The Ulysse Nardin Freak, with its open-worked dial and flying carousel movement, is one of the watch world s most recognizable timepieces. It has also become a popular platform for collaborations. The latest of these is the new Freak X Enamel Seddiqi featuring a titanium case and guilloche dial.Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, the leading luxury watch retailer in the Middle East, has partnered with Ulysse Nardin to create an attractive limited edition. The Freak X Enamel Seddiqi blends modern looks with traditional dial-finishing techniques. The color is also a refreshing twist for the Freak X.The Ulysse Nardin Freak X Enamel SeddiqiUlysse Nardin has chosen grey titanium for this new edition. We pr...

It s safe to say that 1969 was a strong year on all fronts, including for the watch industry. If the Moon landing is not enough, think of the first automatic chronograph conquering wrists or quartz watches waving their hands to them with a sneer of the coming revolution. That was the general context when Swiss designer Andre Le Marquand put pen to paper and started to design the Spaceman watch.As much as I like bizarre watches, I like the underdog stories. And that s what Le Marquand s Spaceman was. It was a hit-or-miss concept that the public would love or hate. The large oval case had a conical domed crystal half hidden by a colored metal visor - yes, just like a space helmet. If you wante...

Today marks the return of a very special watch from the 1970s, the Girard-Perregaux Casquette. After successful prior reissues, we now get a version in titanium with accents in yellow gold. I got a chance to go hands-on with it to see whats what.Girard-Perregaux will produce only 820 of these, which is a mere 10% of the 1976 originals production numbers. The new Casquette 2.0 costs CHF 4,750 and will be made available to current Girard-Perregaux owners first. If you own a GP watch, you can get priority access via the brands website until November 14th. The remaining watches will then go on sale in select boutiques for anyone to buy. It s worth keeping in mind that this may well be the last c...

Christopher Ward surprised friend and foe with the C1 Bel Canto in November 2022. It perfectly symbolized the brands talent for democratizing luxury watches. Today, one day before the model s second anniversary, CW introduces a new version. I have had the chance to try the new Christopher Ward C1 Bel Canto Classic. This is how we fared.The new Christopher Ward C1 Bel Canto Classic comes in four dial colors - gold, green, silver, and blue. You can choose between an Oyster-style bracelet and several leather straps. My review unit is the silver model on the bracelet. The watch costs $4,550 on leather and $4,885 on titanium.Christopher Ward C1 Bel CantoTodays updates are purely aesthetic, so the...

What better way to celebrate the dark day of Halloween than with some scary wristwear? I m not talking about electrified watches that ll zap you in the night, but it could mean some newfound color for your watch box. In fact, some Halloween watches are cool all year round.This year, I have found great examples, including usual suspects like Mr Jones Watches, full-lume casework, and embroidered grails. And if you re not a horror fan, why not try a delicious slice of pumpkin pie?Bell & Ross BR-X5 Blue LumFrom square flight-instrument purity to retro-touched field watches, Bell & Ross has made its mark. And after meeting big dog Carlos Rosillo in London a few weeks back, I get it. With ...

It s time for a confession: dress watches are generally not for me. This is due to my predominantly casual everyday style and a lack of formal events in my life for which a dress watch would be most appropriate. But that doesn t say anything about my passionate love for the genre. Dress watches show a versatility in design that I greatly adore. And as Oscar Wilde said so strikingly, I can resist everything except temptation. The brilliant Echo/Neutra Rivanera heavily tested my resistance this past week. Am I ready to give in? It s time to find out.Is it any surprise that it is an Italian brand that flaunts its elegant style to tempt the ever-so-rational part of my brain? I can t say it is. W...

The Tudor Pelagos FXD GMT Zulu Time has just become the latest addition to the brand s collection. This titanium GMT watch uses the Pelagos FXD as a base, adding a 24-hour bezel, 24-hour hand, and a new METAS-certified movement. The result is the brand s most accurate and adventure-ready watch to date. Speaking of dates, this new model is the first in the FXD family to feature one. Let s take a closer look. But before we do, let s recap the brief yet prolific history of the Tudor Pelagos FXD.Tudor introduced the original Pelagos FXD?model in November 2021. After a one-year hiatus, 2023 became the year of the Pelagos FXD. In late June, Tudor released the FXD Alinghi Red Bull Racing models and...

It has been the better part of a year since Partners Group and CVC Group - the owners of Breitling - announced their acquisition of Universal Geneve. Things may have been quiet on the outside, but rest assured plenty was going on behind closed doors. Now we are close to seeing the first fruits of that labor. It s not much longer before we get to see the first new watch.Gearing up to the relaunch, Universal Geneve launches its new branding and website today. It is all still quite secretive. In fact, I did not even get to preview the new website prior to writing this article. I did get to see some of the new branding and associated materials, which offer some insight as to where things might b...

How many Roger Dubuis Knights Of The Round Table collectors are there worldwide? There cant be many, but I suspect the exclusive club is pretty hardcore. Hardcore collectors are meticulous, so I guess they have all 10 KRT creations that have come out since 2013 in chronological order in their enormous watch cabinets in trophy rooms high up the large western towers of their centuries-old castles, each overlooking a valley permanently covered in thick mist. Is that a dragon I hear roaring? Anyway, the 11th KRT release is upon us, and to experience the complicated, exclusive, and collectible watch in person, I went on a quest to Geneva to come face to face with the Roger Dubuis Knights Of The R...

You re right; this isn t the recently introduced two-hand Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Monoface in its almost-true-to-1931 size. This is only the Reverso Tribute Monoface Small Seconds version that the brand added to its collection during last year s edition of Watches and Wonders in Geneva. However, it still feels quite new, especially next to its blue, red, and green predecessors. That makes it the first not-so-colorful version, and that certainly makes a big difference. Let s take a closer look at this modernized classic.The Jaeger-LeCoultre Grande Reverso Ultra Thin Tribute To 1931 from 2011 - Image: DavidSWBut first, some backgroundIn 2011, Jaeger-LeCoultre celebrated the Reverso s ...

The next chapter in the MoonSwatch collection shifts perspectives and brings something new to the table. Is it enough to get you excited?Swatch has just announced a new model within the highly successful MoonSwatch collection. Yes, it s yet another one, and yes, the line is highly successful. Even though the days of never-ending queues are over, the sales figures keep encouraging an expansion of this collection. And lets be honest before jumping into the comments: who wouldnt continue pushing a product that keeps selling?The MoonSwatch Mission to EarthphaseRefreshingly, this new model features a complication that we havent seen before - earth phases. Just as the name suggests, its essentiall...

The Sternglas Hamburg Automatik is one of the brand s most popular offerings. Now, in addition to silver, green, and blue dials, the model is available in Neugraphit, a dark gray tone. If you re concerned that it s another gray-and-white Bauhaus design, rest your fears because Sternglas has added bright colors to the mix.When considering what a Bauhaus-inspired timepiece should look like, I immediately imagine a round watch with a polished case, simple stick lugs, and a legible dial with clear, basic markings. Watches like the Junghans Max Bill are perfect examples. Sternglas has cut its teeth on making Bauhaus-inspired watches available to buyers at reasonable prices. The Hamburg Automatik ...

We published a written hands-on review on this rose gold Breguet Type XX a while ago, but we also created a video recap of the review. Click the thumbnail above to start the video.Breguet Type XX in rose goldBreguet s current Type XX and Type 20 models debuted in Paris in 2023 and created quite a buzz. The rose gold version we had here for review, on the other hand, was more of a silent introduction. Still, the new Type XX Chronographe 2067 in rose gold certainly isn t a silent watch. Indeed, it s a watch that will turn some heads. Blue and rose gold go together well, and it pops even more on the NATO strap (with gold hardware).Breguet Type XX ref. 1780 from 1955 - Image: BreguetIt s not a r...

Today, we ll briefly examine the new De Bethune DB28XP Steel Wheels Tourbillon, a thin titanium watch with a visible movement. Of course, it uses the brand s characteristic spring-loaded, floating lugs that hug the wrist. It s a lovely piece worth checking out!We spent time with De Bethune at Geneva Watch Days 2024 and saw several upcoming releases. One was the new DB28XP Steel Wheels Tourbillon, an immediately recognizable watch. It features the brand s signature case style and arrow-tipped bridge on the dial. Like most De Bethune watches, this is a limited edition. We may never see one in the wild, but it still deserves a closer look.The DB28XP Steel Wheels TourbillonThe latest De Bethune ...

Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air. This week, we tackle a listener question about pairing watches and straps with our clothing. Do we care or put a lot of thought into what watches we wear with our garb? Stick around to find out more. Watch content begins after approximately 20 minutes.This podcast player is blocked because you did not accept marketing cookies. Change cookie settings Halloween is upon us, which means starting the show off with another great joke to hear Balazs groan. Somehow, we get stuck on clothing brands, including J.Crew, which takes us to the main topic. Our faithful listener Saku from Finland is back again and asked if we purposely pair our watches...

I am a big fan of the Tudor Pelagos FXD Chrono Cycling Edition, but the Black Bay Chrono? Not so much. Neither the black and white versions nor the steel and gold model ever struck a chord with me. And the pink version? Well, once I saw it on a wrist in Geneva, it made me think of a chronograph with a similarly colored dial I like, the Zenith Chronomaster Sport Pink, so appreciated it, but it also wasnt love at first sight. You can imagine my skepticism, then, when the Tudor Black Bay Chrono Blue Boutique Edition was assigned to me.Since my colleague Nacho already introduced the Tudor Black Bay Chrono Blue Boutique Edition when it debuted not too long ago, I will forego the watch s technical...

Breitling just unveiled a bunch of new Avenger models. With a handful of new black ceramic Night Mission editions alongside new 46mm titanium and 42mm stainless steel Avenger chronographs, there is plenty to talk about. The Night Mission versions that stand out immediately are the 42mm chronographs with Sand and Turquoise colorways. And what do we think of a 46mm titanium Avenger Chronograph? With this expansion of the Avenger collection, we have a lot of ground to cover, so let s go over the new watches individually.If you are familiar with Breitling s catalog, you know that the Avenger is the brand s line of modern aviation watches. Specifically, they are made for fighter pilots, so the wa...

To put it mildly, Ebel is not the most active brand. But if the products are okay, that goes a long way. Ebel was a force to reckon with back in the 1980s and early 1990s. The brand was everywhere, from the wrists of the worlds best tennis players to those of kids who had just turned 18. I havent done any solid market research that leads to the following statement, so it s just my gut feeling, but I will make it anyhow: an Ebel was the watch to gift for 18th birthdays, graduations, and retirement. Why? It s because the brand had great advertising campaigns, the price was right, and the curvy looks were charming and easy to recognize. The 2024 Ebel Sport Classic is a blast from the past made ...

Watch brands are on a high-paced treadmill to constantly release new watches. In fact, most brands release several new models every single year. Why? To remain relevant is an often-heard explanation. Or it could be to provide a constant stimulus to drive sales. Could this be why most new watches receive lukewarm responses from the enthusiast community? Could there just be too many? Or is something else at play?Patek Philippe had not released a new collection for 25 years, although, admittedly, the brand launched plenty of watches in the meantime. Now the new Cubitus faces a, lets say, mixed reaction from the community, so much so that it has seen Pateks CEO lashing out, undoubtedly disappoin...

Admittedly, I ve never covered a watch from Moritz Grossmann. A couple of weeks ago, though, I received an email that caught my attention. The new Benu 37 Arabic Vintage may look simple, but there s plenty to uncover.The name Moritz Grossmann is steeped in history. In 1854, Grossmann established an atelier in Glashtte and began making some of the world s greatest timepieces. Before his death in 1885, he founded the German School of Watchmaking, which lived on under several names until 1992. Then, in 2008, Christine Hutter refounded the brand as Moritz Grossmann Uhren GmbH, and the first watch, the Benu, debuted in 2010. Today s 37 Arabic Vintage stems from that line.More background on Morit...