Space - the final frontier. Here at Fratello, we love watches (obviously), and we love space. The two are connected at various points in history, and a love of one invariably leads to at least an interest in the other at some point. So, what s cooler than combining the two interests? Watches that went into space! When I say that, I mean literally went into space. What on Earth am I on about? Well, let s take a closer look at the Raketa Space Launcher and find out.Let me start by saying that ROSCOMOS did not commission this watch. Russia does not use its homemade watches to accompany its astronauts into space. So what do I mean when I say these watches went to space? Well, what if I told you ...
Were approaching the end of the year, and it has been an odd one (again). However, for Speedmaster fans, it was quite interesting. On the one hand, there were no limited editions or special editions this year. On the other hand, Omega introduced to us the new Moonwatch for the coming years, or perhaps even for the next decades. Two of these Moonwatch models are in precious metal. One is in Sedna Gold, Omegas own rose gold alloy. The other one is in Canopus Gold, Omega s white gold formulation.Omega Speedmaster Canopus GoldThe white gold Omega Speedmaster Professional Master Chronometer is on my wrist as I write this article. Together with the platinum Speedmaster with caliber 321, these are ...
So, this should be easy as Im on home turf (home snow?) so to speak, even if my bio reveals my embarrassing secret. Yes, I am the only Norwegian who doesnt ski, neither cross country nor slalom. And no, I don t even own a snowboard. The closest I get to winter sports is sledding with the kids, which is actually quite a dangerous pursuit.?So what better than some #ARCTICWHITE gear to camouflage me from the laughter of my mates as I sneak off to the city? While theyre drunk at the Apres Ski, Ive snuck off to a coffee shop. Youll find me enjoying a strong macchiato with my writers laptop, so sue me. However, I do enjoy the crisp polar white of a sports watch dial. Maybe even matched with some c...
Its time for a good, old-fashioned shootout! This is the stage where the voting really counts. It will decide who drops out of the competition, and who comes one step closer to taking first place. Today, its Zenith versus Tudor, and Andreas versus Jorg. Both their picks are firmly rooted in the past. While the Tudor Black Bay Chrono is a more contemporary model, Zenith reaches back to the birth of a legend with the A386 Revival. Will the popularity of the crown s little sister outplay the historical achievements of the grande dame who once established the concept of a manufacture? Thats up to you! Cast your vote and let us know your pick in the comments!As always, both editors will be presen...
Those who are familiar with my taste in watches will know that when it comes to brands, I am slightly skeptical. So when asked to take a look at the Gane C1 Sandy Salmon, I followed my usual process. I always approach slowly, making no sudden moves. From a distance, the promise of refinement and quality is hard to pin down. Upon approach, it often fades like a mirage. However, on some occasions, the mirage doesnt fade, and the quality turns out to be quite real. But not all microbrands are created equal. How did Ganes very first offering fare under close inspection? Read on to find out.Launched on the 20th of July 2021, Gane Watches was founded by Raymond Pee. A Malaysian native living in Si...
We really dont want to instill fear into your hearts and minds, our valued readers. But after reading about yet another watch robbery this weekend here in the Netherlands, we think its time for a word of warning. Please keep your to yourself and dont flaunt it online. That also goes for easy-to-spot luxury watches like the Nautilus and the Royal Oak. Social media has become an online shopping catalog for wrong-doers, it seems. Of course, watches have always been a target for thieves, but the times, they are a-changing for the worse. How did it come to this?When youre proud of your new/vintage GMT-Master II, you want to show it. Because youre happy with your watch, you want to share the Pep...
J.N. Shapiro. Make sure you remember this name. If you re a fan of independent, artisanal watchmaking, then the chances are you re acquainted with Josh s work. If this is the first you re learning about this young watchmaker, boy, you re in for a treat. What better introduction to the work of J.N. Shapiro than with his Infinity Tantalum Limited Edition watch?The Infinity TantalumThe name kind of gives the game away here. This watch uses tantalum for the case, as well as the hour ring on the dial. Tantalum is a metal that s not too common in watchmaking. Sure, it s there, but only after brands prod and poke their watchmakers and machinists into cooperation do we see it used. Why is it so unco...
OK, folks, this is not a drill. For one last hurrah, Patek has brought back the 5711 for a super limited edition of watches. Did I mention its a co-signed edition with Tiffany with a Tiffany blue dial? Let your mouth salivate as we present the incredible new Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711.Yesterday the watch industry went to bed with nary a thought about the possibility of a new Nautilus. Why would they expect such a thing? Patek announced it had discontinued the 5711 back in January of this year. So why now? Out of the blue (no pun intended)? The gorgeous new 5711 celebrates the 170-year partnership between the Swiss watchmaker and Tiffany, as well as Tiffanys new ownership as a part of the L...
Making your mark in an overcrowded corner of any market is hard work. It takes vision. It takes tenacity. And perhaps more than anything, it takes an unshakable belief in your message and that your target demographic will latch onto it and carry it home on your behalf. During any endeavor of this nature, you will meet with strong resistance. You will meet with naysayers, detractors, rivals who may be jealous. All of these people will tell you, No, don t do it - it is a fool s errand. If you make it through that gauntlet, you ve got a shot at success. But does the Bohen Dive Watch have what it takes to make it over the line?This has been a long journey. While it may sound odd to look at misse...
The race is well underway in Round 2 of The Fast And The Fratelli. You voted, you voiced your opinion, and a number of watches have been given the black flag, thereby disqualifying them from the race. Two racing chronographs that continue to speed round the Fratello Watches International Speedway are Daves Fortis B-42 Cosmonauts Chronograph and Lexs Seiko SRQ029. And now, these watches are battling it out in a head-to-head shootout. You decide the winner by voting. And by commenting, you have a shot to win a Traxxas Bandit RC car.In the chaotic opening round, you saw two very original chronographs of choice from Dave go head-to-head. In the end, the space-worthy Fortis B-42 Cosmonauts Chron...
Imagine the shame: Im an editor doing three to four stories a week at Fratello Watches, without an Omega Speedmaster to my name. How did I get the job, and how could I even be allowed to have my byline on the website sans Speedy? My colleagues keep asking why I don t own a Speedmaster - proper peer pressure. Its not like I havent tried on the Speedmaster Professional or had the budget, but I remain confused and Moonwatch-less.Let me try to be objective and truthful about this. First, please forgive me. I have been writing about watches for a couple of years now, and I am a contrarian by nature. This means that even if something is intrinsically beautiful, I will shy away from it if it is pop...
There is a reason true novelty is rare in watchmaking. Long-standing, prestigious watch houses oftentimes avoid it like the plague. They fear alienating a firmly established clientele and diluting the brand that pays their bills (and then some). Newer companies, those hoping to make waves in an entrenched industry with evermore trenchant ideas, frequently lack the budget to cause the kind of stir they believe their enthusiasm and vision deserve to sire. Thankfully, there is a middle way. Brands don t look for it as often as you might think, but one brand that found it is making sure everybody knows about it. Known for its total transparency, CODE41 is continuing its march toward real change ...
As watch collectors, we see our watches as more than a device to tell the time. We see these wrist companions as just that, as we enjoy their companionship throughout our day-to-day lives. We use them to express our personalities, so we tend to have different watches for different situations. However, being a watch collector is a luxury. To have the means and capability to enjoy multiple luxury watches in our collections is not feasible or even desirable for everyone. Some people want a single quality watch that will cover all bases, look good, and serve them well for many years to come - the age-old one-watch collection dilemma. Well, after spending some quality time with the TAG Heuer Aqua...
Six years ago, in 2015, Edox decided to bring back the Hydro-Sub on the models 50th anniversary. RJ covered the original limited edition release back then. If youre familiar with the limited edition, or the short production run of Hydro-Sub models which followed, youll know that they werent exactly a faithful reissue. Instead of bringing back the original, Edox decided to modernize its design, bringing the case size up to 46mm. Another questionable decision was to add a clunky crown-lock system to the side of the case. Despite these rather odd design choices, the watch gathered somewhat of a cult following. But if you re more of a traditionalist, you need not fear. Edox is back with the reis...
In Round 2 of The Fast And The Fratelli, two writers go head-to-head with their qualifying racing chronos! Here are Gerard and Balazs - a.k.a. the father and son at Fratello - with their first-round winners for your consideration.How come we now see the Omega Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday Ultraman competing with the Seiko Prospex Speedtimer SRQ037J1? That cause lies in the first round, where the Omega Speedmaster Ultraman made a clear win over a Zenith Chronomaster El Primero Revival A385. It was a 72 over 28% win. With 54 over 46%, the Seiko Prospex Speedtimer was less overwhelming but still a clear winner over the Tissot Heritage 1973. And so, here they are! The Omega and the Seiko roar at th...
Happy December, folks! Now all focus turns towards a large man dressed in red, breaking and entering your property to leave gifts under a tree youve temporarily set up indoors. Thats right, Christmas! Its this time of the year that we tend to reflect upon the last 11 months. Despite 2021 being a challenging year, it was nothing compared to 2020. We were fortunate to see watch shows back up and running (not you, Baselworld), and brands release more watches than in the previous year. So, here I want to take a look at my top microbrand watch releases of 2021.Ive often made no secret of my appreciation for the microbrand scene. It was one of the things that really got me into watch collecting. I...
Its time for a good, old-fashioned shootout! You might have noticed already that this week the pre-quarterfinal shootout for The Fast And The Fratelli began, with Lex and Ben, RJ and Thor, and Brandon and Rob battling it out. This is the stage where the voting really counts. It will decide who drops out of the competition, and who comes one step closer to taking first place. Today, its Sinn versus Hamilton, and Mike versus Nacho. These two watches take plenty of inspiration from neighboring decades. The Sinn is a clear example of 70s cool, with its sleek and stealthy black finish and bright red details. Going back a little less than ten years, the Hamilton looks to the late 1960s for its ha...
If you know what ion plating is already, then high five to you! For those of you who don t, you ve more than likely come across it before without realizing it. Ion plating is one of these terms used to describe coatings applied to watch cases and bracelets. Sadly, there seems to be a lot of misinformation about it, and sometimes the different terms get used interchangeably. So, what exactly is ion plating?As I mentioned, ion plating, or IP, is a type of coating used by brands on metal parts. It s a type of PVD (physical vapor deposition) coating that comes in a range of different colors. It is a very durable type of finish, which not only has aesthetic benefits but also adds a protective lay...
We like to talk about vintage watches a lot within the Fratello team. Though most of what we write about is primarily 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, and some of them are still affordable. In this installment, we will take a look at the best Audemars Piguet watches from the 1990s.This week, we will continue our journey t...
An exhibition spanning five floors, covering just one watch model is not something every watch brand can pull off. But Jaeger-LeCoultre can, thanks to its Reverso. The Reverso: Timeless Stories Since 1931 exhibition in Paris is proof. Thats why I traveled to Paris to see how Jaeger-LeCoultre puts its past and present Reverso watches on display.This year, Jaeger-LeCoultre celebrates 90 years of the Reverso. The watch that is named after the ninetieth birthday is the Tribute Nonantieme, but to capture nine decades of Reverso in one watch is impossible. Thats why the brand decided to put together a grandiose exhibition at one of Paris most prestigious locations, the rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore...
