Back in April 2024, I had a chance to check out the olive-green version of the Rado Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Skeleton. While that earlier release walked a fine line between a saturated green and warm gray, today s new watch takes a stealthier black approach. But don t let that fool you because the rose gold PVD details on the crown and bezel liven up the design nicely. As a result, I like this new black Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Skeleton better than the previous model. Let me explain why.Ask me what color I think of when it comes to Rado ceramic watches, and I ll immediately answer, Black! As I explained in the review of the olive-green model, my mother was a big fan of Rado s bla...
Our Aussie friends at Time+Tide collaborated with TAG Heuer, resulting in a new version of the Aquaracer Solargraph. Style-wise, this is Time+Tide through and through. The Sundowner takes inspiration from the watch that has almost become synonymous with Time+Tide founder Andrew McUtchen, the Aquaracer Solargraph, and it pours on some Australian Outback sauce. Lets have a closer look!If you dig it, you may want to rush to get your hands on one of the 250 pieces that will be produced. You can find them at Time+Tides Watch Discovery Studios in London and Melbourne, on the T+T website, and through the TAG Heuer boutiques in Australia and New Zealand. Lastly, a small number is offered on TAG Heue...
Over the past year, we ve reviewed several watches from Brellum. The team has always been impressed with the pieces build quality and relative affordability. However, we and our readers have been hoping for smaller-diameter watches. That day is here with the new Brellum Duobox 39 Chronometer.Previously reviewed Brellum watches have measured in the 42C43mm range. They ve received positive comments on our site and from owners who like the looks, low production numbers, and one-on-one communication with the company s owner. Some, though, have desired a smaller footprint. Apparently, Brellum was listening, and the new Duobox 39 Chronometer now answers the call.The Brellum Duobox 39 ChronometerA...
Having past ambassadors who became icons in their fields of activity is priceless. Some of these connections are real, and some are more of a wish. It s important to navigate through tons of lies and fairytales made up to boost the value of vintage watches and just stick to the facts. Jim Clark or Stirling Moss wore vintage Enicar watches. And that s a fact.I keep wondering whether 50 or 60 years from now, people will get excited about the fact that Roger Federer wore watches. Will my kids or the kids of my kids be studying old pictures to recognize what Omega watch George Clooney was wearing to the Oscars?The beauty of an eraWell, I believe current brand ambassadors won t be as exciting fo...
You can almost hear the discussions at the Nomos headquarters in Glashtte. First, the 42mm Club Sport was introduced. It was the German brand s first proper stainless steel sports watch. It was a well-received release but also a little big for some people, so the brand decided to introduce a smaller 37mm size for the Club Sport Neomatik. I called it a home run in terms of size, but apparently, some people didn t agree, and Nomos introduced a bigger 39mm version. Today, we open the curtain for yet another new size. Please put your hands together for the Nomos Club Sport Neomatik in a 34mm case. Apart from the new diameter, there are also three new dial colors - gold, rose, and purple.I guess...
The new Delugs sailcloth-patterned rubber straps are a refreshing addition to the brand s repertoire, especially for collectors looking to add a more refined version of the sailcloth strap. First things first: these are not your typical ultra-modern, sports-performance sailcloth-style straps. They re made with a nod toward traditional aesthetics and construction.A few things stand out about this new Delugs release. Unlike genuine sailcloth, which uses woven fabric, these straps are crafted from FKM rubber with a sailcloth pattern embossed on the surface. The pattern is neither too deep nor too light, and it looks the part. While this alternative to proper sailcloth is not totally new, Delugs...
Hello, and welcome to?Fratello Talks. Could this be the next new ? In today s episode, we put ourselves in the shoes of the brand s product developers and exchanged some pitches about what kind of watch we d love to see release next. We fully acknowledge it s practically impossible to guess The Crown s next move. Still, it was a fun thought experiment to see which direction it could take. We discuss far-fetched wishful thinking, tongue-in-cheek suggestions, and potentially great ideas that genuinely got us excited. But before we give the game away, let s get to this week s wrist check.This video is blocked because you did not accept marketing cookies. Change cookie settings This podcast p...
The new stainless steel Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Chronograph was among our favorite releases during Watches and Wonders 2023. The contrast between the clean blue/gray sunburst dial and the open-worked chronograph dial especially earned our admiration. Of course, the version with a rose gold case and indexes on its black sunburst dial was also very impressive. But somehow, we didn t give it the attention it deserved. Maybe that s why Jaeger-LeCoultre has now introduced a new Reverso Tribute Chronograph limited edition on which even the dial and bridges are made of rose gold. Just to make sure we were listening this time.Both Lex and I were in awe of that stainless steel Reverso Tribut...
Panerai recently released the Luminor Destro Otto Giorni PAM01655. Whats in a name? Well, the fact that it is a Luminor with an eight-day power reserve that is supposed to be worn on your right (destro, in Italian) arm. That pretty much sums up what this new Luminor is all about.So, is everything right about this new destro PAM, or should you walk right by? Lets have a quick first look!Luminor Destro Otto Giorni PAM01655If you own a Panerai Luminor Otto Giorni PAM00915, you can press its crown guard against a mirror to see the new PAM01655. Well, technically, you will see a PAM01655 with unreadable reversed dial printing, but it s close enough. What I m trying to say is that these are identi...
Welcome to another installment of the Fratello Watch List! Thomas and Daan opened the series with several interesting picks. Some of them could easily be on my list too. But as there is so much to find in the world of pre-owned watches, it s easy to come up with a series of different options. Like all Fratello team members, I actively keep tabs on several watches via Chrono24. I have picked three (plus some honorable mentions) that are on my watch list for different reasons, and here s why I would love to add them to my growing collection someday.Someday is a flexible concept, of course. I am actively looking at some of these watches and planning to purchase them whenever possible. And there...
We often receive great personal stories from our readers about their watches. Some of them stick with us for a long time, like this story submitted by Nick about his Speedmaster Mark 4.5 and its connection to the Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me. We published this article nearly 10 years ago, but in case you missed it, here s the story again.An Omega Speedmaster Mark 4.5 (though not the one in this story)A stolen MoonwatchOur reader Nick fell in love with Omega s Speedmaster after he watched the 1969 Moon landing as a teenager in France. When he turned 21, he received a 71 Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch as a birthday gift from his dad. Nick then found a job in the movie industry a c...
Isnt it fascinating how your lifes trajectory can hang on decisions you make early in life? I picked a subject profile in high school that would later mean I did not qualify for Industrial Design school. If I had picked differently at age 15, there is a good chance I would have become a designer. Today, I am living out that desire nonetheless by dreaming up watches and collaborating with an actual designer, Max Resnick, to bring them to life. I love talking about watch design. Design is my key point of focus when I review watches. In my opinion, specs, build, and features always live to serve the watchs design.So I figured it would be interesting to have a casual chat with two highly experie...
At the beginning of this year, I learned from my colleague Jorg that brown would be the color of 2024. That shocked me. I have nothing against the color brown in general, but brown watch dials never captured my heart, to put it mildly. So why did I want to try out the Nomos Club Sport Neomatik 39 Tabac? It s because the radiant dial in tobacco brown had a metallic shine with hints of other shades that struck me. It made me wonder if I could find a strap to uplift the watch that came from Glashtte on a three-row steel bracelet.Well, 2024 is almost over, and although Jorg predicted a year full of brown-dialed watches, they seem to have stayed out of my sight of the field. I penned my objectio...
Its not often you find yourself surrounded by no fewer than six Freaks. It happened to me recently. I did receive a warning that the watches were on the way, but how do you prepare for something like that? Thats why, when I unpacked the box and had the pink gold Freak S, Freak S Noma, Freak One Navy Blue, Freak One in pink gold, Freak X Marquetry, and Freak X OPS laid out in front of me, I did start to freak out a bit. Six Ulysse Nardin Freak watches in one go are just a lot to take in. Thats why we made a video (click the play button above), and heres an overview of the Freaks you re about to watch in action.When former Ulysse Nardin brand owner Rolf Schnyder and watchmaker Dr. Ludwig Oechs...
Glashtte Original has come with two new watches featuring bold, bright dials. The new SeaQ Chronograph Silver Screen is a sporty addition to the regular catalog. For those interested in a dressy limited edition with a guilloche dial, consider the PanoLunarInverse. Are you ready to check out both?With these latest models, Glashtte Original introduces two watches with silver-hued dials. They couldn t be more different in terms of intent or design. However, both show off key brand styling and mechanical traits, and they should interest fans. A freshly dialed SeaQ Chronograph and a new PanoLunarInverse are available now.The SeaQ Chronograph Silver ScreenBefore discovering the PanoLunarInverse,...
In April 2024, Zenith introduced the Defy Extreme Diver, a bold and modern dive watch. The brand is most famous for its chronographs, so a new diver is big news. The initial release brought a pair of black- and blue-dialed watches. Today, an icy silver version joins the lineup as a serial-production model.This year s Defy Extreme Diver is a heavy-duty water-ready watch with styling traits consistent with other Defy models. An angular case, textured Skyline dial, and El Primero (sans chronograph) movement make it recognizable as a Zenith model. Feedback was split when we reviewed the initial releases, but most commenters agreed that the watches are impressive in person. For those on the fence...
Welcome back to another Sunday Morning Showdown! Grab a coffee, take a nibble of your croissant, and warm up your voting finger. Daan and Thomas are back at each others throats this week. Todays theme? Casquette-shaped watches with roots in the 1970s. How about that for a niche? Dont go complaining that this is apples and oranges this time, Fratelli! How similar do you want them to be?You may struggle to get your hands on either of these contestants, though. The Amida Digitrend is sold out, and the Girard-Perregaux Casquette 2.0 is the final - and limited - version of the model. But that doesnt mean we cannot let them loose in our fighting cage for a good ol Sunday Morning Showdown.Last wee...
The world of microbrands can be weird. The industry s logic only applies to some of these brands. What should not work does, and what is supposed to be a hit is often a flop. But it s also a wonderful world because exceptional timepieces like the Albishorn Type 10 are occasionally released.When a genuinely exceptional timepiece comes to the market, it s often not an instant hit. Potential buyers need some background information. Some may say if the watch does not speak to you immediately, you should forget about it. This watch is worth the extra five minutes you ll spend reading this article.AlbishornMy friendship with Sebastien Chaulmontet goes back to one of the first Baselworld fairs I at...
We are back with another installment of Back to Basics, the series aimed at newcomers to our beloved hobby. This time, we focus on watch etiquette. What are the rules of engagement when it comes to watches?Of course, you can do whatever you like. Rules are there to be broken, right? Still, it is worth contemplating what is considered bon-ton and what is deemed a faux pas. I say contemplating rather than knowing because these are highly subjective. Therefore, I invite you to comment on this article whether you are indeed a newcomer or a seasoned enthusiast. What do you consider classy/appropriate behavior when it comes to watches? There are no wrong answers.Lex is an obvious outlierThe etique...
Collaborations between watch brands and online media titles are nothing new. However, many are expensive premium products. Worn & Wound, which often focuses on affordable watches and independent brands, works with watch companies to create fun, credible limited editions. The latest results of these efforts are the new Timex Worn & Wound WW75 V3 models.In late September, we covered the last Worn & Wound collaboration piece with Lorier, the Astra Stargazer. This uniquely designed watch sold out quickly, a normal phenomenon for Worn & Wound s projects. Now, for the third time, the Timex WW75 is the chosen platform for a new set of collaboration pieces. The WW75 V3 comprises tw...
