Everyone Needs A Super Hero Marvin Watches
Drawing its inspiration from an advert from the 1950s discovered in its archives; Marvin has created its superhero and showcases it in a fun-filled, exuberant fashion by launching an 88-piece limited edition every year.For the very first edition of this incredible adventure, Marvin has partnered with Fratellowatches. This Malton Cushion Superhero timepiece is combined with matching cufflinks.Marvin and Fratellowatches met each other a few times over the last couple of years during Baselworld trade shows and followed each other with great interest. The combination of an influential blog and the manufacturer of affordable luxury watches led to designing a mechanical watch with an edge, the Sup...
F.A. Lange's 200th Birthday Anniversary Event
The end-of-year, pre-SIHH, A. Lange & Sohne event is becoming kind?of a tradition meanwhile. However this year was something special, as it was the 200th anniversary of Ferdinand Adolph Lange.200th Anniversary of?F.A. LangeA three day program of which rumours were heard that it was the largest event A. Lange & Sohne organised to date. Far in excess of 200 guests (customers, suppliers and journalists) were invited and flown-in from all corners of the world.Although the F.A. Lange 200th anniversary celebration was the major reason for the event, a very special watch was to be presented as well, the A. Lange & Sohne 1815 Tourbillon Handwerkskunst. I’ll come briefly back to the...
Eterna KonTiki Bronze Manufacture is 52Mondayz installment for week #50
Which 52Mondayz watch to chose was a difficult one this week. Last week, together with the rest of the Fratello Watches team, I picked up my Omega Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday. However already being in Biel I took the opportunity to visit Eterna in Grenchen, who had my Kon-Tiki Bronze Manufacture limited edition ready as well.Eterna KonTiki Diver Gent Bronze Manufacture Limited EditionAs I expect that we’re covering something Speedy tomorrow, I decided to bring out my Eterna for this week’s 52Mondayz installment.The Eterna KonTiki Bronze Manufacture nicely fits my 18cm wristA celebration of Thor Heyerdahl's KonTiki expeditionEterna produced this limited edition of the KonTiki diver...
OUR CATAWIKI FAVORITES EDITOR'S CHOICE: Longines, Grand Seiko, Jaeger-LeCoultre
Our bi-weekly feature where we select three interesting watches from the Catawiki auctions. This article is a partnership with Catawiki, but we made our own selection of watches and without any interference in our write-up. For this week, we have a Longines Conquest Olympic Games 1972 (Munich) edition, a vintage Grand Seiko 5646-7010 and a Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Night & Day.As always, let me start by saying that before you bid on a watch, you should have done your homework. Especially when it concerns vintage watches. Some brands can help you identifying them, but most of the time it might take some more effort. From this week’s brands for example, Longines is known to have a gre...
Glashutte Original: A Chronograph for the Man of Taste
The Senator Chronograph Panorama Date gives functionality a very stylish lookThe Senator Chronograph Panorama Date from Glashutte Original confronts the challenges of cold and stormy days with casual elegance: This robust timepiece built for everyday use steps into the spotlight with the Saxon manufactory's unmistakable flair for design.The manufactory chronograph in stainless steel celebrated its successful premiere in March 2017 at Baselworld. It is based on the integrated Calibre 37 chronograph movement, developed to set new standards for maximum functionality and everyday use.With this new addition Glashutte Original did more than simply add a third version to the line it had launched wi...
Photo Report: Geneva Omega Boutique Speedy Tuesday Get-Together
Last week, the Omega boutique in Geneva threw a little party to celebrate Speedy Tuesday with us and a number of their guests (as well as some of our readers who were able to make it to Geneva). For approximately 25 guests, Omega’s CEO Raynald Aeschlimann kicked off with a warm welcome and a great speech on the Omega Speedmaster and well, us, Fratello. We were truly honoured by his words and we explained to the guests how Speedy Tuesday started, what it means to us and how much we value the Speedmaster community. Besides that, we picked up all of our own Speedy Tuesday Ultraman watches so we can finally wear them as well.Omega Boutique GenevaThe Omega boutique in Geneva is located on t...
Exclusive: Frederique Constant Manufacture Moonphase
I am super excited to tell you about our new shop and most of all, about our collaboration with Frederique Constant for this Manufacture Moonphase exclusive for Fratello.Let's start with the shop. For us, the shop is a (new) way to keep our magazine growing in the best possible way. Traditional advertising is slowly fading away, and we don't want to have paid editorials like most other titles out there do. It is something Ive always said to myself and others: as soon as I have to write about watches that I don't want to write about, I'd rather find myself doing something different. We want to be able to bring you independent reviews and tell you like it is (in our opinion). But besides that,...
Omega Speedmaster World Cup Round-Up A Snoopy And An Adventurer Make The Final...
Wow. What a rollercoaster. There have been more back-and-forth tug-of-war contests in this World Cup than anyone saw coming. Thanks to thousands of voters, though, we now have our finalists locked and loaded and ready to roll. The Omega Speedmaster World Cup is just 7 days away from its conclusion and we need YOU to help us decide a winner.When this World Cup began, I had high hopes for the format. Sports tournaments are real annual highlights for me and, in the absence of Euro 2020, I wanted to create something similar but with watches. We settled upon Speedmasters as a team, and what a choice that turned out to be!We all had our favorites, but we didn’t necessarily get to argue for t...
RJ And Rob Talk About The Glashutte Original PanoMaticLunar
We received a box filled with German delights from Glashutte. For this podcast, we picked the Glashutte Original PanoMaticLunar with (forest) green dial to talk about.We covered this Glashutte Original PanoMaticLunar earlier this year written by Balazs, but we received the watch as part of a bigger collection for review and thought it would be nice to chat about it on this Fratello on Air podcast episode....
Unboxing the Fratelloris Big Crown Bronze Pointer Date What's Inside The Box?
Nothing beats buying a new watch! We’re happy that so many of you purchased the new Fratello Oris Big Crown Bronze Pointer Date! We also receive a fair few questions from interested readers who want to know what’s inside the box. And so, RJ and Bert decided to oblige with a short unboxing video for you…Detailed information on this new Oris can be found here....
Watch Strap Review 47 1787 Straps from Iceland
When I initially started Watch Strap Review, my goal was to introduce as many new brands to the watch community as I could. I wanted to make sure that the selection is broad. Whether we are talking about the amount of money a strap costs, the material used in its creation, or its origins. We'll soon reach 50 articles, and then I'll have a quick look back, but for today I have yet another brand for you. The country of origin? Iceland! The brand in question? None other than 1787 Straps.I was really excited when the parcel from Eidur (Mr. 1787 Straps) landed on my desk. Not necessarily because of the designs, but also because I knew that what Eidur has to offer is pretty unique. I mean, you did...
Suiting Up With A Diver Top 10 Watches For A Divisive, Cool Look
The diver is the new dress watch. OK, stop shouting. Yes, this is still a controversial topic for some collectors, I know. We all know the old “rules” of a dress watch with a white shirt and jacket, and no watch at all with a tuxedo. But a dive tool watch? God forbid, that’s only for aquatic activities (though exceptions can be made for a wooly jumper or a denim shirt). Look, I am past 50, and even I know that this is an ancient way of thinking. We don't have to look any further than the Oscars to see stars suited up with a diver on the big night of tuxedos and gala dresses. A majority of suited wrists were rocking big tool watches, with slim shirts straining to contain the...
The Fast & The Fratell- Quarter-Finals: Rob's Omega Speedmaster Racing Vs. Daves's Fortis B-42
We’re down to the quarter-final stage, and there is a disturbing number of Speedmasters left in the last eight. We limited the Omega entrants to just four places, but all four of them are still standing. Today, Rob’s Racing Speedy goes up against Dave’s surprise package, the Fortis B-42.Rob: Well, well, well, what have we here? An Anglo-Irish showdown. The clash of “Bob” and Rob. A match-up nobody saw coming (except perhaps Fortis). The fact a B-42 has made it to the final eight in a competition created to find the world’s best modern racing chronograph is a stunning testament to the brand’s current reputation. But while Fortis is flying high, with i...
The Top 10 Seiko Models Of All Time This Is It!
The Top 10 Seiko models of all time - what an audacious subject! Yet, here I am after a request came down from high. This one is absolutely sure to generate tons of feedback along with a healthy dose of ire. Let the games begin!As the resident Seiko nut here at Fratello, the challenge was clear. Pick the Top 10 Seiko models of all time. In thinking about that task, though, it immediately became truly difficult. I own somewhere in the neighborhood of 100 watches from the brand, and that truly represents a fraction of a fraction when it comes to the voluminous back catalog. How does one choose? Would I base my choices on aesthetics, movement type, (watch) culture impact, or some other set of g...
Dear Zenith, Bring Back The Sub Sea Ref. A3630
Over the last couple of years, I have found that my love for Zenith runs deep. I love all the modern reissues that the brand has released over time, and the brand-new releases have also been great additions to the collection. It makes Zenith one of my favorite brands of the moment. But that love does not start with the recent releases. Back in the 1960s and ’70s, Zenith already showed a unique eye for design that led to some amazing results. One of them is the Zenith Sub Sea ref. A3630, which was first released in the 1960s. It’s a watch that I would love to see make a return in all its glory.While the modern Zenith collection is often the reason for my enthusiasm for the brand, ...
Breitling Premier Vs. Omega Speedmaster '57 In Green
Sunday Morning Showdown is a thought piece for our writers to duke out over one, two, or more watches. After a year of tight fights and epic wins, the Showdown series enters the last few rounds of 2022. As the growing grudge match of opposing opinions shifts into the holiday season, our writers share some fitting and festive pieces. Namely, the color green is the immediate leveler between our two combatants today. Although, as you’ll see, the green giants share more than the festive hue between them. The Breitling Premier B09 Chronograph 40 with pistachio-green dial and Omega Speedmaster ’57 with its holly-leaf sheen square up with in-house-developed, hand-winding chronograph cal...
Hands-On: The Lorier Hydra SIII And Hydra Zulu
Lorier has quickly become one of my favorite microbrands. The New York-based brand has built a comprehensive collection of recognizable and accessible watches in a very short time. The latest addition is a blend of two extremely popular genres - diver’s and pilot’s watches. The result is the Lorier Hydra Series III, the name referring to the multifaceted monster from Greek mythology. This is a dive watch with a flyer GMT function and the brand’s signature vintage vibes. So is this a jack of all trades and a master of none? Or is this all the watch you could ever need? Let's find out!I got a chance to spend time with both the standard Lorier Hydra on the bracelet and the bla...
Hands-On: Raymond Weil Millesime Automatic Small Seconds
The biggest surprise of this year's Grand Prix de l’Horlogerie de Genve (GPHG) wasn't that impossibly complicated AP. No, it was something way simpler. Who would have thought that the Raymond Weil Millesime Automatic Small Seconds timepiece could win the GPHG 2023 Challenge Watch Prize? Well, no one at Fratello could. But when it did, it had my full attention. And that's why I had the winning watch shipped to HQ to find out what it was all about.My colleagues think it was accidental, but it was actually a carefully orchestrated field test. After I received the Raymond Weil Millesime Automatic Small Seconds, I placed it on the right side of my desk. It's in a spot where my watch-hungry...
From Diameter Police To Size Neutral: A Watch Fan's Story
Size matters in watches. Just read any comments section under any watch release article. Watch size - and, specifically, diameter - has become a matter of principle. You’re either on Team Small Watch, or you’re on Team Big Watch. And many have a few ugly words about those in the other camp. We have learned that some brands refer to this as the “diameter police,” which made me chuckle. Upon some introspection, though, I concluded that I have been a part of it. And then it wasn't so funny anymoreI came to realize that caring about the diameter so much had put an unnecessary limit on my enjoyment of watches. And that realization, paired with some broadening of my horizon...
The Best Watches Of 2023: Daan's Favorites
This year, I felt a bit like a football player sitting on the bench with a serious injury. At the beginning of the year, my wife and I bought a new house, and now we’re in the middle of remodeling it. That means that much of my attention is on the house, and all of my watch funds are going there as well. However, I have, of course, seen some very exciting new releases, and there are definitely a few that I’ve put on my wish list. Here are my favorite watches of 2023.I thought Nacho told us to name a maximum of three of our favorite releases. Luckily, Jorg, who went first in this series, already featured five of his favorites plus honorable mentions. I guess that means I won’...