Does anyone know the infinite money cheat code for us watch geeks? I cannot recall how many hours my best mate Tim and I played GoldenEye on the Nintendo 64. It was the 1990s, and we had nothing but time. The system of cheat codes was one of the many great things about that game. We looked up complicated button combinations in gaming magazines - L+left, L+R+right, L+right, R+down, and so on. And boom! You had infinite health. A second code- all weapons!Today, I am releasing my inner child once more. I am activating the code infinite money, and I am going on a watch shopping spree around the world. And just because life is too short to beg, I am also entering the cheat code infinite purchase ...

Hey Daan, instead of only reviewing brand-new watches, wouldn t it be cool to also review pre-owned watches every now and then? said a guy to me at a recent get-together. And then he went on to say, Why don t you give it a go with my Aquanaut that you ve been wearing for the past 45 minutes? It s not every day that you get such an offer, so, of course, I told him it was a great idea and that I d be very happy to accept. And that s exactly how I ended up with his 2001 Patek Philippe Aquanaut reference 5065A on my wrist for a week. Keep reading to find out what that was like.I tried on a lot of heavy-hitter watches at that get-together. Among them was a rose gold A. Lange & S?hne Lange 1 T...

For todays Speedy Tuesday, I will go on a sentimental journey through Omega Speedmaster history. I will share my absolute favorite versions of one of my favorite lines of watches. It s not an easy task as there are so many to choose from. So lets get stuck into it.In random order, these are my absolute favorite Omega Speedmasters to date.Omega Speedmaster ref. 145.022-69 220 bezelI cannot possibly start anywhere else than with the one that I own. I will not go into too much detail about the watch itself as I have covered it extensively in this previous article. But I can tell you why I love it so much.To me, this Speedy represents a bit of a sweet spot. It is a transitional model from right ...

Taking place this weekend near Birmingham, UK is WatchIt! Watch Fair, presented by 12&60. WatchIt! is a free one-day event where you can view, handle, talk, and buy watches in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.Boasting some of the best that Britain has to offer, WatchIt! is a gathering for enthusiastic watch lovers and like-minded individuals. Whether youre serious about watches or only just getting into them, everyone is welcome.WatchIt! is free to attend and open to all, and its central location makes it accessible across the country. WatchIt! showcases British watches that you mainly only see online, making it an excellent opportunity to get hands-on with some of the most exciting tim...

It s been ten days since Audemars Piguet unveiled its mindblowing Code 11.59 By Audemars Piguet Ultra-Complication Universelle RD#4. The watch introduced a new movement that is nothing short of stunning. Add the ingenious usability and the friendly size, and the watch became one of the undisputed highlights of this new watch year. But it did something else too: it put the Code 11.59 collection in a different light for many watch fans. We did not cover the remaining complicated Code 11.59 models in all the AP madness. With all the dust clouds gone, let s look at them now and see what they add to the Code 11.59 collection.A little over a week has passed, and that beige-dialed Code 11.59 By Aud...

Thats right, I changed the series title to include the word Japanese to suit my own agenda. Well, that s not quite true. I freely admit to having a few faves on both Jorg s and Thomas s lists, so I focused on my own watch-collecting origins. After fashion watches and vintage divers, my first new big-brand mechanical watch was a Seiko, and I was blown away. So this pivoting story is about finding the best Japanese watch under $500.Yes, the Swiss are amazing watchmakers, but starting out, you cant go wrong with Seiko, Casio, and Citizen. Sure, microbrands are equally cool, but for peace of mind and full factory guarantees, not much can beat Japanese watches at under $500. This is especially tr...

Last week I wrote about the colorful G-Shock Frogman 30th Anniversary Poison Dart Frog that we had in the office. While that exotic watch was with us, we also received the G-Shock GMW-B5000TCC. At first sight, it might be less impressive than the standout Frogman, but take a closer look, and you ll understand that some important things make this model stand out. First, this new G-Shock Square is as light as a feather thanks to the new titanium alloy that the brand uses, TranTixxii. Second, the watch is decorated with a special pattern inspired by the circuitry of the no. 3459 module that powers the GMW-B5000 series. The combination makes for a new, very special, premium G-Shock.If you are fa...

Today is Monday, February 13th - the day before the sixth Speedy Tuesday of 2023. Its also the day before Valentines Day, the most romantic day of the year. The day you celebrate your love for your partner with gifts straight from the heart. Last year, we spoke of a perfect pair of Swatch watches for you and your loved one. But if you re reading this, it s definitely too late. In an ideal world, you ll have bought your heartfelt gift already. Reality, however, is often less poetic. Valentines Day gift shopping is almost always a rush job. We re sorry if we re causing you stress, but dont worry, we wont have you show up empty-handed. Not on Fratellos watch! Weve got your back. Well, were goin...

Not too long ago, I visited the Swatch Museum in Biel. It blew my mind. What an abundance of fantastic watches. There were influential timepieces and iconic creations but also stuff I forgot about. Stuff I forgot I wore a long time ago, like my Sir Swatch SIR (GB111) from 1986. And also the Swatch Snowpass Shaun Palmer (SHB100) from 1997 that I had on while riding my Cannondale Super V 4000DH. And now that RJ brought this huge bag filled with vintage and new, crazy colorful Swatch watches to the office, its all coming back to me - again! Since Swatch set the tone, I also included not-too-serious timepieces in this slightly rebellious and off-beat Monday Morning Madness story. Have a look at ...

Who else here finds the rising prices of watches depressing? Okay, I see a few hands up, so I guess I m not alone. Thankfully, the pre-owned market can offer some solace with many iconic watches that are still relatively attainable. These days, I believe the key is either to go neo-vintage or choose the variations that are off the beaten path. The Breitling Navitimer line offers ample opportunity to do this, and I think it s time we shared some intriguing options in our Pre-Owned Spotlight!If you want to buy a Breitling Navitimer (chronograph) at retail today, you ll have to fork over at least $7,700. That s the price for the Navitimer Ref. 806 1959 Re-Edition, a watch that Mike reviewed bac...

I don t know if it s just me, but I feel that sector dials are making a solid comeback. My first renewed attraction to them was in 2017 when Jaeger-LeCoultre presented a 25th-anniversary Master Control Date with a sector dial. The second one that caught my eye was the Longines Heritage Classic in 2019. And last year, in 2022, Omega presented the rather stunning CK 859 Master Chronometer. What I completely missed, however, was the Baltic HMS 002 that came out in 2019.Back then, the brand wasn t really on my radar yet, but it is now. The HMS 002 recently returned to the spotlight because microbrand Baltic updated the Miyota movement inside. Now is a good moment to put this attractive watch thr...

You could very well say that the Submariner is the ultimate dive watch. You could maybe even say it s the ultimate watch, period. But because it s so famous and popular, many other brands try to challenge it for what it is. Even Tudor, s very own sister company, tries to take a piece of the dive-watch pie with the Black Bay. In this week s Sunday Morning Showdown, RJ and I are going to see whether that Tudor Black Bay stands any chance against the Submariner.In the long history of the Sunday Morning Showdown, we ve only featured the Submariner once before. That was in August of 2020 when Ben defended the Omega Seamaster 300M and Jorg had the honor of defending the Sub. They ve been in a ...

Grand Seikos Elegance line has produced several fan favorites in recent memory. Most of them have centered around a particular round case that usually features a GMT function. Several limited editions have come out in this shape with various dial colors and different movements. The new Grand Seiko SBGJ271 Yukigesho model, depicting snow that has fallen on tree branches, is a stunning timepiece that is sure to fit right in among the popular watches in this line.Winter, not seasonsGrand Seiko watches that evoke the natural scenery of a particular time of year are nothing new. Since the launch of the first Seasons collection several years ago, we have all come to know the Japanese appreciation ...

This story is one of the most selfishly motivated ones I have written in a while, and Im not ashamed to admit it. Through these last four or five years, I have had almost all the cult-classic Seiko divers rotating through my collection, from Turtle to Samurai, and from Shogun to Marinemaster. There is, however, a big, can-shaped hole in my Seiko history that needs filling up. No, I have never owned a Tuna. For some reason, this charmingly circular can of toughness has never graced either my glass-fronted cabinet or my mid-sized wrist.I came close when Seiko released the fashion-forward Street series a couple of years ago. But for some reason, that color-coded approach seems to have failed, a...

Today, we re pleased to announce a new limited-edition watch from Monta. The Skyquest Opalin goes on sale today and picks up where the last generation Skyquest ended. Let s take a quick look.At the tail end of 2022, I went hands-on with the second-generation Monta Skyquest and was impressed with just about everything on the watch. While some bemoan the use of the Sellita SW330 caller GMT automatic, I could honestly care less. I like using a 24-hour bezel and it just so happens that Monta makes a great one. The watch I reviewed featured a black dial with gilt features including the hands and bezel numerals. Today s Skyquest Opalin follows a very similar format but flips the script on the dial...

Piaget has announced a Pre Watches & Wonders Novelty with no holds barred. The Swiss watchmaker has bestowed for the first time a mechanical perpetual calendar on the iconic Polo collection. Continuing the legacy of ultra-slim movements, the newest Piaget Polo boasts a 4mm-thin 1255P caliber to power a triple calendar correct until the year 2100 and a moonphase indication. The high-mechanical timepiece aims to blend horological extravagance on a dark emerald-green dial with everyday wearability for the style-forward folks.The storied pastSince its debut in 1979, the Piaget Polo has been synonymous with the ultimate definition of luxury chic. The brand is all too willing to remind us that...

I should come out and say this right from the get-go: Im a bracelet guy, especially when it comes to divers or sports watches. If a watch has an adequate and well-fitting bracelet, then thats how my watch will stay for most of its time on my wrist. However, there are occasions when even I like to cut loose and switch it up. Having a few good rubber straps to call on can offer great versatility or even breathe fresh life into an otherwise stale watch.Chances are youve heard the name Delugs. What started in Singapore with a small catalog of leather straps, all made to order, evolved into one of the more recognized brands in this arena. The brand offers a wide range of high-quality straps in va...

We kicked off our Watch Box Stories series with an article from Philip Blumer, and here s the second entry from Christopher from Germany. He is a long-time Fratello reader and guest at our events who will share the contents of his watch box - or roll, to be precise.After we share all the stories, we will raffle off a Peli case and a few other accessories among the contributors. So far, Ive seen some very interesting contributions, and I am excited to share them here on Fratello in the coming days and weeks. Without further ado, heres Christophers story about what s in his watch box.A readers collection - ChristopherBy definition, this is a watch roll rather than a box, but it has corners, so...

It seems like Seiko has a thing for black this year. I ve already covered releases of a black Speedtimer, Alpinist, and Turtle Origin, and Thomas covered the new black SLA067 diver. Well, today, I introduce you to the Seiko SSH127, a black-cased version of the 43.1mm Astron. Let s take a quick look!I guess for most people, a watch is still a purely functional object, especially when traveling. And I think Seiko has developed the modern Astron collection specifically for those people. The 5X53 movement inside these watches is powered by the sun, and timekeeping is controlled via satellites. That means you won t ever have to change the battery, and manually setting the time is a thing of the p...

Many brands don t make it past their second or third watch release. That could be due to a decline in inspiration, a downturn in desire, or even a lack of success. The fact that Second Hour is now on its fifth release suggests that the people behind the brand must be getting something right. Today, I m looking at the Sattelberg, a watch that aims to balance the function-first aspects of a field watch with the elegance of something altogether dressier.Sattelberg was the site of a battle during the Pacific theatre of the Second World War. Second Hour Watches, based in Melbourne, Australia, is keen to point out that the watch s naming means honoring the Australian spirit of tenacity and courage...