Introducing The Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar In Platinum
Who says you need tons of color options for watches? A. Lange & Sohne is the perfect proof that you don’t. The brand offers carefully created limited color options for every model. A great example is the new Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar. With the introduction of the black and platinum model, the brand has added a third variant to the lineup that is quite distinct from the first two. That’s how A. Lange & Sohne ensures great diversity within a small range of offerings. The latest addition is the Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar in platinum with a black dial, and the result is stylish.The Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar first debuted in 2021 when A. Lange & Sohne presented two diffe...
Is The Blancpain Swatch Scuba Fifty Fathoms Successful?
Lex, RJ, and Laurits discuss the Blancpain Swatch Scuba Fifty Fathoms that was introduced on September 7th and went on sale two days later. Here at Fratello, the opinions are very mixed on the Blancpain Swatch release. Can we call the Scuba Fifty Fathoms successful? It doesn’t seem to be as successful as the MoonSwatch, but that’s not a big surprise to us....
Hands-On: Roger Dubuis Excalibur Spider Flyback Chronograph
What is green, loud, and low and will go around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, September 22nd, for hours on end? Well, any ideas? It's the Lamborghini SC63 hybrid racing car prototype! The number 63 Lambo in striking Verde Mantis, piloted by Italian drivers Matteo Cairoli, Andrea Caldarelli, and former French Formula 1 driver Romain Grosjean, will compete in the IMSA TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks endurance race this weekend. I’m not sure if any of the drivers will wear a watch during the six-hour race, but if they want to wear something matching, there's the Roger Dubuis Excalibur Spider Flyback Chronograph in the race car's livery ready to take a stint on their wrists....
New: Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Hybris Artistica Calibre 184
Jaeger-LeCoultre creates some of the most complicated watches on the market. Today’s Master Hybris Artistica Calibre 184 is a stunning example of this. The movement may not be new, but it’s wildly impressive and sits in an equally mesmerizing pink gold case. This is one to savor for its details and artisanship.One of my first nice watches was a manual-winding Jaeger-LeCoultre Heraion. It was a gift from my parents for graduation and still is a lovely piece. Since then (more years ago than I care to admit), I’ve kept up with the brand. My favorite models normally come from the Master or Master Control lines because of the focus on precision. The Master Hybris Artistica Calib...
Is it ever going to happen?
I looked at this post at TimeZone today and was wondering, what is ever going to happen with Minerva? They even don’t have a website anymore. Last thing heard, is that they would bring out some serious timepieces, comparable to the best of the best (Patek?). Prices were alike Patek as well.SteveG did a nice write-up at his website called SteveG’s Watch Launchpad.Will Minerva remain silent and thought of as a legend in watchmaking? Or will you be surprised at some point in the future by their new range of watches?...
Oompalupah's new watch
Oompalupah has a new watch and besides the nice write-up he did on it, he should be taking photographs for the official Omega catalogue for a living as well....
Beta Testing The Nomos Tangomat GMT-12
Click all images for largerNomos is one of those little artisanal' brands I follow with interest as they offer a combination of things that most others don't: unique and functional aesthetics, in-house movements and great value for money. Around the middle of 2010, I remember reading about their new worldtimer, and how they would be conducting a public beta test to determine the final design and assessment of reliability. If only all watch companies worked this way!Fast forward to October I chanced upon the post again, and this time the desire to own one struck me very badly. Also, I was travelling quite extensively for work; this would be a useful complication to have!The decision was not m...
Budget vintage moon phase watches
No decent watch collection should miss a dress watch. I think we can all agree on that. I think that a very classy yet interesting way to spice up your dress watch line-up is adding a vintage moon phase to it. That is a complication one would use probably the rarest but it is among the most fascinating complications a watch could have. Most people think that these pieces cost an arm and a leg. To be fair, sometimes they do indeed. We are going to talk about the affordable ones though. Fancy a vintage mechanical moon phase for under $1500? Keep reading.Unusual Omega Cosmic Moon Phase by Matthew Bain Inc.Vintage Moon Phase WatchesMoon phase (or moonphase, perhaps moon-phase) watches are the ty...
#TBT LeJour Fat Arrow Chronograph with Valjoux 72
Today on #TBT we'll talk about a rare watch that's known as the LeJour Fat Arrow chronograph. For a brand that later lived its life as the Yema export brand (incorporating many of their designs with only a name change on the dial or using Yema's cases), LeJour actually created a long-lived design with its Fat Arrow chronographs, but the piece today was seemingly the first. As I mentioned, it's a rarely seen watch that deserves a bit of attention.The LeJour Fat Arrow almost didn’t happenThe LeJour Fat Arrow came into my possession as a result of serious indecision. I had been messaging Andreas over at gregoriades.com when he bid on and won a Gallet Multichron Pilot (one of our earliest ...
Farer Aqua Compressor A Modern Super Compressor
English watch brand Farer introduced their first series of three-hander watches in 2016 and later on, in May this year, another collection was introduced with a GMT function. Now, only a few months later, Farer comes up with a model based on the sought-after Super Compressor watches.A super compressor case manages to keep water out by increasing water resistance the deeper the watch went in the water. The case back of a super compressor pressed harder on the O-ring gasket when the pressure increased. This way of sealing a watch was patented by?case manufacturer Ervin Piquerez S.A. (EPSA) and they have produced super compressor cases for dozens of brands. The 1960’s design with the two ...
Winners Of The Speedy Tuesday Instagram Contest
In May, we asked you to participate in a small contest on Instagram. We asked you to share your Speedmaster story. Why is it special to you? Why did you purchase it? And has it witnessed any memorable moments on the wrist.The rules were that it shouldn’t be longer than 100 words (very challenging). Well, it took some time, and a little bit of work behind the scenes, but we’re finally ready to announce the winners of this little #SpeedyTuesday contest.13 WinnersEveryone who participated is a winner of course, but we selected 13 IG stories to publish on the dedicated Speedy Tuesday website. You can find them here.We loved that astronaut Terry Virts also participated on Instagram wi...
MB&F And Eddy Jaquet Collaborate On Eight Unique Jules Verne Watches
Today MB&F in collaboration with master engraver Eddy Jaquet releases a series of eight unique timepieces that tell the amazing stories of French writer Jules Verne. The canvas for these incredibly detailed depictions of the eight stories is the MB&F Legacy Machine Split Escapement. During the Geneva Watch Days, we had a chance to experience two of these extraordinary timepieces up close. We were amazed by the detailed brilliance of the MB&F LM Split Escapement “Eddy Jaquet” Limited Editions. They truly are an escape into the wonderful adventures of Jules Verne.During the Geneva Watch Days, we had a chance to check out a number of MB&F’s recent creations. As...
Interview With The Founder Of TULLOCH Watches
After our planned introduction at Baselworld 2020 (remember that?) was - ahem - unable to go ahead, I’ve been itching to learn more about the brainchild of Shane Tulloch, having encountered his stunning work online at the turn of this crazy year. Last week, we spoke over the phone about his brand and future vision. Here’s the result of that conversation…Rob Nudds: Hi Shane, thanks for taking the time to sit down with Fratello. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your brand.Shane Tulloch: I am the founder and creative director at TULLOCH.I was born in New Zealand, and I grew up around my father’s workshop, where he makes custom jewelry by hand. Growing up, I loved ...
Zelos Nova 38mm Linen Watch Hands-On Review
I've been searching for a clear definition of what constitutes a microbrand for quite a while. Unsurprisingly, it's a hot topic of debate behind the scenes. Even among the Fratelli, there is disagreement. But, perhaps more commonly encountered than disagreement, is confusion. Also, as with most things, there are exceptions to every rule we come up with. A perfect example of this confusion comes from the small “independent brand” Zelos. And here’s why…The cleanest way I've managed to define a microbrand is an independent brand, practicing a direct-to-consumer model, within an entry-level (<$5,000) price bracket. To my mind, a micro is one of three major brand catego...
Hands On: The F.P. Journe LineSport Chronographe Rattrapante
Unless you’re fairly well-versed in high horology, producing sports watches is probably the last endeavor you’d imagine F.P. Journe pursuing. The living-legend watchmaker, known for his classically styled horological treasures, may seem far too highbrow for such preposterous tomfoolery (even if his cases are slightly larger than average). However, if high horology brands Girard-Perregaux, L.U. Chopard, Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin, A. Lange & Sohne, and Patek Philippe have all taught us one common lesson, what is it?That’s right - every manufacture de Haute Horlogerie needs an integrated-bracelet sports watch! For real though, sarcastic jokes aside, it often doe...
How Watches Work: What Is Guilloche? (2021)
A great watch dial is made beautiful by techniques such as guilloche. Created by skilled artisans called guillocheurs, who pour thousands of hours into their work, guilloche is the art of engraving fine and intricate patterns on metal with the use of a rose engine, straight-line engine, or brocading machine. Traditional guilloche methods are slowly dying out, as computer automation paves the way for cheap and precise but cold detailing on watches. Guilloche, once a thriving art form taught in dedicated schools, is now used only by a few specialist brands.Guilloche is created by operating the cranks of the machine to orientate the dial of a watch. The guillocheur then applies pressure to the ...
What's the Best Summer Watch? Tudor, Omega, Or Doxa? (2021)
Here it is, ladies, gentlemen, exuberant watch collectors, and machiavellian sea creatures alike, allow us to present to you the grand final of Fratello’s Summer Splash tournament. The contestants? Mike, RJ, and Phil. They bring to battle their trusty Tudor Black Bay .925, the seasoned Omega Seamaster 300M, and the vivacious-yet-versatile Doxa Sub 300. Who will steal your heart and earn your vote? Let’s find out.The vote will run until Sunday at 5 pm CET (September 26th). At that point, we will verify the legality of the voting for the final time and announce the winner, crowning the best summer watch available right now. Dive in one last time…Mike - Tudor Black Bay Fifty-E...
Famous Lug Styles That Have Defined Watch Design (2021)
Lugs… One of the make-or-break elements of a watch. In the best scenario, lugs define a watch. In the worst of situations, they can ruin a watch. When I just got into watches, the latter played a more significant part in my opinion about a watch, or rather than recognizing great lugs. I used to see them as a natural part of a case design. But over time, I found a great appreciation for lugs and how important they are in the overall design of a watch’s face.Though lugs have always played an essential part in the looks of a watch, their importance has also increased in other aspects. Nowadays, lugs are often a big part of the discussion of whether a watch works on the wrist of a we...
Artisans De Genve Returns With The World Traveler GMT
Watch collecting is a funny old hobby. What you collect and appreciate in a watch will be totally different from the next person. But therein lies the joy of watch collecting, as we all have our own tastes regarding our horological wrist companions. Sometimes, however, our tastes are pretty specific, and it’s possible that we never quite find “the” perfect watch. Many of us settle for the closest available thing. But we don’t have to. That’s why brands like Artisans de Genve exist - to allow customers to not have to settle. You can take that watch that’s so nearly just right for you and push it to the next level of personal perfection. Indeed, one such pe...
#TBT Back To My Roots With The Shiny Vulcain Cricket
Nothing else in my watch collection is even remotely close to this one. It is the only all-gold (or gold-plated) watch I have, the first and the last one I ever bought. I’d even say it is the dressiest Vulcain Cricket out there.I got emotional last week. Collector’s Week 2.0 made me reminisce and stirred up some memories of my first vintage watch. I told you how naive I was when I bought my goldie Vulcain Cricket. Sadly, I had no clue there were customs fees involved when importing watches from the United States. However, I could also say “thankfully”, because if I had known, I probably would never have bought it…Is it my Vulcain Cricket?Thinking about it last w...