Working for a watch media title means that we get to wear many different watches during the year, from very affordable watches to high-end watches with ditto prices. However, just like you, we also own watch(es) that we wear when we don t have a loaner for review. In this video, most members of the Fratello team show the watches they have worn the most in 2025.This video is blocked because you did not accept marketing cookies. Change cookie settings Nacho, Robert-Jan, Thomas, Max, Daan, Jorg, Lex, Balazs, Henry, Ben, Michael, Tomas, and Gerard are featured in the video showing their most worn watches. Together with the rest of the team, we all wish you a merry Christmas! You can watch t...

ISOfrane straps have a special place in diving history. As a 1960s creation, the original model became a fixture for divers due to its flexibility, durability, and comfort. Today, modern versions of the straps are used both for their original purpose and as everyday accompaniments. Until now, though, only one design was available. Today, we take a look at the new ISOfrane VS 1969, a strap with a history of its own.If you re not familiar with Rick Marei, he s the force behind the modern ISOfrane and Tropic straps. In addition to these accessory brands, he also owns Synchron and Aquadive. Finally, he leads Aquastar. Yes, the guy loves the history of dive watches, and we thoroughly enjoy everyt...

It s hard to believe that we re already looking back on the best watches of 2025. This year flew by! Still, there were a lot of releases, and, frankly, some were great. I stepped back from purchasing vintage watches this year and focused more on new pieces. The reason was clear: modern pieces made an impact on me this year because of their wearability. Let s see some of my favorites.Yes, that s right; I enjoyed seeing the latest wares from both large and small brands in 2025. Thinner cases and reasonable diameters were the highlights for me. Plus, while prices didn t abate, I felt that many companies, especially the smaller independents, focused on offering more value than before. Shall we t...

The big trend is small. And thin. Well, those two words perfectly describe the new 36.5mm Vacheron Constantin Traditionelle Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin. Not only is the diameter a size S, but it also has an 8.43mm case thickness, making it worthy of the Ultra-Thin moniker. The pink gold version is the most modern of the two. In white gold, this complicated watch with a lot of watchmaking history up its sleeve is remarkably restrained. Both are, to quote the late, great Robert Palmer, simply irresistible.Full disclosure: Vacheron Constantin released not only the Traditionelle Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin in white gold (ref. 4300T/000G-H106) and pink gold (ref. 4300T/000R-H107) but also a w...

Put your 34mm 1960s-inspired dress watch aside for a moment. Turn your watch-snobbery hat backwards for a second. Swap your tortoise-shell glasses for colored lenses for a night. Are you ready for a bit of a party as we approach the years end? Yes? All right, lets dive into the new Hublot Big Bang Meca-10 Street Art editions, then!Hublot threw a big party in Miami to mark the end of its Big Bang anniversary year. No jazz trios, smoking jackets, or caviar here. Hublot leaves all of that to other brands. When Hublot throws a party, you get a performance by none other than 50 Cent and attendance from a wide range of stars from the entertainment industry. Do we care? Not really. However, the bra...

There are watchmakers, and then there are people like David Lowinger, who seem to operate in a world of their own. I honestly cannot remember exactly when we started speaking. It was some time, a good few years ago, after I stumbled across his work on Instagram and reached out. What began as a casual exchange turned into one of those ongoing conversations that surface every couple of months, usually sparked by something new he has been sketching or prototyping on his bench. Lowinger is not loud about what he does. He posts only a fraction of his work online. Much of his creativity lives in the background, tucked away in folders, trays, and CAD files that most people never see.This year, I fi...

Do you prefer mono or stereo? And what about quadraphonic or surround sound? I suspect most of you will answer these questions with anything but mono. But mono is the trend when it comes to retail in the world of watches. Monobrand watch boutiques are on a continuous rise. As a watch fan, you, more often than before, have to travel to different worlds to experience watches from various brands. The experience of comparing similar watches from different brands side by side is under pressure. Brands want you to stay in their bubble and forget about the outside world. How do you feel about that?Two years ago, I wrote about the rise of monobrand watch boutiques after observing the changes in Amst...

It s Sunday morning, which means it s time for a nice cup of coffee and an early morning watch battle. But as this is the last Sunday before Christmas, this will be the last Sunday Morning Showdown of the year. Next week, Jorg will look back at some of the most remarkable showdowns of 2025 to see which watches were gloriously triumphant and which ones bit the dust. Before that, though, we have one last battle to go. In today s matchup, the Tudor Black Bay Pro goes up against the Nomos Club Sport Neomatik Worldtimer. Both come in at less than $4.5k and are great travel watches. It s time to find out which of the two will be crowned the winner of the final Sunday Morning Showdown of 2025.Today...

Its late afternoon on a Thursday in mid-December when the call comes in: monsters are closing in on Nazare. State-of-the-art satellite technology has detected the perfect kinetic sweep across the Atlantic, creating ideal conditions. This monster swell is heading straight for a small fishing village two hours north of Lisbon. But its not alone in charting this course. Professional surfers from around the world looking to compete in the WSL Tudor Big Wave Challenge have been on high alert since the end of October. When the call comes in, they have less than 24 hours to get to Nazare (if they arent already there) and prepare themselves. Its going to be an epic battle with the elements, chasing ...

Orient Star unveils three new versions of its flagship F7 Mechanical Moon Phase. Dials in white and navy blue join the regular lineup, while the light blue dial is a limited edition of 190 pieces. Having debuted in 2017, the F7 Mechanical Moon Phase combines three striking elements. The namesake moon phase sits at 6 oclock with a radial date display on the periphery. North of the celestial sub-dial is the power reserve indicator, a feature of all Orient Star timepieces. However, the 9 oclock aperture includes the Orient Stars most superfluous design flourish. The open-heart window partially showcases the mechanics on display with the balance spring beating away. Those are the headlines, but ...

The JB300 Poulpro arrives as Jacques Bianchi Marseilles latest take on a serious dive watch. It pairs some of the frivolous style of the earlier JB200 Poulpro with a more technical, titanium-based platform. This isnt about flash; its about refining a recognized design language into something even more purposeful.In dive watches, theres a fine line between stylistic gestures and genuine function. The Jacques Bianchi JB300 Poulpro matters because it leans clearly toward the latter. The aim was to build a serious tool for demanding conditions while keeping it rooted in the quirky visual identity that made the original Poulpro stand out. Lets have a closer look!JB300 Poulpro in contextThe JB300 ...

Another Friday, another list! This week, we selected our five favorite complicated watches released in 2025. Indeed, many contenders were fighting for a spot among these. We have seen many impressive releases that either introduced new technologies or were groundbreaking due to the sheer number of complications involved. In life, though, it s not just about brains but also about beauty. For this list, we wanted to pick watches with both, but as you will understand, beauty is always in the eye of the beholder. With that in mind, let s jump into the list of our favorite complicated watches of 2025!Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Solaria Ultra Grand ComplicationThis list can only begin with...

All right, everyone, it s my turn to tell you about my favorite watches of 2025. With the calendar winding down, its remarkable how close the end of the year suddenly feels. The past few weeks have slipped by at an almost unfair pace, but stepping back for a moment makes one thing obvious: its been yet another consequential year for watch releases. In keeping with a long-running Fratello tradition, the team has been passing the baton, with each contributor highlighting the watches that made the strongest impressions. Today, Im adding my two cents.Before we get too far, a familiar but necessary caveat: this list isn t intended to be definitive, exhaustive, or even particularly balanced. It re...

We have seen a massive increase in interesting small Japanese brands in recent years. Great examples are Kurono Tokyo, Hajime Asaoka, Kikuchi Nakagawa, and Minase. One of the newest microbrands is Kiwame Tokyo, which presented its inaugural Kurotsuki and Usuki models not too long ago. The watches stood out because of their beautiful dials. For its follow-up release, Kiwame Tokyo unveils the Iwao Ginkai and Sumi. The two watches are a refined take on the classic field watch and show a more modern side of the brand compared to the inaugural duo. Let s find out more.Back in September, Mike reported on the Kiwame Tokyo Kurotsuki and Usuki. In that article, he also explained a little bit about th...

Our friends over at Monochrome and Habring2 are building quite a history together. Their first collaboration, in 2021, celebrated Monochromes 15th anniversary. The online watch magazine and the Austrian watchmaking couple teamed up once more in 2023. Their sophomore release, a split-seconds chronograph, raised money for charity. Today, we get a third collaboration in the form of the Montre de Souscription 4 Seconde Morte.Monochrome releases special limited editions with brands under its souscription (subscription) scheme. This means you pay part of the watch up front, before production starts. Monochrome and the partner brand then produce only as many as are sold during the sale window. It i...

The first thing that popped up in my head when laying eyes on the Spring Drive-powered Seiko Prospex LX GMT U.S. Special Edition SNR058 was Root Beer. The colors, shapes, and vibe make me think of that famous GMT watch made by The Crown. Its a good thing this watch is designed for the U.S. market and not for the Japanese market, though, because the Japanese dont have a fondness for the herby soft drink, and therefore, I suspect they dont get all warm and fuzzy when they hear the famous nickname. Heres why.The reason root beer has never gained traction in the Japanese market is pretty apparent. Even in the United States, where it originated, the drink has plenty of detractors, but in Japan, t...

As 2025 draws to a close, its a natural moment to pause, take stock, and look ahead at what the coming year may hold for the watch industry. In this weeks episode of Fratello Talks, Nacho is joined by Daan and Lex for an in-depth conversation about the various factors and forces that are actively reshaping the watch world. The discussion covers a broad range of topics, from emerging players in traditionally untapped markets to shifts in design approaches and production methods, as well as evolving expectations from collectors who increasingly seek connection, personalization, and originality in the pieces they acquire. Nacho, Daan, and Lex explore how these changes might influence both indep...

I dont mind admitting that I can get a bit cynical and jaded when discussing watches. Theres just so much coming out and, frankly, not everything is equally inspired or well executed. So when I get the chance to go hands-on with something like this, it can feel like a breath of fresh air. This is the A. Lange & S?hne Richard Lange Jumping Seconds. Join me for a closer look at this ticking beauty, and I will tell you why it captivates me so strongly.This limited edition of 100 pieces features an 18K white gold case. The dial, meanwhile, is fashioned out of 18K rose gold. While this watch only displays the time, it still comes with several high-end complications. As the name suggests, you ...

Did you know that during the Christmas period, salmon consumption rises sharply? A substantial share of annual sales happens in December, particularly in Europe. In fact, around 25% of all smoked salmon is sold during this time. And with that in mind, look at the new Armin Strom Gravity Equal Force Ultimate Sapphire Salmon. The watch is not new, but the mouth-watering salmon-colored mainplate is. The striking new creation debuts just in time for Christmas. But please keep in mind that quantities are limited, meaning you might not want to rely on Santa to deliver one. Instead, you d better take charge of matters and secure one yourself.The new Armin Strom Gravity Equal Force Ultimate Sapphire...

Not too long ago, added a surprise Submariner Date desk clock to its collection. If you are familiar with the brand s accessories, you know that a variety of cufflinks are available to match your timepiece. But with the introduction of the new Submariner Date desk clock, the ultimate accessory is now an oversized version of the brand s iconic dive watch. But there is more to the story than just the look of this timepiece. We had the opportunity to learn more about the new Submariner Date desk clock ref. 909010LN.You wouldn t know what hides underneath the lid of the signature green box if you took a quick look at it. But as soon as you pick up the box, the weight will tell you that ther...