Two weeks ago, the 24-year-old Bas was with some of his friends on a little beach in Amsterdam. Enjoying the sun and the water. At some point, he noticed that someone tried to steal the of one of his friends. He said something to the robber and this was returned with three shots.Bas was dead. His murderer threatened to shoot his friends as well if they did anything but walk away. I fully understand that in some parts of the world this is the reality of every day, but here in The Netherlands, it is not. Or, perhaps better said, it was not. Now, the case is still ongoing and under investigation, but we ve seen a huge amount of robberies in the past months here in The Netherlands. Often, only...

Breitling flesh out its Professional collection with a new suite of Endurance Pro quartz chronographs made with ultra-lightweight Breitlight?.Breitling is no stranger to adversity. Amid a pandemic, Breitling has faced the challenge of maintaining a fixed release schedule and executing a global communication strategy head-on. A successful webcast that may have had a few technical hiccups but still got the message across. Better still, it came at a fraction of the cost for what Breitling would have spent for a Baselworld booth.Endurance Pro collectionNow Breitling is gearing up for Geneva Watch Days. But just before the first major fair since COVID broke kicks off in earnest, we have a little ...

Back in November 2019, during my last trip as a journalist with Fratello Watches, I attended Dubai Watch Week. I genuinely love the event as one can get unprecedented access to many brands, their CEOs, and, more often than not, their latest creations. That is the story of how I managed to check out the, then new, H. Moser & Cie Streamliner Flyback Chronograph. Fast forward to almost a year later, and we have the second model from the Streamliner family; the H.Moser & Cie Streamliner Centre Seconds.I snatched the Flyback Chronograph from the wrist of Moser CEO and all-around cool guy, Ed Meylan s wrist, during one of our talks. It was a very different look, something Moser fans were n...

In a previous Seiko review, I mentioned the magic case sent to us at HQ by the kind people at Seiko NL. Within that case sat 40 novelties. Since initially poring over them, we ve been racing through our hot takes and reviews. But first impressions count. Some of those pieces jumped out at me right away and I ve been eager to get round to writing them up. In this case (pun intended) there were several special pieces that appealed to me. The Seiko 55th anniversary models struck a chord, but this is the one I was looking forward to the most - the Seiko Prospex SLA039.Back in 1965, Seiko lanced its first diver in the shape of the 62MAS. Now, 55 years later, Seiko celebrates this anniversary by r...

With the new wave of female watch enthusiasts, watch brands have started creating mind-blowing, mechanical timepieces for women.?For quite some time, Ive been barraged with questions from ladies, just entering the watchmaking universe. Many would-be collectors want to know which timepiece to invest in. Thus, Ive decided to dedicate this article to watches that you will wear forever. The list ranges from vibrant-but-timelessness styles to a more modern blend of sexy and elegant designs. Theres a timepiece out there for each of us. Here are my 7 most iconic luxury womens watches that provide the perfect springboard into an endlessly enriching hobby.Piaget AltiplanoYou can never go wrong with t...

We take a long look at the Breitling Superocean Heritage 57 where I ll attempt to convince you that it s worth a try.We don t deserve the Breitling Superocean Heritage 57. We re mean, quick to judge, and pretty set in our ways about most things - and that includes watches. We complain about watch prices, moan about in-house versus sourced movements without understanding the benefits. Really, just give us a black dial, wrap it in a 40mm stainless case, and maybe include a dive bezel. Artificially limit production and ensure the social media sages pair it with Goyard, LV, Hermes, Gucci, or some bespoke useless slippers and, voil, you have the best watch on the planet.Consequently, it s beca...

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 for yourself… ...

For decades now, watch brands have been focusing on mechanical pieces and not quartz anymore. Still, the technology that once drove the Swiss industry to its knees is still present, albeit in a very different way. Many brands - large, small, and even micro - still use quartz movements here and there. However, there s a new wave for electronic watches. As smartphones and laptop computers developed, so too did the scope of inter-device connectivity. It was only a matter of time before watchmaking caught on. Thanks to watches like the all-new Tissot T-Touch Connect Solar, Swatch Group, this segment continues to push the envelope.Granted, the Swiss brand was not the first to release a smartwatch...

Sternglas is a brand that prides itself on listening to its followers. Buoyed by a positive reception to its earliest models, and riding a wave of continuous favorable reviews, the Hamburg-based brand is finally debuting its long-awaited Chronograph model, simply entitled the Sternglas Chrono.This piece is two years in the making. An open dialogue with the vocal Sternglas community is to thank for this crisp and clear chronograph, powered by the popular Miyota analog OS21 quartz movement. Everything about this design has functionality in mind. From the no-nonsense case and the practical piston-pushers to the high-contrast, uncluttered dial layout. The result? A chronograph that shows us how ...

In this Sunday morning column, 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 dont forget to let us know which watches youd like to see torn to shreds/effusively exalted next week. Well try and feature as many of our readers choices as we can. After last week s divisive debutant, the Tudor P01, we have a couple of controversial models from Omega and . This week, the Yacht-Master stares down the Aqua Terra in one of the loveliest (or should that be lubbliest?) showdowns in memory.Wow, that was close. The polarizing Tudor Black Bay P01 duly polari...

Welcome to This Week in Watches for August 22, 2020 the hot edition. The searing heat is about to break in Europe, so take in the cool air and some new watches.UNION Glashtte Noramis Chronograph Sachsen 2020How do you like a hot red dial? The UNION Chronographs Sachsen 2020 is a COVID victim. This chrono was designed as a celebratory piece for the Sachsen oldtimer rally. That rally has been postponed to 2021. Union will make just 350 pieces of this 42mm stainless automatic chronograph. It features a reddish dial with a dashboard-inspired theme. An ETA 7753 based movement with 60 hours power reserve called the UNG 27.02 lurks within and the watch is 15.25mm thick. Pricing is $2,875 if you ta...

This week in Pre-Owned Picks, I am selecting watches from Patek Philippe in steel cases that could be yours for under $9,000. Yes, a four-digit steel Patek is a steal. But you will not find an Aquanaut or Nautilus at that price. Sorry! But thats not to say the choice is restricted to quartz pieces for ladies. You may find something quite fascinating in the line-up.For a brand as prestigious as Patek Philippe, the common case material is gold. Patek elects to use the more alluring precious metals to complement the elegant case designs and delicate movements. Casting a case in stainless steel is almost an affront to the Swiss forefathers. As such, the steel Patek has become a rarified oddity r...

Sometimes, I feel bad for certain watch brands. They ve created amazingly beautiful watches, but due to the unknown name on the dial, the price, or bad marketing efforts, they never really made it. Today I want to share with you 5 watches that never (really) hit the big time.Perhaps unbelievable today, but that is basically how the Nautilus and Royal Oak also started out. Nobody cared. Look at them now. Another example is the Aquanaut. When it was introduced in 1997, as the new Nautilus for a younger generation, it was barely picked up. I am not saying the watches in this overview will be picked up at some point and become the investor pieces the aforementioned watches have become today, but...

For someone who has around 75 watches in their personal collection, you might think I love buying watches. You would be wrong. I actually hate the feeling I get when I spend thousands on yet another watch. As such, I am always looking for reasons not to buy a watch. I like to think it helps keep my feet on the ground when it comes to reviewing these pieces for the community. When I first encountered the Vertex brand upon the company s renaissance I was intrigued but unmoved. Now, years later, I m sitting here staring at the Vertex MP45 Chronograph wishing I d never entertained the idea of strapping it on my wrist. Sigh. It could well be a spare Christmas in the Nudds household…Let s wi...

Ridiculous. Ridiculously awesome, I mean. Forget the shark. Seiko just jumped the electric rainbow Space whale (of my own invention). And it is a truly glorious experiment. What am I talking about? Haven t you heard? The Japanese ideas factory has just dropped six, Street Fighter inspired models into its Seiko 5 lineup. Rejoice. It is a good time to love watches.There are loads of reasons to be into watches and watchmaking. Some of us love fine craftsmanship. Some of us love design. And some of us? Some of us wake up every morning, hoping a press release and the link to a custom-built website promoting the same wares drops into our inboxes that makes us yell, YES! YES! YES!If you think I m e...

What comes to your mind when you hear the name Breguet? Some might think of the inventor of the Breguet overcoil, the tourbillon, or retrograde time display. Others visualize a bust of Abraham-Louis Breguet, the man behind the legend, the grandfather of watchmaking. There might be a few out there who associate the name with a jewel of the Swatch Group crown. But has anyone ever thought of the Breguet Marine 5517? You might, after this article.Breguet is synonymous with fine watchmaking of the highest order. A brand that produces elegant, Haute Horlogerie pieces while paying attention to the typical Breguet elements. The round case with the short, straight lugs. The unmistakable Breguet-style...

If there is any watch that resembles the famous early original Omega Speedmaster CK2915 then it is the Rodania Geometer. Or is it vice versa? This week, we shine a light on a long-standing but unanswered question: which of these watches influenced the look of the other? Some collectors say Rodania Geometer dates to 1954, which is three years before the original Speedmaster. But does anyone know for sure…?In September 2018, a Rodania Geometer sold at Sotheby s for $4,750 (hammer price). Just a few months later, Miller & Miller Auctions (in Canada) offered another Rodania Geometer with its box. It had an estimate ranging from $1,500C2,000. The final price - including the buyer s prem...

Welcome back to Wrist Game or Crying Shame where voting remotely has always been part of the new normal. This week we review a barely worn Sinn EZM 12 that needs rescuing. But first…In the case of LL Cool J, the opening line of Mama Said Knock You Out is one of hip hop s most famous. Don t call it a comeback spat the rapper because, as he mentioned, he d been with us for quite some time. Well, for LL it was a bit of a return to form and people went nuts.With last week s TAG Heuer Monaco CS2110, though, this was a comeback because the renowned chronograph had actually been absent. But sadly, at least in your view, this Monaco wasn t the revival you desired. Not even the human beatbox co...

As a watch reviewer, it is quite common to find yourself experiencing Deja Vu. We cover thousands of watches throughout our careers. Most of these write-ups will be standalone pieces, focused on new releases or classic throwbacks that deserve attention. But every so often, you run into a watch that just won t leave you alone. Luckily, for me at least, the Hamilton Field Khaki Murph is one of those pieces I ve had the opportunity to cover on several occasions.The watch first appeared in Christopher Nolan s 2014 sci-fi epic as a central character. Gifted by Coop to his daughter Murph, this particular Field Khaki was used by a future version of Coop to communicate with his daughter. Thankfully,...

Instead of the planned trip to Tokyo earlier this year to see the new Grand Seiko watches, we received two boxes (or more like suitcases) with Grand Seiko and Seiko watches. Most of it under embargo, of course…Despite Covid19 messing up our travel plans for 2020, the advantage is that we had a lot of time with these (and other) watches that made the trip to our office. One of the watches that grabbed immediate attention was this Grand Seiko SBGJ237. A smart looking GMT watch as you can see from the pictures.Grand Seiko SBGJ237Even though the green one (SBGJ239) was speaking to me a bit more at first, as I wrote in a previous article (click here) on Fratello, the blue and white version ...