Hands-On: Tissot PRX 35
Tissot hit a home run with the release of the PRX collection. The watch propelled the brand back into the collective consciousness of watch lovers all over the world. The on-trend retro styling, integrated bracelet, and great value made it a big hit. Several Fratello editors have bought versions for themselves by now, which is telling. The only thing that was missing was an alternative for the smaller-wristed among us. Tissot answered the call with the PRX 35. I wore a couple of these for some time to see what they are all about.The main question I will try to answer in this hands-on review is “who is it for?” This version is seriously small. Is it too small? Let's see what it is...
Kodachrome Colors From Christopher Ward, Citizen, JLC
The Kodachrome Coffee Corner Watch Talk is all about “nice bright colors” - hardly a surprise with that name. Could I ask you to close your eyes and try to envision the colors Jura Green, New Forest Yellow, Acer Red, and Lucerne Blue? What did you capture on your imaginary color film? Four different versions of the Christopher Ward C63 Sealander? The new limited-edition 36mm watches may not be very original, but if the colors are done right and hit a spot, they've fulfilled their mission. Seeing the Christopher Ward models made me want to wear the dark yellow Citizen NJ0150. And in the search for more color, I stumbled upon a very exclusive and artistic Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso.T...
NOMOS Tangente 38 50 Ans De Medecins Sans Frontires
On December 22, 1971, in Paris, 13 journalists and doctors officially created Medecins Sans Frontires (Doctors Without Borders), commonly known as MSF. It was a new form of humanitarian effort rallying volunteers to provide an emergency medical response and help people afflicted by crises in conflict zones. The movement would prioritize the welfare of those suffering despite political or religious boundaries. Fifty years on, MSF remains a non-profit and impartial organization. Therefore, any kind of contribution makes a difference. And this is where NOMOS Glashutte's emergency aid model comes in. The German watchmaker has produced more than 10,000 pieces of such models in its decade of supp...
Available In The Shop: A Collection Of Speedmaster Watches
We have been able to get a few special Omega Speedmaster Professional watches in the Fratello Shop. These watches have been part of an extensive collection from a Speedmaster fan. Included are a Speedmaster Japan Racing (2004), a Speedmaster Apollo-Soyuz 35th Anniversary (2010), a Speedmaster Tokyo 2020 “Rising Sun” (2018), a Speedmaster “Albino” (1997), a Speedmaster Alaska Project (2008), and a few more. These are all complete sets and are in amazing condition.Omega Speedmaster Tokyo 2020 “Rising Sun”I was on holiday in Spain in the summer of 2018, sitting next to the hotel pool, when suddenly, I saw on my phone that Omega had introduced this watch for t...
Hands-On With The Behrens Consteller
To kick off the new year, the editors here at Fratello usually each pen a story on what their plans are for the coming year. This breezes past irrelevant events like house moves, childbirths, and the like. It's all about watches, of course, and the hunt for new wristwear for our collections.We are all collectors of watches, even if some of us occasionally claim not to be. And I had a clear plan this year. It involved a rectangular watch of the small kind. Yes, that meant either a Reverso or a Cartier, not an open-worked, high-tech, 42mm version of a regulator, that's for sure.What made me choose 42mm complexity over a rectangular French icon?My plan went astray big time as this is neither sm...
Alternative Watches To Pieces In Our Collections
We're back with Fratello On Air, and this week, we discuss alternative watches to those already in our collections. The idea came from a listener of the Whiskey & Watches podcast. It was then covered by the folks on Wrist Cheese Radio and the Spirit of Time podcast. We put our own spin on this idea, as you’ll soon hear....
The Best Watches Under $3,000: RJ's Picks
I don't think a day goes by without me looking around for interesting watches to buy. It also makes me feel old, though, as I remember when you could buy watches for less than $3,000, and it doesn't feel like that long ago. That's why the team also decided that we must add a bonus watch from the pre-owned market. Not that this brings me back to 2005 regarding prices, but at least there's some wiggle room.For the sake of this article, $3,000 is my maximum to spend on a watch, and I need to consider the retail price here. No discounts, baby! And even though this doesn't buy you a (pre-owned) watch from or Omega anymore, there's still enough to choose from!Sinn 103 Ti ArI didn't have to searc...
#TBT One Decent Omega Speedmaster Ed White 105.003
Most of the time, I have my #TBT stories scheduled weeks, if not months, ahead. I’ve found it easier to follow the plan and not think way too long about what my weekly dose of vintage watch inspiration for you will be. But sometimes, the inspiration is so strong that I have to put my pen to paper instantly. And that’s what has happened now with this Omega Speedmaster Ed White ref. 105.003.I don’t have any vintage Omega Speedmasters in my collection, so I do not have an Ed White. And, I admit, an Ed White was also not the first thing on my mind today. I wasn’t thinking of it yesterday, the day before, or even over the last few months. To be honest, I am not busy thinki...
Introducing: The New Longines Spirit Zulu Time Titanium
The Longines Spirit Zulu Time is a fan favorite for good reason. Whether you prefer the 42mm or the 39mm, you get a fantastic daily travel-friendly watch with outstanding finishing that trumps most rivals. With two sizes and many colors already available, we knew the day would come when Longines would add a titanium version. After all, Longines already uses the lightweight material for several other Spirit models. Well, Fratelli, here it is. Introducing the Longines Spirit Zulu Time in titanium.The new Grade 5 titanium Longines Spirit Zulu Time features a 39mm case. Additionally, we get a rather special new ceramic bezel insert, which is partly polished and partly matt. Let's have a closer l...
Fratello Favorites: Daan's picks Under $10,000
It shouldn’t be too hard to pick three favorites from all those sub-$10k watches out there, right? However, Thomas and Jorg have already cherry-picked some classics away from me. I also wanted to stay away from the other evergreens and come up with a few more original picks. That’s why it actually took me quite some time before I could start writing this one. But I think, in the end, I’ve been able to put together a nice list of favorites in this hotly-contested field.Let me first mention a few watches I think are great but simply don’t really suit my 17cm wrist. The Hublot Classic Fusion Essential Grey looked absolutely stunning on Jorg’s wrist. But I’ll ...
Fratello Talks: Guilty Pleasure Watches
Welcome, dear Fratelli, to this latest episode of Fratello Talks. Today, Nacho, Lex, and Thomas spotlight some of their guilty pleasure watches. Everyone has at least one; most of us can list at least a handful. These are watches that, though we like them, we aren’t too quick to admit it. This can be due to a number of reasons, whether it’s a brand’s (arguably undeserved) reputation, a particularly eye-watering price tag, or even just a case of off-the-wall design. And though we often highlight carefully curated lists of favorites, we rarely reach into the back of the shelf for these oddball picks. But before we check those out, let’s see what guilt-free watches are o...
Second best brand...
Unlike some other people, I also think Patek Philippe is the best watchbrand available! Artie, a member of TimeZone, made as poll to ask what YOU think is the second best watchbrand. Check it out!Is this one of the 2nd best brands?...
Bubble Back Club
Just recently, someone over at the Dutch Forum mentioned the Bubble Back Club. A site dedicated to these (small) vintage beauties for collectors and enthusiasts who are a bit tired of the ever ongoing vintage sports discussions. Or just for the collector who wants to try something different for a change ??The owner of the site also has watches for sale. Bubble Backs and other es. Click here to go to the Bubble Back Club website....
Explaining The New Cartier Ronde Croisiere Collection
Just about 4-5 months before the SIHH, Cartier announced a new mens watch that comes in three different versions listening to the name Ronde Croisiere Collection. This time it is not a new watch from the ‘Fine Watch Making’ collection, these will be presented in January, but a more affordable, main stream time piece, created to accompany you literally anywhere. The differences between the three models are aesthetic only. There is a version with a gold plated bezel, a version with an ADLC coating and a steel model, all sharing the same automatic caliber.Cartier?Ronde Croisiere CollectionThe watch is a masculine straight forward time only' timepiece with a date function as the only...
Speedy Tuesday OMEGA Speedmaster Apollo-Soyuz 1975
Apollo-SoyuzIn 2014, we already covered the Speedmaster Apollo-Soyuz and the background of this watch:?The Apoll0-Soyuz mission in 1975.Two super powers forgot about the Cold War for just a moment by docking the Apollo and Soyuz spacecrafts at an altitude of 138 miles. Launched at the 15th of July in 1975, the docking took place on the 17th of July and lasted for 44 hours. After the docking, the American crew transferred from the Apollo to the Soyuz spacecraft.All men in this mission, astronauts and cosmonauts, wore Omega Speedmaster watches. Interesting enough, commander Thomas P. Stafford (we had a look at his personal watch here), wore his gold Speedmaster Professional Apollo XI that he r...
Traveling With the New Oris Big Crown ProPilot Worldtimer
Roughly a month ago, Oris reached out to us and asked if we'd be interested in testing a new watch prior to the lifting of a press embargo (yes, you’re looking at a watch released “out of cycle” – not at Baselworld). Naturally, we answered affirmatively to the rhetorical question and the mystery watch was on its way. A week or so later, I received what's known as the new Oris Big Crown ProPilot Worldtimer and I have to say that I was interested from the first glance.Let’s take a trip to the beach where I fought the quickly rising tide and even encountered a shy, but ultimately compliant crab. With pictures shot solely in the Algarve in Portugal, enjoy seeing how...
Prospex SRPC91K1 'Save the Ocean' Hands-On Review
Before I start talking about this Prospex SRPC91K1 watch, a few words on the ‘Save the Ocean’ reference. Fabien Cousteau is a grandson of Jacques-Yves Cousteau. When Fabien was only 4 years old, he learnt to scuba dive. He spent his early years aboard his grandfather's ships Calypso and Alcyone. With a special interest in sharks from an early age on, he?launched his first expedition in 2002 without family help: a dive where filmed his interactions with bull sharks in the Bahamas. Since then, he created a number of documentaries on sharks. In 2014, Fabien Cousteau spent 31 days underwater filming and collecting scientific data as a tribute to his grandfather. His career as explore...
Hands-On: The Fantastic Minase Divido
We spent a serious amount of time with a very serious watch, the Minase Divido.Despite the noticeable drop in the number of exhibitors at Baselworld 2019, we were busy with appointments.? Additionally, some of us weren't there for the duration of the show and missed the chance to meet with certain brands.? I was one who had to depart a bit earlier and as a result, I missed meeting with Minase at the Hyperion Hotel that stands just outside of the main conference hall.? It was a meeting I regretted missing because, as one who really loves Japanese watches, the brand appealed to me.? Plus, there's no getting away from the unique styling that's present on all of their models.? So, I figured it w...
Sunday Morning Showdown: Tudor Black Bay P01 Watch
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. This week, we finally pit two writers against what is possibly the inspiration for Sunday Morning Showdown - the Tudor Black Bay P01. This time, it’s personal.Firstly, let's cast our minds back to last week's pummeling. There's no other way to put it. Despite the difficulty to obtain an Audemars ...
How Watches Work: What Is Anglage? (2021)
Watchmaker jargon can be difficult to understand. You read a review about a watch you're interested in, but there are lots of words being used that don't make a lot of sense. Sometimes in the watch industry, we forget that people of all experiences are trying to enjoy the same products. We can be a little non-inclusive when it comes to our vocabulary, instead preferring to stick to traditional verbiage rather than layman's terms. So with that in mind, what is Anglage?Anglage is a French word that literally translates to chamfering. That's a word you may be slightly more familiar with. Unfortunately, that still doesn't really help explain what it is. When reading reviews where a watch’s...