Three New Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Models
Audemars Piguet is back with three new Royal Oak Offshore models. All three bring differences including size, materials, and complications. The sporty, brash line within the Royal Oak family usually boasts outlandish design and bright coloring. If neither of those features is your bag, today’s releases may tempt you.The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore in any guise is a curious beast. These incredibly popular watches appeal to those who enjoy wearing high-end luxury goods along with those who appreciate watchmaking. I’ll be honest, my tastes typically run toward the normal Royal Oak. However, there’s no denying the appeal of the Offshore for those who seek a more modern a...
Back To Basics: Watch Hands Underestimated In Watch Design?
Watch hands are not just literally at the core of any watch's design. They are the functional heart of a watch, the final parts turning a complex mechanical chain into a time-telling device. As the primary point of focus when looking at a watch, they determine much of its looks. At the same time, they are hardly ever explicitly discussed. Therefore, this installment of Back to Basics digs deep into watch hand design.As always, Back to Basics is aimed at newcomers to our beautiful shared watch hobby. If that's you, I hope to open your eyes to the weight of watch hands in the overall aesthetic and function of a watch. They will never escape your attention again when evaluating a watch. I will ...
The Ding Or Scratch That Hurts The Most
Most of the time, it is that first scratch or ding in your watch that will hurt the most. Jack Forster of Revolution Magazine tells about the first ding in his Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 15300. That triggered me to show you the first severe scratch on my Royal Oak. As you know, this watch has a lot of polished and brushed parts, most of the time divided by razor sharp edges. Luckily, none of the sharp edges has been damaged, because you can’t get that corrected any more (also AP can’t do this). I believe the bezel of my watch only needs some slight polishing on one of the polished parts of the bezel.And here is the dramatized shot:Anyway, it could be worse but it still hurts of co...
Speedy Tuesday Omega Speedmaster Mark II 145.014
Until early 2014, I never shared the same enthusiasm for the Omega Speedmaster Mark II 145.014 that others seem to have. The initial reason I bought this early 1970’s Speedmaster Mark II is one I am not really proud of: as an investment. I never advice people to buy watches as an investment and I never did so myself, until Omega announced their Speedmaster Mark II re-edition early 2104.I thought the new Mark II could increase the prices of the vintage Omega Speedmaster Mark II 145.014 models quite a bit. Now I didn’t search actively, but I was offered a Speedmaster Mark II just after BaselWorld in 2014, when I saw and tried the new Mark II re-edition. The price was around $1000 E...
Hands-On With The Omega Speedmaster 38 in Gold
A little watch review for this week’s Speedy Tuesday topic! Once upon a time, the Speedmaster Reduced enjoyed existence within Omega’s collection. Those days are past. In its place is the Speedmaster 38 collection. Omega doesn’t feel it necessary to explicitly define this as a gent’s or a ladies’ watch, and we’re just fine with that. For some wrists, this unusual addition to the range will be exactly what they’ve been searching for…My wife owns two Speedmaster watches. One of which is a Moonwatch model (42mm) and the other one is this Speedmaster Lady model in 38mm. She got it in 2013, and it was clearly marked as a ladies’ model. Last ye...
Two For Tuesday: Panerai Luminor Vs. Radiomir
It’s Two For Tuesday time where we take a look at two watches that commonly cause hand-wringing at decision time. This week, you’ll need to muster some serious arm strength to lift those hands because we’re going BIG with the Panerai Luminor and Radiomir.The Legend of PaneraiI know that I’ve mentioned this before, but the early 2000s hysteria caused by Panerai was a completely unique mania. There had been nothing like it up until that point in the watch world and there’s been nothing since. Sure, the Royal Oak, Nautilus, and your steel sports du jour are impossible to find, but these are very specific cases. Nigh on 20 years ago, just about everything from Pane...
Wrist Game Or Crying Shame: Sinn 103 St
Greetings, fellow readers! Wrist Game or Crying Shame is here to provide some relief from your fun in the sun with a look at the Sinn 103 St. Before we get to that…Last week, I took you back to a very different time. This was the era when IWC worked with Porsche Design and, oh boy, did they make some real doozies. One such example was the Ocean 2000. This was an incredibly pricey example, but you folks voted on the watch design itself, and wow did you gush. 62% of you wanted to fire up this Porsche and run through the gears because you found it a Wrist Game. Let’s shift gears again and move onto a watch from a somewhat related brand. The Sinn 103 St is now in focus.The Sinn 103 S...
Top 5 Telemeters: Favorites From Nezumi, RGM, Montblanc (2021)
“Can’t you hear, can’t you hear the thunder? You better run, you better take cover.” Or so said the Men At Work. Now, before you shake your head, thinking, “There goes Brandon again with the song references,” let’s take a moment to consider that statement. Whether or not you actually have to run and take cover all depends on the storm’s proximity, doesn’t it? Let’s be honest here; if it’s five kilometers away, you could probably just?leisurely stroll and take cover. And sure, with these newfangled phones and radar apps, you could flick some screens and figure that out. But that’s no fun, now is it? For us watch lovers, w...
#TBT A Small-Budget Felca With A Military History
In February of 1945, a few months before World War II came to an end, the U.S. Army Exchange Service put in an order for 30,000 Felca ref. 1187 watches. That’s a pretty exciting intro for a watch that most collectors have never heard of.?It has no quirky movement and no special features on the dial. It’s just a simple time-only watch that I would have probably overlooked… until I made a new watch friend recently. He had two watches I liked, and I had one watch he liked and I didn’t mind letting go in return. After we made the watch swap, Curtis and I kept talking. Well, you can guess what we were talking about.“This was what started my obsession. I bought it at ...
Watch Market Update: Your Watches Will Be Just Fine
Watches do not make headlines very often. When they do, it is usually either about money or crime. Lately, we seem to get buried under articles about the crash of the watch market. Since the authors of such pieces are not usually watch experts, a lot of the nuance is lost. It seems there is an eagerness to see “those greedy watch snobs” fall. Well, let me tell you that, as always, the reality is a lot more nuanced. And to cut to the chase, your watches will most likely be fine.It is true that we are facing economic uncertainty. I will not get into all the factors at play - there are plenty of authors much better qualified to do that. But I will have a closer look at what happened...
Nordic Watch Dating Profiles: Straum, JS Watches, And Nordgreen
The Nordic countries - Sweden, Norway, Denmark, etc. - are best known for stunning landscapes and clean, minimal design. “Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern” is a whole vibe of furniture that enthusiasts and craftspeople alike are still preserving and recreating. Then there’s Ikea, inexpensive Swedish furniture that resembles LEGO in construction (but not in fun). Oh, and LEGO is Danish. But these northern countries also design and produce watches. Nordic watches from the likes of Straum, JS Watch Co., and Nordgreen range from the past to the future of design. Which one would you wear to trek amongst the fjords and volcanoes of Europe’s northernmost lands?Whether looking...
Fratello Louis Moinet: Interview With Jean-Marie Schaller
Recently, I had the chance to meet with Fratello’s good friend Jean-Marie Schaller, owner of Les Ateliers Louis Moinet, based in Saint Blaise, Switzerland. Schaller is known throughout the industry for his verve and vision. Conversations with the man behind the renaissance of Louis Moinet’s name and legacy are never short on insight or enthusiasm. As such, we thought it would be a nice idea to transcribe the most recent conversation we had about the brand and its current direction, viewed through a prism of Fratello’s upcoming collaboration with Louis Moinet on the most “out-there” execution of the recently released Memoris Spirit 40mm Chronograph.Schaller and &...
New: Celegin Draken Chronograph With Reverse-Panda Dial
We covered the first eloquently spoken tool watch from Celegin Precision Timing last year. And judging from Instagram, a few of the Fratelli have already gotten their hands on this Swedish limited-production pilot's watch. Now Celegin is expanding its repertoire with the new Draken Chronograph, which sits slimmer on the wrist than most well-known German avionic tools. Add affordability into the mix, and the intro is a sweet one.The Celegin Draken was unceremoniously nominated by me as one of the best microbrand pilot’s watches of 2021. This week, the range gets expanded with a reverse-panda chronograph on pre-order. The size of the sharp-dialed chronograph is still likably compact at 4...
Hands-On: Omega CK 859 A 1930s Chronometer Reborn
Many, if not most, current watch models at Omega are developments based on designs of the past. The Seamaster, Speedmaster, Constellation, and De Ville have all been around for decades. But while most of these product lines were born in the 1950s and ’60s, Omega produced wristwatches long before then. The new Omega CK 859 pays respect to the early days, taking its inspiration from a classic Omega model that debuted in the late 1930s.The original CK 859 was powered by a series of different calibers during its lifespan. Most importantly, it was the model to debut the then-newly developed caliber 30 T2. This manual-winding caliber with a small seconds hand later proved to be one of the br...
Fratello's Top 5 Best Affordable Integrated-Bracelet Watches
Another Friday, another Top 5! After last week’s list of skin divers, we are now delving into the world of modern luxury sports watches with integrated bracelets. The category popularized by Audemars Piguet with Gerald Genta’s Royal Oak in the 1970s is still hot today. We have seen a rise in the demand for these stylish modern pieces over the past couple of years. To this day, plenty of brands still release their takes on this category of watches. In particular, those operating at more affordable price levels have put in the effort to come up with models of their own. This week’s list gives you five affordable options for modern sports watches with integrated bracelets.Many...
Automatic Watches With Power Reserve Indicators: Why?
Lex started this Watches We Just Don't Get series a few weeks ago with hand-winding perpetual calendars. Now it's my turn, and I am sure many of you will disagree with me, but it's about a complication that doesn't make sense to me on an automatic watch, whether mechanical or Spring Drive. Yes, I’m talking about a power reserve indicator.Listen, I am already not a fan of date windows on most watches. When I get up in the morning, I see the date on my smartphone and can remember it for the rest of the day. I must move my eyes to the upper-right corner of my screen to see the date when I am in the office. But I get it, and a date window is also practical. The complication I am picking on...
Adam Levine's Neon Daytona By Artisans De Genve
This week, our friends at Hodinkee released a highly requested video featuring Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine and his curated watch collection. We might have seen only the tip of his horological iceberg, but with a brace of grails most of us can barely dream of, it set tongues wagging. But for me, the star of the video was his bespoke Neon Daytona, where Artisans de Genve goes luminescent.To me, the Daytona is a great chronograph, but it's not one of my grails. No had been on my list except for the uber-tool ref. 1655 Explorer II. But that all changed with a blue-registered Daytona transformed by Artisans de Genve that I could easily put way up there on my grail list. The Swiss atelier wor...
Hamilton Khaki Field Titanium Watches On New Bracelets
Hamilton's most popular line, the Khaki Field, now welcomes some expansions. Presenting the Khaki Field Titanium in two versions, each in two sizes. Of particular interest are the new bracelets, also in titanium. Whether you pick the brushed titanium or the black PVD-coated titanium, you will surely end up with a versatile and lightweight daily watch. Let's have a closer look!Although you are spoiled for choice when shopping for a Hamilton Khaki Field, none previously came on a titanium bracelet. That changes today as the brand introduces four new watches on titanium bracelets to choose from.Hamilton Khaki Field TitaniumBefore we get to the bracelets, let's have a look at the four new watche...
Two Weeks With The Fears Brunswick 38 Polar White
Have you ever come across a watch brand that you had never heard about before but that immediately captivated you? The usual reaction is to go down the rabbit hole, devouring everything available online regarding the brand and its watches. This was my experience when I first heard about Fears. today, I finally managed to get my hands on one to satisfy the curiosity that my research had resulted in. The Bristol-based watch brand has an interesting catalog of designs, but this ice-cold Brunswick in 38mm could be my favorite.I have long been curious about the Fears brand and its watches. My Fratello colleagues,?Thor and Ben, have covered its releases extensively. It’s one of those watchma...
TAG Heuer Carrera Glassbox Vs. Tudor Black Bay Chrono
Welcome to another Sunday Morning Showdown! Today, we return to our regular program after last week’s battle between two rather elegant and dressy chronographs. This week, we put the TAG Heuer Carrera Glassbox up against Tudor’s Black Bay Chrono. Both are vintage-inspired, automatic chronographs with a modern twist, and above all, they’re stainless steel sports watches - a theme we thoroughly enjoy in our showdowns.The Tudor Black Bay Chrono?was introduced in 2021. It’s available with a panda or reverse-panda dial. For this match, we’ll focus on the silvery panda dial, which is most similar to the dial on?one of the newest additions?to?TAG Heuer‘s Carrera ...