Echo/Neutra has been carving out its little corner of the watch world since 2018. The brands founders, Nicola Callegaro and Cristiano Quaglia, blend Italian design sensibilities with Swiss-made execution, and the catalog has steadily grown from vintage-inspired field watches to elegant titanium dress pieces. The new Averau 42, however, is a different beast altogether. Its modern, its technical, and it leans into materials not often seen at this price point.The Averau 42 comes in two versions. One is a three-hand automatic, the other an automatic chronograph. Both use ceramic as the external case material, reinforced by an internal titanium structure that the brand calls TiFrame. The idea is ...
You could qualify a town with just 929 inhabitants as sleepy. Villeret, in the Swiss canton of Bern, is indeed quiet. Its stuck between two mountain ridges in the Jura, and apart from a pizzeria that serves Dutch beer instead of Swiss for some reason, the isolated place looks pretty much timeless. Still, time plays a very important role in Villeret. And for those who appreciate the capturing of time in a mechanical watch, Villeret is a place of great excitement. Thats because at Rue Principale 36, Minerva has its atelier. In the modest manufacture, watchmaking magic happens, such as manufacturing hairsprings and monopusher rattrapante chronographs. This is also where specialized artisans cre...
Another Friday, another top 5. During and after last week s Geneva Watch Days (GWD), we covered plenty of exciting releases here on Fratello. Some of the watches that always grab our attention during GWD are the crazy collaborations. Last year, we saw the incredible collaborative effort of Studio Underd0g and H. Moser & Cie. that had everyone talking during the event. This year, multiple collaborations stood out in Geneva. In today s list, we ll highlight our favorites.Before we jump into our five picks, I should note that we decided not to limit ourselves to collaborations presented during Geneva Watch Days. We broadened the scope to recent releases so that we could pick some of the bes...
The world of horology is an emotional parallel universe where those who love watches can make them their livelihood. Now, it seems that watch brands, organizations, and media have realized that this universe can only continue to exist if the knowledge and appreciation of it continue to grow and evolve. Marc Andre Deschoux, who started TheWatchesTV on YouTube in 2011, is the founder and spiritual father of MACH - La Maison des Arts & de la Culture Horlogere. It will open its doors in a landmark building in the heart of Geneva next year. So, watch fans, you d better get ready for MACH, a place that will showcase horological heritage.La Maison des Arts & de la Culture Horlogere, or MACH...
Last October, Urwerk revealed the new UR-150 line. The Scorpion Titan and Scorpion Dark were immediately recognizable as Urwerk creations. Certain traits, including satellite hours and retrograde minutes, were all present on the initial pieces. Now, nearly a year later, the new UR-150 Blue Scorpion becomes the next model in the collection.Last week, during Geneva Watch Days 2025, we had the opportunity to visit Urwerk in the brand s old-town workshop. This year, the walk wasn t quite so warm, and Dave managed to choose a shorter, less uphill route. As a result, we arrived relaxed and ready to view the innovative company s latest release, the UR-150 Blue Scorpion.The Urwerk UR-150 Blue Scorpi...
Unfortunately, one of our friends was robbed of several watches. Without going into detail about what happened, we will share the list of stolen watches along with their serial numbers (if known) below.This list aims to alert collectors, dealers, and private buyers so that these timepieces can be recognized if offered for sale. If you are approached with any of the watches listed below, we strongly advise caution and recommend contacting the appropriate authorities. By sharing this information, we hope to prevent further circulation of stolen property and support efforts to recover these valuable items.List of stolen watchesModelRef NumberSerial Number69174877586316013R35292416233SGX11138516...
Last weekend, I had the opportunity to attend the Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace. A. Lange & S?hne sponsors the event, and what an event it was! Don t worry; we re not becoming a car magazine here at Fratello, but these gems were too good not to share. Enjoy!I ve been lucky enough to attend several high-end car shows. Back in the 90s, Louis Vuitton held a Concours d Elegance in the middle of Rockefeller Center, and I drove two hours from my university to see some amazing vehicles. Then, during my time in Detroit, I always blocked my calendar for Meadowbrook and Eyes on Design, two incredible events surrounded by homes formerly owned by automotive royalty. The Concours of E...
Grand Seiko has been steadily expanding its Evolution 9 collection since its introduction in 2020. We have seen a wide variety of releases linked by a combination of modern case designs and technologically advanced new calibers. For its latest introductions, Grand Seiko releases two variations of popular models in the collection. The first is the Grand Seiko Sunrise Tentagraph SLGC006, a titanium variation of the first two Tentagraph models. The second is the Moonlit Birch SLGW007, a play on the popular manual-winding Hi-Beat models introduced last year during Watches and Wonders. There is enough to unpack with these two watches, so let s take a closer look.The Grand Seiko Evolution 9 series...
Gerald Charles introduces a colorful twist on its emblematic design with the Masterlink Gem-Set. For the very first time, the maison embraces gemsetting, bringing bright colors to the asymmetric case and integrated bracelet that define the model.The new Gerald Charles Masterlink Gem-Set comes in three versions, each limited to 10 pieces. Join me for a closer look!Gerald Charles Masterlink backgroundThe Masterlink collection builds directly on the 2007 Sarawak, a one-off commission created by Gerald Genta for the Royal Family of Sarawak. That watch was lavishly decorated with diamonds and rubies and valued at over $1 million.The SarawakWith the introduction of the Masterlink in the Gerald Cha...
Breguet is on quite a streak in its 250th year of existence. The fifth release to celebrate the watchmaker is the Breguet Marine Hora Mundi 5555. This limited edition of 50 pieces debuts in an 18K Breguet Gold case and shows an entirely new two-layer dial. Its two superimposed layers - one guilloche, the other sapphire - showcase exceptional craftsmanship and inspiration from NASAs Black Marble, a nocturnal portrait of Earth seen from space. At the same time, the watch is a tribute to the brands founder, Abraham-Louis Breguet (1747C1823), who created marine chronometers in his time.The new Breguet Marine Hora Mundi 5555 is many things. Its the fifth release in a series of celebratory watches...
Panerai was first introduced to the public on September 10th, 1993. Until that time, the brand only made watches for military personnel. This is easy to forget, as Panerai quickly became a public fixture in the watch universe. This year, on the anniversary of its 1993 debut, Panerai unveils The Depths of Time at its flagship boutique in Florence, Italy. The historical exhibition highlights Panerai s legacy as a supplier to the Italian Navy and celebrates its great success after the brand went public. For this special occasion, Panerai introduces the Luminor Marina Militare PAM05218. It s a modern interpretation of the Luminor ref. 5218-202/A from 1993, which was created exclusively for the I...
It seems like Ressence s Type 9 is in high demand, at least when it comes to limited editions. At the end of last year, Beno?t Mintiens, the founder of Ressence, introduced the minimalist Type 9. With a 39mm case, it s the brand s smallest watch, and it comes with either an aqua blue or gray dial. Then, just before summer, Ressence and Ahmed Seddiqi introduced a limited-edition Type 9 with a dial covered in sand from each of the seven emirates. Now, Mintiens is back with yet another new Type 9 LE. This time, he collaborated with Mark Cho, co-founder of The Armoury, to develop the Type 9 Scattering Sun, which could be the most dressy Ressence watch to date.I was charmed by the introduction of...
It s hard to believe that MB&F has been in business for 20 years. Yet, here we are with the marque that was part of a new wave of independents changing the look of Haute Horlogerie. Futuristic and funky designs are a hallmark of MB&F. Today s latest pair of Legacy Machine 101 (LM101) Evo watches continues this vibe.It was probably over a decade ago at a Salon QP event in London where I first tried on an MB&F creation. The piece single-handedly redefined how I looked at wristwatches. Here was a wildly styled object on my wrist with myriad exposed components and an altogether unorthodox display. I wasn t sure at first. Since then, though, when asked about which highly progressive d...
Here at Fratello, we ve closely followed Serica s progress since its founding in 2019. We know the Parisian brand for its vintage-inspired yet fresh-looking and attractive watches. Both founders - Jer?me Burgert and Gabriel Vachette - pay great attention to (design) details. When they told us they were working on a dressier piece, it piqued our curiosity. The brand s current field, dive, and GMT watches all have a recognizable design signature. But how is a less sporty, more elegant model going to fit in there? Well, it s time to find out, as the all-new Serica 1174 Parade is here.Up to now, all of the watches from Serica have had a fairly standard shape with a round case and somewhat twiste...
If you follow my writing, you know I am an advocate for typography in watch design. It is an often-overlooked element that can make or break a watch. While I was developing my watch, typography designer Samuel Baker appeared on my radar. We ended up collaborating, resulting in a fully tailor-made typeface for my fledgling watch company. Samuel is deeply passionate about the subject, which you immediately feel when you speak to him, so I figured who better to share some insider insights on typography with us?I covered the basics of the topic in this earlier article. If you are new to the fascinating world of watch typography, you may want to start there before proceeding with this interview.H...
Indeed, we already put the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M up against the Submariner in March of this year. Surprisingly, it was the first time those two classics faced each other during one of our Sunday Morning Showdowns. However, those two watches both had a date. With this week s introduction of the new black no-date version of the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M, we think there s a good opportunity for a rematch against the current no-date Submariner.The new Omega Seamaster Diver 300M not only lacks a date, but it also has an aluminum bezel insert and dial and a different bracelet. This year s first battle between the Omega Seamaster and the Submariner resulted in a balanced 50-50 voting outco...
This weekend, Max Verstappen will vie for victory in the Formula 1 World Championship in Las Vegas. The Dutchman won his first F1 title in 2021 and could now win his fourth consecutive title to become the sixth driver to achieve that milestone. As most of you know, TAG Heuer is a proud partner of the Red Bull Racing team. Coinciding with Verstappen s opportunity to win the title, the brand releases the latest version of the Monaco Chronograph. The colorful Las Vegas skyline at night inspired the watch s look. It features a stealthy black aesthetic brightened up by vibrant pink elements. It s a watch that will surely light up the race in Las Vegas, regardless of whether Verstappen takes home ...
French brand Jacques Bianchi releases a new model today. Or, I should say, it reintroduces a historical reference. The Jacques Bianchi JB300 is a modern take on a 1990s military-issued dive watch. My review of it is one of very few surprises. Every once in a while, a watch is simply exactly how you imagined it would be. This is such a case. Without wanting to give away the entire story in advance, I can say this much: the JB300 does exactly as it says on the tin.The new Jacques Bianchi JB300 is not a 1:1 remake of the original, but it sure is close. Lets get into the details of whats new and what isnt together.Jacques Bianchi JB300 historyTo get a feel for the watch I have on my wrist at the...
We published an article with our favorite picks for this year s GPHG 2024 awards ceremony two weeks ago. Then, during last week s ceremony, we got to see whether our favorites won. We were happy to see several of our picks take home the award in their respective categories. But we also were completely wrong about some others. Also, some watches we picked ended up winning in different categories. Let s go over all the winners of the GPHG 2024 and find out how well we did!As watch enthusiasts, we were eager to discover the winning timepieces of the GPHG 2024 awards ceremony. This event is a yearly celebration of the wide variety of watch brands and their creations, and it highlights the techni...
We have continued to add more items to our Black Friday selection in our shop. You can find everything from caps to straps, pocket knives, and, of course, watches! We re offering a discount of up to 30% on certain products.Artem NATO strapMore Black Friday deals on Fratello: Pouches & StrapsYou will find several more straps, watch-storage solutions, and travel accessories from REM, Artem, and Artelier Romane, as well as our Tropic Rubber straps with special discounts.Honey racing strapSpeedy Tuesday Cap White & Black (as modeled by Terai)Flightmaster Only bookSix-Watch Roll by Atelier RomaneAnd many more…We have added over 60 items to our Black Friday deals, and the sale runs f...
