It s not just watches themselves that can be polarizing. Watch stores can be as well. I recently went to the opening event of the new (and worlds biggest) IWC boutique on Amsterdams P.C. Hooftstraat, and before arriving there, I counted numerous monobrand stores with the logos of competitors. There are also a couple of multi-brand stores around, but the current trend in watch retail is most definitely mono, not multi. As a watch enthusiast/collector, what is your take on the continuous rise of monobrand boutiques all clotted together on one shopping street? Is it your idea of watch heaven or watch hell?Allow me to paint you an image of the current situation on Amsterdams most luxurious shopp...

The time of year is upon us once again. Yes, it s time to pick the best watches of 2023 - or, at least, my favorites. It seems like only yesterday that I was putting my 2022 list together. But another 365 days have passed, and many more watches have been released. Narrowing it down is never easy, especially with so many memorable introductions. These days, we truly are spoiled for choice. Regardless of personal preference when it comes to new watches, there are bound to be a handful of releases that ll suit just about anyone s taste. I find that I can t shake the appeal of watches that meet two specific criteria. The first (and a rather subjective one) is that they range in price from relati...

Another Friday, another list! After last week s compilation of this year s 10 best chronographs, it s time to move on to the best GMT watches. It s a popular category and a personal favorite, as some of you will know. That s why compiling a list of the best travel companions with the help of the other Fratello editors was great fun. We could have also picked dual-time watches and worldtimers, but we recently covered those in two separate articles. Additionally, when it comes to travel watches, a GMT is the obvious choice. That s why we have created this list of our 10 favorite GMT watches of 2023. Let s jump right in! GMT-Master II 126713GRNR/126718GRNRIt s safe to say that the two new GMT-M...

There are 126 references in the Carl F. Bucherer watch catalog, and ref. 00.10927.08.33.22 is the one you see right here. Its a glossy 40mm chronograph with classic looks and a reverse panda dial. CFB is the private label of -owned watch retailer Bucherer, meaning this chronograph has to compete with a lot of other critters in a very competitive habitat. And not just there, mind you. The brand s watches are also for sale at other shops. That raises the question if the Carl F. Bucherer Manero Flyback has what it takes to survive in the wild.Two silver sub-registers on a black dial. The look is familiar. The brand? Maybe not so much. The Bucherer name might ring a bell or two. Well, it should ...

Breitling took us all by surprise when it announced its acquisition of Universal Geneve on December 12th. I wasnt so much the fact that someone would try and bring UG back to its former glory that was unexpected. On the contrary, that was long overdue. Rather, it was Breitlings involvement that came as a surprise. But now that we know, admittedly, we are filled with a mix of excitement, trepidation, and expectation.There will be quite a lot of time between the announcement and the first new watches under the Universal Geneve brand. That offers me ample opportunity to offer some cheeky, unsolicited advice on how I would approach the challenge. I will combine those with some expectations based...

We all go through phases. Nowadays, I happen to find myself enjoying white dials like never before. I can t get enough of them. Their lightness and pure energy shine far. I made up my mind already. On Christmas Eve this Sunday, I will wear one of these five shortlisted pieces.Three years ago, on Christmas Eve in 2020, I picked a?little black Alpina 943. It is a rare watch, it feels festive, and I couldn t imagine a better fit for Christmas Eve than a true gilt dial cased in 14K gold. Well, here I am, the same but different me, lining up my white-dial watches for this Sunday.White-dial option #1: Datejust 16030I just realized that I haven t properly shared this one on #TBT yet. I must fix th...

About two months ago, I covered the release of the new Czapek Quai des Bergues 40.5mm N17 Double Soleil on Fratello. Now I ve had the time to go hands-on and truly appreciate what this watch is all about. Does the new size make sense between the existing 38.5mm and 42.5mm offerings? And what impression does this modern-formal Czapek make on me overall?I have spent some time with the black-dial version in steel. As you can see in the photos, this one came on a smooth black leather strap. If you were to purchase one, you would get an alligator version. For export/customs reasons, that has been omitted from the press sample.The Czapek Quai des Bergues 40.5mm N17 Double SoleilThis new Czapek Q...

The Ebel 1911 Chronograph has returned, and the result is a modernized version of an immediately recognizable watch from the 1980s. I can t help but feel slightly nostalgic when looking at these new pieces. It s no longer a passe feeling, though, as I now see these Ebel pieces as enduring classics. We can argue later…Ah, Ebel. It s a brand that many of us recall from the 80s and 90s as one of the most popular on the market. With their distinctive, soft, hexagonal cases and amazing bracelets, these watches once battled quite victoriously against the likes of and Cartier for luxury supremacy. They were the thing in so much of the world and then, poof, Ebel seemed to disappear. It was ...

Hello, and welcome to the 50th and penultimate episode of Fratello Talks this year. Today, we dive into the topic of building a watch brand in 2023. Joining your host Nacho are Morgan and Thomas, and the latter comes well equipped to share some insights into the experience. As some of you may know, Thomas, along with being a writer for Fratello, is also the brain behind the upcoming watch brand VPC. But what exactly goes into starting a watch brand today? What are the challenges one faces? And what are some of the most satisfying moments along the way? In this episode, we ll get into this and much more. But first, we need to check what the guys have on their wrists today.This video is blocke...

At the end of the year, we like to look back at all the watch goodness we have seen in 2023. In good tradition, Seiko has graced us with a steady stream of new releases. That s why we decided to do another overview article like last year. This article will discuss the different Seiko releases we covered on Fratello in 2023. While it is nowhere near a complete list, it gives a good overview of the great diversity of novelties. So, without further ado, let s check out some of this year s best Seiko watches.As most of you will know, Seiko releases hundreds of new references yearly. Sometimes, keeping up with all the new Seiko watches we see in the office is challenging. If you blink, you might ...

Its that time of the year! The days are short, and Christmas is fast approaching. If you werent already in a sentimental mood, here is a personal years overview to bring you there. Grab some hot chocolate milk, throw on your ugliest sweater, and gather around the screen. These are my favorite watches of 2023, a highly subjective assortment of pieces that impressed me over the past year.I have followed no guidelines other than my gut feeling. A watch makes my list if it tempted me to buy it for my own wearing pleasure. But before I share my 2023 favorites, let me briefly describe the overall impression that the watch world made on me in 2023.The watch world in 2023This year has?been an intere...

This past November, I had the opportunity to attend the WatchPro event in London. It was a great evening of seeing both old and new faces along with some fantastic watches. One of the pieces that caught my eye came from a small Czech company. The Robot Aerodynamic treads a dangerous path with its auto-inspired details, but it struck me as unique and very well done.It was toward the end of the night at WatchPro when a group of us, including our own Dave Sergeant, were finishing our rounds. We were well into the open bar when we strode past Robot Watches, an up-and-coming Czech brand. The team engaged us and asked if we d like to take a look at their pieces. After scanning the showcases, my ey...

As the end of the year draws closer, it s time to take a look back at the Fratello team s most worn watches of 2023. In this article, we ve compiled a selection of the most wrist-hogging watches from a handful of the Fratello staff. They range from vintage to new and dressy to sporty, and each has a story of its own. This year, the selection is a real mixed bag. Have a read through each editor s section, and be sure to let us know your favorite in the comments below!Mike: Patek Philippe Calatrava 570Like most collectors, I try to do a diligent job of rotating my watches. Therefore, it says something if a watch that entered the collection in August(!!) qualifies as the watch I wore most often...

A few weeks ago, I attended a Speedmaster get-together with like-minded watch enthusiasts, and I took some Speedmaster references with me to show to the others. One of the watches among them was a Speedmaster Professional Moonphase 345.0809, also known as the SpeedyMoon. I was a little bit surprised to see how popular this watch was among the guests. But it was equally surprising that some had never seen or heard about this edition before.The Speedmaster Moonphase 345.0809 combines two of the complications I love the most - the chronograph and a moonphase indicator. It makes the dial a bit more cluttered, but the beautiful moon and stars on a disc make up for that. The SpeedyMoon was produce...

I know Hermes isn t a brand you immediately associate with watchmaking. The French maison is better known for its high-quality leather goods and silk scarves. However, the brand s watches with striking designs, such as those in the H08 and the Arceau collections, certainly stand out from the crowd. I was invited to take a look behind the scenes at the Hermes manufacture. There, it became clear to me that the same care and attention that go into designing the watches are also present when making them.The first Hermes watch was made as early as 1912. Actually, it was more like a pocket watch housed in a leather wrist strap. It was made as a gift for Emile Hermess daughter Jacqueline. It wasn t...

Yes, Fratello On Air is here for you during the holiday period! In this episode, we talk about some wild watches with integrated bracelets that stray from the norm. Folks, there are loads to choose from at all price levels! Pour some mulled wine, and enjoy the ride! This podcast player is blocked because you did not accept marketing cookies. Change cookie settings Ah, integrated bracelets. Some watch enthusiasts like them, while others abhor these fixtures. We re fine with either stance, but today, we discuss some overlooked vintage opportunities that fit within the ever-popular subgenre. We have a lot of fun in this episode, and we hope you come along for the laughs as well!Handgelenks ...

Skiing down Mont Blanc, sailing the Pacific Ocean, and sitting lost in a septic tank for over a year. These are just some of the incredible adventures that Ric Outrims Submariner has endured, and it has kept ticking without complaint. But its greatest adventure has just wrapped up, and this one took almost five years.?The lost and found vintage SubmarinerBack in July, we brought you the incredible story of Rics lost Submariner. Australian professional surfer Matt Cuddihy found the watch while he was snorkeling and collecting rubbish off the Queensland coast near the surfing town of Noosa. Ric saw our story on Fratello, and before long, he had proven his connection to the lost thanks to a...

I am running out of words to describe Certina s knack for releasing vintage-inspired dive watches. The brand just hits the nail on the head every time. It all started with the PH200M. That was a success and only the beginning of what would become the most incredible line of diver re-releases. A few years and a handful of excellent models later, we arrive at the Certina DS Super PH1000M, a remarkable diver for a fair price and in not one but two versions. I was lucky enough to spend some time with the orange-dial model, which did not cease to impress me.I was torn between the standard black-dial version and the orange limited edition. In the end, I had to go with the rare variant. There s jus...

In August of this year, the news broke that had bought Bucherer, a multi-brand retail store with over 100 locations worldwide. In 53 of those, Bucherer sells …as well as its own watch brand Carl F. Bucherer. And when I say own, I actually mean previously owned by the retailer and now owned by The Crown. Therefore, I should refer to CFB as the Bucherer house brand. Anyway, the Carl F. Bucherer Patravi ScubaTec Verde came to Fratello HQ, and as soon as I saw the watch, it started to raise all kinds of questions. Would buyers ever buy one of these watches? And, more practically, what would the Carl F. Bucherer Patravi ScubaTec Verde be like on the wrist? Here are some answers, theories,...

Until recently, my only sighting of the Deepsea Challenge was earlier this year. In Geneva, during Watches and Wonders, the brand with the crown showed me one that I could try out for a little bit. It was a humbling experience in more ways than one, mainly because of the watchs extravagant proportions. launched the very special dive instrument late in 2022, and what caught a lot of attention was the fact that it was the first (non-prototype) watch in titanium from the brand. The watch in RLX titanium now has a smaller cousin in the shape of the 42mm Yacht-Master, and it was that watch that I longed for even more after handling the 50mm Deepsea Challenge that surfaced out of the (deep) blue...