Living close to the ocean has meant that I ve always had an affinity for watches that can handle a little seawater. It s no surprise, then, that I seem to gravitate towards dive watches. And for even longer than I ve had an active interest in watches, I ve been fascinated by photography, not only as an integral part of my day job but also as a personal passion. So it seems natural that I started experimenting with underwater photography last year, using a Nikonos-V film camera with a 35mm lens. This was the perfect film camera for holidays and camping trips because of its robust build and the joy of shooting film. With the wait and anticipation to see what sort of images I managed to take on...

Now that 2024 is here, it s time to look forward and predict the unpredictable. I say that because, really, who knows what will happen in the next 12 months? Somehow, though, it s still fun to think about what will come and what we desire for the year. When it comes to our favorite subject, I ve been heavily into simple watches for over a year now, and my interest in them shows no signs of abating. In 2024, you will likely find me even further down the rabbit hole!Simple watches - yet another nebulous term in our hobby. For me, the definition roughly describes mechanical, typically smaller watches with little to no complication and a modicum of water resistance. It also fits what was very mu...

Another Friday, another Top 5! This week s list is a continuation of last week s topic, our picks for best watches under $1,000. In that article, I already hinted at a follow-up with our picks in that price range from microbrands. The reality is that microbrands significantly changed the landscape of affordable watches. With a strong focus on creativity and offering the best possible options for the money, quite a few of these brands have done very well. This Top 5 focuses on the current models we love and that offer great value for money at under $1,000. While it was even more difficult than last week to whittle our choices down to just five, after a healthy discussion among our editors, we...

It s still the early days of 2024, and I admit I find myself somewhat unprepared. Though I ve had approximately 275 hours in the new year to think before this article goes live, I can t say I feel overly inspired going into it. That said, some of my resolutions will seek to address this directly. Looking at the rest of the year ahead of me feels like standing in front of a field of freshly fallen snow. The excitement of leaving those first few measured footprints is as enticing as it is unnerving. Sooner or later, though, I must take that first satisfying step and feel the powder compress into an inalterable icy footprint. Maybe that s a bit overdramatic, but the feeling is there. I tend to ...

People seek meaning. Some scientists believe that the human tendency to seek meaning could be the result of our cognitive abilities and social nature. And the search for the meaning in or of life - are you thinking about Monty Python already? - could ve been beneficial in the way humans adapted to their surroundings in the distant past. The meaning of life is less about survival as it is something more philosophical. People want to figure out lifes purpose because if they don t, it leaves them unfulfilled or dissatisfied with themselves. Achieving goals can help them find satisfaction and meaning, and success driven by passion and purpose also creates fulfilling meaning. And that leads me to...

When it became clear that Swatch would release a new Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms yesterday, I wasn t sure how people would react. The initial release in September of last year didn t replicate the hype and success of the MoonSwatch. Some people weren t that convinced about the more expensive, non-serviceable Scuba Fifty Fathoms. Of course, those doubts were still there for yesterday s release. Overall, though, I have to say that reactions have been quite positive. It shows that the all-black Ocean of Storms edition is a welcome addition to the Blancpain Swatch Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms collection.On Wednesday, a day before the release, our photographer Morgan and I had an appointme...

Last week, I talked about how one of my watch resolutions for 2023 had gone and some of the lessons I learned. For this week s #TBT, I d like to not only reflect a bit more but also share my goals for 2024. They include primarily maintaining a one-brand focus while also keeping my eyes open for past grails, discovering forgotten complications, and hunting more watch oddities. Let me elaborate.When I talked about how my 2023 resolutions informed my decisions throughout the year, astute readers pointed out in comments that my year was more about consolidation than downsizing. Telling yourself that you are downsizing when you sell a watch is not honest if you soon buy another watch, read one of...

Today, we have news of three new models that are joining the Seiko Black Series. These watches are notable for their black hard-coated cases, black dials, and green LumiBrite Pro detailing. Several Prospex models have been given the Black Series treatment over the past two years. Now we finally have one of the more popular dive watches as an option.The Seiko Black Series is defined by, unsurprisingly, its absence of color on the dial and case. However, extreme contrast comes in the form of green LumiBrite Pro from additions to the hands, indexes, and bezel pips. Seiko tells us that when looking at these watches, they should create the feeling of viewing an object through night-vision equipme...

My Day-Date ref. 18238 is not a new watch. In fact, this particular model I have here dates to 1991. In this new series called Exploring Evergreens, we review watches that have been around for over a decade - or long enough to feel ubiquitous - and ask ourselves whether they have managed to stand the test of time. Well address whether theyre still relevant, how they feel today, and, ultimately, if theyre worth their current prices. In some cases, when the authors own/have owned the specific pieces, theyll dig into how their feelings about them have evolved and whether or not they still deserve a spot in their collections. Well cover anything from the truly timeless and budget-friendly class...

I have the honor of kicking off a new series of articles on Fratello. This is Back to Basics, a series intended to explain the fundamentals of our hobby. The content covered may be familiar, even obvious, if you are a horological veteran. But with the watch passion spreading and attracting new people every day, this is our way of welcoming newcomers. In this first installment, I will cover the basic question: why are mechanical watches so expensive?Ironically, that isnt actually such a basic question. Or, at least, it is one with a rather complicated answer. I do see why Nacho assigned this topic to me, though, as I have spent the past year developing a watch of my own. As a result, I know a...

If I had stuck to my 2023 watch resolutions, I would be either wearing a Breitling Spatiographe or a titanium Girard-Perregaux pour Ferrari chronograph while writing this. Im not. That s because I didn t buy either of those watches. Instead, I bought other ones, and that taught me that I shouldn t make any resolutions about buying specific watches. Instead, Im going to be like a leopard in a tree. I won t actively search; instead, I will patiently wait for my prey to pass under my tree. My 2024 watch resolutions are based on patience, opportunism, and a thoughtful approach. It s a seemingly paradoxical combination, yes, but I will try to explain how it could/should work.You could say that my...

Within the last five years, to the delight of us watch geeks, we have seen several horological records broken, from power reserves to accuracy. And gone are the days of needing a 17mm thickness and a 45mm diameter to have a decent dive watch with a 200m depth rating. But a different lateral game afoot involves shaving and repositioning cogs, bridges, and gears. With shifting goals, who will win the Battle of Thin?Yes, the challenge is on. Bvlgari s remarkable turnaround saw the brand s Octo Finissimo beating records almost every year from 2014 to 2021. And Piaget is still a contender. But is the new championship winner from Richard Mille worth its nearly $2 million price? Is it even a watch ...

The new year had only just started when Swatch started sending new teasers into the world. Ocean of Storms ads were printed in various newspapers, and at the beginning of this week, the message was also published on the brand s Instagram page. The ads also mentioned January 11th, 2024, the date of the first new moon of the year. Of course, all this information referred to an upcoming release, but what would it be this time - a new MoonSwatch, a new Scuba Fifty Fathoms, or a completely new collaboration? We now know that it s the new Blancpain Swatch Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms Ocean of Storms.As soon as I saw the first ad, I suspected it would be a new watch in the Blancpain Swatch co...

What if a watch brand offered an iconic watch design in three different sizes? And what if all of those sizes were well done and properly proportioned, and no odd artifacts or compromises were made during the resizing design process? If you follow my writing, you know that I feel this is quite rare. I usually find that there is a specific size at which a certain watch design clicks. Well, not with the IWC Pilot s Watch! I have three in front of me with six millimeters between them as I write this, and, boy, there is a lot to unpack! How do you choose the right one for you? Lets find out!I am limiting myself purely to the sizes and proportions and their ramifications for the wearing experienc...

We re back with a new episode of Fratello On Air, and this time, we ask what would make each other buy a new . While there s no question that the brand makes amazing watches, we tend to be vintage lovers around here. Considering that, what would make us pull the trigger on a new model? This podcast player is blocked because you did not accept marketing cookies. Change cookie settings A new watch is on everyone s shopping list, right? Not so fast. Neither of your co-hosts has a new at the top of our shopping lists. So, what would sway us? We talk about the models we do enjoy and a couple of desired changes to the lineup. Then, we shift gears and discuss the Longines Spirit Zulu Time and...

In March of last year, Seiko unveiled the first mechanical GMT watches in its Prospex collection. The SPB381, SPB383, and SPB385 were Mini Marinemasters in green, black, and ice blue. Seiko calls this model the 1968 Diver s Re-interpretation. Before, it was available as a dive watch only, but since last year, it s also available with a GMT function. Now the Japanese watchmaker is introducing the Seiko Prospex SPB439. This new limited edition of 1,500 pieces features a textured white dial and supports its Save the Ocean marine conservation program.This watch is no surprise to us all here at Fratello. As Lex already said, 2024 will be the year of GMT watches, and Seiko is here for it. The bran...

With all of the new watches that came our way in 2023, it seems that we overlooked one of the more attractive releases. The Credor Kuon series was first announced in September and went largely unnoticed. We ll blame it on the fact that these are sadly JDM-only watches. Thankfully, some Japanese sellers are happy to ship overseas and often offer a discount versus retail. It certainly makes these beauties worth looking into…The Credor Kuon is the latest series of watches from the Seiko group s most exclusive and premium brand. Sitting alongside the Goldfeather and the Eichi II, the new Kuon takes its name from the Japanese word for eternity and is meant to signify the endless flow of tim...

Watches and Wonders 2024 might still be months away, but looking at the IWC Aquatimer Automatic that recently arrived at Fratello HQ got me thinking of the upcoming watch salon. Last year, it was all about the revamped Ingenieur. What will we see emerge from the manufacture in Schaffhausen in 2024? Undoubtedly, there will be a few new Pilots Watch models since those form the backbone of IWC, but what about a completely new Aquatimer? I think its about bloody time! The current collection is 10 years old. Having said that, the 42mm Aquatimer Automatic didnt feel outdated or old-fashioned on the wrist. But it did make me ponder what IWC has up its sleeve for 2024.The 10 references in IWCs curre...

I didnt buy a single Speedmaster for the second consecutive year, which feels wrong. However, my hopes are high for 2024, though, after Omega showed us that white-dial Speedmaster on Daniel Craig s wrist.Reviewing my watch resolutions from 2023That said, lets quickly look back at my watch resolutions of last year (you can find the article here). I had two watches in my mind to purchase in 2023, and although I bought more than two, I only ended up with one from my previous watch resolutions, the Breguet Tradition ref. 7027. Among others, I also added the Straum Jan Mayen Fratello edition with the red dial, our Aquastar Deepstar II collaboration with the pink dial, and an Ebel Sport Classic Ch...

By reading the title, you might think that I have completely lost it. But before you descend to the comments section, hear me out. With 2024 just starting, the rumors of potential new models have started. A lot of them center around a new Milgauss. While I love the Milgauss, I would love a new color variant of an existing model. It s wishful thinking based on two simple facts. Some people call the GMT-Master II ref. 126711CHNR in Everose gold and steel the modern Root Beer. Is it really, though? The new two-tone yellow gold and steel 126713GRNR with its gray and black bezel also possesses a vintage charm that we have missed with the modern GMT-Master II. This is why I have a simple wish - a...