If you haven t been watching, gold prices have been on a tear over the past year. Currently, the metal is trading at an all-time high. For lovers of vintage watches made from the precious metal, it s time to wake up and take action. When bidding at auction on an old gold watch, there s a good chance that a rival bidder isn t interested in the watch. That person is interested in the gold!Gold is currently trading at over US$2,300 per troy ounce. That s the highest price ever, and many feel it will only continue to increase. Gold is a popular choice as a haven from fiat currencies. Even though it is priced in one of those currencies, many see it as the ultimate currency that could be used for ...

Make no bones about it: Watches and Wonders 2024 is better than expected. In a year with some pretty understated predictions and low sales graphs, the brands didn t disappoint to the point of causing a dreaded visual overload in the Palexpo halls. That s where I come in, and it s not the first time I ve written this column.Unfortunately, this year, my coverage has been from the home office, which brings its pros and cons. Let s not pretend I d rather be here with a view over Oslo s suburbia than fondling a gold Deepsea. But it helps me keep a (mostly) objective overview of the releases. And boy, there were some good ones this year. But even with our massive coverage, some gems slipped our gr...

Another Friday, another Top 5! This week, we selected more pre-owned gems that deserve our attention. But it s not just a random selection of five watches. After a jam-packed week of releases at Watches and Wonders, we have seen many new iterations of existing models. That s why we wanted to check the older generations of those models and see what they go for. As you will see, some are still hugely popular, while others can be yours for a nice price secondhand. Without further ado, it s time to find out more about five amazing watches that were brought back to life this past week.Image: Bulang & SonsTudor Heritage Black Bay ref. 79220NLet s begin with the first-generation Tudor Black Bay...

Sometimes when youre successful, you get a street or a park named after you. When a watch becomes a bestseller, it gets its very own collection. Well, thats what happened at Montblanc, anyway. In 2022, the brand introduced the Iced Sea dive watch in the 1858 collection. Now the coolest of divers stands on its own. And there are three new models in the collection. The most impressive is the Montblanc Iced Sea 0 Oxygen Deep 4810, a chronometer-certified diver that can brave depths of 4,810 meters - as deep as Mont Blanc is tall. Two more new additions are the Iced Sea Automatic Date with a bronze case and a steel version with a burgundy dial.Do you want the full spec list or the story-telling?...

Since its release, the F77 has become a polarizing model. Nivada fans love it, but others may not be enthusiastic due to its integrated-bracelet look. I won t get into that debate. This new F77 is a mere re-edition of a vintage piece, and I find the watch a beautifully executed reinterpretation of the 1970s model. So far, though, the number of variants has been limited. That is now over. Nivada is releasing the F77 with an all-new titanium case and bracelet some beautiful new dial variants.About a year ago, I took a closer look at the F77. You can find my thoughts on the watch here. Everything I needed to tell you about the model is in that article, so I will avoid repeating myself. Instead,...

Watches and Wonders 2024 has been filled with new releases. Bvlgari is no stranger to the event and came with several offerings. This year, the brand focused on thin watches and set a record. Yes, the Octo Finissimo took a leading role, but other releases were worth covering.Bvlgari makes some seriously attractive watches, and while the Italian house tends to focus on more progressively styled pieces, the design language has persevered. The Octo Finissimo, for example, is a popular watch and deserves ample credit for its unique looks and quality finishing. This year at Watches and Wonders, Bvlgari brought true innovation to the event. Yes, Bvlgari was originally a jeweler, but that doesn t m...

I don t know exactly why, but Parmigiani Fleurier isn t a brand we often discuss in the Fratello office. For some reason, the brand often passes just below our radar. Maybe it simply has something to do with the fact that its watches are out of budget for most of our team members. However, whenever we see one or write about a new release, the watches always impress us with their looks and refinement. That s certainly also true of today s novelty, the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Micro-Rotor No Date.At last year s edition of Watches and Wonders, Parmigiani Fleurier expanded the Tonda PF collection with six new models. This year, however, only two new versions join the lineup. First, there s t...

In 2013, Oris released the Aquis Depth Gauge, which spawned a new collection of modern dive watches. This deep diver had a unique mechanical depth gauge, highlighting the brand s ambition to create practical applications rather than superfluous complications. The Aquis was made a bona fide collection when the core design cues of the Depth Gauge were later separated into a bespoke dive range. A subtle facelift in 2017 introduced even more angular design cues, cementing the Aquis as Oris s best-selling watch across all regions. For 2024, Oris has updated the Aquis for a new generation looking for contemporary designs and high performance.Ive always enjoyed the Oris Aquis due to its modern sens...

My theoretical-wrist-grail taste has evolved, as has the watch-collecting community. In the face of unavailability and client-selective ADs, independent choices have come to the fore. And despite the shaky world markets, plenty of potential buyers are looking for alternatives outside the big-brand catalogs.Debuting back in 2010 with distinctively minimal luxury and the worlds best-looking spear hands, Laurent Ferrier has emerged as The Alternative for many. The Classic model with slender Roman numerals on its dial won the GPHG s Best Men s category at the brand s debut. Now we revisit this timeless style with a complicated twist. The Classic Moon promises a deep blue brand first with a stell...

It s very difficult to come up with an original watch design these days. Almost everything has been done by now…or so we tend to think. But every once in a while, we come across a new watch that proves the opposite. The new Hermes Cut is exactly one of those watches. It has a very subtle case shape, which is characterized by four cuts on both flanks, top and bottom. It comes on an integrated bracelet and with no fewer than eight different rubber strap options. And, as befits Hermes, it features a couple of very thoughtful details.You could say this new Hermes Cut is arriving fashionably late to the integrated-bracelet party. There are already numerous very nice high-end, low-end, and v...

You might be just a few clicks away from the new Hublot Big Bang Unico Ice Bang. Its an online exclusive only available through Hublots e-commerce boutique, and its also a limited edition. Just 100 pieces of this black ceramic watch outfitted with a soberly contrasting bezel in tungsten will be made. If you want something more colorful, there are also the dark green and bright orange Big Bang Unico chronographs. Those are limited to 250 watches each. What all three new timepieces have in common is the HUB1280 Unico 2 chronograph movement inside.The original Ice Bang from 2006 also came in black and gray, but the 2024 Hublot Big Bang Unico Ice Bang is clearly an evolution of the original. Eve...

By now, Frederique Constant is famous for its no-nonsense Swiss-made watches. The brand s Classics collection is at the forefront of its philosophy of offering high-quality watches at a relatively affordable price. This week, at Watches and Wonders, two of the collection s models are receiving some significant updates and upgrades on both the inside and out. Let s take a look at the new Classic Moonphase Date Manufacture and the Classic Date Manufacture from Frederique Constant.The brand s designs won t surprise you much in terms of originality, but the watches from Frederique Constant do get the basics very right. The same is true of today s novelties. They re stainless steel watches on the...

Today, we look at the new Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Perpetual Calendar. This is one of my favorite models from the brand and certainly warrants attention whenever it s updated. It s never easy to cleanly pack in so many complications, but JLC seems to have pulled it off again.You can call me a heretic, but I have little love for highly complicated watches. I love chronographs, but that s an exception because I normally enjoy an unadorned, simple dial. The Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Perpetual Calendar is a bigger exception, though. I blame Gerard because of his 90s Master Control version of this model. It s classy without looking too busy. The newest models introduced at Wat...

Jaeger-LeCoultre is a great watch brand, but Le Grand Maison from Le Sentier is arguably an even greater movement maker. Theres an impressive wall in the manufacture that brings to life the brands incredible tradition of creating innovative movements in all shapes and sizes. One of JLCs latest movement highlights was the Duometre concept, which debuted in 2007 in the shape of a chronograph. A Duometre movement features two separate barrels and two independent gear trains. Both link to a single escapement, ensuring that the complication doesnt negatively affect the time-keeping function. For some reason - was it because of price or complexity? - the Duometre faded away not too long after maki...

What can we expect from Vacheron Constantin when it comes to new introductions? A new version of the 222, maybe some new Overseas variations, and a small number of super complicated pieces that show the brand s intricate craftsmanship wouldn t be unreasonable. How about a series of super clean Patrimony models that bring us back to the 1950s? There is something incredibly interesting about the new Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Manual-Winding and Patrimony Moon Phase Retrograde Date. These three watches shine because of their minimalist approach and may not stand out immediately. But they might be the humble stars of the brand s new introductions.When I first saw the two new Vacheron Constant...

Every year at Watches and Wonders, Vacheron Constantin graces us with one or two exceptional pieces that show the brand s magnificent watchmaking tradition. This year, the brand releases the brilliant Traditionnelle Tourbillon Chronograph that is part of the exclusive Collection Excellence Platine. This 50-piece limited edition was created specifically for collectors. It s a very exclusive edition of the Traditionnelle Tourbillon Chronograph that first came out in 2020. It combines a tourbillon with a monopusher chronograph for stunning results.The Vacheron Constantin Collection Excellence Platine is an exclusive collection of platinum versions of some of the brand s best timepieces. They ar...

At this years Watches and Wonders, we get to see new additions to Vacheron Constantins popular Overseas collection. The integrated-bracelet sports model receives additions in pink gold with green dials as well as a full-titanium tourbillon model with a blue dial.The new green dials come in four Overseas variants. There is a 41mm Self-Winding version, a 42.5mm Chronograph, a 41mm Dual Time, and a 35mm Self-Winding version with a diamond-studded bezel. A single titanium tourbillon reference brings the total to five new Vacheron Constantin Overseas models. Lets have a closer look!Vacheron Constantin Overseas 101The Vacheron Constantin Overseas can trace its roots to the mid-1970s. Many of the h...

Hello there! Welcome to a new episode of Fratello Talks. This week, we have decided to discuss a topic we often get asked about - gifting watches. Nacho, RJ, and Daan explore the topic, discussing to whom you should gift a watch and when it s appropriate to do so. Of course, they also provide some examples from their experience and share some stories of times when they have given and received watches as gifts, the former being the more common occurrence. Finally, they also provide some recommendations for the kinds of watches you should consider if looking to give someone this special gift. After all, a watch is an exceptional gift that could potentially last someone a lifetime. So tune in f...

Almost exactly two years ago, I covered the introduction of Piaget s Tribute to the Altiplano Ultimate Concept. It was a dark mode version of the Altiplano Ultimate Concept that celebrated the watchs fifth anniversary. The year 2024 marks another anniversary for Maison Piaget?as it has been 150 years since Georges-Edouard Piaget opened up his first workshop in La C?te-aux-Fees in 1874. To celebrate this sesquicentennial anniversary, Piaget introduces another dark blue version of its 2mm-thin Altiplano. Indeed, it s not thinner than its predecessor. But the Altiplano Ultimate Concept Tourbillon does feature, as the name suggests, a flying tourbillon, and thats the clincher.I guess by introduc...

For A. Lange & S?hne, 2024 is the year of the Datograph. The brand s famous chronograph turns 25 this year, so it s time to celebrate. As expected, the Glashtte brand does so in style with two new Datograph releases. The first is the stunning Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon Honeygold Lumen. Supposing that you are familiar with A. Lange & S?hne, just reading the name will tell you this is an exceptional timepiece. The second release is a special 25th-anniversary version of the Datograph Up/Down in white gold with a blue dial. It s time for the most stylish celebration of the year.It s always exciting when A. Lange & S?hne announces new models for Watches and Wonders. Last year, th...