Hands-on: The Raketa Space Launcher Now With Added Space!
Space - the final frontier. Here at Fratello, we love watches (obviously), and we love space. The two are connected at various points in history, and a love of one invariably leads to at least an interest in the other at some point. So, what’s cooler than combining the two interests? Watches that went into space! When I say that, I mean literally went into space. What on Earth am I on about? Well, let’s take a closer look at the Raketa Space Launcher and find out.Let me start by saying that ROSCOMOS did not commission this watch. Russia does not use its homemade watches to accompany its astronauts into space. So what do I mean when I say these watches went to space? Well, what if...
#TBT Doxa Anti-Magnetic: Proving Budget Isn't Everything
So as not to forget where I came from, I like to go back to my watch-collecting beginnings from time to time. My unusual Doxa Anti-Magnetic shows just how fascinating and rewarding “entry-level” vintage watches can be.The more watches you get, the higher your benchmark goes. You acquire more watches, often moving to more complicated, coveted, or expensive ones. If you have already developed a relationship with your “early” watches, you don’t want to sell them. That’s how they often move deeper and deeper into drawers or watch rolls…The puzzling Doxa questionI haven’t sported this Doxa Anti-Magnetic for maybe a year or two. A few days ago, my wa...
Introducing: The Linde Werdelin 3 Timer Sunset Collection
Wow, Linde Werdelin. As Fratello’s de facto writer on all things related to the brand, I’ll happily proclaim that this made me smile. Yes, I love your hewn-from-granite tool watches and feel a deep affinity for the brand being a fellow Viking. This time, though, I was genuinely surprised. Will four flash-colored references of the Linde Werdelin 3 Timer Sunset subvert the brand’s image of purely rugged wrist companions?The 3 Timer has been around since 2009, and it speaks to Linde Werdelin’s Nordic explorer roots. As with all LWs, there is a respectable purity in its lines, an angular chunk of a facetted case, and unexpected ergonomics. With a variety of cool takes on ...
Do You Actually Enjoy Your Watch Collection?
Dear Fratelli, let’s pause for a minute. I know your watch wish list is there on your phone, ready to be expanded with new options at any moment of the day. I’m sure you’re already saving up for the next new addition to your collection, and the watch on your wrist is probably also a recent purchase. But do you realize what’s already in your watch box? At some point, you were dreaming of having those watches in your collection. And now they are, but you’re completely neglecting them! Let’s take a moment to reflect.The end of the year is getting closer and closer. This is when we usually start reflecting on the last 12 months gone by. For me, that means I...
The Ace Jewelers Nivada Grenchen Super Antarctic Polar
In 2021, an Instagram post of a vintage Nivada Grenchen Super Antarctic went viral. It caught the attention of the people who revived the brand, and they soon decided to make a re-edition. This resulted in a modernized 38mm version of the Super Antarctic. Until now, it has been available with a black or tropical brown dial with numerals or triangles at each quarter and different lume colors to choose from. To celebrate the newly formed retail partnership between Nivada Grenchen and Ace Jewelers in Amsterdam, the two parties decided to launch a unique collaboration version with a matte white dial - the Super Antarctic Polar.The white dial isn’t something the two collaborators randomly c...
REM Big Waves Strap: More Waves For Seamaster 300M
REM Straps needs no introduction here on Fratello. As you know, we’ve been doing a monthly collaboration with the company on Speedmaster straps this year. But REM’s portfolio is much bigger than just those, of course. The Swedish brand creates straps that will suit any kind of watch but also ones for specific models. One of those is the Omega Seamaster 300M, and REM’s Big Waves strap is the perfect complement to it.The Seamaster (Professional/Diver) 300M has been Omega’s bread-and-butter watch since 1993. Aside from its helium valve, one of its most famous characteristics is the wave-pattern dial (yes, that did disappear for a few years). REM sent us two straps to try...
The Best Pilot's Watches Of 2023: Fratello's Top 10 Picks
Another Friday, another list! After last week’s list of our favorite field watches of 2023, it’s time to move on to another popular tool-watch category. In this week’s article, we will be sharing the 10 best pilot’s watches released this year. Pilot’s watches are a genre with a tremendous amount of history and sentiment. That makes it a joy to look back on some of this year’s best in the category.Back in September, Thomas wrote a nice article asking whether pilots still wear pilot’s watches. It’s a legitimate question as there are watches like the Apple Watch that provide much relevant information that a mechanical watch simply can’t. But...
Zodiac Rowing Blazers Super Sea Wolf GMT World Time
A guy walks into a pawnshop trying to sell his watch. But it’s not just any watch. No, this particular one is “the thinnest water-resistant watch in the world - singularly unique, sculptured in design, handcrafted in Switzerland, and water resistant to three atmospheres.” Incredible, especially for a watch from the 1980s! But hey, it was the sports watch of that era. It also cost $6,955 retail. Unfortunately, the pawnbroker is not impressed. First, he says he burned his fingers on it because man, that watch is so hot, it’s smokin'. And yes, that watch may tell time simultaneously in Monte Carlo, Beverly Hills, London, Paris, Rome, and Gstaad, but in Philadelphia, it&#...
Interview: International Agent For Minase, Sven Erik Henrikson
Minase, a name familiar to our Fratello regulars, is a boutique Japanese watch brand revered for its remarkable craftsmanship and quality. Its distinctive creations have been winning fans in places as high up as the former Japanese Prime Minister. But the reason we get to discover this exclusive IYKYK (if you know, you know) brand is largely thanks to H-Development for its international foray.Based in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland, the firm has been the mastermind behind Minase's presence beyond Japan since 2016. More than just a distributor, H-Development carries stock, employs watchmakers, and caters to custom requests for bespoke pieces. Specializing in private labels and watch engineering, H-...
Dan's Connection To His Grandfathers Through Their Watches
In this latest edition of Fratelli Stories, Fratello reader Dan speaks about the three most special watches in his extensive collection - a Citizen, Seiko, and Edox. These three watches help connect him to warm memories of his two grandfathers.One of the best elements of this hobby has to be the people. I don’t know about you, Fratelli, but the social component of watch collecting/enthusiasm is what keeps me very much connected to it. Fratelli Stories was conceived to celebrate part of that spirit, and we always welcome comments and ideas for the next chapter in the series. This time, though, I got to sit down and talk to a long-term Fratello fan, who has been reading our articles for ...
Serica 1174 Parade Vs. Echo/Neutra Rivanera
We know you’re probably reading this in your pajamas like you should on a Sunday morning. However, imagine you have an invitation to a more formal party during the coming Christmas holidays. Of course, you have to decide which watch you will wear. So, what if you had to choose between the Echo/Neutra Rivanera or the Serica 1174 Parade? These recent releases each provide a different take on where the design of modern dress watches is heading. But which one would you vote for?Indeed, these two watches are quite different from each other. The Parade’s has a stainless steel case, while the Rivanera’s case is bead-blasted titanium. The Parade also has a self-winding movement, wh...
Speedy Tuesday Will the Speedmaster Apollo XI 45th Anniversary And Tintin Be The Classics Of Tomorrow?
Here on Speedy Tuesday we like to cover vintage Speedmaster watches as well as modern models. A question we often receive though, is which current models we think will be the classics of tomorrow. By modern, we mean the models that can be bought new today.Models like the Omega Speedmaster Pro Snoopy Award (2003) and Apollo XIII (1995), the panda dialed Mitsukoshi (2003) and Apollo 11 35th Anniversary (2004), there are still relatively modern and became very sought after. Not from the start I have to say. Some of these models were in the shops for a long time at the time they were introduced and now that the stock has dried up for a couple of years already, the original buyers will easily get...
Hands-On Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Perpetual Review
For the first time again in a long while, I am super enthusiastic again about a watch. I’ve worn the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Perpetual from the moment I picked it up, till the very last hour before I had to hand it over again.Yes, we need to give back the watches that we review. In most cases I am not particularly sad about it, it is our work to do so. However, it has been quite a while ago that a watch made me super enthusiastic again for my own wishlist. Especially a watch in the higher end, with a nice complication (other than a chronograph or GMT).Jaeger-LeCoultre Master PerpetualThis watch has been introduced last year, during the SIHH 2016. We already wrote about it in March of t...
Formex presents three unique features for more comfort on the wrist
Whether a watch wears comfortably on the wrist or not isn't one of the top priorities for most watch buyers. More likely, it's design, brand, specs or prize that guides the buying decision. In a way that makes sense, especially since more and more watches are being sold online without being able to try them on in the first place. On the other hand, it's pretty surprising since most men will end up wearing their watch throughout the day. Unlike a shoe or a button up shirt, we all know how that feels when it just doesn't fit right.Of course, there's different aspects that make a watch fit right on the wrist. Case diameter is one, lug-to-lug width another. However, these measurements do not jus...
This Week in Watches December 9, 2018
Greetings and my apologies for the late publishing of This Week in Watches. I've essentially been on the road since last week's article, but I've kept an eye on events. Let's get to it – here’s your dose of TWIW…Hodinkee’s 10th Anniversary (image credit: hodinkee.com)Hodinkee 10We'd be remiss if we failed to congratulate the fine folks over at Hodinkee on their 10th anniversary. The brand's impact, via the leadership of Ben Clymer, on the watch hobby as we know it can't be underestimated. They continue to evolve, by trying different things, while employing some great writers many of whom are friends of ours. Personally speaking, I remember Hodinkee from the get-go and...
Grand Seiko SBGE249 Limited Edition Silver Blizzard
If there’s one thing that Grand Seiko absolutely masters, it is the art of dial making. This collaboration piece between Texas-based dealer Timeless and Grand Seiko is the perfect example of that.Grand Seiko needs no introduction here on Fratello, we covered them a lot in the last few years, and with good reason. It took us a while to get acquainted with the high-end watches from Seiko (and since 2017, Grand Seiko is operating as a separate legal entity). Still, once this bug has bitten you, it becomes tough not to compare them to high-end Swiss watch brands. Based on their extreme efforts in finishing dials, hour markers, hands, and basically all other parts, Grand Seiko is an excitin...
MeisterSinger Circularis Automatic Old Radium
Our Watch of the Week is the MeisterSinger Circularis Automatic Old RadiumYes, indeed this watch looks cool. And of course that would have been enough to declare the Circularis Automatic the Watch of the Week. But of course it has a lot more to offer than other watches.The Circularis models are among the premium watchmaking products of the Munster-based single-hand watch brand MeisterSinger. Their movements were designed by Swiss specialists according to MeisterSinger specifications.Because a single, long hour hand must be especially precise, it requires a design with a dual minute wheel that minimizes the play of the hand. The MSA01 has a rotor winding mechanism with a circling tungsten wei...
Wrist Game or Crying Shame: TAG Heuer Kirium Formula 1
Welcome back to Wrist Game or Crying Shame and this week let’s look at the racy TAG Heuer Kirium F1. Let’s see if you fancy this once futuristic chronograph. But first…Last week, I served up a cold frothy glass of root beer style. I chose the newest two-tone GMT-Master II with a bicolor bezel. You folks were thirsty and ably chugged down this with a 71% Wrist Game “bottoms up!” This week, we stay a bit flashy, but head back to the early 2000s with a watch - well, the line anyhow - that was once quite popular. We’re choosing the most unique model in the lineup, though, with the TAG Heuer Kirium F1.The TAG Heuer Kirium Formula 1Noted TAG Heuer site calibr...
Fratello On Air: The Best Novelties Of 2020 Breitling, Tudor, And Bvlgari
There’s no denying that 2020 has been one heck of a year. Any way you cut it, it’s been one we’ll all remember for a long time. And thankfully, the luxury watch industry has been providing us with plenty of interesting things to keep us distracted…2020 saw the release of several new models from Breitling, Tudor, and Bvlgari. Today, in Episode 26 (we’re back on track with that), Alon and Rob discuss these novelties and pick out their favorites. For the most part, this is a Podcast full of happiness, sweetness, light, and unbridled positivity. That is except for the part when Rob loses his mind (and almost his lunch) while expressing his fervent dislike for one he...
Reservoir GT Tour Blue Edition Hands On Review
I'm not gonna lie; Reservoir was not on my radar too much before its GT Tour Blue Edition landed on my table. Actually, it landed in front of my door for six hours before I could arrive home to pick it up (thank you, DHL), but that's another story. Not checking this brand out sooner was a grave mistake because this watch is nice. Like, very nice.But of course, as you would have it, having a great watch on the wrist is only one piece of the pie. We need to look at other attributes like the movement, finishing, accessories, and the price. So why don't we jump right in?ReservoirIf you’re not familiar with the brand, here are some interesting facts about Reservoir. Firstly, while the watch...