Let me give you a little look behind the scenes at Fratello. Usually, we have watches in the office for a relatively short time. That can be from a few days to a couple of weeks. But rarely do we have the chance to try out a watch for a longer period. I had that chance with the Nodus Contrail GMT Terra. The friendly people of the brand let me wear the watch over several months. This allowed me to determine what makes the Contrail GMT the best travel watch under $1,000. Let me explain why!Back in May of this year, I wrote about the new third generation of the Nodus Contrail. In the article, I explained that this new generation introduces several welcome updates. It has made the popular series...

It s Sunday morning, so it s time for your weekly dose of early-morning caffeine! Pour yourself a hot cup of coffee, grab a seat, and let s get going. This week, Jorg and Mike return to the battlefield with another interesting duo of contenders. We read your comments, dear Fratelli! Today s matchup is a much-requested battle that will finally become a reality. It puts the Explorer II ref. 226570 up against the recently released Tudor Pelagos FXD GMT. Can the new Tudor beat its bigger brother? After our writers make their cases, it s over to you to vote for your favorite!Today s battle is a classic matchup of and Tudor. We have seen quite a few of these in our Sunday Morning Showdown series...

Today, I have another funky design from the Behrens team. I ve reviewed several of the brand s watches over the last few years. The Chinese brand always finds a way to impress me with interesting takes on time-telling while offering its watches at very reasonable prices. The Behrens Apolar Producer Michael Limited Edition watch is an interesting fusion of avant-garde design and signature Behrens looks, born from a collaboration with Producer Michael.I often assume that most watch enthusiasts know of Behrens, but since it is a relatively young brand in the Western market, let s have a quick recap. Established in 2012 by Mr. Lin Bingqiang, Behrens has carved a niche in the watch industry throu...

The year is quickly coming to a close, so it s time for some retrospective action! I have the honor of opening a new series of Fratello Favorites - the best watches of 2024! These watches made the biggest impression on me. Are they objectively the best? Of course not. Instead, these are watches that I found interesting, inspiring, or simply remarkably well done.I feel 2024 was a transition year for the watch world. The market was tough, and fashion was changing rapidly. It seems big sports watches are making way for smaller, shaped, design-heavy watches. For me, this year marked the launch of my fledgling watch company, so you probably know what is my absolute favorite of the year. I will le...

Another Friday, another Top 5! This week, we continue our series of best-of-the-year lists as we cover the best watches from high-end independent brands in 2024. Expect to see an exotic group spanning a nice variety of designs and complications. Of course, five watches do not do justice to the many ones we could have picked for this list. But after some lengthy deliberation, these are the five watches that are our favorites for 2024!A legitimate question this time is whether you can truly create a list of just five watches that came out in 2024. My answer would be a definite no. This year has been great in terms of fantastic releases, so any list that you see in the next few weeks will be to...

Roughly six months ago, I penned my first article on a Venezianico watch. It was impressive considering I hadn t heard of the brand. Since then, I ve covered several of the company s watches from a distance. I finally met the team and saw the watches in person at the WatchPro Salon 2024. Among the pieces we saw were the Arsenale Ultrablack and the blue model with C?tes de Geneve finishing.It s often the case that seeing a watch in the metal is disappointing. All new timepieces look nice and shiny, but the details frequently suffer. A month ago, I had the chance to see all the Venezianico pieces from the Arsenale collection, including the unreleased Ultrablack. Folks, this might sound like hy...

Among all watches, the Cartier Santos de Cartier is my muse. My Santos Galbee XL is my favorite watch in my collection, so I m always curious to see what new variations will debut among the novelties at Watches and Wonders. This year was particularly exciting because Cartier announced the new Santos de Cartier Dual Time (or Santos Dual Time for short). I quickly called it one of my favorite releases from Watches and Wonders this year even though I hadn t seen it in person yet. Let s see how it holds up after a quick hands-on.In that Fratello Favorites article, I already mentioned that its bigger size might be an issue for my 17cm wrist. Today, we ll find out if that is indeed an issue. But f...

During last month s WatchPro Salon 2024 in London, we met with Horage and saw several pieces from the brand s upcoming Omnium K2 collection. Due to a faceted crystal, these watches are a notably different take on a dress watch. I came away impressed with the creative approach.Horage has been in business for 15 years, but the company has increased its profile during the past few. Watches like the Lensman and Microreg have received praise for innovation and affordability. The new Omnium K2 is less audacious than those releases, but it still presents a unique take on an increasingly popular genre, the dress watch.The Horage Omnium K2 collectionThe latest Horage watches arrive in 37.3mm cases cr...

Earlier this year, I wrote about a special watch from the International Watch Company Schaffhausen. That was the IWC reference IW3281-02, also known as the Pilot s Watch Automatic RAAF (henceforth called IWC RAAF watch for brevity). This special timepiece pays homage to the original IWC Mark 11 watches issued to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). I ve just spent several weeks with one and decided to share my thoughts.The IWC RAAF watch is a timepiece that most of us cannot buy. To be eligible to purchase this particular watch, you need to be a current or former member of the Royal Australian Air Force. Recently, thanks to a friend in the RAAF, I have been lucky enough to spend a consider...

Yes, you read that correctly. I think the new Omega Seamaster Diver 300M, with its steel dial, titanium bezel, and mesh bracelet, is wrong. Allow me to explain myself. Historically, combining the 1990s case design with a mesh bracelet that originated a couple of decades before that doesn t make sense. As a dive watch, it also shows some considerable flaws. Normally, the hairs on the back of my neck react very strongly when watch brands mix and match eras in a watch while also disrespecting certain functional rules. Still, the disrespectful Seamaster Diver 300M ref. 210.30.42.20.06.002 strikes a chord with me, and it s as dissonantly pleasing as the once-forbidden Devils tritone, aka the dimi...

Hi there, and welcome to?Fratello Talks. Would you rather buy a watch from a microbrand or an entry-level legacy brand? That s the question Nacho, Thomas, and Lex ask themselves today. As we ve begun to see microbrands develop and offer better quality and undeniable value while entry-level big-name brands stand relatively still, this has certainly become a valid thing to ponder. But do specs and value always trump a household name? And what about the difference in post-sales support? A legacy brand promises to be able to service a watch 20 years down the line. But can a micro/independent deliver on that promise? Clearly, there are many factors to consider, so tune in, listen to what we have ...

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 watchs 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, lets go back to basics. Urwerk launched the origina...

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 is. It s time to f...

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 a 501C750cc ...

Seven months have passed since Oak & Oscar released its Atwood hand-wound chronograph. However, it seems that founder Chase Fancher and the team were already plotting the next model, the Humboldt GMT SAR Edition. To be fair, this is a limited offering designed with a search and rescue team in mind. However, it deserves attention due to its new case material and story.The guys at Oak & Oscar are avid outdoorsmen and spend time at Minnesotas Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA). This protected area consists of over 1,000,000 acres of woodlands, lakes, and streams used by visitors. A volunteer group, the St. Louis County Rescue Squad, provides invaluable assistance to those in need within ...

Its here! The Speedmaster Pilot Flight Qualified debuted as a pilot-only watch a few months ago, but Omega decided to make a slightly different version available for people like you (assuming you arent a US military pilot) and me.Originally for US military pilotsAt the end of September, we showed you the US military version of the Omega Speedmaster Pilot Flight Qualified, based on leaked internal documentation and some pictures posted by US military pilots on the Omega Forums.And now, just before 2024 ends, Omega introduces the Speedmaster Pilot Flight Qualified that will be available in stores.2024 is a Speedmaster yearOmega has been serving Speedmaster fans well this year, first with the u...

Welcome to another edition of Fratello On Air! This week, we re back with a lengthy episode to see you through holiday travels or unruly guests. We received a listener suggestion to discuss our favorite watches from the 90s and 00s. We ve added the 10s to the mix as a bonus. Wait 20 minutes for the watch content!This podcast player is blocked because you did not accept marketing cookies. Change cookie settings One of our favorite listeners, Richard, suggested today s subject. Our favorite watches from three different decades inspired our lengthiest episode to date. We hope you enjoy it and the special surprises along the way.HandgelenkskontrolleWe kick off our episode discussing Japan...

Whenever I read the word icefall, my mind wanders to climbing Mount Everest. To reach the top of the world on the Nepal side of the mountain, you must pass the Khumbu Icefall early on to reach Camp 1. It s a notoriously dangerous start to your journey to the summit. This is part of the greater fascination with the world of climbing that I have had for the last decade. Alas, despite the great connotation of the word, the Khumbu Icefall is not the inspiration for the stunning blue dial of the Grand Seiko SBGH349. But it also doesn t hurt because it makes me even fonder of the stunningly executed dial. And if you think this dial looks familiar, you are not wrong. Let s find out more!This past S...

Some of you might already be familiar with Wren Watches. The New York-based passion project is the brainchild of Wrist Enthusiast founder Craig Karger. A lawyer by trade and watch enthusiast by heart, he started with a Wrist Enthusiast Instagram account that quickly amassed a loyal following. After expanding Wrist Enthusiast onto multiple platforms, the next step was a watch brand. Wren Watches started in 2023 as a creative outlet for Karger, using his experience in the world of watches as input for creating timepieces of his own. His first effort was the Wren Diver One, a vintage-inspired diver. After the inaugural Diver One Aqua sold out quickly, we had a chance to go hands-on with the fol...

Last month, the IWC Portugieser Eternal Calendar won the famed Aiguille d Or Grand Prix at 2024 s GPHG. Because of its innovative complication, it s a watch worth revisiting. However, you can also visit this timepiece in person at the new Amsterdam IWC boutique.We briefly looked at the IWC Portugieser Eternal Calendar after it debuted at Watches and Wonders 2024. The watch impressed us with its stunning complications and design. Clearly, it impressed this year s GPHG voters as well because it took home the grand prize. Let s review this stunning timepiece once again and share how you can witness its spectacular construction and functionality in the metal.The IWC Portugieser Eternal CalendarT...