I am so looking forward to this. The Fratelli, long regarded as THE GREATEST collection of watch fans on the internet, have stormed the castle. They re pitching tents in the courtyard. One of them s even brought a paddling pool… That s right, in our quest to find the best summer watch of all, it s time for the Summer Splash Wild Card Round, courtesy of… well… YOU!So where to start? This idea for a Wild Card round resulted in one of the most intense editing periods of my life. I went through every Summer Splash article and tried to pull every watch mentioned into the mix. As such, I ve had to split the Wild Card round into THREE separate heats, which will culminate in a FOUR...
Brellum is a young independent Swiss brand with deep-set watchmaking roots spanning back four generations. Located in Porrentruy in the Jura region, the brand aims to create high-quality Swiss watches with an eye on the future. The brand s offerings so far have been contemporary and rather sporty. The Brellum Wyvern GMT, the brand s latest model, is no exception. At first glance, this trio of slim, steel, limited production watches with an added GMT complication seems to offer plenty of value at the price point.A brand that s also quite new to us, Brellum is looking to make quite a splash with its modern watches. Dave briefly touched upon one of the Flieger models in the collection here. But...
Boring goes a long way. As a kid, I wanted nothing more than to eat pancakes every day. One day, my mom couldnt handle my nagging any longer and made me pancakes in the morning. And in the afternoon and the evening too. Guess what? The next day, the kitchen smelled like pancakes again. And I was done. I wanted toast. What do pancakes have in common with the best boring but brilliant watches in the world? Well, a watch with an exuberantly, multicolored dial is a pancake. The Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Chronograph, with a black one, is the toast you can have any day and every day.The good thing about fresh toast is that you can dress it up with sweet or savory stuff. And even just with a littl...
With the summer still very much still alive and kicking, it is time for our third Summer Splash quarter-final. In our third of four match-ups, we have two watches lined up for you that are on totally different ends of the spectrum. The serious Omega Seamaster 300M came out on top in Robert-Jan s battle of the divers. It takes on the absolutely bonkers-looking G-Shock MTG-B2000PH2A Blue Phoenix that took the first spot out of Jorg s three picks. Can the G-Shock upset the Omega and have a shot at the title or does the Omega halt the rise of the Blue Phoenix? Time to find out!Let s kick things off with what might be the biggest surprise of the first round of our Summer Splash competition. In a ...
Much time has passed since the last Fratello event, for reasons known to all of us. So, we are extremely happy to announce that we will be having our first event on October 1st after an extensive hiatus. We feel very proud that it will be in partnership with an incredible watch brand: Grand Seiko. To top things off, the event will take place in a very special location - la ville de l amour - Paris!Together with Grand Seiko Europe, we have organized an event for 15 of our readers in the beautiful Grand Seiko boutique on the Place Vend?me in Paris. The event will start at 11:00 AM when we will welcome you to the Grand Seiko s Paris location together with Frederic Bondoux, President of Grand Se...
To find a sleek Gallet Excel-O-Graph chronograph watch from the 1970s with the desirable Excelsior Park movement is no easy feat. Many Gallet collectors are out there, searching for one even as we speak. What always puzzled me is the fact that for such a striking design coming in at an admirable 42mm diameter, it is a vintage watch that gets suspiciously little coverage. ?Think of any top-of-the-line watch and I bet you will find a ton of adverts, catalogs, books, or online forum threads that would take two lifetimes to read. The Gallet Excel-O-Graph flies low on the radar, and there isnt much at all out there to study. Thats why I reached out to Gallet enthusiast Daniel Horton. For years Da...
In case you re not fortunate enough to own a perpetual or annual calendar, we re now in September. The 9th month. So that s three-quarters of the way through the year. We ve seen plenty of new releases, but some were better than others. I appreciate that it s hugely subjective, so I thought I d do a roundup of my top five watches of 2021. I ll also be providing some of the reasoning why these watches made the cut. And who knows, maybe by the end of the list you ll find yourself adding something new and unexpected to your own!I ll be honest, this was a tough list to compile. I went back over the Fratello archives to recall some of the earlier releases from 2021, but I think I ve pretty much n...
Genteel Handmade is one of our preferred strap makers for good reason. Aside from the wealth of leathers, linings, and stitching options, there is always someone on hand to assist with the creation of the perfect custom strap. However, before you set about building your dream watch band, you need to get a feel for what kind of strap looks good with what kind of watch. Having been inundated with questions on this matter, Genteel Handmade decided to take the opportunity to provide followers with a more detailed response…The importance of a watch in a man s wardrobe cannot be understated. It says more about the individual wearing it than any other accessory. That expression of self can be...
Reborn brands are all the rage these days. In fact, they ve been popping up apace for the best part of a decade. However, it isn t so common they meet with long-term success. By now, you all know about Czapek. You ve probably heard of Vertex and Fears (especially if you, like me, spend a lot of time in England). But have you heard of Charles Girardier? No? We hadn t either… We went along to a meeting set up by my former contact at Schwarz Etienne, Estelle d Hubert.In 2018, Patrick A. Ulm visited the museum of Agatha Christie (no joke). There he found an old pocket watch by Girardier. His research continued and he decided the name should be brought back to life. While it sounds like an ...
When Seiko celebrates an anniversary its go big or go home. Whether its that of a product line, or of the brand, you know to expect something pretty special when a 10-year mark is hit. You might think that the 140th is just ten years shy of a big one, and that perhaps it doesnt merit a proper celebration. Well, if you do think that, good for you, but Seiko begs to differ. In the end, we all come out winners and Seiko gets to launch two new watches for us to have a look at and enjoy.Thats right! A whole two new watches. I told you that Seiko doesnt skimp on the celebrations. These two might look familiar, and you definitely have met before, it may just be hard to recognize a familiar face beh...
Hello spacefarers, are you ready for another mission of Wrist Game or Crying Shame? Today s campaign will focus on that other space-related watch, the Fortis Official Cosmonauts Chronograph. Before we head to the launchpad…Last week was a tragedy. I tried my best to give you something special and you dismissed it with glee. Despite healthy specs, the Zodiac Super Sea Wolf sunk to the ocean floor like a lead weight! Just 40% of you wanted to accompany me on an aquatic adventure with this leviathan. This week, we head to the stars with the Fortis Official Cosmonauts Chronograph. As I am wont to do, this piece comes with a twist just to ensure I make things a little challenging. Are you s...
Just like that, Grand Seiko introduces two new professional divers watches. The Grand Seiko SBGH289, in steel with a blue dial, and the SBGH291, in High-Intensity titanium with a black dial. Both watches aren t powered by Grand Seiko s Spring Drive movement, but rather by its mechanical hi-beat caliber 9S85 movement.Divers watches have been a hot ticket item for many years, even to those who don t dive (like me). It s often about the aesthetics of the watch, but also about the technical characteristics of these pieces. They can take a little bit of abuse, you don t have to worry about water or moisture, and often come with a useful rotating bezel (I often use them for timing things) and a pr...
Time for a treasure hunt. And, as you would expect, X marks the spot. The treasure youre seeking is the Ulysse Nardin Diver X Skeleton LE. There are only 175 pieces of this watch around waiting to be discovered. The reward is a provocative and polarizing watch. A watch that helps you to get in touch with your inner buccaneer because of its outrageous styling without compromise. Ulysse Nardin has been about adventure, discovery, and marine chronometers since 1846. And this latest creation revives that adventurous spirit in a futuristic fashion.The Diver X Skeleton looks to be the result of a Ulysse Nardin Diver and a Blast from the Executive Skeleton, slamming into one another. Thats exactly ...
Often referred to as a doctor s watch, a pulsometer chronograph is a handy tool that makes checking one s heart rate a breeze. Don t worry, though. Despite the nickname, you don t need to have a Ph.D. to use one. As one of the most straightforward chronograph scales out there, all it takes is a bit of curiosity, and, well, access to one. Thankfully, whether you re a medical professional, a cardio-loving athlete, or a chronograph nut on the prowl for something different, there is a pulsometer watch out there for you.Today, I m bringing you my top five picks for the best pulsometer chronographs on the market. If you d like a refresher on how to use one (as well as a tachymeter, telemeter, and ...
Designed in partnership with the expressive Franck Muller Design Team, assembled in the French Jura mountains, powered by a? Japanese Miyota. This entry-level mechanical skeleton watch goes on Kickstarter for a?bargain price. I was never a fan of skeleton watches. But the universe conspired and a skeleton watch happened to drop into my hands. Now, I cant help but feel that all watches in the world should have see-through dials. Laying your eyes on a swinging rotor or the rapidly ticking escapement in the case of the Yonger Bresson Le Singulier, is truly magical.Yonger BressonI tipped my hat to the Yonger Bresson Le Singulier as soon as it hit my mailbox, as we do not see the skeleton concept...
The launch of the latest Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch generated a murmur amongst Speedy enthusiasts. Voiced around the world, we have seen this question or better said, remark, popping up quite frequently. So I am here today to try and address the burning question: can the current Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch still be considered a Moonwatch? And while I m at it, I ll be looking at other Speedmasters to see how they hold up when faced with this same scrutiny.In getting right to the point regarding the latest Speedmaster released by Omega earlier this year, the short answer is quite simply no. Strictly speaking, the Speedmasters that were worn on the moon were references 105.003, 105.012, and 14...
The Summer Splash Quarter-Finals swim on with two unorthodox takes on classical dive watches. Tomas, who has returned from his doping infraction, takes on Mike, who has been waiting in the (water) wings. The Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight 925 battles the bronze Yema Superman GMT. After this clash, their cases may never look the same again!We kick this knockout round off with Mike s trusty steed. Hi-ho Silver, away!!!Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight 925Before we jump in on?my part of the Summer Splash, the Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight 925 still hasn t tarnished after three months. Thanks for asking because I get that question every stinkin time I post this fantastic watch on Instagram. I said it duri...
I dont know about you, but when it comes to games of chance, or contests, or giveaways, Im a bit of a skeptic. Going in without a single ounce of hope that youll win is probably the safest bet. Getting your hopes up is a sure way to get disappointed. However, let s go back to earlier this year when Jeremy (@Chronolytical) decided to organize a photo-contest giveaway using Instagram as a platform, with the prize being a beautiful Cartier Tank Solo. Having already given away the punchline in the title of this article, instead, I will tell you more about this specific contest, my experience taking part, winning despite not being all that hopeful, and Jeremys future plans to keep the ball rollin...
Hamiltons 38mm steel sweetheart has stolen the hearts of many watch enthusiasts around the world since its release in 2018. Almost an exact replica of the Vietnam war era US government-issued field watch, the slightly more modern proportions make it a popular choice for an everyday watch. Unafraid to follow the bronze trend, Hamilton released its already popular Khaki Field Mechanical in (you guessed it) bronze earlier this year. Is this a perfect pick for the peculiar patinating alloy? I got a chance to spend some quality time with the watch to try and find out!Let me start by addressing the elephant in the room: no, the faux-tina used on the hands and markers doesnt bother me in the slight...
As I ve grown older and my wrist has grown hairier, I ve become more and concerned with what I use to cover it. Watch straps are a hobby within a hobby and it was one that took some time to reveal itself to me. When I was a young collector, I trusted brands a bit too much. I assumed that no watch head would ever look better on any other strap than the one its designers intended for it. Subjective as this conclusion may be, I believe myself to have been wrong. Now, I take great pleasure in seeking out new brands that have the ability to liven up my collection. One such brand is German maker Fluco.What do I like about Fluco? Well, it starts with the quality. For me, that will?always be the cas...
