Let me start with the price because if I say the easiest, you ll likely want to know how much it costs. Well, for a Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 watch in steel with either a blue or a black dial you ll pay $670. Alternatively, you can add an extra $25 for a version with a white dial and rose-gold-colored accents. What you get for that price is something not previously available at the price point! Is it for everyone? Maybe not, but now, after wearing the PRX for a few days, Im thinking that there are way more potential fans out there than there will be haters.Let me start by being a little bit negative. Here goes. The PRX looks like a Oysterquartz 17000 and a Royal Oak 15202 Jumbo had a baby. T...

Getting bright, consistent, and crucially long-lasting colors out of vegetable-tanned Shell Cordovan leather is difficult. In fact, it s so tough to guarantee colorfastness that only a handful of options are available. You can get pretty much any color you want using chromium dyes, but the resulting quality of the strap and its appearance, suppleness, and lifespan is often the trade-off. Fluco decides against trading-off with quality and, instead, brings us probably the most exciting color you can get in Shell Cordovan, and that s a rich forest green.Back in 2017 when NOMOS Glashtte opened an account with Harrods, I commissioned the green Shell Cordovan strap from Horween that we released e...

That s right, we re back at it again! And gosh, how we missed it. Brand events where our readers can meet, mingle and learn are finally possible once more. Our first post-pandemic event took place at the Vendome Grand Seiko Boutique in Paris. Frederic Bondoux (CEO Grand Seiko Europe) and his team treated us on an unforgettable, information-packed day. Finally traveling again, to our Paris event with Grand SeikoGrand Seiko Fratello Paris EventOf course, we understand that a report like this is specifically enjoyable to the people who attended the event. So don t be alarmed; this won t be a lengthy article. The easy-to-browse pictures will tell the story, and I ll explain what exactly you ar...

A fascinating or silly invention? When a crown on the watch screws down, thats usually a signal of higher water resistance. The Parmentier crown on the Accurist Marinograf screws down too. The problem is, that it also screws off. Like completely off. If you are not careful when unscrewing it you might end up totally scr**ed…?You know me, I like everything that went against the mainstream. And there was (and still is) so much yet to be unearthed in the vintage watch realm. It was just a few weeks ago that I learned, from one of you lovely readers, about the crazy Pierce Correctomatic watch. This particular piece uses chronograph-like pushers to control the regulation of the balance whee...

When you buy a watch, it always comes with some way of securing it to your wrist. Bracelet, band, or strap, most people are content to wear the watch how it was intended. But for some, the factory standard is just the beginning, and sometimes not necessarily the best fit. There s a whole world of aftermarket accessories for a watch, providing the opportunity to dress it up, dress it down, play in the mud, or just make the watch uniquely yours. Im talking about Horween leather bands, Zulu Natos, thicker spring bars, and Olongapo (trust me on this). So strap in and strap up, this long read is about to give you the low down on what s going on around your wrist and how it can be so much better.I...

There s something to be said for a classic, simple watch design. Sure, we enthusiasts could easily spend hours ogling complicated offerings from watch brands we ll never be able to afford. But at the end of the day, some of us demand nothing more from our own watch than legibility, good build quality, and timeless good looks. And TAG Heuer s latest new additions to the Carrera Three Hands line provide exactly that. The refreshing new offerings bring some refinements to the design while staying true to the classic Carrera design language.Back in 1958, Jack Heuer learned the importance of simplicity. When he was unable to read his dashboard timer correctly at a glance, Heuer lost his first-pla...

Before you reach for the remote to change the channel, hear me out for a second. Watches featuring TV dials were big in the 70s. And though, admittedly, the square case design has held up better over time and even made a comeback, this dial shape has not received the love it deserves. That being said, who knows? Maybe it will be the next big thing! In any case, today Ill be showing you my Omega Geneve ST 166.0190 and you can make up your own mind on the subject.Before I make my case for TV dials and square cases, let me tell you about the watch that introduced me to the brilliant format itself. One of my first purchases as a watch-obsessed student living in Mnster (shout-out to MeisterSinge...

The Hamilton Khaki Field Titanium Automatic Far Cry 6 Limited Edition watch offers a watch for video game and watch enthusiasts alike. Im sure that anyone that enjoys the kind of gaming experience that the beloved Far Cry series provides has found themselves wishing they could jump into this world and take part in the adventures themselves. Immersion is a key aspect of video games. Its the feeling of losing yourself in a world created by the developers, and something that is made possible by a combination of next-level visuals, a well-written script, immersive sound effects, and relatable characters. Those familiar with the Far Cry universe will almost certainly know this feeling. With this ...

H. Moser & Cie. is all over the place. Literally and figuratively speaking. The brand from Neuhausen am Rheinfall made the Swiss Mad Watch from cheese, the Swiss Alp Watch that made fun of the most popular smartwatch, and made people wonder how a perpetual calendar could work without looking anything like a traditional perpetual calendar; polarizing designs in every aspect. And to literally travel all over the place, the brand now introduces the H. Moser & Cie. Heritage Dual Time.Until recently, H. Moser & Cie. had the Endeavour Dual Time in its collection. The watch incorporates a second hour hand in red, allowing its wearer to read their home time zone wherever they are. It had...

It all started with the DW-5000C in 1983. This watch is The Origin. The equivalent of Genesis if you will, of the Square, Casios unbreakable, shockproof watch that grew out to become an icon of contemporary watchmaking. A watch that reached the mainstream and could be held responsible for creating watch collectors - the Square is still popular amongst high-end collectors because this watch takes them back to when the watch virus got a hold of them. Lets take a walk through the recent evolution of the Casio G-Shock Origin by looking at a trio of very different, recent Origin models.Rome wasnt built in a day, and neither was the Casio G-Shock DW-5000C. The development of this very first G-Shoc...

Blue and green. To some people, the combination is a serious no-no. Not to this writer, however. Nor to the Seattle Seahawks, whose team nickname I recently hijacked and applied to the NOMOS Glashtte Tangete Update. With that moniker taken, I need a new one for this surprisingly engaging Chronometer-certified Titoni Master Series 94388 Power Reserve model I had the pleasure of spending time with last week. Why? Because I think it deserves it.Titoni is a brand I ve grown to respect over the past year very much more than I did in the past. In fact, until I started getting the watches in my hands and on my wrist regularly, I had the brand pegged all wrong. It goes to show that even though I ve...

This won t come as much of a surprise to any of you that read Fratello regularly, but I have more than a soft spot for watches that originate in Germany. Some of my favorite brands (A. Lange & S?hne, NOMOS Glashtte, Lang & Heyne, for example) hail from this part of the world. One brand that doesn t get anywhere near the airtime of the big hitters that call Glashtte home, is Union. Today, I m taking an honest look at the Union Glashtte Belisar Chronograph Moon Phase to establish whether or not that needs to change.What do I love about German watchmaking? I love the way that form so clearly follows function. German watches tend not to be as glitzy, glamorous, or mind-blowingly compl...

As promised, a hands-on review of the new Omega Speedmaster Chronoscope. This new 43mm Speedmaster collection was introduced a few weeks ago in Milan, Italy. However, weve been fortunate enough to have two of these watches in our Fratello offices and were able to give them some time on the wrist.Aside from the new 43mm case size and new movement (the hand-wound caliber 9908), it also brings a new dial design to the table. One with two additional scales to the existing tachymeter scale.Did you know that the Omega Speedmaster was the first watch to have a tachymeter scale on a bezel? Before its release, watches with a tachymeter scale had it printed on the dial. In 1957, Omega decided to come ...

Ambitious watch design is always divisive. To create true novelty you have to walk the path untrodden. Genuine newness often scares people into rushed hot-takes, polarized opinions, and a babbling state of confusion in the first moment. I was no different. When I first saw the NOMOS Glashtte Autobahn (designed by Werner Aisslinger) I didn t quite know what to make of it. Now, with a bright trio of Director s Cut watches released here, today, at the NOMOS Glashtte forum, I think I get it. What it is, however, is still sure to split the pack. Let s take a look.If you re running late this morning, skip the coffee and scroll through these images instead. This three-part caffeine-shot-for-your-...

Boring is best. I consider it soothing and much better to deal with than large periods of extreme excitement. I like a watch that soothes rather than tries to whip me in a state of frenzy. And nothing soothes like a classic steel Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso with small seconds, blued hands, and a bit of guilloche on a silvered dial. But I wont call that type of Reverso a masterpiece, that title is reserved for a very picturesque and rare version that still has a boring side to it.The fact that I like boring watches like the doesnt mean Ive always liked the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso. I mean, I liked it, but I never really loved it. Thats why earlier this year I conducted an experiment with a Rever...

Tell me the truth, how many of you, like me, nurture the secret wish of having a watch on your wrist with your name on it, or your napkin-sketched logo from that chat you had with your retro-obsessed best mate? While it might seem easy with the help of Kickstarter and other crowdfunding sources, there are as many pitfalls as well as there are success stories when it comes to microbrands.But that doesn t make it any less enticing, actually CREATING something of your very own. I m probably not alone in thinking I might be set for success as a watch designer (daydreaming? moi?), but how does one go about it, could we entice brand owners to share the secrets of how to start a microbrand?The Furl...

Ive made no secret of my love for the microbrand world. At times, it can be challenging to navigate, so the old adage goes buy the owner, not the brand. Usually, you can get a feel for a genuine microbrand pretty quickly. Theyll be active on social media and in the microbrand Facebook groups. Chances are youll have conversed with them at some point, as thats usually the way it goes from my experience. Youll also start to see more and more discussions about the brand and watch. When I first came across a new British microbrand, Arken Watches, it was indeed by way of the power of social media.Online appearances are one thing, but meeting face to face is a whole different story. Meeting someone...

OK, be honest with me. When you hear the name Bvlgari, what are the first things that come to mind? Gold? Diamonds? Snakes? A funny name spelled with a V instead of a U that s pronounced like a U anyway? Or, dare I suggest, high horology? If you re reading Fratello, it s probably safe to assume you re at least somewhat familiar with Bvlgari watches. However, I d be willing to bet every last penny of my lunch money that high horology was not the right answer to that question.I ll be honest with you. As a child of the 90s, for the longest time, I merely associated Bvlgari with Colosseum-shaped rings and boldly branded bling. And therein lies a dilemma. How does a legendary jewelry brand cross...

In Cathy E. Manns childrens book Color Me Purple the million-dollar question is: what would make the world a better place? The answer is, color, of course! And the color purple turns out to be particularly helpful in creating a happy vibe. The blueish gray and purple hue of the Casio G-Shock GMW-B5000PB-6 Twilight Tokyo is reminiscent of the cityscape of Tokyo at dusk. So why did I bring up the book about happiness and not the buzz of Ginza at night? I will explain.Im referring to Cathy E. Manns childrens book Color Me Purple because the mostly purple Casio G-Shock GMW-B5000PB-6 Twilight Tokyo has the potential of spreading happiness all over the world. But it wont because its a single produ...

Can a microbrand impress with only one release under its belt? Based on essentially one release, the Parisian brand Serica greatly impressed many of the Fratello team members (myself included).? The Serica 4512 won me over with its charming presence characterized by some very distinct choices that set it apart from the stream of new brands that flood the market. Now Serica has released their second model, the 5303 diving watch. Equally impressive in its presence but also a step up in many ways. Time to check out what the 5303 is all about.If you are a music fan, you know that the second album is supposedly always the hardest. The first album is often a labor of love that had been years in th...