Theres a cold wind blowing from the East, and it carries the Grand Seiko Chronograph SBGC247 and GMT SBGE275. Both watches are limited editions that have something to celebrate. The GMT celebrates the 20th anniversary of the first Spring Drive GMT watch. The chronograph, the 15th anniversary of the… what again? Exactly. And what did Grand Seiko use as a source of inspiration for the celebratory dials of the watches? That s right - nature. Nature again?! some folks would complain. But is that a bad thing? Let me answer that question in this article. And while Im at it, I will also address something that is a hot topic amongst Grand Seiko fans and followers here on Fratello - the stream ...
How far can you push the boundaries of traditional watch design? Milan-based brand Unimatic has been pushing the boundaries of traditional watch design with its clever approach to aesthetics. As most of you will know, I really like the approach to design that Unimatic owners Giovanni Moro and Simone Nunziato have chosen for their watches. After several spectacular collaborations, it s time for a new design step within Unimatic s own collection of releases. The all-new Unimatic S-series takes the minimalistic approach even further. On top of that, the four models that make up the S-series are powered by Sellita movements.It s no secret that I am a fan of Unimatic s unique approach to watches....
Fans of manga, anime, and polarizing watches rejoice: Zenith may have released just the watch for you! This Lupin The Third – Final Edition is the latest installment into Zenith s highly successful Chronomaster Revival range. It is also the last piece in a trio of watches inspired by the Japanese manga and anime series Lupin The Third. The first two Chronomasters in this limited-edition series featured previously unproduced dials. The designs came directly from episodes of the anime series, and both had an overall classic aesthetic. For the final edition, however, Zenith went all out, combining the previous two dials for an eye-popping look.At Fratello, we re big fans of the Chronomast...
Over the past couple of years, Genteel Handmade has really been making a name for itself. In the world of watches, finding the perfect strap can often be a frustrating exercise. With so many options available, it seems unconscionable to suggest locating your dream watchband would be anything but a stroll in the park.However, it is often the case that too much choice can spoil the chooser! As such, the brand famed for its expansive range of customizations has taken it upon itself to design a new ready-to-wear collection based on its experience of what its customers lust over most often.While some strap seekers dont mind waiting for weeks for a bespoke watch strap, some like to move a little f...
Merriam-Websters definition of a perfect storm is a critical or disastrous situation created by a powerful concurrence of factors. That sounds bad. And if you saw Wolfgang Petersens biographical disaster movie The Perfect Storm, you know what it literally does and means. The term perfect storm was first used in 1998, and besides being used for catastrophic situations, it can also apply to something that works out extremely well. A perfect storm is when hype makes sense, you could say - like James Bond wearing his Omega Seamaster 300M 007 Edition in No Time To Die. The man, the myth, the movie, and the watch together created the perfect storm.I started with a definition from Merriam-Webster, ...
Every watch enthusiast can think of a great discontinued timepiece that should return to the spotlight. Not as a reissue, but as a worthy successor to the original. An original 2.0, if you will. Thats what we talk about at the Fratello offices. And these talks inspired us to come up with a series about watches that the Fratello editors would like to see make a comeback. Some watches are iconic, some of them are less popular. But all of them are loved by at least one of our editors. Let s look at some of our favorites in this series. This time, its Lex who wants the late 1990s Zenith El Primero Rainbow Flyback Chronograph redone.In those Fratello team discussions, we regularly dive deep into ...
There are times in a persons life when they depart the mundane. The stars align, the background noise of the day-to-day falls away, and one is left standing, full of life, defiant, in tune with oneself and the cosmos. These moments are when the poetry of existence reveals itself, and time and our place in it are not exempt. For such occasions, there is one watch Id have on my wrist above any other, testament to myself and others that I am truly alive and full of wonder for the universe and my experience: the Bvlgari Serpenti Tubogas.I am a man, as much as I am anything. The Bvlgari Serpenti Tubogas, (ref. 102680 as my personal choice) is very much marketed to women. One might say it is a wom...
The name Artem comes from the Latin phrase, Ars est celare artem (English: true art conceals the means by which it is achieved). But Artem is also a name from Ancient Greek mythology, generally meaning strong as a bear. That term perfectly captures what Artem stands for with its durable sailcloth straps. A bear is both strong and, as you d imagine, very comfortable - before deciding to attack you for trying to cuddle it, that is. The synthetic sailcloth material shares this ethos and takes it further with this latest creation - the Artem Loop-Less? strap. Today, I test this strap on the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch and Seamaster Diver 300M to see if the newest generation sets the bar even hig...
We like to talk about vintage watches a lot within the Fratello team. Though most of what we write about is largely focused on the most recent releases and developments, for many of us, a lot of the fun can be found in the sometimes weird and often wonderful world of vintage watches. It s a world full of history, remarkable watches, incredible stories, and quirky details. It inspired us to come up with a series of articles focusing on the best watches per decade from a select group of brands. Some of them are priceless, some of them are still affordable. In this installment, we will take a look at the best G-Shock watches from the 2000s.By the turn of the millennium, Switzerland had proudly ...
Since 2020, I have been the happy owner of the Hamilton PSR, the 50th-anniversary edition in (PVD) gold. Then, last December, Hamilton introduced a special version for the latest sequel in the Matrix series of films: The Matrix Resurrections. It s an all-black Hamilton PSR MTX, limited to 1999 pieces. The number of watches corresponds with the year in which the first Matrix movie was released.In this video, RJ talks about the Hamilton PSR MTX edition, the watch that Nacho introduced to you here.Hamilton PSR MTXThe PSR MTX watch measures 40.88 34.7mm and has a PVD black coating. Whereas the original models came with a red LED display, the Matrix edition has a green display. Some very rare e...
Some watches stand out immediately when you see them. The Isotope HydriumX Will Return is that kind of watch. It s bold, it s colorful, and it commands your attention. But it wasn t the first model of the Hydrium series that I noticed. It was the Hydrium Burnt Tangerine that first caught my eye. It s essentially the same watch as the HydriumX Will Return, but it features a dial in a nice shade of orange. But it was more than that. I loved the overall aesthetic of the Hydrium. It s why I was very happy to try out the colorful HydriumX Will Return and the stealthy Hydrium Blue Night.I m all for conceptual watches that play with a familiar narrative, and that s exactly what Isotope Watches has ...
I usually assess watches I find interesting for their versatility. I actually do wear all my watches. Therefore, I need to be able to imagine a situation when I will be wearing a possible new acquisition to buy it. This approach often disqualifies watches with an overly flamboyant or colorful look. Sometimes, though, I stumble upon watches that are a bit peculiar but which I definitely find attractive. It surely facilitates my decision if such a watch has a more affordable price.In November, the Seiko Boutique in Hamburg had invited me to an event to present recent novelties. Next to the many interesting new models in the Prospex and Presage ranges, as well as the new offerings from Grand Se...
Rightly or wrongly, when most people think of , they think of showy watches. Id argue that a lot of the brand s models are subdued, and perhaps the reputation comes more from the wearers than from the watches themselves. It is what it is, though. So, what happens when one stumbles upon a truly under-the-radar ? Well, I happened to do just that with an atypical version of the Datejust 16200, and I think its phenomenal.The Datejust is one of the most recognizable watches in the world. Weve covered them extensively over the past year and, personally, Ive been on a real DJ kick lately. Ive always liked them, but they were so commonplace that I often overlooked what I typically thought of as off...
How many of you cruise through Chrono24 looking for undiscovered gems? In between trying to find a watch Im actually looking for, I do random price or brand searches to see what pops up. Last week, the Girard-Perregaux Richeville Chronograph caught my eye, as it s unusual and quirky-cool. One thing, however, is blatantly clear, and that is a necessary adjustment of my collecting mind. Even as a writer, a bonafide watch journalist (thats what I tell myself anyway), my perspective gets colored by Instagram. With the exception of interest groups, Facebook here in Scandinavia is pretty much dead. But the explosion of watches on Instagram is real.This is a good thing, right? Well, yes and no. Yes...
One of the well-intentioned tips I received as a beginner watch collector was that quartz watches do not have a soul. A brand like Blancpain actively advertising that it never made a quartz watch and never will do so fueled the sentiment that quartz watches were not interesting for the real watch collector.When I looked at a Oysterquartz for the first time, it left me a bit puzzled. The shape was right up my alley, but I couldnt grasp why decided to use a quartz movement inside such an expensive watch. Though there wasnt much on the internet in those days, after some research, I found some images of the movement used in the Oysterquartz Day-Date, caliber 5055. The quartz 5035 (Datejust) a...
When you say medical watch, I always see just one watch. It s the Angelus Medical that takes the crown. It stands way above all other medical watches, even ahead of 1960s Longines or my favorite watch from Universal Geneve, the Medico Compax.Pulsation scales on dials have always enamored me. The reason is simple: I see a medical watch as the finest and most noble complication ever integrated into a watch. A power reserve, moonphase, minute repeater, or any other from the long list of crazy complications I have been introducing over the last few years on #TBT are all useful and creative inventions. But the ability to read a heart rate is just so human. It reminds me of the transience of our b...
Welcome to Strap Check, a new column here on Fratello where our editors showcase their favorite watch/strap combinations. We all know the feeling. When youve been wearing a watch for weeks on the same strap, there comes a time when the excitement starts to fade a little bit. Maybe thats the time when you start looking. But looking for what? A brand new watch? Sometimes the answer lies not in the watch, but the strap on which you wear it! From the classic to the unique. From cheap NATOs to bespoke leather and special bracelets. This is where we get excited about perfect combinations that make you feel like youve got a brand new watch on your wrist. So tune in every week for a new combination....
If you re looking for the ideal daily-wear watch, the Datejust is a popular option. It s a watch with which you just can t go wrong, and it s perfect for both informal and formal situations. The variety in dial options and executions means that there is a Datejust for just about everyone. But what if you want something else? It could be that you want something a bit different than a , or perhaps you can t get a Datejust in the current world that we live in. Are there any great alternative options, or is the Datejust a truly irreplaceable icon? Let s find out.The Datejust is a watch that will suit anyone on the planet, and that s exactly why it has convinced so many people to buy one. It is ...
I remember saying to someone recently that I wasn t really one for the unboxing experience. I even said it in an article on Fratello (maybe more than once). Well, I might have changed my mind. Or maybe I should say this: I am a fan of boxing - excellent boxing. I am a fan of turning a marvelously created object over in my hands. I like to enjoy every considered angle, every purposeful facet, and every joyful flourish. Recently, I made my way down to Upper Beeding, just ten miles north of Shoreham-by-Sea, to visit my old friend Giles Ellis of Schofield Watch Company. While there, I collected my very own Schofield B4 that I reviewed on these pages upon its release in summer.I ve waited almost ...
Everybody has them, but should they? Im talking, of course, about guilty pleasures. A guilty pleasure could be defined as something that you enjoy but is frowned upon by your peers. If your peers, for example, happened to find out your favorite song of all time is Baby One More Time by Britney Spears, you would be embarrassed. But why should you be? If that song raises the hairs on the back of your hand, sends shivers down your spine, and puts you in a state of bliss, you should not feel ashamed. Rather, you should be happy. You should celebrate that you have the ability to feel such wonderful things because of your so-called guilty pleasure. And its the same with watches. Thats why I want t...
