1810 was a remarkable milestone for watchmaking history. Caroline Murat, the younger sister of Napoleon Bonaparte and a huge art collector with her singular vision of beauty acquired over 30 Breguet watches and clocks. It may not come as a surprise, but one of them was special as it was designed to be worn on the wrist by Breguets artisans at Quai de lHorloge in Paris.Men still preferred to possess traditional pocket watches. But the Queen of Naples revolutionized the way timepieces could be worn. With the delivery of the first wristwatch in 1812, the chic oblong-shaped repeater with a moon-phase indicator and a thermometer on a gold thread bracelet became a revolution in the watch industry....
When you ve been in and around the watch industry for a while, new releases can sometimes seem a little stale. It isn t that new watches are worse than they used to be. Far from it. In fact, they are technically better than ever. But with so much having been done to death, true novelty is hard to come by. Thank goodness, then, for brands like Tockr.When I first saw the Tockr Air Defender Chronograph I liked it. The first one I encountered has a really nice green sun-ray dial. It was cool. It was current. And it seemed a very on-brand product. But I didn t rush out to buy one. Why? Because it didn t make me. It looked a great product at a fair price, but that s not too hard to find if you re ...
When it comes to press release justifications for celebrating a non-centennial anniversary, few have left me with as warm a feeling in my chest as Grand Seikos recent explanation of the logic behind its 60th birthday extravaganza. A persons 60th birthday is significant in Japans culture. At that age, a human has lived through all phases of the Zodiac. As such, it is time to begin again. And, to mark the onset of a new existential era, the Grand Seiko SBGP007 is a fitting release.Lets face it. Theres a reason why Grand Seiko ranks close to the top of every Fratello team members hot-list. While each team member is an individual with individual tastes, Grand Seiko unites us all. Why? Because of...
Last week we covered Sinn s latest releases. While we re overjoyed to see some new variations coming out of Frankfurt am Main, we certainly cannot wait to get them in our hands, on our wrists, and out in the wild. In the meantime, let s take a closer look at the technologies that make these new releases so special.Perhaps the most exciting news last week was not the news of a new model, but rather an update to an existing stalwart. The Sinn U1 has a new friend. The Sinn U50 is a smaller version of the popular tool diver. While the U1 measured 44mm, the U50 comes in at a more wearable 41mm width and 11.5mm height. That s a reduction of 3mm, which is pretty significant for a tool diver of this...
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 ask you to choose your flavor: Pepsi or root beer?Last week s double-header was brutal. I need a nice sit down a long, cold soda. But which beverage would I choose? Don t worry. We ll get to that. But before we do, let s address the results of our Lange extravaganza…Perhaps unsurprisingl...
Meanwhile, we all know what trouble disposed of plastic in our oceans causes. Much of this plastic C if not most C comes from lost and left behind fishing nets. The Gyre SeaCleaner is here to do something about that.Gyre SeaCleaner – one watch at a timeThe Gyre SeaCleaner is the world s first sports watch made out of recycled ghost fishing nets from the Indian Ocean. The new brand focuses on raising awareness of the plastic soup problem and contributes to stopping the flow of plastic into the oceans and removing it. It works like this. Local fishers collect the fishing nets from the sea and deliver them to the recycler. They receive a fee for this, which means Gyre also contributes to ...
Welcome to This Week in Watches for May 2, 2020. Today, we re all about fun and I think we ve got the right watches to turn that frown upside down.Nivada Grenchen Returns - That s Fun!Speaking of fun, Nivada Grenchen is back due to the work of a couple French entrepreneurs. They ll be kicking things off with modern reissues of the Antarctica and the Chronomaster. The Chronomaster is one of the most popular semi-affordable vintage chronographs under the sun and it came in loads of variants. In fact, it came in so many variants that it inspired its own reference book called?Chronomaster Only. Orders will begin in June and deliveries are expected for December. Figure on $1,600 on a Tropic and $...
This week I am highlighting five of my picks of the IWC Aquatimer, ranging from 1968 to the present day.The concept of a bespoke, wrist-worn timing device for deep ocean diving began earlier than most people appreciate. Omega and Hamilton had novel ideas to retain waterproofness in the 1930s. Most famously, Panerai provided a luminescent and over-sized wrist-watch, with a case made by , for the Marina Militare. Not often were these watches commercially available outside of naval use.Turning the tidesBut there was a seismic shift by the middle of the 20th Century with the introduction of the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms in 1953. Soon after came the Submariner. At the time, these watches were a ne...
It s clearly new release season and that means that even smaller independent brands are in on the fun. With today s news, we have the new MING 27.01.Last year, I had the opportunity to go hands-on with the new MING 17.06. I came away so deeply impressed that I sent some emails to the small global team asking to purchase the prototype (shown below).Naturally, this request failed, but I put my name down for a release that will hopefully show itself later this year. I loved the finishing on the 17.06, the thoughtful use of materials and the low price of 1,250 CHF. You apparently loved it too because the first run of several hundred watches sold out in minutes. Today s MING 27.01 is a decidedly ...
Gnassingbe Eyadema was the longest-serving ruler?in Africa at the time of his death. He survived a plane crash and an assassination attempt. He was believed to have superpowers. Rumor has it that his watch was?magical too.?We have all seen them throughout our years of watch hunting. A?watch with a?face on the dial of a more gentle or cruel ruler, Soviet astronauts, or different regime symbols. I?never paid attention to any of them. I?had no reason. This changed recently when one of the Fratello readers shared a story as exciting and interesting as the one behind the moon watch.Eyadema s storyThe story is surreal from the very beginning. Gnassingbe Eyadema was born on 26 December 1935 in Togo...
This article is a hands-on review of the Hamilton Khaki Field Titanium Auto that has been introduced this year. Even though I love (and ordered) the new Hamilton PSR, my favorite Hamilton watches are its military-inspired pieces. Hamilton has a solid track record when it comes to military watches, the brand supplied them for over 100 years.Producing a military watch isn t just a matter of designing a legible dial. You need to make sure a watch keeps ticking when you re in the trenches or dropping from the sky. Now, today s warfare looks quite different from a few decades ago, of course. However, people like to have a military-inspired watch for many reasons, and I don t think warfare is one....
I have to say, I am not often a fan of DIY stuff. And so it follows that I didn t expect to be a huge fan of a build-your-own-watch kit. But after wearing this Penarosa for a while, I was forced to reconsider my position…My appreciation for design, art, fashion, and watches begins with the designer(s). I m interested in the thoughts that have crossed their mind during the creative process. Was there an aim? A purpose? Or is the design simply a stroke of genius? A moment of inspiration?Oftentimes, watches come across as exceptionally considered. As such, one could argue they are made to be worn as the designer (more likely the brand) intended.But that would mean that you shouldnt really...
Welcome to Wrist Game or Crying Shame, the weekly serial that allows you to govern your own state of wrist wear affairs. Today s subject is the Submariner 14060, a popular aspirational steel dive watch. We ll see what you think in a bit. But first…Last week, I brought something bright and bulbous with the Chronoswiss Timemaster. It turns out that a wrist lantern and massive onion-shaped protuberance for a crown do not a winner make. The Chronoswiss got pummeled on the way to a 59% Crying Shame loss. That s a real shame because I find it rather unique. Today s pick is far more common and I know some?miesepieters will whine about yet another .The Submariner 14060 is Still a DealI can t...
If the concept of owning a mechanically-groundbreaking watch resonates with you, Vacheron Constantins new releases will be your thing. The Traditionnelle Tourbillions fit neatly into this storied Swiss brand s catalog while evolving the modern idea of ?Haute Horlogerie?for women.2020 has been a good year for women s watches. It started with Bvlgari‘s Serpenti, released during the LVMH Watch Week in Dubai. That watch was fitted with the worlds smallest tourbillon. Following its release, I had high hopes. The mold was breaking. Brands were becoming more experimental. At last, they were taking risks with women s timepieces. I had hoped that this year, we might finally catch a glimpse of w...
Under normal circumstances, today would be press day at Baselworld 2020. We would be preparing to spread ourselves throughout the fair, visiting brands, and learning about their novelties for 2020. One of them, for sure, would be Sinn. To mark what would have been the opening salvo of Baselworld, let s dive into the Sinn novelties for 2020.It is certainly a shame we have not had the chance to try these pieces on our wrists yet. Rest assured. That day will come. And with it, so will a more personal touch to our opinions. For now, Close your eyes and imagine that nothing has changed. Here are Sinn s 2020 novelties which were originally planned for Baselworld. You may open your eyes again now. ...
What can we do these days when leaving the house is no option? We can rediscover a watch from our collection -something we have not seen in a while. We can also get out the strap box and change some bracelets and straps around. Or, in case we want fresh stuff, we can order some new ones. Lets say, from Dangerous9straps…Watch Strap Review of April brings you a brand that, although hails from Germany, has roots in the USA. The man behind Dangrous9straps, John, comes from California but is living in Germany for close to 10 years now. He creates terrific leather objects (straps, rolls, pouches), and we will have a look at them today.Dangerous9strapsEven though we both live in Germany, I ha...
The Moonwatch doesn t need any introduction here on Fratello (in case it does, go here), but this doesn t apply to everyone. Like this guest on BBC s Antiques Roadshow.The BBC aired a new episode of Antiques Roadshow yesterday evening. One of the guests bought a Speedmaster Professional pre-Moon watch at a car boot sale. When someone offered him $50 for it, he luckily turned them down.However, he still didn t have a clue about the watch. Watch expert Richard Price explained the importance of this watch to the owner, and why he was so right not to sell it for 50 quid to some shark (who probably knew very well what he was looking at). The owner paid only $5 for it at the car boot sale, but his...
I have chosen the aristocratic Wilmington with more than 60 numbers printed around the dial to disrupt your wrist quaran-time routine. If you are reading this article, it means it got through our editor. We actually never discussed featuring pocket watches at Fratello Magazine. Exercising my beloved freedom of speech writing to share my regular monthly dose of vintage inspiration, I decided to break all last standing taboos and put some really old school material in front of you. But Im warning you, its no boring grandpa business. The piece featured today has an edge. Let me introduce you to the artsy aristocrat Wilmington from the U.S.A.Editor s note: You had me at quaran-time…Wilming...
Cartier loves to create bold luxury jewelry watches. Especially given the fact that a large portion of Cartiers legacy comprises magnificent jewels designed for royal families and the sweethearts of Hollywood s Golden Age. The Maillon de Cartier aims to capture the same glamor in one spectacular, jewel-set object.Cartier has gone ultra-feminine. The desire to create an exceptional timepiece for women has led the French brand to accent the watch bracelet. As such, the Maillon de Cartier line is a sumptuous expression of sexiness.The chain-link bracelet is simply gorgeous. It overawes all other elements of this design and takes center stage as Cartier surely intended. The hexagonally shaped be...
The Laventure Marine in green may well be my favorite watch in my collection. Sure, I have plenty of other options. And yes, many of those options are from more tried-and-tested brands. But it would be fair to say that no single piece has had the same effect on me since purchase. Read on to find out why.I m a lucky guy. I have several watch boxes and countless wraps full of timepieces. I could genuinely strap-on a different watch of my own every week for a year and still not give them all a moment of wrist time. But the question always looms: what is your favorite watch? I get asked this question?all the time. I wouldn t say I am bored with it. No, it s just that I never really know how to a...
