In our beloved industry, Swiss is the buzzword. Swiss watches are luxury, but we all know how much of a part China plays in manufacturing watches. Not only small microbrands but also many big names employ Chinese manufacturers to produce large numbers of different parts. Is that a bad thing? No, of course not. But for some shortsighted people, it s not worthy if it s not Swiss. Well, that s some successful marketing there. Thankfully, we have the likes of Atelier Wen doing its best to break down this way of thinking by celebrating the made in China moniker and showing what Chinese craftspeople are capable of. After its debut, the Porcelain Odyssey collection, Atelier Wen s second collection,...
For quite some time now, quality strap maker Genteel Handmade has been crafting straps designed to work perfectly with Omega deployant clasps. As someone who owns several Omega watches but has never seriously considered wearing any of them on an official deployant strap due to the meager and, in my opinion, uninspiring options available, this service interests me. Let s take a look at the options.When it comes to marketing and sales strategy, the word choice is sometimes seen as a dirty word, capable of confusing would-be purchasers into inaction. By and large, however, choice is a good thing. Consumers like to have the power of decision-making in their hands. Watches are very personal items...
Fratello On Air returns after a one-week hiatus with Part Two of the new-watch rundown. Balazs and Mike continue to roll through some of the more notable releases from the past month or so.Who doesn t like a new watch? Well, if you re like us, the season s introductions mark an exciting period. Therefore, it was notable enough to mark the occasion with two episodes. Make sure to catch the first one if you haven t already!Mission to the MoonHandgelenks KontrolleAfter a bit of chit-chat about travel, fitness, and normal life, the duo moves into the Handgelenks Kontrolle. Balazs is sporting a brand-new watch with the Nivada Grenchen Datomaster Mecaquartz. Mike has received his MoonSwatch Missio...
The Royal Oak just turned 50. Yes, 50! But hey, if there is any field in which getting old is revered, it s horology. At the Basel watch fair in 1972, Audemars Piguet s Royal Oak marked the beginning of a new genre for the watch market. It was the birth of an integrated-bracelet luxury sports watch in steel that nowadays cost as much or more than its gold contemporaries.Audemars Piguet did not miss a beat in celebrating this big year, having launched a whole slew of new Royal Oaks. Our editors enthusiastically shared their thoughts on the releases last week in celebration of the 50th anniversary. Check out our series of articles on the topic right here. And you know who else has joined in th...
I seem to be on a roll with my newfound love for chronographs. This 90s El Primero chronograph might be over 20 years old, but it sure doesnt look it. Considering the brands strong history and the El Primero in particular, what s the catch? I can t see any, so it s no wonder that Ive marked three of these as Chrono24 favorites. Is the mid- 90s Zenith Prime the best entry-ticket El Primero chronograph out there?There is a caveat to this story, and that is one simple fact: chronographs and the complex El Primero movement are not cheap to service. So unless you have a very friendly watchmaker, make sure you get one that s recently had the spa treatment. Follow that simple rule, and this partic...
Le Rh?ne is a curious one. Curious as in offbeat. I was introduced to the brand on the business side a handful of years back at Baselworld. In fact, intermediaries who were not even representing the company encouraged me to check them out. Usually, that signaled something noteworthy in the sea of exhibitors. Le Rh?ne s reps ushered me into a meeting with one of the brand s founders, and boy, did I see a stunner. I can still vividly remember the way the Mo?n model dazzled me, especially with its aventurine dial and craftsmanship. When an impression is that memorable, its definitely quite something.Now comes the curious part. I didnt learn much about the brand. I also didnt hear much about Le ...
The first time I ever laid my eyes on a Day-Date was when I was a student. I thought it was quite an impressive watch, and ever since then, I somewhat played with the idea of getting one when the time was right. And just the other week, the time was finally right, and I bought myself a Day-Date 18238.The Day-Date debuted in 1956, and to this day, not much about the watch has changed. Thats the power of such an icon, but perhaps its also the reason why it is such an iconic watch after all. This watch does not need much introduction. You probably know or have seen it many times. The Day-Date is only available in yellow gold, rose gold, white gold, and platinum, except for (supposedly) a han...
At the end of the 1955 Farnborough Airshow, the British Prime Minister, Sir Anthony Eden, flew in an Avro Vulcan bomber. Though most pilots were bundled up in military flight suits and helmets, one figure stood out, cutting a dash in his tailored Savile Row business suit, shirt, and tie. It was the Vulcan s flamboyant pilot, Wing Commander Roland ‘Roly Falk, and that was his standard flying garb.Overalls were from the biplane and propeller era. Falk saw the modern jet cockpit as an extension of his office and dressed accordingly. One of the maxims he applied to an aircraft was, If it looks good, then it will fly well. This was certainly true of the Avro Vulcan, which Roly also piloted...
How did the Easter Bunny treat you this weekend? No, dont tell me, keep it to yourself. And since you might not want to share too much with your colleagues either, heres a bit of coffee corner watch talk to kick off the week featuring G-Shock, a space-going Omega Speedmaster in yellow gold, a rare and complicated F.P. Journe creation, plus an upcoming exhibition at the Musee International d Horlogerie in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland.Some people mix and match like theres no tomorrow. And by that, I mean they combine watches and clothing without considering if the soul of the watch matches the spirit of the attire. But others do, and for those picky G-Shock-wearing mixers and matchers, the J...
Not long after announcing its upcoming Promaster retro diver, Citizen is back again with a new chronograph inspired by 70s design - the CA7090 in Super Titanium. For a 104-year-old company, introducing a brand-new design may be too radical, so how about throwing in a few familiar faces? Oh yes. The Japanese giant is adding not just one, but nine vintage-inspired models to its 2022 Super Titanium collection.First of all, its worth highlighting the fundamentals marked on all their dials. All nine models embody two of Citizens signature technologies - Super Titanium and Eco-Drive light power. Super Titanium is the brands trademarked material that is 40% lighter and five times harder than regul...
Casio has added two attractive models to its A1000 Premium lineup. The series now consists of silver-, yellow gold-, rose gold-, and multi-colored digital watches. The A1000 Premium models are part of Casio s Vintage Iconic collection, a successful attempt to revisit Casio s digital-watch roots.Casio A1000MA-7EF and A1000MGA-5EFLet s start by putting these new Vintage Premium models where they belong. You probably all know the ultra-cheap plastic and metal-like digital watches that Casio has produced for ages. Who hasn t seen an F-91W or an A164W? And although A1000 models from the Casio Vintage Iconic line may look more or less similar, technically, they re not. While the functions of the P...
It takes something a little bit different to really catch the eye these days. Im known among the Fratello team for having a somewhat eccentric taste in watches, but Im OK with that. Im the guy that liked the yellow ceramic Hublot Big Bang Unico. That tells you a lot. So, my interest was piqued when the guys behind Anicorn got in touch and asked for my take on their latest watch. This highly unusual watch gave off strong vibes, reminiscent of my favorite French designer. So, let me take you on a little tour of the oddball that is the Anicorn M/M PARIS 2HAPPY.Lets be frank, this really is a little oddball of a watch, isnt it? I knew that from the start, but I couldnt help but be instantly ch...
During the writing of the Buying Guide series, I found out about so many great watches that we don t talk about often enough. One brand that stood out along the way was Zenith. The brand has created so many fantastic watches that would it be great to see more of them return in the form of modern re-issues. Obviously, most of Zenith s stand-out timepieces are chronographs. With a rich history in chronographs overall and especially with the El Primero movement, the brand has always been a leader in the genre. One of the most beautiful examples, in my opinion, is the A277. This watch, which hails from the 1960s, is a perfect example of a diving chronograph done well. And now, it s time for its ...
You have probably heard the name Gerald Genta countless times if you have an interest in watch design. His name is synonymous with two of the most successful wristwatch lines in the modern era; the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and the Patek Philippe Nautilus. Numerous iterations have spawned from these core designs. And in the case of Audemars Piguet, the Royal Oak is the cornerstone of the brands design DNA, even 50 years after its birth.So how did it come to be that two of the holy trinity Grand Maisons ultimately owe these successes to not just one designer, but the very same man? To understand this, you first have to understand the man himself - Gerald Genta, a legend of 20th-century Swiss ...
Sunday Morning Showdown is back! It s so good to say that. After nearly a year-long hiatus, Jorg and Ben are ready to duke it out once again. For those recently joining the Fratelli, this series is where two of our writers go head-to-head in an opinionated showdown. One, two, or more watches are thrown into the arena to be either torn to shreds or effusively exalted by each defending editor. We have some extremely hot-off-the-press timepieces to get us back into the action - the Vacheron Constantin Historiques 222 and the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 16202. Both have roots in the 1970s and are bathed in glorious gold for these particular references. Will the comeback kid 222 knock the integrate...
Outside of the excitement of Watches And Wonders 2022 at Palexpo, an explosion of indie and boutique-brand events was going down in Geneva town. As the first in-person major watch shows to happen in two years in Switzerland, the dynamics of these events have somewhat shifted. Thankfully, though, everything bears good signs of recovery. And with the recent heightened interest in independent brands, the FOMO on their watches was real.If you know me, you already know I love advocating the independents and exposing hidden gems. So what did we find other than the 38 brands at Watches And Wonders?The view from Doxa s suite in the Beau RivageGreen shoots everywhereA number of brands that have bouti...
Just a few weeks ago, in the sunny and colorful city of Miami, Maurice Lacroix released something funky - the new Aikon #tide. It s the latest and most eco-friendly member of the Aikon collection. Fratello was there to witness the launch of this exciting summer watch that has much more to offer than it seems.Thanks to its competitive price, fresh looks, and environmental conscientiousness, there is little doubt that it will be a summer favorite for the new generation of watch lovers in 2022 and beyond.City of colorsIf you have been to Miami, you know that the southern Florida city is pulsating with life. Whether you are cruising downtown, taking a stroll in the Design District, or relaxing o...
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore debuted in 1993, and it was groundbreaking when it hit the floor at the Basel watch fair that year. But it took a while to get there. Back in 2018, just after the 25th anniversary of the watch, we met up with a passionate Royal Oak Offshore collector. As the Royal Oak itself turned 50 years old yesterday, it seems like a fitting time to revisit this unforgettable encounter. We hope you enjoy it.Nearly four years ago, we sat down with him in The Netherlands at a not-so-central location. Besides being a collector of Offshores watches, he is the founder of the Dutch gin brand Skully. So when the bottle of Skully gin appeared on the table, the traveling had...
Would you travel to space if you could? When did your fascination with the heavens begin? How did you find your way to this moment in time, surrounded by rockets, balloons, and fellow space enthusiasts? These questions and more are posed to Andreas Bentele of Fortis, Stefan Kramer of Esrange, and me, Rob Nudds of Fratello.This video is blocked because you did not accept marketing cookies. Change cookie settings When you put three slightly obsessive men in a hanger 145km north of the Arctic Circle, what happens? Bentele, Kr?mer, and Nudds discuss their relationships with space and watchmaking, as well as the factors that led to what has become a lifelong fascination. This talk was record...
In this video, RJ explains the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms X Fathoms reference 5018 1230 64A. If you thought the Omega PloProf or the Seiko Tuna were big dive watches, think again! The X Fathoms has a whopping diameter of 55.6mm and a thickness of 24mm. Wearing this watch on dry land takes some major guts! Underwater though, it s a high-tech mechanical dive companion.Blancpain has a long history when it comes to dive watches. Back in 1953, it was the first brand to introduce a modern dive watch as know it today. Thats before even came out with the Submariner and Omega splashed in with the Seamaster 300. I feel that Blancpain deserves a bit more attention when it comes to divers watches. A watc...
