The Hamilton PSR 74: Rereleasing The Pulsar Cushion
The trend of rereleasing vintage digital watches continues with the new Hamilton PSR 74. During the past several years, Casio, Girard-Perregaux, and Hamilton have led the charge with faithful yet modern renditions of their ’70s digital creations. These watches blend simple displays with retro-futuristic cases and bracelets. The new PSR follows this form but adds wearability.In 2020, Hamilton recalled its digital history with the PSR. This watch was inspired by the legendary Pulsar from 1970. Roger Moore wore a similar model, the P2 2900, in the 1973 James Bond film Live and Let Die. It was a big deal! Since 2020, Hamilton has introduced several colorways for the 40.8mm by 34.7mm watch....
Fratello Talks: 140 Years Of Breitling With Fred Mandelbaum
This week on Fratello Talks, we’re talking all things Breitling with author, collector, and brand historian Fred Mandelbaum. Nacho and RJ join Herr Mandelbaum in a conversation that starts in the early 20th century with some of Breitling’s earliest wrist-worn chronographs and spans the brand’s development to the present day. We touch upon the evolution that led to some of Breitling's most recognizable collections, most of which are still around today, from the dressy post-war Premier to the flagship Navitimer and many others. We’re sure you’ll enjoy this extended and insightful episode, so be sure to tune in. Before we get into it, let’s see what’s o...
Vacheron Constantin Quai de l'ile Retrograde Annual Calendar
Made to measureIf you take a trip to Savile Row and visit a traditional tailors, you are often presented with three choices; ready to wear, made to measure and bespoke.Savile Row will not be an option for many individuals. Those who are fortunate enough to sample the delights of peerless tailoring will appreciate the finest fabrics, cut, sewn and pressed without compromise.Ready to wear is the entry point to this world of sartorial excellence. Suits are presented in an array of sizes. The only form of personalisation is the trouser length, finished to suit and with a choice of buttons to indulge the whim of the wearer.For those gentlemen blessed with a regular physique, there is a rationale ...
Watch Sale At Gilt Curated By Ben of Hodinkee
I have to admit that I had never heard about Gilt, but it is a US based luxury shopping platform. As of yesterday, they’re also selling a number of very cool watches.Friend of the show Ben Clymer of Hodinkee is the curator of the whole lot. A number of interesting pieces are being put up for sale. One of them is this cool ‘Paul Newman’ Daytona, I guess it is a ref.6239 as the lot doesn’t tell.Price tag, $85,000.- USD.Go Gilt, click here....
Speedy Tuesday Speedmaster Professional 145.022-69 Straight Writing
Contest by OmegaImagine it is 1973, you live somewhere in France and you entered a contest by Omega. A bit later, you receive the following letter and box:A translation below:Sir, We were very pleased that you participated in this global competition, and you have been able to find, through reflection, adequate answers to the questions. Out of the 554,222 people in the world have taken the trouble to write to us, you are one of 2,557 who not only perfectly answered the first six questions, but correctly answered at least three (out of six) of Omega “accomplishments” in the second part. Congratulations on this outstanding performance! Therefore, our jury has found you worthy to rec...
Oris Clipperton Limited Edition To Protect And Conserve
Oris is on a roll, with their support to great projects like the Coral Restoration Foundation, Movember and now with its sponsorship of the Clipperton Expedition. Clipperton Island is world’s most isolated land mass, and only very few people ever set foot on land. It is the home of a number of threatened species, on land and in the water. Earlier this year, Oris sponsored an expedition to Clipperton Island together with a number of scientists and conservationists?to gather data to help develop existing shark migration theories, and to effect lasting change that will preserve Clipperton's ecosystem.Oris ClippertonNow, Oris introduces the Clipperton Limited Edition diver’s watch th...
Hands-On Tissot Seastar 1000 Powermatic 80 Review
If you read our stories about Tissot you could think that; A, the brand only releases heritage models or B, we simply do not care about the new timepieces. Well, this is not quite the case. While it is true that most of us here at Fratello have a soft spot for vintage we also love modern watches-occasionally. All jokes aside, we would like to keep a healthy balance between old and new, affordable and pricey, big brands and small (independent) watch companies. This is the reason why this time we will take a look at a Tissot that indeed came out this year, is rather affordable but is a new model, not a reedition. It is the Tissot Seastar 1000 Powermatic 80, an affordable everyday watch on the ...
#TBT Seiko 5126-8090 Kamen Rider Take That, Ultraman!
Just when we think we've discovered every TV/watch tie-in, someone unearths a previously unknown connection. Today's #TBT is the perfect example of great sleuthing as we'll be taking a look at the Seiko 5126-8090 Kamen Rider from March of 1968. Today's story is a rather Japanese one and it just so happens to feature one of my favorite vintage Seiko's.We'll explain the very foreign nickname given to the Seiko 5126-8090 Kamen Rider shortly, but (spoiler alert) it references an early 70's Japanese tokusatsu TV show. According to Wikipedia, tokusatsu is a genre of live-action film that goes heavy on special effects and is often associated with sci-fi, horror, or fantasy. Godzilla likely ranks as...
Hands-On: Sternglas Naos Automatik
The Sternglas Naos is a stylish statement from a young German startup company.Bauhaus is hot in 2019! Unless you have lived in a cave for the last twelve months, you probably have read somewhere that 2019 was the year celebrating the 100th anniversary of the German Bauhaus movement. There have been a string of events and product releases to celebrate the start of the modernistic inspired Bauhaus design. The watch industry is also no stranger to Bauhaus design with brands like Junghans, who have a collection by former Bauhaus student Max Bill and Nomos Glashutte drawing inspiration from Bauhaus to design their collection of timepieces. Swatch also paid tribute to Bauhaus this year by releasin...
Omega Speedmaster World Cup Semi-Final 2: The Ed White 321, Speedy Tuesday 1, And Silver Snoopy III
Well, well, well. None of us saw this coming. The Omega Speedmaster World Cup has reached the incredibly sharp end of the competition. By this point, we expected to have just four contenders still standing. However, a neck-and-neck contest ultimately marred by voting irregularities in Quarter-Final 4 (between the Speedy Tuesday 1 and the Silver Snoopy 50th Anniversary) saw both watches qualify in a magnanimous dead heat. They join the easy winner of Quarter Final 3, the Ed White 321, championed by Balazs. And so, rather unexpectedly, it is time for you to pick between your favorite of three for the second slot in next week’s final…We alluded to the issue of voter fraud in Thursda...
J.N. Shapiro Launches The Infinity Tantalum Limited Edition Watch
J.N. Shapiro. Make sure you remember this name. If you’re a fan of independent, artisanal watchmaking, then the chances are you’re acquainted with Josh’s work. If this is the first you’re learning about this young watchmaker, boy, you’re in for a treat. What better introduction to the work of J.N. Shapiro than with his Infinity Tantalum Limited Edition watch?The Infinity TantalumThe name kind of gives the game away here. This watch uses tantalum for the case, as well as the hour ring on the dial. Tantalum is a metal that’s not too common in watchmaking. Sure, it’s there, but only after brands prod and poke their watchmakers and machinists into cooper...
Patek Philippe Drops A New Nautilus 5711 with Tiffany-Blue Dial
OK, folks, this is not a drill. For one last hurrah, Patek has brought back the 5711 for a super limited edition of watches. Did I mention it's a co-signed edition with Tiffany with a Tiffany blue dial? Let your mouth salivate as we present the incredible new Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711.Yesterday the watch industry went to bed with nary a thought about the possibility of a new Nautilus. Why would they expect such a thing? Patek announced it had discontinued the 5711 back in January of this year. So why now? Out of the blue (no pun intended)? The gorgeous new 5711 celebrates the 170-year partnership between the Swiss watchmaker and Tiffany, as well as Tiffany's new ownership as a part of the...
Hands-On Review Of The Bohen Dive Watch
Making your mark in an overcrowded corner of any market is hard work. It takes vision. It takes tenacity. And perhaps more than anything, it takes an unshakable belief in your message and that your target demographic will latch onto it and carry it home on your behalf. During any endeavor of this nature, you will meet with strong resistance. You will meet with naysayers, detractors, rivals who may be jealous. All of these people will tell you, “No, don’t do it - it is a fool’s errand.” If you make it through that gauntlet, you’ve got a shot at success. But does the Bohen Dive Watch have what it takes to make it over the line?This has been a long journey. While i...
The Fast And The Fratelli Shootout: Lex's Seiko Vs. Dave's Fortis
The race is well underway in Round 2 of The Fast And The Fratelli. You voted, you voiced your opinion, and a number of watches have been given the black flag, thereby disqualifying them from the race. Two racing chronographs that continue to speed ’round the Fratello Watches International Speedway are Dave's Fortis B-42 Cosmonauts Chronograph and Lex's Seiko SRQ029. And now, these watches are battling it out in a head-to-head shootout. You decide the winner by voting. And by commenting, you have a shot to win a Traxxas Bandit RC car.In the chaotic opening round, you saw two very original chronographs of choice from Dave go head-to-head. In the end, the space-worthy Fortis B-42 Cosmonau...
Watch Strap Review 55 Asketica
It might be too late to surprise yourself with a strap or two for Christmas, and the internet is flooded with gift guides anyways. So, let’s just say that if your watch needs a “new pair of shoes” (God, how I hate that expression), we might have something in store for you. Asketica, a small strap atelier, and Semyon, the name behind the brand, hail from Russia. He creates beautiful leather straps in traditional and classic colors and styles. We are lucky to have him and Asketica on Watch Strap Review this month. Let’s dig in.Last month’s article was about Terrycrafted, a talented guy from Canada. If you have not read that article yet, make sure you do now. Today...
Why I Don't Own A Speedmaster Is The Right One Out There?
Imagine the shame: I'm an editor doing three to four stories a week at Fratello Watches, without an Omega Speedmaster to my name. How did I get the job, and how could I even be allowed to have my byline on the website sans Speedy? My colleagues keep asking why I don’t own a Speedmaster - proper peer pressure. It's not like I haven't tried on the Speedmaster Professional or had the budget, but I remain confused and Moonwatch-less.Let me try to be objective and truthful about this. First, please forgive me. I have been writing about watches for a couple of years now, and I am a contrarian by nature. This means that even if something is intrinsically beautiful, I will shy away from it if ...
CODE41 NB24 Chronograph Edition 2 Available For Pre-Order
There is a reason true novelty is rare in watchmaking. Long-standing, prestigious watch houses oftentimes avoid it like the plague. They fear alienating a firmly established clientele and diluting the brand that pays their bills (and then some). Newer companies, those hoping to make waves in an entrenched industry with evermore trenchant ideas, frequently lack the budget to cause the kind of stir they believe their enthusiasm and vision deserve to sire. Thankfully, there is a middle way. Brands don’t look for it as often as you might think, but one brand that found it is making sure everybody knows about it. Known for its “total transparency,” CODE41 is continuing its march...
WOTW: Hands-On Review With The TAG Heuer Aquaracer 300 Blue Dial
As watch collectors, we see our watches as more than a device to tell the time. We see these wrist companions as just that, as we enjoy their companionship throughout our day-to-day lives. We use them to express our personalities, so we tend to have different watches for different situations. However, being a watch collector is a luxury. To have the means and capability to enjoy multiple luxury watches in our collections is not feasible or even desirable for everyone. Some people want a single quality watch that will cover all bases, look good, and serve them well for many years to come - the age-old one-watch collection dilemma. Well, after spending some quality time with the TAG Heuer Aqua...
Hands-On: The Edox Hydro-Sub 1965 Limited Edition Dive Watch
Six years ago, in 2015, Edox decided to bring back the Hydro-Sub on the model's 50th anniversary. RJ covered the original limited edition release back then. If you're familiar with the limited edition, or the short production run of Hydro-Sub models which followed, you'll know that they weren't exactly a faithful reissue. Instead of bringing back the original, Edox decided to modernize its design, bringing the case size up to 46mm. Another questionable decision was to add a clunky crown-lock system to the side of the case. Despite these rather odd design choices, the watch gathered somewhat of a cult following. But if you’re more of a traditionalist, you need not fear. Edox is back wit...
The Gift Guide For Speedmaster Enthusiasts
The holidays are getting closer, and you might find yourself looking for cool gifts for someone who loves watches or, more precisely, Omega Speedmasters. On the other hand, you might be just looking for a cool gift for yourself. I’ve collected a few ideas over the last few weeks and saved them for this article today.Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch with Hesalite crystalOne of the coolest things to gift is, of course, the Speedmaster watch itself. There are so many variations (click here for our overview per model/reference number), but if you just have to choose one, you can’t go wrong in buying the current Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch with either a Hesalite or a sapphire ...