Welcome to the first semifinal in the Fratello Dress Watch Season contest, our effort to identify the best new dress watch of 2025. The series continues with two watches that both confidently won their first matches. Daan is back with the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Monoface Small Seconds, the sports watch turned dress watch in rose gold galore. In the other corner, it s Thomas with the A. Lange & S?hne 1815, the more traditional dress watch, especially in its 34mm size.As you know by now, these contestants were among the eight watches that won our initial public vote. You, the Fratelli, voted for your favorites from a long list of possible contenders, and after round one, we ve now...
The day has finally arrived when I get to write about a release that I m extremely excited about. I ve had to keep this one under my hat for over two months, but I m finally able to share the new Ming 37.11 Odyssey. Spoiler alert: this one is likely to have me grabbing my wallet.At the end of August, we met with the Ming team at Geneva Watch Days at their usual spot in a small boutique hotel. During the visit, we had the chance to see several upcoming products. All of them were exciting, but the piece that stuck out most for me was the 37.11 Odyssey. The watch fit my wrist like a glove, and the design was love at first sight. A month later, the brand s CEO, Praneeth Rajsingh, was kind enough...
The Watches and Wonders fair and Geneva Watch Days always cause quite a stir in the usually calm and quiet city of Geneva. Auction week has another effect on the town. The thrill of the hunt for watches on auction brings a buzz thats very different from the thrill of hunting for novelties. Stating that greed is in the air is taking it too far, but green is definitely around. Well, when Phillips hammers off a steel Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Ref. 1518 at CHF 12 million, that proves the vibes you pick up when spending time around Genevas lakeside five-star hotels. However, it was not all about big money, per se. At the Antiquorum auction, someone bought a Paul Newman for jus...
Jack Mason has certainly been busy! The American brand has taken huge steps in renewing and improving its offerings. Recently, I had a chance to review both the updated Canton and the new Pursuit Pro. The next two releases that landed on my desk were new versions of the popular Strat-o-Timer GMT. After introducing a wide variety of colors for the steel models, Jack Mason now launches two variants crafted from lightweight titanium. It s time to find out more!When I recently browsed through the Jack Mason collection, two recent Strat-o-Timer GMTs immediately caught my eye. The brand unveiled two American-soft-drink-inspired versions that look awesome. The first is the Dr. Pepper Real Sugar var...
Hold your horses; Universal Geneve is still warming up for a full launch in 2026. For now, we have to settle for ultra-exclusive stuff. You could call it clickbait, but that would be too crude for two sets of three Universal Geneve Tribute to Compax chronographs in white and pink gold with different dials. You cant buy the watches separately; only the two sets that the brand has put together are available, and these sets are one-offs. Also, each set of precious metal homages to the Nina is available exclusively by request. Still interested? Contact the brand and have 135,000 Swiss francs at the ready, plus a few thousand more because this price does not include sales tax.Universal Geneve has...
The Glashtte Original Seventies Chronograph Panorama Date is easily one of the most distinctive chronographs on the market. While it s not a new watch, having debuted in 2014, it still manages to separate itself from a sea of lookalike luxury competitors. With its bold retro lines, the watch is a cool choice. For our hands-on review, we take a look at two new limited-edition versions in purple and lime green.I was living in Frankfurt when Glashtte Original introduced the Seventies collection. The time-only models debuted in 2011, and the Seventies Chronograph Panorama Date pieces came three years later in 2014. They were extremely different from the typical round watches that were in vogue...
In Henrys article detailing Calatrava-like watches for all budgets, he included the Orient Bambino. The Bambino offers a touch of vintage in a classic time-and-date configuration, accessible to all budgets. To rival the smash-hit Bambino, Orient introduces new European-exclusive colors to the AC0F core collection. The brand has long offered affordable and elegant watches for all-day wear. These latest releases continue that trend with five understated dial shades in an approachable style. I wouldnt go so far as to call these dress watches, as these timepieces suit any get-up-and-go routine and keep you ticking throughout the day. The slightly larger stainless steel 41.6mm case diameters targ...
Yes, it s that time again - time for another Sunday Morning Showdown! This week, we picked two technologically impressive watches. The first is the Land-Dweller, which debuted during Watches and Wonders in April of this year. The Land-Dweller will go up against the Grand Seiko SLGB005 that was introduced in September of this year. Both watches not only look amazing but also represent a technological step forward for both brands. Let s see which of the two will come out on top in this week s Sunday Morning Showdown.When we first started considering this week s matchup, the logical pairing in terms of aesthetics was the white-dial Land-Dweller versus the blue-silver-dial SLGB003. There was on...
Watching an NBA game live is an unforgettable experience for any sports fan. Our third-row seats brought us as close to the action as I ve ever been. Seeing the players up close, feeling how the parquet floor was shaking under their feet, and hearing the unmistakable buzzer of the new Tissot shot clock put me right in the center of the game. And all this happened at the legendary Madison Square Garden in New York City.The 2025/2026 preseason game between the Knicks and the Charlotte Hornets, which my colleague Dave and I had the pleasure of watching almost courtside, marked a glimpse of basketball s next evolution in timing technology. After a decade-long partnership between the NBA and Tiss...
The Studio Underd0g Massena Lab 03Series Champagne & Caviar has just been uncorked, and its as spirited as its name suggests. This limited-edition monopusher chronograph merges Studio Underd0gs tongue-in-cheek British design with William Massenas connoisseurs eye. The resulting watch celebrates excess. The dial blends the soft glow of champagne with the dark sheen of caviar.In typical Studio Underd0g fashion, the collaboration walks the line between sophistication and mischief. Its the latest release in the brands 03Series line, which began with 2024s Passion Project with H. Moser & Cie. This time, the brands cheeky humor bubbles to the surface, with refined details that show how p...
Another Friday, another list! For this week, we prolong our series of lists focused on materials used for watch cases and bracelets. Whereas we covered modern ones over the past three weeks, today s list focuses on a classic combination of materials. However, we deliberately chose to create a list of two-tone watches rather than just steel-and-gold ones. We have seen some interesting combinations of materials in recent years, so we didn t want to limit ourselves to a mixture of steel and yellow or rose gold. Let s find out what our favorite recent two-tone watches are.Before we get into our list, allow me to clarify what we mean by recently released. Our oldest pick for this list dates back ...
Truth be told, I ve waited for a long time to talk about the new Atelier Wen Inflection. I first saw the watches this summer in London and again a month later in Geneva. Before we go further, it s important to note that what you re going to see represents a major shift for the brand. I ve enjoyed everything thus far, but these are truly next level.We ve basically covered Atelier Wen since the brand s inception. Along the way, the Perception, the brand s integrated-bracelet watch with a hand-guilloche dial, has proven to be a crowd pleaser. Naturally, folks raised questions around the Chinese-made movement, but we ve heard of very few issues. Today s new Inflection is thematically similar to ...
When Hermes introduced the Cut at Watches and Wonders Geneva 2024, we said it arrived fashionably late to the integrated-bracelet party. However, the quirky 36mm pebble-like cushion case, in combination with the playful numerals, brought something exciting to the popular and overcrowded genre. At Watches and Wonders this year, the Parisian maison didn t introduce any completely new models, just variations on existing ones, including the Hermes Cut Le temps suspendu in a 39mm rose gold case. At first, it felt more like a beautiful party-trick piece. However, the new size also shows the potential for future variations of the Hermes Cut.This video is blocked because you did not accept marketing...
The Awake S?n Mi Fragments collection brings together the ancient Japanese art of Raden (inlaying of shell), traditional Vietnamese lacquer, and Swiss watchmaking. The dials comprise hand-laid mother-of-pearl fragments sealed beneath layers of natural lacquer. Offered in three limited editions (Green, Blue, and Pink), these watches showcase Awakes mission to make metiers dart available in more accessible segments.A year after the first S?n Mi models introduced Hanois lacquer artistry to the watch world, Awake returns with these new versions. Join me for a closer look at some rather special new dials.The Awake S?n Mi Fragments in ContextThe Awake S?n Mi Fragments collection follows the su...
As we continue our quest to find the definitive dress watch of 2025, it s time for the fourth match of this first round of Fratello Dress Watch Season. Today, Nacho and Ben go head-to-head with two heritage-inspired contenders from Swatch Group brands. It s the Breguet Classique Souscription 2025 versus the Omega Seamaster 37mm Milano Cortina 2026. Will it be the classically sized Omega that advances to the next round? Or will the Breguet s single-handed charm take the win? The choice is yours, so be sure to read the case made for each watch and vote below.For those of you late to the party, here s a quick catch-up. It s Dress Watch Season. Here at Fratello, we want to find the defining dres...
The pace of new watch releases has never been faster. Every week seems to bring a fresh wave of models vying for our attention. We re certainly not complaining, but it does make us curious: which of todays timepieces might one day become future classics? Thats the question at the heart of todays episode of Fratello Talks, as Nacho, RJ, and Daan explore the modern watches most likely to stand the test of time. Hindsight may be 20/20, but spotting tomorrows icons today takes a mix of intuition, taste, and a touch of luck. Still, the guys have a few strong contenders in mind that they d be happy to bet on. But first, it s time for a wrist check.This video is blocked because you did not accept m...
Few names are as closely linked in motorsport-themed watchmaking as TAG Heuer and Ayrton Senna. The latest TAG Heuer Ayrton Senna editions continue that relationship with two Formula 1 chronographs that pay tribute to the Brazilian drivers legacy.Rather than chasing nostalgia, these models acknowledge Sennas influence with a modern interpretation. Both watches - one automatic, one quartz - echo and update the brands late- 80s design language. They are released during the S?o Paulo Grand Prix, adding another chapter to a partnership that began at the height of Sennas Formula 1 dominance.TAG Heuer and Ayrton SennaI assume Ayrton Senna da Silva (1960C1994) is quite famous among our readers, but...
The Lebois & Co Heritage Chronograph Atelier Coquille d?uf honors the Metiers dArt of Swiss watchmaking with its Grand Feu enamel dial - and what a dial it is! As 2025 marks the brands 90th anniversary, this is undoubtedly a celebratory watch. If you want it, you pay a little up front, the brand starts creating the watch, and once its done and delivered, you pay the rest. Abraham-Louis Breguet introduced the souscription (or subscription) principle for watches, and now Lebois utilizes it for the most exclusive timepiece in the brand s history. As you can see, this 39mm chronograph is all about that gorgeous Grand Feu enamel dial.Initially founded in 1934 and revived in 2014, Lebois &...
The Grand Seiko SBGM255 and SBGM257 bring two new dials to the classic Elegance Collection GMT. Both models preserve the 39.5mm stainless steel case and mechanical caliber 9S66 but introduce fresh dial designs inspired by the seasons.These new references serve up a restrained evolution of a design that has been a Grand Seiko cornerstone since the original SBGM021 from 2010. The patterned dials, tempered GMT hands, and subtle design details reflect Grand Seikos approach to combining traditional craftsmanship with a modern, understated aesthetic.The Grand Seiko SBGM257 and SBGM255 in contextThe SBGM257 is part of the Elegance Collection, which emphasizes timeless design paired with practical c...
I could make this a concise hands-on review. However, what I wanted to do when the Omega Speedmaster First Omega in Space (FOiS) landed on my desk was answer the question of whether this would be the Speedmaster for me. Ever since Omega unveiled the Speedmaster FOiS, the watch has intrigued me. First, I love the straight-lug Speedmasters. Both in size and design, I favor them over their lyre-lug counterparts. But what truly piqued my interest was the gray-blue dial with the contrasting vintage lume. The idea that Omega spiced up the dial of this second-generation FOiS seemed clever. About a year after its release, I finally had the time to spend with the watch and find a long-awaited answer ...
