The partnership between the Belgian independent watchmaker?Ressence and on-line luxury boutique Mr. Porter was already established in 2015. Today, they introduce the Ressence Type 1 MRP to you, a collaborative edition between Ressence and Mr. Porter available in two limited edition versions.?Ressence Type 1 MRPThe two versions introduced are the Ressence Type 1PN MRP in titanium and the Type 1 PW MRP in 18 karat rose gold. The titanium version has a case made of Grade-5 polished titanium with a night blue metallic dial, limited to 12 pieces only. The rose gold version with sandblasted white dial is even a bit more exclusive, as there will only be 6 pieces.Ressence Type 1 MRPThe Ressence Type...
I m a big fan of stainless steel watches with integrated bracelets. The Oysterquartz Datejust with reference 17000 belongs to these watches. Oysterquartz Datejust C 52Mondayz, week #25The usual suspects in this field are of course the Patek Philippe Nautilus, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo, the Vacheron Constantin 222, the original IWC Ingenieur (SL1832) and lately the Girard-Perregaux Laureato. However the Oysterquartz Datejust certainly fits in as well.A little history lessonAfter a model with an outsourced quartz movement in 1970, began supplying the Oysterquartz watches with in-house movements at the end of the seventies. Two models became available, the Oysterquartz Datejust and...
Early May, Tudor and retailer Bucherer unveiled the Heritage Black Bay Bronze Blue watch. This watch is part of Bucherer s Blue Editions, a collaboration between Bucherer and a number of watch manufacturers. Only available at Bucherer Boutiques, but we were able to get one for a few weeks to see how it wears. Without further ado, our hands-on Tudor Heritage Black Bay Bronze Blue review.Tudor Heritage Black Bay Bronze BlueAccording to Bucherer, the Tudor Heritage Black Bay Bronze Blue is a perfect fit for their Blue Editions collection as Tudor has been a long time user of this color (ever since their 1969 Submariner 7021). We wrote about these vintage Tudor Submariners before (click here) an...
Dutch-Swedish watch brand MAEN has released their second model on Kickstarter and the campaign was fully funded in a little over a week. With only a few days left, it might be worthwhile to check out the different options that are still available against a reduced Kickstarter price!The design style of MAEN is to bring contrasting styles together in their timepieces and the Manhattan 40 is no exception. Inspired by Manhattan, the design is a mix of bold and understated, of classic and contemporary. The watch features a flat bezel (available in polished or brushed finish), prominent faceted dauphine hands, polished indicators and a beautiful circular brushed matt dial. True to form, MAEN (old-...
We often receive an invitation to visit a manufacture in Switzerland and Glashtte (Germany), but once in a while we find ourselves somewhere else looking at watchmaking machines and equipment. This time, we visit the Hanhart manufacture in the Black Forrest (Germany).?Hanhart manufactureIn the Black Forrest lays Gtenbach. A small village in the south of Germany, with a population of about 1200 people. It is the home of Hanhart. You might have heard about Hanhart, with its rich history of?over a hundred years. From early pilot s watches?to stopwatches used for?car racing, Hanhart?did many different things. I reviewed one of their signature models, the Pioneer Monoscope a while ago. We also ...
September 2015 feels like a long time ago, but thats exactly when we reviewed a few of the offerings from UK-based BCatt Watch Straps. I initially spotted these on Instagram and was drawn to these straps due to their bright colors. In the article, we went into detail about how Ben Cattroll hand dyes the vegetable tanned leather into so many colors and then burnishes the edges. Since the nearly two years since the articles airing, Ive worn the straps heavily C well, as heavily as one can when they try to rotate watches on a daily basis. I own a Breitling 765CP Jean-Claude Killy and it has lived solely on a brown distressed strap from Ben. What I can tell you is that these straps have aged bea...
It is no secret that sports watches get a lot of love from us and most of you. However, there is little wrong with a good dress watch. The problem is that it is rather difficult to find one of those, without being it ‘your grandfathers watch. Once in a while, I come across a dress watch that appeals to me. In fact, I notice that my ‘hunger for a nice dress watch is getting bigger as I am getting older.?I got in touch with independent Swedish watch manufacturer Sj?? Sandstr?m (founded in 1986 by?Christer Sj?? and Mikael Sandstr?m). Sj?? Sandstr?m creates?sports watches, but they also have dress watches in their Royal Capital collection. Their Sj?? Sandstr?m Royal Capital watches...
Until a few years ago, there used to be a gold Speedmaster Professional in Omega s collection. Not anymore though, as it was discontinued at some point. This year, Omega surprised us with an 18 carat gold limited edition for the Apollo XVII but they also decided to create a very special (not for sale) gold Speedmaster Professional for the Starmus Festival.I can imagine that you ve never heard about this festival to be honest, so let s explain. The Starmus Festival is a combination of science, art and music, and its goal is to help the general public understand and appreciate science. Since 2011, it has included performances and presentations from astronauts, cosmonauts, Nobel Prize winners a...
Last week we received the Oris Aquis Date divers watch in for review. Spot on to be my 52Mondayz watch for this week, as this week I will attend an event which includes diving.Oris Aquis Date C 52Mondayz, week #24The Oris Aquis was slightly redesigned and presented at this year s Baselworld. Compared to the previous?Aquis model (you ll find our review here), the new Aquis?is somewhat more refined in its appearance.The redesign of an already attractive watchThe crown guard and lugs have become more softened, as well the hands got a somewhat more distinct appearance. The bezel inlay became brushed from glossy ceramic. All in all small changes which affect the appearance of the watch towards mo...
Saint-Imier (Switzerland), January?2017 C Longines celebrates this year the 60th anniversary of its first Flagship collection. For this occasion, the watchmaking brand introduces the Flagship Heritage C 60th Anniversary 1957-2017. This timepiece was inspired by a Flagship model kept in the Swiss watchmakers headquarters, favoured by Longines Ambassador of Elegance, Kate Winslet. Available in steel, yellow gold or rose gold, these numbered and limited-edition models display a flagship on the back, as did the original pieces.Longines sold its first Flagship in 1957, and ever since, the collection has met with lasting success. This timeless watch, with its white dial, thin profile and fine fast...
Ending a series?of travels we find our way to the C?te d Azur in France to meet up with Anonimo watches for a sailing adventure. In a hotel nearby the harbor we gather up and change into the SFS sailing outfit for the best possible team spirit. Following a short walk we are looking at the SFS yacht which is one of the largest sailing boats there. As soon as we get on board and have a closer look, we realize this thing is made for one thing only and doing that in the fastest way possible. Sailing! It looks like almost everything is made out of carbon.With a small team we get some instructions and before we know it, we are out on?open water and the engine is turned off. This is where the hard ...
A recurring theme in our #TBT articles revolves around the aberrations from various watch companies. These are the one hit wonders, the exceptions and theyre typically major breaks from a brands ethos. Think of watches like the Nivada Datomaster, the Meylan chronograph and even the 1655 Explorer II and youll be on my thought train. Todays excerpt continues the trend with a look at the original Rado Captain Cook. As youll see, its a timely article, but its also a look at a watch thats essentially escaped view from all but the most ardent dive watch collectors. Hoist the mainsail-all aboard! (Come on, you have to chuckle a bit- ?? )A New Rado Captain Cook Was at Baselworld 2017If there was a ...
Sometimes watch collecting or enthusiasm goes past the love for watches. It is about stories and heritage that has more meaning than the watch itself. Today, Fratello Watches brings you the story of RAF Squadron Leader Frank Wright Walton (Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order,?Distinguished Flying Cross and bar) and his Omega 30T2 pilots watch.Not too long ago, I received a message from Julian after I posted a military Longines that was sent to a Londoner in the RAF Pathfinders in 1941. Julian told me that his grandfather was also in the Pathfinders in WWII, as a Squadron Leader of 109 Squadron and that he had inherited his RAF issued Omega 30T2 timepiece.Frank W. Walton on the left.RAF I...
We receive quite a number of questions regarding the Speedmaster, and some of these messages are very similar. One of the recurring questions we receive about the Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch is in regards to its Moon heritage.One of the Fratello readers asked us the following question: Which modern Speedmaster is closest to the original Moonwatch?We do get this question quite often indeed, so today, we ll share our answer (or opinion, as you wish). The number of different Speedmaster models in the current Omega collection can be a bit confusing for people. The Moonwatch is, by definition, a hand-wound watch, but not all hand-wound Speedmasters are considered Moonwatches. Think o...
It can easily be told that I love watches with black dials. I just mentioned that only 5 of the last fifteen 52Mondayz watches were not equipped with a black dial. This week will be number 6, the Sinn 656 L.Sinn 656 L, ref 656.015 C 52Mondayz, week #23During Baselworld 2011 Sinn presented a 656 with, what on first sight looked, a cream dial. It was a prototype just to test the water. Sinn wasn t sure about the reactions of the public, and would produce the watch depending on the reactions at the fair.Looking like a cream dialThe dial, during daylight with a colour as cream as the Explorer-II cream dial, turned out to be a so called lume dial. A dial on which the base material has the lumino...
It s not everyday that you get to drive an AMG but with the launch of the new IWC Ingenieur Chronograph Sport Edition for the 50th anniversary of AMG we received an invite that brought back memories of our AMG on Ice experience earlier this year. Only this time we went to the AMG headquarter in Affalterbach, near Stuttgart in Germany. With a tight schedule in multiple countries we travelled there by car instead of the usual plane.So after picking up our rental we went towards Germany where we arrived after a few hours. Time to change the Mercedes 180 for an AMG GT s and the AMG E?63 s. As soon as we sat down behind the wheel we wait for the magic words ESP off, but that is not going to happe...
In 1995, the association between Omega and the America s Cup legend Sir Peter Blake started. Along the way, Omega also started to support and partner with the Emirates Team New Zealand. As their main partner, Omega started to equip the sailing team with the special Speedmaster X-33 Regatta.?Emirates Team New Zealand TimepiecesWe ve been covering Omega s ETNZ watches before and also have shown the different?America s Cup models in the past. In this article, you will see an overview of the America s Cup (and ETNZ) models up till 2015. For the 35th edition of the America s Cup and especially for the Emirates Team New Zealand, Omega?has unveiled two new timepieces. Below, you ll see the very fir...
Today, our friend and colleague journalist Michael Clerizo broke the internet with his story How Paul Newmans Legendary Cosmograph Daytona Was Found-and Where Its Going Now published on Wall Street Journal.I am not going to quote anything from the article, as I believe you should read the entire story over at WSJ. Other websites also covered the big find. The watch was actually in the hands of James Cox, he dated Paul Newman s?daughter Nell for many years and was gifted the watch by her father. Although they are not together anymore, they remain close friends. Cox?will be offering it for auction on October 26th in New York at Phillips. This happens to be the first watch auction in that city...
On todays installment of #TBT well take a look at a highly polarizing watch, the GMT Master 16753. Its a that evokes serious 1970s and 80s imagery with its color scheme and two-tone metal combination, but it has somehow remained relevant to collectors. You could easily chalk admiration for the watch up to being a vintage , but I dont think its that simple. Lets take a closer look.If youre a vintage watch admirer, youre certainly familiar with the GMT Master. Introduced in 1954 and designed in conjunction with Pan-Am for its pilots, its a legend amongst sports/tool watches. Amongst our team, there are several of us who own or have owned vintage stainless models such as the 1675 or the newe...
Incredibly sporty, truly authentic and extremely versatile. The Belisar Chronograph Sport makes a striking impression in many ways, from its carbon bezel to its screwed-down rubber flanks C but even more impressive is its ability to sport a new look every day. Three interchangeable straps make this watch the perfect accessory for any occasion. Its inner drive comes from the UNG 27.01 mechanical movement with a power reserve of up to 60 hours.The watch features a vintage strap made of calfskin leather, a black rubber strap and a reinforced fabric strap. They can be changed easily and thus create a new look matching every style. The design features a bezel made of carbon. This material with it...
