Introducing The Subdelta Ace 2017 LTD
SUBDELTAA group of Dutch watch enthusiasts under the name of SUBDELTA is now offering their 2nd timepiece. That’s not entirely true by the way, as (almost) the same group built the P1lot One watch already in 2014/2015. In 2016, they decided to move on to a different watch project and came up with the SUBDELTA name. Anyway, their first commercial watch was the SUBDELTA Periscope, that they introduced in 2016. You can find it here.ACEFor 2017, they designed and developed a watch called SUBDELTA ACE. This is their 2017 project, and currently ready for order. Even better, you can get a nice discount after you finished reading this article.Hans de Ree of SUBDELTA sent me the prototype of th...
Introducing the new BAU SWATCH collection
Swatch creates a playful tribute to the century-old Bauhaus movement in typical Swatch style. Meet the Bau Swatch collection.For a lot of kids born in the seventies and early eighties, a Swatch is the first proper watch they owned and vividly remember as well. I still remember mine very well. Although I have to be honest here, I had to look the exact model up in an older version of the Swatch-Clopedia that has an overview of all models that Swatch made from 1983 on. After a good couple of hours, I finally found my first Swatch, and it turned out to be the Swatch Bar Oriental from 1989. The most remarkable thing about it is that there is an image of a jazz drummer printed on the strap and mus...
Watch Strap Review Part 34. FinWatchStraps from Scandinavia
Watch Strap Review is back with a brand-new article featuring FinWatchStraps from Finland.It's been a while since out last Watch Strap Review so for all of you new readers, let me sum what this series is about. In every article, we feature a strap maker and review their product. We try to bring new brands, names you have not heard of before. Also, we try to feature as many countries as possible not always the usual suspects. So far, we introduced 30+ brands from Europe, USA or Asia. Some names like Erika's Originals since became super popular. We'd like to think that our article has something to do with that. All jokes aside, we focus on the products and the craftsmen not the hoopla around t...
Wrist Game or Crying Shame: Omega De Ville Power Reserve
Welcome back to Wrist Game or Crying Shame where you’re the head honcho in charge. This week, we look at a rather unique Omega De Ville Power Reserve. But first…Last week, I did my best to give you the right implement to sail the ocean seas with a Yacht-Master in gold. I rocked back and forth like a ten foot skiff on Lake Erie during a squall with my opinion on this thing. You landlubbers, however, sent this master of galleons down to Davy Jones locker with a 32% Crying Shame loss. It seems the only thing this watch was master of was losing! Well, let’s keep some of the glitz this week, up the technical quotient, and lower the price. Sound good? Then let’s get into t...
Seiko Presage Porco Rosso SRQ033 And SNR047 Hands-On
This year has been an awkward one so far. However, despite pretty much all events being canceled, we’ve still had an incredible amount of watches in our hands. Having covered a Presage with enamel dial recently, it was part of a large box with all the Seiko and Grand Seiko Novelties. Inside there were two models that stood out in the shape of the Seiko Presage Porco Rosso SRQ033 and SNR047.In most cases, the design of the Presage models traces back to the dial layout of the Laurel. This watch is at the origin of Seiko's watchmaking. With these two limited edition models, other design elements have been brought into play while retaining the look of the Presage collection. And the result...
Orient Star 43.6mm Dive Watch Reference AU0303B
This watch has been on and off my wrist for the past ten weeks. It’s been an emotional journey. Our time together has not all been plain sailing, but I (at least) have learned quite a lot from it. Crucially, this 43.6mm wide Orient Star dive watch reminded me why I like reviewing watches and, more importantly, why the world needs people to do it.Reviewing watches is not a chore. It would take a disgusting level of First World privilege to complain about having to pass judgment on luxury timepieces. However, we are charged with responsibility - a responsibility to be honest. I see more and more watch news outlets around the world diluting their opinions or “momentarily shelving...
#TBT Curator And Auctioneer Nina And Her 1970s DIY Dial Prim Watch
Its not a Franken-watch, as it is 100% original. But original as it may be, it is most certainly not untouched. At some point in the past, a previous owner made some major dial modifications. Is it art? That can certainly be debated… It is definitely unlike any other watch out there, so I guess “original” remains the word to use when describing this particular watch. Though I bet that many of you would tremble and beg for mercy when faced with the prospect of having this Prim strapped to your wrist, the current owner, Nina, wears this DIY-dial watch proudly!?It was an ordinary Wednesday in April, a day where no particular watch-related highlights were to be expected. In the...
What Are The Best Watch Brands In The World? (2021)
If you like controversy, you came to the right place. Trying to answer a question like the one in the title of this article is always going to result in a deluge of criticism. To those who find themselves disagreeing with what I'm about to say, I say this: let it rain. Fratellowatches.com is an online watch-loving community like no other. We want to have those difficult conversations and pose complicated questions that garner more than one answer. And so don't take my assessment of what makes for the best watch brand in the world as the gospel truth or the final word on the matter: this is a starting point for a fun discussion. So let's have fun discussing it together.It probably won't surpr...
The Best Recently Released Chronograph Watches (2022)
Summer is in full swing, and by now, most people have selected their favorite summer watches to take with them on holidays. But after the summer is over, you might want to think about a new timepiece to add to your collection. What about a new chronograph? You know that we collectively love chronographs here at Fratello, with one particular chronograph at the top of that list. That’s why we wanted to take the chance to find out what some of the best recently released chronographs are. Are there any new kids on the block that give the iconic chronographs we all know and love a run for their money? Let’s find out.For this list, we focused on watches that have been released recently...
Hot Take: Citizen NJ0150 Familiar Looks For Under $300
Until recently, the Citizen NJ0150 has only been available in Asia, but now it’s also becoming available in Europe. We received several of them in our office last week, and my eye was immediately drawn to this yellow version, the NJ0150-81Z. One of the first things I did was put a picture of the watch on my Instagram account, and the next thing I knew, my DM box was full.One of the funniest remarks I received (but also one that clearly shows what’s going on here) came from someone telling me that he has been on the waitlist for a yellow-dial Oyster Perpetual since day one. You don’t have to squint to see the resemblance to a . And other than the yellow dial, with the magnif...
Summer Holiday Watches G-Shock, Omega, And Zodiac
Hey, everyone! Nacho here, checking in from sunny Cascais, Portugal to tell you about my holiday watches. Right now, I am enjoying two weeks of R & R by the Atlantic. But that hasn't stopped me from getting a little bit of homework done in the form of this article. This is my first summer holiday in a long time, so when packing for it, I felt a bit of pressure to get it right. My first thought was to pack more watches than I might need. But I quickly decided against that in favor of a more minimalist approach.In total, I've taken four watches with me - two for work and two for leisure. But let's face it, they're all just tagging along for leisure, and the work will be a happy side effect...
Parmigiani's Tonda GT Annual Calendar Chronograph
Parmigiani Fleurier is not all about the sell-out Tonda PF. Without a doubt, the PF inaugurated a new era for the Swiss independent brand last year to rave reviews. To the wider market, the flagship collection may seem like an overnight sensation. The truth is, its aesthetic evolution has a lot to thank the Tonda GT for. Having debuted a year prior in 2020, the Tonda GT elevated the classic Tonda looks into a new series of sports-luxe watches. And the best part is that the Tonda GT has brought along an annual calendar chronograph. Annual calendar chronographs are few and far between. The latest Tonda GT Chronograph Steel models featuring a coveted annual calendar with gray and red panda dial...
Photo Report: New Swatch Boutique Amsterdam
Last night, part of the Fratello team made its way up to Amsterdam to join the opening celebration of the new Swatch boutique. Located at 42 P.C. Hoofstraat, the 100m2 retail space sits in the heart of Amsterdam’s luxury retail street. This is Swatch’s fourth retail space in the Netherlands. The boutique opened on the 29th of July and has already welcomed hundreds of customers, drawn in by the vast, colorful lobby and selection of equally bold timepieces on display. This first area of the boutique prominently features a piece of art called Stargazer’s Canal. Designed by Enzo Pers-Labourdette, it’s comprised of sixteen 3D-printed ceramic canal houses. Their roofs made...
Two New Limited Edition Breitling Endurance Pro IRONMAN
Breitling’s Endurance Pro keeps going from strength to strength. Despite the radical design and somewhat antithetical approach to luxury watchmaking, the Endurance Pro has found favor amongst the enthusiasts and consumer market. Adding 1 millimeter to an established diameter in the online watch community can instigate a feverish debate. Yet, when Breitling went as non-traditional as possible, the Endurance Pro became celebrated for its ability to offer something different in luxury. More importantly, the Endurance Pro’s namesake durability proves adaptable to extreme sports and activities. This is why these two new limited editions celebrate and continue the partnership with the ...
Which Doxa Sub Is Right For You?
It’s no surprise that I am a fan of the Doxa Sub line of watches. My first new Swiss-made watch was a Doxa, though it was not one of the iconic cushion-cased designs. Today, I’ll go through four of Doxa’s key dive-watch offerings and hopefully help you determine which one is right for you.When looking through Doxa’s catalog with a friend who is new to watches the other day, I noticed how confused he got. It’s understandable because Doxa’s naming conventions don’t always make sense. Why, for example, is the 1,200m-rated dive watch called the 300T? So, for the sake of clarity, I am going to briefly run through four of the brand’s most popular wat...
Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Perpetual Calendar Pink Gold & Green
Let’s do a little test. I want to know how you react to the following types of watches. Are you ready? Here we go - dive watches with tourbillons and pilot's watches with perpetual calendars. Do you start to feel a tad uncomfortable? Did your left eye twitch a little? It’s a “yes” for me on both counts. I know that a certain brand advocates that rules can be broken after they've been mastered, but I still find it difficult to deal with a certain type of tool watch and precious metal, an unnatural colorway, and/or an illogical complication. On paper, a pink gold dive watch with a green dial and a perpetual calendar seems like utter blasphemy. So how come I find the non...
Hands-On: The New Black-Dial Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra
Omega recently introduced a trio of new Seamaster Aqua Terra models. Although the brand itself made little fanfare about it, we were excited to see them. Many within the Fratello team were quite fond of the Aqua Terra Shades models. I was even tempted to buy one for myself. So when a black-dial version came along, we wanted to get our hands on it. I am happy to report that I did, and here is how we got along.The new black Omega Aqua Terra comes in three variants. The 41mm version (ref. 220.10.41.21.01.001) runs on Omega’s caliber 8900, while the 38mm (ref. 220.10.38.20.01.001) and 34mm (ref. 220.10.34.20.01.001) versions both house caliber 8800. All have a price of $7,300.What is new a...
IFL Watches Introduces The G-Shock CasiOak DJ Willie
With Steamboat Willie now in the public domain, the film’s main character is ready to let loose! In this second Steamboat Willie-inspired release, IFL Watches lets Willie work the crowd as a DJ on the dial of a G-Shock CasiOak. The hand-painted dial lights up under UV light to brighten up Willie’s party. It creates a colorful and fun new adventure that will surely bring a smile to the face of the 150 future owners of this new G-Shock CasiOak DJ Willie by IFL Watches.In late April, IFL Watches released the Citizen Tsuyosa Automatic Free Willie. It was the first limited-edition release by IFLW to celebrate the passing of the Disney classic Steamboat Willie into the public domain, w...
Hands-On: The Beaufort Pulsatimer
I’m all for a tough sports watch with a muscular design accompanied by a matte black or blue dial, a solid depth rating, and big, blocky lume-printed indices. But the Beaufort Pulsatimer is a conflicting mix of this and dressy vintage, and it frazzled my watch-brain neurons.I have a confession to make: sometimes a watch gets unboxed in my office and elicits an immediate frown. This is because I still have preconceptions, even after writing about watches for more than five years. And the Beaufort Pulsatimer just didn't fit my idea of a sports chronograph, so I put it back in the box and enjoyed the Seatrekker that came along with it.The second Beaufort and its contrasting natureAbout a ...
Nomos Zurich Weltzeit Watch Review
A while ago, I wrote an article about my Top 3 favorite world timer watches (click here). Ever since I first saw the Nomos Zurich Weltzeit watch at the SalonQP in London last year, I was waiting for it to finally arrive, to see whether it would get a spot in the Top 3 of my favorite world timer watches.The version I had in my hands in London was a prototype or at least a version that was subject to a few changes, but it worked perfectly and was easy to adjust.Luckily, with the new Zurich line-up and Tangomat GMT watches, Nomos decided to enlarge their watches to 39-40mm. This way I could properly give them a try, as the inital Nomos models were way too small for me. A few weeks ago, I was ab...