A new Speedmaster release on a Speedy Tuesday! That makes us proud. Here s the Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon Alinghi. Just like the Speedmaster Apollo 8 that we like so much, the Alinghi is based on the Dark Side of the Moon collection.While the Speedmaster Apollo 8 revolves around the Moon, with its caliber 1869 with moon surface pattern (applied by laser ablation), this new Speedmaster Alinghi is all about sailing. A strange combination, you say? On the surface, perhaps a watch from the Seamaster collection might have been a more obvious choice. But remember, the Alinghi boats are all about speed. A sailor on one of these boats has no intention of swimming or diving, so the 50 meters o...

There is something intriguing about a watch brand s collaboration with a clothing company. These two worlds are so close in some ways yet far away from each other in many others. This brings an exciting ambiance to the partnership. That s what captivated me about Oris s new collaboration with Japanese denim manufacturer Momotaro Jeans. Let s check that piece out.I don t even know why am I doing this piece and not Jorg. He has an eye for those things as much as I do, if not better. Granted, in the past, I have written about similar collaborations. Remember the Pinion Iron Heart watch? Or the Hamilton Schott project? Well, this one is equally cool in my book. One of the most excellent indi...

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… ...

When it comes to watch design, we often don t know what we d like to see next. Sure, we all want to be surprised by something new, something we haven t seen before. A brand that has proven recently that something new actually can feel very familiar is the Italian brand Unimatic Watches. With the Modello Uno, Unimatic has shown that there is a lot to discover within the familiar aesthetic of the popular sports watch. We spoke to Giovanni Moro, one of the company s founders, to find out more.Watch design is a fascinating topic to discuss. As some of you know, I have been working in design for the last fifteen years, and I love having a conversation about watch design. What I find most interest...

Symmetry. Symmetry and balance. Those are the things that leap out from the Sternglas Ivo when you first lay eyes upon it. The big date complication is typically German. As a surprisingly German Irishman, I also love it too. Centralizing the complication and pairing it with a generously-sized sub-seconds dial works extremely well in this instance. And, along with the crisp typography we ve come to expect from this Hamburg-based brand, the dial comes to life.Sternglas is a brand connected to its followers. The company s success has always been propelled by its community. In addition to that community of ardent fans propelling the success of the brand, so too are those fans able to change its ...

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, THE classic among classics gets treated to the original mano-a-mano format. Ladies and gents, it is time for the Datejust 36 to be rated or hated.Last week s contest between the Milgauss and Omega Railmaster always had the whiff of a foregone conclusion about it. RJ and I discussed the likely ...

Water-resistance is always a hot topic in watchmaking circles. Although very few of us actually dive, knowing your watch would be unbothered by a week beneath the waves is often necessary to feel okay about doing the dishes without doffing your luxury timepiece first-To directly answer this one: Yes, most watches are okay getting wet, assuming we are talking about a bit of rain or the odd splash from the sink. If were talking about being dragged through a piping-hot whirlpool at 100 knots, the answer changes. But why?Water-resistanceWater-resistance is a really misunderstood area of watchmaking. You only have to spend a couple of scrolls of the screen on any dedicated forum to find some clev...

I often call the Datejust the mother of all modern wristwatches. The very first Datejust was introduced in 1945, and today s Datejust still shows a very close resemblance.A Datejust was actually my first . A 1969 Datejust reference 1600, that I got back in 2003, right after my graduation. A 36mm watch that goes with everything, and to be frank, it is a watch that deserves at least a try by every watch collector. For this reason, I selected five pre-owned Datejust references I would rock myself. DatejustAll pre-owned Datejust models in this overview are selected from Chrono24. Always make sure to do your homework when buying pre-owned watches. There s enough information out there on the t...

Breguet expands its collection of Classique wristwatches with a new, blue, solid gold dial.For the past three hundred years, the name of Abraham-Louis Breguet has been one of the most revered in watchmaking circles. The man himself was a celebrity. He gave us a great many innovations that continue to impress today s audience. And yet one of my most enduring memories of Breguet occurred only two years ago. I was at Baselworld 2018 and had stepped out of the Hamilton booth after my appointment. Greeting me in the center of Hall 1 was gigantic super-yacht (I swear it had not been there thirty minutes prior).The reason for the super-yacht in the middle of a convention center in a land-locked cou...

I often speak with people who are either getting into vintage watches or are considering it. Often, people are afraid of making mistakes. Here s a handy list of things to consider to avoid those pesky pitfalls.I think we can all agree that vintage watches are a wonderful way to expand one s love of our favorite hobby. Whether you re into patina, history, or collecting a certain sub-genre, there s something for everyone. Besides, with around 100 years of wristwatch production under our belts, the choices are virtually endless. If it sounds like you can t go wrong with vintage watches, that s not exactly the case. You can make momentous mistakes, but I ve found that there are some really simpl...

Breitling is one of the brands that has been capable to bring continuously bold, inspiring, and innovative watches since the early days. Picking my top 5 models from such a vast and inspiring catalog turned out to be quite a challenge.Opinions on the Breitling brand tend to be quite strong, one way or the other. I either meet collectors that feel zero affinity towards the brand or, more often, enthusiasts that have not just one or two, but dozens of Breitling watches. It only confirms that you have a lot of choices once you fall under the vintage Breitling spell.1. Breitling Chronomat ref. 769In 1940 Breitling applied for a patent on a rotating logarithmic slide rule, a tool for Mathematicia...

Stepping into a Breitling boutique today is a totally different experience than entering a dealership when I just founded Fratello magazine. Most of the time, you d step into an interior that the grandparents of the current owner had proudly chosen and installed. Uncomfortable chairs (covered with velvet!) at an oak desk where the shop owner would show you the watches on a tray, matching the dark brown oak. Often a place where there was more information and passion for watches in the catalog than in the shop.Even today - although the interiors are often improved - you will encounter places where there s just a small collection of watches of the brands you are looking for (or at least not the...

It would feel like wearing a real Porsche on your wrist if it were made of steel. The full-titanium case and integrated bracelet seem are robust enough but wear more like your favorite dress watch. Lets dig deeper to discover the charm of the titanium Porsche Design chronograph by IWC.I have a very dear friend with whom I share not only a passion for watches but also for classic cars. Peter is a Porsche Garage owner, chief mechanic, and trusted caretaker of my 1981 911 SC. Anytime I pass by his workshop, I stop for a while and we chat about life, cars, or watches. As Peter wields a wrench as often as I type, I mostly see him with hands blackened by oil and a Casio watch on his wrist. But som...

Welcome back to Wrist Game or Crying Shame where your click just might be the hardest decision you ll make during Summer vacation. Today, we ll look at a Tudor Big Block 79180 and ask for your thoughts. But first…Last week, we prefaced this week s?big theme by bringing in a rare transitional IWC Big Pilot 5002. Sadly, this aviator never left the ground and stayed parked with a 63% crying shame defeat. Given the diameter of that watch, I can t say that I am surprised. But what about a little heft in the thickness department? Enter the Tudor Big Block 79180.Tudor Big BlockWe ve spoken a lot about Tudor recently. With the recent release of the Black Bay Fifty-Eight in Blue, I guess it mak...

This is one of those brands we all seem to have a thing for. I guess most of our team own at least one Seiko, if not more. And the same goes for me, although I have to admit that all of my Seiko watches are divers. But that doesn t mean I can t appreciate other types of watches. It s always nice to go hands-on with a model that s not your regular fare. So let s have a closer look at the Seiko Presage SPB163 from the Presage collection.For those who aren t familiar with this Seiko line, we have written quite a few?articles about the Presage over the years. So it s clear that the Presage is quite a popular model and there is little against it, to be honest. Presage is advertised as a combinati...

While many brands could be accused of underrating the importance of strap design, not even the best strap can save a poorly designed watch head. And sometimes, when a brand nails the watch head design, it can burst into life on hundreds of different straps. Some watches demand you wear them on the straps the designers designed for them; others encourage you to experiment. We call these watches strap monsters. Let s take a look at a few of my favorites.Theoretically, you can put a strap on any timepiece. In the early days, even pocket watches had wire lugs soldered on as a way to affix the watch head to the wrist. I say theoretically, as not all watches qualify as strap monsters. To comply as...

On July 21st, 1969, the Omega Speedmaster became the Moonwatch. Before that, it was just the chronograph that astronauts used onboard the spacecraft and during their spacewalks.It ascended to the legendary status it holds today after rigorous testing. Understanding exactly what the Speedmaster went through to reach this level is fascinating. We reported the testing procedures in how the Speedmaster became the Moonwatch. If you d like to read about the failed competition, you can do so here.This article contains a lot of reference numbers. Don t let that confuse you. But if you have any questions, or need further clarification on anything, just ask us in the comments section below.Edwin Buzz ...

I really like what Bvlgari does with its jewelry timepieces. Nine times out of ten, they are not designed for me, but that doesn t stop me from appreciating the craftsmanship that goes into their creation. From afar, I have admired the recent releases (especially the aventurine glass dial models RJ reviewed a couple of months ago). When I heard about the Bvlgari Octo Roma Tourbillon Sapphire Malachite watch I was interested but not excited. I expected it to be beautiful and beautifully made, but not something I would wear. Well, I was wrong again…A full diamond bezel with diamond-studded lugs, Rob? Have you gone soft in the head? Perhaps, dear readers, perhaps. Yes, after many years of...

Have you ever read the diameter of a watch and instantly dismissed it as too small or too big for your wrist? We see this a lot. Oftentimes, in comment sections particularly, readers express a violent allergy to certain diameters. But the reality is that watch diameters on paper rarely reflect the way they look in real life. As such, I ve started working on a formula that can give watch collectors a better idea of real-life appearance. I hope that we can refine it together and that it will become of some use to the wider WIS community.Since initial publication 7 am CET, July 17th, I ve made a couple of explanatory updates and added a couple more dial elements, redefined the bezel for the sak...

The CODE41 X41 Aerocarbon - the 4th edition of the popular X41 series - brings something new to the table. With a case made from a high tech carbon fiber material, more commonly found in the aeronautics and aerospace industry. With this new material containing the brand s proprietary caliber, the Aerocarbon hopes to be the latest success in the brand s ever-growing catalog.CODE41 has featured on Fratello in the past. As such, the team is very aware of the brand. Prior to writing this piece, I asked my colleagues for their opinions. They were decidedly mixed. And who can blame them? When watch brands push every ounce of energy they have into designing something that will stand out from the cr...