I do not embark on nearly as many adventures as I would love to. As much as I like to tell myself it s due to a lack of time, I know that s not true, and the watch on my wrist is an excellent reminder that I need to go out more. Most of us wear tool watches, symbolizing the adventures that await us in the great outdoors. This is precisely what sparked Hamilton s new Step Outside campaign. By putting watches from the Khaki collection in their natural habitat, Hamilton shows us the world that is out there and waiting to be conquered with a watch on your wrist. The brand invited Max, Fratello s resident photographer, to experience the Khaki watches in their natural habitat and document the adve...

Another Friday, another list! Today, we re completing our latest series focusing on budget-friendly watches. Not too long ago, we compiled a trio of lists covering the best available watches under $500. For the current series of three articles, we have doubled the budget and focused on the best watches under $1,000. In the first article, we covered five watches from big brands. Last week, we picked our five favorite watches from small brands. Today, we ll close the series out with our five favorite quartz watches under $1,000. Let s jump into the world of quartz precision and find out what we have chosen.But before we get into it, let s quickly recap what we are looking for in this third and...

If you ve been sleeping on Aquastar, it s high time to get on board and take a look at the brand s dive watches. Since 2020, the revitalized company has released a flurry of watches under its two core collections. The Deepstar models represent the dawn of recreational diving during the 60s. On the other hand, the Benthos references are inspired by the more hardcore pursuits of the 70s. Regardless of the line, all are capable, comfortable, and surprisingly affordable. Those qualities are encompassed within the latest release, the new Benthos Professional, a set of watches that might rank as my favorites yet.The original late- 60s Benthos 500 was a powerhouse of a dive watch. It had an impre...

You know the brands; now its time to learn about the people who founded them. We will get up close and personal with names you know so well without really knowing them, if you know what I mean. In this new series, Fratello will introduce you to the people behind famous brands and their creations. The first installment features the founder of Breguet, a Swatch Group brand celebrating its 250th anniversary this year, but we will also introduce you to famous watchmakers of today. First things first, though - Abraham-Louis Breguet. The most famous watchmaker of all time is one way to describe him, but it doesnt tell his life story. Hopefully, we will satisfactorily answer the question, Who was A...

Longines and aviation have been intertwined for more than a century. The brand supplied navigation and timekeeping instruments for some of the earliest pioneers of flight, from transatlantic adventurers to polar explorers. That history continues to shape the Spirit collection, launched in 2020 as a modern take on classic pilots watches. Now, five years on, Longines revisits the formula with a pair of new releases designed to strengthen the lines identity. Meet the new Longines Spirit Pilot models.The Longines Spirit Pilot and Spirit Pilot Flyback take the familiar Spirit recipe and push it a bit further. One strips back the design to its simplest form, while the other brings back that key av...

One of the standout releases during Geneva Watch Days 2025 was the duo of Beda a Angles Mecaline models. The mechanical versions of the Qatari brand s Angles design the perfect evolution of the quartz series introduced in the second half of last year. I had a chance to find out how the two excellent modern dress watches wear. To say that I was impressed would be an understatement. Let me explain why.As I explained in the introduction article for the new Beda a Angles Mecaline, it s been an interesting time for fans of dress watches. Over the past few years, we have seen a resurgence of classic styles from the 1970s and 80s. It inspired big brands to reissue some of their much-appreciated cl...

Hi there, and welcome to this week s episode of?Fratello Talks. Today, we ve decided to take on the challenge of selecting the watches we d buy new at three price points. We start with the sub-$1k price segment, then jump to the sub-$5k, and end up selecting what we d buy for $10k or less. No pre-owned or vintage watches are allowed; only the current-catalog references that anyone should be able to go out and buy today can be chosen. Nacho, RJ, and Thomas gather in the studio to talk through their selection. They also discuss some honorable mentions and include a no-budget pick to wrap things up. But before we get into it, it s time for a wrist check.This video is blocked because you did not...

Norqain is still a relatively young brand, but it has carved out a niche as a maker of fun, stylish watches. Of all the models in the catalog, the Wild One Skeleton is probably the best known. No matter the variant, the pieces are typically colorful, slightly brash, and capable. From my experience, though, they re also incredibly comfortable. Over the past week, I ve had the opportunity to go hands-on with the latest variant, the Wild One Skeleton 42mm Purple. If a cool, casual watch is on the list, this is a great candidate.Ever since Norqain entered the UK market earlier this year, I ve been enjoying some hands-on time with various models in the lineup. This summer s Freedom 60 Chrono 40mm...

Praesidus, a brand devoted to authentic WWII recreations, has teamed up with French watch news site The Watch Observer for a limited edition of its A-11 Type 44. Limited to 250 numbered watches, the new model pays tribute to the US Air Forces 533rd Bomb Squadron. If that doesnt immediately ring a bell, it is a unit that played a pivotal role in the Normandy invasion in 1944. There s plenty of historical significance to inspire a special watch, then.It is the very first watch designed by The Watch Observer, founded by Thomas and Pierre Gisclard in 2010. With historian Gregory Pons involved, the project blends military scholarship with editorial taste and preferences. The team took the regular...

Hamilton might be known for its presence in Hollywood, but the once-American, now-Swiss brand is also active in video games. It started with the Khaki Field Titanium Automatic in Far Cry 6 and, later, the American Classic Boulton in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. Now, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 marks the third collaboration. In the game, the 38mm Hamilton Khaki Field Automatic Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 limited edition is on the wrist of operator Axel Vermaak, who you might also know from Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0. Gamers can experience the watch in the game and wear the identical model on their wrists. I tried the watch without playing the video game.To give you an idea of how clever the ma...

It is with pride that I announce the upcoming Breitling Fratello event, which will take place in the city where I was born. In fact, the Breitling boutique in Enschede is part of Koelink Jewelers, the store where I got my first serious watch back in 1998. On November 7th, we will host a great evening together with Breitling, sharing the brand s 2025 introductions. On top, it s a celebration of this brand-new Breitling boutique in the eastern part of the Netherlands.An image from our previous event with BreitlingDuring this special evening, we will focus on all the highlights from Breitling this year. As we have a limited number of spots, please sign up as soon as possible. Fill in the form...

Favre Leuba - formerly Favre-Leuba - is a historic brand we re excited to cover here on Fratello. The world s second-oldest watch company, just two years behind Blancpain, has a fascinating history and has produced some incredible watches. As was true for many marques, the Quartz Crisis proved challenging. While the brand never truly disappeared, it was out of sight for years until, in 2024, it successfully relaunched with three watch collections and an unhyphenated name. We ll give a light overview of the company s history, share some vintage pieces, and mention several watches within the current lineup.As a longtime fan of vintage timepieces, I have my share of friends who are dyed-in-the-...

Jaeger-LeCoultre s Master Control collection is certainly not the brand s dressiest work. However, the impressive watches, many of which are complete calendars, still look fairly formal. Well, that s about to change because the watchmaker from the Vallee de Joux is launching a sportier new version of its Master Control Calendar. It features a two-tone gray sector dial with a heavily grained surface. This watch is a limited edition of 500 pieces, and its jumping date hand will never obscure your moonphase display again.I feel that Jaeger-LeCoultre is more focused on its Reverso range than anything else these days. However, that doesn t mean the brand doesn t make any other beautiful watches o...

The SIHH, or Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie, was a watch trade show founded in 1991 by Cartier, Baume & Mercier, Piaget, Gerald Genta, and Daniel Roth. Organized by the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie (FHH), the show, compared to Baselworld, aimed to create a more exclusive, high-luxury atmosphere dedicated to fine watchmaking and promote the art and culture of Haute Horlogerie - a bit like an art salon of yesteryear. Things change, and in the SIHH s case, things grow. The event attracted more brands, changed its name, and saw brands leave. In 2020, for instance, Audemars Piguet left, but it will be there again next year. So will 65 other watch brands. Is Watches and Wonders...

The new Tudor 1926 Luna marks an unexpected first for the brand - a moonphase complication. We have come to expect new variations within the Black Bay or Pelagos lines. This time, though, Tudor chose its most understated collection for a milestone complication. The result is a 39mm dressy number with the brand s very first moonphase display.The 1926 line has always been about quieter, more formal models, and the moonphase complication suits it perfectly. Tudor launches three colorways, one of which is designed in collaboration with Taiwanese singer/songwriter/actor/director Jay Chou. The new model costs $2,630 / US$2,800 / $2,210. Lets have a closer look!The Tudor 1926 lineThe 1926 line is p...

We are big G-Shock fans at Fratello, but that s probably not news. It should come as no surprise, then, that we love the brand s flagship MR-G collection. This series of premium offerings takes familiar silhouettes and turns them into proper luxury versions of the classics. To achieve that, G-Shock combines innovative techniques with traditional Japanese craftsmanship. The result is a collection that stands out for many reasons. In this article, we will thoroughly explain what the MR-G collection is all about. As you will find out, the G-Shock MR-G series is the brand s flagship collection for a reason.In my years at Fratello, I ve had the pleasure of reviewing many G-Shock models. It s alwa...

In June of this year, I had a chance to go hands-on with the stunning Celadon Haute Horlogerie Century Cloisonne Collection. It displayed an incredible level of Chinese craftsmanship that I adore. For another hands-on experience, the brand sent us a jump-hour version of its Century Cloisonne Double Phoenix model. While the basics are similar to the two watches I reviewed before, there are also some immediate differences. As you will understand, I was curious to learn more about the Celadon Haute Horlogerie Century Cloisonne Jump Hour Double Phoenix.Every year, I find that in 12 months packed with new watches, a few hands-on experiences always stick with me. Spending time with the Celadon Hau...

Last week, I had the pleasure of visiting the Toronto Timepiece Show. I was also a jury member for the Timepiece World Awards, so I had some formalities to attend to. But more about that later; let s talk about the show first.Toronto Timepiece Show organizer Jason Hutton (right) - Image: @furrywristabroadToronto Timepiece ShowOver 75 watch brands exhibited at the Toronto Timepiece Show, bringing a wonderful mixture of Swiss big brands and microbrands from across the world. This was the second time the Toronto Timpiece Show took place, and this time, it was in a much larger venue than the first edition.Meridian Arts Center - Image: @furrywristabroadLocated in Torontos North York area, the Mer...

Cartier is a brand that has been on an absolute roll in recent years. Some readers may remember a time when self-proclaimed watch geeks unfairly considered Cartier a jewelry brand that also sells watches. However, the tide of perception has truly shifted in the last decade or so, and Cartier s timepieces now seem hotter than ever. Today, I m looking at four entry-level options that provide the Cartier magic without breaking the bank.When I say Cartier magic, I m referring to the cultural power that the brand has developed over time. Cartier s focus on shapes in its watches means multiple models in its current and back catalogs are truly iconic. Today, however, we re looking at options on the...

Welcome to another Sunday Morning Showdown! Daan and Thomas face off with two affordable vintage-inspired dive watches this time. Thomas defends the Lorier Neptune, while Daan represents the new Baltic Aquascaphe MK2.These contenders have the aesthetic of 50s and 60s dive watches and house modern Miyota movements in 39(.5)mm cases. The Lorier costs US$599, while the Baltic costs $840.95 on a steel bracelet. Lets see how they stack up!But first, last weeks showdownBefore we let the boys loose, lets take a quick look at last weeks results. Jorg and Mike pitted the Breitling Superocean Heritage B31 Automatic 42 against the Panerai Luminor Marina Militare PAM05218. Again, these were two retro ...