It s time to chime in on the best watches under $2,500. It s a tough subject for a couple of reasons. First, many of my colleagues have already opined and used up some great picks. Second, this price level now feels like a no man s land because most brands prefer to play above or below it. Still, I ve found some stellar watches that I own or wouldn t mind adding to the collection.For most people, $2,500 isn t a forgettable sum. It s well above a casual expenditure, yet it s now below what most brands seem to recognize as the luxury level. Well, forget about them because plenty of value and goodness is available. Some brands, particularly Seiko, offer watches well below $2,500 or significantl...
Life on Mars is around the corner. That is what some science-fiction movies are telling us, at least. The people who are properly interested in the story know much must be done to make that a reality. But plenty of scientific initiatives are researching life on the Red Planet. If you are a fan of Fortis, you are probably aware of the AMADEE project. It brings astronauts into Mars-like conditions for extensive research on using equipment during a real Mars mission. Fortis has released several special AMADEE editions for the project. The latest is the Fortis Novonaut AMADEE-24. I had a chance to go hands-on with this special Novonaut developed as an instrument for a mission to Mars.The watches...
Recently, Zodiac and RedBar released a special edition of the Super Sea Wolf Pro-Diver. This 200-piece LE introduced a full-lume dial and harked back to Zodiac s Point series from the 1990s. Those watches were instantly recognizable by the red dot on the dial between the 4 and 5 o clock markers. As a follow-up to the RedBar version of the Super Sea Wolf Pro-Diver, Zodiac is now releasing a regular-production model with a full-lume dial. Let s take a look at both and find out more about the return of the Super Sea Wolf Pro-Diver.Night divers are a different breed of dive watches. I have a huge soft spot for divers with full-lume dials because of the extra fun and functionality they offer. The...
If you havent heard that term before, that makes two of us, but trust me; Ill explain. The CHPTR_.5 (pronounced Chapter Delta point five in case you were stumbling) is the lovechild of BA111OD and Label Noir, designed by Thomas Baillod. It is a triangularly different, semi-open-worked creation with a dark vibe.This comes in a month when more modern pieces seem to emerge, even if retro is still the flavor of the last decade. Whether or not this watch reflects the times, the avant-garde pops of green within a dark dial come at a tempting price. Accessibility is the way forward for this futurist watchmaking branch, and BA111OD and Label Noir get it.The BA111OD CHPTR_.5 Label Noir Limited Edit...
One of the biggest recent watch surprises happened the day before Watches and Wonders 2024. Impressively, the watches even captivated all four of the Fratello team members who were there. Normally, a watch release provokes much debate among us. However, the enthusiasm for the four different HYT T1 watches presented on the banks of Lake Geneva was unanimous. We all agreed that the new concept of the closed dial, the intriguing case shape, and the way it feels and functions were downright impressive.It would go way too far to state that HYT is making hydromechanical watchmaking for the masses with the new T1 series. But with a starting price of CHF 48,000 excluding taxes and a design that s fa...
At the end of last year, Breitling announced that it had acquired Universal Geneve. That move caused excitement within the watch community, mainly because UG s vintage watches are highly esteemed. The fact that a respected brand like Breitling is now involved in resurrecting UG seems promising. But we ll probably have to wait a few more years before seeing what Georges Kern and his team are cooking for us. In the meantime, let s explore a few vintage options you can already get today.When the news about the acquisition broke, Thomas wrote an article on the Universal Geneve watches he would like to see relaunched. In it, he went over names like the Compur, Compax, and, of course, the Polerout...
Today, we ll take a look at a vintage Movado Disco Volante. This is a lovely watch with an incredible case. It also marks the first article I ve written about Movado. Hopefully, that s a good thing because there are more on the way about this oft-forgotten brand.Since moving to London, my interest in watches from the 1930s through the 1950s has risen dramatically. Tanks, pointer dates, and dress watches are styles that have recently entered my collection. Today s Movado Disco Volante falls into the latter category but is not a run-of-the-mill formal piece. As we will see, the small details are incredible. It s another reminder that there are amazing vintage watches from more than just the us...
By now, it s pretty clear William Wood has gone all in with its firefighting-themed watches. For its latest creation, the brand pays homage to the sea with a dial inspired by the twin telegraphs of the Massey Shaw fireboat. This vessel played a part in the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940, saving 600 lives, and the later formation of the UK s National Health Service (NHS). Not only is the watch commemorating the fireboat, but it is also due to take part in the 80th anniversary of VE Day next year. With Massey Shaw having such a storied past, William Wood bases its new Dunkirk Watch on many notable features of its design. Do all the elements come together? Let s check it out.First, let s look at th...
If you read this article shortly after publication, you are probably missing the Monaco Grand Prix. Or you are multi-tasking, which I would not recommend; eyes on the road! Either way, TAG Heuer is releasing a new version of its Monaco Chronograph in celebration of the Monaco race.Join me for a first look at this new model from TAG Heuer, dressed in black and blue with yellow accents.A new outfit for the TAG Heuer MonacoUnder the hood, this is the same watch as the TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Automatic ref. CBL2111.FC6453. It shares the 39mm case and caliber Heuer 02 (TH20-00). The differences may be primarily aesthetic, but they are far-reaching ones indeed.For starters, the case is now Gr...
Grab a cup of coffee, and get ready for a new Sunday Morning Showdown. For this week s battle, we have selected two new Tudor introductions. During Watches and Wonders this year, many watch fans agreed that Tudor s releases were more exciting than s. So what if we put two popular Tudor watches up against each other? Let s find out which one is the Fratelli favorite. Robert-Jan picked the Tudor Black Bay 58 GMT, while Jorg picked the black-dial-and-bezel Tudor Black Bay Master Chronometer. You get to decide which watch wins!This week s match-up is somewhat different than our usual Sunday Morning Showdowns. Instead of letting two different brands go head to head, we opted to make it a Tudor a...
I m sorry; I misunderstood the task at hand. This is not about me being given $7,500 to spend on three watches… I ve reluctantly given myself a purchasing embargo, and for an addict, that s not easy, hence the happy outburst. But I still relish the challenge of picking the best watches under $2,500, which is not easy.I will try not to imagine this being a personal budget for three good new watches, but the choices will still be personal. Of course, I have my journalist hat on, so you should find some objectively solid favorites here. That s my goal, at least.The best watches under $2,500 - The bulletproof Sinn U50There are fashions all around us, and we follow them whether we like to o...
Another Friday, another Top 5! After last week s auction article, it s time for something different. For this article, we have selected five stunning vintage Piaget watches that show the brand s brilliance when it comes to stylish bracelet watches. We picked five vintage gold models from the 1970s and 80s that instantly boost your baller status. So be prepared to see some proper old-school bling. But don t think that these watches don t have horological merit. Some of them come with nice ultra-slim mechanical movements. It s time to find out more.This week s Top 5 is a typical love-it-or-hate-it list. You will either understand the attraction, or you will hate these timepieces. The opinions ...
Watch photography has come a long way in a short time. Not too long ago, a good photo was one where the watch was properly lit and sharp. Today, watch photography is a genre of its own with many creative sub-styles and trends. Social media has surely been a strong driver of that quick development. Now, all of those fancy shots can be intimidating. You might have a good camera, but you still dont get the results.Of course, it is a matter of skill more than anything. However, a few bits of gear can make life a lot easier. I am not qualified to teach the skills as I am merely a fledgling student of our own Morgan Saignes, as proven by my mediocre shots in this article. However, I can share some...
In this edition of Fratelli Stories, reader Antonio shares how his father s passion for vintage Seiko and Omega sparked his very own love of watches. But it was old ads that truly sucked him into the hobby.Imagine flicking through an old magazine or publication one day at a secondhand store and coming across one of those old ads. You know the ones that start with If you were . . . you d wear a . Chances are, if you see this vintage watch ad, you might well have a feeling of nostalgia. I probably would. For Fratello reader Antonio, vintage watches come alive in old ads, and he has become not only a firm collector of vintage dive watches but old ads as well.An enthusiasm for vintage watches f...
Last week, Tudor released a 1,908-piece limited run of Black Bay 58 watches with a special dial to celebrate Inter Milan winning the Italian Serie A football league. Other recent Tudor specials were two Pelagos FXD Alinghi Red Bull Racing Edition timepieces. And there s also the Pelagos FXD Chrono Cycling Edition made for the Tudor Pro Cycling Team. Oh, let s not forget the pink-dial Black Bay Chrono linked to Inter Miami FC through the club s co-owner and Tudor brand ambassador David Beckham. And with Tudor sponsoring the Red Bull-owned Visa Cash App RB F1 Team, billions of people also get to see a lot of special Tudor watches. Whats this surge in specials good for? Is this another push by ...
Dive watches are the go-to for many watch collectors. They outstrip the standard tool watch moniker with, usually, enhanced specs, such as better water resistance. As a result, dive watches are usually aimed at those professionals for whom they are designed. You know, divers. These days, this results in an instantly recognizable aesthetic that is often function over form. That said, dive watches were typically smaller and more reserved 50C60 years ago. We only have to look at the classic Submariner as an example. The watch I have before me today certainly errs toward the classic sensibilities of the Submariner while not aping its oft-copied aesthetics. Say hello to the Millechron Monarque M...
Chicago-based Oak & Oscar has been in business since 2015. Over the last nine years, the brand has assembled a back catalog of attractive, ruggedly built watches that pay tribute to the Windy City. Furthermore, the timepieces display a design consistency normally reserved for larger, historic brands. Today s Oak & Oscar Atwood chronograph continues this trend with increased functionality.It s hard to believe we re approaching the 10-year mark since Chase Fancher founded Oak & Oscar. I still recall meeting him in London that year at SalonQP when he brought his first watch, the Burnham. Since then, we ve covered almost all of the brand s models, and I purchased one of them, the Olm...
Designing and producing robust and elegant wristwatches is what its all about for Serica. Today, the brands founders Jer?me Burgert and Gabriel Vachette launch a new iteration of their 6190 field watch. Although under a different name (or reference, for that matter), this is where it all started for the young Parisian brand. Youll see, though, that quite a lot has changed since then. Lets take a look at the Serica 6190 M.S.L. Chronometer.It has only been five years since Serica launched its first watch, the W.W.W., which stood for Wrist Watch Waterproof. However, it has seen several iterations and improvements since 2019. A year after its debut, the water resistance rating increased from 100...
I always find new releases from Ming interesting, but the thought of a new diver from the brand brings me to the edge of my seat. Ming s designers rarely dabble in tool watches, so when they do, it s worth taking notice. Today s new 37.09 Bluefin comes nearly four years after the original Ming diver, the 18.01, and brings noticeable differences.There are many reasons why I enjoy Ming watches. The brand s focus on design purity, continuity between models, and innovative materials stand out as highlights. The sheer simplicity of many Ming designs has also attracted me to them while taking a toll on my bank account. This fanatical obsession with cleanliness and purity, however, has largely kept...
This watch has been sitting in my safe and waiting for its moment for ages! After several weeks of heavy-hitting Gallet chronographs, I spotted a watch lying face down in the corner of the safe. I turned it over, and there it was - my abandoned crazy-lumed Citizen Auto Dater 7. I took it out to show it mercy, and I couldn t have chosen any better!Do you want my confession? Maybe you don t, but here it is: I have not worn this Citizen Auto Dater 7 a single time since it arrived. Don t ask me why because I do like the watch a lot. I instantly liked it when I saw it, didn t research it, and ordered it on a whim.Setting the moodIf there are a few stereotypes you can rely on in the watch world, o...
