Sometimes, you just need a watch that s ready to roll. Maybe you ve got your hands full with the kids, you re in a hurry because the rain is about to come down any minute, or you simply forgot to put on a watch that day (hypothetically speaking, of course). In all those cases, it would be nice to have a watch right there next to the door that s always ready for you to just grab and go. When you put it on, it s already running, the time is correct, and you don t even have to think about setting the date. Let s see what options there are on the pre-owned market.In part, the idea for today s theme comes from the Seiko Kinetic Perpetual Calendar that I wore for 15 years straight. I m really enjo...

Whenever we look back on a significant watch fair, whether Watches and Wonders or Geneva Watch Days, we tend to look for a pattern: in what direction is the industry heading? Is it about specific colors or materials brands are using? I feel that in the last few years, perhaps since COVID-19, pinpointing those things has been challenging. So, in this article, I wont lament that. Instead, I will talk about some of my favorite blacked-out watches of the show because there were many.I know that watches coming in black cases, whatever the material, are not new. Still, I saw a notable number of them this year at Geneva Watch Days. Here are my favorite three in no specific order.Girard Perregaux La...

In this Sunday Morning Showdown, we will do things a little bit differently than we usually do. We want to put a neo-vintage Panerai - or at least nearly neo-vintage - up against a modern Panerai. Both are from the Radiomir collection but with a nearly 20-year gap in production date.We see that the popularity of neo-vintage watches (approximately mid-1990s to the mid-2000s) is rising. Even within the Fratello team, we see an interest in buying watches from that era. Thomas added this Panerai PAM00210 to his collection, for example. Watches from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s seem to be undervalued these days, which is good if you have a weak spot for pieces from that era. But how does it com...

In a world where luxury watches abound, standing out is no small feat. Yet every two years, brands assemble for the Only Watch auction, flex their creative muscles, and allow themselves to go wild. The result is a collection of fantastic, unique pieces that never cease to amaze me as I scroll through the catalog, making my best Owen Wilson impression (Wooow!). The remarkable thing about 2023 s edition is the collaborative efforts where brands engaged with third parties to create something extra exclusive, even by Only Watch standards. I ve written about a few such pieces that seriously piqued my interest, but here s one more for you. This, my Fratelli, is the Reservoir Tel?s Tiefenmesser T...

During a trip to Switzerland, I witnessed Swiss golf pro Kim Metraux playing on the Crans-Montana golf course and noticed she was wearing her watch. When I had the opportunity to speak to her, I asked if she is wearing her watch during the tours.Kim Metraux wearing her watch during the game. Image: Kim Metraux.Metraux wears her watch during practice and competitions. She said it doesn t affect her game, and she likes to always be wearing a watch. But, this doesn t answer the question whether it will damage your watch!When I play golf, I wear a mechanical watch. Every time I do, though, other watch enthusiasts comment on it. Either they say that I should take my watch off, or they ask me if I...

Another Friday, another Top 5! Last week, we focused on watches with salmon dials. We often see these types of dials in limited editions, but they have become very popular among watch fans. It begged the question of why more brands don t create watches with salmon dials as part of their regular collections. This week, we move on to green dials. It seems like a small step that is a bit too easy, but it s not without reason. We might have something cooking in the Fratello kitchen that comes in a certain shade of green… So keep an eye out for that in the upcoming days! In the meantime, we have picked our favorite currently available watches with green dials.In the two decades that I have ...

There s no doubt that Grand Seiko releases many limited-edition watches. Most are pleasing, but every so often, one comes along that makes me sit up and take notice. Today s Grand Seiko SBGW303 is a good example of such an occurrence. Unfortunately, the watch will only be available in Europe, so the rest of the world may wish to plan a trip.Yes, it s a constant comment here from our readers that Grand Seiko has what seems like a year-round non-stop schedule of limited-edition releases. Some decry this behavior while others find it exciting. Label me as a middle grounder because, on one hand, I enjoy more versus less when it comes to Seiko. On the other hand, I ve seen releases that I like, a...

Most watch brands nowadays are part of a conglomerate. Luxury groups such as LVMH, Swatch Group, and Richemont own many of the traditional watch brands. But what about microbrand groups? Chasing economies of scale is equally beneficial for small brands. Huddling together can provide much greater striking power. So will we see more microbrand groups emerge in the future?AnOrdain recently acquired Paulin in a bold move to form something of a microbrand group. Lets have a closer look at current microbrand groups and why we may or may not see more of them in the near future.My VPC Type 37HWWhy microbrand groups make senseAs I am currently starting a watch brand of my own, VPC, I experience first...

Art is in the eye of the beholder. Is that true for watches too? Yes, your particular taste in watches is highly personal. But what looks nice on the screen of your smartphone and in the shop window might not look so good on your wrist. Thats why I would like to state that the right watch is on the wrist of the beholder. Sometimes the mix of wrist, case shape, and/or shades and textures seems to be a good formula on paper, but it just doesnt add up in real life. Allow me to give you a few examples of watches I like to look at but cant wear. There are a few icons and lookers on my list that I wish were not there, but the wrist doesnt lie…The shortlist youre about to be confronted with n...

Last week, we received word about additional releases from Audemars Piguet. We ll cover what I think is the most interesting of the bunch with a brief overview of the new Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-Thin in BMG and titanium. Among all those words, if you failed to pick out the key piece, it s the BMG. Let s peel back the onion…In preparation for this article, I had a look at the Royal Oak section on the official Audemars Piguet site, and I must confess that I was surprised. There are a lot of models in this line. For a watch that borders on unattainable, it blew me away. Well, with today s Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-Thin in BMG and titanium, we can add another reference (16202XT.OO.1240XT.01, to ...

While our in-house scuba diver, Nacho, takes a closer at the new Tudor Pelagos FXD US Navy in Florida today, let me run down the watch for you first.Quite unexpectedly (Tudor knows how to keep a secret, and the media is improving in not breaking embargos), Tudor introduces a new Pelagos FXD. It s a Tudor US Navy or MilSub(Military Submariner)-inspired watch, wrapped in a black-dial Pelagos FXD.Tudor Pelagos FXD in blackTudor introduced the first Pelagos FXD in 2021, making it clear it was a Marine Nationale (MN) watch, which the brand had previously made for the French Navy. And now, there s a new version in black instead of blue but without any specific inscription on the case back. The new...

It s not often that I don t know what I m buying. I couldnt even recall the last time that happened. Well, my Vulcain Y65 Monopusher had been sitting in my drawer for a few years, and honestly, I had no clue how special it was.Usually, I know what I m fighting for when bidding fiercely, even when I m bidding on a watch I have not seen before. In such a situation, once I am attracted, I first do my research, and then I know what I am after. The story with my Vulcain Y65 Monopusher Pulsation Chronograph deviates from this pattern.A happy accidentI have no eBay alert set for Vulcain. I don t have an alert set for monopusher watches on eBay either, but I somehow ended up looking at this one. Mos...

The TAG Heuer Monaco Night Driver is the latest limited-edition version of the brand s iconic driver s chronograph. It brings a decidedly new look and hits upon the luminous-dial trend that collectors currently seem to be enjoying. Let s take a closer look and see if this new release is a roadworthy wrist companion.I took a gander at our TAG Heuer article archives, and the brand has been on a relatively steady streak with its limited-edition Monaco releases. Whether it s the left-hand-crown Calibre 11 pieces or the in-house Calibre 02, there has been a flurry of models with all sorts of dial colors and case materials. The TAG Heuer Monaco Night Driver is the newest in the line and, thankfull...

Gerald Charles is not a brand we have covered a lot here at Fratello. Founded by the legendary Gerald Genta and named after his first and middle name, it is a brand that has been making waves, though. As a tennis fan, I have seen the watches on the wrists of tennis players like Hubert Hurkacz, Nikoloz Basilashvili, Jenson Brooksby, and, more recently, fellow Dutchman Tim van Rijthoven. Additionally, the brand got famous designer Octavio Garcia on board as the creative director. The first project they worked on was the development of the Gerald Charles Maestro 8.0 Squelette. We had a chance to go hands-on with the stainless steel version of the watch.Octavio Garcia is a name that many of you ...

Cars and watches go together like spaghetti and meatballs. There is no shortage of racing-inspired watches, but aside from a chronograph with a tachymeter, the association has always seemed a little arbitrary to me. Maybe that s because I m not really a car guy. However, the visual connection between a dashboard register and an analog watch dial is an easy one to spot. Just take one glance at the Reservoir Kanister, and you ll see exactly what I mean. The gradual demise of both has long been predicted in favor of digital displays, yet there is something undeniably charming about a physical needle arcing around a dial.Legend has it that this is never truer than in the case of the Porsche 356 ...

Introduced in 1968, the Seiko 5 Sports line is celebrating its 55th birthday this year. To mark the occasion, Seiko now releases a watch in honor of one of the most famous Seiko 5 Sports wearers ever - Bruce Lee. Enter the dragon with the new Seiko 5 Sports Bruce Lee limited edition.Well-limited? This release is technically limited. But at 15,000 units, we have to ask what it takes for Seiko to consider something unlimited. In any case, lets dive in!The first Seiko 5 Sports from 196855 years of Seiko 5 SportsThe Seiko Sportsmatic 5 was introduced in 1963. The line of affordable watches was famously characterized by five traits, giving it its name. The watches were self-winding, featured a da...

This week s episode of Fratello Talks is about new watches always being better than their previous versions - but are they really? Laurits, Lex, and RJ discuss whether this applies to all watches that come out and whether things like better accuracy, greater antimagnetic properties, and so on are that important to buyers. But before we get into it, you know what time it is- Its time for a wrist check.This podcast player is blocked because you did not accept marketing cookies. Change cookie settings This video is blocked because you did not accept marketing cookies. Change cookie settings Wrist checkRJ is wearing his Moonshine Gold Speedmaster Professional from 2019, whereas Lex ...

Bon dia! Were here in Barcelona because Omega invited us over to come take a look at how the Emirates Team New Zealand is preparing for the 37th edition of the Americas Cup. The world-famous regatta will start from here in exactly one year from now. To mark this occasion, a preliminary regatta will take place this weekend, close by in Vilanova. And to help the ETNZ crew defend their title, Omega introduces a new Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M Co-Axial Master Chronometer Chronograph. It has an all-ceramic case and is called the Deep Black ETNZ Edition.But apart from supporting the Emirates Team New Zealand, Omega will also play an essential role as the official timekeeper of the Americas Cup. So...

Why do brands always make their limited editions the best versions of a certain watch? When this topic first popped up in a Fratello editorial meeting, all of the team members recognized that feeling. But is it just a feeling, or is it reality? The simple fact is that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so sentiments like this are always up for debate. But somehow, we felt there was a certain truth to that first question. In a universe of limited editions, we might be mistaken. Still, we can t shake the feeling that the best versions of many watches are the limited ones.The watch universe and limited editions have a weird relationship. Some brands create watches in limited numbers; therefo...

Yes, youve seen it on my wrist before. It was during Watches and Wonders earlier this year when I came across the Hublot Classic Fusion Chronograph Orlinski Titanium. Well, two of them, actually - one on a black rubber strap (very classic Hublot) and one on an edgy titanium bracelet (very sculptural). In the live W&W report on Fratello, I wore the watch with a pink denim jacket. Yes, a pink denim jacket. And thats exactly how to handle a Hublot. The brand from the Swiss town of Nyon doesnt do traditional horology. Instead, it creates horological fashion - watches you mix and match with your attire. But can this particular Classic Fusion with its artistic touch also be a serious luxury sp...