The treasures are still out there! Last week, I wondered for a while if everything Speedmaster-related was skyrocketing (no pun intended) out of reach, but I quickly found out that this is not the case. Yet.Two of my favorite Speedmaster watches are up for grabs (hey, everything is relative these days) for a total of $5,000. I am talking about the Speedmaster X-33 and the Split-Seconds (or Rattrapante). The X-33 reference 3290.50 is even considered to be a Speedmaster Professional, and the Rattrapante reference 3540.50 seems to be sharing a very similar case design.#gallery-1 {margin: auto;}#gallery-1 .gallery-item {float: left;margin-top: 10px;text-align: center;width: 50%;}#gallery-1 img {...
I gave a rundown of all the watch brand and Formula One team partnerships for the 2021 season following the Imola Grand Prix in April. When it came to Girard-Perregaux and Aston Martin, I came up short. These two iconic marques only began the collaboration this season. So with the ink still dry, we were still eagerly anticipating the new Girard-Perregaux watches to celebrate the co-branding. Until now: Introducing the Girard-Perregaux Tourbillon with Three Flying Bridges - Aston Martin Edition. But is this the best watch to perpetuate to the cachet of Aston Martin? Let s find out.Girard-Perregaux Tourbillon with Three Flying Bridges - Aston Martin EditionThe blending of performance cars and ...
The analog display is something completely new for the adventurous Frogman. From digital to analog is reverse evolution some might say, but looking at revolving hands works very instinctively for numerous people. It seems like the development of do-all professional diving gear is taking an unexpected (but strangely satisfying) U-turn in the case of the newest Frogman watches. So, hands up for the first fully analog generation of the Casio G-Shock Frogman! Resistance is futile; its going to conquer the sea with or without you.Our in-house photographer Bert is the proud owner of a digital Casio G-Shock Frogman, and he loves that asymmetric watch because of its size, design, robustness, AND the...
Compressor-style cases (as aped by this Isotope Goutte d Eau dive watch) somehow fell out of favor with the general watch-buying public for a couple of decades. Why? I don t know. Maybe the industry just outgrew the technology and assumed no one enjoyed the twin-crown aesthetic without the compressible case that got more and more water-resistant the deeper it traveled beneath the surface (until, of course, it goes so far, the metal housing crumples like an Origami crane in a rainstorm).? However, when this style started to creep back into the mainstream, I was overjoyed. It s great to see bigger brands (particularly Longines) experimenting with this style once more, but a wave of ambitious m...
Lets give it up for one of our old friends and Watch Strap Review alumni, Delugs Straps. If the name sounds familiar, it is no coincidence. This is not the first time we are reviewing products from Delugs Straps. About one and a half years ago, we already took a closer look at one of Singapores finest watch strap companies.From time to time, we revisit brands we already introduced to you in the past. Its fun to see where the business has gone since we last spoke. Also, this gives us a chance to check out their latest products.?Delugs 2.0A lot has happened with Ken and his company since we last spoke. Their selection expanded significantly. I barely recognized the brand s site when I revisite...
Is there more to the Casio G-Shock MT-G MTGB2000PH2A Blue Phoenix than its stunningly extravagant looks? A question that might pop up in the heads of many of our readers. It was the exact questions that popped up in my head when I first laid eyes on the colorful watch. It s a watch that is hard to miss, and everyone will have an immediate opinion on its bonkers presence. While I wholeheartedly agree that the colors set the tone, there is definitely more to this Blue Phoenix than just its looks. It s a story of functionality, materials, design, and engineering. And the level to which that is executed is awe-inspiring. Time to explore the story of this limited edition G-Shock MT-G MTGB2000PH2A...
Color has always been something NOMOS Glashtte deploys with the kind of verve it s hard to teach. It may seem almost counterintuitive that one of the Bauhaus style s foremost proponents has such a reputation, but, as with everything worthwhile in watchmaking, it is the subtle applications of flare that can turn a simple piece into a showstopper. The new NOMOS Glashtte Club Campus models in Absolute Gray and Future Orange are perfect examples of that.If you re looking for a classy, timeless dress watch, you could do much worse than to start your search with NOMOS. Similarly, if you want something vivacious and fun, the German manufacture has you covered also. How NOMOS has established itsel...
Fratello on Air returns with another talkative episode. This time, we answer a listener s question about watch culture around the world.It s true that Fratello boasts one of the more multinational teams. One of our listeners from Finland decided to take advantage of that by asking us about watch culture around the globe. How do people come together, do they come together, and do they even like watches in some countries? We don t have all the answers, but we enjoyed the chat. This time, it s Mike, Jorg, and Balazs on the mics for a bit of banter.Wrist check and the newsThe gents roll through a Handgelenks Kontrolle and you ll find a lovely GMT-Master 1675 on the wrist of our main Magyar, Bal...
In our Sunday Morning Showdown, two of our writers go head-to-head in an epic showdown for the ages. Strong opinions and hysterical hyperbole are welcome (so feel free to join in with the fun in the comments section below). And don t forget to let us know which watches you d like to see torn to shreds/effusively exalted next week. We ll try and feature as many of our readers choices as we can. This time out, we have not one, not two, not three, but FOUR brand new Breitling Premier Heritage chronographs in the showdown arena. Each watch will be vying for your vote, but not as individuals. Instead, today s showdown is a tag-team brawl where two watches on one team need most of the voting shar...
In what has been a crazy time, there is something I think we can all agree on: the watch industry has surprised us with some unexpected releases. Cartier has occupied itself with reintroducing Must de Cartier. However, if you were expecting the old gold-plated design you might be disappointed. If you d been hoping the Must would get a modern update, however, I imagine you ll be thrilled. The new Cartier Tank Must has many faces and the basic model stands far away from the vintage model. This is something really new in a very familiar package. It seems, at first glance, to be the perfect combo. But is it?Cartiers most iconic lineGiven that the Cartier Tank line is the brand s most iconic, its...
My earliest encounter in the flesh with the Patek Philippe Nautilus was somewhere in the early 2000s. Probably 2002 or 2003. Of course, I knew about the watch and read about it, but it was a rare thing. The Nautilus 5711/1A hadn t even been introduced yet.In those years, every Thursday, I found myself in this bar-restaurant to meet up with Gerard and some of his friends. At the time Gerard was the owner of a watch shop in The Hague (he hates the word boutique, but these days it would have been called a boutique) and the other guys were all entrepreneurs in different fields. I was still a student, but besides my typical - then - students attire consisting of striped Ralph Lauren shirts, khaki...
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 Seiko watches from the 1970s.In the 1960s, we witnessed developments that challenged the status quo of watch design forever. The sheer amount of...
Even today, when writing this article, I received a note from someone asking why it is taking so long for his ordered limited edition watch to be delivered? It is a question that pops up frequently in our conversations and inboxes.And believe me, I know how it feels to wait for a (very) long time on that watch you ordered. In fact, you want it the minute you made the deposit or paid the full amount. But theres little you can do. You need to wait till it is produced and shipped. My first experience with this phenomenon was a Linde Werdelin 3-Timer back in 2009. I ordered it during Baselworld of that year, which was probably in March or April, and I had to wait until November before it arrived...
If theres one thing Ive learned in my 15+ years of collecting watches, its that we watch lovers will never completely unite on anything. But, sometimes, we can come pretty damn close. I cant claim to speak for everyone in the watch-loving community right now, but having taken a passing glance at the comments on Tudors Instagram release video of the Black Bay Ceramic, the overarching sentiment is clear: the Shield just pulled a straight-up grandma move! Like a sweater on Christmas for the ninth year in a row, today we have been given yet another Black Bay. This time, however, we ve got a ceramic case to deal with. Good move/bad move? Let s discuss…Now, props to grandma; shes trying to b...
If you re getting a sudden nostalgic shiver down your spine and an overwhelming urge to don a brightly colored ski jacket, then you re not alone. I feel the same right now. Just don t tell RJ, or he may subject us to some terrible 90s Schlage music. If you don t know what that is, you re winning, so do not Google it. Honestly, don t do it.Moving away from RJ s terrible taste in music, we re looking at a watch that channels the fun vibes of the 90s, with some excellent color combinations. I am, of course, talking about the Zodiac Worn & Wound Super Sea Wolf. This a watch that we might expect to see The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air rocking on our screens way back when. I mean that as a comp...
It s no longer a newsflash to report that I love Nezumi. However, as much as I adore the brand s core styles, not everything this Swedish outfit produces hits the mark for me. Most recently, I reviewed the DLC-gold plated Nezumi Baleine automatic and, while I liked it, found myself craving a return to the retro simplicity of the mecaquartz chronograph format that, in my opinion, is what makes the brand stand out from its peers. Well, although I had nothing to do with it, I got my wish! The Nezumi Tonnerre Chronograph hits the shelves today and is a breezy, seasonal alternative to the current offering and comes in an all-new size for the brand…When you set your stall out as a mecaquartz...
Once rejected by watch enthusiasts, now one of the most sought-after Patek Philippes models, the Aquanaut is a major source of buzz for pretty much everyone. Therefore, it seemed inevitable that Patek would address the dearth of options for its female collectors sooner rather than later. Of course, Patek Philippe masterfully embraces not only the hottest color in the watch industry but also appeals to the serious watch lover with different types of movements. Let s take a look at the five new iterations of the Aquanaut Luce, revealed earlier today.Green enters the mainstreamHow wonderful is it to admire such intriguing new releases? The womens Aquanaut Luce has been with us since 2004. Its d...
I guess there are not that many people that has had to apologize to. I mean officially, in the press. John Harwood, the creator of the worlds first automatic wristwatch, is one of them. ?You might be surprised to learn that the man behind one of todays leading Swiss industries is actually a Brit. In last years landmark set of six stamps by the Isle of Man Post Office, the inventor John Harwood sits right next to Roger Smith and George Daniels. I dont own any watches from the other two yet, but I am proud to say that I landed Harwoods automatic watch from the 1920s.Harwoods watch story beginsAfter returning from the trenches of WWI, John Harwood settled on the Isle of Man. He worked in a?tin...
The Aquanaut is making its way through the ranks. The Aquanauts design is a derivative of the Nautilus, and it always stood in its shadow, but the times they are a-changing. There are no less than 17 models in Patek Philippes sporty-chic Aquanaut collection nowadays. And if that doesnt count for something, there are complications like the Travel Time and Chronograph models to add gravitas to the collection. Today Patek Philippe drops two white gold Aquanaut Chronographs in navy blue and army green gradient dials to further strengthen the ranks. The ambitious Aquanaut is on the rise.When introduced in 1997 the Aquanaut looked like a teenage version of the Genta-designed Nautilus. The rounded ...
Despite having been founded in 1882, in many ways the Zodiac Watch company still feels like a young and vibrant new brand. Much of this phenomenon can be traced to the acquisition of the marque by Fossil, Inc. in 2001. This recent takeover seems to have breathed new life into the old manufacturer through the development of in-house calibers, and the reintroduction of decades-old models from the depths of Zodiac s back catalog. Among the models that have been reintroduced is the Super Sea Wolf, originally released in 1954 as a no-nonsense line of watches to be used as tools by underseas adventurers.Beginning in 2015, this newly reimagined catalog of Super Sea Wolf models started to be made av...
