Dubai Watch Week has built a reputation for giving brands the freedom to do more than show new watches, and Audemars Piguet has taken full advantage of that. The House of Wonders exhibition forms the core of its presence this year. It is a traveling setup that blends history, design, and the landscapes of the Vallee de Joux, giving visitors a clear look at how the Manufacture developed its identity. The route through the exhibition moves from early clocks to modern creative work, picking out the details that shaped AP rather than overwhelming visitors with information. It is a confident reminder that everything the brand does today is tied to decades of incremental craft.The wider program fi...
One of the best surprises of this year was the release of the RZE UTD-8000 series. With it, RZE demonstrated that small brands can indeed enter the digital-watch market traditionally dominated by prominent, established names. More importantly, the young Singaporean brand demonstrated that was is possible to offer a series of digital watches that remain true to the brand s philosophy. With the new UTD-8000-CKG, RZEW introduces a new model featuring a Cerakote green case, a black DLC bezel, and an amber-colored display. The result is a military-style UTD-8000 that looks brilliant. I had the opportunity to find out more about this new release.As Thomas explained in his introductory article abou...
Why not release a new range of modern motorsports-inspired watches, preferably chronographs, with the name Las Vegas? The limited-edition TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph for the Las Vegas Grand Prix 2025 made me think. Just like the Monaco Grand Prix, the Las Vegas Grand Prix, held since 2023, is a street course. Another similarity is that both places are centers of gambling. However, the Monaco Grand Prix is a traditional event, whereas the Las Vegas Grand Prix is still in the process of establishing its tradition. So come on, TAG Heuer, boost the race by honoring it with a watch! Please give us a square - or any wild geometric shape - TAG Heuer Las Vegas Chronograph next year. But first, we m...
Welcome, Fratelli! Over the past four weeks, it has been Dress Watch Season here at Fratello. We asked you to vote for what you thought was the best dress watch of the year. Now the results are in, and the word is out: the 34mm A. Lange & S?hne 1815 is the best dress watch of 2025! In the final, the modestly sized A. Lange & S?hne 1815 had the upper hand against the Breguet Classique Souscription 2025 from the start. Over multiple days, it never gave up, which ultimately led to it becoming the victor of the inaugural Fratello Dress Watch Season. Let s find out how this little Lange claimed its victory.When we started our journey roughly a month ago, we had one simple goal - to find t...
Watch collectors often discuss design, materials, and mechanical nuances, but the conversation frequently shifts toward something less tangible - the stories tied to these objects. Whether passed down through family, acquired during memorable moments, or simply worn through everyday life, watches tend to gather meaning in ways their manufacturers cannot always predict. On this weeks episode of Fratello Talks, Nacho and RJ are joined by Fratello writer Henry, who is visiting Europe all the way from Australia. Together, they discuss how those stories form, what gives them weight, and how they influence the way enthusiasts relate to the watches in their collections. But first, a mandatory wrist...
Some watches catch you off guard, and then there are the ones that genuinely stop you in your tracks. The Ulysse Nardin Urwerk Ur-Freak belongs firmly in the latter camp. I first saw it during Geneva Watch Days a couple of months back, inside Ulysse Nardins boutique, when someone slid a non-disclosure agreement across the counter. That might sound like standard practice, but it isnt. Most of the time, new releases are shown behind closed doors, based on trust and discretion. When theres paperwork, you know youre about to see something significant.What I saw next was unlike anything I expected - a watch born from two of the most original minds in modern horology. Ulysse Nardin and Urwerk ha...
The new Girard-Perregaux Laureato Three Gold Bridges is the latest introduction to celebrate the iconic watch s 50th birthday. Just last month, the Fifty debuted to great fanfare with its purely retro appearance. Today s release blends the original look with one of Girard-Perregaux s most well-known contributions to watchmaking. The triple-bridge movement was introduced in 1867, so the application on the Laureato truly bridges old and new.Girard-Perregaux has a strong tie within my family. After all, my father purchased a high-frequency model in the early 70s on my parents honeymoon. Today s Laureato Three Gold Bridges partially has its roots in this era, but its movement stems from a much...
Are you familiar with the sad beige aesthetic? In case you dont, sad beige is also known as sad beige mom, and its a visual aesthetic that revolves around the use of little to no color in one s household, appearance, and style. Sad beige is even plainer than vanilla. However, beige is also seen as classy due to its neutral character, which can be described as sophisticated and timeless. Beige evokes a sense of calmness, simplicity, and understated luxury. And thats the kind of beige feeling I get when I see the Laurent Ferrier Classic Origin Beige.The way I see it, beige can be hit or miss. Beige polyester is awful, but beige cashmere is lovely. The dial Laurent Ferrier created for the Class...
Louis Vuitton introduced its time-only Escale dress watch last year to mark the collection s 10th anniversary. We found the rose gold and platinum models with their trunk-inspired design and attractive grainy dials quite charming. RJ characterized them as dress watches that didn t look like your typical grandfather s watch. Well, the same is true of the two limited editions that the brand is introducing today. Apart from a beautiful malachite or turquoise dial, the platinum cases also feature a stone-ornamented case band.The new Escale Ornamental Stones models cost $65,500 before taxes, and Louis Vuitton will only make 30 pieces of each version. Read on for a quick first impression. The new...
TAG Heuer is best known for its attainable racing-inspired chronographs. However, every so often, the official timekeeper of Formula 1 drops an exotic timepiece. Today s new Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph Air 1 debuts at Dubai Watch Week, and we re excited to take a closer look.Avant-garde watches are a relatively normal occurrence from TAG Heuer. While many of the brand s designs are rooted in the past, we enjoy the occasional futuristic release. In my opinion, the best use the Monaco as a base. The new Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph Air 1, however, is not simply a color variant. As we ll see, it introduces a new case-making technology, and it looks fantastic.The TAG Heuer Monaco Split-...
The Oris ProPilot Date receives an overhaul, future-proofing the brands modern tool watch. The new generation features a redesigned 41mm case and textured dials with a choice of three colors. The Oris ProPilot Date keeps the collections aviation DNA but leans into improved ergonomics and restrained detailing aimed at everyday wear. These are lofty ambitions for sure, but do these new models live up to them?Let me answer that first burning question straight away: the new ProPilot still features caliber 733. That means these sit on the affordable end of the Oris?catalog, which I am sure many enthusiasts will enjoy. Lets have a closer look! The new Oris ProPilot DateThe ProPilot line has been ...
As 2025 draws to a close, we are slowly getting ready to look back at some of this year s best releases. But the wonderful people at Chopard said, Hold your horses! We are not done yet. With the stunning L.U.C Grand Strike, the brand celebrates the 30th anniversary of its manufacture in style. Incidentally, it is one of this year s horological highlights. The L.U.C Grand Strike is the outcome of more than 11,000 hours of focused research and development. The result is a wonderfully complicated watch with a grande sonnerie, petite sonnerie, and minute repeater. On top of that, it is an effortlessly elegant timepiece that makes for an impressive celebratory statement.Simply reading through the...
Twenty years after the debut of the first Planet Ocean, Omega has introduced the fourth generation of this collection of professional dive watches. The update features a complete redesign, with significant changes to the case and bracelet architecture. There are also technical improvements that help bring it up to par with the brands ever-improving performance standards. While the design has evolved, the Planet Ocean retains its core identity. The collection continues to draw on Omegas ocean-going heritage, preserving the key elements that have defined the line since its introduction.Today, we get to witness the next step in the Planet Ocean lineup s evolution, which coincides with the model...
The Brew Metric Teddy Baldassarre Edition brings together Brews coffee-themed Metric chronograph and YouTuber-turned-retailer Teddy Baldassarre. This special edition keeps the Metrics compact 36mm case and VK68 mecha-quartz movement while adding a layered blue dial, a revised handset, and a new engraved case back.The collaboration traces back to a 2018 conversation between Teddy and Brew founder Jonathan Ferrer. This release feels like a natural extension of that early connection - a curated version of the Metric with some aesthetic changes.The Brew Metric Teddy Baldassarre EditionBrew designed the Metric around a passion for coffee, intending it as an espresso-shot timer. The Teddy Baldassa...
Last weekend was the third edition of the Speedmaster GTG Netherlands, initiated and organized by Speedmaster fan @watchstick_81. A healthy total of 57 guests from 13 countries gathered on a Sunday afternoon at a beautiful former estate from 1758 near the city of Utrecht. All of these people had one thing in common - a love for Omega s Speedmaster chronograph watches. This event was only accessible via a personal invitation to keep things exclusive (and safe).Speedmaster GTG Netherlands Part IIIAn Omega representative was present to showcase some of the recently introduced Speedmaster watches, as well as Moonwatch Only authors Anthony Marquie and Gregoire Rossier to introduce their new book,...
Today, we go hands-on with the latest Norqain release. The Wild One Meteorite 42mm Special Edition is the first watch from the brand to use this exciting material as a dial medium. Plus, as is normally true of the watches in the Wild One line, it debuts a new case color in the company s proprietary Norteq carbon material. The result is another fun and visually captivating release.Since earlier this year, I ve started covering Norqain, and the releases have come at a steady pace. I ve enjoyed everything I ve had my hands on because the watches fit well and are generally a lot of fun. Bright colors, well-sculpted cases, and cool dials are just a few of the reasons I ve become a convert. Today ...
One of my favorite burgeoning brands is Lederer. The small independent sets its sights on creating incredibly technical movements and houses them in surreptitiously complex cases. Today s release is unmistakably a Lederer, but it s a watch in reverse. The Inverto Titanium literally flips the company s CIC 39 over to present a unique offering.It was more than a year ago that I first laid my hands and eyes on a Lederer. The Triple Observatory Certified Chronometer blew me away. This year, a smaller CIC 39 was introduced with a similar style, and it was a beauty on the wrist. Now, using the same case, Lederer has flipped its stunning movement, and the back has become the front. This is one scen...
Today, Parmigiani Fleurier announces a new variant of the Tonda PF Minute Rattrapante. The Arctic Rose continues to display how the upscale brand masters color and shares new hues on its watches. This is a watch with a decidedly practical complication housed in a luxurious form. Let s take a brief look.My close acquaintances all know that I m quietly on the hunt. Ever since I moved to London and attended a Parmigiani Fleurier event within the first month of my arrival, I ve wanted one of the brand s watches. Specifically, I d like a 36mm Tonda PF with a Stone Blue dial if you re feeling generous. However, despite my laser focus on this watch, I m able to appreciate the rest of the brand s wa...
Welcome, dear Fratelli, to the final battle in our inaugural Dress Watch Season contest! Our writers made their cases for a broad range of dress watches over the past few weeks. You, our esteemed readers, voted for your favorite each time. In the end, the 34mm A. Lange & S?hne 1815 and the Breguet Classique Souscription came out on top. Today, you get to decide once and for all which is the greatest dress watch released in 2025.As before, Nacho will represent the Breguet, while Thomas will make his case for the 1815. Gloves off, gentlemen; this is the final, after all!Thomas: The 34mm A. Lange & S?hne 1815 over the Breguet Classique Souscription 2025Allow me to start with a complimen...
Today, we ll take a brief look at an exciting set of updated releases. The new Certina DS Action Diver 38mm collection continues as one of the best values around and now adds a ceramic bezel. A host of dial colors and case materials come along for the ride. Let s get to it!While we bemoan the quiet absence of the Swatch Group from most, if not all, of the big watch shows, the company s stable of brands continues to debut some interesting pieces. This is especially true on the more affordable end of the spectrum. Certina, a name unknown to most of the world until the last decade, has been leading the charge alongside Tissot and Mido with some fantastic value-for-money options. The updated DS ...
