The Seiko Marinemaster 300 is one of the best watches I got in recent years. Period. Emotions aside, this watch is so much bang for the buck, that it wins hands down from other diving watches by brands like Tudor, Oris, Longines and perhaps even IWC, Omega and considering what you d get for the money. Quite a bold statement, but when I received it in January 2015, it had a list price of $2000 and there was nothing that came close to the specifications the Marinemaster 300 had for that price. Now, they discontinued the Marinemaster 300 (SBDX017) and introduced this Seiko SLA019J1 or ‘1968 Automatic Diver s Limited Edition as it is officially referred to. Is it still as good and ass-ki...
Paddock Chronograph – a racing-inspired timepiece from PaceMasters Watches featured with Carbon Fiber dial and Genuine Alcantara strap, powered by a hybrid Meca-Quartz movement is now live on Kickstarter starting from $379.Racing inspirationThe Paddock name comes from the limited access enclosed area on the racing circuit behind the pits in which the teams keep their motorhomes and where all the behind-the-curtains racing life happens. There is no admission to the public to this area, and one should have a special Paddock Club Admission to get there, which makes Paddock Chronograph feel on the wrist like a privileged pass to the world of racing.Hybrid Meca-Quartz movementJust like a mo...
When I started collecting watches in the late 1990 s, my watch dealer – and now Fratello contributor – Gerard told me that I needed a Datejust. Can t go wrong with a Datejust as they always work. With anything.. A short and simple statement from someone who had – by that time already – seen and tried it all. A few years later, just after graduation, I got my first Datejust. It was a vintage Datejust from 1969, with reference 1600, on a jubilee bracelet that was clearly added later. I managed to find a couple of extra bezels, including the fluted white gold one, so I could change it to a reference ‘1601 when I felt like it. It was also an easy watch to wear on...
Here on Fratello Watches, we generally cover the new watch releases that the Divers Watches Facebook Group (43,000 members and growing) helps create along with what is most often a micro brand. Thus far, weve reviewed releases from Zelos, Gruppo Gamma and Aquadive. All sold out quickly and were great, limited edition one and done pieces that showed serious evidence of design choices made in part by the online groups moderators. The group tries to work on at least a couple releases per year and todays article takes a look at the newest: the Crepas Loggerhead.If youve never heard of Crepas, dont worry because I hadnt either. In the quickly expanding world of micro branded watches, its not easy...
Cars and watches, [almost] always a good combination. Frederique Constant s CEO Peter Stas must have thought so too when he started to support vintage car rallies back in 2004. Not only do they support the?European Healey Club again in 2018, they also decided to celebrate with a new Frederique Constant Vintage Rally Healey Chronograph.Vintage Rally Healey ChronographsThe vintage in the name ‘Vintage Rally Healey Chronograph of course refers to the rally they support, but also to the inspiration of the three new chronograph models. Limited to 2888 pieces each, these chronographs come in a 42mm case in stainless steel and in plated rose gold. For the stainless steel version, there are t...
At the Chemin des Tourelles 17 in Le Locle, you will find the headquarters of Tissot SA since 1907. Tissot named a collection after this street, called the Chemin des Tourelles (meaning as much as ‘Turret road ). And it is indeed a nice ‘Chemin , where Tissot is located. A great reason to name a collection after it.Tissot Chemin des TourellesThe Chemin des Tourelles collection is not new, but Tissot added a couple of new watches with blue and brown dials. In their press release, Tissot states these colours are a ‘trend , which is true, but which also has been a trend for quite some years now. Perhaps the news doesn t travel that fast to the Chemin de Tourelles in Le Locle. ...
Let me start by saying that it always amazes me that there is such a gap between results from auctions and from the ‘normal marketplaces for watches. Today s Phillips auction results are no different, and you also need to deal with buyer s premium and deal with taxes. The latter should be always dealt with if you buy abroad (or outside EU for EU residents for example). I will get back to the differences in prices later, let s have a look first at the Speedmaster watches that were part of today s Phillips auction in Hong Kong.The Hong Kong Watch Auction: SIXToday, there were 10 Omega Speedmasters?up for sale during the Phillips auction this morning (my local time). Phillips was so kind...
LIV Watches was established as a direct-to-consumer microbrand, crafting durable Swiss timepieces built to suit the modern man.At the end of 2014, LIV Watches launches with the GX1 on Kickstarter; they get fully funded within the first 11 hours. Just over a year later, they bring the GX1-A to life and receive over 1.1 million dollars in funding. In March 2017, LIV Watches launches the Rebel, receiving over 1.7 million dollars from over 2,900 customers who had never even heard of them. It remains the most crowdfunded Swiss watch to date.Here are the basics to LIV Watches story:LIV Watches is the most crowdfunded Swiss watch in historyLIV Watches has raised 3.2 million dollars 5809 backers in...
Most of our team grew up in the 1980s (sorry Gerard), and that means a Swatch was on our wrist. It was only later that we learned that it was exactly this brand that saved almost all of the Swiss watch industry. So we have huge respect for Swatch, but not only for being the hero of the industry, also because they brought us some cool watches when we were kids. And they still do, as we could witness last week.It s not every day that we get invited for a launch party in driving distance, so when we heard about the new Swatch Skin Irony launch in Belgium we happily got in the car to drive down to Antwerp.Swatch Skin IronyUpon arrival, the theme was well visible throughout the location. Being we...
You come to Fratello for everything Speedmaster (related). Well, this also includes sad news of course. Yesterday, on May 26th, Apollo 12 astronaut and 4th man to walk on the Moon, Alan Bean passed away.Astronaut Alan L. Bean, lunar module pilot for the Apollo 12 mission, is about to step off the ladder of the Lunar Module. (c) NASAAlan BeanBorn in 1932 in Texas, Bean was selected by NASA in 1963. Initially for Gemini 10, but was placed into the Apollo Applications program instead. Together with astronauts Pete Conrad and Dick Gordon, Alan Bean was assigned Apollo 12.Alan Bean, wearing his Speedmaster BA145.022. Image (c) APOn November 14th, Apollo 12 was launched and flew 250.000 miles in o...
Today, on #TBT, well continue to expose vintage Citizen as a real opportunity for collectors. This time, though, well step away from tool watches such as divers or chronographs and go the classy route with a look at a dress watch. The 1960s Citizen Chrono Master is a watch worth discussing, especially if well-built precision Japanese watches are of interest.Every time we discuss Citizen, its impossible not to mention the brands arch-rival: Seiko. The two companies went tit for tat during the 1960s and 70s to the point that some of the watches are indiscernible from 5-10 meters of distance. Harken back to our article on the Citizen Uni, a light diver from the 1960s, thats so close in looks an...
A year ago, Vertex introduced their M100. A watch that paid tribute to the military Vertex watch that was part of the famous dirty dozen. Only 600 pieces were made of those, and only available via an exclusive invitation and referral program. Now, there s the Vertex M100B. Vertex M100BInterestingly, the current Vertex company is owned by the great-grandson of the founder of the Vertex company over a 100 years ago. He explains that the original 1944 Vertex military watch with calibre?59 movement has been the blueprint for the M100 and this new M100B, with DLC finish. In fact, he is assured that if today s technology would be available in WW2, the original calibre?59 Vertex watch would al...
Earlier this year we visited the Breitling roadshow in Zrich, Switzerland, and had a sit-down with CEO Georges Kern. He was incredibly open to us (as you can read here) and the new collections were well received, including the new Navitimer 8 models.World s leading online marketplace of watches Chrono24, did a profile on Breitling and put it in an interesting infographic. We would like to share this infographic with you, and perhaps you see something that is new to you and might spark your interest in them.This infographic was made by Chrono24.com....
Last week I travelled to Russia, to join the first Moscow Speedmaster event. In one of Moscow s skyscrapers?at an altitude of 354 meters, guests could enjoy a thorough introduction and explanation of the Omega Speedmaster.I have never been to Moscow before (except for a connecting flight at the airport), but it is a very impressive city. Before the Moscow Speedmaster Event started, I made sure to walk around a bit in the centre, enjoy looking at the Red Square with all of its beautiful architecture.Moscow Speedmaster EventOmega Russia, together with Russian magazine WatchAlfavit, organized this wonderful Moscow Speedmaster event on May 17th in restaurant Ruski, the highest located restaurant...
How on Earth can a brand think that by giving actor Y or actor X a watch for free, that it makes me want to buy one too? You guessed it right, I am not a fan of most watch ambassadors.When I saw George Clooney and his wife at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, it made me think of this topic on watch ambassadors I wrote in 2015, and realized it is still a hot topic that is often discussed among watch enthusiasts. A few moments later, I saw that Prince William was wearing a mid-sized Omega Seamaster. He wears that watch all the time and it is to be believed that he received this watch from his mother, Diana. I would say that this is a watch ambassador, probably totally unaware and ...
After the impressive auction result of the Elvis Presley Omega Tiffany, we decided to give you an overview of some of his other watches as well. We discuss two of his Omega watches (one is the 1.8mio Swiss Francs Omega Tiffany), his King Midas and the well-known Hamilton Ventura. Without further ado, let s have a look.Elvis Presley s WatchesElvis Presley was one of, if not the, most influential musician of the last century. Throughout his career, that spanned over 30 years, it was estimated that he sold over 1 billion records. He also sold out 837 consecutive shows in Las Vegas, starred in 31 feature films and musicals and had 18 number one songs on Billboards Hot 100 Pop Chart in the US. D...
Damn you . Ok, more specifically, damn you vintage . I dont want to like you, I really dont, because so many others are in love with you and have made you dangerous to buy and a prohibitively expensive process along the way. Plus, you go and change one silly detail here or there like a font C often likely without a ton of consideration on how the market will react (in this case would have reacted) C and people go nuts. I mean seriously nuts. Todays #TBT looks at a watch with a small little detail that collectors love and its a watch that I kind of accidentally backed into about five years ago. Lets talk about the well-known ref.1680 Red Submariner. Actually, and Ill not repeat it, but just ...
SevenFriday honoured us with not one but two review watches. Two of the latest additions to their growing collection, the M3/01 Spaceship, and the P1B/03 Japan Inspired models.SevenFriday, Spaceship and Japan models#gallery-1 {margin: auto;}#gallery-1 .gallery-item {float: left;margin-top: 10px;text-align: center;width: 50%;}#gallery-1 img {border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;}#gallery-1 .gallery-caption {margin-left: 0;}/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */Over the years we did a few SevenFriday articles, the first one was by Balazs in 2014 about two charity models (here s the link), and the last one, by Robert Jan, was in fact about the introduction of the M3/01 Spaceship model (whi...
Are you looking to buy an Omega Speedmaster but don t know where to start? We re here to help! Over the past 65+ years, Omega has created many variations of one of the world s most famous chronographs. The classic 42mm Moonwatch has been in the collection since 1965, and to the novice eye, little has changed since then. But if you look a bit closer, you will find that the Speedmaster evolved quite a bit in the decades that followed.In this Speedmaster guide, we ll give you an overview of the most important references of the Speedmaster (Professional) and some of its variations. Although this article isn t meant as a pricing guide, we will give some hints, of course. If you re already a knowl...
The brand ToW C Time of Watches was established in Malaga, Spain at the beginning of 2015, selling their own designed watches and straps to the Spanish market. Now, they have decided to enter in the micro brands watches market, oriented to mechanical watch enthusiasts.The ToW Gibralfaro has a racing vintage style inspired on rallying, receiving its name commemorating their local Gibralfaro rally, and the iconic chronographs of the 70s/80s. Inspiration that arose in details like the power reserve indicator, or the hands inspired in the classic rally cars dashboards. The mainly brushed modular case, custom made in 3 pieces, and the custom applied indices mixing brushed and polished surfaces co...
