Some brands excel at collaborations, elevating everyday watches to grail status, no matter how primary their starting point is. Casio sets a great example with its G-Shock range and the inherently cool canvas of the OG Square. Its shape is packed with potential, and the new Casio G-Shock G-5600SRF-1 shows a real sense of eco-purpose.Weve all seen the results of oceanic waste and its increasing threat to marine life. Together with the Surfrider Foundation, the G-5600SRF-1 exhibits a tangible monochrome solution to recycling. Despite its colorless first impression, this solar-powered Casio G-Shock Square has a unique sense of depth, even spiritually.The Surfrider FoundationThe immense stretche...
Another Friday, another list! This week, we continue our quest for the best watches released in the first half of 2024. It s all about dress watches for this new list. Have the first six months of the year been great for people looking to add a new dress piece to their collections? We take a look at the five best that we ve seen. Once again, it wasn t hard to come up with more than five great options, but it was tougher coming up with the final five picks. In the end, we agreed on five watches that we feel deserve a place on this list. Let s find out which ones made the cut!But before we get into our list, it s good to know that we once again looked at different budgets. It s easy to find fi...
Handling a time-only watch that bears the name Excelsior Park is odd. We are used to seeing that elongated bottom E stroke on chronographs almost exclusively. Yes, Excelsior Park had some time-only pieces in the past, but the bread and butter for the brand has always been chronos. Since its resurrection a few years ago, the new EP brand has only had chronographs in its collection. That changes now with the Excelsior Park EP 884-SI having finally arrived.The new EP 884-SI has been available on the Excelsior Park website since early July, with six different variants each starting at US$845 before taxes. I managed to get my hands on one. Here s what I think of it.The brandExcelsior Park was fou...
Sometimes when we write articles at Fratello, we know exactly how they will land with our readers. Other times, we try something to see whether it strikes a chord. This is an example of the latter type of article. I consider myself lucky to have fallen in love with a hobby twice when so many never do even once. I turned my passion for watches into my work, but I have another hobby that I love just as much - playing the guitar. With several Fratello writers enjoying different hobbies, I figured we should compare them to our shared passion for watches. What is similar? What is different? And can we learn something we can apply to the watch world?I will kick things off with this article by comp...
I wasn t planning on adding this watch to my collection. However, as it often goes, watches that are supposed to find their way to you simply will. And that s exactly my story with this specific Landeron 149-powered Gallet.First, I will address why I was not planning to buy this watch. I am a huge Gallet fan but not of later models or ones not powered by fine Venus or Excelsior Park movements. My wish list is still full of many EP- or Venus-powered Gallet watches, and I simply didn t want to get distracted. There is also the fact that I m not very knowledgeable about later 1970s models, which vary with different hand styles. I m never sure which hands are original and aren t on later Gallet ...
One year ago, I went hands-on with the then-new Ahoi Neomatik 38 Date collection. Two versions of the newly sized Ahoi debuted then, one in clear Sky blue and the other in beautiful Sand gold. The introduction of those two new models also meant the discontinuation of the 40mm Ahoi. That meant a larger Ahoi was no longer available in Nomos s classic Atlantic blue colorway. That changes now, though, as the Glashtte brand has decided to reintroduce the high-contrast and specially lumed navy-blue dial for the Nomos Ahoi Neomatik 38 Date. Let s take a quick look.You could say the Ahoi is Nomos s beefed-up and rugged version of its signature Tangente model. The Ahoi s case and lug design are just...
The new Montblanc Iced Sea 0 Oxygen Deep 4810 might be the perfect watch for spec-loving divers. Lets look at the data, the numbers, and the cold, hard facts. Montblancs latest dive watch, the flagship of the newly formed Iced Sea collection, has a 43 19.4mm case containing no oxygen and is water resistant to 4,810 meters. Yes, 4,810 meters is the height of Western Europes highest mountain, which the brand is named after. The watch also has a COSC-certified automatic movement inside, and its price stays beneath the 10K mark in both euros and US dollars. This is a dive watch that wants to play with the big boys. Do you want to find out if it can?Lets continue with the numbers and the object...
Welcome to the latest episode of Fratello Talks. While the rest of the world ponders who the next actor will be to don the tux and become the newest double-O seven, today, we ask ourselves what the man behind the gun will wear on his wrist. You join Nacho, RJ, and Lex to discuss James Bond s watches, past and present, and some thoughts on what we d like to see in the future. When picking a new watch for the next James Bond, there are many options to consider. However, as we know, it will likely be an Omega timepiece. The choice within the brand s catalog is extensive, and many options could suit the gun-toting spy well. That said, we still discuss some watches from other brands that could al...
Most of you will know Unimatic as a brand that predominantly releases watches in limited numbers. These small-batch editions are often collaborative efforts that show great diversity. However, in 2021, after many limited editions, the brand unveiled a group of four standard models that are always available. With today s introduction of the new Toolwatch series, the brand adds four new models to this permanent collection. These four quartz watches combine a shock-protected construction with military-based specs and a new look. It s time to find out more!When Unimatic introduced its series of permanent Classic Editions, it was a logical next step for the Milanese brand. After several successfu...
If youre the winning type that just cant get enough of it, why not strive to bag all the medals you can win? Impossible, you say? Maybe, but you can get the new 39mm Omega Specialities Paris 2024 Bronze Gold Edition, a watch that combines gold, silver, and bronze. This vintage-style timepiece pays tribute to the three medals at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in a special celebration of Paris 2024. The inspiration for this non-limited watch came from a 1939 wristwatch that housed the 30T2 manual-winding small-seconds caliber and featured the reference code CK 859, denoting the case material and shape. The new watch features the Co-Axial Master Chronometer caliber 8926, a manual-winding mode...
This one won t be easy. I do not often have to write about an important revolutionary invention like Horage and Miniswys s Microreg. I could tell the story in a few words, but background clarification is necessary to understand its importance. So this article will initially be pretty theoretical and technical, but a beautiful watch will await you at the end. Keep up; this is worth your attention.Microreg is ultimately all about the practical accuracy of your mechanical wristwatch. Contrary to lab precision, it s about perceived precision, the accuracy you experience while wearing your watch in real life. Undoubtedly, this accuracy matters to you more than the lab accuracy a watch manufacture...
Krayon is a watch brand that has been around for less than a decade. I say brand, but I should probably say independent watchmaker instead. Krayon founder and owner Remi Maillat debuted with his Everywhere watch in 2017. Today, he produces around 40 watches annually with 12 collaborators in their Neuchatel atelier.Maillats signature is finding the crossover between mathematics and watchmaking. This is clearly expressed in his complications, indicating sunset and sunrise. It is those complications that I would like to examine in this article.KrayonWe havent previously written about Krayon at length at Fratello, so it was long overdue. As mentioned, Krayons first watch came out in 2017. Master...
Why would you chase rainbows? We already know that hardly anyone can buy an entry-level Nautilus or Aquanaut from a Patek Philippe boutique or AD. Why, then, would you put yourself in a situation that has you looking outside the official channels, only to face unrealistic asking prices (although theyre dipping a bit)? There are other superior and, dare I say, reasonably priced watches from the same prestigious manufacturer you can buy. Indeed, there is a striking and complicated sports watch that outshines the Nautilus. It s rarer too. Please look at the Patek Philippe Annual Calendar Chronograph 5960/1A-001. It s an extraordinary and sporty gentleman of a watch that I had the pleasure of ha...
Designing anything, including watches, is an iterative process. You move from one design to another, and every time, you get a bit closer to what you had in mind. I m not a designer, but Emmanuel Dietrich, who founded the Dietrich brand in 2010, is. When you look at his previous designs, you can see that the new Dietrich ED-1 is a clear outcome of all those previous models. Spoiler alert: to me, it looks like Emmanuel took the best features of all those watches and put them into one.The Organic TimeIf you re not aware of those earlier models, let me go through a few of them here. One of the brand s first watches in 2014 was the Organic Time (OT). It was a big 46mm watch featuring a lugless c...
Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air. This week, we discuss watch bracelets and cover a wide range of subtopics about these important devices that fasten watches to our wrists. It s another listener suggestion, and we hope you enjoy the show! For our listeners, the watch content begins after approximately 20 minutes. This podcast player is blocked because you did not accept marketing cookies. Change cookie settings Watch bracelets are always the subject of heavy criticism. When a company decides to offer one with a watch, it can come under fire for the smallest reasons. Great bracelets are rare, but they do exist. Today, we discuss many aspects of these curious little accessorie...
You may have missed it, but last week would have marked Clive Cusslers 93rd birthday. The famous adventure author wrote over 80 books and sold over 100,000,000 copies before passing away in 2020. Both Cussler and Dirk Pitt, his most famous protagonist, were known to wear Doxa watches. This spawned a fruitful relationship with the brand. Doxa celebrated the shared history with a special Clive Cussler watch last year. The brand now follows up with a second version.The latest Cussler edition is a Doxa Sub 300T with a black dial and distressed case and bracelet. There is plenty to unpack, so lets get into it!Doxa and Clive CusslerThe relationship between Doxa and Clive Cussler dates back to befo...
Please, come closer. It s worth it. When you do, you can find that the movement inside the Roger Dubuis Excalibur Monotourbillon Titanium comprises 194 parts and features no fewer than 16 types of manual finishing. This results in a sophisticated and impressive watch that is both complicated and minimalistic; indeed, it is a paradox in the metal. Creating an open-worked flying tourbillon watch worthy of bearing the coveted Poin?on de Geneve requires great skill. The Excalibur Monotourbillon Titanium showcases the Maison s long-time expertise in creating skeletonized movements featuring mechanical whirlwinds. A hands-on with the see-through Excalibur reveals that transparency is king.If you c...
A little over a year ago, Lebond Watches unveiled its inaugural Siza model to the public. The Barcelonian brand works with famous architects to create each one s take on a watch. After world-famous architect alvaro Siza was the first to do so, the brand s second effort debuted earlier this year. This time, Lebond founder Asier Mateo worked with renowned Portuguese architect Eduardo Souto de Moura to develop his concept of what a wristwatch could be, resulting in a minimalist take on the classic driver s watch. I had a chance to go hands-on with the two versions that came out.In some of the articles I ve written over the years, I have repeatedly stated I m not much of a purist when it comes t...
Theres much to say about the Hamilton Khaki Navy BeLOWZERO Auto Titanium, now available in a gray and yellow colorway. You get an awful lot of watch in the physical sense with a polarizing design that leaves plenty of room for debate. And theres the more glamorous side of the watch that represents its character and image. If you think this striking Hamilton creation is merely a nec plus ultra tool watch, youre wrong. This striking diving instrument is also an XXL movie star. And just like a Hollywood superstar, this most exuberant Khaki Navy creation is larger than life.The Hamilton Khaki Navy BeLOWZERO Auto Titanium is not for the fainthearted. Nor is it for those who want to sneak through ...
It s summertime, and the heat is on! Well, depending on where you live, perhaps the heat hasn t shown up yet, but we trust that it s coming. With that, it s time for each of us at Fratello to name the best summer watches at three different price points. I m on board with some oddball picks that I d happily wear during my holidays.Summer watches - are they a thing? I think they are because there s something nice about donning a watch that gives you the feeling of getting away from the daily grind. Granted, for most, it also means dealing with airports, cranky kids, and early morning towel-laying lounge-chair swipers from a certain country. Still, the best summer watches add an air of casualne...
