As another week comes to an end, the time for Sunday Morning Showdown is here. This week, it s a battle between two titanium dive watches from two of the most popular watch brands. Titanium watches have been around for decades, but they ve recently enjoyed a resurgence in popularity. Many brands have joined in by releasing titanium alternatives to steel watches and even titanium-only models. The metal lends itself well to chunky sports watches, where shedding some weight favors the larger dimensions. We decided to take a titanium diver from both and Omega and put them up against each other.The recent titanium Yacht-Master 42 released during Watches and Wonders this year was an obvious choi...

Announced with much fanfare, Fortis treated us to a revitalized series of pilot-focused tool watches in the middle of 2020. Although the brand has decades of airborne credentials to its name, the idea of a wholly rehauled Fortis Flieger line felt like an exciting and encouraging step for the Swiss proponent of purpose-led timekeepers. First was the Bicompax, followed by the Automatic, and finishing with the Triple-GMT. The brand sought to unapologetically return to its tooltastic origins, and the Flieger was the way it was going to make it happen. With sword hands, unmissable brick-like indices coined Brixtrack, suppressed finishes throughout, and an indicator at 12 devised for pilots to syn...

What if you like a watch but you dislike the brand that made it? There s a light-hearted question to ponder this Saturday morning. We all have watch brands that are close to our hearts as well as some that are really not. We know it doesnt matter in the big picture, but some brands tend to rub us the wrong way. That, however, does not keep them from releasing an awesome watch now and then. It may be so awesome, in fact, that has you questioning your beliefs.Have you ever bought a watch from a brand that you really do not like? Would you even consider it? Tribalism and the narrating selfI have written an article on how the narrating self is involved in how we behave as watch aficionados. In...

While microbrands offer tremendous value for $500 or less, things become more interesting if we stretch the budget to $1,000. The microbrand sweet spot seems to be between $500 and $1,000 for most brands I know of. In this price range, we get better movements and finishing, more originality, and even a few surprises. I could honestly build this list around just one brand, but that would be too easy. Instead, were going to take a look at models from various brands that belong to different genres. We ll examine everyday watches, GMTs, divers, and anything Ive gotten my hands on in the past two years that offers a little something extra. Making this kind of list is also a good exercise for me. ...

Another Friday, another Top 5! In this series, we take one classic watch and choose our five favorite references ever produced. Four of these references will be based on the historical importance of the specific watch in the grand scheme of things. Though there may be some overlap, its not a question of which references are the most collectible or of the highest value on the market. The fifth pick is our Fratello favorite that considers the current market price and collectability, potentially making it a sleeper reference. As such, the last pick could be described as our wild card. This week, we ll take a look at the Day-Date. We have selected what we believe are the best five references of...

My love of watches moves in mysteriously lateral ways, especially this year. I dont know why, but I seem to be jinxed, with size preferences, consolidation, and plans going astray. The Aera D-1 frustratingly proves it by making a big-wristed point. I wont even go into my failed third attempt at consolidation since that includes a love of small-diameter cool, which has been turned on its head lately.This is all good and a part of life. Otherwise, where would the excitement be? Previously, I had decided that the 44mm Seiko Marinemaster 300 was the only master of big, embodying 44mm goodness with its innate ergonomics. But it might not be the last big one in my box since a very different take o...

Luxury is heavy, and functionality is light. If that s true, the battle of gold versus titanium has an easily predictable outcome. Still, isnt great comfort also a luxury? And when titanium is not only used for its lack of weight but also for its special hue, the mythical transition metal that was discovered in 1791 by English clergyman and mineralogist William Gregor and named after the sons of the Earth Goddess, known as the Titans, has surprising aesthetical qualities. Sometimes watches in titanium outshine their counterparts made in other (precious) metals. Here are eight watches that look best in titanium, a shortlist to (hopefully) enjoy and (probably) debate.This is not an update to J...

Another week, another Unimatic release. It s remarkable to see how many collaborative efforts the brand has brought out in the past couple of months. And a lot of them were very good. Granted, I am a fan of the Milan-based brand s aesthetic, so the likelihood of me liking a piece is big. As I explained multiple times in previous articles, the Unimatic guys have created a canvas that works time and again, so it s hard to make something that doesn t look good. For the brand s latest collaboration, Unimatic teamed up with Huckberry to create the Earthform Collection. In my view, these three colorful Modello Quattro models make for a great trio of summer watches.With the summer season just aroun...

The very 70s Alpina President is a great example of a low-budget watch that you can keep talking about for hours. I won t keep you for hours today, but perhaps you will find this watch as interesting as I do.?I like nice coincidences. You know, those that make you find pleasure in otherwise meaningless things. Call it the beauty of everyday life…The Alpina President comes from the shadowsIt came from the darkness, actually. After years of sitting in my safe, it finally turned its face into the sunshine. Last week, I was thinking about the #TBT lineup for May, and my eyes got hooked by this barrel-shaped piece by Alpina. I don t have to add that it doesn t get much wrist time. But the ...

Is fume the new green? It seems like only yesterday that every single brand released green-dial variants of its watches. By now, the color is about as ubiquitous in the watch world as blue has been for some time. So whats next? Well, it seems the next big thing has already gathered pace. Now that the green dust has settled, it seems to leave a dark ring. A fume, degrade, or vignette-style ring, to be precise.Just this past month, we have covered new watches by Christopher Ward, Squale, Boldr, H. Moser, Von Doren, Straum, Baltic, and Montblanc on Fratello, all with fume dials. Tell me thats not a trend.Green dials - from rare to hot to normalIt is funny how these trends develop. After the era...

As some of you will know, I like making lists. I am one of those list freaks. I do it with music and watches, which are my passions. So making a list of my favorite watches under $1,000 should be a walk in the park, right? Wrong. There are simply so many watches to choose from that anyone is bound to forget some amazing options Additionally, I often find that at least one detail throws me off and keeps me from falling in love with many watches. But despite that, there are some amazing prospects out there.When Nacho signed me up for the task of picking my favorites under $1,000, the first pick was an easy one. But what would be my other two? It s easy to pick the watches you already know so w...

Welcome to this week s Fratello Talks. In today s episode, Nacho, Lex, and Thomas light a candle, dim the lights, and get nice and cozy as they touch on the topic of MoonSwatch. After a stunning debut, the Omega Swatch Speedmaster MoonSwatch has struggled to follow up on its initial hype. We have been following along with the latest developments and have been left a little bit baffled. So we ask ourselves the question: how do we feel about the current state of the MoonSwatch? We also look at what the future of this collaboration might look like, making some wild guesses and predictions.This podcast player is blocked because you did not accept marketing cookies. Change cookie settings S...

British watch brand Bremont continues to celebrate military aviation with a limited-edition Vulcan monopusher chronograph and an all-new model, the MB Viper. Watch brands have long worked with outside companies and organizations on timepieces. Think of, for example, Doxa and Synchron collaborating with Poseidon Diving Systems or Patek Phillipe partnering with Tiffany & Co.These collaborations often involve a small detail added to a watch, such as an emblem or a bit of text signifying the presence of the relationship between the two companies. Rarely does that collaboration entail a ground-up project leading to an entirely new timepiece. Bremont, however, has made exactly that, and with M...

If you know anything about anOrdain, it s probably that the Scottish brand makes some of the most spectacular enamel dials in the industry. In a collaborative effort with Hodinkee, anOrdain shows even more impressive dial-making skills than ever before. The new anOrdain Model 3 Limited Edition for Hodinkee introduces a handmade sunburst dial that is nothing short of spectacular. On top of that, it is the first anOrdain Model 3 to become available to the public. That makes this limited edition an extra special release.The moment your eyes hit the new anOrdain Hodinkee Model 3 Limited Edition, you are immediately hypnotized by the dial. I ve only had a chance to see the promotional pictures,...

Box and papers - yay or nay? It is a question I get a lot and one worth diving into. There are, as always, entrenched fanatics on either side of the aisle. Also as always, the answer is a little more nuanced than one might expect. The truth is, it all depends on several factors that are personal to you and to the purchase in question.In this article, then, I will try to arm you with the relevant considerations rather than tell you what to do. Without further ado, lets get into it.Image: Bachmann & ScherBox, papers, box and papers, or full setWe are, of course, talking about the included original accessories when you buy a vintage/used watch. Depending on the age and type of watch, it can...

They look a bit funky, and I definitely don t know all that much about them. But every time I see one of those dual-time watches with two dials next to or above each other, my heart skips a beat. Of course, a more conventional GMT watch is nice. They often feature a fourth hand and 24-hour scale(s) that allow another time zone or two to be tracked. But there s something about the simplicity of two entire watch faces existing together on the same dial. Let s take a look at some nice examples that I was able to find online.Yes, online. Why? Well, because you don t see these watches all that often in the wild. At a recent get-together organized by RedBar Amsterdam, I saw one made by Richards-Ze...

I m old. In fact, I m probably the second-oldest member on the Fratello team, with teenage (watch out!) dad duties taking as much time as writing. But I stay tuned to the streets, son! (Who am I kidding? I look silly with my Air Force 1s.) My age means that Orient is a brand I remember from my childhood before I knew about premium Swiss provenance. Orient has been absent from many European store windows, but there s a comeback in the cards. When I was around 10 years old, I remember the Orient coat of arms in a watch display. For me, it already then seemed great value (not for my mom), even quite flash. Will the Orient Star 1964 Diver 2nd Edition give me the same feeling as my 10-year-old se...

Rado is one of the brands that have successfully capitalized on the modern-retro trend in recent years. Its Captain Cook collection is a great example of mixing 60s throwback aesthetics with cutting-edge materials. In its latest edition, the Swiss brand has gone one step further, installing a skeletonized movement in the new diver. The result is the Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Skeleton, showcasing watchmaking finesse both inside and out.The 60s comebackFirst introduced in 1962 and discontinued in 1968, the original Captain Cook dive watch was revived in steel and bronze in 2017 and then in ceramic in 2021. Since then, the Captain Cook collection has firmly secured its position as Rados f...

The Moon Explorer strap is our fourth collaboration with REM. Every month in 2023, we will offer a special strap for Speedmaster enthusiasts. Last month s Speedy Tuesday - Tribute to Alaska III strap went crazy, so we actually restocked a few more last week, and we will continue to do so in the future to ensure you can get one. This month, we present to you The Moon Explorer. This one will go well with almost any Speedmaster but especially the special red-and-white-dial one that was in production from 2013 to 2016.The TintinIt s the Omega Speedmaster Professional watch that we introduced to you in 2013, originally marketed as a Racing edition. This watch debuted exactly 10 years ago on April...

Sometimes watches are serious technological instruments, and sometimes they are serious style items. Other times, though, watches can be just pure, unadulterated fun. With the new Le Regulateur Louis Erard Konstantin Chaykin, the two brands mentioned in the name of the watch have created just that. This new collaboration combines Louis Erard s signature Regulateur timepiece with Konstantin Chaykin s trademark Joker style. But is it really that simple? You already know that it isn t. This collaborative effort is an impressive duo of timepieces that hide serious watchmaking behind a funny face. Time to find out more about the Le Regulateur Louis Erard Konstantin Chaykin.Louis Erard is one ...