With several Fratello team members having already done cherry-picking, I knew that finding the best watches under $1,000 would be no mean feat. Still, I gave it a go and decided to go with funky stuff - lighthearted watches. I thought it was best to try to find some stuff that would look cool. I think I succeeded, although my selection is subject to personal taste. The fresh Studio Underd0g 02Series Field Pink Lem0nade and the stealthy Maurice Lacroix Aikon #tide Camo are indeed choices based on the exterior qualities of those watches (although the Aikon #tide also is a promotor of sustainability). And while a white Square has been on my wish list for a little while, the Casio G-Shock DW-H56...

It looks like a joke, and it sounds like one too, but it s a serious piece of wrist equipment. The name Orfina Golden Flame Double Automatic Twin Special sounds like a headline from a cheap tabloid - a watch you couldn t take seriously today. But looking at it closely, there are so many distinct details to explore.Even though the Orfina name doesn t ring a bell for many collectors, Orfina matters. Orfina was a Swiss company owned by Italian racer Umberto Maglioli, a former Porsche Racing driver, who was commissioned to manufacture the Porsche Chronograph 1. Yes, that s the legendary watch featured in the original Top Gun movie. You can also see it in the recent Top Gun sequel thanks to the p...

The Japanese watchmaker has introduced a new series within the Seiko 5 family, which pays homage to the past but somehow feels very natural in the present. Seiko is one of those few brands for which an enthusiast can buy a very humble automatic watch. Or a mechanical marvel with very tight tolerances that competes with the best the Swiss have to offer. Today s release by Seiko honors the former category. And does so while proudly riffing off the Seiko 5 line s heritage. The Seiko 5 line was introduced in the 1960s by Seiko to provide a durable all-round timekeeper for the masses. The ‘5 in ‘Seiko 5 refers to five critical elements that defined these watches. They were automatic...

Ambrose Bierce published Fantastic Fables back in 1899. It is a bundle of short fairy tales, most of which are absurd and feature an ironic plot twist. This unique combination reminds me of our behavior as watch lovers. Just as Bierce wrote about a woman who shot her man dead to prevent him from leaving her, do we fabricate stories that may not be entirely watertight to justify our inexplicably irrational liking of specific watches? Could we be seeking a logical narrative where none is truly required?Fantastic fablesSo, what kind of fantastic fables am I referring to here? I think this is best illustrated with an example. The first that springs to mind is a fable surrounding the Zenith Chron...

Welcome to a fresh new episode of Fratello Talks. Today, RJ and Lex join Nacho for a varied chat centered around the topic of things that make a watch worthwhile. From waitlists to limited editions and even watches for special occasions, added value is not really a matter of price. Does a reasonable wait add to the experience of eventually owning a watch? And does too long a wait spoil the desire? This is one of the topics the guys tackle today. So is the matter of limited editions. These days, everything seems to be limited and exclusive, but does this spoil it for everyone? It seems that, on the other hand, a total lack of LEs from certain brands is also no fun. So where s the sweet spot? ...

Today s Brellum Duobox Triple Calendar Moonphase Chronometer brings heaps of functionality in a classy, relatively affordable package. We ve covered the brand extensively here on Fratello and have come to enjoy the thoughtful touches and high-value quotient. Yes, today s piece is a dressier affair, but it s nicely executed.Brellum continues to roll out the hits with chronometer-certified, limited-edition watches that offer value for money. The Duobox Triple Calendar Moonphase Chronometer is no different and should please those looking for a more formal, highly complicated chronograph. It s on the larger side, but that s becoming somewhat of a rarity today. Let s take a closer look.The Brellu...

Am I going to try to put as many television references as possible into this article or not? I needed to ask myself that question before starting this hands-on introduction to the new Mido Multifort TV Big Date S01E01. Well, obviously, I couldnt help myself, as you can read in the subtitle. But I will refrain from saying this watch is like season 1, episode 1 of a potential hit series. From now on, I will keep it focused. So, without further ado, heres an objective review of a new watch with a retro-looking TV dial. Keep reading until the end, and dont switch channels halfway, now. Oh, darn-As a young kid, the most horrible thing on TV was not the 8 oclock news. No, what truly upset me was t...

Doxa is an absolute fan favorite, so when a new release comes to light, it s bound to make waves. The Sub 200T is an all-new model, but there s no mistaking it for anything else but a Doxa. This watch should be a big hit for the brand with its smaller size and incredible number of variants.Doxa s current lineup of divers includes a wide array of vintage-inspired designs. The brands back catalog is well represented with the Sub 200, 300T, and 600T. They re well-loved, but if there s a complaint, it s that the brand lacks smaller watches. Today, everything changes with the new Sub 200T. This is a 39mm diver with an incredible number of color options. Doxa has always enjoyed a loyal cult-like f...

I am always happy to try a new Zenith watch, especially when it s made of precious materials. And thats precisely what this Chronomaster Sport is about, boasting a rose gold case, a spinel-, diamond-, and sapphire-set bezel, and a gold meteorite dial with diamonds.Chronomaster Sport 22.3100.3600/69.M3100This Zenith Chronomaster Sport in 18K rose gold is not for the fainthearted. Although I love gold watches (and I even own one with a dial with diamond hour indices), the additional gem-set bezel and golden meteorite dial make this model not for everyone. But hey, the watch showed up at Fratello HQ, and I was happy to volunteer for the hands-on review.We often hear that the Chronomaster Sport ...

The people at Swedish brand Bravur are about as crazy about watches as they are about cycling. Last year, the brand from B?stad gave us the Grand Tour Chronograph series inspired by the three grand tours - Giro dItalia, Tour de France, and Vuelta a Espa?a. This year, the inspiration comes from iconic cycling teams from the 50sC 80s. The colors of the Peugeot, Renault, and Mercier jerseys get a place on the dial of the watches in the Team Heritage collection. As a fan of both watches and cycling, one look at the dials of this trio of three-hand models made me think of some of the greatest riders of all time, like Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Raymond Poulidor. But I also think of the mor...

It s been almost a year since Tudor released the Black Bay GMT with the opaline white dial. Strangely enough, we never did a hands-on review of the watch. While it essentially was a line extension of the Black Bay GMT, the dial brings a certain praiseworthy attraction. The brand s second GMT is the Black Bay Pro. Its another popular model that seems to do well for Tudor. I had a chance to go hands-on with both shortly after another and compare them. It gave me the chance to find my favorite of the two. It was also good to see where Tudor could improve these popular models. It s time to find out more.The white-dial Tudor Black Bay GMT did not impress me when it came out. It got a lot of favor...

Last week, I introduced the new Mido Ocean Star GMT Special Edition to you. It s a relatively affordable vintage-inspired watch with a blue dial and flyer GMT movement inside. I also told you that I was quite excited about it because of its attractive design, modest proportions, and price. However, my opinion was entirely based on press images and a sugar-coated cover story that was provided with those pictures. Since then, I ve been able to go hands-on with the new Ocean Star GMT, wear it a little, and form a more proper opinion of it. And without spoiling the contents of this article too much, I m still excited because there s a whole lot to like about this watch.In the introduction articl...

The rigors of everyday life can wreak havoc on your skin. Your hands and wrists in particular have to withstand multiple sessions in which you wash and sanitize them. Most often, the result is irritated and cracked skin that can become extremely dry. And it shows - in your Instagram posts, for instance. Independent research shows us that 89% percent of watch fans who post wrist shots on Instagram feel disappointed with the result because of bad-looking wrists and hands. And thats why weve searched long and hard to find the ultimate solution to this nagging problem. We found it in the form of Fratello Wrist Butter, a luscious cream that nourishes, rejuvenates, softens, and revitalizes your sk...

Introducing a brand that has existed for six years might make us seem a bit late to the party. Then again, talking about a brand s history while it has only existed for six years might seem premature. Nevertheless, having written about several Robot models since 2021, we thought it was time to shine some light on the brand and company itself rather than on the watches. So I sat down with Bohematic s CEO Josef Zaji?ek, and this article is about what we discussed.From Bohematic to RobotBut before penning down my interview with Josef, let me start by explaining the differences between the two names I have dropped so far - Robot and Bohematic. For now, the latter, Bohematic s.r.o., is the name o...

The reality is that there are loads of choices for watches under the magic $1,000 threshold. Choosing the so-called best watches, however, is a challenge. It all depends on whether the watch will supplement a collection as a daily beater or perhaps be the first nicer watch for the buyer. I ve chosen three very different models with unique use cases, but all are well-designed watches and are anything but dull.We frequently bemoan the never-ending announcements of price increases from watch brands. But despite this supposed inflationary environment, the more affordable sector of the watch market has never been so rich. It may have taken 20 years, but we are finally seeing the real value of mic...

What better way for a watch brand to mark a significant anniversary than to present the result of a project that is equally challenging, ambitious, and just a little bit mad? Swatch introduced its revolutionary Sistem51 mechanical movement in 2013. It did so to mark 30 years since the brand s inception. The challenge Mr. Nick Hayek Sr. set out was to create a mechanical movement featuring the exact part count as the original Swatch s quartz movement. But this was not a one-off prototype or an idea for a limited run. Swatch intended to create a mechanical movement that the brand could use in many future watches. For this, Swatch built a new facility in Boncourt, a sleepy Swiss municipality ne...

It s Sunday morning! To be more specific, it s Easter Sunday. So grab a warm cup of coffee with a chocolate bunny, and get ready to vote. In this week s Sunday Morning Showdown, we decided to revisit a battle that we have had in the past. It s the Cosmograph Daytona against the Zenith Chronomaster Sport. But that first battle was almost two years ago. Now, dear Fratelli, the world is a different place. We have a new-generation Cosmograph Daytona, and Zenith just released one of its best Chronomaster Sport iterations. This is more than enough reason for a rematch!An immediate question you might have is why we haven t put two stainless steel versions of the same watches against each other. I...

Since 2024 began, I have wanted nothing more than a chance to talk and laugh with my grandfather again. This year is the 18th since his passing, which was also half of my life ago now. Perhaps because of that, I feel as if I could finally comprehend and appreciate all of his insight and wisdom. As heartbreaking as it is that we will remain realms apart, I will forever be thankful for one of the gifts he gave me - a deep appreciation for mechanical watches. Although he passed away just as my passion was blooming, I have not a shred of doubt that he planted the seed within me. Now, having reunited with four of my grandfather s watches, I will use them to learn more about him and honor his memo...

The Swatch Tate collection debuted on March 20th at London s Tate Modern gallery, home to over 76,000 art pieces. The reason for that is the latest Swatch art collaboration with Tate. There are seven new Swatch Tate models, each representing a specific artwork - Turner s Scarlet Sunset, Chagall s Blue Circus, Mir s Women and Bird in the Moonlight, Leger s Two Women Holding Flowers, Matisses Snail, Barns-Graham s Orange and Red on Pink, and Bourgeois s Spirals. For the last one, there s also a version with the SwatchPAY! system.Swatch Art Journey 2024Swatch and art go back a long way! Just two years after Swatch was founded, there was a Kiki Picasso collaboration in 1985. Over the years,...

When looking at last years turnover numbers, Longines is the #7 luxury watch brand in the world. You all know whos leading the pack, but did you know that Longines, with a turnover of CHF 1.11 billion, is in between Haute Horlogerie houses Richard Mille in the #6 spot and Vacheron Constantin in the #8 position? Richard Mille needed to sell 5,600 watches to get a turnover of CHF 1.54 billion, and VC turned over CHF 1.097 billion by selling 35,000 watches. Longines, being in the more affordable segment of luxury watches, had to sell no fewer than 1,600,000 timepieces. That is very impressive. But what impression does the brand with the winged hourglass logo - the oldest in-use registered trade...