The panda dial is without question one of the most iconic dial color configurations out there. But although slapping two black sub-registers on a white dial might make it a panda dial, it doesn t necessarily make it a great one. One of the brands that perfectly understood that is Hamilton. The Hamilton Intra-Matic Auto Chrono is the perfect example of a panda dial done very well. I got the opportunity to go hands-on with it and experience what it is that makes this model such an attractive piece.There is something magical about the high contrast black and white dial that gives the panda dial its wide appeal. It s a stylish statement like a mobster s black shoes with white spats. But as with ...

Speedy Tuesday is about sharing the passion for Speedmasters. No more, no less. Whether you have one Speedmaster or three dozen (or more), the collector s lot centers on their love for the Speedmaster watch.I like to hear stories about Speedmasters. What triggered someone to buy a certain Speedmaster or a Speedmaster in general? Every time I see someone wearing a Speedmaster, I am not too shy to ask about his or her watch. Without exception, there s always a story to it. Whether it was passed down, or Moon landing related, or simply a gift for a graduation, all the people I have asked about their Speedmaster know exactly what they are wearing. And, best of all, they know why.Speedmaster 145....

Whether you are reading this because you would like to communicate your smartness more effectively or because you d like to compensate for lack of smartness, you have arrived at exactly the right place. Here s my rundown of the Top 4 watches for making anyone look smart.Far too often, unfortunately, watches are worn to communicate wealth. This doesn t do justice to our beloved timepieces. Nor does this attitude value the craftsmanship that watchmakers invested in their design and manufacturing.Fortunately, it does not have to be this way. Watches can be appreciated for their other, truer values. Designing a watch in a way that makes you appear smart requires a lot more than a prestigious bra...

We give some straightforward thoughts on turning a Limited Edition watch into a serial production piece and use the Doxa 300 as the latest example.I was sweating my tail off in a hotel last week when Balazs sent me a WhatsApp message. We were talking about something and then he asked if I had seen the latest Doxa 300 releases. I hadn t and as a fan of the unique brand, I felt a bit left out. Well, for some reason, it had sailed into my junk inbox and all was soon rectified. These were no limited edition models, though. No, Doxa was adding six(!!) SUB 300 no T models using the famous slim cases. And honestly, I was kind of ticked.Non Limited Edition Doxa 300 sIt was back in 2017 when Doxa bro...

We are honored to have Petros Protopapas, Omega s Brand Heritage Manager, on our podcast. His first appearance on a podcast ever, and we talk Omega s Constellation collection. From 1952 to now.Our Fratello on Air podcast is available via Buzzsprout, Soundcloud, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Deezer,? Stitcher, and Spotify. This podcast player is blocked because you did not accept marketing cookies. Change cookie settings Petros? ProtopapasWe can t imagine you have not heard of Petros Protopapas if you re into Omega watches. He leads the Omega museum and archives department, together with a team of experts and a watchmaker. Although he has been accompanying us on a number of events, those...

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 Grand Seiko USA, we created a small magazine on the four special edition watches to celebrate the Japanese 24 seasons. Additionally, we cover the original 62GS design to have a better understanding of the current models. Last but not least, there s an article on Grand Seiko s Hi-Beat and Spring Drive movements.This magazine is created for the US market and can be found in a number of their boutiques. For you, we have a digital copy of the Grand Seiko magazine available for download. When you are a Grand Seiko fan, there s probably nothing much new for you to discover, but I am sure you will enjoy it anyway!Grand Seiko MagazineThis 16-page magazine covers three articles. There s one big a...

When NOMOS Glashtte first began selling watches in the early 90s, few would have predicted the brand s longevity and growth. After a stellar first decade, during which it witnessed the rebirth of hometown heroes like Glashtte Original and A. Lange & S?hne, NOMOS was already regarded as a stalwart of German watchmaking. And now, 30 years into life as a cornerstone of the craft, NOMOS Glashtte is better prepared than ever for its next 30 years.The first time I ever had the chance to talk to NOMOS Glashtte‘s representatives in person was at SalonQP in 2015. The passion for the brand and its products was palpable. I d rarely been as impressed as I was then. Listening to the young,...

If you re looking for an example of a well-established brand flexing the advantages of volume manufacturing with the intention of providing a beautiful pair of watches for less than $500, you ve come to the right place. The taupe-dialed 862125 and 862126 fit into the Augsburg and Aachen collections easily and add another, surprisingly powerful string to Laco s bow.When the 42mm version of these watches first hit the market last year, they were unavailable for a hands-on review. Despite that, I wrote an article on the pair for aBlogtoWatch. Honestly, it took me a good few looks before I started to warm-up to the taupe dials. At first, I found them too cold, too steely, too metallic. Then, I b...

As a follow-up to our new release article on the MING 18.01 H41 diver, we go hands-on with one of the very few prototypes.When we broke the news on the MING 18.01 H41 diver, you may recall that I was waiting on a prototype version to arrive. Customs apparently had other ideas and the watch made its way to me nearly a week later. Had it arrived on time for the reveal, it would have been exciting. But in retrospect, I m glad it was late because I can now give you some more informed opinions. I ll also try to address the questions and concerns I ve received via Instagram. And I ve also added loads of pictures in the gallery, but ask questions if you have them. Shall we dance?The MING 18.01 H41 ...

It s the 13th of the month. You know what that means, right? That means it s Fortis day. And to celebrate this, the very first Fortis day, we bring you news of the Fortis Flieger F-43 Bicompax chronograph.I was lucky enough to see the upcoming models from Fortis what seems like a lifetime ago at the Inhorgenta fair in Munich back in February. Ever since then, I ve been trying to suppress my excitement. I love color. I really can t get enough of brands trying something new and fully committing to it in the design. What we have here is a great example of that. The size of this piece (especially on the wrist) would be enough to make a statement without the creative use of color, but the vivid B...

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. This week, we finally pit two writers against what is possibly the inspiration for Sunday Morning Showdown - the Tudor Black Bay P01. This time, it s personal.Firstly, lets cast our minds back to last weeks pummeling. Theres no other way to put it. Despite the difficulty to obtain an Audemars Piguet Royal ...

Last weekend we published an article on the planned Bonhams Seiko Auction. The event was taken down after some heavy criticism but has returned.That s right, the Bonhams Seiko Auction has returned for another try. Dubbed as Making Waves: Seiko Part 1, this online only event is set to expire on August 25th at 18:00 Hong Kong Time. Last weekend, I had attempted to write a full review of the lots when, suddenly, the links were taken down. It seems that mounting criticism caused the auction house to rethink the situation.With its latest incarnation, the Bonhams Seiko Auction sees a reduced number of lots and, thankfully, most of the really bad pieces have been delisted. Also, Bonhams has come ba...

If youve ever been dubbed an expert in a particular field, youll understand the kind of pressure that comes with the title. A desire to do well for those who look up to your apparent position of influence, who wish to feast upon your assumedly limitless knowledge and experience, and who hope to find you completely and utterly infallible when put to the test comes with the territory. Getting the chance to review luxury watches is a treat, but it is not without its frustrations…Regrettably, with a few less-than-certain exceptions, we are all human. And while it is certainly possible to be an expert in a relative sense of the word, an industry like watchmaking, with its multi-disciplined ...

Since many years, I am craving for a gold Day-Date. Not always with the same intensity, but ever since I tried a Day-Date in my early 20s, I decided I need one at some point.That point is closing in on me now, 20 years after I tried my first Day-Date or President, as they like to call them in the US. The President part mainly refers to the bracelet, of course. But it was a 1966 advertisement that made a reference to the president, holding a red phone and on his wrist, a Day-Date with President bracelet. You can see it yourself in this reference article I did on the Day-Date.Anyway, the gold Day-Date is a watch that has been on my list for a very long time. But every time I came close, ...

As you probably know, we launched the Fratello Shop last December. Recently, we updated our stocklist with a few new watches for your pleasure. Let s have a quick look.Besides the pre-owned (NOS) Omega Speedmaster Professional watches and Frederique Constant Manufacture with Moonphase, we ve now added two references each from Rado and Fortis.Rado in Green and RedWe are very enthusiastic about the Rado Captain Cook, but the red-dialed Golden Horse on a beads-of-rice bracelet really struck a chord with our team. When it first came in for review (click here) it was the watch everyone rushed to strap on their wrist. A beautiful 36.5mm dress watch that originally came with a leather strap only, w...

Crisis. A Patek Philippe butterfly clasp is covered with hairline scratches. Was it my doing? Incredulously, I realize that it was handed to me in this condition. I find myself torn between a feeling of shock and happiness. The same clasp is worth more than a top piece or two in my own collection, and yet it is scratched. But why does this fill me with happiness? Have I lost my marbles? Is it schadenfreude? Or is it something else…This is the first time Ive handled this enigma of a sports watch on a rubber strap that goes for $50-60,000 Euros pre-owned, or new after a 5 year wait for your local AD to get one in stock, and, for me, its a momentous occasion.The occasion was made all the ...

Im not a big golf fan. Until yesterday, I couldnt even tell my bogeys from my eagles. But I am a huge enthusiast when it comes to creative watch movements. And I dont just mean Haute Horology. I like it when manufacturers are creative with everyday-kind-of-watches. You can easily overlook Citizen Challenge Golf. But you should not and in todays #TBT you ll learn why.To frame your expectations, todays discovery belongs to the group of slightly bizarre, but truly amusing complications. Their practicality or usability is questionable. Their reputation? Practically zero. Think of funky Lip Thermometer, Zeno Tennis watch, crazy Sperina Regulator, or worlds first electrically illuminated wristwatc...

Vintage Hanhart chronographs are a solid part of many vintage watch auctions. A strong military heritage, Steve McQueen s endorsement, and striking visuals mean they have become quite sought after. Today we will look at the two modern reinterpretations. The smaller monopusher Hanhart Mk 1 and double pusher Hanhart TwinControl. I remember when I first learned the story behind the red chronograph pusher. The legend says that the woman painted the button with her red nail varnish so that her man would think of her always. Whether it was his wife or mistress, is not important. Is the story real? Thats the question for the marketing genius that came with it. True or not, the red button is the dis...

Welcome back to Wrist Game or Crying Shame where you choose stop, start, or reset. This week we travel back to 1997 to look at a TAG Heuer Monaco CS2110. But first…Just when I think I know my constituency, you guys throw me for a serious loop. Such was the case with last week s Omega De Ville Power Reserve with the epic Brick bracelet. In a nod to the Commodores, let s just say you saw this watch as a Brick House, because you let it all hang out in a 70% Nice Price win. Seriously, just when I began losing faith in humanity, you restored it by voting for tasteful exuberance. Moving on - today s TAG Heuer Monaco CS2110 sports a flashy bracelet, but that s not the real significance.Back t...