Did you realise that it was 15 years ago that Manfred Brassler introduced his signature watch, the Meistersinger Scrypto 1Z Einzeigeruhr?Neither did I, and I don t exactly know how to feel about it. On one hand the Meistersinger single handed watches to me feel like they ve been here forever. I can t remember that they didn t exist. Seen in that light, fifteen years is only a short period to grow a watch which seems to be here for ever.On the other hand fifteen years is quite a period. Do you know what other things happened 15 years ago? Of course we all remember 9/11, however this is something of such an impact even today that it s difficult to place it in time. But how about Apple announci...
Mobile AppsIf you are an avid Instagram user like I am you probably came across these #watchessentials images. What you see in these photos are stuff people carry around with them on a daily basis. Things like car keys, belts, wallets, sunglasses and of course, watches. You rarely see an image that does not have a phone in it and it is obvious why. Whether you like it or not, smartphones became a part of our lives. We stream music and movies on them, store our data. Also to manage our social platforms, measure our daily activities, browse the world wide web and in rare occasion actually even make calls.While we can debate whether is it healthy how attached we are to our gadgets these days th...
Today on #TBT well talk about a rare watch thats known as the LeJour Fat Arrow chronograph. For a brand that later lived its life as the Yema export brand (incorporating many of their designs with only a name change on the dial or using Yemas cases), LeJour actually created a long-lived design with its Fat Arrow chronographs, but the piece today was seemingly the first. As I mentioned, its a rarely seen watch that deserves a bit of attention.The LeJour Fat Arrow almost didn t happenThe LeJour Fat Arrow came into my possession as a result of serious indecision. I had been messaging Andreas over at gregoriades.com when he bid on and won a Gallet Multichron Pilot (one of our earliest #TBT artic...
Bronze WatchThat bronze watch cases are getting more popular again, was proved this spring by some?remarkable moves in?the industry. While bronze watches were?usually found in the more affordable price categories, two high-end brands, MCT and Hautlence presented their over $100K Euro costing top models, in a bronze version. Quite a decision and a firm sign that bronze has become a serious material?for watches.? Lets go back where the trend started and that was actually not that long ago.Pilots and DiversGerald Genta was one of the first brands that launched a bronze watch in 1997, called Gefica. The watch was re-released in 2007 in a stunning 47mm case and was?very?popular. But it was the la...
Speedmaster Albino – White Dial Speedmaster for the 40th AnniversaryRemember our Speedy Tuesday article about Speedmasters with white dials (click here), we already included the Speedmaster Albino, or ‘Bianco Italiano there. However, in this week s Speedy Tuesday installment I would like to zoom in a bit on that particular model.Speedmaster Professional?3593.20Officially introduced as the Omega Speedmaster Professional with reference 3593.20 for the model on a bracelet, reference 3893.20 for the watch on a leather strap. Omega released this watch for the Italian market only, in 500 pieces, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Speedmaster in 1997. As you know, this icon was...
The summer is over and Im back from my holiday. Its time to bring you a new craftsman and a few great straps to this?edition of Watch Strap Review. This is our 23rd review and a very cool one in my opinion. I know, Im a bit biased but you will see. We can also add another country to the list where I have received straps in the past. Even though the owner is from the Netherlands she resides in Spain. Her name is Erika and her company is Erikas Originals. She is not only a strap maker, but has a bunch of interesting stuff in her repertoire. Things like wallets, dog collars or even sandals. Though Im not here to talk about a card holder. We are here to look at the awesome straps I received from...
An evening in Amsterdam with the Piaget Polo SAlthough the Piaget Polo S was already introduced in July, the Piaget team visited Amsterdam to introduce it to the (watch) press of The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Scandinavia.This was the reason for us to join the party and have a look at the much talked about Piaget Polo S timepiece.Piaget Polo S – Up ClosePiaget released a very interesting mens watch earlier this year, the?Emperador Coussin XL 700P with a ?movement that shows a strong resemblance with (Grand) Seiko s Spring Drive. It s a revolutionary movement that is finally being adopted by a Swiss watch manufacture as well. However, the Emperador Coussin XL 700P was also the...
SmartwatchesLet s admit it. There is no escape from the smartwatch, everywhere you look there s someone with an Apple Watch. Even the recently announced Apple Watch Series 2 is a hot topic. Not among watch enthusiasts per se, but a lot of people who watches the Apple novelties (iPhone 7 and Apple Watch Series 2) on September 7th, are talking about these new products. A friend of mine, who has nothing with (mechanical) watches, even ordered his iPhone 7 and Apple Watch Series 2, just because. His iPhone 6S and Apple Watch are still perfectly functioning devices, but the ‘want and ‘wow factor were simply irresistible.Alpina Horological SmartwatchOn the same day, September 7th (an...
Hanhart Pioneer Monoscope ReviewSome History FirstHanhart was, and to some extent still is, a household name in Germany. Their history spans over 130 years between two countries. Hanhart was established in 1882 in Diessenhofen (Switzerland) but the company was relocated by Johann A. Hanhart, the founder, to Germany in 1902. They reached mediocre success until 1924, when Willy Hanhart (son of Johann) introduced a mechanical stop watch that was reasonable in price compared to the Swiss competition. This ignited the business and only two years after that success, Hanhart?came out with their watches. However most of us know the name Hanhart because of their chronographs.ChronographsHanhart s?fir...
Watch HandsMost of the evergreen watches evolve through time. Development of colors, watch hands, fonts, proportions and sizes. Often small changes, making the watch to morph from one to another reference(number). We could even say that multi-generation watches evolve?through time like we do. They try to adapt to our taste and needs and improve themselves. For example, optimize their legibility or add a new function. Instead of discussing several models in total I would like to zoom in. This time on hands. Lets take a loupe and zoom in on some iconic pointers!Lightning HandThe Milgauss has a rich history starting from the early 1960s (ref. 6541). It is the icon in terms of anti-magnetism an...
Last week, we were invited to join IWC on this beautiful location at ‘Kasteel de Hooge Vuursche to have a look at the new IWC Ingenieur Chronograph collection. Although we already saw them earlier this year in Zrich during the Passione Caracciola (report can be found here), we wanted to have a closer look.Goodbye GentaFrom what we understood during the presentation, IWC is moving away from the famous Gerald Genta design for their Ingenieur collection. Instead, they want to come with an Ingenieur collection that is based on their 1955 Ingenieur reference 666 model. The IWC Ingenieur Chronograph collection they presented to us are the first step in that direction. Not entirely true, as...
Its increasingly difficult to find a deal in todays hot vintage watch market, but I think I have a great suggestion for you in the Bulova Oceanographer Snorkel 666. No, were not talking about a chronograph this week, but, instead, that other species of sports watch that captures loads of interest: the diver. So, with that, its #TBT time and lets talk some Bulova.Vintage Divers are Slowly Coming BackThe chronograph may be the current king of the marketplace (and we covered a striking vintage Bulova chronograph here), but it wasnt always so. It feels like dive watches were especially popular prior to the run up in chrono prices over the last 4-5 years and things have been quieter since then. I...
ChronographsBefore we hit it with our top 10 chronographs overview, a few words about this list. A chronograph is one of the most popular complications (besides a date), and it is actually a very complex mechanism. It is the reason why some brands still don t have their own chronograph movement and use one from a third party.Chronograph ModuleYou might have heard about a chronograph module or add-on module. This means that there s a base movement for hh:mm:ss (and date), and a little additional movement module that is put on top of the base movement. A well-known module manufacturer is?Dubois Depraz. A brand like Audemars Piguet for example, uses their own in-house manufactured caliber 3120 ...
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...
Last?weekend we were invited to join Tudor again at the circuit in Zandvoort. Burning rubber, historic power horses and of course… Tudor watches!After we entered?the Paddock Club we were welcomed by a Spitfire air act. Soon after this 3-litre engined Formula One cars fired up and the Fia Masters race begun. We had sight on the famous ‘Tarzan curve. The sound of those accelerating beasts?did turn a smile on every race?car lover. Overall, the championships were very diverse. To name some: 500cc Formula 3, Pre 66 touring cars and the 1000cc Historic Formula 3. All the greats were there. From Bugatti to?Ferrari.Inside the Paddock Club Tudor had their booth lined up. As background a...
Fromanteel Pendulum – Their First AutomaticFromanteel might be a brand that you ve not heard of before, or at least not very often. Yet, this Dutch brand exists already for 7 years now and had their first appearance at Baselworld this year as well.Supplying only quartz watches in the past it wasn t a brand as well which we at Fratello Watches took much notice of. Until last year, when they brought their first automatic watch, the Fromanteel Pendulum. This and their appearance at Baselworld was enough for us to pay them a visit and arrange for a Pendulum watch for review.(Video by Maarten Slooves for Fratello Watches)Huygens and Pendulum ClocksWe ll start with some history and backgroun...
Playing with polygons for an affirmed graphic identityThe art of tattooing reinterpreted on the iconic Big BangHublot and Sang Bleu create an original intriguing and eye-catching piece. Its construction is reminiscent of the symbolism in the geometric shapes so dear to Sang Bleu. It evokes the harmonious and proportional relationships derived from Leonard de Vincis Vitruvian Man. Shapes that characterize Maxime Bchis tattoo designs and echo the quest for perfection and the worship of symbols that bring his work to life.Ricardo Guadalupe & Maxime Bu?chiCelebrated during Fashion Week in London in February, the collaboration between Hublot and Sang Bleu takes the form of a glass and metal ...
Max VerstappenYesterday, I met with Max Verstappen during the introduction of the TAG Heuer Formula One Max Verstappen Special Edition. Well, the official name of the watch is?TAG Heuer Formula One Max Verstappen Youngest Grand Prix Winner Special Edition, but let s shorten it a bit for my own sake.The cool thing about Max Verstappen is, that he is very down to Earth. It could be his middle name. At first I thought it might be his age, but that can t be it. It is something he just is. A friendly fellow, as he was standing at a?table yesterday, with a drink in his hand, easy to approach and talk to. There is not the smallest bit of ‘show in him. Something I love. Pure, a little bit raw...
Russel Crowe and his SpeedmasterIts been a while since we saw a Speedmaster in a movie. Of course George Clooneys new picture, Money Monster, is an exception. However, we know that since George is Omega ambassador?it was not such a huge surprise. Well, I just watched the new movie of Ryan Gosling and Russel Crowe, called The Nice Guys. It seems that Mr. Crowe (or his prop master) is back again with the trusted Omega Speedmaster. Why do I say again? Well, this is not the first time we see him in a movie wearing one.State of PlayState of Play, a great crime drama came out 7 years ago. Starring Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Helen Mirren and Russel Crowe among many other A-listers. Crowe plays an...
Chronoswiss RegulateurBefore I start with the review of the Chronoswiss Flying Regulator, let me give you a brief history on my own experience as a Chronoswiss Regulateur owner. It must have been around Christmas 2000, when I got my own Chronoswiss Regulateur. Regulateur, not Regulator. At some point, Chronoswiss changed the wording.1987The Chronoswiss Regulateur model that I have for over 15 years, is reference CH1223. There was only one different reference before this one, which was a hand-wound watch (reference CH6322). The first Chronoswiss Regulateur was created by Gerd R. Lang (founder of Chronoswiss) in 1987, and had this Unitas based movement, turned into a regulator watch. Hour, min...
