Last January, Swatch introduced the crowd-pleasing, all-black Scuba Fifty Fathoms Ocean of Storms. Just one month ago, in early December, the Blue Lagoon model made its debut. In 2025, Swatch is looking at life through rose-tinted glasses as it introduces this latest iteration in the SFF lineup. Meet the bright and bold Blancpain Swatch Scuba Fifty Fathoms Pink Ocean.We often ask ourselves, Will we see new MoonSwatch or Scuba Fifty Fathoms models? What will the folks at Swatch come up with next? And though the pace has certainly slowed down recently, you can t fault the brand for its lack of fear of trying new things. In January 2024, the FFS entered its emo phase with the blacked-out Ocea...

For its first release of 2025, Christopher Ward decided to give the Dune collection a facelift. The English brand is introducing new dials for the Dune Automatic models in stainless steel and bronze. Additionally, Christopher Ward adds its third Dune GMT model to the lineup. After the inaugural black-dial limited edition, last year saw the release of a sand-dial version, the first permanent Dune GMT. This year, Christopher Ward adds a blue-dial variant to the lineup. Let s take a look at the updated Christopher Ward C65 Dune Aeolian Collection.It is no secret that I have a soft spot for Christopher Ward s Dune line. The vintage-inspired field watches in it are great examples of affordable an...

In December 2024, we published a review of the IWC RAAF pilot s watch. This is a special timepiece that is only available to members of the Royal Australian Air Force (hence, RAAF). The overwhelming feedback I got through private messages as well as some of the comments on the article revealed a genuine frustration among IWC fans. This was specifically regarding the design language used in the modern Mark series of pilot s watches.Image: Watches of KnightsbridgeSome background on the IWC Mark seriesFor those who aren t familiar with the context, let me explain. IWC s Mark series of watches was born in the last embers of World War II. During that conflict, 12 manufacturers provided watches to...

Welcome back to Fratello Talks, folks! What s the best way to spend your hard-earned cash as a watch collector? Should you splurge on many or save for one special piece? One method satisfies curiosity and is fulfilling for some, but it can also leave you with your head spinning, a full watch box, and an empty wallet. The other limits you to fewer watches, but those can, in turn, be more expensive, rare, and special. This is the topic of discussion for today s podcast. Nacho is joined by Daan and Thomas, who provide their thoughts on the matter and share their experience. If this dilemma has ever haunted you, be sure to tune in; this one s for you. If you have strong feelings on the topic, vo...

If you ve never tried on a Gerald Charles watch, I suggest it. The shape is unconventional, but the fit is truly surprising. Now, to celebrate the brand s 25th anniversary, the Maestro 2.0 Ultra-Thin Lapis Lazuli is here with reduced dimensions all around to further improve the wearing experience.I ve probably mentioned it before, but the first time I tried on a watch from Gerald Charles, the experience surprised and delighted me. Vintage tank-style watches have become part of my normal rotation, but they re small and symmetrical. The Maestro 2.0 and the rest of the collection feature a uniquely shaped case originally penned by Gerald Genta. Different would be the best way to describe it, bu...

Although 2025 is only three weeks old, Ming isn t wasting time with the year s first release. The 37.09 Uni has a familiar shape but ushers in a different look for the brand s latest diver. Black-cased watches are increasingly popular, and today s watch capitalizes on that trend.Last May, Ming introduced the 37.09 Bluefin, the brand s second production dive watch. Compared to the original 18.01 H41 diver, the Bluefin brought a shift in design. A more modern design and two crowns versus one were just some of the differences. We saw the watch in person at Geneva Watch Days last August and were impressed with the consistently superlative finishing and design flourishes, including the in-house F...

Just about one year ago, Daniel Roth presented the finished Tourbillon Souscription watch in yellow gold. After announcing the return of the Daniel Roth brand in March 2023, the Tourbillon Souscription was the first project and a nod to the debut model (Tourbillon ref. C187) from Daniel Roths watch brand in 1989. Now, after releasing the Tourbillon Rose Gold last August, Daniel Roth returns with yet another release. Meet the Extra-Plat Souscription.Extra-Plat SouscriptionFittingly, this model is based on Roth s second watch, which was made one year after the introduction of the Tourbillon C.187. The Extra-Plat Souscription also has a new movement inside. It s caliber DR002, the second one fr...

In 2023, at Watches and Wonders Geneva, TAG Heuer proudly presented the new Carrera Chronograph Glassbox. We were immediately swept away by its 39mm size and the sexy curves on the edge of the dial. One year before, TAG Heuer released a limited-edition Monaco with a purple fume dial inspired by some very early Heuer Monaco references. Those watches had metallic blue paint on their brass dials and tended to patinate to a gradient fume purple. The two new Carrera Chronographs that TAG Heuer presented yesterday have that same smoky purple sunburst dial. One is the very popular 39mm Carrera Chronograph, and the other is a 42mm limited edition with a tourbillon.As we didn t go hands-on with the 2...

Ever since the Big Bang Meca-10 came out in 2016, the watch has stood out thanks to its 10-day caliber with a Meccano-inspired architecture. This year, though the 10-day power reserve isnt new, some other things are. The re-engineered Hublot Big Bang Meca-10 now measures 42mm in diameter and comes in three variations. You can choose between lustrous King Gold, technical titanium, and lightweight Frosted Carbon. Also, along with the new Big Bang Meca-10, the Big Bang Tourbillon Automatic Green SAXEM makes its way into the 2025 lineup.The lack of a dial has always been one of the main attractions of the Meca-10. Inspired by Meccano-type construction systems, the caliber is as intriguing as it ...

TAG Heuer and Porsche are well-known names in motorsport. In 2023, the two teamed up for a pair of special TAG Heuer Carrera models to celebrate the original Porsche 911. The Carrera Chronosprint Porsche now gets two more additions to the lineup. These watches celebrate the Porsche 911 s first rally success at the 1965 Monte Carlo Rally. The first is a regular stainless steel version, and the second is an 11-piece limited edition in yellow gold. Like the original stainless steel and rose gold versions from 2023, these two new ones pay tribute to the famous 0C100km/h sprint of the Porsche 911. Let s find out more.When TAG Heuer introduced the first Carrera Chronosprint Porsche, it brought...

Jump-hour watches are a fascinating branch within the world of horology. They often only show you the exact information you need when you look at your watch - the hours, the minutes, and sometimes the seconds. In 2009, Louis Vuitton, with the help of master watchmakers Michel Navas and Enrico Barbasini, introduced the Spin Time, an original take on the concept. Two numerals spin around each hour to hide the previous hour and reveal the current one. Over the years, the complication found a home in various Louis Vuitton watches. For LVMH Watch Week 2025, the brand introduces the new Tambour Taiko Spin Time Collection in six limited editions.This video is blocked because you did not accept mark...

Some watches are so perfectly on-brand that you have to look twice to see if theyre actually new. I had this experience with this Zenith Defy Skyline Chronograph Skeleton. Between the regular Defy Skyline Chronograph and several Defy Extreme and Defy skeleton versions, this looks comfortably familiar. Still, this watch is indeed new. So lets look closer at this addition to the Skyline collection.You can have your pick of a black-dial version or a blue-dial variant. Both come with a stainless steel bracelet and a fitted rubber strap. Zenith priced them at CHF 14,900 / US$15,500.Zenith Defy Skyline Chronograph Skeleton specsLets start with the basics. Under the hood, these two additions share ...

Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air. This week, we discuss our favorite divers from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. We also offer more affordable alternatives. Enjoy this lengthy episode! For our listeners, the watch content begins after 27 minutes.This podcast player is blocked because you did not accept marketing cookies. Change cookie settings We re receiving some great show ideas from our listeners. For example, today s show on our favorite divers from the 60s, 70s, and 80s came from our chat group. We aim to please with this discussion, and it s one of our longest recordings yet!HandgelenkskontrolleWe kick off our show with a lengthy chat about TV shows. The Penguin, Bad Sist...

One of the best elements of wearing watches is forging memories with them. Sometimes, though, those memories can be a bit traumatic and leave true battle scars on the watch! Today, I ll share how my Tudor Heritage Ranger survived a serious motorcycle accident and came away with some scars.When we think of watches showing their age, our minds probably go to something like the patina that develops on a dial or the scratches and marks on a metal bracelet. Sometimes when I handle a watch showing its age, I wonder what happened to cause some of those big dings, dents, and scratches.Vintage motorbikes: my pre-watch hobby?Before I became passionate about vintage watches and horology in general, I w...

Thirteen years after the introduction of the 43mm L.U.C Lunar One, a smaller, more refined update debuts this year in two variations. The rose or white gold case now measures 40.5mm across, and the redesigned Chopard L.U.C Lunar One comes with a blue or salmon dial. The name of the watch doesnt quite cover the complications it has. Apart from the expected moonphase indicator, the Lunar One is also a perpetual calendar watch with a large date, a 24-hour indicator, and small seconds.The world is most definitely getting smaller. The world of watches, I mean. A good example is the sizing down of the Chopard L.U.C Lunar One. The original 43mm version was impressive, but it also lacked finesse. It...

I bought the Tudor Black Bay 58 in blue as a present to myself for my 30th birthday. It s a significant watch for me and one that I have worn a great deal. So it felt like a natural choice to take it on a trip to Australia s Red Centre in the Northern Territory.This trip had me reflecting on the hobby and even my career in watch journalism more broadly. What would be my objectives in 2025? You see, when I started writing for Fratello, I had just gone through a stint of significant career changes. Fratello has been a steady constant in a period of significant personal and professional changes for me. Therefore, it seemed natural to reflect on my time writing for Fratello thus far, and what be...

Buying a pre-owned watch can be daunting at first, especially if you are new to the game. You read horror stories of fake watches or watches with incorrect parts. And you would not be the first to end up with a watch that is not functioning properly. For many, this is reason enough to buy nothing but brand-new watches from authorized dealers. But you may be cutting yourself short there. Buying pre-owned can be an attractive option for several reasons but only if you can do so with confidence. I aim to boost that confidence with a few practical pointers in this installment of Back to Basics.At Fratello, we have a broad reader base. Some of you are lifelong collectors, while others are just di...

Vacheron Constantin has recently taken the stage by reintroducing the stainless steel 222. This year, the world s oldest continuously operating watch brand is celebrating its 270th anniversary - one of the reasons it s part of the Holy Trinity - and started strong by giving us a recreation of its classic from 1977. Nearly five decades ago, a then-23-year-old watch designer named J?rg Hysek designed the original Vacheron Constantin 222. It featured the same JLC-based movement as the other two steel sports watches in the haute horlogerie segment, the Royal Oak 5402ST and Nautilus 3700/1A. However, the 222 was eventually replaced in 1996 with the Overseas collection.A 222 ad from 1977But then, ...

Who would have thought a quote from the current Albanian prime minister would be the header of a Fratello article? It was Edi Rama?(1964), who is not just a politician but also an artist and writer, who once said, Compromise in colors is gray. Too often, people make the safe choice of going for a black- or white-dialed watch. I get it. These two options are easy on the eye and easy to wear, but they re also very bland and gray. It seems fear is part of the decision-making process. Chromophobia is an irrational but intense fear of colors that some people suffer from. An extremely mild case of that phobia, chronochromophobia, might be blocking your way to discover a lively world of watches tha...

Watch collecting is a costly hobby. We spend inordinate sums of money to acquire these objects of our shared affection. Maybe you have to save up for your next watch. Perhaps you allow yourself to splurge for significant life events. We all have our methods and justifications. However, the expenses do not stop after acquiring your time-keeping apparatus-Today, I would like to explore the total cost of ownership of our beloved watches. To do so, I will take an imaginary four-watch collection that we plan to keep for life. Disclaimer: to keep it simple, I will use todays prices and completely ignore inflation.Our imaginary four-watch collectionLets start with identifying a potential four-watch...