Hands-On: Carbon G-Shock GCW-B5000UN Models
G-Shock’s 40th anniversary is almost over. But as the celebrations come to an end, Casio throws us one last curveball to close the year out. Two classic G-Shock “Squares” get the full-carbon treatment. As a result, these G-Shock GCW-B5000 models are featherlight. The carbon material messes with your usual perception of the already-light G-Shocks. That’s why spending a couple of days with the G-Shock GCW-B5000UN-1 and GCW-B5000UN-6 turned out to be a surprisingly fun experience. Let me explain.When the new 40th Anniversary models first came into the office as part of a larger shipment of G-Shocks, these two full-carbon ones quickly brought smiles to our faces. The G-Sh...
Interview: Lionel A Marca, CEO Of Breguet
A few months ago, I sat down with Lionel a Marca, CEO of Breguet. A Marca has been with Swatch Group for 30 years and has been with Breguet since 2019. He's not just a CEO, though. He's also a trained watchmaker and has worked on various well-known projects, such as the Omega De Ville with a central tourbillon. After having worked for Blancpain for many years, he joined Breguet and was appointed CEO in 2021 by brand president Marc A. Hayek.Breguet Manufacture in Le Chenit, SwitzerlandAn interview with Breguet CEO Lionel a MarcaJust after the launch of Breguet's Type 20 and Type XX watches in Paris, I had the opportunity to meet with Lionel a Marca. We talked about Breguet, the Type XX collec...
New: Urwerk UR-230 Ceramique A Tougher Shade Of White
If you compare horology and science, Urwerk must be fundamental science. The house does not ask what people need. Instead, it asks what is possible on the fringes. The Urwerk UR-230 is a prime example. Its dual-turbine system allows the user to regulate the watch's winding. Does anyone need that? No. But who cares? It is different and new. Let others worry about applied science. Today, we got a new version of that very UR-230 with a new case material.Frankly, this time, it is not just fancy and Haute Technique, but it also has serious practical appeal to boot. Fear no more shattered ceramic watches. Urwerk found a way.The Urwerk UR-230First, let's go back to basics. Urwerk launched the origi...
Hands-On: The New Black Omega Seamaster Diver 300M
This story all started with Daniel Craig…again! Indeed, many Omega stories do nowadays. The former on-screen secret agent wasn’t that secretive about wearing a new Omega Seamaster Diver 300M during the Paris Olympics earlier this year. As always, watch enthusiasts took notice, and that’s when the internet went crazy. It started the rumor mill that kept spinning until Omega finally revealed the new black Seamaster Diver 300M just a few weeks ago. It is part of a series of new models, but honestly, this is the one! It’s the watch Daniel Craig wore, and I was most interested in it. Could it be the Seamaster I was waiting for? Judging from looks alone, it most definitely ...
Introducing: The Robot Minor Arctic LE
As many of you know, Robot is a brand offering high-quality Czech-made mechanical watches. The Minor, inspired by the Aero Minor racing car, is one of Robot’s most renowned models. Today, in a limited series of only 12 pieces, Robot introduces the Minor Arctic LE. This edition is a tribute to explorer Franti?ek Bhounek, the first Czech to cross the North Pole in 1928.Robot Minor Arctic LELet me start with the car that inspired Robot’s Minor chronograph and gave it its name - the Czech-made Aero Minor Sports 750. This initially two-seater open race car was powered by a two-cylinder Jawa B2 two-stroke front engine. Mike mentioned in this article that the Aero Minor Sports 750 was ...
Moral problems on a watch or brand
Do you have ever any moral problems on a watch? I mean, Fliegerwatches that were used by the Luftwaffe, Panerai watches that were used by the Italian Navy in WWII, U-Boat watches that were in the race to be elected by Nazi’s for their frogmen. Maybe even sooner, when a watch was used in any kind of war. The Glycine Airman used by US chopperpilots in Vietnam, Omega 30T2 watches used by the RAF in WWII and so on.I am not one of those, however, the line is getting thin when it is about watches that would be actually used by Nazi pilots or soldiers who were on the wrong side in WWII. When I was attending the P-Day #3 meeting in Frankfurt, some guys where showing off all their Italian Navy ...
Watches At The Miljonair Fair In Amsterdam
Last Friday, a friend and I visited the Miljonair Fair. Not that we are millionaires, probably not even together, but Amsterdam Diamond Center (part of Gassan Diamonds) gave us tickets to come to the show.Gassan Diamonds had one of the biggest booths at the fair, including a few shop-in-shop boutiques from Jaeger-LeCoultre, IWC, Omega, Breguet, Ebel, Breitling, Cartier and Ateliers de Monaco. Being a huge fan of Atelier De Monaco, I was very pleased to see them here. Pim Koeslag of Atelier De Monaco took a lot of time to show their timepieces and do some explanation on them.Pim Koeslag giving some explanation on one of their exquisite timepieces to my friend Ger.Below, you’ll see some ...
Laurent Picciotto Of Chronopassion In Conversation With HYT's Vincent Perriard
The biggest buzz on last year’s BaselWorld might have been the HYT timepiece. An interesting new concept in watchmaking and causing a lot of stir amongst enthusiasts and collectors. We’ve been told that the delivery of the first HYT timepieces has started. One of the official retailers of the HYT watch is Chronopassion in Paris, owned by Laurent Picciotto.Laurent Picciotto has an interesting range of brands in his boutique, a combination of manufacturers with history that goes back for centuries and new small brands with very special or interesting timepieces. The so-called ‘independents’ amongst watch makers. Vincent Perriard’s brand HYT seems to fit right in. ...
The Rado HyperChrome Court Collection Review
I remember that in the 1990s, parents of my friends and even some of their grand parents at that time, were wearing Rado watches. The shiny black ceramic timepieces that looked stylish – a bit B&O style – and were impossible to get scratched. Most of them were quartz watches though, so I quickly lost interest in them as I merely saw them more or less as a lifestyle or ‘design’ product.Now to be honest, Rado has not been on our radar for a while, except during BaselWorld 2013 when we took the orange Rado HyperChrome Court Collection watch for our “Last Queen’s Day” article. This Rado HyperChrome Court Collection combines the typical Rado style of ...
Luxury Hasn't Lost Its Lustre the 'Ronde Louis Cartier'
Ronde Louis CartierCartier has been best known for its square and rectangle watches, ask anyone on the street to name a Cartier watch, and you will get an answer like; ‘that watch with the screws.'. That is what Cartier is among the general public; the Santos and the Tank watches. They represent the common understanding of the essence of Cartier, in the luxury world of watches.?It therefore had lasted 30 years, after the first Cartier men's watch was made,?before a round mens dress watch was launched on a larger scale.Elegance, Style and SophisticationThe Ronde Louis Cartier' as it's still called, was born around 1937 and is a creation by the maestro himself. I have to be a bit vague s...
Speedy Tuesday Christmas Shopping Guide: Speedmaster Accessories
The first Holiday Seasons wishes came in today in the office, so perhaps it is about time that we give some Speedmaster accessories shopping tips before Christmas really starts. Some of you probably know what to buy and what you would like to have, but now you can forward this article to your wife, girlfriend, partner for inspiration.As a Speedmaster fan, there are a couple of things, besides the watch, that you ‘need’. At least, I found myself buying most of the items on this list in recent years in addition to my Speedmaster watches. This week, Speedy Tuesday is about Speedmaster accessories! I tried to keep it budget friendly, so there should be something in there for each and...
You Asked Us: Which GMT / Dual Time Zone watch do you recommend?
Some time ago, Matt from London (UK) sent us his question about the choice of a GMT, or Dual Time Zone watch. Matt would like to actually use a dual time zone function on a watch while travelling to locations with other time zones.Matt’s dream watch, the Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5164, here pictured in rose gold instead of stainless steel; our review of this watch can be found here.Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5164RYou Asked Us: Which GMT / Dual Time Zone watch do you recommend?Here’s the full text of Matt’s question:Dear Fratello Watches,I'm keen to hear your thoughts on what watches you might recommend which have a dual time zone feature.I travel frequently for work and whilst t...
Hot Take: Venturist Observatoire Chronometrique+
Lebois & Co is celebrating its 85th birthday today. The brand resurrected in 2014 and is in Dutch hands today. Today, Lebois & Co is unveiling the first live images of their upcoming watch, the Venturist Observatoire Chronometrique+ Certified Chronometer.That’s a mouthful, and especially the Observatoire Chronometrique+ Certified Chronometer needs a bit of explaining. But let’s have a look at the new Venturist first.Lebois & Co Venturist Observatoire Chronometrique+The Venturist watch is the second model that Lebois & Co introduces. After the successful release of the Avantgarde Date (in three different executions), Lebois & Co thought it is time to come up wi...
#TBT Vulcain MinStop Parking Meter Watch
A real flyback stopwatchVulcain MinStop, made in West-Germany. Also known as a parking meter watch for precise timing of your parking time.About 60 years ago, not everyone was super excited about chronographs as we are today. Most watches were much smaller than they are today, except for those bulky chronographs, mainly used by people who actually had a purpose for them. But some smart engineers in Germany decided to combine a dress watch with a chronograph and keep the proportions acceptable. And not a regular chronograph, but one to keep track of your running parking meter.Vulcain MinStop Parking Meter WatchParking meter watch demandWas there really a demand for these? Well, I don't know t...
Podcast 2020 Holiday Guide and Our Favorite Bracelets
Balazs and Mike make good on their promise to come back with frequency! On this episode we give recommendations for the upcoming Holiday Season and then we talk about our favorite bracelets.Our Fratello on Air podcast is available via?Buzzsprout,?Soundcloud,?Apple Podcast,?Google Podcast,?Deezer, Stitcher, and?Spotify....
This Week In Watches: December 12, 2020 Delightful Dials And Collaborations Down Under!
It’s always good when we get a few interesting bits fall into the inbox. Some weeks are slower than others, but I found plenty to keep me interested this week! Delightful dials aplenty and more!Time+Tide released their first collaboration, Minase and Laurent Ferrier work their magic with stunning dials, and ArtyA goes up in my estimations. Let’s dig in…Minase Divido Deep Blue Urushi Silver Maki-e DialToday is not the first time I’ve covered news and releases from Minase. There’s a good reason for that: I like the Japanese brand’s watches - especially the Divido family, which we see here today. Mike wrote a hands-on article about the Minase Divido last year...
Omega Speedmaster World Cup: Third Place Play-Off Tintin Vs. Snoopy III
Well, we finally made it to the last weekend of the Omega Speedmaster World Cup. What a ride it’s been. We’ve seen surprise winners, remarkable comebacks, our fair share of voter fraud, and worthy watches left languishing in the group stages. The two watches that fell one step short, the Tintin and Snoopy III, now duke it out for your approval.We’ve seen brutal character assassinations, indulged in well-worded arguments, and recoiled in disbelief as Mike failed three consecutive dope tests. Still, despite running the most sophisticated doping program since Lance Armstrong’s USP team, Mikey couldn’t propel his mighty Tintin into the Final. Instead, that pesky poo...
The 2021 Formula One World Champion Is Max Verstappen!
What a season! The 2021 Formula One season may go down as one of the most competitive campaigns in its over-70-year history. Not since 2012 have two opponents from opposing teams taken it down to the final race. With Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes-AMG and Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing tied on 369.5 points apiece, everything was to play for in Abu Dhabi. The only advantage was that Verstappen had more wins under his belt for this year. In a thrilling battle under the lights of Yas Marina, Max Verstappen came out on top in a thrilling battle. Verstappen is now crowned the F1 World Champion for the first time and marks Red Bull's first driver's championship since 2013. But what watch was Max Ve...
The Fast And The Fratelli Quarter-Final: Zenith Vs. Omega
The quarter-finals are here and we still have a bunch of Speedies in this game. But have no fear, the Zenith El Primero A386 Revival is here. Will it push the Speedmaster Apollo 8 off the track like Lewis did to Max (or vice versa), or will we see only Speedies in the finals? Today, Andreas’s Zenith goes up against RJ’s Speedmaster Apollo 8.RJ: This is going to be interesting. And truth be told, I would have a hard time making a decision between this classic Zenith El Primero A386 Revival - despite being a re-edition - or a modern interpretation of a classic, like the Speedmaster Apollo 8. A watch with a Zenith El Primero movement is still high on my wish list, but which one?Spee...
The Top Pilot's Watches You Can Buy Right Now (2021)
Pilot’s watches! Love ’em or hate ’em, they’re one of the most popular categories within watch collections worldwide. With an interesting heritage and iconic design cues, it’s hard not to eventually be won over by their bold designs and supreme legibility.So, what are, in my opinion, some of the top pilot’s watches on the market right now that you can actually buy? Check out my picks, and let us know your favorite(s) in the comments at the end!IWC Big Pilot Perpetual CalendarI have to start this list off with a big one. IWC is well known for its Big Pilot collection, and for me, the Perpetual Calendar represents the very pinnacle. Now, the elephant in the ...