You Asked Us: Why Do Watches Cost So Much?
I feel your pain. I know it personally. That moment when you realize you simply have to spend another huge amount of cash on yet another luxury watch. Tut, tut. The anguish. The torture. And, truthfully, the privilege. Those things shouldn’t go hand-in-hand but in this odd little watchmaking world we all occupy, they often seem to. But the question is, are these tempting treasures really worth the money we spend on them? Let’s have a little look behind the curtain to see if it makes any sense.Part of the problem the reputation of the luxury watchmaking industry has is the continued existence of “non-luxury” watches. You know what I’m talking about. $10 Limit wat...
Zenith Academy Georges Favre-Jacot 18k Gold Watch (2021)
When I finally got my shot at writing about watches for aBlogtoWatch way back in 2015, I was set an initial task that would serve as my probation: three articles to be turned around in a week. If they were up-to-scratch, I would become a member of the team. Given the years I’d invested in earning that opportunity, the pressure I felt was immense. No surprises, then, that the subjects of those three trial articles have remained in mind ever since. One of them, The Zenith Academy Georges Favre-Jacot 18k Gold watch recently popped up on Zeitauktion and brought memories of that experience flooding back.I fancy myself a pressure performer. In any sporting contest, while never the superstar,...
How Watches Work: Automatons And Mechanical Watches (2021)
Automatons, or automata, have amazed human audiences for over two thousand years.? Designed by humans to mimic living beings, automata’s lifelike movements have fascinated everyone, from ancient royalty and medieval city-dwellers to 18th-century courtiers and modern-day museum visitors. What people may not realize, however, is just how closely related horology and automata really are.In fact, automata and clocks have developed side-by-side for millennia. Like clocks, many of the world’s finest automata employ incredibly elaborate mechanisms. However, understanding the most basic components that they share can help to demystify how they work. With this understanding, we’ll b...
Selling Your Watches With No Regrets
Before you ask, no, I’m not talking about the regret you might feel for selling your Patek Philippe Nautilus “too early” rather than at today’s prices. Rather, I mean the regret you might feel simply because you miss owning a certain watch. In the last 20-something years, I’ve sold quite a few watches from my collection, and I only have a few regrets. However, after buying some of these watches back, I also realized that there was a good reason to sell them in the first place. Is selling your watches with no regrets possible? Let’s discuss it further.When I first started collecting, I had a relatively limited budget. As such, I did a lot of trading. I didn...
Purple Watches: TAG Heuer, G-Shock, Fears, And More
The color purple - it’s royal and, until recently, an extremely rare color for watches. Sure, fashion brands with infinite variations of their watches slip a plum model in here or there. But in the last year, watch companies across the price spectrum have begun to introduce purple as a color option. Some of them are limited, but some are not, and that’s good news. TAG Heuer, G-Shock, Fears, and others are testing the waters with purple watches. Here’s hoping they stick.A little more than a year ago, Brandon wrote an article calling on the industry to use more purple for watch dials. With some photo-editing wizardry, he was able to provide examples of how scrumptious some of...
Aquastar Deepstar II A Three-Week Love Affair
Last summer, I spent three weeks away from home wearing one watch exclusively. I was visiting family and only took my Doxa SUB 300 Black Lung for the trip as I was expecting some of my pieces to come back from service. The watches were delayed, and I got stuck with the Doxa. For a watch guy, this sounds like hell, but surprisingly, I enjoyed it. This gave me the idea to do the same this summer, only this time, I took another excellent diver for the road. The new Aquastar Deepstar II Blue Ray was my companion for a few weeks. Here are my thoughts on this experience.I know that it’s not too uncommon for people to wear only one watch. Most people outside the watch world might only have on...
Andersen Genve Tempus Terrae With Aquamarine Bezel
After spending almost a decade at Patek Philippe's Atelier des grandes complications, the venerable Svend Andersen started his own Genevan atelier in 1980. Ten years later, already renowned for his craft and artistry in the Haute Horlogerie circle, Andersen created his first world timer entirely in-house. Ever since then, world time watches have become Andersen Genve's house specialty. In 2015, the Tempus Terrae was unveiled as the fifth edition of the world time series with a brand-new design and a further-enhanced grand complication.Now, two new iterations in white gold with gem-set bezels are being added to the line-up. We had the privilege of a sneak preview of the GPHG-nominated Tempus...
How Good Is The Current Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch?
In early 2021, Omega introduced the current Speedmaster Professional model in stainless steel. Although I was able to resist my urge to buy one at first, I pulled the trigger in August 2021 and added a fresh, new Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch 310.30.42.50.01.001 - the standard version with a stainless steel bracelet and Hesalite (acrylic) crystal - to my collection.How good is the Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch 310.30.42.50.01.001?In this article, I will share my thoughts on the current Moonwatch and whether I am still as enthusiastic as I was two years ago during the introduction. You might want to read this article if you are looking for a side-by-side comparison between the...
Hands-On: The Promise Of Happiness By Mr Jones Watches
You know what they say: money can’t buy happiness. But could money perhaps buy the promise of it? Well, I’m no psychologist, but I can tell you that, for 245, Mr Jones Watches and designer Fanny Shorter give it their best shot! Today’s review subject is a watch with a jumping-hour complication, a multilayered face, and a painted tiger with scrolling minutes in its stripes. To me, that sounded amusing at the very least, and after two weeks with the watch, I’d love to share my experience. This is The Promise of Happiness from Mr Jones Watches.The opportunity to review this piece came after I wrote my take on the best summer watches. In it, I featured “A perfectly...
Fratello On Air: Matt From Spirit Of Time Joins The Show
Both Mike and I are busy this week. Plus, I need to prepare for Geneva Watch Days. Don’t worry; next week, we will be back and talk about the year’s second most anticipated watch show. But until then, here’s a special episode that I recorded a few weeks back with our podcast buddy. Mike and I have been featured on the Spirit Of Time Podcast, so it was time to return the favor....
#TBT The Vintage Doxa Jump Hour
The older I get, the fonder I become of rectangular watches. Today, we have such a watch that got my attention last week. It’s one of the most beautiful rectangular jump-hour watches from the 1930s I have ever seen. And maybe it’s a bit surprising that it was made by Doxa.Until about 10 days ago, the Mido Direct Time was my preferred vintage rectangular jump-hour watch. It has been on my shopping list for quite some time. It slipped through my fingers twice as I was outbid in an auction both times. But after comparing the Mido Direct Time to my latest discovery, I’m afraid I may have a new jump-hour hero. Meet the Doxa Jump Hour powered by caliber 2.Image: Hillman Vintage W...
The Future Of The Multi-Brand Watch Dealer
It's no secret that the number of authorized multi-brand dealers for big watch companies has decreased significantly in the last decade. Only the large(r) chains, such as Wempe, Bucherer, Watches of Switzerland, and some local ones, seem to keep their portfolios secure with the big groups and brands.The traditional mom-and-pop jewelers are vanishing from the retail landscape. These small, often family-owned stores were the go-to places for generations of families when there was something to celebrate with jewelry or a watch. Brands, especially the bigger ones, concluded that these smaller stores can often not offer the luxurious atmosphere and surroundings that they feel they deserve. Conseq...
The Best Watches Under $10K: Mike's Picks
I live in a world where $10,000 isn’t throwaway money. However, I was researching a list of my favorite watches under this magic threshold, and something dawned on me. The world has changed, and while I’ve been living in it, I’ve slept through the fact that many watches cost significantly more than this. At first, I was put off, but the challenge of finding interesting picks became fun.With my picks for the best watches under $10K, only one likely qualifies as semi-mainstream. I didn’t meander from the beaten path on purpose. Instead, I tried to find value and distinctness. Don’t worry, though, this isn’t a list of oddball” here today and gone tomorr...
Fratello Talks: Geneva Watch Days 2024 Wishes & Predictions
Hello, and welcome to Fratello Talks! If you’re listening to this latest episode on the day of its release, then Geneva Watch Days 2024 is just a week away. Today, Nacho, Lex, and Thomas gather around the mics to discuss the event and make some wishes and predictions about what they’d like to see from brands at the show. There’s also plenty to look forward to since more brands than ever will take part in this year’s edition of the event. Be sure to stay tuned here on Fratello for all the latest. For now, though, it’s just some wishes, predictions, and wild guesses. But before we jump into those, let’s slide into a wristcheck....
A Pair Of Glashutte Original Senator Excellence Watches
Today, we’ll go hands-on with two lovely Glashutte Original references from the Senator Excellence series. The first is a stainless steel Perpetual Calendar, and the second is a red gold model with moonphase and date complications. Both share elegant designs and legible dials.Only two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to review the Glashutte Original PanoMaticCalendar. The design impressed me despite the amount of information displayed on the dial. It turns out that we had two more watches from the brand in our office. Both are new dial variants for watches that came out in 2023. They’re Senator Excellence models that offer complications. Let’s see if these watches impress a...
Athens 2004
As you probably all have seen (at least the people who watch the Olympic Games), Swatch is (again) the official timekeeper of the games. They use the Omega Swim-O-Matic for timing the swim competitions! Omega also designed other timing devices, check their https://www.omegatiming.com/ site for more info.Anyway, reason for Swatch to introduce a few Olympic Games specials. Like the Pheidippides, in a very nice and special giftbox....
My life through times
My collegue watch weblogger John Biggs over at Wristwatchreview.com posted a very nice story written by Thomas Scott McKenzie about watches and memories that comes with them.My life through times...
Stuckx Bull A Vintage Inspired Bullhead Chronograph With Column-Wheel Movement
Remember those 1970s bullhead chronographs from Omega, Breitling, Citizen and Seiko (for example)? Although Omega did a re-edition of their Seamaster Bullhead chronograph last year, meet a more affordable column-wheel bullhead chronograph that will be available soon: the Stuckx Bull watch.If you are keeping track of all the recent founded micro brands and Kickstarter projects, you are probably just as fed up by them as I am. It is difficult to make a distinction between the ones with good intentions and the ones that are just pushing cheap made watches for too much money. That is where we come in, I hope. I’d love to show you a hands-on review of this Stuckx Bull piece that we actually...
TAG Heuer Formula 1 No.33 Max Verstappen 2017 Special Edition
Last Sunday we were invited to join the introduction event of TAG Heuer and their Max Verstappen 2017 Special Edition timepiece. Although Max Verstappen lives in Monaco these days, he considers The Netherlands to be his home country. The event took place in Amsterdam and for the occasion, Max Verstappen was ‘flown in’ to receive the very first Formula 1 No.33 Max Verstappen 2017 Special Edition watch.Max VerstappenMax Verstappen Special Edition WatchesAbout a year ago, we saw the very first ‘Max Verstappen’ special edition watch from TAG Heuer being introduced (also in Amsterdam). However, this year, and a few F1 Grand Prix richer, there is a new watch for Max Verstap...
Weekly Auto Orient King Diver Review By Michael Stockton
Perhaps I've chosen to feature the Weekly Auto Orient King Diver on #TBT this week because I'm traveling through China. As I sat up on an upper floor of a hotel on the Island side of Hong Kong looking directly at TST and Kowloon, I researched these relatively obscure watches and, amusingly, the only pieces I found for sale were on eBay and located in you guessed it, Kowloon. Orient is one of those Japanese brands that receives relatively little press outside of Asia and the vintage models even less so. Today, though, we'll reverse that with a look at one of the brand's earliest ventures into dive watches with the model you see here. In fact, today's piece formed the foundation for a well-kno...