Affordable Goodness: Praesidus PAC-76
Today, we’ll look at the new Praesidus PAC-76. This is a watch that is inspired by a well-known and expensive Royal Navy-issued chronograph from the mid-’70s. This is a far more affordable alternative with a different power source, but that doesn’t stop it from being fun and fulfilling to wear.Praesidus is a relatively young company that assembles its watches in the USA and focuses heavily on recreating famous military timepieces. A real positive is that these watches are affordable and come with quality accessories that suit them well. From MACV-SOG watches to the famous A-11, the brand has been busy making a surprising number of models. Now there’s a new release in ...
Hands-On: The Nivada F77 Black Ceramic
I first saw the new Nivada F77 Black Ceramic during this year’s Geneva Watch Days. It must have been one of the earliest prototypes, if not the first, and it took me a while to understand. Let me explain. A ceramic watch looks like a PVD/DLC-coated piece to the naked eye. That is until you pick it up. The unmistakable feel of ceramic hits differently from any coating I have seen in the industry. I needed to put my hands on a ceramic F77, so I asked nicely, and Nivada delivered.I’ve been a fan of the F77 since its initial release. Yes, I know people like to compare it to iconic integrated-bracelet models from other brands, and that’s fine. It’s a bit of an outdated arg...
Introducing: Two Limited-Edition Farer Endurance Models
Farer is one of the OGs of the microbrand universe. Founded in 2015, the brand prides itself on British design and Swiss production. Over the years, Farer found a style of its own and a clever position within the greater watch market, making it a household name today. This week, the brand announced a new limited edition in two versions - the Farer Endurance with your choice of Arabic or Eastern Arabic numerals.Farer will make 100 units of each version available with a price of 925 / US$1,045 / $1,085. Orders can be placed now, and deliveries are expected to commence on December 10th. With that out of the way, let's have a closer look!The Farer EnduranceFarer often finds inspiration in Briti...
Armin Strom Skeleton Pure Collection
Armin Strom does not only master the art of skeletonizing watches, they also know how to keep them still fresh and wearable. With the the?Skeleton Pure Collection, Armin Strom seems to be aiming at a young audience. A young audience that respects the craftsmanship of skeletonizing movements, but also who enjoys a modern sports-type watch with quite some presence on the wrist.During our recent trip to the SalonQP event in London, we had the chance to see the new Armin Strom Skeleton Pure watches.Armin Strom Skeleton PureThe Armin Strom Skeleton Pure Collection consists of the Earth, Water, Fire and Air models, each limited to 100 pieces only. They all have different case materials, but based ...
#TBT Making a Case for the Breitling Top Time 810
Today's #TBT takes a look at a chronograph that I've been hunting for a long time, a Mark 1 Breitling Top Time 810. It's a watch and a watch line that existed for some time that's been grossly underrated in vintage watch collector circles for some time, but is finally getting some deserved notice. Proof of this will come shortly after reading this article should you go look for one because -poof- they've all but disappeared.Breitling Top Time 810 vs Heuer CarreraThe Heuer Carrera receives the lion's share of credit for ushering in modern and clean chronograph design in 1964. We've covered the early 2447 and there's no doubt about it that it's one of watch history's most important pieces.?? A...
Montblanc 1858 Chronograph Tachymeter Champagne Limited to 100 pieces
1858 refers to the founding year of Minerva, a watch company that was located in Villeret, Switzerland. A brand that struggled through its last years of existence, but also a brand with a lot of watchmaking history. If you put some effort into it, you will find – for example ?– the most beautiful chronograph watches that were made by Minerva.About 10 years ago,?the Minerva brand was sold to Richemont Group, who also owns Montblanc. Montblanc, well-known for their writing instruments, was ready for the next step in horologie as well. Haute horlogerie, to be precise. What better way to have an awesome kickstart if you can depend on movements and watchmaking knowledge from a company...
The New Omega Tresor Ladies' Collection
Although the name De Ville Tresor is not new, the new Omega Tresor ladies’ collection definitely is. Most ladies’ watches are based on gents’ models within the Omega collection: smaller diameters, different dials and colors etc. This is the case for many watch brands out there. The new Omega Tresor ladies’ collection though, is all-new. They could have picked an entirely new name, or a new collection even, as it doesn’t look like anything released before. I had to think about it for a bit, as I am used to look at watches that are based on something existing. Even when Omega introduced the De Ville Tresor in 2014, with the hand-wound Co-Axial in-house movement, t...
Watch Strap Review Part 31. Kill Hubris X Crown & Buckle
Collaborations can end up in success or a major flop. Especially if the parties involved come from different areas of life. When fashion enters the watch scene the outcome is often the latter. Kill Hubris, a clothing company from Houston Texas, is a cool brand, no doubt about that. One that I support and wear because the style speaks to me. No surprise, since Sam aka Mr. Kill Hubris is not only the owner of the brand but also a watchnerd himself. But what happens when Kill Hubris decides to partner up with a known and respected watch accessory supplier, say Crown & Buckle, to release two NATO straps? Crown & Buckle is known for quality and affordable products. Straps, tools and other...
I Can't Believe How Much I Love The Omega Speedmaster "Nixon" Bracelet
I have covered the Omega Speedmaster Professional Apollo XI Moonshine more than once here. That includes a long-term review on the watch after exactly a year of ownership. But never before I did an article on the bracelet alone. Here we are though: Meet the Nixon bracelet review.The bracelet of the Speedmaster Professional Apollo XI Moonshine deserves its own article. It is that good, in my opinion. And, to be frank, I didn’t expect it to be this good. The specifications didn’t lie about the small clasp (14mm)? and got me a bit worried at first.The Speedmaster “Nixon” BraceletBut boy was I worried for nothing. I mean, it is not everyday one spends the amount of a nice...
The King Is Back! Introducing The King Seiko KSK SJE083
Unthinkable today, but in the 1960s, Seiko had two of its own factories competing with each other to create the best possible watch. These two factories were Suwa Seikosha and Daini Seikosha. At Suwa Seikosha, the Grand Seiko was created in 1960. A year later, Daini Seikosha came up with the first King Seiko. The competition between these two collections went on till the 1970s.We went quite in-depth about King Seiko in this and this article. And yes, we are fans of those vintage King Seiko watches. You can pick them up cheap (search for the King Seiko 44-9990) from local market places and eBay, for example. But those days might be over starting today, as Seiko introduces the King Seiko KSK S...
Rado Captain Cook Automatic Bronze With Burgundy Dial And NATO Strap
Who’d have thought Bronze cases and red dials would become an almost mainstream thing here on Fratello? We certainly didn’t see this coming, but here we are. Following on from last week’s very special limited edition Oris Fratello Big Crown Pointer Date, we have another autumnal vision in bronze for you to feast your eyes upon. The Rado Captain Cook in bronze with a rich burgundy dial joins the club…A year ago, that club seemed pretty exclusive. But now, thanks to the Oris and this latest addition to the Captain Cook range, the “Burgundy Bronze Brigade” is gaining new members at an unprecedented rate. And why not? It is a color/material fusion that makes p...
Czapek Antarctique Passage De Drake Adds Depth To A Stunning Dial
Earlier this year, the watch world was pleasantly surprised to see Czapek’s sportiest model to date arrive. the Czapek Antarctique Terre Adelie was, to many (including this writer) a revelation. It took an already strong brand in a new direction. The case, hands, dial, markers, and integrated bracelet established Czapek as a major player in the luxury sports watch sphere. Now, with the follow-up release of the Czapek & Cie Antarctique Passage d Drake, we get another look at this remarkable addition with a brand new dial…As you might imagine, I review a lot of watches. While I would say I’m quite easily excited by any brand doing anything good, I am also prone to persnic...
Guest Post: The Breitling Cosmonaute A Special Relationship
On May 24th 1962, Commander Scott Carpenter was the second American to perform an orbital space flight onboard the Aurora 7 spacecraft. So busy was he taking photos of frost particles, or fireflies that he went off course and overshot the landing by 400km. But from the smooth launch, sitting atop the Mercury-Atlas 7 rocket, to splashdown, the Breitling Cosmonaute was Carpenter's watch companion. This journey makes the Cosmonaute the first Swiss chronograph worn in space. But my story about the Breitling Cosmonaute is much more personal. And it begins precisely ten years after Scott Carpenter's space flight.The start of a family traditionThe year is 1972, four years after my father won the Ge...
Two New AnOrdain Model 2 Watches For The OT Podcast
Ah, anOrdain. You make my heart sing. Genuine hand-crafted goodness, a peerless amiability about the company and all those who sail in her, and rich, delicious textures that bring even the flattest wrist to life. The two new 39.5mm anOrdain Model 2 watches for OT in Australia are absolutely stunning and put the brand’s signature enamel and the depth of that material’s beauty right at the fore.There’s nothing wrong with having a flat wrist, by the way. I just assume that flat wrists are less likely to catch the eye than knobbly wrists. However, however flat or knobbly your wrist may be, it will be transformed into a multi-dimensional beauty by this limited production anOrdai...
Introducing the CODE41 Mecascape
Those of you familiar with CODE41 will know that the brand has never been afraid of innovating. Since its founding in 2016, Claudio D'Amore has strived to walk the path less traveled - an ambitious affair, and one that has so far produced some incredible mechanical creations. The latest is the CODE41 Mecascape. Divisive as they are ambitious and innovative, CODE41's creations have always built upon the wristwatch form factor. Now, however, the brand has broken the mold, bringing to life an idea dating back to 2009. CODE41 now presents something truly new.Clocks have been around since before wristwatches, and they come in many shapes, sizes, and designs. From the cuckoo clock to the grandfath...
Norqain Opens Brand's First Vertical Boutique In Zermatt
Things are certainly moving in the right direction for Norqain. The Biel-based brand is laying down some serious roots in its home country of Switzerland by establishing its very first vertical (mono-brand) boutique in the beautiful alpine town of Zermatt, home to the famous Matterhorn mountain, which, if you hadn’t noticed already, is the inspiration for the brand’s peaked logo.For some brands, it just seems easy. The truth is, it never is. Some brands have advantages over others, sure. Some brands can rely on a deep, generational level of experience in the watchmaking industry and the connections that kind of time served brings with it; others cannot. However, whatever your sta...
Excelsior Park A Legendary Chronograph's New Lease On Life
If you are a vintage chronograph person, I don’t need to tell you much about Excelsior Park. The company created some of the most iconic chronograph calibers back in the day. Aside from its self-branded timepieces, you could find its movements in some Gallet, Girard-Perregaux, as well as Zenith chronographs. Like many, Excelsior Park fell victim to the quartz crisis and the overall declining demand, and the brand closed up shop somewhere around the mid-’80s. In 2020, the brand hinted at a comeback, and today, the preorder opens for the first neo-vintage Excelsior Park chronographs.Inspiration for the first five models came from some of the heavy hitters of EP’s past - styli...
The Fast And The Fratelli Shootout: Tomas's Yema Vs. RJ's Omega
The final lap of the shootouts brings a lug-to-lug fight between two extremely individualistic competitors. It’s the Yema Speedgraf against the Omega Speedmaster Apollo 8, and if it wasn't for their chronographs and tachymeter scales, it would be hard to find common ground between these two racers. Who will make it through? You decide!The Omega Speedmaster Apollo 8 won a close race, defeating the Breitling Chronomat Frecce Tricolori. It’s going up against the Yema Speedgraf, which, surprisingly, left the legendary Yema Rallye Andretti in its rearview mirror. Betting odds are much more in favor of the Swiss Omega today, but the French Yema proved in the last round that it doesn't ...
Hands-On: Glashutte Original Senator Observer And Senator Excellence
The more I see them, touch them, and wear them, the more I like the Glashutte Original Senator Observer and Senator Excellence watches. Both watches have a familiar look, but with the right amount of (Glashutte) original details to catch the eye. It's the shape of the hands and the GO logo that functions as a counterweight on the central seconds of the Senator Excellence. It’s the Ab and Auf on the Senator Observer, and the words Glashutte I/SA which help lure you in. One thing’s for sure: they helped me take the bait.Not that long ago, I tried on the Senator Chronograph Panorama that came on a new strap - a nylon strap in a delightful and subtle sand-like color, outfitted with a...
How Watches Work: What Is COSC?
It’s a valid question, but to answer it, we also need to add another word to the equation - chronometer. You’ve probably heard of a chronometer (different from a chronograph), and it may even be written on the watch that you’re wearing right now. But, what is COSC? And what is a chronometer?Ten points if you worked out that COSC is an acronym. I’m sorry to say those points aren’t worth anything, and you can’t trade them in. Points are nice to have, though, even if they don’t mean prizes. It stands for “Contr?le Officiel Suisse des Chronomtres”, also known as the “Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute”. You can see why ...