We receive quite a number of questions regarding the Speedmaster, and some of these messages are very similar. One of the recurring questions we receive about the Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch is in regards to its Moon heritage.One of the Fratello readers asked us the following question: Which modern Speedmaster is closest to the original Moonwatch?We do get this question quite often indeed, so today, we ll share our answer (or opinion, as you wish). The number of different Speedmaster models in the current Omega collection can be a bit confusing for people. The Moonwatch is, by definition, a hand-wound watch, but not all hand-wound Speedmasters are considered Moonwatches. Think o...

There is no question that Cartier is hot property at the moment. In the last two years especially, things have gotten rather crazy. And rightfully so! If you look at the sheer number of great Cartier releases, you can see why there are many fans of the brand. In all honesty, though, I wasn t one until this year. Don t get me wrong. I have great respect for Cartier, and I love what the brand stands for. But up until recently, my respect never turned into a great love for one of the brand s timepieces, no matter how much I wanted it to. But during Watches And Wonders 2022, that changed. The new Cartier Tank Louis Cartier in yellow gold and black represents all I love about Cartier captured in ...

When joining Fratello at the beginning of this year, I knew I was entering a Speedmaster-enthusiast stronghold. Quickly after joining and trying on the 2021 Speedmaster Professional in the office, I was convinced and swapped my First Omega in Space for one. And now, only about a month later, I m adding yet another Speedmaster to the collection. Not just any Speedmaster, though. It s the Mission to Saturn Speedmaster MoonSwatch, launched about two weeks ago. And boy, is it a joy to wear!But before we get into it, I d like to suggest a soundtrack for while you re reading this hymn to the MoonSwatch. Is anyone familiar with Gustav Holst s orchestral suite called The Planets? Well, Holst compose...

Japan is a place of great natural beauty. It is also a country with a fascinating culture, excellent cuisine, and a deep-rooted passion for watchmaking. Two of these elements come together within the walls of the Grand Seiko HQ in northern Japan. Excellence in watchmaking is the brand s primary purpose. But showcasing an expression of the countrys natural beauty through said watchmaking is just as important. Textured dials inspired by very specifically observed natural phenomena add a sort of quiet poetic beauty to Grand Seikos creations. And the new Grand Seiko Heritage Collection 44GS 55th Anniversary LE (ref. SBGW289) is no exception. It celebrates the springtime blooming of the cherry bl...

Hidden away in the other launches section of the Cartier press site, the new Santos de Cartier was kept company by the new Indomptables de Cartier and the new Ballon Bleu releases. The new Santos, however, was a watch that I wrote off in my head as far too big and a bit too flashy. The first case measurement of 47.5mm told me everything I needed to know. Or so I thought- Seeing the watch in person at the Cartier touch-and-feel session at Watches And Wonders 2022 had me scratching my head. Was this the 47.5mm monster I had read about? Surely, it couldnt be. It wasnt half as big or flashy as I had imagined. And on the wrist, it just worked like a charm. Perhaps the second case measurement of 3...

One of the fun things about working at Fratello is the number of different watches that come through our doors. You might think we d get sick and tired of it eventually, but you d be wrong. Not every watch that passes through my hands is excellent, and indeed, some are downright shoddy, but these examples have never dampened my enthusiasm. One bad apple doesn t spoil the bunch. So, when Malaysian microbrand Alcadus got in touch to see if I d like to take a closer look at its two current releases, I was more than keen to do so.Not every brand that drops me an email gets time and space here at Fratello. So any fly-by-night brands reading this, take heed. The watches need to pass a basic sight ...

After spending more than a week in Switzerland, Im making my way back to the Fratello HQ coffee corner. And boy, do I need a good cup of high-caffeine joe. I didn t just visit Watches And Wonders in Geneva, no. Right before I locked myself in the Palexpo for almost a week, I also got the chance to visit and stay at the architectural marvel that is the Audemars Piguet-powered/funded H?tel des Horlogers in the Vallee de Joux. After that, I saw something pretty sweet from HYT right around the corner from the hotel the Fratello team stayed at in Geneva. I ll give you the low-down on those two experiences, plus a heads-up on two Yema Meangraf Sous-Marine dive watches that have just been released ...

Hmm, that s one heck of a handsome family. Well, I certainly wasnt referring to the Hemsworth brothers. That was my gut reaction to seeing the new Rado Captain Cook dive watches. They have this wholesome look that has even me dropping my usual mean-girl defenses.The Rado Captain Cook has been wooing us with its 60s retro vibes since its revival five years ago. First introduced in steel and bronze in 2017, then in ceramics last year, the divers have firmly secured their position as Rados winning collection. This market consensus is evidently corroborated by the verdicts of our Fratelli.To plasma or not to plasma?As a new release in 2022, Rado has extended the Captain Cook family with six new...

The new Submersible QuarantaQuattro Bianco PAM01226 brings back memories of the first Panerai watch that pulled me into the brand. It must have been sometime in the summer of 2004, and I was visiting Antwerp with my then-girlfriend (now-wife). As I always do when traveling, I also stopped by a few jewelry stores in the area to check out some watches. One of them was a Panerai dealer, and I noticed a model in the window that immediately caught my interest. It was a white-dialed Panerai PAM00113 on a tan leather strap.At that point, I had never owned a watch from Panerai. However, I really liked the PAM00113 s large case, big numerals, and, at that time, uncommon white dial. I had seen and tri...

You might have a permanent headache realizing you didn t pull the trigger on that GMT-Master or Submariner ten years ago. Do you know what the problem is with my dearest Longines 5699? That I was basically 25 years late to the party…The last online listing for a Longines ref. 5699 that I bothered to inquire about was about three years ago. I remember it very precisely, as it were yesterday. I studied the Longines 5699 in more detail and instantly fell in love with it. Being slightly naive, I sent the seller an email asking the price for which he d part with the watch. The Longines you inquired about is a truly rare and special beast. The price is $95,000. I passed out. I don t think I...

The Sinn U50 S BS is a limited-edition take on the highly successful U50 diver. By the time you read this, it will likely be gone - at least from Sinn s official site. Still, I think it s worth taking a look if only to get some hints about what could come next.It seems that Sinn was successful with this year s novelties. Then again, there were just 1,600 pieces of the colorful 556, 500 EZM 1.1 S models, and now just 500 of today s Sinn U50 S BS. A quick jaunt to the brand s official site shows that all of the watches are sold out online, but retail partners may have some in stock. Let s see why this new U50 moved so quickly.The Sinn U50 S BSPerhaps it s surprising, but the Sinn U50 S BS was ...

While it s nice to see a gradual release of watches throughout the year, I love the horological assault that shows like Watches And Wonders bring. All these new watches released in one go are like a massive sugar overload. As a bit of a sugar addict, I m all good with that. Some brands played it relatively safe with their launches, bringing small, incremental updates and conservative tweaks - you know the stuff. But some brands went big and threw some real curveballs. I like being caught off guard. When brands think outside the box and have the gumption to have a go, I think calculated risk is a good thing. It should be encouraged. This kind of approach helps keep the watch industry fresh an...

Timeless watches don t have to be boring, no! They can even be fashionable. Such is the case with the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M Co-Axial Master Chronometer Small Seconds 41 MM, ref. 220.12.41.21.02.005.Spring and summer are just around the corner. Our mood brightens, and the desire to reflect our upbeat demeanor comes with it. At least that is the case with me. I always get the urge around springtime to put some bright and colorful watches on my wrist. However, wearing a bright statement piece can also lose its luster quickly. With such a strong presence, such a watch can grow tiresome before you know it. When that happens, it s good to have a watch that balances classic styling and vi...

Here at the Fratello offices, we constantly talk about the smartest ways of spending your hard-earned money on watches. Our readers also often send us questions about the best watches within certain budgets. In this article, we ll dive into a very popular price bracket. We have picked some of the best available watches under $2,000. It s a price bracket with many wonderful offerings from both big brands and smaller independents alike. So today, let s take a look at what the market has to offer.When I started compiling this list, something quickly dawned on me. There is an absolute abundance of great offerings for the money. We truly are spoiled for choice when it comes to spending $2,000 on ...

Whether you like the Omega Swatch MoonSwatch collaboration or not is of no importance to the topic of this article. We even have supporters and opponents within the Fratello team (although most of us want one), and thats all fine.In past years, at watch shows - be it the previous digital Watches And Wonders or the deceased Baselworld exhibitions - was the first place to go for many watch journalists, editors, and retailers. The curtains went up (I kid you not, there were literal curtains) at noon, and youd see a crowd in front of the windows trying to catch a glimpse of the novelties. It was quite the spectacle to witness. Truth to be told, in my first years attending Baselworld, I was al...

Sometimes I feel jaded when it comes to microbrands, with each successive one playing on the same vintage-diver heartstring. My experience makes me notice little details that seem irrelevant, but ones that for a watch journo become deal breakers. A silly name or an unbalanced dial can be enough for my OCD to kick in. This Canadian debut, the York & Front Burrard, has me searching for faults, but they are annoyingly missing. Ive written about this watch before, and in the metal, it has a smile-inducing instant fit.I love a fresh-colored dial or cool pastels to brighten up an outfit or even an entire day, but those don t cut it in the long run. As I grow older, I find myself appreciating a...

On the fifth day of Watches And Wonders, I managed to escape the magnetic pull of Palexpo for a couple of hours. That s something that certainly seemed easier on paper than it was in practice, but which turned out to be well worth the shuttle ride back into town. Taking the elevator up to the second floor of the Beau Rivage hotel, I was greeted by some of the members of the Doxa PR team. After a quick greeting, we sat down around a tray with all of the recently released Whitepearl models. Yes, the Sub 300, the Sub 300T, the Sub 600T, and the Sub 1500T were all there. But without missing a beat, I went for the one that truly stood out. A great white shark amongst barracuda - the Doxa Sub 300 ...

To wear a special yachting chronograph wristwatch in the 60s was like driving a Porsche 911. We take a wristwatch for granted today, but back then, racers used mostly stopwatches hanging on a cord around their necks. Other people often wanted to see my Gallet Multichron Yachting working and try it. They could not believe it was waterproof, says Roger Witts, an original owner, who sailed thousands of times with Gallet on his wrist. It never failed him.Finding a black-dialed Gallet Multichron Yachting is not easy. It s a collector s dream to get it directly from the hands of an original owner, for whom it was a priceless tool during dinghy races and practices in the 60s and 70s. Recently, I...

Picking your favorite watch from a show like Watches And Wonders is something that you simply cannot rush. Its kind of like making a perfect cup of tea. Your head is a teapot, freshly filled with boiling water. The releases are the tea, which is immersed in the water and must be allowed enough time to fully steep before a perfectly brewed cup can be poured out. If you pour too soon, the tea will be too light, flavorless, and diluted. And if you havent had time to see everything and let it sink in, your opinion, like the tea, will be incomplete. After a couple of days of mulling over everything we saw, the team comes together to share our picks. And after only a couple of rounds of Rock Paper...

I remember getting my Seiko SPB143J1 about two years ago. Its well-balanced design, brushed steel bezel insert, and gray sunburst dial really spoke to me. But I knew it was going to be a chunky and heavy watch, especially on the bracelet. So by the time it arrived, I had already gotten some straps for it. I got myself some single-pass NATOs and a Tropic strap, but the best match for me was a green/gray two-piece NATO I got from Esprit NATO. I have since gotten rid of the SPB143J1, but I m still enjoying the strap I got for it!I m not entirely sure how I ended up on the Esprit NATO website. It s a company operating out of Paris that offers the usual leather, nylon, and rubber watch straps als...