Lets do this without any messing around today and get straight to the topic: my GADA watch is the Formex Essence 39. There, end of the article. In all seriousness, however, I love talking about GADA watches. My entire horological life revolves around GADA watches and the pursuit of the perfect one. I think back to the times when people actually needed watches and the fact they probably only owned one. At least, I would assume most people did. Watches were necessary to stay organized and keep track of time, and sometimes having one was a matter of life or death (youve seen Apollo 13, right?) Although I dont need a watch, I love wearing one. I cant picture myself going about my day without a w...
As I write this overview of the best summer watches, I m looking through the window of my hotel on Mykonos. It s quite picturesque, with an incredible view of the beach, some yachts, and those typical white houses on the hills. It could be worse, much worse. But this is still a working trip, and although I feel privileged to get to see some of the nicest places in the world, its only a holiday when I m with my family and away from my laptop.My holiday watchMy best summer watches, not (just) holiday watchesIt is summer, though, and we decided to write some articles on our editors favorite summer watches, not holiday watches. Like many watch enthusiasts, I usually pick slightly different watc...
Panerai s bold approach to watch design hits top speed with the Submersible Titanio S in partnership with Brabus. The macho 47mm case juxtaposes the intricate open-worked dial, reflecting the design of high-performance vehicles. Despite the dial s complexity, the brash red hand tips ensure the time and GMT indications are clear. But it s the case-construction technique that showcases Panerai s watchmaking prowess.This new release, in collaboration with Brabus, is not Panerai s first foray into automotive partnerships. Panerai previously held the role of official timekeeper with the Scuderia Ferrari Formula One team from 2005 until 2011. On paper, it seemed a match between two luxury Italian ...
Meet the titanium Squale Master Palombari Comsubin. This is not a dive watch designed for your beach holiday. This is a dive watch designed for (and with) a special unit of the Italian Navy, the Comsubin. If you like Squale, you will love this. Because this is a Squale diver with all settings dialed up to eleven.The Squale Master Palombari Comsubin is limited to 500 pieces. Of these, 420 are for public release. The other 80 have gone into actual service with the Palombari (Italian for divers) del Comsubin. Lets have a closer look at this new release.Palombari del ComsubinThe Palombari del Comsubin are the elite divers within the Italian Navy, the Marina Militare. They are part of the Gru...
It s a significant work overload rather than economic conditions that made me acquire the smallest number of watches this year that I have in the last five years. Is it an opportunity for my Seiko 62MAS, Mido Rainbow Diver, or OG Oris Star to become my vintage summer beater?I ve always had a long list of candidates for the next #TBT. All the new acquisitions I made brought so much excitement that each watch had to steal its slice of the available wrist time. And many of them made it into a #TBT story without much waiting. The curiosity and novelty were so intense that there were so many watches I simply had to wear. Consequently, many watches that I was so excited about years ago simply didn...
The 10th edition of Only Watch (a charity event to raise funds for research on Duchenne muscular dystrophy) is right around the corner. For the event, Gerald Genta submits a unique piece featuring Mickey Mouse in the famous octagonal cases that Genta used in the past. It s the first time we ve seen this form since Bvlgari acquired the brand in 2000. But that s not the only interesting thing about this watch…Gerald Genta Only Watch 2023 Unique PieceThis year doesn t just mark the 10th edition of the Only Watch charity event or the 100th anniversary of Disney (hence Mickey Mouse on this dial). In fact, 2023 also marks the 50th anniversary of the first watch that Gerald Genta produced und...
The boat is the inspiration. Today, Tudor releases two Pelagos models in a carbon composite - the 43mm Pelagos FXD Chrono and 42mm Pelagos FXD Alinghi Red Bull Racing Edition models. The brand is the timing partner of Alinghi Red Bull Racing, the two-time Americas Cup-winning sailing team that is planning to win it a third time with their AC75 boat. That high-tech boat is made with heaps of carbon and titanium to keep it as light as possible. And those two materials also dominate the two new watches Tudor made to celebrate the partnership with the team that represents the Societe Nautique de Geneve and will compete in the Selection Series for the 37th Americas Cup in 2024 in Barcelona.Alingh...
Meet the Sinn 856 S. Zero reflections, maximum contrast. Scratch resistant, water resistant, antimagnetic, and low-pressure resistant. Screw-down crown and AR-coated sapphire - whatever you could require, it is here. So, does a fully checked spec sheet automatically make for a truly great watch?If you have read my articles before, you probably know my answer: no, it does not. Specs matter far less than we tend to think. So what does this mean for the Sinn 856? Is it any good beyond the technical features? Lets find out.Sinn 856 S - a spec monsterSinn is known for its very technical and function-forward approach to watchmaking. The 856 is no exception. You get a 200m-water-resistant 40mm case...
Good morning, dear Fratelli! I hope you re having fun out there because summer in the Northern Hemisphere is officially underway. Here in Japan, that means incredible conditions every day - about 90% humidity, temps in the 30s and 40s (mid-80s to 100s Fahrenheit), rain till mid-July, and then, my favorite of all, cicadas! Yes, what better way to wake up every morning than to the sound of thousands of 5cm insects all doing their best jackhammer impression?! All right, you may sense a bit of sarcasm there. To be honest, I m much more of a fall/winter guy. But as someone who enjoys wearing timepieces seasonally, I m still very much in favor of great summer watches! Today, I ll share my three fa...
The UK-based brand Farer is launching its very first collaboration timepiece, created with our friends over at Worn & Wound. Versatility is the name of the game here as this limited edition comes with a balanced dial and universal dimensions. Given how commonplace collaborations have become, brands need to explore new themes to create eye-catching models. Ive noticed an increasing amount of everyday watches popping up on the independent market, a phenomenon welcomed by many.The Farer Worn & Wound limited edition also follows this path while highlighting the two partners signature visual language. Limited to 70 units, this model will retail for just over $1,000 and is available sta...
The 2023 Boulton Quartz is a watch from Hamiltons American Classic collection. Indiana Jones can be called an American classic too. The two pair up in the fifth and final adventure movie starring the whipping archeologist, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Its a movie that takes place in 1969 with, for the first time, Indy wearing a watch. And that battery-powered watch plays a golden, vintage mechanical timepiece with such ease, it deserves an Oscar. Lets take a closer look at this method-acting newcomer.The big question for many a quartz watch is: how do I come across as a mechanical timepiece? By just displaying the hours and minutes hands, it forgoes the ticking central seconds hand...
This month s Fratello REM Speedmaster strap collab is one that I particularly like! The dark brown leather and off-white for the wording and lunar surface work very well. When we discussed the design for this June 2023 Fratello REM strap, we actually had the Speedmaster Professional reference 145.022 in mind. It was the first reference to have the famous The First Watch Worn On The Moon engraved in the case back.The First Watch Worn On The MoonAs you probably know, the Omega Speedmaster 105.003 was flight-qualified by NASA to become the watch worn during all manned space missions. Omega sent several Speedmaster 105.003 watches to NASA for use during training and on missions. Not much lat...
Omega celebrates the 75th anniversary of the Seamaster line in style. The brand unveils 11 references over eight different models that all come with spectacular Summer Blue dials, and the greater the water resistance, the darker the blue color. The three Seamaster Aqua Terra 75th Anniversary models feature a light blue dial as they are rated to 150 meters. Within the Seamaster line, they are the lightest on water resistance and, therefore, have lighter dials. At the same time, however, these three Aqua Terra models are, in my mind, the most stylish of all the 75th Anniversary releases we have seen.Omega has described the blue color for the Seamaster 75th Anniversary models as Summer Blue. As...
It s the 75th anniversary of the Seamaster this year, and to celebrate, Omega is releasing 11 new Seamaster references. All of these watches feature beautiful Summer Blue dials that get increasingly darker depending on each model s increased water resistance. It starts with a light blue dial for the Seamaster Aqua Terra models and goes to a rich dark blue for the Ultra Deep. This article will focus on the new Seamaster 300 and Seamaster Diver 300M. The two popular dive watches are exactly in the middle of Omega s Summer Blue spectrum.The Omega Seamaster historyI love this simple but effective concept that Omega came up with for the 75th anniversary. The brand could have easily returned to th...
For the 75th anniversary of the Seamaster collection, Omega also decided to reintroduce the Ploprof (1200M) in a size that is close to the original from the 1970s. In addition, we find a new dial color for the Planet Ocean 600M and Ultra Deep. These three watches are Omegas finest when it comes to water resistance, and they re now available with distinctive Summer Blue dials.All 11 references that Omega announced to celebrate the Seamasters 75th anniversary feature special blue dials. The depth of the blue differs from model to model and depends on the water resistance of the watch. This is why the Aqua Terra models have a light shade of blue, the 300 and Diver 300M are a bit darker, and the...
Oris has a special place in my heart. The brand s Art Blakey was my first serious mechanical watch purchase a little over three years ago, and I still very much enjoy that watch. Since then, the impressive Calibre 400 has been introduced, which also means that prices for many of the brand s watches have gone up significantly. Luckily, though, Oris also still introduces fun watches with trusty Sellita movements for more affordable prices. And that s exactly the category these new Divers Sixty-Five Cotton Candy models in stainless steel fall under.For me, Oris is that accessible and informal brand that lures new watch enthusiasts with fun and creative watches. Don t get me wrong; I really like...
Fratello On Air returns, and we talk about recent controversies related to vintage watches, auctions, and heritage departments. We spare our usual chit-chat in the beginning and loop in a watch-related sighting in an upcoming Christopher Nolan movie. If you like candid talk, we hope you enjoy today s episode! This podcast player is blocked because you did not accept marketing cookies. Change cookie settings Handgelenks KontrolleBefore talking about auctions and other related topics, we kick off with some discussion on Oppenheimer. The upcoming Christopher Nolan film about the atomic bomb looks fantastic. Balazs, however, has done some sleuthing and noticed that Robert Downey Jr. is weari...
The summer is for traveling to a destination that will enable you to live your very best life. First, you have to get to your destination in style and on time - cue the first watch, the Longines Spirit Zulu Time GMT 39mm. And once you get to the temporary paradise of choice, you want to shine - Casio G-Shock GMW-B5000PG-9 from the 40th Anniversary Recrystallized Series - and have fun swimming, diving, running, cycling, hiking, etcetera - Certina DS Action Diver 38mm. Here are my picks for the best summer watches.Theres a time and place for everything, including different watches. Are you attending a wedding? That s the perfect time and place for a dress(ier) watch. Come to think of it, I do ...
It s been one of those warm and sticky summer weekends here in Amsterdam. You know, the kind when you don t want to wear a heavy and sweaty stainless steel watch on your wrist. I still don t have any titanium watches in my collection, but days like these make me wish I did. So when I saw there was a Pre-Owned Spotlight coming up, I knew what to search for. Here are my titanium picks on the secondary market, just in time for the summer heat.I m not completely sure why I still haven t jumped on the titanium bandwagon. Maybe it s the style of watches, which is often a bit too modern for my taste. Or it might be the slightly darker gray color that doesn t attract me as much as shinier stainless ...
On the Sinn website, it reads, This watch is already sold out in direct sales. You can still obtain this watch from our sales partners. See what I mean? It might be unavailable on Monday, but when your local Sinn dealer opens its doors on Tuesday, you might still be able to acquire one of the 300 limited-edition T50 Goldbronze timepieces. Is this subtly flamboyant dive watch worth the effort?Do you want me to write about the Captive Safety Bezel and the Ar-Dehumidifying Technology?that enhances functional reliability and freedom from fogging? I could, but Michael (Im a real fan) already wrote an in-depth piece that also included a bit of history and a spec list about the three new T50 dive w...
