Slowly but surely, the world seems to be reopening. For us watch nerds, that brings about a question we havent been faced with for some time. Namely, which watch comes along when its time to hit the road or take to the skies is a quandary. The travel watch is an oft-debated topic, but I have four recent journeys to share where I had to make such a choice.Its funny, Ive come full circle when it comes to the travel watch discussion. When I first began to travel years ago as an adult, I really had only one watch. My faithful Explorer went everywhere with me. As time progressed, though, and I collected more heavily, I began to think more about what to take. I considered the activities, the weat...
I thought I d seen perfection. I thought I d stared into the green face of God and known inner peace. Truthfully, when I passed on the opportunity to buy the Glashtte Original Seventies Chronograph Panorama Date with a green dial, I was convinced my best shot at happiness and fulfillment in life had passed. And yet, the oft-marginalized other brand in Glashtte has thrown me (and 99 other would-be owners) a lifeline. Say hello to the Glashtte Original Seventies Chronograph Panorama Date in turquoise, and get ready to say goodbye to 13k.The exact price of this blue-dialed beauty will vary depending on your region. I m in Germany so the 19% VAT here means the Glashtte Original Seventies Chr...
A couple of weeks ago, our very own Ben Hodges enjoyed an illuminating back-and-forth with one of his musical heroes. The gracious Misha Mansoor of the metal band Periphery took some time out of his day to chat about timepieces. Today, we revisit that interview with the audio supplied by Misha, interspersed with the fearsomely inane commentary of Ben and Rob.Okay, we re not?that bad. In fact, there s a good argument to be made that we might be mildly entertaining. From my perspective, the highlight of the show is definitely my spot-on impression of Ben s delicious British accent, but he would probably disagree. He might point to the first-hand testimony of one of music s most talented guitar...
I m setting myself up to receive some serious heat right now, but I don t care. Even among my own team, there are several Daytona owners, so to say I m walking into the lions den wearing a meat suit might be a bit of an understatement. But as someone who has become less and less interested in the Daytona and all the nonsense that surrounds it and the trials of its acquisition I thought I should say something. You know what? There are loads of excellent alternatives out there. Forget what the fashion mags tell you. Don t listen to the brand fawners or status seekers. Buy smart. Try these five on for size and thank me later…One quick note: I get that the Daytona is more than a watch. I...
On the first Tuesday of 2021, Omega unveiled a slew of new Speedmaster Moonwatch references. Among which were the surprising proprietary Sedna (rose) gold and Canopus (white) gold models. But to its core, Omega kept things straightforward with the stainless steel Moonwatch. In the steel guise were four references with either Hesalite or sapphire crystal on the front glass. Each choice of crystal also had the option of a steel bracelet or strap. But only one reference ended up on my wish list. And it was compelling enough for me to sell my beloved First Omega in Space to own it. I am talking about the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional Co-Axial Master Chronometer reference 310.30.42.50....
Sometimes a few press images are enough to know if the watch you were going to receive would hit that sweet spot for you or not. This does not happen often, but it certainly was the case with the new Klokers Klok-01 Blue Note. I got the watch, and it was everything I expected. And then some.The watch came in stylish but straightforward packaging, just what you expect from a brand that makes watches such as the Klok-01 Satin Blue. Still, the essential part is the feeling when you strap it on your wrist for the first time.If you do not know much about Klokers, let me bring you up to speed. We have featured the brand in the past on Fratello. If you want to check out the sister of today s watch,...
During the pandemic, we all inevitably became online shoppers. Now, in many countries, the third wave is abating. Finally, we can go shopping again. But do we want to?Visiting the high street near your home now, after you couldn t do so for months, because everything was closed, will probably leave a bitter taste in the mouth at first. You will notice all those shops that didn t survive. Maybe, you recall the last time you were buying something there, and perhaps you remember the people who worked there.Possibly, you don t notice anything like that because you re just exuberantly happy to return to normality and to meet other people again in an almost relaxed atmosphere. Potentially, your de...
We like to talk about vintage watches a lot within the Fratello team. While the daily routine is largely focused on the most recent developments in the world of watches, the most fun for many of us lies in the 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 priceless, some of them still affordable. In this installment, we will take a look at the best Breitling watches from the 1970s.In the 1960s, we witnessed developments that challenged the status quo of watch design forever. The sheer amoun...
The Historiques American 1921 Excellence Platine is a watch that made me realize that Vacheron Constantin is still the boss. In the past, things were much easier than they are today. Once upon, we had the big three, the holy trinity, the masters of watchmaking clearly defined: Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe, and Vacheron Constantin stood atop the mountain. All others could do little but marvel at their superiority. There was a huge gap between that trio and whichever brand came next. Those were simpler times.Today, it s much more complicated. New high-end brands have entered the game and are right up there with the holiest of holies. Even in the same stable as Vacheron Constantin, the Riche...
I actually don t know what rooster foot tastes like. However, if it tastes half as good as it smells, it might well be my favorite food-in-waiting. And given that it smells half as good as it looks, the unusual material (that almost sounds kind of comical in a luxury context) is racking up the positive attributes. I bought this 20mm tapered leather strap from LIC in Belgium a few months ago and I fitted it to my original Nezumi Voiture Quarts model. It s a handsome combo that I m pleased to share with you today.No, Quarts isn t a spelling mistake on my part. It is the unavoidable nickname given to the first generation Nezumi Voiture Meca-quartz chronographs after a last-minute dial-supplier ...
You may remember my introduction to the striking black and yellow depth gauge that Oris released at the start of May. The Depth Gauge was one of Oriss most technologically advanced timepieces. It features a mechanical method for divers to track their current depth underwater. However, as I noted back then, mechanical depth gauge watches are not exactly commonplace in our industry.Before I get stuck into this review, I wanted to add a caveat that there is a limitation to the Oris Depth Gauge, and that is, it only tracks the current depth. Therefore, there is no record of the deepest point of the dive. Now, for decompression time calculations, this is an essential factor to take into account. ...
Several records were broken on Mount Everest last week. There was a woman from Hong Kong who climbed the world s tallest mountain in less than 26 hours, making her the fastest woman ever. And there was also a Chinese man who became the first blind Asian to climb the 8,849-meter mountain. I really dont want to take anything away from these people, but climbing Mount Everest doesnt seem that mythical anymore. Back in 1959 C just six years after Everest was first summited C Seiko released the first Alpinist. Mountaineering back then was the domain of an elite group of people; intrepid adventurers with deep pockets and big egos. We could be feeling intrepid with Seikos Prospex 1959 Alpinist Mode...
Everything about this early 1970s Sinn Decimal is so special to me. Not only is it the rarity of the watch itself worth three existing pieces, but also the pretty unusual way I obtained it. I also had the Sinn Decimal on my wrist when my son was born.Lets start with the last point. I believe that every watch collector thinks about what watch they will wear on the day when their kid comes into this world. I didnt have to and its not that the choice was made. When my daughter was born, I actually didnt have the time to think about what watch to wear. She was born prematurely on a day when I happened to pick up another quite elusive watch, the Mido Rainbow Diver ref. 5907. I couldnt have wished...
Haute horology used to be simple. Assessing the quality of a watch generally came down to its ability to keep time. In those days, the concept of a specialized tool watch was somewhat alien, as all watches were, more or less, tools. The wire-lug-welded behemoths of World War One and the made-for-combat fliegers and infantry watches of WWII seemed to shine a light on the necessity of accurate timekeeping in a way that hadn t been so keenly appreciated since Harrison s experiments in marine chronometry, but it was the release of the Oyster case (in between those two global conflicts) that really set the world on the path toward change…Released in 1926, proudly touted as the first dustpr...
Whenever Breguet adds new watches to its Marine collection, I m all ears. Within the collection, the Marine 5517, 5527, and 5547 are the three timepieces that form the collection s backbone. In 2020, Breguet introduced these three models with white gold and rose gold bracelets. Up until that point, the titanium models were the only models available on a bracelet. For 2021 Breguet focuses on introducing new dial variations to its Marine line-up. Here we have three titanium models that will be available with a sunburst blue dial - a clever addition that will broaden the appeal of the Marine collection.I am the first to admit that I m biased when it comes to the Breguet Marine collection. But n...
The Pasha de Cartier is a bit of a mystery. Is the original Pasha the water-resistant watch Cartier made for the Pasha of Marrakesh who commissioned it in 1931? Or is it the Pasha former Cartier CEO Alain Dominique Perrin commissioned Gerald Genta to design in 1985? Since the first watch is nowhere to be found (and it was a one-off), I would say that the original Pasha is the watch that debuted in the mid-eighties. And we can now go clubbing back to the 80s with the two-tone Pasha de Cartier 41mm watch, the latest incarnation of a creation that ruled the night(clubs) three decades ago.The late 80s and early 90s were times when carefree optimism, bold exuberance, and lavish expressions of ...
Well, well, well - Wrist Game or Crying Shame is back! This week, we go for the (faux) gold with the Bulova Royal Oak. Before we see if you enjoy an expensive game of make-believe, let s go back to last week.Last week, I presented the Omega Seamaster Pre Bond Automatic and told you a fib in the process! I made up a yarn about RJ and he was really upset with me because a bunch of Ome-goons sent him hate-mail! Here s to a bit of mischief! Despite my best attempts at trickery, 66% of you brought this neat Omega to a Wrist Game win. Today, we ll go back to the Studio 54 era with the Bulova Royal Oak. Would this watch make it into the club or be left standing in line?The Bulova Royal OakI guess b...
A woman or man whos in charge of a large transcontinental aircraft, its crew, and its passengers deserves a watch that underlines that persons role. A Big Pilot could do the job when youre piloting a single-seater, but when cruising wide-body passenger jets, a complicated Big Pilot is more fitting. And while Im no captain, I went soaring high above the clouds with the IWC Big Pilot Perpetual Calendar anyway.I must admit I had some problems during take-off. I mean not actually becoming airborne, but putting on the XL complicated Big Pilot took some effort. Not that the combination of calfskin strap and folding clasp are difficult to understand or operate, but because it takes some time to get...
A titanium Tuna wrapped in ceramic is a dish best served 1,000 meters underwater. In 1986 Seiko introduced the first divers watch with a ceramic outer case and the lightweight, corrosion resistant titanium case housed a quartz movement. The 1,000 water resistance of the watch made it suitable for saturation divers. And this watch comes back to the surface with the Seiko Prospex 1986 Quartz Divers 35th Anniversary Limited Edition watch. The S23635J1 is a reborn and tweaked Tuna.As you might well know, Prospex is a combination of the words professional and specifications. The nickname Tuna was first heard back in 1975 when Seiko introduced a large round mechanical divers watch without lugs. Th...
Don t call it a complication (because, technically, it isn t). Despite that weird fact, the tourbillon mechanism is one of the simplest to understand yet complicated to create that our industry has to offer. Invented to eliminate (or reduce, at least) the effect of gravity on the isochronous performance of a watch, the tourbillon has achieved almost mythic status over its 220-year life. And, as it reaches yet another milestone in its history, it seems only right to acknowledge and celebrate its inventor: the peerless Abraham-Louis Breguet.June 26th, 1801. It sounds like any other day, but it was on this day that, after ten years of hard work and patient development, Abraham-Louis Breguet fil...
