#TBT The Return of the Gallet Multichron Decimal Chronograph
Ah, the sweet smell of victory or perhaps that was Robert-Jan's Drakkar Noir cologne (or was it Kouros?) as he entered the lobby of a Frankfurt hotel lobby with gifts in tow. Let's be honest, it had nothing to do with his eau de toilette although, now I think it was really Davidoff's Cool Water and everything to do with the large bags he was carrying. In one was my first pair of klompen (Dutch wooden shoes for the neophytes out therec'mon!) and in the other a copy of Moonwatch Only along with some SpeedyTuesday magazines. But there was something else inside After exchanging pleasantries despite being in Europe, no kisses were traded we took the obligatory IAA wrist shot.?? RJ had his newly a...
Patek Philippe 5270P Perpetual Calendar Chronograph with Salmon Dial
Salmon dials have a strange effect on me. Whether it was one of the salmon dial Datejusts?in the 1990s, the salmon dialled Chronoswiss Regulateur Automatique CH1223, Audemars Piguet Royal Oak ‘Jumbo’ 14802 or Sinn 356 watches, I felt heavily attracted to them. Yet, I never bought one as I felt too scared. With this Patek Philippe 5270P (P for platinum), the dial has yet again that same effect on me.Patek Philippe 5270P – Salmon DialAlthough I regret not buying the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak with the salmon dial (and the prices went berserk), I could have bought the Chronoswiss or Datejust with that dial. Yet I actually never dared to do it. Not because I think rose or salmo...
Only Watch Auction
This year we’ll already see the 8th edition of the Only Watch initiative. The biennial auction of unique luxury timepieces from which 99% of the proceeds go directly to muscular dystrophy research projects. For the Only Watch 2019 auction, 50 timepieces?are?generously provided by their manufacturers.Of course, at Fratello, we’ve been following the Only Watch initiative from the beginning and respect its noble cause enormously. We’re glad to see that in the last seven editions no less than 40 million Swiss Francs have been raised and used to change the lives of thousands of children, teenagers and young adults around the world. Besides the results of the auction, we’re...
This Week in Watches: September 21, 2019
Welcome back to This Week in Watches – we have some exciting news this week, so let’s get right down to it!Hamilton Chrono-Matic 50First up on This Week in Watches is a new Hamilton.? We received word a little over a week ago that Hamilton was celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Caliber 11 with a limited edition release based upon its highly collectible vintage “Chronograph E” from 1972, which is otherwise known as the Count-down GMT Chrono-Matic.? Hamilton was one of the original partners in the Caliber 11 automatic that debuted in 1969 along others such as Breitling, Buren, and Heuer, so it’s fitting that they decided to take part in the celebrations.? Adm...
Veritas Art Auctioneers: Auction 100 Watches
I love a good auction. They used to scare the heck out of me when I first got into watch collecting. But now I swear by them as great access points for all collectors. If you’re just starting out you can always find the odd bargain. Sure, it may go for a low price because no one else likes it, but who knows? It could be the next big thing! For established collectors, auctions present an opportunity to acquire the holy grails of our industry. At 9 pm (UTC+1) October 1st, Veritas Art Auctioneers (based in Lisbon, Portugal) is hosting a very interesting event: Auction 100: Watches.Between September 25th and September 30th, from 10 amC8 pm daily, you’ll be able to view the rather vas...
The Raketa Big Zero Malevich Watch Makes You Think...
Waking up every morning and checking my inbox is a treat. As a die-hard watch lover, working within the industry means each day is a little like Christmas morning. Although many days pass without the kind of treats I’d gone to sleep dreaming of, every so often I wake up to something surprising. Pleasingly, it isn’t always from the brands I’d expect. With the release of the Big Zero Malevich watch, Raketa fuses a few of my earliest memories from my career, resulting in something strangely alluring.Raketa is an interesting brand. It is unabashedly Russian. For those with an interest in its (very) long history (stretching all the way back to the time of Peter the Great), this ...
The Beast Is Back: The Seamaster 300M Chronograph Ta/Ti/Sedna
I can’t express how happy I was to see this Omega release in our inbox. I’ve been waiting for this a long time, as the original Seamaster 300M Chronograph in tantalum, titanium, and rose gold from 1993 is one of my favorite “eccentric” watches.Soon after I purchased the full titanium Seamaster 300M Chronograph (2298.80), I decided my grail Seamaster 300M would be the version made of titanium, tantalum, and rose gold. A few years ago, I made the purchase. It turns out it was more than nostalgia talking. In fact, I wear it quite often.When Omega released the new 300M collection in 2018, the brand also introduced a limited edition model in titanium, tantalum, and Sedna g...
Watch On Your Wrist? Fratello Instagram Contest 2020 Round 13
Welcome back to our Watch On Your Wrist? Instagram extravaganza! Tag your watch snaps with #fratellowatches to be in with a chance to win!Every week, we select four images. You can vote in the article for your favorite image. The winner moves on to the semi-final round (held every fifth week between the previous four weekly winners). Win that and you’re into the final, which will be held at the end of the year. There will be five finalists in 2020 and ten from next year on.Basically, if you like winning things - and there will be a prize for the champion of 2020 - this year represents your best shot. So get snapping, get tagging, and get sharing. And don’t forget to vote (once) f...
Omega Speedmaster Calibre 321 VS. The Original 105.003 (2021)
One of the most heard comments on the Omega Speedmaster Calibre 321 is that you could also opt for an original 1960s Speedmaster reference 105.003. That's the reference the 2020 Speedmaster Calibre 321 has been based on.Whether you prefer a vintage Speedmaster 105.003 over the new Speedmaster Calibre 321 reference 311.30.40.30.01.001, that's a different discussion. It is mainly a matter of preference and opinion on watch collecting & buying. If you want the real thing, the Speedmaster Calibre 321 might not cut it for you. If you don't want the hassle of finding an original 105.003 that has not been tampered with or are afraid to damage it while wearing it, the new Speedmaster Calibre 321...
The Kurono Cock-Up The First Women-Only Watch (2021)
If you’ve got your finger on the pulse of the watchmaking industry, you will have heard about Japanese brand Kurono’s efforts to bring more women into the field of watch collecting by designing and releasing a very attractive watch that was initially only available to women. At first glance, that idea doesn’t sound totally dreadful (although it is clearly problematic) but the disastrous implementation of a scheme that allowed male followers to “nominate” their chosen woman to receive the watch seemed even more itchingly draconian to me personally. However, rather than roundly crucify a brand for ham-handedly trying to be progressive, let’s talk about what ...
Three Seiko Watches That Need To Return
There’s no doubt about it, there are plenty of Seiko watches in the current catalog. You name it and they probably make it. Plus, Seiko has reissued a lot of watches during the past ten years. Are there any gems to remint?The other day, I was going through some of my Seiko watches. I do this every so often to check on the quartz pieces. It’s important to see what is still running, what has stopped, and what is doing the multi-second death throe jump. It’s a great opportunity to take another look at some great designs quartz or not. It also makes me think about what could or should come one day from one of our favorite brands. Now, I will warn you that some of these are a bi...
Hands-On: Vacheron Constantin Overseas Dual-Time Everest (2021)
It's been a few weeks since some of the Fratello team packed our bags and headed to Switzerland for Geneva Watch Days 2021. That may technically now be old news, but some of the fantastic things we saw were top secret and under embargo, so we've been unable to share them with you. Well, today, I can share one of those fantastical things now that it's made its way into the open. That is the new production version of the Vacheron Constantin Overseas Dual-Time Everest.Back in 2019, Vacheron Constantin held an event in New York to celebrate the recent attempt of noted pro-photographer, explorer, and VC ambassador Cory Richards to ascend Mount Everest along the Tibetan North-East Ridge. Amazingly...
Introducing: The New Norqain Wild ONE And NORTEQ
The pursuit of creating the ultimate sports watch - it's the great motivator behind many of the watch world's finest creations. Today, we witness one young independent brand's effort in achieving sports-watch perfection. The Norqain Wild ONE was presented today as the culmination of the brand's collaborative endeavor with industry giant Jean-Claude Biver to achieve just that. Norqain also introduces its proprietary carbon material, NORTEQ, which is used to create key parts of the Wild ONE's case. With this release, a massive collaborative effort comes to fruition. Big names in the industry came together with innovation in mind, and the result is the new Norqain Wild ONE. This high-tech, ligh...
#Fallcolors: Autumn Watches From Omega, Zenith, Orient
For some reason, it’s already the end of September, and Europe is finally cooling down. It’s been a great summer, in fact, warmer than ever. But there’s nothing like the beige, browns, and rich orange #fallcolors on the neighborhood trees to mark the shift to a season of big cups of latte and crisp mornings.I don’t know about you, but I love the warm touch of beige on a matte black dial (dare I call it fauxtina?). From these discreet pops of warm color to the deep orange of a tropical dial, we’ve got you covered. Today’s lineup includes watches from Omega, Orient, and Zenith, along with some great gear to match your autumn mood. We’re even including ...
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon GMT
Twenty years ago, Audemars Piguet introduced the first Royal Oak Concept, an extreme-looking watch (both then and today) made of Alacrite 602 and titanium. Alacrite is a lightweight alloy mainly used in the aeronautical industry. Not only was the design extreme, but the movement inside was also rather special. Besides a tourbillon, the Royal Oak Concept from 2002 also featured a Dymograph. The Dymograph indicates the torque of the mainspring at that particular moment.That watch still looks impressive today. To my delight, Audemars Piguet let me try on its most recent descendant the other day when I was visiting the brand’s museum in Le Brassus. This new Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbil...
The Watches, Design, And Sustainability Of Mondaine
Mondaine is a watch company that, while perhaps well-known within Switzerland, gets fairly little attention beyond the watchmaking capital’s borders. In truth, the watches aren’t that exciting. There is little variation in design, they’re immensely affordable, and the quartz movements inside are not of those few that excite lovers of mechanical calibers. However, it’s in the little details that Mondaine really shines. And upon closer inspection, we find that Mondaine is both bold and making waves, though perhaps not in ways we typically expect from flashier watch companies. Mondaine watches are, in short, simple, reliable affairs, yet they are full of charm and made w...
A Month On The Wrist With The Tissot PRX Powermatic 80
How good is the Tissot PRX really? Well, after writing about and praising the watch multiple times, I decided to buy the PRX Powermatic 80. Every time I was able to put one on my wrist or simply saw one in the wild, the watch impressed me a lot. As such, I decided to delay my purchase of the current Moonwatch a bit and put my money where my mouth was with the PRX. With a month-long trip to the United States in view, it was the perfect opportunity to find out how good the watch actually is.? Now, after a solid five weeks of wrist time, I can say that the PRX is nothing short of impressive.For my month-long trip to North Carolina to visit my girlfriend, I decided that the Tissot PRX Powermatic...
Introducing: The New Grand Seiko SBGX353 Skyflake
Three years after the 2019 introduction of the original Skyflake (SBGA407), Grand Seiko has announced its spiritual successor. The new Grand Seiko SBGX353 Skyflake comes in a 34mm Elegance Collection case and is powered by the brand’s 9F61 quartz movement. Stripped of its Spring Drive power-reserve indicator, the beautifully textured dial is allowed to truly shine in an uninterrupted and more balanced manner. This release will be welcomed by those who prefer smaller-cased watches, as well as by Grand Seiko fans who enjoy the brand’s excellent, carefree, yet uncompromising quartz movements. Could this icy dial be the first sign that summer is coming to an end? As the colder season...
#TBT A Rainbow Mood With Tian Harlan's Chromachron
However colorful or eclectic my collection is, the Chromachron color-time watch by Tian Harlan has never been on my wishlist. Sure, I know I have my fair share of weirdo watches, but who would have thought that one with no hands and, seemingly, no way to tell time would get a feature in #TBT? Well, here we are…Michal Pastier, a former colleague and now a friend of mine, is also one of the most creative minds I know. He is the founder of the competing advertising agency Zaraguza and a branding agency called GoBigname. What I didn’t know about him until recently was that he also fell under the spell of vintage watches. Our paths crossed again, and I helped to source a Chromachron c...
Code41 Introduces The NB24 Chronograph Edition 3
Options. Who doesn’t like to have options? That’s exactly what Code41 offers you with its new NB24 Chronograph Edition 3. You now get the choice of two different case designs. The first is the trusted NativeDNA case that the brand used for the previous two iterations of the watch. New this time around, however, is the brand’s Stratom case, which brings a completely new look to the successful chronograph. The new NB24 Stratom Chronograph Edition 3 will be a limited edition of 200 pieces. The brand also introduced a new orange color option for the watch. Time to find out more.The NB24 Chronograph has been a great success for Code41. With its technical look, the watch is a fav...