Imagine yourself sitting or standing in a concert hall. The band or orchestra performs what clearly is the last song of the night. After the final note, though, the crowd goes wild and keeps clapping, hoping the concert won t end just yet. Finally, the performers decide to play one more song - the encore. Sometimes, that encore is premeditated, but other times, the musicians have to improvise a lot to please the overexcited crowd. The two watches we ll look at today feel a bit like their brands encores for 2024. You decide whether the Hublot Big Bang Tourbillon Carbon SR_A or the Zenith Defy Extreme Jungle is either the planned or improvised kind of encore.When you look at these two firewor...
What do you do when you, as the owner of a watch company, have a thing for square watches? That s correct: you create a square watch. That, in a nutshell, is the origin story behind the Patek Philippe Cubitus. The launch of the first all-new product line in 25 years was a significant moment not only in the brand s history but also for Thierry Stern, who is both the owner and director of Patek Philippe, one of Switzerlands four leading independent watch manufacturers. Lets examine why the Cubitus is what it is and what its meant to do.When Patek Philippe introduced the ref. 5711/1 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Nautilus in 2006, it was just another product launch. In a blue, under...
Straum s recent release of the Micro-Adjust Clasp for its bracelets is a godsend. It s the accessory I knew I needed but perhaps not quite how much. As a proud owner of a Jan Mayen Fratello Limited Edition, I was excited to see how this upgrade would enhance the watch s overall experience. Spoiler alert: it does not disappoint.Out of the box, the Micro-Adjust Clasp arrives in a small metal tin that fits snugly into the?Straum-branded accessory case included with all Jan Mayen watches. This thoughtful touch underscores Straum s attention to detail, and it s well appreciated. Installing the clasp on my Jan Mayen was straightforward thanks to the included pin-and-collar system and the bracelet ...
In this latest edition of Fratelli Stories, Fratello reader Dan speaks about the three most special watches in his extensive collection - a Citizen, Seiko, and Edox. These three watches help connect him to warm memories of his two grandfathers.One of the best elements of this hobby has to be the people. I don t know about you, Fratelli, but the social component of watch collecting/enthusiasm is what keeps me very much connected to it. Fratelli Stories was conceived to celebrate part of that spirit, and we always welcome comments and ideas for the next chapter in the series. This time, though, I got to sit down and talk to a long-term Fratello fan, who has been reading our articles for years....
We know you re probably reading this in your pajamas like you should on a Sunday morning. However, imagine you have an invitation to a more formal party during the coming Christmas holidays. Of course, you have to decide which watch you will wear. So, what if you had to choose between the Echo/Neutra Rivanera or the Serica 1174 Parade? These recent releases each provide a different take on where the design of modern dress watches is heading. But which one would you vote for?Indeed, these two watches are quite different from each other. The Parade s has a stainless steel case, while the Rivanera s case is bead-blasted titanium. The Parade also has a self-winding movement, whereas you ll need ...
I first saw the new Nivada F77 Black Ceramic during this year s Geneva Watch Days. It must have been one of the earliest prototypes, if not the first, and it took me a while to understand. Let me explain. A ceramic watch looks like a PVD/DLC-coated piece to the naked eye. That is until you pick it up. The unmistakable feel of ceramic hits differently from any coating I have seen in the industry. I needed to put my hands on a ceramic F77, so I asked nicely, and Nivada delivered.I ve been a fan of the F77 since its initial release. Yes, I know people like to compare it to iconic integrated-bracelet models from other brands, and that s fine. It s a bit of an outdated argument at this point, but...
Farer is one of the OGs of the microbrand universe. Founded in 2015, the brand prides itself on British design and Swiss production. Over the years, Farer found a style of its own and a clever position within the greater watch market, making it a household name today. This week, the brand announced a new limited edition in two versions - the Farer Endurance with your choice of Arabic or Eastern Arabic numerals.Farer will make 100 units of each version available with a price of $925 / US$1,045 / $1,085. Orders can be placed now, and deliveries are expected to commence on December 10th. With that out of the way, lets have a closer look!The Farer EnduranceFarer often finds inspiration in Britis...
Topper Fine Jewelers in Burlingame, California has created some truly memorable collaborative limited-edition watches. Brands like Zodiac, Seiko, and Fears have been featured on one or more of the 14 pieces thus far. The latest release is the Doxa Sub 300 Great White Topper Edition. It s a cool piece with enough differences from the serial-production models to matter.Indeed, Topper has released some attractive limited editions. Today s Doxa Sub 300 Great White, however, might be my favorite. It s a great-looking watch, but it s more than a dial variant. As we ll see, there is a notable mechanical change that should prove popular with collectors.The Doxa Sub 300 Great White Topper EditionThe ...
After proudly introducing you to our latest Czapek Fratello Promenade Transparencies Viridian Green edition, we are now thrilled to launch it in the Fratello Shop. This watch is our second collaboration with Czapek, and we couldn t be more excited thanks to the overwhelmingly positive feedback you all have given us already. The great news is that you can pre-order this limited edition in the Fratello Shop as of today, with only 50 pieces available.If you ve not had the chance to read the introductory article from earlier this week, now is the right time. The Czapek Fratello Promenade Transparencies Viridian Green is a watch with an interesting story. If you recall our first collaboration...
Another Friday, another Top 5! It s December, so we are rapidly approaching the year s end. Like every year, we will be looking back at some of our favorite watches. This first list is a summary of some of the surprising releases of the last 12 months. And by surprising, we don t just mean stellar surprises. It s a list of watches that evoked surprised reactions for various reasons. Don t worry; all will become clear once you start going through the list.About six months ago, we created a list of the most surprising watches of the first half of the year. You will find some familiar entries in this list if you read that article. In all fairness, though, the second half of 2024 had more surpri...
Stockholm-based Nezumi Studios has been in business since 2011 and making affordable, traditionally designed watches since 2015. The focus is on sporty pieces, such as divers, GMTs, chronographs, and field watches. Now a new variant enters the collection. The Tonnerre Monochrome chronograph, with its classic color scheme, is sure to be a hit.Nezumi s watches are hard to dislike. The designs are familiar yet fresh and use reliable Japanese movements. Also, all the pieces are assembled in Germany. Best of all, most models are available for around $500. For someone interested in a non-mainstream brand, these are solid options. Today, we get one more with the Tonnerre Monochrome chronograph.The ...
Last week, we organized an evening with Breitling at the brand s impressive boutique in our hometown of The Hague, Netherlands. We invited a fairly large group of Fratelli to look at the current Breitling collection. But Fred Mandelbaum, our special guest, was also there, and he brought part of his extensive vintage Breitling collection. So there was time to review the brand s history, but we also certainly touched on what Breitling is now and what its future will bring. Below, you ll find an impression of what the evening was like along with some pictures by our photographer Max.The Breitling boutique in The Hague is located on a prominent corner of the Hoogstraat, right in the city center....
Mhle Glashtte is known for its sporty and reliable timepieces. For 2024, the brand has big news with a brand-new line of watches. The Sportivo collection consists of three models made for sports, the office, and everywhere else. We ll provide a brief overview of each release.The Mhle Glashtte Sportivo line includes a chronograph, GMT, and compass date. As we ll see, all these watches have rotating external bezels, screw-down crowns, and a 300m water resistance rating. The pieces share a 42.5mm stainless steel case design and rely on Sellita automatic movements. Additionally, the watches come on a canvas and rubber strap that uses 100% recycled PET bottles. Oyster-style bracelets with fol...
When the Spinnaker Croft 42 Skeleton Automatic landed on my desk, it instantly reminded me of two watches. The first was the skeletonized Rado Captain Cook in all its various guises. In all fairness, that s not a bad visual reference. The second one was a little closer to home, though. In the 1990s, my brother owned a Swatch Irony Automatic Diaphane Skeleton, which I loved. While the Spinnaker is inherently different as it is a stainless steel dive watch, it still made me smile as it reminded me of a great memory from more than two decades ago. But could the Croft 42 Skeleton Automatic stand on its own? Let s find out!Spinnaker is a brand with an extensive collection of dive and aquatic-them...
Have we left the Bronze Age behind us and entered the Stone Age? It seems 2024 has been the year of stone dials. That doesn t mean bronze watches have disappeared, but what once seemed like a rushing stream of new bronze timepieces has died down quite a bit. Still, we have seen some great additions to the bronze-watch universe, and the last one for Baltic was 2023 s Aquascaphe Bronze Marron. It made perfect sense as the Aquascaphe is the brand s dive watch, and bronze has a long history in diving equipment. But how about a bronze field watch? It s time to find out with Baltic Hermetique Tourer Bronze.I must confess that I have a love/hate relationship with bronze as a watchmaking material. I...
TAG Heuer has partnered with Oracle Red Bull racing since 2017, and there have been seven watches commemorating their alliance. Now, to celebrate the team s 20th anniversary, a new Formula 1 Chronograph joins the collection. As expected, this watch blends the team colors and a highly technical look to create a sporty timepiece.The Oracle Red Bull team marks its 20th anniversary. Looking back, the venture has won eight drivers championships and six constructors titles. Alongside Mercedes, this is the most storied team of the past two decades. Fittingly, a new limited-edition TAG Heuer chronograph is here, so let s take a brief look.The TAG Heuer Formula 1 Chronograph Oracle Red Bull Racin...
Less than a month ago, Omega introduced two new Seamaster Diver 300M versions. Those instantly grabbed the number-one spot in my imaginary favorite modern Seamaster ranking by taking the watch s current design and toning it down. On the off chance that you might consider those two a bit bland, Omega is back with something much fancier. Meet the new Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Titanium Bronze Gold.This new Omega Seamaster comes on your choice of a titanium mesh bracelet (CHF 9,400 / US$10,700 / $11,900) or a green rubber strap (CHF 8,700 / US$9,900 / $11,000). Lets have a closer look!The same but differentThis new model is extremely similar to the two watches released in November. You get the ...
The trend of rereleasing vintage digital watches continues with the new Hamilton PSR 74. During the past several years, Casio, Girard-Perregaux, and Hamilton have led the charge with faithful yet modern renditions of their 70s digital creations. These watches blend simple displays with retro-futuristic cases and bracelets. The new PSR follows this form but adds wearability.In 2020, Hamilton recalled its digital history with the PSR. This watch was inspired by the legendary Pulsar from 1970. Roger Moore wore a similar model, the P2 2900, in the 1973 James Bond film Live and Let Die. It was a big deal! Since 2020, Hamilton has introduced several colorways for the 40.8mm by 34.7mm watch. Now a...
This week on Fratello Talks, we re talking all things Breitling with author, collector, and brand historian Fred Mandelbaum. Nacho and RJ join Herr Mandelbaum in a conversation that starts in the early 20th century with some of Breitling s earliest wrist-worn chronographs and spans the brand s development to the present day. We touch upon the evolution that led to some of Breitlings most recognizable collections, most of which are still around today, from the dressy post-war Premier to the flagship Navitimer and many others. We re sure you ll enjoy this extended and insightful episode, so be sure to tune in. Before we get into it, let s see what s on the wrist today.This video is blocked bec...
Our Fratelli Stories series shares some of the wonderful and interesting backstories of our readers around the world. Today, we speak with Robert Eames, who is an enthusiast for all sorts of watches and has a fascinating backstory. One vintage Seiko has particular resonance with him.Fratello reader Robert Eames wrote in after a story we published on the Seiko 5 that I took with me to Asia. Thanks to Rob for sharing some details of his lifelong passion for Seiko watches.Rob is a humble guy but someone who has had an incredibly fascinating life. This includes working on naval vessels retrieving the NASA Columbia mission rocket boosters, which sounds like a super cool job! I spoke with Rob, and...
