We are very happy to have the CEO of Officine Panerai on our podcast, Mr. Jean-Marc Pontroue. We talk to him about the current status of the watch industry, how the brand is navigating these difficult times, and about the recent introduction of Panerai’s very own PAMCast.After the mandatory wrist check (see below), Mike and RJ discuss these topics. Our Fratello on Air podcast can be played v

In this Sunday morning column, two of our writers go head-to-head in an epic showdown for the ages. Strong opinions and hysterical hyperbole are welcome (so feel free to join in with the fun in the comments section below). And don't forget to let us know which watches you'd like to see torn to shreds/effusively exalted next week. We'll try and feature as many of our readers' choices as we can. Aft

You like the idea of it, its shape, and the overall aesthetic. You’ve done a little bit of research, and decided that you want a Royal Oak or even a Nautilus - but that goes without saying. Both Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe have calculated a price for these watches, which can be found in their respective catalogs.? With your eye on the price tag, you’ve saved up and grown your sa

Sometimes it’s difficult to explain “why” we buy watches. It can be challenging to articulate the specific reasons why a particular dial or other special feature speaks to us in the way it does. Buying a watch is usually a journey filled with learning and realization that each of us undertakes with fervent passion. These journeys can be enlightening and eye-opening affairs, so in

If you’ve spent any amount of time snooping around the world of vintage watches or the history of our culture (which we can now officially use instead of the word industry thanks to UNESCO’s recent recognition - read about it here), then you will have heard of the name Gay Frres. The “Gay Brothers” bracelet-making company was founded in 1835 by two men who, surprisingly, w

Omega introduced the Moonshine Gold alloy in 2019 in the Speedmaster Professional Apollo XI 50th Anniversary Limited Edition. This alloy, which is a bit paler than yellow gold, contains less copper and adds silver and palladium to the mix.In combination with the brushed surfaces on the case (and bracelet), I find the Speedmaster Professional in Moonshine Gold to have a more toned-down look than pr

Let me start with a topic that I normally save for the end - PRICE. About a year ago, I wrote an introduction article on two other Seiko Prospex Speedtimer references, and I noticed that the price for this new model is still the same. Even though Seiko has a reputation for keeping prices relatively sane, I appreciate that the brand didn’t raise it all this time around. Let’s find out w

Welcome back to a long-overdue episode of Fratello On Air! Balazs and Mike have returned from lengthy travel and that forms the underlying agenda of today's chat. There's plenty more, though, so sit back and enjoy!

This year, everyone is traveling again, but for some reason, it doesn't seem like the airports have caught on. In August, half of Europe is either already at or en route to a sunny destination, so here's fingers crossed for smooth traveling. Finally, the #BEACHVIBES are back, and we’re here to enjoy them.You might even choose to skip the flights and include a road trip like some of our edito

A song by retrowave artist Kristine called “The Deepest Blue” was on repeat in my head during my first visit to Les Ateliers Louis Moinet in Saint Blaise, Switzerland. Now, looking back on that illuminating trip, I am convinced the song influenced the design of this watch. Somehow, and without conscious invitation, the synthesized buzz of that lo-fi club classic ended up manifesting in

It must have been a lifetime ago (or it certainly feels like it) when RJ first sported a Speedmaster in full-gold armor on his wrist. My instant reaction was, “Wow, that's lit.” In that moment of unexpected infatuation, gold watches for men changed forever for me. Fast forward to last week when I saw RJ's Instagram post of a roll of gorgeous gold Moonwatches. Interestingly, those feeli

After giving it some thought, I have come to the conclusion that the concepts of the grail and exit watch are a threat to the passion that people have for watches. The acquisition of a grail watch could mean the fruitful conclusion of a long, interesting, and often enlightening quest. Once you've reached that one goal, you could set out on another quest, for new watch dreams are waiting to be fulf

“If there’s smoke, there’s fire.” Smokey Bear - the wildfire prevention mascot of the United States - stands prominent in the mind of every American child that’s been camping. Introduced to the public in 1944, Smokey Bear is one of the United States’ longer-lived mascots. He’s been teaching us about wildfire prevention and safe campfire etiquette for gener

Norqain has been releasing new watches non-stop. The young Swiss brand has steadily extended its catalog over the past couple of years. Additionally, we have seen quite a few special editions produced in limited numbers. The latest special-edition releases are two of the brand’s popular Neverest models. Special dials inspired by the Khumbu Icefall on Mt. Everest bring a new aesthetic to thes

Everyone’s watch-collecting journey is different, but I assume most of us start on the lower end of the spectrum when it comes to the amount spent per watch. Some continue to collect watches around that same entry-level price point, while others stretch their budget a bit and go for more expensive watches. In the long run, you might end up spending significantly more than you did on that fir

Nowadays, almost all new watches presented get comments about their prices. “A very nice watch, but not for that price” is a frequently heard comment, not only by our readers but also by Fratello’s editors. But is criticism like this justified? In relative terms, have watches become much more expensive than, let’s say, 20 years ago? Or do our minds still live in an era long

Another Friday, another list! After a little Olympic break last week, we continue our quest for the best watches released in the first half of 2024. This week, we will be discussing the best new GADA watches. Most of you will be familiar with the concept of a Go Anywhere, Do Anything watch, but what that translates to is highly personal. But we can definitely find five watches that we consider gre

The Manchester Watch Show, a highly anticipated event for watch enthusiasts and collectors, is set to take place on Saturday, November 9th, 2024, at the Halle St. Peter’s. With its vibrant history and iconic architecture, Manchester provides the perfect backdrop for an event promising to showcase some of the best British watch brands. It’s the first time we see a watch show of this lev

As a brand, Grand Seiko doesn’t exactly skimp on annual new releases. Of course, many of the latest watches are dial variants, so we take extra notice when a completely new model debuts. The titanium SLGW003 “Birch Bark” was introduced earlier this year, and now we’ve had the chance to put it through its paces.In April, Grand Seiko released the titanium SLGW003 “Birch

Vintage watch ads are so cool! I used to buy some 60s and 70s National GeoGraphics magazines from fairs and bookmarkets and cut out all the cool watchadvertisements by Omega, , Patek, Longines, Bulova etc. BJSOnline has a lot of vintage watch ads online, you will find them here!