In our Sunday Morning Showdown, two of our writers go head-to-head in an epic showdown for the ages. Strong opinions and hysterical hyperbole are welcome (so feel free to join in with the fun in the comments section below). And dont forget to let us know which watches youd like to see torn to shreds/effusively exalted next week. Well try and feature as many of our readers choices as we can. In today s showdown, our writers get wet n wild with hefty professional divers. With such a mass of metal, you could even confuse them for diving bells. The Omega Seamaster Ploprof 1200M takes on the Grand Seiko SBGH257.I don t know about you, but last week s Showdown was a blast. The writers wave their ...
There is much truth in the notion that minimalism never goes out of style. Throughout the years, when we look at watches, only a handful of styles have withstood the test of time. Many of them have timeless minimalism in common. The latest H. Moser & Cie. Endeavour Centre Seconds, characterized by its classic-yet-modern silhouette, is one of them.H. Moser & Cie. has designed Endeavour Centre Seconds with the idea of simplicity at its heart. The result? An entirely pure concept brought to life with the subtlest of flourishes. Straight away, I was attracted by the 3 hands adorning the dial and the finishing of the case. As an independent family watch brand, Moser is constantly coming u...
Is it just me, or have the first couple of weeks just flown by in January? I mean, I still feel like its 2020. Im still writing 2020 and having to correct myself. It seems that some watch brands are not making this same mistake as me. Theyre moving full steam ahead, and were already seeing some fantastic new models.Things are really hotting up this week. Weve got a real heavy hitter from Moser, a couple of tasty micro/indie brands, and a watch from Junghans dedicated to the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2021 in Oberstdorf. Lets get to it!H. Moser & Cie - Endeavour Minute Repeater TourbillonI have to start with this piece from H. Moser & Cie. I mean, look at it. This classical st...
I m going to be honest: this is not just a list of my five current favorite watches. This is a confrontation with a question that has been on my mind for some time. Is buying a new slowly turning into the itch you can t scratch? I don t want to think that way, but who I am kidding? As I was writing it, I knew this list was really a long-overdue goodbye to the idea of buying a new . Call me a hopeless romantic, but there is more to this than simply availability. So let s go and close this book for once and for all.I have been fortunate enough to write several entries in our Sunday Morning Showdown column with my colleague Ben. And over the course of these last few months, we have matched-up...
Chopard Superfast Chrono Porsche 919 Black EditionWe are a very lucky group of guys as we get invitations to a variety of events organized by brands. Just recently our very own Bert published a report about his visit to the Passione Caracciola experience with IWC and now here is my report?on a different yet somewhat similar event; the 24-hour race at Le Mans. If you are a petrol head, and I have to say I am a bit, it cannot get any better than Le Mans. You do not feel this until you are there though. That experience is something I have trouble to explain even though I feel that I have a good command of the English language. Its a two day circus filled with A-list celebrities, parties, fans?f...
Make no bones about it; the Seiko Spring Drive Tuna is the most over the top watch I own. Strike that, mine is even zanier because its the limited edition Spring Drive Golden Tuna. Yes, I know that this article publishes on a Thursday, which means its #TBT and vintage, but Ill bend the rules C big time I suppose C because I will review a watch that isnt vintage but it has been out of production for roughly three years. You see, I have a soft spot for the big brand from Japan and, therefore, Ill invoke some license to talk about a seriously different watch.The official release photo of the Golden Seiko Spring Drive Tuna from 2013 (photo credit: Seiko)The Birth of the Seiko Spring Drive TunaWe...
Alpina Seastrong Diver HeritageAfter last years novelties I couldnt wait to go back to Frederique Constant and Alpina and have a look at their current lineup. Again, the company (or I should say: companies) didnt cease to amaze me, the one piece stood out the most was Alpinas Seastrong Diver Heritage. Not because it was anything extraordinary or it had a deep haute horological technical background but because of pure aesthetics. Sometimes this is also enough. It has that cool vintage diver look we dig so much. I think the closest I ever felt a re-edition was a hit was when I had the chance to review the Junghans Meister Telemeter. The new watch became so true to the original it was astonishi...
My First Encounter with a Gold Omega Speedmaster Professional Apollo XIWhen I bought my first Speedmaster in October 1999, it didnt take long to get in touch with other Speedmaster enthusiasts. One of them referred me to a watch maker that was close in my area that was more or less specialized in Speedmaster watches. I got in touch with him and the first time we met he was wearing this crazy gold Speedmaster Professional with burgundy bezel and engraved caseback filled with red lacquer. At the time, I didnt know about this specific model but I knew it was something special. Apparently, I had the honor to come across the gold Omega Speedmaster Professional Apollo XI numbered edition, referenc...
A visit to FortisWhen I was only consuming watch sites and not yet moved to the other side, that of writing the content, I loved to read all those photo essays and visit reports. To me those are sometimes more interesting than the 57th review of the same ?hot watch on the market. Whenever I make one of these articles, let that be a report on an event organized by the brand, or an invitation to a race for that matter my aim is always to make it as interesting is possible, showing our readers?what you d otherwise probably not see. Of course, most of the times these visits are very well organized and choreographed by the PR department?of the brand. They have a strict schedule and they leave you...
Watchismo (now Watches.com) curates and sells the worlds largest online collection of diverse watches. Established in 1998, the company has a long-standing mission of providing unique and affordable timepieces to the masses. As the number 1 selling independent online watch store, the company plans to stay true to their core mission, while taking the brand to new heights with a larger online audience.Founded by brothers Andrew and Mitch Greenblatt, the company focuses on finding, curating and providing interesting timepieces to a strong community of watch lovers. For over 15 years, Watchismo (now Watches.com) has been contributing to the online watch market. As the watch market moves away fro...
When we get our hands on the TWCO Sea Rescue Diver, its hard to believe that it was already two years ago that we reviewed a watch from TWCO for the first time. Being a start-up microbrand at the time with only two years in the existence.?We now are looking at another addition to the growing collection of TWCO watches. The brand was introduced back in 2012 by Robbert Suurland. He s a young watch aficionado and watch maker from the Netherlands.TWCO Sea Rescue Diver Tactical ModelNow 4 years later TWCO is expanded?the collection with the TWCO Sea Rescue Diver Tactical Model as they call it. Already in the collection for a long time, the Sea Rescue Diver is a sturdy dive watch which you could e...
Iconic ChronographOne of the most talked about watches this year is without a doubt the new Daytona 2016 model, with black Cerachrom bezel. But what is all the fuzz about? Let me try to explain this to you in this article, about the Daytona 2016 model, some of its predecessors and perhaps, about dreams.Truth to be told, I do not own a Daytona and I never actually did. My Fratello Watches colleagues Gerard, Bert and Michael do own Daytonas, from vintage to new, and I have tried the previous model (reference 116520) more than once. I love the watch, both vintage models and the new (let s say after 1988) models. It is one of the most iconic chronographs and only few things have changed since...
Sell crazy someplace else, we re all stocked up here. C says Melvin Udall, Jack Nicholsons character in the movie As Good as it Gets.The Heuer Autavia sold at Phillips for 75,000 CHF (photo credit: www.phillips.com)The line above could easily explain the current market for vintage chronographs. As I sat down on the couch with, fittingly, a glass of champagne (this was pure happenstance as we had a friend in town C I normally prefer my bubbly to consist of malted hops and barley) one evening in mid-May, I decided to tune into the Phillips Stop-Start-Reset auction featuring 88 vintage stainless steel chronographs. I watched a number of pieces sell at very strong prices, but it wasnt until the ...
It is no secret that we love mechanical watches. But what if you go to foreign places where this type of luxury is not much appreciated, or where there s other sorts of risk of damaging your precious watch? This is where this FW Classic – Seiko SKX007 vs Citizen NY0040 article comes in. Two affordable mechanical watches, from well-respected manufacturers, that you can wear with confident and pride during your well-earned holidays.Michael Stockton – our vintage expert – wrote this article to demonstrate the strengths and weaknesses of both watches, but foremost to show you two affordable alternatives to accompany you on your holidays abroad. However, make no mistake, these w...
They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder and such seems to be the case with the out of production Omega Speedmaster Tintin. Even though the watch was only introduced at Baselworld 2013 and then cancelled after roughly one to two years of production (it depends who you ask), I thought it was a good time to take a look at what has occurred around this controversial Speedmaster and why its a watch worth watching. Also, since I own one, Ill throw my own 2 cents into the mix.The Speedmaster TinTin is a wonderful study in contrastSpeedmaster Tintin IntroductionAs mentioned, Omega very quietly introduced the Speedmaster Tintin in 2013 at Baselworld as ref. 311.30.42.30.01.004. I actually a...
Its hard to believe that Baselworld 2016 occurred 3 months ago, but here we are in June, which is probably enough time to reflect on new releases that have left an impression. Todays focus is on a series of watches that really impressed me because they were simply so satisfying in their execution and theyre from a brand that we really enjoy here at Fratellowatches. Its the independent brand from Glashuette and today well look more closely at the Nomos Neomatik lineup.The new DUW3001 movement as seen through the back of the Nomos Neomatik OrionWith the Nomos Neomatik lineup, the brand presented us with 10(!!!)? models (some new and some released between Baselworld 2015 and 2016) featuring its...
Recently we found a new winder, the Spin-R, on our desk to give our watch a spin. We ve covered?a hand full of?watch winders over the past years.?Just search for ‘winder‘ on our site and you should be able to find our previous reviews on watch winders for those interested.After unboxing the new Spin-R winder we are looking at a?white box shaped?winder measuring (LxWxH) 16 x 12,5 x 15 centimetres. ?Most single watch winder have a similar look in this price range. Either round or box shaped, with or without a door or cover to protect your watch against dust. So in that perspective it looks like just another winder until you take closer look.First look after unboxing the Spin-R wind...
Earlier this week we joined IWC Schaffhausen for the start of the Passione Caracciola. An event which is easiest described as an oldtimer rally dedicated to German race car driver Rudolf Caracciola. We head off to Zrich where the event wil kick off, and at the evening before the rally begins we gather at the Grand Dolder Hotel.First stage on our agenda. Behind the scenes at?the recording of a new edition of IWC Schaffhausen talks to starring Jochen Mass. Being?a well known race driver he?actually started his working life being a sailor, enjoying his travels around the world. Later on he managed to persuade his racing dream and was quite successful doing so. Now at the age of 68 he still dri...
Breitling Chronoliner – Vintage InspiredOur vintage?guy?Michael Stockton did a huge item on vintage Breitling watches a while ago (you can find it here) where he discussed these watches in-depth with some world renown?subject matter experts.Having that said, I have no deep knowledge on vintage Breitling watches but this new Breitling Chronoliner clearly shows some influences from their rich heritage. Sure, the limited edition we show you here is in gold but there s also a stainless steel version with panda-like dial. That model reminded me of one of the watch in the article from Michael Stockton to be honest: a Breitling Unitime AVI 1765 (image below by @WatchFred).Perhaps the older CP...
Sometimes, it just takes time and patience to find the watch youve had on a wanted list-and thats exactly what I had to withstand when it came to locating the subject of this weeks #TBT, the Zodiac Sea-Chron. Believe it or not, a Sea-Chron had been on my list for roughly a year before I landed the piece before you. It wasnt really that I had not seen any for sale, I was simply hunting bigger game and figured Id be able to later grab a Zodiac on a whim. Silly me: this is 2016 and were all aware of what has happened with vintage chronographs as far as pricing and availability, so I had to wait. As we get into the details behind this wonderful watch, I hope that youll end up agreeing that the S...
