We have continued to add more items to our Black Friday selection in our shop. You can find everything from caps to straps, pocket knives, and, of course, watches! We re offering a discount of up to 30% on certain products.Artem NATO strapMore Black Friday deals on Fratello: Pouches & StrapsYou will find several more straps, watch-storage solutions, and travel accessories from REM, Artem, and Artelier Romane, as well as our Tropic Rubber straps with special discounts.Honey racing strapSpeedy Tuesday Cap White & Black (as modeled by Terai)Flightmaster Only bookSix-Watch Roll by Atelier RomaneAnd many more…We have added over 60 items to our Black Friday deals, and the sale runs f...

I will be highly opinionated today, and I am ready to take a few punches if you disagree with me. No matter how simple a Cartier design is, it s heavy. Heavy for self-esteem, that is. There are exceptions, but generally speaking, I don t see Cartier as a door-opening brand for watch collecting, whether modern or vintage. Today, we re looking at Cartier Vermeil Trinity models.To fully understand Cartier, you must grow into it. And I don t mean growing your bank account because there are sweet $1,000 Cartier deals you can land. I was thinking more of growing a few more wrinkles on your forehead. Judging purely from personal experience, I believe it s inevitable to have dozens of wrist affairs ...

The all-new Ressence Type 9 is a sleek creation in either warm gray or a fresh shade of aqua blue. Its pebble-like titanium case measures 39mm wide, making it the smallest Ressence timepiece ever. The watch is a slimmed-down and refined version of the Type 8 and shows only the hours and minutes. Its not exactly a classic dress watch with just two hands, but you could see it as a contemporary equivalent of it.When Ressence introduced the Type 8 in 2022, it was the brand s most minimalist watch. It was (and still is) crafted from Grade 5 titanium with a case spanning 42.9mm in diameter. The Type 9 is nearly 4mm smaller. However, the thickness, at 11mm, is the same. Both watches also only show ...

Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air! We re a little later this week than usual because we decided to record this episode in person in London. We discuss several topics but end with a brief holiday gift guide. Our watch content starts after approximately 20 minutes.This podcast player is blocked because you did not accept marketing cookies. Change cookie settings It s holiday gift guide season and the last Time4APint of the year in London. Balazs has made the journey into the Big Smoke, and we ve decided to record in his hotel. We exchanged some gifts before the episode, are ready for the night s festivities, and have holiday gift guide suggestions.HandgelenkskontrolleThis week ...

Are you having trouble warming up to the holiday spirit? Say no more; I know exactly what you mean. The key to enjoying it - mind you, this is my approach to all the days surrounding Xmas, so its by no means a solution for everyone - is to not take everything too seriously. And that includes family members and friends who take the festive season seriously. Just take it easy, smile, and laugh about everything going on. Wearing something fun on the wrist could help you keep a smile during the festivities. You could keep your spirits up by trying one of 14 new Swatch watches ranging from tongue-in-cheek chic to outrageously colorful.Mind you, the 14 new Swatch watches are not designed for thera...

This year, designer Matthieu Allegre and Depancel founder Clement Meynier brought back the Amida Digitrend. Its ultra- 70s makes heads turn, and with updated technology inside, it s now more reliable than ever. The Digitrend Take-Off Edition sold out in a flash, so now it s time to introduce you to the watches that will join the brand s permanent collection. First, there is, of course, the original steel edition. But to make an even bolder statement, you can now choose between a new black DLC edition and a 4N gold PVD-coated one.If you d like to know more about the Amida Digitrend s history, check out Balazs s articles. He shared his experience with an original Digitrend from the 70s here a...

I like a headline that gets straight to the point, and I think I nailed it with this one - no clickbait in sight. As is made exceedingly apparent, Delugs recently introduced four new patterns to its straight-end CTS (Cut-To-Size) rubber straps - Pilot, Mosaic, Waffle, and Tropic. Ken sent me one of each of the new patterned FKM rubber straps to test out. These straps immediately stood out for their thoughtful patterns, adding quite different personalities to the line. Each one brought a fresh aesthetic to the watches I paired them with, and I had a blast experimenting with them.All four straps are crafted from soft and flexible FKM rubber, so no break-in period is required. From the first we...

Now here is something special! A space-flown Omega Speedmaster Professional 3570.50 and the EVA (Extra-Vehicular Activity) glove it was worn over in space will be up for auction on December 3rd at Koller Auctions in Zurich, Switzerland.Cosmonaut Padalka s space-flown Omega Speedmaster and EVA gloveThis watch was on the wrist of cosmonaut Gennady Padalka (born 1958) during the International Space Station Expedition missions 43 and 44 in 2015. He spent over 168 days in space with this watch. He also wore this Orlan EVA glove and Omega Speedmaster Professional for over 5.5 hours outside the ISS during his spacewalk in August 2015.The Orlan glove is designed for cosmonauts embarking on extravehi...

Recent auctions in Geneva concluded with a relative bang. Eye-watering results occurred for some truly rare pieces. For many watches, though, the sales were solid but not awe-inspiring. I ll kick off today s article with my thoughts on the market, and then we ll look at several lots.My colleague Lex recently penned an article about the current sales slump the global watch market is facing. In particular, he means the market for new watches. The trading floor selling rare pre-owned and vintage watches, however, is slightly busier. Recent auctions show that there s vibrant interest in truly rare and special pieces, but there s still a different feeling in my view.Image: PhillipsA quieter roarD...

Breguet introduced the Tradition Chronographe Independant 7077 back in 2015. The watch displayed awe-inspiring watchmaking inventiveness. How about two balance wheels, two gear trains, an arc-shaped minute totalizer, a power reserve indicator, and a mesmerizing open-worked look on both the front and back? What more could you ask for?Well, if I put on my critical hat, I could ask for better legibility. The reflective silver sub-dial displaying the time can almost disappear in certain lights. Also, its surroundings are so busy that the eye does not naturally gravitate towards the hour and minute hand. I know, I know…we are well and truly in first-world-problem territory here. Regardless,...

During one of the last years at Basel, we met the folks from Yema at a nearby hotel. They showed us fantastic and faithful reissues from the brand s heyday of the 1960s and 70s. Since then, a lot has changed as there s now the Yema Manufacture Morteau where three calibers are produced. Let s look at what happens in this idyllic French town.I ve been surprised by Yema s ascendancy in the small, affordable independent category. Like clockwork, the company releases new models every few months. Best of all, there s been a nice blend of pure reissues and new designs. What I didn t see coming was the Yema Manufacture Morteau. After all, the most revered vintage pieces used third-party movements. ...

The thrill of the chase is often greater than that of the catch. It s a simple cliche yet one that likely resonates with most watch collectors and enthusiasts. We ve all been there, spending our evenings scrolling through listings of a very specific or purposefully ambiguous search, hoping to strike gold. As a result of these deep dives, we likely all have an ever-expanding list of favorites in each of the apps we use in our neverending hunt. In the Fratello Watch List series, we give you a peek at some of those watches. Today, I ll be sharing with you some of my pre-owned and vintage favorites. These are the watches that I m patiently taking aim at while biding my time, holding my breath, a...

Theres no escaping luxury. Luxury is everywhere you look. Luxury is the norm. So why is the luxury market as a whole in a slump? Is it the economic situation worldwide? Luxury brands have used the slowdown in China to explain why sales are down, and the results are disappointing. But there might be more at hand. According to Frederic Grangie, head of Chanels watch and jewelry division, the luxury industry will face a complicated few years because of a trivialization of the product. Luxury is no longer unique and exclusive, and that includes high-end watches. Are we suffering from a bad case of luxury fatigue? And if so, whats the cure?Frederic Grangie told Swiss newspaper?Le Temps, and his w...

The holiday season is upon us, dear Fratelli, and what better time to spoil the watch enthusiast in your life? It has become a long-running tradition for the team to come together and bring you some of our favorite gift ideas for watch enthusiasts every holiday season, and 2024 is no different. Whether they re seasoned collectors or budding watch aficionados, there s likely a gift in our guide that they d be thrilled to receive.Fratello Holiday Gift Guide 2024 - The best gift ideas for watch enthusiastsWhile watches often top the wish lists, a range of watch-adjacent accessories and other interesting gifts can elevate the horological experience. We ve curated a selection of thoughtful gifts ...

Today, we ll go hands-on with the new Piaget Polo Skeleton Ceramic. This is a modern-looking take on the brand s entry into the sports-dress category. As we ll see, the lack of an integrated bracelet and textured dial helps provide this watch with an identity of its own.The current Piaget Polo lineup features many models, including three-handers, chronographs, perpetual calendars, and more. With the new Polo Skeleton Ceramic, there s now a version that blends modern materials with an open-worked movement. All of this comes together in a sharp design that pairs just as well with sportswear as more formal wear.The Piaget Polo Skeleton CeramicThe standard stainless steel Polo is a good-looking ...

The Ebel 1911 Globe you see here is one of the most divisive watches we ve had in the office lately. Only Robert-Jan and I like this glorious piece of late-1980s design brilliance, so it won t surprise you that I volunteered to review the watch. Besides the fact that I like the flashy presence, it awakens vivid childhood memories from the 90s with a little sprinkle of Miami-themed bliss. As you will understand, this watch is not just a stylish piece of horology to me but also a storyteller that had me wandering off to my younger days.As a watch writer, I typically follow a certain framework when reviewing a watch. It starts with the backstory, and then I ll go into the specs and details of ...

Seven years ago, Breguet introduced the flagship model of its Marine collection, the Tourbillon Equation Marchante 5887. Two versions debuted in 2017 - one in 18K rose gold with a silver dial and the other in platinum with a blue dial. In 2020, another rose gold version joined the Marine collection, this time, with a brown dial. My colleague Jorg wrote an in-depth review of that watch.Breguet Marine Tourbillon Equation Marchante 5887 in platinumToday, Breguet introduces another variant of the Marine Tourbillon Equation Marchante 5887. Its the second version of the watch with a platinum case, but this one has a black hand-guilloche dial with a wave pattern. This dial gives the watch a timeles...

The new Ulysse Nardin Diver Net Vendee Globe celebrates one of the most taxing sailing races. It s also the most sustainable watch yet from the Swiss brand. Let s take a closer look at this sporty and colorful diver.Ulysse Nardin is no stranger to supporting lengthy, challenging races. The Gumball 3000 comes to mind in the automotive world, but the company is also involved with sailing. The Diver Net Vendee Globe is made to support a race with the same name and marks the second time the company has supported the event. The demanding Vendee Globe happens every four years and is a global sailing race featuring boats with solo crews. The participants will cover more than 25,000 kilometers over ...

Lets start with a quote from the introduction article I wrote on the Nomos Tangente 2date. Here goes: - if you wear this new Tangente on a first date, the chances you will land a second date are practically zero if the other person is into watches and a frequent contributor to the ‘date or no date debate online. Well, I was wrong because I went on a second date with the Tangente 2date. Why? Well, everybody deserves a second chance, and that includes watches. This is what happened.Hi, how are you? Glad you agreed to meet me again. I might have been a bit harsh the first time we met, but I just had a lot on my mind. Busy at work, lots to think about. You know how it goes; everyday life?...

Many, if not most, watch enthusiasts want the best value for money when buying a new timepiece. And its normal to want a good deal whether youre buying a car, a house, or flight tickets for your summer vacation. After all, we work hard to earn our money and want to spend it wisely. We want to get our money s worth out of whatever were buying, watches included. So, of course, when it comes to watches, it is normal to want good specs and nice designs - the more original, the better. The ideal situation is to have as much of both as we can for as little money as possible (though the latter mostly remains subjective).Well, Ive got some good news for you! Today, were going to take a look at a wat...