Watches & Wonders is here, and as you may have seen, it has announced itself this morning with a glut of new releases from a multitude of brands. It may take you a while to get through all of the new release articles here on Fratello, but don t skip by this one, as Piaget s Novelties are gold! Yes, I entirely meant that terrible pun, and I stand by it.Piaget has given us new takes on both the Polo Skeleton and the award-winning Altiplano Ultimate Concept. Both are excellent models, tailored for the discerning collector. Still, both have been given lockdown facelifts which elevate them for a new year, new me attitude.Piaget Polo SkeletonThat was a mouthful to say. The Polo is an essential...
New watch releases are buses. You wait around for ages with no luck, and then you get ten all at once. OK, the saying is slightly different from that, but in Panerai s world, it s not. The brand has indeed just dropped ten new watches. Those ten watches are broken down into six different model families. Let s take a quick look at them all!Panerai?Submersible eLAB-ID PAM01225First up, we have some tasty newness from Panerai‘s LAB-ID range, now with an eco twist. May I introduce you to the new Submersible eLAB-ID PAM01225. The PAM 01225 contains the highest percentage of recycled materials ever in a watch. This positions Panerai at the forefront of the movement towards more environmental...
Tomorrow is the big day for , but especially for all the fans. Where would normally introduce its new watches during Baselworld, they now use the Watches & Wonders exhibition. So far, the bets seem to be on a new Explorer II watch. We will be on location with to see the watches in the flesh, take pictures and get those real-life impressions.Whether they will introduce a new Explorer II - or not - is not stopping the watch collectors and speculators from making strategic moves. Not too long ago, I was contacted by a Dutch guy who follows me on Instagram, whether it would be wise or not to sell his current Explorer II. I am by no means someone to give financial advice, but personally,...
When almost every other brand offers a sports watch on a steel bracelet, how could Greubel Forsey not do so? Of course, to be a true Greubel Forsey, such a watch must be outstanding in every way. The new GMT Sport lives up to this claim.To understand the brand Greubel Forsey and its watches, you actually must be holding one of their creations in your own hand and experience it in person. This may seem hardly possible to you, but it isn t. I had the chance to do that for the first time when this brand presented itself on the 2017 edition of the Munichtime, a small fair in that German city, open to everybody. That was before I became a Fratello editor. Being a passionate watch enthusiast was a...
The third model in the Breitling Premier Heritage Collection is the new Premier Datora 42. This is the most complicated model within the series, so let s take a look.There s no doubt that today is a big day for Breitling. The brand has released three distinct new models within its new Premier Heritage Collection. There s the manual wind Premier Chronograph, the sublime manual wind Premier Duograph rattrapante, and the Premier Datora 42. In this article, we focus on the latter and, once again, we re impressed.A quick look backJust like the other Breitling Heritage models, the Premier Datora 42 takes its inspiration from the brand s back catalog. Fred lent another picture of a 40s Datora refe...
Wow, have things changed at Breitling. A few short years ago, if I told you that reasonably sized, gorgeous manual wind chronographs were on the horizon, would you have believed me? Well, the Premier Chronograph 40 line is here…My how the worm has turned regarding Breitling. Just several short years ago, the brand seemed intent on producing the biggest most garish watches on the planet. Since that time, bit by bit, the quality releases have just kept coming. Watches like the Premier, the Chronomat, the Aviator 8, and the Superocean Heritage 57 are just some of the renaissance pieces. Breitling has faithfully grasped its heritage while focusing on finishing that can easily party with o...
The Breitling Premier Heritage Collection rolls on in serious style with the new Premier Duograph 42. Can someone say, in-house, manual wind, rattrapante?The Breitling Premier Heritage Collection is quickly becoming one of my favorites. This group of watches is made up of a beautiful manual wind chronograph, the Datora moonphase chronograph, and now the Premier Duograph 42. If you re into classic chrongraphs and complications, this new Breitling just might be the ticket.Some history and other examplesBefore we get to the new Premier Duograph 42, let s spend a moment on the Duograph name. This model name was given to Breitling chronographs with a rattrapante complication. That function gives ...
Moser leads off its 2021 novelties with a pair of bold new blue green pieces. Enter the Pioneer MEGA Cool lineup!When it comes to Moser, the dials are often the star of the show. With the new Pioneer MEGA Cool collection, that trend continues in serious fashion. This is a two piece lineup that brings some small yet noticeable differences versus other watches in this collection. Let s have a look at the two models.Moser Pioneer MEGA Cool Centre SecondsLeading things off is the volume model. The Pioneer MEGA Cool Centre Seconds is a time only piece in a sculpted 42.8mm by 10.6mm stainless case with textured and hollowed out flanks. The watch is powered by the in-house HMC 200 automatic with th...
With its latest novelty, the Moser Endeavour Tourbillon Concept Tiger s Eye brings natural beauty to a dial-focused brand. Two limited edition gold models make up this beautiful release.When most of us think of Moser, we think of fume dials. In my book, they make the best in the business and I m always delighted to see a new color. What happens, though, when a natural gemstone steps in to emulate the gradient look? With the new Endeavour Tourbillon Concept Tiger s Eye, we get to experience this.The Moser Endeavour Tourbillon Concept Tiger s EyeThe new Endeavour Tourbillon Concept Tiger s Eye is a collection of two gold limited edition models. Instead of lacquer, though, Moser chose one of my...
H.Moser & Cie. loves to shake it up, and the brand did so on April 1st. This was no joke though as the Moser Endeavour X seconde/seconde/ is very real.Moser is one of those companies that invite controversy. Whether the watch is made of cheese, has a plant growing inside or takes a serious jab at other companies, they have a lot of fun. They also make some incredibly attractive pieces - gimme that green Streamliner now! With the new Moser Endeavour X seconde/seconde/, the brand collaborated with French artist Romaric Andre to create a funky limited edition of just 20 pieces.The Moser Endeavour X seconde/seconde/The spirit behind the Moser Endeavour X seconde/seconde/ is pretty simple. Mo...
Attempting to make a difference through art, BOLDR Supply Company teams up with the Autistic Thai Foundation. Working with Thailand-based artist, Mr. Ratapat Chantamit, Boldr hopes to support the Autistic Thai Foundation in its efforts to develop skills in autistic children and adults. The foundation s goal is to help them find and nurture their passions.This news breaks at the culmination of World Autism Awareness Week, which ran from 29th MarchC4th April 2021. Depicted on the dial of this very special model, is a Koi fish. The end result is an unusual, collectible, soothingly serene dial design, somewhat at odds with the hyper-functional titanium housing for which the Venture series is bes...
Some watch aficionados will argue that theres no better choice of watch strap to pair with your chronograph than a racing strap. And, while I believe there are plenty of styles that work well with certain chronographs, it is hard to argue against the perfect harmony of a perforated racing strap and a multi-sub-dial chronograph when it s done right. Not wanting to leave its customers without a high-quality option, Genteel Handmade has stepped up to the plate with its rally strap selection.And don t worry if you don t have a chronograph in your collection! Rally straps look very nice on time-only watches. Personally, I like to pair a rally strap with a six o clock sub-dial as I think that the ...
The vote is drawing to a close… With just two remaining, the Czapek Antarctique Terre Adelie is holding a decent (and ratified)) lead over the A. Lange & S?hne Datograph Lumen. This is not a result anyone saw coming. This was not what we expected when we started out on this road, way back on March 1st. It looks like we re about to crown a worthy but highly surprising winner to the March Mania experience, but there is still time for it all to change…The vote will close at 3:30 pm on April 7th. That s two days from now. It also happens to be the same day Watches and Wonders begins, so make sure you tune back in to see the abundance of novelties we have in store for you then.At ...
Today I have something out of my usual comfort zone in front of me - A Panerai PAM01164. I m pretty happy to admit that usually, I m not much of a fan of gold, and there are not many modern watches I d specifically choose to purchase or wear in gold, be that yellow gold, red gold, or even white gold. I m a stainless steel guy who would consider dabbling in titanium, but that s about it.Nonetheless, I have this red gold Panerai Submersible to take a look at today, so let s do just that! Say hello to the Panerai Luminor Submersible 1950 3 Days Automatic Oro Rosso, reference PAM01164, an updated version of the PAM00684, which was, for all intents and purposes, the same watch but with an inferio...
There are different ways a watch can grab your attention for the first time. There seem to be some more common examples for an encounter that can cause a lasting impression, though. But, whichever circumstance turned you into a watch enthusiast, I feel confident that passion was involved. This is my very personal story, along some detours that initiated my passion for watches.I don t remember which was my first watch. I do remember a cheap plastic quartz watch, which I wore as a child, that looked cool because it had a black case. And I remember how discontent I felt when this watch with a 30m waterproof rating died after some diving in a pool.My first watch that spawned a lasting impression...
This week, Balazs and Rob tackle the subject of watch brand ambassadors in the four major professional sports leagues in North America.Amazingly, six episodes in, this is a topic that hasn t been fully addressed. In our pilot episode, we touched upon Tom Brady s ambassadorship for IWC but he is far from alone in the NFL, with Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings coming in atop Balazs list of football-playing watch lovers and Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers is Rob s pick.The MLB throws up a couple of throwbacks, with Balazs stretching all the way back to the fifties for his selection. Rob, meanwhile, reaches back about a decade to call upon a superstar that played in the modern e...
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. After a short break for March Mania, we re back with today s candidates. Each contender revives a cooky layout from its past in a modern guise. The Breitling Top Time and Zenith Chronomaster El Primero A385. Which revival riles you up?Don t adjust your television set. You are indeed looking at two bra...
The much-appreciated Cartier collection - the Ballon Bleu family - welcomes three new models. This line, introduced in 2007, brings Cartiers calling cards to the party. Refined craftsmanship and a nod to the brand s fine jewelry legacy make the Ballon Bleu the kind of crossover piece that keeps on giving. While the diameters of men s watches trend downward, the availability of larger ladies watches continues with this release, with the Ballon Bleu now available in 40mm.At 40mm wide and 12.45mm thick, this watch could easily be worn by men or women. There are a ton of options, ranging from the distinctly feminine, to the undeniably neutral. The steel version with the leather strap, boasting ...
We sat down with Glashtte Original ambassador and world-renowned sailor, Boris Hermann…Rob Nudds: Hi Boris, thanks for taking the time to talk to Fratello. Where are you right now? On dry land or in the middle of an ocean somewhere?Boris Hermann: Hello, except for a short trip to the Alster (a small lake in the middle of my hometown Hamburg) for an interview, I ve been on land with my little family since the end of the Vendee Globe and hope that I m not too much in the way. But I didn t have much time to relax - after several interviews I m already in the middle of the preparations for the upcoming adventures with my team.RN: Some of our readers might not be familiar with you and your...
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. But all of them are interesting watches. In this installment, we will take a look at the best Seiko watches from the 1960s.In the 1960s, we witnessed developments that challenged the status quo of w...
