Gerald Genta, the now Bvlgari-owned watch brand of the late designer, is back at it with Disneys most famous character. The legendary creators Mickey Mouse designs have been such iconic offerings that they are instantly recognizable and sought-after collectibles today. The latest Arena Bi-Retrograde model depicts a football-kicking Mickey and comes in a limited edition of 200 pieces.GG RetrogradesRetrograde models have been in the Gerald Genta collection since 1996. The Bvlgari Group purchased the brand in 2000 and introduced the Gerald Genta 50th Anniversary Arena Bi-Retro watch in 2019. A new Arena Bi-Retrograde Sport watch then came in 2020, which RJ reviewed here. Last year, Bvlgari made...
Oris has a distinct lineup of contemporary sports cool with the Aquis and Pro Pilot lines, but my heart lies with the vintage-inspired divers and OG Big Crown range. The latter is pitch-perfect vintage at heart, yet is versatile enough to take on a more modern look in its more minimal Calibre 400 and 403 guises. This time, Oris might just have found the suave middle ground with the Big Crown Waldenburgerbahn Limited Edition.I do have a soft spot for bronze and gilt numerals, but having missed the opportunity to nab one of the Fratelloris examples last year, Im left searching (also, don t miss out on the Fratelloris of this year!). While writing this story, I might have just found another Big...
Last week, Omega celebrated James Bond s 60th anniversary. The brand introduced a Seamaster Diver 300M in blue with the iconic wave dial from the 90s and a moire animation on the case back. Through its social media accounts, Omega hinted at that watch prior to its launch. To everyone s surprise, however, Omega also introduced a Seamaster Diver 300M in Canopus Gold with a gray silicon dial and green and yellow diamonds on the bezel. It is a design that clearly links back to the late Ian Fleming s house on the northern shore of Jamaica.During World War II, Fleming was working as a naval intelligence officer for the British Royal Navy. In 1942, he visited Jamaica in that role to investigate Na...
Most of us are caught up in the vintage-feeling small-watch craze of the times, myself included. But there is one dive watch that will never leave my collection, and it s 44mm, not a Goldilocks 38. I might never actually dive with it, but I could. It s about that bulletproof-tank vibe, so even if I can get a 300m-depth-rated watch at 38mm, it won t give me the same feeling of mental comfort. The firm embrace of 200+ grams of metal makes me think that I can do anything and go anywhere. So in the case of dive watches, yes, size matters.For many of us, watches are virtual comfort blankets as much as they are symbols of success. Obviously, they are meant to give us the time of day at a glance, a...
Squale, the Swiss-Italian specialist in dive watches, has a reputation for keeping its historic heroes alive. Now the brand brings back another chapter from its illustrious past - the skin diver. It is styled after the Squale skin divers from the 1960s and named after a 1959 trademark name, Super-Squale. Recently, I spent some time with this new model on the wrist to see if it is indeed a super Squale.I am quite familiar with Squale, with a limited-edition 1521 and a Subino in my collection. The latter is a special Squale - of which only 60 were made - housed in a NOS Blancpain case from the 1950s. I was involved in the development and marketing of that watch back in my days working for Amst...
In the last year, I received such a large number of requests about the long-discontinued Omega Speedmaster 57 Broad Arrow Replica, Reissue, or Relaunch that I felt it was about time to write a (mini) buyer s guide on this Speedmaster variant.Omega used a very unfortunate name for this Speedmaster 3594.50 but did so with all the best intentions. It was Omega s first attempt at creating a re-edition of the first Speedmaster CK2915, and the watch debuted as the Speedmaster 57 Replica. Apparently, the folks at Omega were unaware of the negative connotation that this term has for watch collectors and enthusiasts. Even just recently, one of our readers and fellow Speedmaster enthusiasts had his ...
There is one type of watch that I have always found particularly attractive - the sporty chronograph. Watches of this type are capable of much more than just telling the time. Often, they indicate the day/date, they can time events of up to 12 hours, and they are robust. They typically come with decent water resistance and a bezel that adds extra functionality. So I was excited to see Yema releasing two Navygraf Chrono models with Valjoux 7750 calibers. In good Yema fashion, they are available in two colors and are, from a spec-to-money ratio, rather inexpensive (I know, everything is a matter of perspective).If you re a regular reader of Fratello, Yema is a brand that will need no introduct...
Meet our second collaboration with the brand from H?lstein, the Oris Divers Sixty-Five Fratello Limited Edition. The entire Fratello team and I are incredibly proud to present this new Fratello Oris collaboration. We never made it a secret that we love vintage watches and appreciate a well-done re-edition of a timepiece from the past. The Oris Divers Sixty-Five Fratello Limited Edition is heavily inspired by what I believe is one of the most beautiful vintage Oris watches I ve seen to date, the Oris Star dive watch from 1968.This video is blocked because you did not accept marketing cookies. Change cookie settings Whereas our first Fratello Oris Big Crown Pointer Date collaboration ...
Rounding up 2022 in the form of my favorite watch releases was quite the undertaking. This year reinstated the grandeur that accompanies watch launches. Therefore, sharing the experience and the reaction to specific releases sticks with you over the year. Take, for instance, the MoonSwatch phenomenon generating excessive queues. Could we have known the extent of demand worldwide without witnessing the long lines? The MoonSwatch was not the only collaboration between two powerhouses. From Bremont and Bamford to Breitling and Triumph, it has been quite the year for combining efforts. But as you ll see from my list, gold is the theme linking the best releases of the year for me.In my mind, the ...
The Baltic Tricompax Peter Auto limited edition was warmly received earlier this year. It was evident that a regular production model would follow sooner or later, and well… here it is! The Baltic Tricompax is now being released in both panda and reverse panda versions. And after secretly wearing the panda for a while, I can certainly say this: it s not ugly. Not ugly at all.But it is also not entirely original. I was curious to learn which would weigh heavier in the end - the beauty or the derivativeness. Join me to find out.Baltic TricompaxFirst things first. The Baltic Tricompax is a bit of a statement from the young French brand. The Peter Auto limited edition already tested the ...
Blue Monday is not just any Monday. In fact, its the third Monday in January. UK travel company Sky Travel characterized that particular Monday as the most depressing day of the year. And according to the company, the remedy would be a trip to a sunny destination, of course. But playing the 1983 song Blue Monday by New Order always worked for me to turn a dispirited, gloomy Monday into an energetic one. Wearing the right blue jeans also does the trick for me, especially when I can have double-denim joy with the Oris Momotaro Divers Sixty-Five Special Edition. I didnt want to wait until Denim Day, the last Wednesday of April, to write about my special-edition Divers Sixty-Five. And thats wh...
It s my turn to do a Pre-Owned Spotlight article for this week! As you have probably noticed, we love browsing online offerings as much as our readers do. Hunting down the real gems is possibly even more fun than owning them. So join me on a chase for some cool watches that are currently available at different dealers and webshops.You know I have a tendency to go vintage, so you will find some older watches in my selection. And I think I have an interesting lineup for you today, including sporty watches from and Heuer alongside dressier pieces from Longines and Patek. Let s have a look.1964 Submariner 5513 with an Explorer dialLets kick things off with an exceedingly rare pre-owned pick. A...
Its wild to realize that December is already upon us, and it s time to get into gear for the holidays. While some of us cannot wait to see the back of a turbulent year, others may want to take stock of our fortune for the people we have in our lives. Gift-giving is a big part of our show of gratitude for our loved ones during this time of the year, but getting it right requires some thought. To help you get started on the shopping quest, acclaimed German watchmaker NOMOS has four gift ideas for four types of recipients among us.For the go-getter - Club Sport neomatik petrolA perfect all-rounder for life on the move, the Club Sport neomatik petrol is a robust and dressy sports watch. With a d...
Seiko introduced the Sharp Edged Series to its Presage collection in 2020. As the name suggests, the series signifies the strong lines and facets across the sculptural forms of the cases. Combining new cases with a Japanese aesthetic sense, the SPB305 and SPB311 are two modern Seiko watches that embody the brand s characteristic design language.Signature detailsThese two models are both new releases from Seiko this year. Their signature elements are the angular case designs and the Asanoha (hemp leaf) dial pattern. For the case, stainless steel is toughened by a super-hard coating. As for the dial, Asanoha is a motif that has been used in Japanese fabrics for over a thousand years ever since...
Yes, I happily admit to having a weakness for Artisans de Geneve and what the small brand does to somewhat ubiquitous big-brand grails. Just like the roughed-up charm of Phil Toledanos Submariner added a rustic soul to an icon, ADG has a magic touch. The watch community will always be split on modifying what many consider lifetime-grail watches. But believe me, the discreet charm of the Artisans de Geneve is powerful, as we see in the Ciottolo Azzurro Project.Looking at Instagram with the relentless barrage of rapper-worn diamond-festooned bling, I understand the naysayers. To me, adding 1,478 diamonds and sapphires to a Nautilus or a to makes it less appealing than wearing a gold spacesuit...
Recently, Balazs and I recorded a podcast about Seiko. We were forced to come up with two of our favorite models from the brand. This was no small feat, but we persevered. One of my choices was Champion Alpinist J13043, a bit of an if you know, you know watch that clocks in at roughly 60 years old. I thought this watch would be the perfect addition to our ongoing series of Dear xxx articles.The Alpinist is a seriously popular line within the Seiko Prospex series, even if the Alpinist nomenclature no longer officially exists. Yes, that s right, aside from the meh 1959 Alpinist recreation, Seiko chooses not to use the name. No one pays attention, though, and fans along with store salespeople s...
In today s Sunday Morning Showdown, two of our writers go head-to-head in an epic battle for the ages. Strong opinions and hysterical hyperbole are welcome (so feel free to join in with the fun in the comments section below). And don t forget to let us know which watches you d like to see torn to shreds/effusively exalted next week. Today features another James Bond tussle. On one side is the big star of No Time To Die (2021). No, not Daniel Craig, but he did assist with the design of his titanium Omega Seamaster Diver 300M. The shark-mesh bracelet, matte brown aluminum dial and bezel, and cappuccino lume are signatures of its screen-ready style. Facing off against the No Time To Die Seamast...
Independent brands, which we can also call microbrands, have been working hard to create some neat stuff. Yes, I decided to say neat instead of outstanding because what they recently released is quite refreshing. This article will look at three trends that define independent watchmaking in 2022. I did use the word innovation in the title. Not to bait you into reading an article that is not about innovation, but the things Ill mention are not new. However, independent brands are making them accessible to a large segment of the watch-collecting population. So although they re not new, they are innovative. I promise this will all make sense shortly.A few weeks ago, I wrote an article on highlig...
I can t believe we are at this point again. The year 2022 has flown by, and I still remember compiling my list of the best watches of 2021. It s now 12 months later, and I have enjoyed a great number of new releases this year. But as it tends to go with lists like these for me, the majority of my picks will be pieces that I actually want and can add to my collection. I m always looking for a personal story, a personal connection that triggers the desire actually to want to buy a watch. And that story does not have to be multi-layered and elaborate. It can be as simple as a fascination with a design. Essentially, that s where it all starts and ends for me with these five watches.Some of you w...
Can we still surprise you when it comes to new watches? And what about watches that fly under the radar? Well, hardly any watches truly fly under the radar these days. Still, we here at Fratello HQ thought it would be nice to highlight some of the less-talked-about releases of 2022 that deserve all the love and attention they can get!When it comes to picking watches for this list, the limited edition ghost quickly becomes part of the discussion. Some people might say it s not worth talking about watches that sold out in an instant. That s a fair point, but it would also be strange to ignore them as if they didn t exist. Additionally, if they are really great releases, we would love to see mo...
