I bought my first Omega Seamaster Diver 300M in 2000 when I was still a student (with a job). It was - and still is - a remarkable watch, and Omega didnt use inspiration from any vintage models when designing and developing it. Omega created the Seamaster Diver 300M from scratch in the early 1990s when the watch industry was not doing well. The Seamaster Diver 300M and the Constellation 95 were Omega s bread-and-butter pieces for a long time.Daniel Craig and Omega spilling the beans (again)The Omega Seamaster Diver 300M references are usually in the catalog for a long time, with no expiration date in sight. It wasnt until 2006 that Omega updated the Seamaster Diver 300M with a new movement ...

Pink flamingos have a very peculiar smell. The result of a strict shrimp-only diet will do that to a bird. Blue flamingos, on the other hand, smell like roasted peanuts. Do you know why? That s because they feed exclusively on blue M&Ms, just like spoiled rock stars. Come on, give me a break. I mean, if Tudor can name a watch after a bird that only lives in its catalog, I can also share the crazy thoughts in my head. Still, I was happy to try on the Tudor Black Bay Chrono Flamingo Blue to find out if the watchs South Beach vibes also work in Scheveningen.You could call Scheveningen the Dutch equivalent of South Beach, Florida. Sure, the climate is worse; there are no palm trees, and the ...

Today, on?Fratello Talks,?we re discussing Audemars Piguet. The brand is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2025 and has kicked things off by introducing a selection of new models earlier this week. Lex was in Le Brassus to report on the novelties, and Nacho and RJ now join him for this week s discussion. They begin by looking at said novelties and wrap things up by sharing their thoughts on the brand s current direction and whether they ve felt the influence of recently appointed CEO Ilaria Resta yet. But before jumping into it, let s see what the guys are wearing on their wrists.This video is blocked because you did not accept marketing cookies. Change cookie settings This podcast play...

If you have not heard of Havid Nagan, it is about time you did. F.P.Journe alumnus Aren Bazerkanian founded the brand in 2022, and he is doing things properly. Despite barely three years of the brand s existence, Bazerkanian dropped his third watch recently: the Havid Nagan Classic One.Havid Nagan does not follow your average microbrands route. Instead, it joins the growing ranks of higher-end independent brands with outsourced production. Although most heritage brands now focus on vertical integration and everything in-house, the traditional way of working was based on a brand forming a hub with external craftspeople and suppliers as spokes. Known as etablissage, this approach is experienci...

Retro watches have been all the rage for more than a decade now. When we review those releases, though, most are analog and inspired by highly collectible vintage timepieces with lengthy stories. But what about the omnipresent everyman s watches we took for granted as kids or teenagers? Every so often, they return too, and if I m being honest, they re just as much fun as the fancier reissues. The Timex Ironman 8-Lap Gray Shades puts a slight spin on the original, but it s certainly a faithful throwback to the 80s.It turns out that the recent purchase of a G-Shock, the DW-5000R-1A Origin Revival, sent me down the rabbit hole of looking at vintage-inspired digital watches. It s easy to stop a...

Last year s big Tudor releases during Watches and Wonders were the Black Bay 58 GMT and the black version of the Master Chronometer Black Bay. The latter was quickly nicknamed Black Bay Monochrome, to be more specific. With Watches and Wonders 2025 around the corner, an obvious next release would be the Master Chronometer Black Bay with a black dial and blue bezel. It is the only regular 41mm stainless steel model that hasn t received an update yet. Plus, it has always been my favorite of the previous-generation Black Bays. But with the current black model losing its faux gilt details, my preferences might have changed. As it turns out, that model might be hard to beat.Over the past two deca...

It s been a while since we covered a watch by the North American brand RGM. The company is known for its high-quality watches with classic styling and extensive customizability. Today, we re looking at the RGM Model 207-EB with a blue guilloche dial. Its 35mm case feels a bit un-American as it isn t oversized by any means. However, the watch still makes a big impression because of the beautiful engine-turned decoration on the dial.For those unfamiliar with RGM Watch Company, it was founded in 1992 by Roland G. Murphy, hence the brand s name. Mr. Murphy is a watchmaker trained by both the Bowman Technical School in Lancaster, Pennsylvania (PA), and the Watchmakers of Switzerland Training and ...

When two of the most likable people in the watch industry collaborate on a watch, only good things can happen, right? With collaborations, success is never a guarantee, but the new Oak & Oscar Atwood Wind Vintage Edition is an absolute winner. The only complaint is that so few will be made.Here at Fratello, we ve covered almost every release from Oak & Oscar, the Chicago-based independent brand celebrating its 10th anniversary. We ve known Chase Fancher, the founder, since day one and have always been impressed with his passion for creating high-quality watches that exhibit design continuity. When you see an Oak & Oscar, you know it s an Oak & Oscar. Eric Wind founded Wind Vi...

Do you like themed parties? I m not a huge fan but, as they say, different strokes for different folks. Audemars Piguet celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, and although such a monumental moment in the brands history could well do without a theme, there is one. The theme AP picked and explored is ergonomics. It sounds boring, right? Wait until you see what the brand has in store. So, lets get this party started by introducing all of Audemars Piguet s first-semester novelties, including a new ergonomically advanced perpetual calendar movement in the Royal Oak and Code 11.59 collection.The perpetual calendar is a complicated classic, and Audemars Piguet has many decades of experience cr...

We re back with another episode of Fratello On Air. This week, we re in myth-busting mode. We ve seen some silly things on social media, and it s time to shed light on them. For our listeners, the watch content begins after 25 minutes.This podcast player is blocked because you did not accept marketing cookies. Change cookie settings On one hand, we re pleased that so much watch-related content now exists. On the other, the flood of influencers brings a wide array of commentary. Social media is entertaining, but it s also important to keep a clear head while consuming it. In this episode, we go on a myth-busting mission. Enjoy the ride!HandgelenkskontrolleWe kick off our episode discussin...

We know Yema as an accessible French brand that offers fairly affordable watches. However, with the introduction of the company s in-house Calibre Manufacture Morteau movements, its prices shifted upward a bit. To ensure that the watchmakers have enough time to work on the higher-end in-house movements and still offer watches at a more affordable price point, the company now shifts to Swiss-made Sellita movements for its entry-level mechanical watches. To mark this strategic turnaround, Yema introduces the Superman Swiss Edition in four colors.Before, Yema s entry-level mechanical watches housed either a YEMA2000 or YEMA3000 automatic movement. The YEMA2000 was the brand s three-hand caliber...

In the world of independent watchmaking, few brands make an impression right out of the gate. WRK Timepieces, however, did just that with its debut ACF-01 last year. Now, with the release of the ACF-02, the brand refines its design language while maintaining the bold, lightweight approach that made its first model stand out.WRK Timepieces is the brainchild of Nasko and Caroline, a husband/wife duo whose passion for horology is evident in every conversation. I met them last year during Watches and Wonders and had the chance to try the ACF-01. The titanium case, bead-blasted finish, and striking orange hook-and-loop strap all left a strong impression. The movement, developed in partnership wit...

Wearing a signals different things. The most obvious ones are success and money. Conformity is another one. Wearing a watch from The Crown is like saying, I made it, and I want everybody to know it. Im sorry, fans who admire the brand for its technical innovations, achievements, et cetera. For most, the brand founded by Hans Wilsdorf in 1908 is a status symbol. But not all references are created equal. You can wear a watch from the Genevan powerhouse that doesnt act as a billboard for your ego. For those who want something more discrete, theres the Perpetual 1908 dress watch. Who would buy such an incognito , I wonder…Theres a certain model nobody talks about. Is it because its to...

Welcome to another series of Fratello Favorites! Our writers get another chance to share their favorite watches within a certain segment. This time, we are tackling vintage watches under $5K. I am the lucky first to outline what I think are the best vintage watches in the price range and why. Over the coming weeks, you will see my fellow Fratello teammates share their picks.Now, we did not get any guidelines other than vintage and under $5K. However, I am adding a third condition of my own. I will only pick watches that are easy to buy and own. That means you will find plenty of information on them to make an informed choice, and you will not struggle to get them serviced or source parts for...

Forstner has made a name for itself as the go-to brand for aftermarket vintage-inspired bracelets. The revived company, which has roots in the 1920s, has quickly expanded its collection over the past few years. We have reviewed quite a few of the brand s bracelets as well. What has always stood out is how much fun it is to pair the different bracelets with our watches. This time, we took five of the most popular Forstner bracelets for a spin. We fitted them to five different watches to compare them and see how the styles fit the different watches.It s impressive to see how quickly Forstner has expanded its collection of bracelets. Particularly, the brand gained traction for bringing back sev...

History repeats itself. You know of the debate about which automatic chronograph came first. Was Zeniths El Primero, the Caliber 11 developed by Heuer, Breitling, Hamilton, and movement specialist Dubois Depraz, or the Speedtimer by Seiko the first? Now we have a new case of Who came first? It involves two watches - the Hublot Big Bang Unico Magic Ceramic and the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chroma Ceramic. The AP was presented last year but is, for now, a prototype. The Hublot is not a prototype but a 20-piece limited edition. You be the judge of whos first and takes the prize.Last year, Audemars Piguet presented a couple of prototype watches with cases made by using Spark Plasma Sint...

It s Sunday again, so it s time for another Sunday Morning Showdown. Mike and Jorg go head to head in a battle over integrated-bracelet sports watches this week. Two weeks ago, we had a similar match-up when Vacheron s 222 went up against the Royal Oak. This week, two more famous watches in the same category fight for the win. The main difference between these watches and the two contenders that battled it out two weeks ago is their price. Both the IWC Ingenieur Automatic 40 and Girard-Perregaux Laureato 38mm are much more affordable than their famous peers. But which of the two would you pick? Get yourself a cup of coffee, and let s get going!This week s battle was sparked by the release of...

When it comes to Sinn, you know that any limited edition does not come without a special functionally inspired story behind it. It s not in the brand s nature to release a new LE just because. To celebrate its 20th anniversary of creating diving watches made of submarine steel, Sinn has come up with the new U15, U16, and U18 limited editions based on existing models. However, the use of stainless steel from decommissioned German U-boats makes these watches special. Let s find out more!When I first saw the picture of the three new Sinn U-models, it was hard to tell the differences between them. Besides their case sizes, the watches look the same at first glance. But we all know that when it c...

Stainless steel is, alongside plastics, the most common material used for watch cases today. Indeed, stainless steel is the benchmark material that most of us enthusiasts will commonly encounter. That said, titanium has been steadily gaining traction as a watchmaking material, so today, I thought we should look at titanium versus steel and go through some of the pros and cons of each.Titanium was once considered a rare and cutting-edge material in watchmaking. In the 1970s, Citizen broke new ground by introducing the X8 series of quartz watches that featured titanium. Since then, many brands have introduced titanium watches, including IWC, Tudor, and Audemars Piguet. Citizen continues to off...

Another Friday, another list! This week and next, I will be putting the spotlight on Zenith. To be a bit more specific, for this week, I picked my top five modern Zenith watches. Next week, I will put the spotlight on some of the brand s best vintage models. These are somewhat self-indulgent lists because I love Zenith. The combination of great heritage and tradition, amazing watchmaking skills, and eye-catching design makes the brand stand out in today s watch landscape. However, Zenith does not always pop into conversations where I think it should. That s why I picked five watches I d add to my collection that show what makes this watchmaker from Le Locle so great to me.Before jumping into...