In this series, our editors will each share their personal grail watch. It s the watch they want the most, their exit watch, or whatever you want to call it. For now, lets stick to grail watch. I will kick it off by sharing my own grail watch, my journey to discovering it, and the grail watches (I thought) I had.In the late 1990s, my grail watch was an Omega Constellation. Funnily enough, it wasn t a pie-pan or any vintage model, but the standard model Omega introduced in 1995. There was no influencing, and there was no proper website about watches. Watch brands websites looked like they were made in Frontpage 1.0, and perhaps they were. There was just the authorized dealer and its stack of...

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 Sinn watches from the 1990s.This week we will continue our journey through watch...

Recently, at Fratello HQ, we re-lit the flame of an age-old question: should/could you aspire to be a one-watch guy/gal? Well, some of us agreed, and some disagreed that it is even possible. When entertaining the notion of scrapping the collection, pawning everything off, and choosing the one, we suggested possible candidates. Somehow unavoidably, a number of watches popped up in our discussion. And its not hard to imagine why. The brand has built an impressive reputation. Its high-quality luxury timepieces are not only versatile but also reasonably sized for both men and women. But this left me wondering: is the only way to go? Or is it the easiest?You could look at a Submariner, an Expl...

In this video, Lex talks about his recently acquired Grand Seiko SBGX341 with a beautiful (yes) caliber 9F quartz movement. Just the other week, Lex already wrote about this watch in his love letter here.However, we also decided to share his story in a video that you can watch either above or here. The Grand Seiko SBGX341 has not been off his wrist since, he keeps showing it off in the Fratello office ever since he got it. Enjoy the video and also make sure to check out his other recent video about a watch that is not his, but one he surely enjoyed wearing. It is about the IWC Big Pilots Watch Top Gun Edition Mojave Desert and you can find it here.Grand Seiko SBGX341 Watch KarmaLove at first...

Watches are one of those enjoyments in life that allow us to appreciate art on the go. That means both on the wrist and off of the wrist. It s not just the dials that get all the recognition. When brands allow us to see the beautiful movements within, it can be a joy to behold. They use a variety of different finishes to captivate and draw us in. Today I want to talk about the finishing technique known as graining. What is graining you say? Let s take a look.Now, I can make this a little bit easier for us right off of the bat. Graining is another term used for brushing, which can be found both on the external case surfaces and the internal movement surfaces. This type of finishing delicately...

I m pretty sure many of us either thought about buying or actually bought a watch from our birth year. I know I have at least thought about it. But it never happened. When I was looking for one back in the late 90s, I could have bought a 1968 Submariner 5513 Meters First, but I didn t like it that much. Stupid? With current knowledge, absolutely. But they were different times back then, kids. I didn t like it enough to wear it, and that was that. Recently, though, we had a talk here at HQ about why you should (not) buy a watch from your birth year. For instance, ask yourself: is that really the one you want? I will share some views and ideas with you. But I m also curious how you feel abo...

Anytime I wear my Tissot 6216-4 and the sun shines onto the dial, I am overwhelmed with the thought that I am gazing down at what is likely the most beautifully aged, untouched dial and hands still around on a watch like this. For today s #TBT I ll be doing a little show and tell with this incredible vintage Tissot chronograph. Time to show off some lume!If you remember my last years Christmas #TBT Special about the scarce Alpina 943, you might also remember this Tissot. One day I?simply got an email from a?Swedish gentleman, who happened to have some vintage watches. There was also a Vulcain Cricket in the batch, another watch I?admire. He wasn t a?collector, he was just googling some infor...

Rob talks to Guido Terreni of Parmigiani Fleurier. With over twenty years of experience in the industry, a decade of which was spent with Bvlgari, Terreni brought with him a definite vision to a brand that still benefits from having its iconic founder a living, breathing part of the company.In this podcast, Terreni explains how it is important to honor your existing customer by keeping the Parmigiani Fleurier product message close to a clearly recognizable core silhouette in order to add permanence to the client s purchase. This podcast player is blocked because you did not accept marketing cookies. Change cookie settings Watchmaking is not a business of fads, nor even fashion in the sho...

The ice-blue dial gives a away. And if you get the chance to get close enough to have a peek between the lugs at 6 oclock of a Patek Philippe and spot a diamond, thats another telltale sign. In both cases, youre dealing with a platinum watch. Nothing whispers luxury like cool and heavy platinum. Its even more of an introvert pleasure than white gold, but an ice blue dial or a diamond in a clever spot where the watchs owner can see it from time to time, also provides a bit of reassurance. You paid a heavy price for something that is not that obvious at all, so you want/need to see some form of acknowledgment from the watch. Lets look at platinum perfection from and Patek Philippe, as well a...

If you think back to a couple of months ago, you might remember my coverage of the release of the Brellum Wyvern GMT Chronometer. Three models were released, each with a different colorway, but all packed with great features. I finally got a chance to get my hands on one to test out. So how will this brilliant value proposition on paper hold up on the wrist? After two weeks of wear, I think Ill be able to give you a pretty good idea of just that!I was quite positive in my initial coverage of the Brellum Wyvern GMT Chronometer (which you can find here). Most of my positivity came as a result of the combination of what the brand presented on paper and in pictures. The watch not only offered a ...

Let me spill the beans. Did you read my articles on the Oslo Watch Fair and last weeks tough new Bathyscaphe in grade 23 titanium? If so, then you might have picked up on a hint about this blue baby from Blancpain. Yes, these wrist shots are mine. Philippe Conte from Blancpain almost had to pry the watch off my arm at the Oslo Watch Fair, as I enjoyed the pure juxtaposition of its concept almost too much. What watch am I rambling on about? This new Blancpain Air Command Flyback Chronograph, of course. While it looks like a blue-dial version of the rather delicious 500-piece 2019 limited run of the Air Command, it sure feels different.?Vintage cool re-imagined in titaniumThis heading neatly s...

We (well, some of us) thought this day might have arrived sooner. Months after announcing a new partnership with Marine Nationale (the French Navy), Tudor has dropped the watch we ve been furiously speculating over ever since. And what to say? Quite frankly, it s a little weirdo. I think I m okay with it, but I m not quite sure. Do let us know what you make of it in the comments section below.Let me sum this up for you before we take a look into the interesting backstory of the Tudor Pelagos FXD Marine Nationale. Here we have a new, Pelagos that shares very little with the existing Pelagos watches indeed. A different titanium case, bezel, and no date! Only the basic overall stylings of the o...

After our Fratello NOMOS Glashtte Weltzeit The Hague Edition, and plenty of earlier stories on NOMOS, we cant hide the fact that we are passionate about the Glashtte brand. And despite wearing a huge diver s watch this weekend, a 36-38mm piece, for me, is pure perfection. Add an independent brand s logo and I m hooked, even before clicking on the tantalizing shots you ll see in this story.Today, we re taking a look at a new limited edition from one of the horological strong-arms of Saxony. This version of the ever-popular NOMOS Glashtte Club 36 is produced in conjunction with the Belgian workshop Atelier DE GRIFF. Run by and for watch enthusiasts, Atelier DE GRIFF specializes in not onl...

A journey north with Fortis Watches…Sunday, November 7th, 2021My bag is packed. My watches are all synchronized. I m standing outside my flat in Dresden at 7:30 am and the rain is pouring straight down. I might as well have showered with my clothes on. I begin a lead-footed trudge through the sodden streets, dragging a heavy suitcase behind me. I m trying not to sweat my very essence out of my eyeballs as I struggle to stay cool in a parka built to withstand -40 degrees.My destination? Dresden Neustadt train station where I ll meet my FlixBus bound for Berlin Brandenburg Airport. But that is just the first leg of my travels. Ultimately, I m heading off to Kiruna, a little-known city in...

The origins of Vacheron Constantin go back to 1755 when Jean-Marc Vacheron (1731-1805) founded his watchmaking business. This makes it one of the oldest watch brands in the world. In 1819, Fran?ois Constantin joined the company, leading to the name Vacheron & Constantin. Much later, in 1970 to be precise, the & was dropped, and the name Vacheron Constantin was born. Sound like a dull history lesson? Well, at least it fits our The Best Boring But Brilliant Watches In The World series perfectly. Lets have a look at the Vacheron Constantin Patrimony - an underwhelming watch collection or the ultimate essence of a historical maison?In the early 2000s, watch brands tried to convince the p...

There s a new book on my favorite topic - the Omega Speedmaster. The Magister book doesn t cover all Speedmasters ever made. Instead, it shows 70 Speedmaster watches that author Andrea Foffi has in his own collection.I have seen an early print version from editor Paolo Gobbi, one of the guys involved in this project. Believe me when I say it looked amazing. As a Speedmaster enthusiast, this book might just be something that makes your Christmas a whole lot merrier.Andrea Foffi and MagisterI met Andrea Foffi in October 2018, when we were both visiting Shanghai to witness the launch of the (then) new Omega Constellation models. He showed me this crazy Omega Speedmaster in platinum. It was stud...

In this very special episode of the Superlative podcast, Rob has a chat with Ariel about his experience in the world of watches, his personal tastes, and what it takes to make it in the world of watches.Rob on the Superlative podcastFrom watchmaker to writer and on to managing editor at Fratello, Rob has done it all. Now, his latest role at Fratello brings him closer to watch brands than ever before. In this episode, he will discuss and share some of his unique insights into the watch industry. How some of the Fratello limited editions released in recent times have come to be, the brands we work with, and the stories behind the designs. Make sure to tune in, it s bound to be an interesting o...

Halloween seems to become bigger each year, even in its European form of adopted pumpkin-carving and scary costumes. Fall has set in, and what better way to home in on the Holiday Season than through the rich colors of fall. We have tracked down the watches and gear that will cheer you up until the Holiday Seasons hits us, with zesty pops of orange. It s time to #PumpkinSpice up your day with these top picks.From sweet pumpkin to fiery orangeFrom pumpkin orange to the fiery pop of the Minase Divido, we aim to inspire you all the while helping me. With what? Well, I m working on a written application, to persuade my wife that a Ducati Scrambler is indeed a necessity. I can easily imagine myse...

Back in 2018, I wrote an article about why stainless steel watches are so hard to come by, in reaction to a reader s question. Since then things have gotten worse. If anything the steel sports models from have become ever harder to come by. How come? In this article, I dive into the problem that many watch enthusiasts face, but also the problems that the brand faces.We didn t know the answer back in 2018 (you can read that article here) and made some assumptions (leading to a few heated discussions below the article) on fighting the grey market, etc. According to readers, it was about limiting supply to make them hold value (not sure exactly what stands to gain from this). It also enable...

Hey there, indie fans. It s been a while, but we are back with another installment of Independent Insights. Japan drops a Halloween-appropriate limited edition, URWERK raises a big wad of cash for charity and plenty more! Read on, folks!Minase 10tenLabs Divido Blood OrangeIt s been a while since I ve written about Minase here on the pages of Fratello Watches. One of our favorite Japanese brands has been quietly working away and doing its thing, and 2021 has been fruitful for Minase. It has upgraded several of its core collections in the Divido, 7 Windows, and the Horizon. These watches are now fitted with an upgraded movement in the KT7002, based on an ETA 2892 ebauche, specially customize...