Last year, Breitling launched the new Super AVI collection in five editions, each paying homage to a legendary aircraft. Appropriately, the launch took place at the National Aviation Education Center in Dallas. And even more fittingly, expert pilots wore the namesake models in flight to reflect their vintage planes. Breitling sure likes to amp up the theatrics! Following the flashy unveiling, I spent some time with the Super AVI and came to realize something: Breitling has the most legible, mechanical chronograph GMT on the market. I recognize this epiphany reflects a niche within a niche, but I ve got to give credit where credit is due. In this article, I delve into what I mean by its legib...
BOLDR is a brand known for its unique designs and adventure-ready watches. Following that theme, the brand teamed up with the Five In A Row rowing crew to create a special-edition Venture. Originally released in December 2021, the Five In A Row BOLDR Venture was made for the Scottish rowing team, which took part in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge (TWAC). Departing from La Gomera in the Canary Islands and rowing all the way to Antigua, the team traversed 3000 miles of open ocean, taken on in two-hour shifts, 24 hours per day, non-stop for 36 days, 3 hours, and 33 minutes. But this watch also benefits the Reverse Rett organization, a UK-based charity supporting those suffering from Re...
Cartier is one of the only constants of watchmaking, defiantly sticking to its guns whatever may come. Whether the trend of the year is green, small watches, or large tool divers, Cartier keeps its identity and focus. Granted, we have seen the occasional dip into unknown waters with the release of watches like the Calibre de Cartier divers. But when you think of Cartier, the first image is of a Tank or a Santos, designs that have endured for over a century. That said, the best Cartier watches aren t strictly rectangular. Even round wristwear has its place among the brand s greatest designs.Though there is no getting away from geometric cases, yes, there is more in the refined and very French...
Lets make no mistake here: being able to collect watches at all is a privilege. Spending $10,000 on a watch is an even bigger one. I have friends who would love to start a watch collection, but the hobby is simply too expensive for them. I also recall that I had some issues wearing a watch at this price point, as I felt it was just too much money to spend on one piece. What if you lose it, or it gets stolen or damaged? Thats a lot of money to tie up in one watch.If you have $10,000 to spend all at once, you may immediately start to look for watches that are around that price. Thus, you will end up with a collection of one, and despite what some may tell you, thats not a watch collection. So ...
In response to the wilder end of the horological spectrum getting wilder still throughout the pandemic, the true entry-level bracket is taking pains to develop in turn. It s a well-known phenomenon that during times of crisis, the gaps between the richer and poorer people and elements of society broaden further. Thus, it is hardly surprising that watchmaking reflects the world in general. More and more brands are hoping to tap into an ever-growing market of first-time buyers who have had their heads turned by industry classics like the Omega Speedmaster that remain frustratingly over budget. Sternglas has not missed its chance to act. The Tachymeter chronograph joins the lineup, offering som...
In the movie Leaving Las Vegas (1995), alcoholic Ben Sanderson, played by Nicolas Cage, pawns his Daytona for $500 to sustain his destructive addiction. Had he done so today, the cash he would get for his 1990s Daytona, Zenith-equipped reference 16520 would be closer to $30,000. Yes, the times, they are a-changing. The times have changed so much that the Daytona is no longer a watch. Because of waiting lists with no hope on the horizon and the steady rise into the stratosphere of prices on the parallel market, the iconic Cosmograph has become a symbol of many things - and many things that are not too positive, unfortunately. The Daytona is, in essence, a sporty chronograph of course, but i...
, Audemars Piguet, and Patek Philippe watches are not the only ones people buy as investment pieces. I often receive questions about investing in Omega watches as well, especially when it comes to Speedmaster models. The Speedmaster Silver Snoopy Award from 2015 saw an increase in value few modern Speedmasters could match. Because of this, a noticeably larger audience has suddenly started considering the prospect of investing in Speedmasters.Whether a watch is a good investment or not isn t something only flippers care about. I find that those looking to make their first big purchase also consider this question as well. Buying one s first luxury watch is often a big deal, and many people sim...
Though the season for ice diving is quickly coming to an end, Bell & Ross celebrates those brave enough to dive under the frozen surfaces with the BR 03-92 Diver in white. Winter will not officially be over until the 20th of March. But the days have already started to get longer, and temperatures have begun their steady ascent. Soon, in those places where it is still present, the ice will begin to melt. Lakes will go back to their usual liquid state, as the surface layer melts away. However, in some of the northernmost regions, ice diving was still possible until just a couple of weeks ago. Just as hazardous as cave or wreck diving, ice diving is not for the faint-hearted. With today s r...
In the second episode of Meet The…, Balazs chats with Alex Gravelle, the man behind Velle Alexander, a strap company from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Alex tells us why he chose this path, what watches hes into, and which timepiece is on top of his wish list. This podcast player is blocked because you did not accept marketing cookies. Change cookie settings If you are a fan of the?Fratello On Air?podcast, first of all, thank you. Your support means a lot to us all, who sit down week after week to research, record, edit, and put out new episodes for your listening pleasure. I consume a lot of podcasts myself, so I know how it feels when my phone notifies me about a new episode from one o...
No stranger to the world of luxury smartwatches, TAG Heuer launched its first line of Connected watches back in 2015. In the seven years since then, we have seen a number of improvements take place. Currently, we find ourselves in the fourth generation of Connected watches, which debuted last month in the form of the TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4. Just last week, I had the opportunity to experience these watches in person. The specs sheet looked rather promising, and the 42mm model seemed like a perfect match for my wrist. As such, I was very excited to get up close and personal with these watches. Today, Ill do my best to explain what makes this latest generation so special and express how...
Last year, NOMOS Glashtte released two new models powered by the brand s famous DUW 6101 caliber. The new additions landed in the Tangente and Metro lines, which was a welcome alternative for the former family and the first model to use this movement in the latter. Predictably, I got my hands on them at the time, and now, at long last, my video review of them is ready to be unleashed on the world.https://vimeo.com/682515138Hands-on reviewsBoth of these watches received dedicated written reviews of their own at the time of release. You can check out the Metro review here and the Tangente Seahawk review by clicking on this link right here. When this video made it through the editing pipeline ...
My very first watch was a dive watch - a Breitling Superocean, to be exact. While I had technically qualified as a diver at that point, I never chose it to be a diving companion. I chose it because I liked the chunky and indestructible look, as I wasn t the most careful with my belongings at that point in my life. I wanted something that would survive my somewhat lackadaisical lifestyle. As such, I ve always had a bit of a soft spot for dive watches. So, when US-based microbrand Nodus first got in touch about its upcoming Avalon II dive watch, I was intrigued and obviously keen to see more.Nodus is a brand that s been kicking around the microbrand scene since 2017. Five years is pretty good ...
Once again, The Unusual Suspects reveals a small wonder from a purveyor of large, unscratchable tools. Sinn Spezialuhren from Frankfurt has a pragmatic and exact view of wristwatches as instruments, with some of the toughest pieces around. The brand s catalog is comprehensive, and the Sinn U50 is fairly new, but unfortunately, it s already fading from view. Blame the short attention span of 2022, with added Instagram algorithm fatigue, but I m here to remind you.Sinn is a brand we enjoy at Fratello, last seen in Jorgs superb buying guide of the brand s millennial repertoire. The Sinn catalog runs the spectrum from retro and modern, with its most beloved references lurking in three main categ...
What do you want to talk about on Monday? Most definitely not about the weekend groceries, the chores around the house, or getting soaked in the downpour while cheering on the kid on the hockey field. Thats why we present you with a couple of watch conversation starters for the coffee corner. You can use the ideas at the water cooler too, obviously, or during lunch; its up to you. We will give you a peek at whats new, whats happening, and whats hot. And we will find you some interesting, watch-related stuff to do in the near future. We kick off the week with a couple of numbers, an exhibition featuring Jaeger-LeCoultres Atmos clock, the 20th anniversary of the Patek Philippe museum, and a ve...
Well, well, well. After a hiatus of almost exactly four months, WASP returns for the (very) long-awaited LIVE Episode 10. This was so important to Balazs and me that we even went down the route of decimal show numbers to ensure we kept our promise.And keep it we did (eventually)! Now, for the first time in ages, the Fridge & Freezer presenting duo have the chance to chat in person. The show was recorded in one take and is available in audio-only format too. You can find that on Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.https://vimeo.com/686217541In this show, we rattle through our favorite watches from Balazs s private collection, mock my old-fashioned diameter preferences when it comes...
Eone has created a sleek, modern watch designed for people with or without vision impairment. A good design and inclusion for persons with disabilities go hand in hand here. The result, sometimes called inclusive or universal design, addresses as many people s needs and abilities as possible. The focus is on the design so that users with diverse needs can enjoy the product.The idea for the Eone Bradley started as a simple problem shared between friends. It blossomed into Eone s mission to create a beautiful and functional product that meets the needs of many people. The Bradley timepiece is named after former US Navy officer Bradley Snyder, who lost his vision in an IED explosion in Afghanis...
Recently on Fratello, we have covered some truly delightful leather watch rolls. I ve even been tempted to invest. And that s in spite of having more than enough storage for a collection I hope soon to scythe in half having been inspired by Thor s article from Collector s Week. However, there is one thing of which I do not have enough. I need more rugged carry cases capable of enduring the rough and tumble life I like to live at the weekends. Thankfully, To The Hour (which is, quite remarkably, based in my hometown of Glossop, Derbyshire) is stepping up to the task.The back of my car is a mess. It supposedly seats two passengers, but both seats are folded down and the backrest that divides t...
Right off the bat, I know what you re thinking: Ben, you think the world needs another Omega Seamaster variation? That s fair, and we did get a slew of new Omega releases, mostly within its sea-faring collection. Yet, my suggestion to Omega is to consider dive watches that don t plunge to the ocean floor but are pretty comfortable in the coral reefs. I m referring to reimagining the Seamaster 120. It shouldn t be a 1:1 recreation of a particular reference, but instead, a modern reinterpretation with a sprinkle of heritage flair.Just this week, news of the Seamaster Planet Ocean Ultra Deep dominated the watch world. I d been saying for a while that a civilian version of the record-breaking Pl...
If you read my Independent Insights article from last week, you ll have seen that one of my favorite microbrands announced a new refresh to its Resolute line. Not only with an updated version of its field watch, but RZE has also added a new supercompressor too. And not just in the style of with two crowns, either. Let s have a closer look at the new RZE Resolute Supercompressor.This is not the first time I ve reviewed watches from RZE. Each time, I ve been well impressed by what the brand was offering for the price. Both the meca-quartz Valor and the automatic Fortitude were great watches at very affordable prices. The Resolute Supercompressor is a bit of a step up in terms of pricing by com...
We like to talk about vintage watches a lot within the Fratello team. Though most of what we write about is primarily focused on the most recent releases and developments, for many of us, a lot of the fun can be found in the sometimes weird and often wonderful world of vintage watches. It s a world full of history, remarkable watches, incredible stories, and quirky details. It inspired us to come up with a series of articles focusing on the best watches per decade from a select group of brands. Some of them are priceless, and some of them are still affordable. In this installment, we will take a look at the best Audemars Piguet watches from the 2000s.By the turn of the millennium, Switzerlan...
