Here at the Fratello offices, we get a lot of questions from you, our readers. Probably the most-asked questions are centered around the topic of what to buy for different budgets. The most popular budget question is what watch to buy for under $5,000 in different watch categories. Thats why we decided to set up a small series of articles focusing on the best watches that you can buy within that budget. In this installment of the series, we will look at the best two-tone watches available for under $5K. Lets see what the best options are if you want to add a bit of color to your stainless steel.The first thing that comes to mind when I think of a two-tone watch is obviously a steel-and-gold ...
In early 2020, Omega introduced the new Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch. But the concept of the Moonwatch itself is not new, so it s difficult to speak of a new watch when it has been already around for over 60 years. But this latest upgrade was so massive, that for the first time in nearly 25 years, many will actually see it as a new Moonwatch. Not only did we have the time to play with it for a few weeks when it was first released, but a number of the Fratello team (myself included) have also bought one since.As you know, this isn t my first Speedmaster (and hasn t been my last either). So it s interesting to compare it directly to previous Moonwatch models and also give you an update o...
We get a barrage of press releases at Fratello Watches, and they can be very similar in execution. Its no secret that a common factor is retro, nouveau vintage, homage, or whichever term you like best. Microbrands are usually split into two camps - the safe haven of vintage skin divers and the bold, modern ones. The Heron Gladiateur MMLXV is a strong card for the latter category. It brings its own design language with a unique Roman twist.Small brands are dependent on strong backing and either Kickstarter or long-term pre-orders to survive their online debut. Sameness is an all-too-tempting prospect. Yes, I do enjoy the feeling of a 60s tool watch and the delights of 38mm 50s comfort. But ...
If you have $10K to spare on a luxury watch, what should you do? Well, after you count your money, count your blessings. After that, I would suggest you take your time and find out what watch or watches match your taste, pique your interest, and fit your lifestyle. A bit of soul-searching is advisable before taking the plunge. And so is setting boundaries. So, without further ado, heres my take on starting a watch collection with $10K. And I promise you, I will save you a couple of bucks.I assume youve been infected by the watch virus for quite some time and you just cant seem to shake it. Perhaps you ve done your research and browsed countless watch websites, ranging from obscure blogs and ...
When Tissot reintroduced the PRX line in 2021, it recaptured the hearts of collectors worldwide. Harking back to 1978, the PRX represents a particular Zeitgeist of watchmaking that is so popular now - the stainless steel sports watch with an integrated bracelet. The initial quartz models were succeeded by automatic versions with the Powermatic 80 movement. Now, Tissot is adding more weight to an already excellent collection with the announcement of the PRX Chronograph, available in two color/dial options.Up to this point, Tissot has only offered the PRX collection with time-and-date options. Thats fine and a great way to test the viability of the collection. But now that the community has em...
Just when you thought winter was over, Seiko is here to pull you back into the icy polar waters with three new additions to the Prospex Save The Ocean lineup of dive watches! But it s not just any watches that receive this frosty makeover. No sir! The three watches chosen, are the new heritage-inspired models, which look to the 62 MAS, the 1968 6159-7001 (Seiko s first 300m dive watch), and the famous Willard. This final model shares the case shape of the watch worn by the Japanese explorer and adventurer Naomi Uemura from 1974 to 1976 in her famous solo dog-sled journey from Greenland to Alaska. Imbued with the spirit of adventure, and Seiko s proven reliability, these divers are sure to be...
You may have wondered why there are so few countries that produce watch movements on a mass scale. If you have, the foundation of the A?on Group might shine a light on why it is so rare. The goal of A?on Group is to position France as an industry leader in the field of movement production. Simply put, starting this kind of initiative is a massive job. This is the kind of undertaking many might consider for a moment before dismissing it as foolhardy upon further reflection. Thankfully, for the French industry and the industry en masse, the A?on Group is not so easily swayed from the course…Ultimately, competition benefits the consumer. It is, theoretically, us, watch lovers the world ov...
We have an Emperor s-new-clothes kind of situation here. It s about time to figure out the truth after 15 long years. The evidence offered is not very substantial, and for me and some other real Gallet enthusiasts, there is no Jim Clark Gallet Multichron 12. Not yet… No matter how badly we want it to be true, no matter how much it hurts… Conclusive evidence is still missing. It has been a few weeks now since I decided to start writing this story. Of all the 250 articles that I have written for Fratello, this will undoubtedly be the most difficult to write. Digging deeper into the Jim Clark Gallet only adds more suspicion, not more clarity. It s almost shocking that no one has pub...
After its debut in 2018, the original BOLDR Expedition sold out in a matter of months. It quickly became the brands most popular and requested model. BOLDR followed it up with the Expedition II in 2019. But that watch featured a totally different case design and reinvented hands. Now, making a return for the first time since 2018 is the BOLDR Expedition I. It brings back the classic case design without compromising any of the models functionality and quality. Yes, the case of the Expedition II is very cool indeed. But theres just something so perfect and understated about the original design. Those of you who agree will be pleased to see this watch back on offer after a four-year hiatus. The...
If you ve never heard of Meccaniche Veneziane, don t worry about it. Those days are gone. They re in the past. There s a new kid in town, and he s here to stake his claim to the narrow streets, historic bridges, and ubiquitous canals of MV s hometown of Venice. From the ashes of the brand s original name rises Venezianico, an ear-catching neologism that skips off the international tongue far better than its forerunner ever did. For the past week, I ve been wearing the new Venezianico Nereide Ultraleggero, the renamed brand s flagship for a new age. Having done so, I can safely say that it isn t just the image that s been overhauled; the watches themselves have stepped up their game too.I ve ...
Have you ever bought a strap or bracelet thinking it will be perfect for one watch, but it ends up working so well on another that you cant seem to swap it out? Well, thats essentially what happened here. I picked up this vintage new-old-stock (NOS) bracelet thinking it would go on my Speedmaster. Oh boy, was I wrong! In fact, I didnt even get a chance to put it on that watch. The day the bubble envelope containing the bracelet arrived, something else was on my wrist; it was a fun and funky chronograph from a young brand that I was reviewing at the time. I give full credit for this combination to the quick-release strap on said watch and the fact that my Speedy was on the bracelet. Sometimes...
Special Ops are silent and unseen. Covertly entering the field, completing the mission, and exiting before anyone knows they were ever there. The cover of night is the Special Forces best friend. It allows the team to succeed and survive. Inspired by these high-risk operatives who put their lives on the line for their country, Bremont presents the S502 Jet and the Supermarine Chrono Jet, two robust and tactical timepieces featuring an anti-reflective, black DLC treatment.As a part of the Supermarine family, the two new watches both incorporate vital functions required for use in the field. Specifically, they utilize uni-directional (S502) and bi-directional (Chrono Jet) rotating bezels and ...
When it comes to watch straps from Genteel Handmade, uniqueness is never something you need to question. As every strap is made by hand (and to your personal specifications if you do so desire), you can be sure that the band you receive is one of a kind. Now, however, with the release of the Waxed Buttero Limited Edition leather straps, the brand is pushing its products capacity for personalization to the limit.Speaking personally, I am a fan of texture. Textures mean more to me than colors when it comes to choosing clothes, shoes, belts, and even watch straps. Although my wardrobe is notoriously bright, the items that may wow upon first impression because of their color were actually chose...
What if I told you there was a watch company interested in producing watches that don t tell the time? With so many watch companies desperately clinging to some element of practicality and relevance in a digital world, Mr. Jones Watches fully embraces being obsolete. The brand does it so well, you might call it elevated obsolescence - haute nihilism, anyone? From a barely readable birds-eye view of a lone person floating in a pool - fittingly named A perfectly useless afternoon - to an elegant paper crane slowly soaring across a mythical sky, Mr. Jones Watches has explored many ways a watch can avoid telling the time. Beauty, whimsy, and joy are the focuses here, with a level of design and c...
The MING 22.01 GMT is here and it represents a wonderful new chapter in the history of the brand. As we will soon see, these watches bring higher-end details once reserved for the more expensive MING models. The pricing, however, remains approachable.A new year and a new MING watch. Thats a nice occurrence, yes? Well, double down because we receive two new variants of the MING 22.01 GMT. At the time of writing, I like both so much that I havent made a choice on which will ultimately adorn my wrist. Exciting stuff!The new MING 22.01 GMT blends styling from prior modelsThe MING 22.01 GMT brings us an all-new case style that is meant to straddle the line between the now-discontinued 17-series a...
Whenever the conversation turns towards G-Shock, there is one of the Fratello family I turn to before all others. The aptly named G2, the Godfather of G always has a sharp insight or cutting comment ready to greet new releases. Unsurprisingly, therefore, I consulted with G2 when the question of exactly what I would do with a G-Shock should I have the opportunity to design one with Casio on behalf of Fratello was raised. As it turned out, G2 s suggestion landed remarkably close to a plan Casio had been working on itself for several months. When we first saw the new, Casio G-Shock MRG-B5000D-1DR, we realized exactly how close our prescient sage had actually been…This isn t the first, sec...
The magic of crossing timezones! Ever since the COVID-related restrictions have been lifted, the prospect of traveling the globe has been an exciting one. What better watch to accompany you during your travels than a nice GMT watch. While there can only be one GMT watch that defined the category as we know it, there are plenty of great alternatives to the GMT-Master. One of them, or better, two, come courtesy of Ball Watches. The brand s Roadmaster Marine GMT and Roadmaster Pilot GMT fit the mold of a modern GMT watch. But it would not be a Ball watch if they didn t bring something special to the table. That s why I took the opportunity to check out both Ball Roadmaster GMT models up close....
That s right, people: next Tuesday (August 31st, 2021), at 17:00 CET we will be chatting to Edouard Meylan, live from Geneva. We will be unveiling and discussing the latest Moser family member and we would like to invite you to join us for the ride. Using the link below, you will be able to enter the webinar, watch the chat live, and even interact with us by sending through your questions. Fratelli assemble!As Geneva Watch Days prepares to raise the curtain once more, we are working on new and creative ways to bring you all closer to our experience of the event on the ground. What better way than inviting you to take part in an exclusive reveal? It would be my distinct pleasure to welcome ea...
Sometimes you come across a watch with a story behind it that is truly intriguing. When the A-13 Flyback Chronograph landed in my inbox, my curiosity was triggered by its distinctive looks. A very clean-looking pilot s flyback chronograph but without the usual sub-dials and the crown and pushers on the left side of the case. Obviously, the product of some deliberate choices made by founder Paolo Fanton. As it turns out, the story behind the watch is just as interesting as the watch itself. I had a chance to test the watch and chat with Fanton about his passion project. Time to find out more about the A-13 Flyback Chronograph.Whenever a watch like the A-13 Flyback lands on my desk, I immediat...
Roll up, roll up! The summer has hit The Hague, and Fratello is keen to celebrate. After the fizzing success of March Mania, we are back with the Summer Splash. A new knock-out competition conceived to find the very best summer watch out there, according to YOU, the Fratelli. And guess what? You can win prizes! No, there won t be a watch available this time, but there WILL be some of the finest water-firing weapons money can buy: the Spyra 2 water cannon is reputedly the strongest of its kind ever made. Fancy getting your hands on one? Read on and take part in the comments section of this article.It is time for my picks for Fratellos Summer Splash 2021. Three watches below $5,000 each, and w...
