Many, if not most, current watch models at Omega are developments based on designs of the past. The Seamaster, Speedmaster, Constellation, and De Ville have all been around for decades. But while most of these product lines were born in the 1950s and 60s, Omega produced wristwatches long before then. The new Omega CK 859 pays respect to the early days, taking its inspiration from a classic Omega model that debuted in the late 1930s.The original CK 859 was powered by a series of different calibers during its lifespan. Most importantly, it was the model to debut the then-newly developed caliber 30 T2. This manual-winding caliber with a small seconds hand later proved to be one of the brands m...

Arguably, is the most famous watch brand in the world. But is it the most famous luxury brand in the world? I can answer that short and sweet with a firm no. The most famous luxury brand in the world is - yes, arguably - Cartier. The French maison has a much wider scope and reach than because of its much more diverse offering of products. Thats why I dare state that a Cartier watch does everything a does. And it may well do it a tad better. Find out how and why in this Fratello Top Tip.Lets start with something a does better than a Cartier. Today, all Oyster Perpetual watches are officially certified chronometers. named these super-precise watches Superlative Chronometers. Dont go look...

These days, whether we like it or not, watches are hot property for their investment potential. With negative interest rates, a growing interest in vintage products, and the ever-present wish to increase personal wealth, making money with watches has become an understandable choice. Nevertheless, this investing is an activity that a portion of the watch-collecting community does not support. But we can hardly blame investors for wanting to make money, or can we? Time to reflect on the Gordon Gekko mentality and its effects on our watch-collecting journeys.In late 2019, I had an interesting talk with a serious watch collector at the last Speedy Tuesday event of the year in Biel. We were discu...

I had my holidays early this summer, so I m one of the first to look back on them. My holidays were split up into two parts. The first part was a 3,600km motorbike trip around the Iberian Peninsula. The second part was in Croatia - locally known as Hrvatska - and was all about scuba diving. So, as my summer holiday activities were twofold, I needed to bring two types of watches as well. And I didn t make any obvious choices this time.My general attitude when choosing watches to bring on holiday is to keep them a bit under the radar. I m not the type of guy who likes to attract attention anyway, but when I m on holiday in unfamiliar places, this seems even more important to me. Besides being ...

Purple straps don t go with anything, said my fellow watch lover as I listed the contents of my latest Roarcraft goody bag. Are you sure they don t go with everything? I retorted, already knowing I had him in a headlock. In fairness, he should be right (on paper), but as with so many things in our beautifully varied industry, the pairing potential of purple makes no sense whatsoever and is all the more glorious for it. Besides, I continued, at least the notebook s black…The leather goods that Roarcraft produces that?aren t watch straps tend to come in four colors. You can choose from black, brown, gray, and green. My general tendencies would put black at the bottom of the list. I love ...

Omega introduced the Moonshine Gold alloy in 2019 in the Speedmaster Professional Apollo XI 50th Anniversary Limited Edition. This alloy, which is a bit paler than yellow gold, contains less copper and adds silver and palladium to the mix.In combination with the brushed surfaces on the case (and bracelet), I find the Speedmaster Professional in Moonshine Gold to have a more toned-down look than previous Speedmasters in traditional 18K yellow gold. I purchased the Speedmaster Apollo XI 50th Anniversary Limited Edition in Moonshine Gold back in 2019, and it has become one of my absolute favorite watches to wear. Therefore, I was quite happy to see the two new Speedmaster Professional models in...

Let me start with a topic that I normally save for the end - PRICE. About a year ago, I wrote an introduction article on two other Seiko Prospex Speedtimer references, and I noticed that the price for this new model is still the same. Even though Seiko has a reputation for keeping prices relatively sane, I appreciate that the brand didn t raise it all this time around. Let s find out what IS new about this latest Speedtimer, the SRQ043.Seiko Prospex Speedtimer SRQ043This new Seiko Prospex Speedmaster Chronograph ref. SQR043 might be my favorite execution in this series. It s also the most playful one, I might add. The blue dial has a vertically brushed finish and two silver sub-dials. Accord...

Welcome back to a long-overdue episode of Fratello On Air! Balazs and Mike have returned from lengthy travel and that forms the underlying agenda of todays chat. Theres plenty more, though, so sit back and enjoy! This podcast player is blocked because you did not accept marketing cookies. Change cookie settings Yes, Balazs and Mike have been away for a couple of weeks. Balazs spent time in Japan after his vacation in Hungary. Mike flew the opposite direction and stayed in South Florida for some much-needed holiday. In this episode, travel sets the stage, but with watches as the primary focus.Handgelenks KontrolleAfter a brief chat, Balazs introduces the newly reborn Vulcain Cricket that ...

This year, everyone is traveling again, but for some reason, it doesnt seem like the airports have caught on. In August, half of Europe is either already at or en route to a sunny destination, so heres fingers crossed for smooth traveling. Finally, the #BEACHVIBES are back, and we re here to enjoy them.You might even choose to skip the flights and include a road trip like some of our editors, and here are the best watches and beach gear to pack. There will be the need for a roof rack if you want to go surfing, though. Go classic or let us welcome you to the future with a hydrofoil board that will send your beach-sports cred through the roof (or should that be parasol?).NOMOS Club Campus Futu...

A song by retrowave artist Kristine called The Deepest Blue was on repeat in my head during my first visit to Les Ateliers Louis Moinet in Saint Blaise, Switzerland. Now, looking back on that illuminating trip, I am convinced the song influenced the design of this watch. Somehow, and without conscious invitation, the synthesized buzz of that lo-fi club classic ended up manifesting in a dial design that, after much tweaking and endless drafts, burst into life as if its existence had always been meant to be.From that opening paragraph, you might think I ve lost the plot. In many ways, you might be right. There is something about spending time with the team at Louis Moinet - most notably, the c...

It must have been a lifetime ago (or it certainly feels like it) when RJ first sported a Speedmaster in full-gold armor on his wrist. My instant reaction was, Wow, thats lit. In that moment of unexpected infatuation, gold watches for men changed forever for me. Fast forward to last week when I saw RJs Instagram post of a roll of gorgeous gold Moonwatches. Interestingly, those feelings of awe somewhat evolved into inquisitive curiosity. Moonshine Gold? What is that, exactly? And theres also Sedna Gold, Canopus Gold- The rabbit hole thence emerged.Let me rewind a bit to my mental block. For so long, the ones who flaunted the shiny wrist game were typically the likes of mobsters or rap stars. Y...

After giving it some thought, I have come to the conclusion that the concepts of the grail and exit watch are a threat to the passion that people have for watches. The acquisition of a grail watch could mean the fruitful conclusion of a long, interesting, and often enlightening quest. Once youve reached that one goal, you could set out on another quest, for new watch dreams are waiting to be fulfilled. But what if the journey has taken too great a toll? In that case, the grail watch could prove to be the exit watch - the one watch to end all watches. Lets explore both concepts a bit further, find out how they relate, and discuss how not to lose your watch love under the bad spell of the one ...

The horror stories are everywhere. Someone s watch is snatched in a city here, someone violently assaulted on video there. If you look for it, there s enough terror regarding theft of luxury watches to keep you and your watches securely locked indoors. But is it as bad as it seems? And are there ways to prevent what seems to be an international trend in watch thievery from happening to you? It s true, watch theft is bad, but the news around it certainly makes it worse.What started as anecdotal stories or CCTV footage shared among friends on forums and YouTube has spilled into the public s consciousness. Theft of watches and other luxury goods has now been featured by many major news outlets....

With the purchase of this Omega Constellation from1952, a longtime dream of mine came true. It s one of the watches that s very special to me, and in this lengthy article, it will become clear why. Also, this year marks the 70th anniversary of the Omega Constellation, the watch that was once the brand s flagship.In 1948, Omega introduced the Centenary to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the company s establishment. Notably, the Centenary was Omega s very first chronometer-certified automatic wristwatch. Only 6,000 of those watches were produced in total.Centenary (1948), reference OT2500. Image: Koller auctions1952 - The introduction of the ConstellationIt was so successful, though, that...

Summer is the perfect time to forget about time. Easier said than done, I agree. What might help a little is wearing a watch that does away with traditional hands or a relentlessly exact digital display. Thats why I present you a Coffee Corner Watch Talk with outer-worldly Trilobe and HYT creations. And if those are a bit too alien for your liking, why not check out the disco balls - sorry, squares - that Glashtte Original has constructed? Have a coffee, a look at the watches, and a watch talk to kick off the week.Watches with hands and digital displays seem to have this sense of urgency in telling you the exact time. Maybe that s not something youre looking for during a lazy summer. The ho...

Today, Grand Seiko adds a duo of new watches to its Heritage collection. The SBGW291 and SBGW293 take the 44GS shape down to a vintage-inspired 36.5mm size. If you are a regular reader of my articles, you know that this could get very expensive for me. I love Grand Seiko, and I love the 36-37mm size range for watches of this style. We have seen the pink-dial SBGW289 in this size before, but that was a limited edition. These two are additions to the regular collection. Lets see if they manage to lure me out of my hard-earned cash.The two new watches are identical, except for the dial and strap colors. The SBGW291 has a silver sunburst dial and is paired with a gray alligator strap. The SBGW29...

We see a lot - and I mean a lot - of different dive watches come through the Fratello offices. While plenty of them have a great set of specs, not many have the looks to match. They often lack charm and character. Sure, they are diving tools, so in theory, they should perform first and look nice second. But the reality is that 99% of dive watches will not find their way to the water. So in my book, both character and specs are crucial in creating a great daily watch. In my search for great vintage classics, I found the perfect dive watch with plenty of personality that could bring a sparkle to today s saturated market. Dear Omega, please bring back the Seamaster 60 Big Crown.When it comes to...

Last week, we had a showdown between two of the most capable dive watches ever made. This week s divers are certainly not as capable, but they sure are a lot more wearable! And with their two-tone designs, they might even be amongst the most luxurious-looking dive watches out there. Thomas will defend the honor of the Tudor Black Bay S&G (Steel & Gold) and Daan will do the same for the all-new Oris Aquis Date Calibre 400. Let s see which one of these two show ponies gets to take the flowers home this week!Though they may be show ponies, these two are still very serious dive watches when you consider their capabilities. Look, for example, at Gerard s story on how he put the bicolor Aq...

Premium tool watches are nothing new. Just recall the ascension of a divers tool called the Submariner. But Casio G-Shocks have always been affordable digital cool with an enviable balance. On one end, they are the battle-ready wrist gear of Navy SEALS and off-roading enthusiasts with the Mudmaster series. On the other end of the scale, we have some of the coolest affordable collabs.With a catalog that includes everything from $120 beaters to hot drops like the Bamford DW-6900BWD, a new dimension has opened up. Casio has lifted the brand to a new top tier where metallurgy and samurai-armor finishing is the name of the game. I have a $600 G-Shock as one of my best buys of last year, but at up...

The Omega Aqua Terra 38mm has been out for a while. It has also been slightly overshadowed by its bigger brother in terms of attention. So I reckoned it was about time to put one on my wrist and see whether this is the perfect everyday watch. I mean, all the ingredients are there. On paper, this is the only watch you will ever need. Time to find out whether it works out that way in real life. You may know that this is just my style of watch. I have declared my love of small do-it-all watches on Fratello on numerous occasions. The Omega Aqua Terra was one with which I had not yet spent significant time. So lets dive in and see if it is as good in the steel as it is on paper.The official name ...