Fratello talks with actor, designer, and trustee of the Horological Society of New York, Aldis Hodge…Rob Nudds: Hi Aldis, thanks for taking the time to chat with us. Its a real pleasure to pick your brain. Tell me, when did you first fall in love with watchmaking? Does it run in your family? Were you exposed to it from a young age?Aldis Hodge: Hey Rob, its a pleasure to speak with you as well. I actually exposed myself to watchmaking around 18 or 19 years old when I began designing watches. I picked up the interest as an alternative to my then architectural studies. Designing the aesthetics pulled me into learning more about how they functioned. A well-known design rule is that form fo...
The year 2020 has been tough on James Bond fans. It was a tough pill to swallow when No Time To Die was postponed for a second time. Like so many, I was more than ready to see Daniel Craig in action one last time as 007. And just when you thought things could not get any worse, the news came in on the 1st of November that Sean Connery passed away at age 90. The Scottish actor was the first and, to many, the best James Bond. In the light of Connery s passing, we decided to create a list of our 7 favorite Bond watches.Discussing a list of Bond watches is as much fun as it is incomplete. Sure, you could cough up all the watches we have seen in 25 official Bond films, but that would not start a ...
Wrist Game or Crying Shame returns with a look at the Omega Seamaster Bullhead, a kooky chronograph from one of our favorite brands. But first…Last week, we went double pusher with the Oris Chronoris 2005 Replica Edition. This rather lovely symmetrical chrono walked away with a startling 80% Wrist Game win. This week, we keep things extremely uniform with the Omega Seamaster Bullhead. Now, it was apparently one Winston Churchill who stated that, if you can t dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bull. On that note, let s see just see how brilliant this Bullhead is!Omega Seamaster Bullhead Chronograph from 1969 from the Omega Museum s collectionThe Omega Seamaster BullheadIt was...
Earlier today, I covered the release of the SPB185. And already we have another fetching model to share with you. The Seiko SPB189 dive watch is just about as clean and functional an adventure tool as the modern frogman could ask for. With its sharp, highly-legible hands, and warm, contrasting bezel insert, this one has the potential to be a subtly satisfying daily wear that keeps on giving long after it leaves the box in favor of your wrist. Take a look at the images we ve put together to show this thing from all angles. It is a testament to the Seiko brand. Better still, it is a fine ambassador of how Seiko continues to make the commonplace exceptional…UPDATE: Following further commu...
Often, it is the little things that make all the difference in life. In watchmaking, that is almost always the case. Sure, these ticking marvels are tiny to begin with, but upon these minute canvases, the minutest flourish or novelty can transform a watch s overall character. When it comes to the SPB185, that is certainly true. What is otherwise a very solid, fairly-priced, handsomely designed dive watch, is vaulted to the next level by a flash of red upon the shovel-style seconds hand. Inconsequential or invaluable? Take a look at the photos and you tell me…There s a lot of good news coming out of Seiko right now. We ve waxed lyrical ad nauseam about the stellar year this Japanese pow...
In this 12-minute video, I discuss the new Omega Speedmaster? Silver Snoopy Award, but also show the previous Snoopy Award watches from 2003 and 2015. Also, the Apollo 13 25th anniversary edition gets a mention, as that one was really the first to commemorate this special Apollo mission in 1970.The comments and feedback on the new Omega Speedmaster Silver Snoopy Award have been pretty amazing (see our initial review here). As such, it s time for us to talk you through all Speedmaster Snoopy watches that have been out there since 2003.Omega Speedmaster Snoopy EditionsAfter seeing the new Speedmaster Snoopy in the flesh, it immediately became my favorite of the three. Based on the comments on ...
Today, Patek Philippe has announced the new Patek Philippe Ref. 6301P Grand Sonnerie. In a beautiful video presentation, because of Covid-19, Patek Philippe presented this beautiful platinum 6301. It was an incredibly well done digital presentation, with a few words from Thierry Stern and a product presentation by their Head of Watch of Development, Philip Barat.The Patek Philippe Ref. 6301P is a new Grand Sonnerie, with a minute repeater and a jumping seconds complication. On the black enamel dial, you will also find two power reserve indicators - one for the movement (72 hours) and one for the sonnerie (24 hours).Patek Philippe Ref. 6301PWhat we ve been shown is a stunning 44.8mm platinum ...
To many, Blancpain is the Fifty Fathoms. It is the main association many watch enthusiasts have with the brand. And for me, that is no different. Within the Fifty Fathoms collection, the Bathyscaphe line of watches holds the position of the more modest daily wearer. I went hands-on with the Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe Chronograph Flyback in striking green to find out if green holds magic powers for Blancpain as well?Looking at Blancpain s collection, you might think that the brand offers a fairly small selection of watches with just four collections. It does keep things simple. But you might be surprised to learn that the Fifty Fathoms collection holds more than 80 references. It s nowhere nea...
We ve covered anOrdain more than once here on Fratello, as some of our contributors are fans of that brand. A few weeks ago, I received a press release from Paulin watches, about a collaborative piece between them and anOrdain.I have to admit, I had never heard of Paulin watches before. It is a company founded by three sisters from the Paulin family. Although their history goes all the way back to their great-grandfather when it comes to creating things, I will stick to the three Paulin sisters (Elizabeth, Charlotte, and Eleanor) who founded the current company in 2013.Somehow, the Scottish Paulin company wasn t on my radar. But this Neo collab piece between Paulin and anOrdain changed that ...
Welcome back to our Watch On Your Wrist? Instagram extravaganza! Tag your watch snaps with #fratellowatches to be in with a chance to win!Every week, we select four images. You can vote in the article for your favorite image. The winner moves on to the semi-final round (held every fifth week between the previous four weekly winners). Win that and you re into the final, which will be held at the end of the year. There will be five finalists in 2020 and ten from next year on.Basically, if you like winning things - and there will be a prize for the champion of 2020 - this year represents your best shot. So get snapping, get tagging, and get sharing. And don t forget to vote (once) for yourself&...
Mr. Genta, I need a steel sports watch that has never been done before, I want it to be something totally new and waterproof. That was the message to Gerald Genta by then Audemars Piguet CEO Mr. Golay. Not much later, the Royal Oak was born. The rest is history. Today, it is one of the most coveted watches in the world.There was a time, not even too long ago, that I wore a Royal Oak watch on the wrist almost every single day. It was my dream watch. Ever since I saw the watch in one of the Audemars Piguet catalogs, I decided that a Royal Oak was my grail watch. My first purchase was the Royal Oak 15300. A 39mm watch with AP s then relatively new in-house developed caliber 3120. I couldn t hav...
The 13th of every month is now known as Fortis Day. 2020 has seen new watches debut in the Flieger family on the 13th of August, September, and October. Now, as we approach the curtain call of perhaps the maddest year on record, we take a look back on a triumphant trio of release dates that brought us the F-43 Bicompax Chronograph, the F-41 and F-39 Automatics, and the most recently released F-43 Triple GMT, outlined the future aesthetic of this part of the brand s line-up.Fortis CEO Jupp Philipp must be feeling himself right not. He and his team have had a barnstorming year when it comes to reinvigorating a brand that was in dire need of a modern identity. What s impressed me most about the...
This week has seen some very interesting emails pop through into the Fratello inbox. A new watch that gets me hot under the collar, a Speedmaster with genuine space-flown provenance, and brands adopting new technology to help beat the forgers and fraudsters.Zenith Defy Skeleton CarbonThis edition is named The Party In My Pants Edition. Why? Well, as the name of this edition suggests, theres a party in my pants, and this watch is the sole reason. To my friends, its no secret that I am a fan of what Zenith has been doing recently, especially the Defy range. From the moment the brand relaunched the Defy series back in 2017, Ive was hooked. The combination of the angular case shape and the super...
Some articles take more effort to write than others. But this will be an easy one. Why? Because I love the Seamaster PloProf. It took me way too long to purchase one, and when I was ready for it, Omega discontinued it.But I was lucky, Omega was able to help out. Since May 2019, I am the very happy owner of a Seamaster PloProf. I love that watch. It looks completely out of this world. From across the room, it looks uncomfortable, clunky, and heavy. Heavy it is for sure, but due to the shape and dimensions, it actually wears quite nicely and compact on the wrist. Don t believe me? Try one.Omega still produces the titanium models, with a newer movement and without a date. However, I prefer the ...
As the western world watches and waits for a result from the US election, the Land of the Rising Sun seems ever more removed from the tumult we re seeing on our side of the map. Although Japanese politics is also undergoing a transition following the resignation of long-serving premier Shinzo Abe, his successor, Yoshihide Suga, served in the same government and promises and somewhat smoother transition than we might be about to witness stateside.Thankfully, Fratello is not a place to analyze or pass comment on such grandiose matters. Here all are welcome. We are connected by our love of watches. And in an unpredictable year, one thing has remained constant: Japanese companies are killing it ...
Earlier this year I shortly briefed you about the new Longines Spirit Chronograph. In this article, we go hands-on with the 42mm Spirit Chronograph with silver dial and leather strap, my favorite of the collection.The new Longines Spirit Chronograph is part of the Sport collection. That surprised me a little bit, but it is indeed a sports watch. I have selected the 42mm version on a leather strap. Although I like the quality of the stainless steel bracelets of the Spirit collection, the leather strap gives it a bit more of a vintage look. It s a very personal choice, of course, and I can imagine there are many of you out there that prefer a bracelet. Without further ado, let s have a closer ...
On land or beneath the waves, the Seiko SRPE33 and SRPE39 dive watches are faithful companions with an attractive price and an even more attractive dial decoration, celebrating the brand s partnership with the Save the Ocean charity…Overseeing the scheduling and creation of the 960+ articles we publish every single year on Fratello is a lot of fun, but it is easy to get confused by all the references floating around. Months ago, I agreed on a publishing plan for this year s Seiko novelties with the brand directly. At that point, I dished out the serial numbers to the team to cover. Occasionally, I would pick-up a random straggler myself.It isn t until I come to spend some time with the...
Today, we welcome Nick Manousos to Fratellowatches.com. Nick is a watchmaker, writer, and the current director of the Horological Society of New York.Rob Nudds: Hi Nick, thanks for sitting down with us at Fratellowatches.com. As director of the HSNY you must get asked this a lot, but would you mind telling me where your watchmaking journey began??Nick Manousos: Hi Rob, thanks for thinking of the Horological Society of New York! My watchmaking journey began in 2010. I was living in San Francisco and working in the tech industry as a software engineer. I had a great job but was beginning to realize that I did not want to spend my life writing code and building websites.My wife encouraged me to...
If you are an Haute Horlogerie and/or car enthusiast, the name Singer Reimagined should definitely ring a bell. Although the brand is still relatively new to the watch scene, it already has a dedicated fan base comprising both petrol heads and watch guys. The brand s new model, the Flytrack, looks a bit like its big brother, the Track 1. It is, however, a simpler but equally fun timepiece.On this occasion, we thought it would be fun to sit down with Marco Borraccino, the man behind Singer Reimagined. We went all the way back to the beginning. Marco was kind enough to share his path with us. From his childhood in Italy, surrounded by modern design. All the way to his first job in the watch in...
Welcome back to Wrist Game or Crying Shame, where your votes are counted immediately no matter where you are! This week, we visit a florist while taking a look at the Oris Chronoris while being a tourist. Some of that is true, but first…Last week, I showed you a lightweight Hamilton Khaki Pioneer Aluminum with an anodized blue finish. You were anything but sad as you voted this interesting - and highly recyclable - automatic to a 63% Wrist Game victory. This week, we ll also bring up a watch that may have slipped your mind. After all, 2005 was a long time ago and well before people started getting together at drinking establishments to show off their watches. It s the Oris Chronoris 20...
