Although incredibly boring, ISO standards are highly informative. Unfortunately, to be that informative, they also have to be voluminous and extensive, which doesn t always make for the most pleasurable reading. Today, we ll try to explain the critical elements of the ISO 6425 standard for divers watches in everyday language.I first want to stress that an ISO 6425 certified divers watch is different than a watch that simply complies with the technical requirements of ISO 6425. The ISO 6425 standard goes significantly beyond technical requirements and specifications. Besides that, it s essential to know that ISO itself does not certify. ISO produces the rules, but to certify a divers watch...
Back in 1986, Huey Lewis already knew that it s hip to be square. I know, I know, Huey wasnt singing about the shape of your watch. But still, him mentioning that hes working out almost every day and watching what hes eating does make sense in a column called Coffee Corner Watch Talk. And thats because too many cups of coffee per day isn t good for your health. Moving around the office is, though, and so is drinking plenty of water. So, dont go for an office walkabout only to pick up a fresh, hot coffee. Instead, make a pit stop at the water cooler too. Oh dear, I sound like my mom now. Anyway, let s stick to square or squarish watches from TAG Heuer, Magrette, and Glashtte Original. And ma...
If I had to describe Minase in one word, it would be singular. My first encounter with its watches was up close and personal. It was BC (Before COVID) time at an event for independents. I vividly remember getting my mind boggled by the origin of a brand from Japan, totally unknown to me, and by how and where the watches were made. Then suddenly, a rectangular timepiece named Horizon was placed on my wrist. I thought to myself, Now, that is something you dont come across every day (even for someone who works with watches every day!). The unknown brand was actually the Japanese Prime Ministers choice at the time. And the Horizon would be sold out and make a reappearance only this year as the H...
Casio has done it again. The brand has made another leap to advance G-STEEL as an ana-digi steel watch in the tough premium space. Since the 2015 debut of this affordable metal G-Shock line, the Japanese electronics giant has made a few major improvements to the watches both inside and out. Barely in the fifth update, what we have here is the new release GST-B500D-1A. The latest model combines a carbon-fiber-reinforced core guard with a stainless steel body. It is the thinnest G-STEEL iteration to date evolved with a few refinements. And who can still argue that a steel G-Shock would look out of place under a shirt or a blazer?I must confess, I lived through the Baby-G launch craze. Even tho...
I have a great soft spot for people who try to bring something genuinely new to the world of watches. Especially if its an industry outsider, I am all ears. Its not often that true outsiders can come up with a watch that breaks new ground without creating something conceptual and abstract that is more art than a conventional watch. With his Ikepod brand, Australian product designer Marc Newson created a series of watches that constantly pushed the envelope of watch design. Out of all his creations, the Hemipode is without a doubt the most well-known and most respected. Ever since I first saw one in 2004, I was intrigued and pretty much sold immediately. Almost two decades later, the watch ha...
Were back again for another Sunday Morning Showdown! This series is where two of our writers go head-to-head in an opinionated duel. One, two, or more watches are thrown into the arena to be either torn to shreds or effusively exalted by each defending editor. This week is a battle of two military-inspired watches that pack plenty of punch with their combination of style and substance. Not coincidentally, both of these brands are also amongst the hottest small brands in the watch industry. Who will take the modern military crown this week? Will it be the minimalist Unimatic Modello Quattro or the stylish Serica 4512? It s all in your hands to decide who comes out on top. But first, let s see...
Let s start honestly: this is going to be something new, and particularly so for me. I m a guy in my twenties who likes to watch soccer, and lately, I ve also been into watches. I m far from expert status, but that doesn t hurt my enthusiasm for the watch world. I take a positive view of it. It just means that there is still a lot to discover. When I got a call asking if I would like to review a watch from a microbrand, I didn t hesitate for a second. So let s dive together into my first hands-on review of the Taucher 2 from Heinrich watches. A microbrand brand meets the newcomer watch enthusiast.Stuttgart, in the southwest of Germany, is primarily known for its car manufacturers. Porsche ha...
This almost feels like getting a second chance because it was only a little over two years ago that I got my first serious mechanical watch. I started out with the Oris Art Blakey, a not-so-common dress watch as my first pick. At that time, I wasn t actually thinking of starting a collection. I m not sure if anyone starts off like that, to be honest. So today s exercise is a purely hypothetical one, but it s still a fun one to put together! And while my fellow editors have thus far given themselves a $10K budget, going forward, some of us will try to cut that in half. Can we come up with great starter collections for around $5,000? Let me be the first to give it a shot.When I got my Oris Art...
The new Tudor Black Bay Pro is a good-looking watch. There, I said it. But as you would expect, my next sentence will bring up a but. So, here it is: the Black Bay Pro is a good-looking watch, but it also clearly shows its source of inspiration, the Explorer II 1655 Freccione. In this video, I will tell you why thats a good thing, but also why its less of a good thing.This year, Tudor celebrates the?10th anniversary of the Black Bay. It was the Heritage Black Bay ref. 79220R - the R is for Rouge - that got the ball rolling. The link between and Tudor is a strong one. And with the introduction of the Black Bay Tudor managed to show its connection with the mother brand in an original and sub...
On May 24th, Breitling held an event to release the 60th-anniversary edition of the Navitimer Cosmonaute. But the brand also succeeded in making attendees completely forget to check their watches at a watch event. How did Breitling do it? Read on to find out.The silver spacesuit was the coolest of all the suits, says Scott Kelly, a veteran of four space flights, while anchoring a panel discussion with six other guests before the reveal of Scott Carpenter s watch. Looking at a gigantic picture of Carpenter fully suited-up for his mission, you feel the same way. At the time when Carpenter became the second astronaut to orbit Earth on May 24th, 1962 wearing a freshly delivered Navitimer Cosmona...
You could be forgiven for not being familiar with the name Christian Etienne. I personally wasn t, not until news of his latest endeavor, The Project, arrived in my inbox. After just a brief read of the profile available on his website, it was plain to see that Christian was quite an interesting character. Having grown up in the village of Porrentruy in the Jura region of Switzerland, he was no stranger to watchmaking. In fact, he was surrounded by it from a young age with his family being personally involved in the industry. They created the red jewels found in mechanical watch movements. Christian got involved in watchmaking, and after his formation, became a specialist in restoring rare...
For me, the new Fears Brunswick exudes the archetypical Britishness that Fears has a historical claim to, and twice over. In a world of big, bold sports watches, its soft cushion shape warms my heart, especially as I m part British by proxy. Look, Ive already made it abundantly clear that while I live in Norway, I dont ski, and Im not particularly fond of scrambling through the forests of this fair land. My dad, Norwegian as he is, has lived in Essex for 40 years and is forgetting his Norwegian, which is just fine. I might have even taken after him.The Fears Watch Company has its quintessential Englishness down to a tee, as amply demonstrated in the collaboration with Garrick last month. I h...
Inflation and confidence in the market are both high, and these forces have a lot of impact on the watch market. This is especially true when there are also gray-market speculators and a shortage of watches that everyone seems to want. All these elements together create the fata morgana. But what would happen when one of these elements is taken away? What will burst the bubble? Lets look for an answer.Confidence is a good thing, especially when you wake up in the morning, look in the bathroom mirror, and walk away with a smile on your face. If you can take that confident feeling with you for the rest of the day, you will walk with a spring in your step. But when you confidently stride into...
I seldom have stage fright when writing my weekly column. But this week s #TBT is quite special for me, and I want it to be a great article. It has been years since I put the Nivada Datomaster on my wishlist. Unfortunately, I just couldn t find one. Well, I did recently, and the timing couldn t have been any better. ?I joined Fratello four years ago, and I ve been carrying the #TBT torch ever since. It was Mike s articles that revived my passion for vintage watches and put the Nivada Datomaster on my radar. I set all auction alerts possible, but besides two well-beaten pieces, I faced a big, black void when tracking down this gray beauty.The power of Datomaster attractionI know it might soun...
Whats this? Two Speedmaster strap checks in a row? You bet! This is Fratello after all, and we truly cant get enough Speedy action in our lives. The watch is not just a true icon, its also a strap monster. Dress it up, dress it down, anything works on the Speedmaster. From NATOs to leather, sailcloth, and even rubber (though that last option is not everyones cup of tea) everything just seems to suit the Speedy perfectly. There are also tons of popular aftermarket bracelets from the likes of Forstner, Uncle Seiko, and others. Even the OEM bracelet is an option that most of us Speedy owners end up coming back to. Point is, you can have plenty of fun when it comes to pairing your Moonwatch. Sti...
In the Fratello EDC series, editors and freelancers alike come together to share their daily carry items. Whether it s for the daily grind, travel, or both, you ll get an inside look at what s in everybody s bags. Though much of what we carry every day is basically the same, our individual choices are also a way to express our own tastes - the same in essence, but different in form. Other than watches, it s these everyday carry items that get most of our discussion time at Fratello HQ, so we thought we d share them with you. Who knows? Maybe you re looking for that perfect bag, set of headphones, or wallet, and here s where you might find it!As a freelance writer for Fratello Watches special...
Is watch passion shallow? Whenever I am asked about my work at a party, the bystanders seem to instantly divide into those who are interested in watches and those who feel the irresistible urge to point out that it is a rather silly and shallow hobby. Although most will avoid being overly confrontational about it, a remark along the lines of I do not need a physical status object to feel good about myself tends to cause a guaranteed awkward silence at some point.I would love to share with you a personal tale of two Omega Seamasters to illustrate why these haters are wrong. Our beautiful watch passion is anything but shallow.Hunting for a 60s SeamasterThe story began when I had just started ...
Louis Erard is an exciting brand that strives to offer accessible luxury watchmaking with traditional styling. Over the past few years, the brand has also worked with some heavy-hitting names to produce collaborations that have caught the eyes and the hearts of the community. You may recall Le Regulateur Louis Erard x Vianney Halter or the two collaborative series in conjunction with Alain Silberstein. There are more, but these two watches stick most vividly in my mind. Now, Louis Erard has teamed up with industry veteran William Massena s Massena LAB to produce a new Le Regulateur with distinct vintage marine chronometer vibes.I don t know about you, but I wouldn t have automatically chosen...
In March 1962, Mercury Seven astronaut Scott Carpenter requested revered pilot-watch maker Breitling to develop a watch capable of space flight. The requirements were a 24-hour dial display and a more pronounced bezel for operation with gloves. A few days before the triple-orbit Mercury-Atlas 7 flight, Breitling delivered the watch to Carpenter for use onboard Aurora 7. Despite the success of the primary objectives, re-entry was compromised, and Carpenter s capsule was 400km adrift from the target. Carpenter struggled to keep himself and the capsule afloat for fifty-five minutes as rescue services scrambled to locate him. The watch saw irreparable damage with salt-water ingress beneath the c...
As I ve explained in the past, one of the ideas behind Watch Strap Review was to feature ateliers from all over the world. We have presented many different brands from all corners of the globe through the years, but we have never had anyone from Korea. Until today, that is. Godana, today s feature, comes from South Korea. I have received two straps from the founder in a classy and elegant package. Thanks to the postal service, we had a bit of excitement, but they finally landed on my table a few weeks ago.I was amazed by the sheer size of the carton box these two straps came in. Once I opened it, I realized that the attention to detail that goes into the packaging at Godana is second to none...
