Every year at the Theatre du Leman in Geneva,?the watch world comes together?to celebrate the best horological creations it has to offer. This year marks the 24th GPHG awards ceremony, and many impressive timepieces are in the running. We looked at the nominated watches in the different categories and picked our favorites. Whether they will win the actual awards remains to be seen, but it s always fun to find the ones that speak to us the most. While we agreed on many of our top picks, there was also a bit of friendly friction at times. Ultimately, we settled on a list of great watches that we feel could be worthy winners.Every category during the Grand Prix d Horlogerie De Geneve (GPHG) awa...

Welcome to the second installment of our new series, Fratello Watch List! Thomas kicked off this short series of articles exposing some of our writers watch hit lists. We all have a (not-so-)little list of references we plan on owning or maybe just dream of acquiring someday, dont we? Today, it s my turn to expose some of my (neo-)vintage wishes, guilty pleasures, and other random references on my Chrono24 Notepad.Similar to Thomas, I m not actively hunting for a new watch at the moment. But that s not because, like him, I m starting a watch brand. I guess it has to do with a combination of things. My wife and I bought a house exactly one year ago, and we just went through quite a renovation...

The new Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Duoface Small Seconds defines watch charisma. The proportions, material, and colors work wonders - and not just for me. Everyone in the Fratello office wanted to get their hands on this particular Reverso. In the introduction article, I expressed how I couldn t wait to try on this watch. It didnt take long for it to arrive, and it didnt disappoint. In fact, it made my head spin.When I wrote about a quartet of new Reverso Tribute references, the pink gold Q3982590 had the most visual impact. You might know about the pink gold Reverso Classic Duoface Small Seconds (Q3842520); basically, this is the same watch but with different dial designs. The Tribute...

Whenever I put a Titoni Seascoper on my wrist, it s like hugging an old friend. I have a huge soft spot for the brand, especially the Seascoper line. The first Seasscoper model that I reviewed was the stainless steel version of the watch in this review. So it was sort of a full-circle moment when the two-tone version landed on my desk. While I usually do not favor a two-tone diver over an all-steel model, with this new Seascoper 300, I am inclined to change that opinion. The new Titoni Seascoper 300, which is black and green with gold-colored elements, is simply a super stylish version of the popular diver. It s time to find out more!For those unfamiliar with Titoni s Seascoper, this collect...

I have had the idea for this article at least as long as I ve known Nico Henke, a German-based collector who we can rightly call an expert on all things related to Enicar chronographs. It s time to roll up our sleeves and, with Nico s help, explore the phenomenal line of Enicar Sherpa Graph watches.Maybe you know Nico too, but you just don t know it s him. He is known around Instagram as @_jimjupiter, and he is also an author of the Enicar Sherpa Graph Reference Guide you can find here. Nico is always my number-one contact when I spot a nice Enicar chronograph I am thinking about buying. Over the years, we discussed multiple Sherpa Graphs I discovered listed in auctions all over the world. S...

Fratello On Air is here with a new episode. We told you we d be back! This week, our show topic comes courtesy of one of our listeners. We were asked how we d behave with a dream watch that was purchased new. We have some thoughts and expand the discussion to vintage watches. For those wondering, our watch content starts after roughly 21 minutes. This podcast player is blocked because you did not accept marketing cookies. Change cookie settings Our listener 12.5Lignes has provided a great suggestion for a topic, and it s one that many people ask. Finally, after saving and waiting for one s dream watch, should it be babied, protected, or worn? While I am sure many of our listeners and rea...

We are back with another series of Fratello Favorites. This time, we pick what we feel are the best watches under $5,000. I have the honor of kicking off this new series and sharing my favorites in the segment. I have chosen to focus on dive watches only this time. Why? Because I feel this is the perfect segment for a great diver. And the fact that it is one of my favorite genres of watches helps too, of course.Another little added benefit is that it allows me a nice escape from featuring my brand. Of course, that is my absolute favorite in the segment, but it would feel self-indulgent to feature it. So, dive watches under $5,000 it is! Lets get stuck in!The best watches under $5,000 - Pick ...

I am sure that anyone who has ever delved into the world of watches has dreamed of the romantic stories associated with certain models. In a way, these stories serve as a kind of validation for us to finally acquire that wristwatch we dream of, often observing it in photos on the internet or social media. Watches with unique stories or even some nonsensically attractive function often magnetically draw us in. It s similar to when we choose a car - we fantasize about having more horsepower even if we don t need it. Still, it feels better when there s more…Watches that inspireHow many proud Speedmaster owners have told anyone who will listen how that watch was the first on the Moon or ho...

At the end of last year, I went hands-on with the colorful new versions of the Orient Bambino 38. I was surprised by how much value these watches packed for their very affordable price. The Fratelli in the comments were also impressed. Now the Japanese brand is introducing a more formal Bambino 38. Its four different versions feature elevated Roman numerals, a black, silver, or ivory dial, and a standard stainless steel or gold-tone case. Let s take a quick look.If you re looking for your first affordable mechanical dress watch, the Orient Bambino 38 should be on your shortlist. I found the limited editions that came out at the end of last year super impressive. Their soft-colored dials made...

The French word millesime comes from the world of wine, not watches. It denotes a vintage, a wine produced from a single year s grape harvest, especially a great one. So, the Raymond Weil Millesime Tri-Compax Chronograph is a 2024 vintage from Geneva. Whether 2024 is going to be a fruitful watch year is yet to be determined, but Geneva is certainly a good environment for producing great timepieces. Lets find out if the Raymond Weil Millesime Tri-Compax Chronograph is any good while sipping a cup of coffee. After all, its a bit early for a glass of wine, dont you think?Retro without faux patina - yes, it exists. The vintage-inspired Raymond Weil Millesime Tri-Compax Chronograph shows how its ...

I have spent close to a month with Tudor s Black Bay ref. M7941A1A0NU-0003, which some are calling the Black Bay Monochrome. These are my thoughts on why it is the brand s most significant release in a decade.Autumn in Sydney usually presents itself in one of two ways. One way greets you on the horizon, demanding your attention and awe. You watch as monolithic, anvil-shaped storm clouds herald ocean storms with the ability to cause instant flooding. Windows groan and flex from the southerly buster winds, and you wonder how your humble abode can survive the pummeling. Sydney faced a few weeks of this treatment recently, and, boy, at times, it was ferocious - perhaps not for a 200m-depth-rated...

Today, we ll look at a charming little Omega CK976. It s a lovely watch on the outside, but the inner workings are just as notable if not more so. This tank from 1939 is equipped with the caliber T17, a movement worthy of a place in anyone s vintage collection.When considering vintage Omega watches and their movements, calibers 30T2 and 321 tend to dominate the narrative. It makes sense to some degree because the former was a rock-solid movement that soldiered on for decades. The 321 went to the Moon and has staged a successful comeback in recent years. There are other notable movements in the brand s history, and the T17 is certainly among them. This movement found its way into smaller tank...

Sunday is here, and you know that means: it s time for another Sunday Morning Showdown! But it s not just any showdown this week. We decided to bring out the big guns for a battle that will surely get people talking. We selected the brand-new Omega Speedmaster Professional in steel and gold for this week s faceoff. What happens if we put it up against the two-tone Daytona? Let s find out which one is the Fratelli favorite. Robert-Jan picked the Speedmaster, while Jorg picked the Daytona. You get to decide which watch wins!Earlier this week, Omega unveiled two versions of its popular Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch in steel and gold. As Robert-Jan explained, these are by no means the firs...

We love our straps here at Fratello and offer a wide variety of great options. But what about essential watch tools? Is it worthwhile to spend more for a higher-grade strap-changing tool, and what is a good starting point? This article will introduce the basics. Read on.I don t know about you, but when I first got into this hobby I was daunted by the prospect of changing a strap or a bracelet. Heck, I wasn t even ready to start considering changing the bracelet length yet. This was a challenge because my first new Swiss watch (a Doxa Sub 200 Sharkhunter) had come on a factory bracelet that was way too long for my small wrists.Essential watch toolsI remember when I pulled it out of the box fo...

This week, I wrote the introduction article for the new additions to Seiko s Marinemaster collection. To prepare myself, I read through the comments below Thomas s article on the initial release of the updated Marinemaster last November. The number of comments below that article was quite surprising in itself. We certainly don t get nearly 80 comments on a release article that often. But what struck me the most was the overarching theme: people thought the $3,400 price was way too high. Is Seiko slowly losing its value-for-money image?I m not saying I agree or disagree with the point of view in those comments. I merely think it s surprising to hear something like that said about a Seiko watc...

Another day, another watch launch. With the sheer number of microbrands out there, there s a new launch nearly every day. Indeed, it can be hard to keep up with everything. Not everyone has time for microbands, and I get that. Still, I got into this hobby via this affordable segment, and I still love seeing some of the great pieces that make their way out of the din and onto our wrists. Today, I am looking at the sophomore launch of a brand I wasn t familiar with. It s the Nordic Marine Instruments S?v?rn. A friend brought Nordic Marine Instruments to my attention when asking for my opinion. Sadly, having never seen the watches, I had nothing to say. A quick bit of research revealed some att...

Watch collecting is about fun, and for most people worldwide, spending nearly $1,000 on a watch is a luxury. We can get perfectly capable time-telling watches for $30, so we collect more expensive ones for other reasons. What about wearing something with a deeper meaning? Maen makes some great takes on vintage-inspired wristwear, while seconde/seconde/ straddles the line between art and design. But this time, the inspiration is the Pandoras box that was the Manhattan Project of the 1940s.The Manhattan Project - a history lessonFor those of you who didnt pay attention in school, heres a timely reminder of the Manhattan Project. The original watch from Maen goes by the name the Manhattan 37, w...

Another Friday, another Top 5! This week, we will follow up on last week s list of full-lume-dial watches with something new. First, thank you to all of you who added some great suggestions in the comments under last week s list. There were quite a few great ones that could have easily been featured among ours. This week, we decided to look back at the first half of 2024. Instead of the best releases, we decided to focus on some of the most surprising and remarkable watches we ve seen over the last six months.While I am taking a little break from the gloomy Dutch weather with a holiday in sunny Croatia, it s a nice moment to look back and reflect. With the first half of the year almost over,...

Fratello On Air is back after more than two weeks. We didn t plan to be away, but illness and travel got in the way again. Today, we talk about some new releases after our normal banter about a variety of topics. We hope you enjoy the show and, yes, we ll be back in a few short days per our normal schedule! This podcast player is blocked because you did not accept marketing cookies. Change cookie settings For those who are interested, our Handgelenks begins 23 minutes into the episode. Thanks for bearing with our maladies and travel diaries. This episode comes late in the week, right in time for the weekend! New releases have come in a flurry over the past two weeks, and we discuss some ...

In this edition of Fratelli Stories, we learn more about Fratello reader Andre. He combines his passions for diving and underwater photography with his love of horology. This includes his fondness for his favorite diving companion, a Sea-Dweller.Underwater photography is a passion of mine as well. The underwater world is both enchanting and familiar to me, living so close to it as I do. For Andre, the connection between his passion for this aquatic world is also tied to his love of watches. Let s find out more.A passion for vintage watchesAndre, who lives here in Australia, is a collector of all sorts of vintage watches. Before developing his connection to the underwater realm, Andre had al...