Nomos is a huge hit in its home country, Germany, and in its price range, the brand is extremely popular. This is likely is due to a combination of the watches Bauhaus-inspired design,?the company s laid-back, friendly attitude and how Nomos?approaches their customers.? Which factor is most important?? I m not sure.NomosWhat I can tell you, however, is that almost every co-worker (I live and work in Germany) who buys a new watch at least considers a Nomos. The choice often includes one of Nomos signature models. This made me wonder more about the secret behind Nomos success. Personally, I like Nomos. For several years, we ve visited the brand in Basel, have attended their unique receptions ...

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 weather has been extremely nice to us in The Netherlands lately, and it seems not much is going to change within short. One way or the other I tend to wear sporty watches in this kind of weather conditions.Seiko Marinemaster Professional 300, SBDX017 C 52Mondayz, week #22It s not that I m out sporting more in summer than in winter. Probably bare wrists ask for more ‘resistant ?watches than when one s thick layer of clothes hides the watch anyhow. Your watch might be more prone to hits when worn in the open.Anyhow, no vintage watch again this week. I chose to wear one of my favorite sturdy sports watches, the Seiko Marinemaster Professional 300.Size mattersWhen I bought this watch, ...

Meet Farer C British watch brand, whose name is born out of passion for travel and exploration. Their timepieces reflect the true spirit of Farer: daring, courageous and filled with ambition beyond the ordinary. After the successful launch if their first Automatic collection in November 2016, the British brand announced the next significant moment: the launch of GMT Automatic.ART OF THE DIALThe founders call their new collection Art of the Dial. The new GMT Automatic continues the brands distinctive design philosophy, and brings together bold colours, interesting textures and unrivalled levels of attention to detail. Each Farer timepiece is born out of the precise and detailed work, refined ...

This year, Longines?is celebrating the 90th anniversary of the first ever non-stop solo transatlantic flight, which was flown by Charles Lindbergh and timed by the Swiss watchmaker. For the occasion, the brand is presenting 90 timepieces in a numbered and limited edition of its hour angle watch, which was designed in partnership with the famed aviator following his historic flight. This exceptional titanium and steel timepiece is intended for those who are passionate about history, adventure and watchmaking.New York, May 20, 1927, 7:52 a.m., the Spirit of St. Louis leaves Roosevelt Airport. Its destination: Le Bourget airport near Paris. At the controls: a young American pilot named Charles ...

Breitling s Navitimer is one of those models that is being regarded as an iconic watch. Like Daytona or Omega s Speedmaster, the Navitimer is right up there as well. The big difference is though, that I find it quite difficult to determine what the most ‘original Navitimer is of the models available today. Breitling does not ‘celebrate its Navitimer like Omega does with their Speedmaster, or make simply one available model like the Daytona.According to the Breitling website, their Breitling Navitimer Heritage is a commemorative model to the original Navitimer from 1952. However, this is a special edition, which makes me wonder if it is a model that is always there or that it...

Fratello Watches has a strong focus on vintage watches. Ever since 2004 we ve been covering vintage watches once in a while, but since 2015 we have a steady feature on them with our #TBT articles. We think it is about time to list the best read #TBT articles so far.Top 10 Best Read #TBT ArticlesYou will find Seiko to dominate this list, but you re probably not surprised about that. Seiko watches are interesting, most of the time affordable and have a lot to offer. The other brands will not be a surprise as well. Some of the smaller brands that we ve covered in our #TBT feature did not make it to the Top 10, but are certainly not less interesting. Unknown makes them perhaps a bit unloved. Wit...

Last year, Seiko introduced the Grand Seiko Spring Drive 8-Day Power Reserve SBGD001 during BaselWorld, but did not show it to everyone. It was on display, but available to a few markets only. This year, we came prepared and asked them to take it out of the display for us to take some decent photos and fiddle around with it for a while. Nothing much changed about this piece for this year, but as Grand Seiko became a separate entity (and organization), they also changed the dials on existing models. Including on this flagship Eight-Day Power Reserve in platinum. It is now being referred to as SBGD201 and swapped Seiko on the dial for Grand Seiko.This watch has been developed and manufactured ...

In the last few days, Ive been posting a couple of gold watches on my private Instagram account (@rjbroer). Not to test or try something, but because Ive noticed Ive grown into this precious material. Owning a couple of gold watches myself, including the Speedmaster Professional Stafford, Ive come to appreciate the material more and more. Even yellow gold. And bi-color. Not too long ago, I was in London and tried the new Speedmaster Racing Master Chronometer in 18kt Sedna gold. Sedna is Omegas own alloy for rose gold and it has been used for almost all their collections if I am not mistaken. Sedna gold is an interesting material, as it C as opposed to normal rose gold C will not turn into ye...

52Mondayz week #21 is not about the watch I ll be wearing this week. It s a tribute to the watch my wife is wearing. Not only this week, not only this month, not only this year. However every single day during her work as chef at her own restaurant ‘Limoncello during the last 10 years.The Omega Seamaster Professional 300 Chronometer Mid-Size, reference 2252.50.00Life for a watch at the wrist of a chef is harsh, extremely harsh. Steam, ice, water, grease, and continuously hitting everything from the oven to the sink, from the espresso machine to the bar.Hotel and catering industry-worthyIn my professional life as a watch dealer I ve had many chefs as valued and loyal customers. And I m...

Longines launches new Record collection and celebrates its 185th Anniversary in Beijing.?Beijing (China) / Saint-Imier (Switzerland), 16 November 2017 – Swiss watch brand Longines celebrated its 185th Anniversary in Beijing, commemorating a legacy of tradition, elegance and performance at a grand gala evening in the capital s historic Imperial Ancestral Temple (Taimiao). Headlining the event was the official launch of the Record collection, the latest emblem of the brand s watchmaking expertise, as well as the announcement of the new Chinese Brand Ambassador for Longines, Zhao Liying – a leading star in the Chinese cinematic universe.This video is blocked because you did not acce...

On May 12th, 2017, I had the opportunity to travel to Geneva for the weekend to attend the Spring auctions and some of the previews. However, on the Friday evening, I was able to enjoy a real treat: an exhibition hosted at the Kempinski Hotel by the Davidoff Brothers, Roy and Sacha, featuring 70 timepieces assembled under the theme of Watches With Nicknames.Lake GenevaPulling Together the Watches With Nicknames ExhibitionMore than six months ago when we held our #SpeedyTuesday get together in conjunction with Omega in Bienne, I spoke with Roy and Sacha about their follow up event to the Speedmaster exhibition they held in 2015. Watches With Nicknames was the idea, but as Sacha soon found out...

Recently we received an invitation to head to Milton Keynes in the United Kingdom to visit one of the top performing F1 racing teams. Being a returning fan of the F1 this was like being a kid in a candy store. Too bad there was a strict no photography policy at Red Bull Racing but we quickly learned why this was fully understandable.Starting off in the workshop we get a rough presentation of Red Bull Racing, its history and their way of doing things. Although we learn that there are roughly 800 people working there, it feels like a small family. Not just a job but ‘a way of life as they call it themselves. Crazy to realize it takes that many people to race two cars around a circuit. H...

Last weekend was an important one for watch collectors and enthusiasts. Perhaps also for investors, I might add.?We ve seen (or heard about) some of the results of the 6062 (5mio USD) and Daytona 6263 3.7mio USD) for example. You can debate the ‘hot air in these prices, but someone paid these amounts so it is as real as it gets. But what about the Omega Speedmaster watches we wrote about recently, that were auctioned through?Antiquorum and Christie s. I am talking about the skeleton Speedmaster in gold and the two gold 1980 Speedmaster Professional Apollo XI pieces.Auction ResultsLet s start with the piece that was skeletonized by no-one else than Armin Strom: the Speedmaster?Jubile...

Another week, another watch. This week I ll be out on a motorbike trip, so I thought I needed a sporty automotive inspired watch. Let s see if the Gorilla Fastback is a good choice.Gorilla Fastback C 52Mondayz, week #20Robert-Jan did an extensive review of a pre-production model of this watch here ‘Gorilla Fastback – A First Look‘ and were already quite impressed at that time. Of course a watch from the hand of a man with a track record like Octavio Garcia pulls out some expectations.First 500The watch I m wearing now is one of the first 500 production models. These 500 come numbered and, except for the nice black leather strap with red stitching, they come with a complimen...

Vintage watches are hot, we don t have to tell you that. We also don t have to tell you that a lot of established brands have difficulties to come up with new and refreshing models, although BaselWorld showed that some of them are on the right track (again). The focus was on retro models, and although some people (mainly journalists) weren t too excited about that, the watches from Oris, Seiko, Hamilton, Longines, Omega and Tissot for example, were well received.Etienne Malec, founder of Baltic Watches must have realised that there is a demand for traditional shaped and sized watch when he designed the HMS and Bicompax timepieces. Watches?that reflect the beautiful designs from the 1940 s, b...

Today on #TBT, well have a look at whats become a rather popular vintage watch, the Hamilton Military Chronograph. Its a popular watch because it hits on two of the more collectible sub genres: the military and the chronograph categories. I stared at these watches, and their identical, yet other branded brethren, for what felt like a long time before I became serious about acquiring one. While I generally consider myself well timed in finding things, this was one of those cases, though, where I really struggled to find an example. Chalk that up to a vintage market that remains piping hot. So, yes, well talk a little about the buying experience because it was a new one for me.The Hamilton Mil...

Although the use of ‘rare is often being exaggerated, it certainly applies?for this skeleton Speedmaster Jubilee 27 Chro C12 reference 3696.50. For the happy few, as we are talking solid gold here with skeletonized caliber 867 chronometer chronograph movement. Let s have a look.Skeleton Speedmaster in GoldGold Speedmasters are rare on its own, but when there s skeleton work performed by one of the renown artisans in this field, Armin Strom, it becomes a hot piece. Back in the 1990s, Armin Strom did several projects for Omega, like the skeleton Seamaster 300M for example. Caliber 864 (chronometer certified) has been used as a base caliber for this special caliber 867 movement. Where ca...

Omega didn t show us everything in BaselWorld, as we already noticed some images on Instagram from some Italian colleagues and collectors talking Seamaster Edizione Venezia. Just a few days ago, Omega officially announced this special watch that will only be for sale at the Omega Boutique and the T Fondaco dei Tedeschi by DFS (department store) in Venice.Omega Seamaster Edizione VeneziaThe Seamaster collection (1948) is actually the oldest line-up from Omega in the current families of watches. The Constellation was introduced in 1952, Speedmaster in 1957 and De Ville in 1967. The very first Seamaster models have little to do with the current line up of watches. The Seamaster slowly transform...

Inspired by a posting in one of Facebook s many wrist watch related groups, this week I ll wear an Alain Silberstein Krono Bauhaus 2.Alain Silberstein – Forerunner of avant garde watch makingIn the nineties of the last century, Alain Silberstein (1950, Paris) was THE forerunner of avant garde watch making. And he still is an influential watchmaker in terms of original designs. Many of today s unconventional watch designers, like for instance Max Bsser, love the inspiration?by Alain Silberstein. MB&F even presented collaborations with him, the first one being the LM1 Silberstein in 2009.Primary colours and geometric shapesSilberstein s watches can easily be determined by the use of...