The introduction of the new Omega Swatch Speedmaster MoonSwatch collaboration did not go unnoticed. Some of my colleagues went to see the queues last weekend in Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and Rotterdam, and they were absolutely crazy.We covered the Omega Swatch Speedmaster MoonSwatch last Wednesday evening. As the media embargo was broken by another site, we got the OK from the Omega and Swatch HQs to publish a few hours ahead of schedule. And the interest in this watch exceeded all expectations! We had the MoonSwatch in the office a few days in advance, and most of the Fratello team was incredibly excited about it. But this run to Swatch boutiques and the massive amount of comments on our ar...

It has been over two years for obvious reasons, but we re back with an invitation for a Speedy Tuesday event in Biel, Switzerland. With this, we d like to kick off a new series of events at the Omega headquarters. We will celebrate the 10th anniversary of Speedy Tuesday with you, but also the 65th anniversary of the Speedmaster watch.But first and foremost, it would be great to see you all again in the flesh. It has been way too long! If you want to meet up with Speedmaster enthusiasts and collectors, you shouldn t miss this event in Biel on April 26th and April 27th. It is one event with two programs. We only have limited spots available, so make sure to sign-up quickly. We kindly ask you t...

For modern and vintage watch fans alike, the word Breitling typically draws the mind to one watch - the Navitimer. Yes, the Navitimer is THE Breitling for most, and hyperbole doesn t enter the picture when saying it s one of the most iconic chronographs of all time. Now, five years into a Breitling revival, we finally have a new rendition of this important watch.Breitling has come a long way since the arrival of Georges Kern in 2017. The popular brand has methodically updated just about every single one of its product lines during this period. Under Kern s leadership, Breitling has upped the finishing of its watches, restored model lines like the Chronomat, and has created some epic vintage ...

You need no introduction to this hit-making award-winning independent brand. What you must know, before calling yourself a watch buff, is the ground-breaking model Czapek introduced last year, the Antarctique Rattrapante. It was an instant sell-out limited edition. Now, mark this in your horological encyclopedia. Its official. With a new release being revealed, the future is set: this masterpiece is here to stay.We are continuing to explore the many possibilities offered by this very attractive and popular new family of watches, confirms Czapek CEO, Xavier de Roquemaurel.The familyIf you didnt have a chance to get to know what was (and still is) so special about the Antarctique Rattrapante f...

How do you spend $10,000 to start a watch collection? It s a question so abstract that it took me a long time to find the answers. First of all, in the previous articles in the series, many great solutions were already offered. On top of that, how do you follow Fratello s resident eminence grise Gerard who perfectly explained how to start your Speedmaster collection? Reading through Gerard s article, I still have a Speedmaster or two to add to my collection. But maybe even more importantly, it s a question that has a very personal answer. I can t answer the question of how to spend $10K wisely, simply because my answer doesn t fit this three watches for $10K format. Let me explain why and ho...

Fratello On Air is here with Balazs and Mike. This week, vintage Zenith is in focus as the duo roll through their favorite models out of Le Locle. You ll be surprised with this list because the El Primero doesn t factor so heavily. This podcast player is blocked because you did not accept marketing cookies. Change cookie settings Zenith dates way back to 1865 with its founding in Le Locle, Switzerland. While we won t go back that far at all, we will look backward at some of our favorite models. Of course, Zenith makes some fantastic new models (ooh, we love that Chronomaster Original!), but bring two vintage nerds together and vintage is what you get!Handgelenks KontrolleAs always, Balaz...

Jamaal Parham is a commercial director, filmmaker, and watch collector living in Brooklyn.? Currently, a director signed with ArtClass, next-gen production company, and a creative consultant at AKA, international marketing and advertising agency. The LA native s passion for filmmaking transported him to the East Coast, where he developed said passion at NYU Tisch School of the Arts. He cut his teeth at the editing desks of several post-production houses in LA, New York, and London, where he helped create several award-winning spots. Parham worked his magic on short films, fashion editorials, comedy specials, feature films, and high-profile music videos. His love for storytelling then took hi...

Fratello will be on location in Geneva from March 30th to April 5th to cover all of the hottest news and releases from Watches & Wonders 2022. It s the first year this exhibition is available physically for press, and we ll be there to show you the latest from brands like , Cartier, Tudor, Patek Philippe, Jaeger-LeCoultre, A. Lange & S?hne, Vacheron Constantin, Oris, TAG Heuer, Panerai, and many more.Keep an eye on our landing page here, to see all Watches & Wonders coverage from our editorial team. It s the first large watch exhibition since 2020, and we re very much looking forward to seeing all the new watches introduced by the participating brands (nearly 40 of them).In the p...

The Planet Ocean series is a go-to choice if you want a cool alternative to the Submariner, and one you can actually pick up from an AD (remember that feeling?). This is perhaps the most important sports watch range from Omega, and as such, you would surely think this is a bonafide divers tool, right? Considering the image of its burly 43.5mm size in classic steel and blue, or black with a tempting pop of orange, I understand the sentiment. But, like many popular ranges, the Planet Ocean series has morphed into a veritable sub-brand with a full 28 references. You could go diving with white gold and diamonds, or take this understated 39.5mm Planet Ocean 600M in stealthy black ceramic.As I an...

I m currently in a lot of trouble with my girlfriend. No, it s not another woman. No, it isn t about the drink, drugs, or my burgeoning interest in model railways. The problem is truly holographic. Yes, that s right: I m into holographs and holograms in a big way. Recently, my obsession with holographic material has extended to bubble jackets. At the best of times, my beleaguered paramour has to deal with me dressing like a member of the Beastie Boys in 1986. Now she must contend with a new look, which I ve dubbed BB2086. The perfect watch to complete this futuristic hip-hop ensemble? The perilously fruity Casio GM-5600SN and/or its funky little brother, the Casio A1000PRW-1ER.Look, Casio?mu...

While the Laco brand s history of supplying the German airforce during World War II is a controversial topic on these pages and others (especially because the brand still engraves the side of its cases with the item code assigned to Pilot s watches by the Third Reich s Reichsluftfahrtministerium), many of the luxury brands (and plenty of the humdrum) found themselves on the wrong side of history during those dark days.You need only mention brands such as BMW, Hugo Boss, Kodak, or IBM to realize that a troubling level of collaboration or at least association existed between the heads of those companies and the Nazi regime. Despite the dark chapters in these companies shared history, there al...

Ill have a coffee and every Omega Swatch MoonSwatch to start the week, please. Do I have to ask what you did last weekend? Do you want to talk about camping outside the nearest Swatch boutique? Please share your adventures and let me know if you scored one of the eight, not eleven, possible planets - the Sun is a star, the Moon is a satellite, and Pluto is NOT a planet according to the International Astronomical Union (IAU). Or in the very possible case that it s been mission impossible, it s good to share your frustration over a coffee to get it out of your system. If you really dont want to talk about it, maybe speculate with me on an updated Daytona; what should it look like, and what s...

The deliberate and controlled oxidization of metal has been around in watchmaking for many, many years. In fact, the original technique has existed for centuries. It was devised as a way of protecting metal components from rust (which itself is a form of destructive oxidization). Watch hands were very commonly subjected to this treatment. This is because hands, given how thin and delicate they have to be, are particularly susceptible to rust. By heat treating, or force oxidizing the hands, a protective and aesthetically pleasing layer coats the base material. While blue is the most commonly seen color derived from this process, a whole gamut of hues can be achieved. With its Heat Gradation s...

That s right, everyone s favorite April Fools watch from last year is going into very limited production. Brought to you by Studio Underd0g and Fratello, the Aubergine dial project will raise funds for the fight against Testicular Cancer while, hopefully, putting a smile on your face.April Fools Day watches have become a thing. I remember the first time I became aware of the industry s burgeoning ability to poke fun at itself was while I was working for Bremont. Bremont has done some fantastic spoofs of the brand s own watches over the years, with other brands piling in on the act. It s always a fun day for journalists and (I hope) consumers of watch journalism and, every so often, those m...

Credor, the JDM luxury brand created by Seiko in the 70s to beat Patek Philippe and at the then-hot luxury quartz game. Today, we know Credor for its thin luxury and hand-finished porcelain dials of the Eichi models. Finally available outside Japan, and produced within the inner chambers of the Grand Seiko ateliers, Credor watches are as quirky as they are pure. Representing a very Japanese ethos of wrist-worn luxury, any Credor will make you dismiss the notion that the dress watch is dead. But I bet you ve never heard of the Credor Phoenix.It took some time for Seiko to focus clearly on where it wanted to go with its main and sub-brands. Through my incessant Chrono24 browsing and a story ...

The Breitling Top Time returned to the scene in 2020 with the release of the Top Time Bow-Tie. While the revival of the Top Time was reason enough for excitement, I was never a fan of the Bow-Tie model. Sure, the Zorro or Bow-Tie dial is a Breitling classic, but not one for me. However, the re-introduction of the Top Time name did make my heart beat faster. Was there going to be a return of the glorious Top Time ref. 810? Unfortunately, we haven t seen this iconic Top Time reference return to the Breitling collection yet. After a few colorful limited-edition releases, the Top Time Classic Cars Capsule Collection, and a collab with Triumph Motorcycles, I would love to see the iconic Top Time ...

Who knew that Swatch still had that circa 90s FOMO swagger? Sometimes, all it takes is a little help from our friends. In this case, Omega stepped in with an 11-part stonker. I m writing this prior to the official sale date of the MoonSwatch, but it s safe to say that these watches are hits! I m never one to stop at the current, though, so let s talk about what Swatch collab could be next.Ah, Swatch… As a dorky teenager, I was certifiably hooked on these fun and often colorful plastic watches from Switzerland. I still remember the lady, Marguerite, who ran the accessories area at the Boca Town Center Bloomingdales. Yes, it s true that I had a bit of a nerdy crush, but she was super fr...

We ve seen this battle many times before. The Submariner Date versus just about any dive watch that s willing and able to throw down against the titan. The challenge is selecting a watch that can transcend the general populace as effortlessly as the Submariner. From Steve McQueen to Sylvia Earle, the Sub has graced the wrists of legendary ambassadors across the gamut. Regardless of those who wear them, the watch, the engineering, the heritage, and pure design perfection have made the Submariner an inspiration worldwide. This has led many brands to throw their hands up and proclaim, If you can t beat it, join it. That is unless you are Omega with its Seamaster Diver 300M. Today, I compare t...

Desiring a steel sports watch from , Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, or Vacheron Constantin is a challenge. It requires either an almost unhealthy relationship with the local dealer, an XL bank account, or the patience of a Zen master. The luxury dilemma of paying the price or playing the watch waiting game is a reality that gets harsher every day. And because of that, it has a direct influence on how people are experiencing watches. Some people have turned away from brands with multi-page waitlists, while others just pay (way) more than list price because they can afford it. For those people, there also must be a big fear of missing out involved, but what exactly they re missing out on elu...

Meet the Tissot PRX Chronograph. It has been a long time since I ordered a watch during the initial presentation to the press from a brand. But alas, that s exactly what happened with this. And it was a digital presentation, even!I thoroughly enjoyed wearing the regular Tissot PRX Automatic. Besides having a vintage-inspired design from a wonderful decade, the price for that watch is also on point. I cant think of another watch between $500 and $1,000 that Id rather buy at the moment. But now, theres the Tissot PRX Chronograph, a new addition to the PRX family at a slightly higher price point.Tissot PRX ChronographThe first thing youll notice after unboxing this Tissot PRX Chronograph is the...