Quartz is having something of a quiet comeback. After decades of scorn and contempt, many have come to appreciate the ease of use that quartz provides. Furthermore, not all quartz watches are the same. Today s new Grand Seiko SBGX355, already nicknamed Snowflake Quartz, uses the brand s famed 9F62 movement and comes in a highly wearable case. I ll go ahead and call this one right now - this watch will be a big hit.The Grand Seiko Snowflake SBGA211 is arguably the brand s modern-day classic. When most folks think of Grand Seiko, this is the watch that comes to mind. The Spring Drive-powered model with its textured dial first saw light back in 2005, and it s still incredibly popular. Today s n...
Any young watch brand constantly has to make choices about designs, costs, quality, and many other aspects that affect the organization every day. In the case of Serica, a young Parisian brand founded in 2019, elegance, reliability, and accuracy steer the decision-making process. In terms of elegance, I don t think there was anyone who thought that Serica wasn t on the right track. However, when it comes to accuracy and reliability, there have been some bumps in the road. That s why, going forward, the brand will have every movement certified by COSC as a chronometer. Not only that but, after final assembly, each watch will also undergo further tests to ensure optimal performance.Here at Fra...
Daniel Roth is a name that carries weight in the world of Haute Horlogerie. When LVMH, the brand s current owner, announced its revival back in 2023, it filled us with anticipation and trepidation. Could this work under the umbrella of a big luxury group? Will LMVH do the Daniel Roth name justice? Well, today, we finally get to see and judge for ourselves.We already saw the first renders and dial samples last year. Now, however, we can have a closer look at the finished product. Lets dive in!Daniel Roth before Daniel RothBefore we get to the watch, let me paint some context. Daniel Roth (1945) started his watchmaking career at Jaeger-LeCoultre and later Audemars Piguet. After that, in 1975, ...
Welcome to this week s episode of Fratello Talks. Today, Nacho is joined by Morgan and RJ to discuss the topic of watch servicing. More specifically, they answer common questions on the topic, including: when should you service your watch? How often should you service your watch? And how much should you expect to pay for a service? Keeping your beloved watch shipshape is not something you should overlook. Most watch brands have a recommended service interval, but do you really need to stick to this advice? We don t think so, especially in the common case where you own/wear multiple watches. It s a topic that s not as clear-cut as it may seem. Today, the guys tackle the topic, give you their ...
The history of London spans thousands of years. It is a city built over cities, with the ancient past still present just beneath the surface. As the seat of power for the British Empire, London amassed incredible goods, technologies, and minds. Some of the best devices that measure time and the people who made them are part of London s rich history. Today, that past can be explored amid a modern city.I had the opportunity to spend three weeks in London during the winter holiday. While it was a long trip, I had a longer list of things that I wanted to do and see. I got to most of them but also left plenty for next time. As a watch enthusiast and casual history buff, experiencing London s rich...
After the Carrera Dato Chronograph that we showed you on Monday, we have something a tad more complicated today. This is the teal-dial TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon. And it is all in the name - well, except for the fact that this new watch is part of the very popular Glassbox collection. So you get a tourbillon, and you get that beautiful curved flange along the dial s perimeter.TAG Heuer struck gold with the introduction of the Glassbox style to the Carrera collection. The range is now quickly expanding. While we saw the re-emergence of an important historic Heuer reference on Monday, today, we get a new colorway for that oh-so-desirable mechanism, the tourbillon. Lets dive in an...
Yes, this is a hands-on with the new Daytona in platinum, the ref. 126506. But guess what? There also was an old platinum Daytona ref. 116506 with an ice-blue, diamond-set dial at hand for some live comparisons. Two platinum Daytonas at HQ at once - is that too much of a good thing? Nope, absolutely not.It wasnt a big celebration, and yet it was. Last year, (kind of) celebrated the 60th anniversary of its Cosmograph Daytona. The brand did so by updating the collection that celebrated the Daytonas 50th anniversary 10 years ago. What was the biggest change? Well, it must have been the fact that the range-topping model, the platinum ref. 126506, is the first sports watch with a display case ...
Last November, I got my first taste of the remarkable creations of Cyrus Geneve. The Klepcys GMT Palm Green and Ocean Blue were a striking combination of state-of-the-art design and impressive watchmaking. They were a great first taste, for sure. Another one of the brand s standout pieces is the Klepcys DICE, which Cyrus released just over two years ago. DICE stands for Double Independent Chronograph Evolution, which hints directly at what made this piece special. I got the opportunity to go hands-on with a new version of that same watch. It combines titanium and carbon for a piece that stands out both technically and visually. Could it be even better than the Klepcys GMT? I had a chance to ...
Today, we ll take a brief look at the latest model in the Chopard Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph collection. Since 1988, Chopard has been involved with the Mille Miglia event. This newest piece, however, moves away from Italy to celebrate another automotive event. The French Limited Edition will be shown at Salon Retromobile in Paris and available in France.My earliest experience with a Chopard Mille Miglia Chronograph comes from roughly 20 years ago. I was visiting a supplier near Berlin in the summer and met the company for dinner at my hotel. My contacts brought their CEO, who had just signed on after retiring from a German automaker as a senior executive. He had done well, and I commen...
It s fun to see a chronograph in full-blooded racing form. There is a strong connection between racing and watchmaking that influences a distinct, instantly recognizable style. Over time, the style has evolved, as has racing. For many people, though, the true romance of racing and racing chronographs is in the past. I also love the romance that a nicely executed vintage racing chronograph offers in comparison to modern-style racing chronographs. That is why I was curious to check out the Depancel Allure Manual Chronograph. It takes us back to the 1970s, an era when racing was an exciting adventure with possible dangers lurking around every corner. It s time to find out more!Straight out of t...
After a full year of Fratello REM Speedmaster straps, we decided to continue this collaboration in 2024. Along the way, we gained more ideas and inspiration for future strap designs. We re thankful to all of you who have ordered one of these straps (some of you simply ordered every one of them), and we hope you enjoy them!For the first Fratello REM strap of 2024, we decided to go with a design that works well with the Speedmaster Professional Japan Racing (2004) and the Speedmaster Mark II 145.014 with a racing dial. However, in our opinion, it will also look good on the regular Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch.Speedmaster and racingAs you probably know (and the name suggests), the Spe...
The Bvlgari Octo Finissimo isn t a watch that really needs a lot of color to stand out. Its extremely flat and geometric design already makes it one of the most original watches to wear. However, for this year s LVMH Watch Week, Bvlgari is launching two colorful versions of its 10-year-old icon. The first is a version in 18K yellow gold with a blue sunburst dial. The second is a variant in 904L steel with a copper dial inspired by the Italian region of Tuscany.Bvlgari has already released a multitude of Octo Finissimo variants since the watch s debut in 2014. I think my favorite is the titanium one with the sketches on the dial. However, the CarbonGold ones that Thomas wrote about also looke...
Building a compact collection that ticks all the boxes is a recurring challenge in the world of watches. And whether it s hypothetically whittling down or building a dream draft of watches, it can be a lot of fun. Today, we kick off a series in which members of the Fratello editorial team hack through their private stock to build five-watch collections that are perfect for them. And though you should never pick favorites, in this series, we re doing it anyway.Picking five favorites from the watch box certainly isn t as challenging as some of the other well-established consolidation exercises. The two- or three-watch collection comes to mind as significantly more difficult, let alone the admi...
Boisterous watch fans, rejoice! These three new Hublot watches will scratch your itch for color instantly. And apart from the colors, the watches are out of the ordinary in every possible way. The Big Bang Unico Green Saxem, for instance, features a case made of a brightly colored, transparent, sapphire-like material. And the Classic Fusion Tourbillon Orlinski comes in two very vibrant shades of ceramic - Sky Blue and Yellow MagicSay what you will about Hublot, but the brand does use some very interesting materials for its watches. Steel is the odd one out in a collection where titanium, ceramic, and sapphire take center stage. In the case of the Big Bang Unico Green Saxem, Hublot introduces...
Zenith has been very consciously adding new models to its Chronomaster Sport lineup. Last year, the brand released the first two models with a stainless steel bezel, which looked very nice. Additionally, Zenith released the Aaron Rodgers limited edition. Besides having a green dial and bezel, it was also the first Chronomaster Sport with Arabic numerals for the hour markers. Zenith is following up on that release with a regular green model this year. The brand is now also introducing a new rose gold Chronomaster Sport with a meteorite dial and a gem-set bezel. What s not to love?Last year s Zenith Chronomaster Sport Aaron Rodgers was a limited edition of just 250 pieces. The reactions to tha...
These are exciting times at Zenith. With former Zenith CEO Julien Tornare moving on to TAG Heuer and new CEO Beno?t de Clerck taking over, it will be interesting to see what is next for the brand. What Tornare and his creative team of Romain Marietta and Sebastien Gobert achieved was quite wonderful, meaning that the new CEO De Clerck has some pretty big shoes to fill. Though it was developed while Tornare was still at the helm, the new Zenith Chronomaster Original Triple Calendar is the first important release that De Clerck will present. And at first glance, it is the perfect next step for the Chronomaster Original line. Let s find out more!A Zenith El Primero Triple Calendar is not necess...
After introducing the Carrera Glassbox models in 2023, TAG Heuer unveiled its latest addition to this collection during LVMH Watch Week in Miami. Meet the TAG Heuer Carrera Dato Chronograph with a teal dial. Based on the 1968 Heuer Carrera 45 Dato, this Carrera has a date window at 9 oclock.In 2021, TAG Heuer reintroduced the Dato in collaboration with our friends at Hodinkee. But, of course, that model did not feature the Glassbox crystal and curved flange around the dial. Today, TAG Heuer reveals the new Carrera Dato Chronograph with both of those elements plus a striking teal-green dial. According to the brand, this combination pays homage to a rich history while embracing a vibrant futur...
Today, Hublot is releasing a fascinating timepiece, the likes of which most of us have probably never seen. According to CEO Ricardo Guadalupe, I gave our designers and watchmakers carte blanche, and this is the fruit of their labors. Well, they certainly didnt hold back! Let me introduce you to the Hublot MP-10 Tourbillon Weight Energy System, the latest watch from the Manufacture Piece skunk works of Hublot.This is a limited edition of 50 pieces with a theme - verticalization. Yes, thats a word. Lets have a closer look at the madness that is the Hublot MP-10.Hublot MP-10: A vertical approach to watchmakingNormally, you have a handset pointing out the time on a horizontal dial. Also, on the...
IFL Watches is one of the remarkable success stories of the past few years within the world of watches. I vividly remember seeing the brand s Tissot PRX Arctic Sky and Midnight Sky models for the first time. At the hands of IFLW s artists, the PRX had transformed into something even more unique with beautiful handpainted dials. I even thought of buying one before a regular PRX. Ever since then, I have been watching all the different releases that the Stockholm-based company has created. We have seen several models from G-Shock, Tissot, Oris, Timex, and Seiko, but the newest brand to join that list is Citizen. IFL Watches made a special custom version of the brand s popular Tsuyosa Automatic ...
One of the many things I love about a good watch is its permanence. A properly built watch, well maintained, will not expire. This has been the case for decades now, but it is particularly evident these days through its contrast with our quick-consumption habits. However, although watches have long been made to last, some things have changed. Today, I examine a basic question: what has improved and what hasnt in terms of watch design and manufacturing?It is interesting to see how watches are still changing as it is such a mature product category. This isnt fringe technology that is in rapid development. Watches are also products that were arguably perfected a long time ago, so changes tend t...
