It is safe to say that Seiko has made a push upmarket in recent times. While many of the brand s watches certainly justify their new price point, for some enthusiasts, the higher RRPs take some getting used to. Daan has no such issues. He recently purchased a Seiko SPB317 for himself. Thomas, on the other hand, clings to his trusty old SKX009, a watch that cost about a third of the price of Daans. In todays Sunday Morning Showdown, we pit an old, cheap, and cheerful Seiko diver against a new, fancy one.The watches may be technically incomparable, but the philosophy behind them is not. They represent different faces of our beloved Seiko. And that, we feel, is worth exploring in a Sunday Morni...
Welcome to the third episode of Building A Watch Brand! Some crucial choices have to be made while VPC is still in this seedling stage, so I have been doing a ton of calculations and even more hard thinking. As I shed my na?vete and the true scope of what I have taken on presents itself, it is time to get serious.In this episode, I will let you in on some of the decisions I have made so far. The most important are a number of financial and strategic choices and picking the right designer to partner with. But before we get into that, I have to revisit Episode 2.Preliminary logo sketches from Ep. 2Unveiling VPC in Building A Watch Brand Episode 2I unveiled the brand name VPC in the previous ep...
Todays Pre-Owned Spotlight is an eclectic bunch. I picked a vintage chronograph because, well, I love them. It s not something you often see, but it has a complication (or rather, a purpose) that I find utterly fascinating. We discussed it while recording next week s Fratello On Air episode, hence the idea. The second vintage chronograph comes from my beloved Omega. It is from an era - the late 60s and early 70s - when brands went funky, and you can undoubtedly see it in this one. I also selected a modern watch from Grand Seiko, a fancier version of my own timepiece.The aim was to bring models to the forefront that might not be well known. On one hand, hunting for intriguing and rare piece...
After yesterday s reveals of the regular Audemars Piguet models, today, the brand from Le Brassus graces us with seven new highly complicated timepieces. The different pieces are part of the four collections the brand currently carries. It starts with a spectacular Royal Oak Selfwinding Perpetual Calendar Ultra-thin, moves on to the Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT, and through the Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph, we end up at the four Code 11.59 models featuring high complications. In this article, we will focus on the Royal Oak models specifically. We ll highlight the spectacular new Code 11.59 timepieces in a separate article.In the last year of...
Sometimes you get confronted with watches that need time to sink in. Watches that need a second and a third look. And after that, you put together the story with the images that come with them. And once you have done that, you still have to grasp the magnitude of what you have just witnessed. These moments are rare, but when they happen, you will recognize them immediately. The introduction of the new Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet Ultra-Complication Universelle RD#4 is one of those moments. This new timepiece is the most complicated that the brand has ever created. It s also imbued with contemporary ways of using and experiencing a timepiece. The revolution is here, and it comes in the form ...
The Six Nations Rugby Championship returns this weekend! To celebrate Breitling s second year as the event s timing partner is a sextet of Breitling Chronomat B01 42 watches. Each watch reflects each nation that takes part in the Six Nations tournament - England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Italy, and France. While the underlying platform of the Chronomat remains the same as the 42mm model from 2020, the new team shades can demonstrate national pride or an outside interest in the sport.I was never adept at football (soccer for the Americans). I needed to catch up with the speed and technical precision of dribbling and trick shots. However, I found my forte with rugby. After an initial growth s...
This series on the best watches under $500 brings me back to around five years ago. The Seiko Kinetic Perpetual Calendar that I wore for about 15 years got stolen during a break-in. At that time, I wasn t into watches like I am now, so I started looking for a replacement for about $500. In the end, I went with the all-time classic Seiko SKX007. But if I had to do it again today, I d definitely go for a different watch. In addition, I ll also go over some more quirky options if you re looking for a nice on-the-side bonus watch.Let me first tell you why that SKX007 didn t work for me, though. I was just too used to the hassle-free Seiko Kinetic Perpetual Calendar (SNP005) that I wore for so lo...
With its bold and brash big-cased look, the Yacht-Master series was never on my radar. It seemed too far removed from the original tool ethos of its brother, the Submariner. It also gave me the vibe of white slacks and a blue sports coat with brass buttons, which is not really my scene. But while the tool vibe of the Professional series has become far removed from its legend, the Yacht-Master has grown on me. But why would my only be an 18K gold Yacht-Master?Honestly, putting this down on paper makes it seem as unlikely as wearing a 46mm hulk of a blingy 2000s Breitling daily. Or is it my perfect fit, while the Submariner has, in fact, had its day? Let s face it, a diver wouldnt trust a m...
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph ref. 25721ST is an illustrious timepiece that debuted in 1993. The Offshore was meant to rejuvenate the Royal Oak and attract a new, younger audience. The watch was the brainchild of 22-year-old designer Emmanuel Gueit, who came up with a chunky creation that took elements of Gerald Gentas original design and magnified them. The 42mm watch received the nickname The Beast and did what it was supposed to do. The ROO soon became the watch for race car drivers, power players, and jet-setters. Thirty years later, The Beast is back in black - black ceramic, that is. Audemars Piguet s 2023 lineup also consists of a string of new Royal O...
I don t like the term wedding watch, but I can easily imagine wearing this Universal Monopusher to the next wedding I m invited to. It looks unwearable, but the opposite is true. The previous statement needs a bit of clarification. When I said unwearable, I didn t mean that the watch looks too big or too beefy. It s just so different, so gold, and so 1930s that it blinds everyone in a 5km radius. Add those lugs that make it look a bit like a handbag, and well, it s so far from any of today s vintage standards that it s almost impossible to imagine how it wears. The inability to imagine it on my wrist led me to conclude that it wouldn t be the most comfortable experience of the year. Neverthe...
I m trying to consolidate my collection while keeping it diverse with one watch per brand. Casio, however, is one of only three brands from which I own more than one watch. Even after writing about watches for more than four years now, I wouldnt profess to be a style guru, but I am very vain (and admit it!). Wrist-cool doesnt always equate to big bucks, and no brand proves it better than Casio does. And how about when celebrities surprise us by wearing a fun Casio watch with a tux? It s priceless, but it happens more often than you d think.I have three watches from Casio, and Id even like to have a few more because they cheer me up. Casio has concocted a magic blend of accessibility, toughne...
Seiko introduces the SLA067J1, a new all-black interpretation of the brand s 1965 original, the 62MAS. This is the second reinterpretation of that legendary diver this year after the SLA065. That one was fitted with an Astrolabe dial, which yours truly was not too crazy about. This time, we go full stealth mode with the new SLA067J1. Lets see how we fare this time!The Seiko SLA067J1 is limited to 600 pieces worldwide, so if this one speaks to you, make haste.The new SLA067J1Seiko maintained a lot of the design language from the 62MAS. Still, this reinterpretation feels more contemporary thanks to its black hard coating. It lifts this new model out of the territory of vintage reissues. The ca...
Hello, and welcome to this week s episode of Fratello Talks! Today, Nacho, Lex, and Daan sit together to discuss watch brands selling their own stock of vintage watches. Lex joins the podcast after a week away visiting Jaeger-LeCoultre, the latest brand to jump on the bandwagon. Armed with knowledge, vintage-buying experience, and plenty of opinions, this week s trio is ready to delve into the details. Who are these premium vintage pieces, painstakingly restored by the brand itself, meant to be for? It may not be us, but perhaps it s a perfect introduction to vintage watches for those willing and able to pay the premium. The guys share their thoughts extensively, but not before a quick wrist...
We all love the possibility of wearing a big sports watch or a retro chronograph without worrying about the fragility of a vintage, mechanical grail. Some Gen-Z and Millennial buyers wouldn t even know what to do with such a thing and might run to the local watch shop if the power reserve runs down. So what s the trick to getting these people into mechanical watches? Quartz is now cool again, and how about the added allure of many years of effortless power? Even without the powerful sustainability badge, big brands are proving that solar power rocks.Even hardened watch journos like me are finding joy in the simple peace of mind that comes from an ever-accurate watch that doesnt need winding....
The year is just one month old, and Seiko has already graced us with the first string of new releases these past few weeks. While that is business as usual, Seiko surprised me with its latest release. I own a first-generation Seiko Sumo SBDC001 that I love very much. While I don t wear it as much as I once did, the watch has a special place in my heart. Thats why I was more than intrigued to learn more about the new Seiko Prospex SFK001 and SFK003. These two surprising new Sumo models add a GMT function to this popular Seiko dive watch. As someone who owns a Sumo and is looking for a great GMT, you will understand that I had to check them out.When I think of my Seiko Sumo SBDC001, I have not...
Once again, Seiko is presenting blacked-out versions of two of its classic models. This time, it s the Alpinist (SPB337J1) and the Turtle Origin (SPB335J1) that took a dip in the black bath. I have seen the Alpinist in person in many different iterations, and I happen to own the basic steel version of the Turtle Origin. But it s surprising how different familiar watches can look when you give them another color. Let s take a look at how that s possible with these new additions to Seiko s The Black Series.If blacked-out watches are your thing, Seiko is really doing its best to please you. When a steel re-edition of a Seiko classic comes out, a black version of it usually follows later. I ofte...
Last week, we witnessed the introduction of the first Speedmaster for 2023, the Super Racing with its new Spirate System. The release wasn t so much about the watch as a whole but about the incredibly precise movement. But the Speedmaster Super Racing will not be the only new Speedmaster this year, of course. Any brand needs to continuously push for new models and references, not least of all to get the attention of the press and customers. Omega is no exception to this rule, and there s always a constant flow of new models every year. Old references will be discontinued (often silently), while others will enter the new (online) catalog. What Speedmasters has Omega planned for us in 2023?No ...
Here I come, sliding the last Watch Goals For 2023 article in one day before the February 1st cutoff. Most of our editors shared their goals for the new year earlier in the month. Still, I wanted to have my say before the topic suddenly seemed less relevant. Thankfully, my watch goals for this year are crystal clear, so writing this one should be easy!Some watch enthusiasts go with the flow and buy whatever strikes their fancy whenever they have the means. But ever since I bought my Tudor Black Bay in 2015, I ve been a very goal-oriented collector. As I ve explained before, that piece marked the birth of my first child and the rebirth of my watch collection. I realized that I could indeed bu...
Grand Seiko, though technically separate from Seiko these days, still has an unbreakable historical bond with its parent company. Because of this, the high-end watchmaking house is equally as eager to celebrate 110 years of Seiko watchmaking. As you may know, 2023 marks the 110th anniversary of Japan s very first domestically produced wristwatch, the Laurel. To commemorate this, Grand Seiko has just announced a lacquer-dialed execution of its very first model from 1960. Meet the SBGW295, a 38mm addition to the Elegance Collection in Brilliant Hard Titanium.In 1960, Seiko released the premier Grand Seiko timepiece. Simply known as the First, it was Seiko s attempt at producing the finest, mos...
Fratello On Air returns with a moving episode - pun intended! We re on the Autobahn late at night talking about the newest releases from Synchron, Omega, and Grand Seiko. Enjoy the ride! This podcast player is blocked because you did not accept marketing cookies. Change cookie settings That s right, Balazs and Mike are on the move across Germany and the Netherlands. They ve decided to bring along some wireless mics and record while driving because, honestly, they re talking about watches anyhow. It just so happens that the episode falls during a period when there s some real news from Synchron, Omega, and Grand Seiko. We think that the sound quality is rather good despite our high-speed ...
