In the watch industry, people often toss around the term gray market, but they dont always fully understand it. The gray market for watches refers to a network of unofficial sales channels through which sellers trade watches outside of the authorized distribution system. While this market is legal, it operates without the endorsement of the brands. For many buyers, this market offers a chance to acquire sought-after timepieces that may be hard to find at retail, such as the Daytona, which has been an excellent example for many years. However, this comes with complexities and risks. In some cases, customers can also buy watches with serious discounts. Let s dive into how the gray market work...
Alpina has been on a roll lately. The Swiss watchmaker has been busy updating its collection with some great new models. While most of you will probably know the brand s sports pieces, we have also seen some great watches inspired by its past, which goes back more than a century. Indeed, Alpina is a brand with multiple great stories to tell. It s time to put the spotlight on the five best watches from the collection that show the great diversity Alpina offers these days. And keep an eye out for something new on Fratello later this week!If you ask most watch fans about Alpina, they ll probably tell you about its sports watches. The brand has created a large collection of them with a reputatio...
Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we stick to under $8K and pick our favorites. The entire history of the brand is up for grabs as long as the price is right. Enjoy the episode, and tune in to the watch content after approximately 19 minutes.This podcast player is blocked because you did not accept marketing cookies. Change cookie settings Getting a sweet under $8K is not only doable but pretty darn easy! There are loads of models available, including steel sports pieces and dress models in precious metals. Vintage or modern, we ve got you covered!HandgelenkskontrolleWe kick off our episode with some schnitzel talk. Depending on where one travels, different...
We re just barely a month into 2025, and Piaget is already rolling out the big guns. The new Polo Flying Tourbillon Moonphase is a modern, sporty piece with movement typically reserved for a dress watch. Because of its exotic nature, this release won t be for everyone, but it s always fun to have a look!The current Piaget Polo?debuted in 2016, and while it only shows traces of the 1979 original, which also has a lined dial motif, the lineup has aged well. Over nearly a decade, Piaget has added numerous material and complication options. Now a new Polo Flying Tourbillon Moonphase is joining the collection and using one of the brand s most prestigious movements.The Piaget Polo Flying Tourbillo...
What is Amsterdam famous for? Exactly - the citys canals. Oh, sorry, were you saying something else? Well, that s also correct, but it s not the answer I was looking for. I understand it, though. The district you were referring to in the city center is associated with red, the color that shines brightly in the 75-piece Breitling Superocean Heritage B20 Automatic 42 Amsterdam Limited Edition. The watch celebrates Mokums 750th anniversary - Mokum is the Yiddish nickname for Amsterdam. Red is the dominant color of the citys flag, which also includes three white St. Andrew s crosses against a black background. We got to try on this celebratory dive watch, but we didnt take it with us for a plung...
Today, Grand Seiko introduces the SLGH027 Mountainscape, a limited-edition watch celebrating the brand s 65th anniversary. The piece features the automatic Hi-Beat 9SA5 caliber, which debuted in 2020. As part of the Evolution 9 collection, this watch is not retro at all but a modern reference with stunning details.Grand Seiko always has a strong start to the year, and the new Mountainscape continues that trend for 2025. The Japanese luxury watchmaker is no stranger to celebrating various anniversaries, but this year is significant. Grand Seiko was founded in 1960, making 2025 its 65th anniversary. Judging from the initial press photos, this latest release appears to be a worthy birthday gift...
Japan is an infinite source of inspiration for creative people. The history and culture of the Land of the Rising Sun have long sparked a rich palette of artistry in art, fashion, furniture, and architecture. With the Citizen Tsuyosa Concept Collection, IFL Watches pays tribute to Japanese culture by creating four very distinctly Japanese dials for the Citizen Tsuyosa. The brand s popular watch is the perfect canvas for the artists at IFLW to honor Japanese culture with hand-painted dials based on images of four historically important Japanese cities. Let s find out more!It s no secret that Japan has long been praised for its craftsmanship. We see this in watchmaking, but it goes far beyond ...
On a recent trip to a series of massive dunes on Australia s east coast, I had to contend with what watch to take. In the end, I decided to take the IWC RAAF Pilot s Watch due to its ceramic construction.You see, ceramic cases offer several advantages over stainless steel. One of those is the fact that they don t heat up like stainless steel cases. In the baking heat of the dunes, this was a real advantage. There s nothing worse than the significant heat emanating from a steel watch on your wrist in the mid-summer sun.The Stockton dunes stretch for as far as the eye can seeLike being on Mars?The Stockton dunes, just north of the Australian city of Newcastle, form part of Stockton Beach. Stoc...
It s Sunday morning, and that means we have another Sunday Morning Showdown for you. We often get requests to put two classic watches against each other to find out what you think is better. This week, we opted for two great classics. One is the legendary Explorer ref. 1016. It will go up against the Submariner ref. 5512, which is just as - if not more - iconic. Which of these two is the Fratelli favorite? Get yourself a cup of coffee, and let s find out!Is there such a thing as a right or wrong choice between these two watches? There isn t one in our book. Both have become absolute classics that are much sought after by both experienced collectors and people looking for their first and ma...
On November 30th, Fratello published my first article about Breitling s pop-up museum in Zurich, which celebrates the brand s 140th anniversary. In that article, I covered three gems showcased at the museum under one of Breitlings three universes - Sea. Today, we will cover three essential pieces of Breitlings next universe - Air. Be sure to stick around for the last watch; it rises above anything horological (no pun intended!).The historical link with aviationHistorically, Breitling has put a heavy emphasis on Air since the 1930s, notably creating onboard instruments under the Huit Aviation line for pilots of the Allied forces. Fun fact: huit, meaning eight in French, stands for the power r...
We all love talking about GADA (go anywhere, do anything) watches. They represent an ideal for collecting and living - that one watch can handle all situations, just as we can. Along with this comes the notion of pairing down what we own and the goal of simplifying our daily lives. If we own just one watch, we get closer to that goal. Doing so has benefits, such as saving money and time and allowing us to be more adaptable to any situation. Or maybe we dont care about any of this. We might simply like owning a watch that we know can handle whatever we do.?Regardless of why we lean toward GADA watches, there are plenty to choose from, including options from long-established powerhouses of the...
When it comes to G-Shocks, I seek advice from the Wizard of G, our very own Gerard. Balazs is also a devoted fan of the rough-and-tumble digital watches that take a beating and ask for more. Me? I like the watches, but I m an analog and mechanical junkie. Still, when news of the forthcoming DW-5000R-1A Origin Revival reached me, I knew I had to get one. It recently arrived, and I m excited to share my thoughts.A shoulder injury ago, I was a frequent gym goer and enjoyed lifting weights. Nine times out of 10, a G-Shock was on my wrist. Years ago, I bought a lightweight JDM model in Tokyo with an ana-digi display and loved wearing it. Since then, I ve picked up a few G-Shocks and wear them inf...
As soon as the Hanhart 415 ES came out, I knew a hands-on experience with it would be a load of fun. The quirky design matched with a decent set of specifications would surely make for an enjoyable review.This is not the first time I ve reviewed a watch from this German watchmaker. Last year, I spent time with the more well-known 39mm Hanhart 417 ES 1954 Flyback Reverse Panda. Indeed, the 417 series contains probably the best-known models produced by the brand today.In 1954, Hanhart released the original version of this watch. The post-war West German Air Force needed wrist chronographs for navigation, and Hanhart was tasked with producing something to meet this need. Thus, the original Hanh...
Another Friday, another list! This week, we will explore the world of adventurer s watches. It s time to look at timepieces that are best suited to help you out in the great outdoors. Best suited can mean a variety of things. Some of the things that come to mind are functionality, comfort, and, of course, sturdiness. But you also want a watch to look good on the wrist, right? We selected five options that impressed us for different reasons. As always, this is just a small selection of the endless stream of possible options. Let s find out what five watches we picked to wear on our adventures.But before we jump into our list, I ll quickly note that we understand that smartwatches play a big p...
Welcome to Panerais latest release, the PAM01643 Radiomir 8 Giorni. This is not just any Radiomir 8 Giorni; oh no, this is the Eilean Experience edition. When Panerai says experience, you get an experience. In this case, you get to live the Sicilian life, complete with a cruise on the namesake 1936 yacht and an expedition up Mount Etna.It s almost enough to make you forget you actually bought a watch. So, lets have a quick first look at the 30-piece Panerai PAM01643 limited edition, and well get into the experience part at the end of this article.The Eilean and PaneraiIn case you are not up to speed on the whole Panerai-Eilean connection, let me refresh your memory. The Eilean is a 70-foot k...
The reinterpreted Grand Seiko Heritage Collection 62GS Sekki watches show bluer and greener dials than ever before. These 40mm watches also come in the brands Ever-Brilliant Steel for the first time. GS calls it a superalloy because it has a whiter sheen and greater corrosion resistance than conventional stainless steel. Both $8,000 watches also feature the automatic Hi-Beat 36000 9S85 caliber with a new hairspring and mainspring made of Grand Seiko s proprietary Spron alloy.The first self-winding Grand Seiko stems from 1967. The 62GS is a landmark in Japanese watchmaking history, not just because of the movement. The case, showing a mirrored, multi-sided design, a wide dial opening due to a...
With our long-lasting Thursday vintage column rebranded, it would be criminal not to look back closely at my 2024 watch-collecting moves. Here are some highlights: my obsession with vintage Gallet chronographs goes on (with room for impulse purchases still there), and I invested more in research, lost motivation to share on social media, and struggled to sell.I had to check my records this morning because I could not remember whether I had purchased any modern watches last year. Well, I was doubly surprised to find out that not only didn t I buy any modern watches in 2024, but I also didn t buy any in all of 2023! Since I bought my last modern watch in December 2022, my modern-watch fasting ...
It s been a little over a year and a half since Nivada Grenchen introduced the Antarctic Diver to us in May 2023. Since then, the Swiss brand has released many timepieces, including chronographs and watches with integrated bracelets. This, however, is the first time that a new model has been added to the Antarctic Diver collection. Today, the Nivada Antarctic Diver Green launches in two versions.Only 150 pieces will be available on the market, 75 with a date function and 75 without. Aside from the aperture at 6 o clock, the two models are identical. Let s examine the details.Antarctic Diver GreenThe Antarctic Diver came to the market on the 25th of May back in 2023. Just like now, two versio...
Good morning! I know it s a bit early, at least here in Europe, but Studio Underd0g and Fears are about to serve you a delicious cocktail with a fresh little kick. It s called The Gimlet, and it s a perfect combination of Studio Underd0g s playfulness and Fears s understated elegance. At the base is the classic Fears Brunswick 38, and it s mixed with a gradient lime green dial, a 1mm-thick sapphire disc, and black printing and hands. Beware, though, because this punchy combination is limited to 200 pieces and only available at the British Watchmakers Day on March 8th in London.Usually, when you order a gimlet at a cocktail bar, you get one part gin and one part lime juice. Indeed, that s qu...
Mike Horn is one of the greatest explorers of our time. Just going through a list of some of his biggest adventures gives you a pretty good idea of the seemingly limitless world that Horn lives in. His accomplishments are impressive if not stunning. During the last two decades, Panerai has been Horn s steady partner. They ve teamed up to raise environmental awareness, and the South African-born Swiss professional adventurer wears the brand s watches, of course. Their latest collaborative effort is the Panerai Submersible QuarantaQuattro PAM01676. This new model is the perfect watch for Horn s escapades. Let s find out more.If you are unaware of Mike Horn s exploits, let me give you an idea. ...
