I occasionally wear a 1959 Mido Multifort. My dad lived and worked in Liberia around that time, and he bought it in Monrovia, the nations capital. He was actually torn between two watches. First, there was the GMT-Master worn by the Pan-Am pilots that flew back and forth to the former US colony, which, in 1847, became the first African republic to proclaim its independence. Then there was the aforementioned Mido Multifort. He picked the Multifort because of the movie ads that said Mido; a watch to dine with, to court with, and to sport with. If only my dad had hung out and drank with cool pilots more instead of going to the movies, I could now be wearing a vintage Pepsi. Instead, I have a M...

For me, as a watch aficionado, 2022 has been quite a special year. It feels like it has been longer, but I moved from Amsterdam Watch Company to Fratello only this May. And that was just a couple of months after releasing my debut book on the vintage Datejust. These were two significant milestones in my journey. The big difference between vintage dealing and watch journalism is the fact that no new watches get released in the vintage space. As such, this question about my favorite watches of the year is a new one for me. Never before have I been so close to all watch-related news, covering new releases every week. Some of those releases made me pull out my wallet, so I pretty much have to i...

You might have seen that we introduced our latest collaboration watch last week, the Oris Divers Sixty-Five Fratello Limited Edition. Today, we are very excited to announce that it s available in the Fratello Shop and ready for shipping within five business days. That means it ll be on your wrist (or under the tree) in time for Christmas!This video is blocked because you did not accept marketing cookies. Change cookie settings Oris is a brand that is near and dear to the hearts of the Fratello team and our community. Known for producing excellent-quality watches that offer fantastic value for money given the engineering and specs, the Oris Divers Sixty-Five Fratello Limited Edition is n...

I really tried to stay off the beaten track when putting together my current watch collection. And yes, I definitely have a few watches that you don t see every day, but last week, I added the Explorer to the stable. Then, I looked at my watch box, and I realized something - I am a total sucker for the typical classics. Why is it so damn hard to avoid those evergreens?I now refer to them as my classic quartet - the current Omega Speedmaster Professional, the JLC Reverso Classic Medium Duoface, the Cartier Santos Galbee XL, and the Explorer ref. 114270. And maybe my 38mm Blancpain Bathyscaphe and the Seiko SPB317 should also be part of that classic lineup. But especially those first four, a...

Strap width - often referred to as lug width - is usually only a topic of discussion if an odd size (17, 19, or 21mm) is used. So does the strap width only matter in terms of the availability of aftermarket replacement straps? I dont think so. In fact, it affects the overall appearance of the watch way more than we give it credit for. Lets explore that idea.I will refrain from using the term lug width (much to our copy editor s elation). Technically, this term refers to the width of the lug, not the gap between the lugs. Strap width and lug spacing are arguably more accurate descriptions of what we are aiming for here.Odd strap width - A source of annoyanceOkay, let me start with that more o...

The demand for watches from the 1990s is increasing, it seems. It used to be a well-kept secret that you could still get some nice (and complete) watches from the 1990s, but now there s a shift occurring with a focus on that era. This is not only true when it comes to full sets (boxes and papers) but also some very specific designs that were made in the 1990s. Another important factor is the very modest case sizes that were prevalent back then.Our friends over at Revolution already showed some trust in the 1990s by reintroducing a trio of Franck Muller chronographs from the decade. But I ve also advocated for the Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch models from the 1990s because those st...

The century-old Swiss watchmaker Titoni has made its name crafting handsome watches with unbeatable value. Little did we know that the fourth-generation family-run independent brand also has a strong lineup of ladies watches. Among them, the Miss Lovely collection undoubtedly takes the feminine curves up a notch. The latest 33.5mm time-only model in stainless steel also comes with its own unique quick-change strap system, so going between a bracelet and a leather strap is effortless. And no fabulously manicured nails will be harmed while having fun with different looks.The lady of all ladiesTitonis offerings for women typically consist of timeless, elegant dress watches. Some of the collect...

Against a backdrop of ringing cowbells, Longines billboards, and soaring peaks, Canadas Jack Crawford takes up his position at the starting gate. He is only moments from dropping into the downhill course at Lake Louise, where he will plunge 800 meters, approaching speeds of up to 130 kilometers per hour. Months of pre-season training led up to this moment, and in a minute and a half, it will all be over. Crawford, who won bronze in the Mens Combined event at the Beijing Olympics last February, is a hometown favorite. But hell have to stave off the likes of Norways legendary Aleksander Kilde (who won the overall title last year), Switzerlands Marco Odermatt (last years Giant Slalom champion),...

It s no secret that we re falling back in love with dress watches here at Fratello lately. Maybe it s because we re getting tired of the constant barrage of new tool watches, or maybe it s simply because the holiday season and occasions to dress up are quickly approaching. Regardless, dress watches are on our minds these days, so why not organize a battle between two of the finest examples out there? This week s Sunday Morning Showdown is between the Breguet Classique 5157 and the A. Lange & S?hne Saxonia Thin. Both feature only two hands and a rose gold case. But don t worry, there s still more than enough that differentiates these two beauties from each other.Why these two? you may ask...

The world of watches never ceases to surprise me. As far as Cartier is concerned, I can t recall a watch that caused as much of a buzz around its launch as the Pebble did. Even the 2019 rerelease of the Cartier (London) Crash watch caused less noise on social media than the Pebble. And that Crash truly gave me and lots of other collectors sleepless nights, let me tell you.What is a Pebble watch? Why is Cartier now releasing the Pebble, and why is there so much interest in it? How interesting is the Pebble in comparison to the Crash, and what is the future of the model?Let yourself be carried away and updated with the details of this exorbitant watch. It is one that stole my heart, but only a...

My hunt for chronographs with Excelsior Park calibers is well documented. I spoke about it in some of the Fratello On Air podcasts. You can also read about my endeavor of finding my NOS Excelsior Park some months back. Yet, when it comes to EP-caliber watches, the vintage market offers much more than you might think. On the one hand, we have the usual suspects - Gallet, Zenith, Girard-Perregaux, and of course, Excelsior Parks own models. On the other hand, however, one can find many small brands with EP movements hiding inside them. Varix is such a brand, and as luck would have it, we, in fact, have two in the Fratello family.I came across this beaten-up beauty while shopping around eBay bef...

Last week, we presented a list of the top five releases that flew under the radar. Therefore, it only makes sense to also create a list of the most hyped watches of 2022. If you have kept track of the watch releases this year and the hubbub around them, you can probably guess at least three of the five watches on this list. Did all five of them deserve the attention that they got in 2022? We ll leave that up to you!The most hyped releases never fail to spark a lot of discussion and debate. If you like a watch, you can t read enough about it. If you dislike a release, however, you may call it overhyped. We have seen quite a few releases this year that were heavily covered and discussed by wat...

The Explorer II is a bit of a fan favorite. This is especially true of the reference 16570, which is part of the popular five-digit generation of sports watches. Many - including me - admire it for its honest, tool-like qualities. It is from a time before everything went maxi and shiny. But today, I do not intend to wax poetic about it. Today, I want to outline the different versions that exist. If you are considering the 16570, you have a couple of choices to make. Lets have a closer look.With the 16570s production spanning 1989C2011, it is one of the longer-lasting references in history. Early models still feature some distinctly vintage characteristics. Later ones can feel thoroughly m...

Last week, I visited a watch get-together organized by the team from a Dutch watch podcast (Mannen van de Tijd). It was at a private location with a poker table, on which the guests put their watches (some even brought their entire collections). One of the watches that caught my eye was a beautiful 37mm Breguet Tradition 7027 in rose gold.All the guests present agreed that it was quite an impressive piece, and despite all the other interesting watches that were there that day, the rose gold Breguet Tradition was the one that I couldn t let go of. Lo and behold, I found myself on Chrono24 the next few evenings, searching for a similar-looking model. It showed once more that Breguet is a heavi...

The black dial on the Citizen Alarm Date is so suggestive that you feel like you want to drown in it. ?I wouldn t have expected Citizen to become one of my top-of-mind brands when someone asks me about vintage alarm watches. Well, watch collecting can be surprising sometimes. Now, of course, the champion spot is already occupied by the legendary Vulcain Cricket, with the earliest models at the absolute top.Citizen climbing upRight after Vulcain,?there is this bizarre Basis with a rotating Plexi crystal to operate the alarm. But then comes Citizen to close out the top three makers of vintage alarm watches (no JLC Memovox, sorry). Before you read about today s #TBT hero, you should take a brea...

From today onwards, has a Certified Pre-Owned program in place. To start with, there will be CPO watches in Bucherer boutiques in Switzerland, Austria, Germany, France, Denmark, and the United Kingdom. But what does it mean, and how will it work? Let me explain.The market for is very hot despite the messages on secondhand prices coming down, more stock in boutiques, and so on. While these things might be happening, the demand is still high. Buying pre-owned is an alternative for those who want a but can t get a new one or those who like older/discontinued models better. And buying pre-owned can still be a scary thing. I see countless messages on social media concerning the validation of ...

Breitling has renewed its partnership with rebellious Australian surf-style brand and motorcycle customizer Deus Ex Machina. To celebrate, Breitling unveils the new Top Time watch with design input from Deus. The base of the new watch follows the familiar pattern of the 2021 Top Time Deus edition with some design tweaks. On the dial, black gives way to sky blue on the tachymeter scale and sunken TV-set sub-dials. Notably, the new Top Time Deus edition ups the limitation to 2,000 pieces. Raising the number of units is undoubtedly in response to the original Deus being an instant sell-out at 1,500 pieces. Will the new one generate the same demand? Lets find out.Looking back to 2021, we never c...

Seiko is taking the #throwbackthursday theme very literally today. The brand is revisiting two beloved models, each with decades of history, and freshening them up a bit. Both the special-edition Arnie (SNJ039P1) and Turtle (SRPJ35K1) get a blue-and-green bezel insert. And they re also each fitted with a minute hand in seafoam green so you can keep track of your time underwater. Let s take a closer look at what Seiko has done here.The love for these two classics doesn t seem to have run out just yet. Watch enthusiasts all over the world can t get enough of all the variations available out there. We re all familiar with all-black, blue-and-red Pepsi, and light-blue-and-black PADI bezel insert...

Compared to the previous years, 2022 flew by. And thinking about all the releases in 2022, we ve had a great, full year packed with exciting new watches. There have been so many great new watches this year that it is difficult to compile a short list, so I won t. Instead, I will touch upon all the highlights that I saw in 2022.Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 50th AnniversaryEarly in the year (January), Audemars Piguet introduced its Royal Oak Jumbo upgrade for the 50th anniversary of this Gerald Genta design. After 50 years, the Royal Oak Jumbo received a new movement. The ultra-thin caliber 2121 has been replaced with the new caliber 7121. This movement comes with the long-awaited quickset featur...

This week, Fratello Talks first luxury watches. Nacho, Fratello s managing editor, is joined in the studio by marketing manager Sofia and social media manager Sinara. Together, they discuss their experience in purchasing each of their first proper/luxury watches. This podcast player is blocked because you did not accept marketing cookies. Change cookie settings As young collectors, it s an experience they do not have to look back far to remember, yet all three are already looking forward to their next big purchase. Stay tuned until the end to discover what each of them would like to pick up in the future. Wrist checkWe kick off the episode with a wrist check. Sinara is wearing her ...