Here it is, ladies, gentlemen, exuberant watch collectors, and machiavellian sea creatures alike, allow us to present to you the grand final of Fratello s Summer Splash tournament. The contestants? Mike, RJ, and Phil. They bring to battle their trusty Tudor Black Bay .925, the seasoned Omega Seamaster 300M, and the vivacious-yet-versatile Doxa Sub 300. Who will steal your heart and earn your vote? Let s find out.The vote will run until Sunday at 5 pm CET (September 26th). At that point, we will verify the legality of the voting for the final time and announce the winner, crowning the best summer watch available right now. Dive in one last time…Mike - Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight 925Well...

Lugs… One of the make-or-break elements of a watch. In the best scenario, lugs define a watch. In the worst of situations, they can ruin a watch. When I just got into watches, the latter played a more significant part in my opinion about a watch, or rather than recognizing great lugs. I used to see them as a natural part of a case design. But over time, I found a great appreciation for lugs and how important they are in the overall design of a watch s face.Though lugs have always played an essential part in the looks of a watch, their importance has also increased in other aspects. Nowadays, lugs are often a big part of the discussion of whether a watch works on the wrist of a wearer. ...

One of the most heard comments on the Omega Speedmaster Calibre 321 is that you could also opt for an original 1960s Speedmaster reference 105.003. Thats the reference the 2020 Speedmaster Calibre 321 has been based on.Whether you prefer a vintage Speedmaster 105.003 over the new Speedmaster Calibre 321 reference 311.30.40.30.01.001, thats a different discussion. It is mainly a matter of preference and opinion on watch collecting & buying. If you want the real thing, the Speedmaster Calibre 321 might not cut it for you. If you dont want the hassle of finding an original 105.003 that has not been tampered with or are afraid to damage it while wearing it, the new Speedmaster Calibre 321 mi...

If you ve got your finger on the pulse of the watchmaking industry, you will have heard about Japanese brand Kurono s efforts to bring more women into the field of watch collecting by designing and releasing a very attractive watch that was initially only available to women. At first glance, that idea doesn t sound totally dreadful (although it is clearly problematic) but the disastrous implementation of a scheme that allowed male followers to nominate their chosen woman to receive the watch seemed even more itchingly draconian to me personally. However, rather than roundly crucify a brand for ham-handedly trying to be progressive, let s talk about what we can learn from this endeavor.Don t ...

There s no doubt about it, there are plenty of Seiko watches in the current catalog. You name it and they probably make it. Plus, Seiko has reissued a lot of watches during the past ten years. Are there any gems to remint?The other day, I was going through some of my Seiko watches. I do this every so often to check on the quartz pieces. It s important to see what is still running, what has stopped, and what is doing the multi-second death throe jump. It s a great opportunity to take another look at some great designs quartz or not. It also makes me think about what could or should come one day from one of our favorite brands. Now, I will warn you that some of these are a bit out there, so fe...

Its been a few weeks since some of the Fratello team packed our bags and headed to Switzerland for Geneva Watch Days 2021. That may technically now be old news, but some of the fantastic things we saw were top secret and under embargo, so weve been unable to share them with you. Well, today, I can share one of those fantastical things now that its made its way into the open. That is the new production version of the Vacheron Constantin Overseas Dual-Time Everest.Back in 2019, Vacheron Constantin held an event in New York to celebrate the recent attempt of noted pro-photographer, explorer, and VC ambassador Cory Richards to ascend Mount Everest along the Tibetan North-East Ridge. Amazingly, t...

What can I say but thank you? After a roller-coaster month of hilarity, with accidental (and occasionally deliberate) controversies, we have reached our final Summer Splash round. We - team Fratello, the Fratelli, and the newly-minted Kraken Kartel - have narrowed down our combined selections to three models. Left standing after four weeks of furious voting are RJ s Omega Seamaster 300M, Mike s Tudor Black Bay .925, and Phil s Doxa Sub 300.We ve got a fresh, colorful line-up including a crisp white dial, a surprisingly versatile taupe dial, and, thanks to you the Fratelli, a vivid orange dial (nice one, Phil). The Doxa Sub 300 battled through a packed Wild Card tussle that saw more than 30 a...

When it comes to watch complications, the minute repeater has a reputation few others can touch. In terms of cost, its certainly no slouch. An entry-level minute repeater wristwatch demands as much as a new, entry-level Mercedes-Benz. And when it comes to complexity and delicacy in construction, its no joke either. Assembling a minute repeater is enough to send most watchmakers to the nearest dark closet, only to curl up in the fetal position and long for the days of fiddling with ETA 6497s.Like all watch complications, however, the minute repeater was born as the solution to a problem - how to tell the time in the dark. And my goodness, was it useful. Whether used out of convenience or nece...

A bulldog no more… One of MB&F s most beloved modern pieces, the Bulldog, was given a facelift in honor of the Only Watch Auction due to be held in just over a month s time. Now sporting a new panda-inspired livery and a pair of cutesy ears, the horological tricksters once again look to win hearts and minds while drawing attention to a good cause.Uncharacteristically, I ve had a pretty good week. As such, smiling is a little easier than usual. However, even on my glummest days, efforts like the MB&F HM10 Panda for the Only Watch auction can t help but tweak the corners of my lips skyward. It s not just that this is a desperately cute object that even the stoniest hearted person...

Introducing the new limited-edition Omega S… Well, we haven t heard that in a while. At least for a good six months. That may not sound like a long time ago. But over the last few years, learning about the latest Omega limited edition has been a regular occurrence. The steady release of exclusive Omega watches, mainly in the Speedmaster and Seamaster range, seemingly became a way of life. However, we see fewer and fewer Omega timepieces produced at a capped amount in recent times. So today, I am looking at the possible reasons for the sudden shift. Sorry to bait and switch you in the intro if you were hoping for something new from Omega. Hopefully, I can give some insights and advice o...

Im sure that at some point or another in our watch collecting we have all fantasized about using our watches for the task they were designed for. Whether it be ripping around a racetrack in a souped-up deathtrap of a single-seater while rocking a vintage Daytona, gambling and drinking the night away in a smokey NYC jazz club backroom with a Cartier Tank, or lifting off from the Kennedy Space Center, moon-bound with an Omega Speedmaster on your wrist. Well, as far-fetched as some of those fantasies maybe, some are more achievable than others. In my case, It was a Citizen Promaster NY0040 and a holiday on Lanzarote, as well as a dive shop opposite my Air BnB that beckoned me, like a sirens so...

TAG Heuer has a history of creating some of the best full lume dial diving watches. In the mid-1980s, the brand released an entire collection of full lume dial versions of their Heuer 1000 and later TAG Heuer 1000 Professional line of watches. One of them became a Bond icon on the wrist of Timothy Dalton in the Bond movie The Living Daylights. I love this series of watches a lot. It s why I was delighted that TAG Heuer announced a full lume version of theirAquaracer Professional 300M. Time to find out whether the new stylish Aquaracer Night Diver is as good as its iconic predecessors.As some of you might know, I write a series of articles on the best vintage watches per brand per decade. Ove...

And the other half is in Geneva, just like Rob and Lex were a couple of weeks back. While they were there, they got to check out an enthusiast-favorite from the F.P. Journe collection, the Chronometre Souverain with a Havana dial.Before we explore this model, if you haven t seen our other features on the F.P. Journe models they saw, I encourage you to do so (here?and here). For those not-so-familiar with F.P. Journe s work, these quick takes give a good overview of not only Journe s aesthetic sense but also his horological motivations. Now, let s take a look at the brown beauty before us!A warm, inviting take on an F.P. Journe stapleThe standard, silver-dial Chronometre Souverain debuted in ...

Welcome back to A Brief History of Time: s Complete Brand History. This marks the third installment in our in-depth look at the Geneva watchmaking giant. Today, we re excited to share the next chapter in its illustrious history.In Part One, we took a look at the early life of Hans Wilsdorf, his founding of the brand in 1905, and how his foresight made an early pioneer in the development of wristwatches. In Part Two, we explored the birth of many of s most legendary models. We also saw the brand further its reputation as the top choice of professionals and the powerful. Today, we ll explore the continual evolution of s professional range, and discover how the brand became so much more th...

Two crowns and four positions are used together to set a four-digit code in order to open a mechanical combination lock. When the code is entered correctly, the stem is released allowing you to wind the mechanical movement, set the time, or unscrew the case back. When I read the email from the creator about his mechanical lock on a watch, I was skeptical, I instantly envisioned a fortress that would turn the watch into some giant ugly safe. But if youve seen my collection, you know I am fascinated by all unusual watch complications. The quirkier they are, the more fascinated I am. So I kept reading and studying the project renders. What surprised me most was how seamlessly Denis Gladkov, the...

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. Its 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 still affordable. In this installment, we will take a look at the best Omega watches from the 1990s.This week we will continue our journey through watch history...

Gold and steel is a combination that we need to celebrate more. The glorious combination of utilitarian steel and exclusive gold is the perfect combo for people looking for something unique. Watch fans often prefer either full steel or full gold watches. In order to show that there are some glorious bi-color watches out there, I have come up with a list of the seven best gold and steel watches currently available. So bring out the double-breasted suits, pinkie rings, and glorious haircuts of the 1980s because we are going on a trip back in time.While that last statement might come across as trying to make fun of bi-color or two-tone watches, it s certainly not how I feel about them. In all h...

Constructing a watch case from ceramic is almost by-the-by these days. With Tudor entering the chat to join Panerai and Omega, forgetting who pioneered this concept is easy. The new Pilot s Watch Chronograph by IWC serves as a reminder of the mack daddy of the ceramic game. The IWC Da Vinci reference 3755 in 1986 was the first production watch with a ceramic case. For 2021, IWC takes inspiration from its military program to give civilians a choice to cherish the elite squadrons. Namely, the U.S. Navy squadrons, Royal Maces, Tophatters, and Blue Angels?, with matching color accents to the logos. By delivering a one-two-three punch knockout, IWC cements its strong association with military avi...

I dont know about you, but I love a good dive watch. In fact, looking at my collection, I clearly cant get enough. But there is a point when you look down into your watch box and see only black dials and bezels staring up at you that your appetite starts to fade or shift. There really is no reason to limit yourself to the standard black-on-black, especially when brands like Norqain are bringing you exciting new takes on this familiar format, as they do with these three new offerings in the Neverest line.The latest press release from Norqain will come as great news to all those looking to expand their collection in a fresh and exciting direction. If you find yourself having satiated your dive...

Welcome back once again dear Fratelli! You spoke, we listened. You voted, we counted. And now only six Summer Splash wild card picks remain. Which one of these underdogs will go on to the final splashdown? Will one of these unlikely last-minute picks dethrone the editor s picks for a major upset in the finale? There s only one way to find out. In the meantime, you can check out the final six choices, and cast your vote!After your vote in the Wild Card round one, round two, and round three, the two top picks from each round have been selected in the least corrupt and fairest way possible. We aim to assure a clean, Kraken-free contest! So that s it, the bell is about to ring: gloves up and no ...