteau, but more because of how they're designed to hold up in hostile environments. OK, the majority of us may never take our dive watches into the deep blue, but they're often the perfect entry point for new watch collectors too. Basic dive watches are often designed to be worn all day, every day, while still holding up to the rigors of daily life above the waves. Today I'm looking at one such watch from a new Scottish microbrand, Clemence - the Photic Diver.Now it's clear to establish that I classify dive watches into one of two categories. Basi...
Dear Gruen, Bring Back The Airflight
And make the new Airflight at least as colorful as today’s rare blue, red, and gray example. When you make the new Gruen Airflight slightly bigger - let’s say somewhere around 38mm - it’s bound to be an instant hit.It’s one of the most popular watch posts I have ever put on my Instagram. The video presenting this watch’s amusing complication (which I often gladly refer to as watch simplification) has more than 300,000 views. I even got buy-out offers from the US to the UAE. But no matter how many people tried to get me to sell it, the Gruen Airflight still sits in my collection. And until it’s inevitable, it will never leave.Gruen, Mido and SperinaThose fa...
Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 Vs. Citizen NJ0150
Welcome back to Sunday Morning Showdown. You know the drill! On Sunday mornings, we pick two watches to battle it out for the win. Who decides the winner? You do! So make sure to read both editors' arguments and cast your vote for the winner. Today, Jorg and I want to find out which of these two affordable integrated-bracelet steel sports watches you feel deserves the SMS crown. Both the Tissot PRX and the Citizen NJ0150 are fairly recent releases that have revolutionized the affordable price point. Previously, integrated bracelet designs were only to be had for several thousand euros, and now for a few hundred, you can call one of these two yours. But will it be Switzerland or Japan that ta...
Are My Watches Seasonal? A Collector's Epiphany
I hate to admit it, but we are at the tail end of the summer in Europe. And it's been pretty amazing, but with this week's mix of 13C16 degrees, windy rain, and flooding, an Indian summer seems out of the question. This gave me time to think and raised a rhetorical question amid a(nother) consolidation attempt. Are my watches seasonal, and do I need to view them differently because of this?Half of you might have realized this already and will consider me a bit slow on the uptake, but I've learned something (stop laughing in the back). My watch collection is seasonal. The lucky readers with temperate tee-and-shorts weather all year round will not see my point. Here in northern Europe, though,...