Hands-On With The Arcadia Vintage 22 Timepiece In Rose Gold
Our friends from Arcadia lent us one of their beautiful Vintage 22 timepieces to give it a test drive. A rose gold classic designed watch with a vintage Valjoux caliber 22 movement. That’s something we couldn’t refuse of course!This beautiful 43mm rose gold column wheel chronograph has a lot of ingredients from vintage chronograph watches, but has been restyled and totally made up to date. Although we love vintage ‘dress’ chronographs, most of them are around 37mm are therefore quite small for these days. To be honest, it would look silly on our wrists (but that’s perhaps a shortcoming of the big fat Fratello team). This Arcadia Vintage 22 looks decent on our wr...
Speedy Tuesday The First Speedmaster Professional Moonphase 1985
It’s Speedy Tuesday today and after the recent passing away of Neil Armstrong – perhaps the most famous Speedy owner – we thought we need to focus on a special Speedy. What would be better than to put a Speedmaster in the spotlight that has a moon and stars on the dial?Picture from Antiquorum’s Omegamania auction.One of our friends and avid readers of Fratellowatches sent us two pictures of his ref. 345.0809 Speedmaster Professional Moonphase. This particular model has been re-introduced in 1999 with some minor changes to the dial (and a modern bracelet). However, Speedy enthusiasts prefer the original model which has a somewhat cleaner dial and the famous reference 1...
Heuer 73473 S versus Autodromo Prototipo
There are a few brands out there which have a huge group of collectors. These brands are significant not only in the watch world but often in another area of life like sports or science. I think Heuer needs no introduction. Even for a non-WIS the name (TAG) Heuer rings the bell. Early Heuer vintage models are pretty sought-after. In this article we will get to know one of their classic yet affordable versions and its?modern counterpart.Heuer 73473S Versus Autodromo PrototipoThe Heuer 73473 was released in the early 1970s (probably around 1971) same time many iconic car racing and races inspired Heuers like the Carrera. This however has a plain dial with only Heuer' and Swiss' written on it. ...
Hands-on: Nomos Metro 38 Datum
When I think of German watches, my mind heads in three distinct directions. The first two categories I think of are the tactical/military and the rather high-end. The former is inhabited by brands such as Sinn, Stowa, and Laco, while A. Lange & Sohne and Glashutte Original dominate the latter type. The last sub-genre I think of when considering the Teutonic path contains watches of the modern, minimalist style. Prior to moving to Germany, my experience with these watches was limited to owning a Max Bill Junghans and seeing Braun watches on the wrists of friends. Frankly speaking, these clean watches have interested me but I've almost always stopped short of buying as they left me a bit c...
Introducing You To The New Gorilla Fastback Collection
Last year we reported about the new project by (amongst others) Octavio Garcia, former Head of Design at Audemars Piguet. The Gorilla Fastback was born and we brought you a review and a #52Mondayz feature on this watch. Today, we show you the new Gorilla Fastback collection consisting of three pieces: The Acid Green, RS White and Phantom Black.Gorilla Fastback CollectionThere’s more to it than just the different colors about the Acid Green, RS White and Phantom Black. Upon closer inspection, the Phantom Black has a bead blasted ceramic bezel while the others have a glossy ceramic bezel. Two of them have the forged carbon case while the Acid Green has a layered forged carbon case. Howev...
The Renowned Seiko SKX007 52Mondayz, Week #35
Normally, our contributor Gerard talks about one of his watches in this 52Mondayz feature. Whilst he is enjoying a deserved holiday, I decided to do this week’s write-up for 52Mondayz. It took a while before I decided which watch I wanted to cover, but going through my modest collection I stumbled upon my trusty Seiko SKX007.Without further ado, here’s the Seiko SKX007.Seiko SKX007Seiko SKX007I don’t want to go into the details of the history of the Seiko SKX007. It succeeded the Seiko 7002 in 1996 and looks quite similar at first sight. The 7002 was the successor in the 1980s of the famous and very collectible 6309. If you want to read more about those, you might enjoy thi...
Toc Watch. Change The Story, Make It About You
Toc19, a hand wound watch that makes a personal statementToc Watch, or Toc, launched their first watch at the end of July and crowdfunded it in just 24 hours. It was pretty incredible for Will and Max to watch as their year-long project became an overnight success. They are eager to push on from here and are excited about the future.The pair set Toc up in July 2016. Their mission was simple; design and deliver vintage styled watches that could make a personal statement about the wearer. They believe in individuality and personal freedom and their watches tell a story about you, about your personality, your attitude, your character.The Toc19, their first watch, is now available from $229 on I...
Omega Seamaster Diver 300M On The Wrist Of Daniel Craig
Although some people were sceptic about him at first, Daniel Craig has proven to be among the greatest James Bond actors. James Bond started wearing an Omega Seamaster Diver 300M in 1995 (GoldenEye) and continued to do so when Daniel Craig took over this role from his predecessor. This year, Omega celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M watch and introduced a new and improved version of this watch in Basel. A new watch like this also needs a new face. And what is a better fit than Daniel Craig? Omega announces that Craig will be their new Seamaster Diver 300M ambassador from now on.Daniel Craig Represents The New Seamaster Diver 300MHowever, not everyone knows that ...
Paul Twice Speedmaster Strap Suggestions From The Two Pauls
The strap game is strong for the Speedmaster so we continue our quest to that perfect 20mm weapon of choice. We were contacted by Paul from Paul Twice to give their straps a try and we gladly did so. By the way, the name Paul Twice refers to the two Pauls who are running the company.We were asked to select three straps from their webshop and we decided to go for the cognac suede, brown horween?and whiskey cordovan. All in 20mm, although Paul Twice also offers them in 18mm and 22mm.Paul Twice Loves SpeedmastersNot much later, the cognac suede, brown horween and whisky cordovan straps arrived at the Fratello HQ in The Hague. As Paul Twice shows most of the straps they are selling mounted to an...
Wrist Game or Crying Shame: Ebel 1911 Chronograph
Wrist Game or Crying Shame returns with a look at an Ebel 1911 Chronograph.Back in ’98, I was a fresh young face in the workforce, but a bit of hard work didn’t stop me from partaking in a bit of high-rolling high jinks.? It was during a long weekend that I packed my bag and made my way to the airport in “the 216,” aka Cleveland.? My buddy flew out of the mean streets of Newark and we met in Sin City.? Vegas.? Now, back in ’98, you could actually play black jack for $5 a hand on the Strip and stay at a hotel on that very street for a fair deal.? Nowadays, good luck with that as those prime location casinos are full of fancy pants partygoers and tattooed goofball...
Christopher Ward C60 Apex Limited Edition With A Touch of Armin Strom!
Christopher Ward is introducing a new watch on this special day, the 5th birthday of their in-house caliber SH21 movement!It is the Christopher Ward C60 Apex Limited Edition dive watch; only 100 pieces will be made available. Mike France, CEO and Co-founder of Christopher Ward, comments: With the first of the Apex series, the C7, we introduced a semi-skeletonised architecture to expose the beauty and technical expertise of Calibre SH21. The C60 Apex continues and expands this approach and is the first Christopher Ward dive watch with an exhibition case back.Christopher Ward is located in the United Kingdom, where all designs are being made and where the watches are being sold. However, the p...
Hot Take: Longines Master Collection Moonphase
There wasn’t much Longines news this year. After their move from Baselworld to ‘somewhere else’, it remained very silent and the ‘somewhere else’ is yet to be discovered.Instead of ‘somewhere else’, we received an e-mail with some novelties: the new Master Collection. Downloading the press kit in English leaves us with a technical specification sheet in Turkish (bravo!). As I can read some German, I’ve tried that one instead, and it worked. Enough with the complaining, but it just baffles me how a brand like Longines gets surpassed in professionalism by the average Kickstarter brand when it comes to these things.We received two new models, but ...
Pre-Owned Picks 5 Different AP Royal Oak Jumbo Watches
I thought the Royal Oak Jumbo (or “Extra-Thin”) had hit its peak a few years ago, but it clearly hadn’t. Prices are going through the roof, as you will see in this article.I’ve been writing about the Royal Oak (and the Jumbo in particular) a lot over the years here on Fratello. It was my dream watch for a long time, I had a few Royal Oak variations, including the 15202 “Jumbo” and I saw the development of the market value from roughly $7,000 to $40,000. In a period of 15 years, I have to add.For this series, we select pre-owned watches from Chrono24, the largest online marketplace for watches in the world. In today’s article, I included the 15202 sim...
Hands-On With The Always Illuminated Par Weber Coefficient Watch
It started off with one of these random messages that pile-up in the Fratello inbox. I picked it up and I couldnt have been happier about it. This is not only the story of an innovative watch but also the story of a hardworking dreamer with no previous experience in the watch business. People thought he was crazy and professionals told him to forget the idea. The idea to create an “always-on battery-powered illuminated watch. Two years later, here it is. The Par Weber Coefficient with Enduro-Lume system.“I think my wife knew it was becoming an obsession when the basement perenially smelled of burning solder and custom-made circuit boards were arriving at the house on a weekly bas...
Laco Kempten Erbstuck Flieger A Watch Review Full Of Surprises
For a long time now, I’ve been keen to see the artificial aging for which Laco has become renowned firsthand. I’ve seen it on photos. I’ve heard tell of its authenticity. But until now, I’d never had the chance to study it up close. The model that finally gave me the insights I’d been craving was the Laco Kempten Erbstuck, a 39mm flieger-style watch sporting the brand’s famous Type B dial.I’ve always preferred the Type Bs to the Type As. I frequently talk about it (so forgive me if I’m boring you on that, or any front). While I appreciate the cleanliness and clarity of the Type A 12-hour layout, there’s something refreshingly complete abo...
Pre-Owned Picks 5 Different AP Royal Oak Jumbo Watches
I thought the Royal Oak Jumbo (or “Extra-Thin”) had hit its peak a few years ago, but it clearly hadn’t. Prices are going through the roof, as you will see in this article.I’ve been writing about the Royal Oak (and the Jumbo in particular) a lot over the years here on Fratello. It was my dream watch for a long time, I had a few Royal Oak variations, including the 15202 “Jumbo” and I saw the development of the market value from roughly $7,000 to $40,000. In a period of 15 years, I have to add.For this series, we select pre-owned watches from Chrono24, the largest online marketplace for watches in the world. In today’s article, I included the 15202 sim...
Olympic Highlights And Vintage Omega Flightmasters Podcast (2021)
The boys are back in town after a desperately long hiatus. We’ve plugged in the fridge and switched on the freezer - Balazs and I are back and this week we have our top Olympic moments and some awesome vintage Omega purchases to share with you.We decided to choose our bronze, silver, and gold performers/moments from the Olympics this year, to round off what turned out to be a pretty darn exciting edition of the greatest sporting carnival of all. Normally, I don’t reveal much about the show in my notes, but for posterity, I thought it best that I note down the picks for all those that don’t have time to listen to the pod but might like to offer their own suggestions in the c...
How Watches Work: What Is DLC Coating? (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 a DLC coating?Traditionally, watches are made of metal. Sure, there are watches made from non-metal materials, but usually, nine times out of ten, the watches we see are made of some kind of metal. Of those metal watches, the vast major...
Buying Guide: The Best IWC Watches From The 1980s (2021)
We like to talk about vintage watches a lot within the Fratello team. Though most of what we write about is largely focused on the most recent releases and developments, for many of us, a lot of the fun can be found in the sometimes weird and often wonderful world of vintage watches. It's a world full of history, remarkable watches, incredible stories, and quirky details. It inspired us to come up with a series of articles focusing on the best watches per decade from a select group of brands. Some of them are priceless, some of them still affordable. In this installment, we will take a look at the best IWC watches from the 1980s.While the 1970s were a decade filled with tremendous change in ...
Watch Strap Review 61 Strapatelier
After a much-deserved two-month summer break, we are back with many new strap makers on Watch Strap Review. I’ll bring you some incredible brands and a ton of excellent watch straps in the upcoming months. To begin, for your reading pleasure, here is the Strapatelier from Singapore. For such a small country, Singapore has a very active watch community that helps these little ateliers to be born and eventually grow into successful businesses. This is one such story.As usual, it starts with a passion for watches. I think this is how most of us got into straps, right? You get a nice watch and want to change the look, so you look for a strap… And then another one and another one unti...