The 600m-water-resistant Defy A3648, known as the Defy Plongeur, was a proper tool watch for professionals when it debuted in 1969. When Zenith launched a Revival version of the A3648 in 2024, brand fans rejoiced. At the same time, the Le Locle-based watchmaker introduced the modern Defy Extreme Diver, a worthy evolution model of the A3648. Now, just over a year later, those two watches come out in striking microblasted titanium attire. Zenith introduces shadow versions of the Defy Extreme Diver and Defy Revival Diver for people with an eye on the future or the past.New shadow versions of the Zenith Defy Extreme Diver and Defy Revival DiverWe ll start with the more contemporary creation of t...

Last year, Longines celebrated the 70th anniversary of its Conquest collection. The brand surprised us with three very attractive re-editions called the Conquest Heritage, each with a central power reserve indicator. But alongside those were two time-only models, one with a black dial and rose gold hardware and another with a silver dial and yellow gold hands and indexes, both available in 38mm and 40mm sizes. Now Longines expands the time-only offerings in the Conquest Heritage collection with three new dial colors and an optional stainless steel bracelet.I went hands-on with the more modern 38mm version of the regular Conquest last year. That s a great option too, but if you re looking for...

The Hamilton Khaki Field Auto has been a gateway watch for many seasoned collectors. It is also one of those rare watches that serve that role without owners growing out of it. You ll find it sitting proudly among es and Omegas, holding its own in so many enthusiasts collections. Today, we get two new colorways, and it got me wondering: are these for purists too?I got to go hands-on with the new Hamilton Khaki Field Auto 38mm in green and blue. Join me for a closer look!Specs of the Hamilton Khaki Field Auto 38mmFirst things first. Just in case you dont have the Hamilton Khaki Field Autos specs memorized anymore, lets do a quick recap. As the name suggests, you get a 38mm automatic field wat...

I have had the pleasure of meeting Josh Shapiro, owner of the eponymously named J.N. Shapiro Watches, several times. Hailing from Los Angeles, he has a wealth of knowledge about watchmaking history, movements, and finishing techniques. Until now, he has focused on exclusive and expensive watches with prices over $75,000 and wait times of nearly three years. The new Infinity Series Pure marks a change, allowing a small number of buyers to own a J.N. Shapiro watch sooner and for less.J.N. Shapiro Watches?was founded in 2018 and has produced several models. Famously, the brand s Resurgence model is the first all-American watch since Hamilton closed its Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based watchmaking ...

Let me present you with a dilemma. What dial type do you prefer - lush lacquer, enticing enamel, or pristine porcelain? It s a difficult choice, right? Before reaching your verdict, please have a look at the new Seiko Presage Classic Series Craftsmanship Unglazed Arita Porcelain Dial Limited Edition. This watch highlights artisanal qualities, resulting in a dial that captivates with a soft beauty thats hard to resist. Even better, the watch does so at a price point that puts meticulous craftsmanship within reach of a large audience.Since Seiko introduced the Presage collection in 2016, the goal has always been to offer different types of traditional fine craftsmanship to a larger audience th...

The Swatch press release for this watch says it s inspired by the unexplored. The deep green new Blancpain Swatch Fifty Fathoms Green Abyss with touches of black (bezel) and beige (markers, hands, bezel numerals, etc.) takes inspiration from the oceans depths.Blancpain Swatch Scuba Fifty Fathoms Green AbyssThis is the ninth Blancpain Swatch Scuba Fifty Fathoms variation from the company founded in 1983 in Biel, and it is my favorite version so far, closely followed by the Ocean of Storms. This new Green Abyss edition might get me in line at the Swatch boutique on June 7th.Although the Blancpain collaboration is probably not as in-demand as the MoonSwatch variations (simply because Omeg...

Have you ever noticed that most GMT watches are quite sporty? That s great for many people, but what if you travel for work or simply have a more formal style? Well, Canadian microbrand Heron has got your back! I would like to introduce you to the Heron Mirabel GMT, a dressy travel watch - or, as Heron puts it, a dress watch with a trick up its sleeve.You can have your pick of four colorways, all priced at $620 / US$690. I got a chance to go hands-on with the white version of this very affordable dress GMT. This is how we fared.The Heron Mirabel GMTs specsSo, what do we have here? At its core, the Heron Mirabel GMT is a tonneau-shaped watch in stainless steel with a 37.5mm diameter, a 43.5mm...

In 1985, Citizen revolutionized the world of dive watches by introducing the Aqualand. Among the standout features of this then-state-of-the-art dive tool were the multifunctional digital display and built-in electronic depth gauge. The latter gave the watch its distinct shape, with the depth sensor s hardware element protruding from the left side of the case. The first Aqualand, reference CQ-1012-50, used the C020 movement and was the first watch to offer this functionality digitally. It did so two years after the first commercially available dive computers hit the shelves.Since 1985, the watch has enjoyed a well-earned cult-classic status among watch enthusiasts. The Aqualand has appeared ...

only makes one chronograph, and it s called the Daytona. This has been a statement of fact since the first model bearing the name was created in 1963. Okay, fine; there s one notable exception, the Yacht-Master II. But we ll leave that as a topic for another day. Today on Fratello Talks, it s all about our favorite modern Daytonas! Nacho, RJ, and Lex are in the studio and have each picked a trio of references that they are partial to. Just like when we picked our favorite Speedmasters, we re sticking to modern references. This means only those produced within the last 25 years. While this leaves us with a relatively limited selection given the scope of what is out there, there s still plen...

I wrote a lengthy review on the stainless steel Type XX Chronographe 2067 late last year. You can find (and read) it here. If you want to skip to the conclusion, I ended that review with the following paragraph: I hope Breguet will introduce more variations of the modern Type XX that are closer to the Only Watch 2021 edition with its 38.3mm case. Add the new movement and a black dial instead of a brown one, and it would break the internet.Breguet Type XX Chronographe 2075Well, the brand did. Meet the two new Breguet Type XX Chronograph 2075 models. One comes with a black anodized aluminum dial and the other with a pure (Ag925) silver dial. Both Type XX Chronographe watches stay true to the o...

The Land-Dweller was the most talked-about release of this year s Watches and Wonders. Regardless of whether the watch appealed to everyone, due to the groundbreaking new caliber and revival of the Oysterquartz design, the general impact of the Land-Dweller was palpable. We had an opportunity to experience the 36mm and 40mm models during Watches and Wonders. But, unfortunately, we didn t get a chance to create a fair comparison because the smaller of the two models was presented in Everose gold. A few weeks later, we were able to line up both sizes in stainless steel to find out which of the two is the better pick.Of course, the better pick is a personal preference. There is no universal ri...

Watch brands launch special editions on every occasion, from anniversaries of their founding or famous models to the signing of new ambassadors and the opening of new flagship boutiques. Let me introduce you to the Hublot Big Bang Meca-10 Concrete Jungle, a special-edition watch launched to celebrate the new Hublot Fifth Avenue flagship boutique. It does so in concrete, a material mirroring the facade of the new shop and pretty much everything else in the concrete jungle that is Manhattan. Its not the first time the Nyon-based manufacturer has constructed a wristwatch using that building material with brutalist associations. Nevertheless, a watch made from the same stuff as an NYC sidewalk i...

As a die-hard collector of vintage watches, I ve grown to appreciate the right accessories to pair with my treasured pieces. Straps are a great option, and we ve devoted plenty of articles to reviewing them. However, an appropriate bracelet is the chef s kiss. The problem is that authentic bracelets are difficult to find and are often in rough condition. This is doubly so for plated versions. What s a collector to do? Enter the gold-plated Forstner bracelets to save the day.In 2019, Forstner announced its relaunch. The historic brand later became known as Jacoby Bender and produced bracelets for some of the most renowned original equipment manufacturer (OEM) brands. This included , Universal...

Laurent Ferrier is one of my favorite modern watchmakers, so when a new LF model comes out, it always piques my attention. This time, I got the chance to go hands-on with the latest creation, the Laurent Ferrier Sport Auto 79. And that, my dear Fratelli, is a chance I wouldn t dream of passing up.The new Laurent Ferrier Sport Auto 79 is made of 5N rose gold, providing a luxurious successor to its titanium predecessors. Let s take a closer look!Rooted in the 24 Hours of Le MansThe new Laurent Ferrier Sport Auto 79 is, in essence, a rose gold version of the existing Sport Auto 40 in titanium. You would be forgiven for thinking that 40 refers to the case diameter, but it doesnt. In fact, the mo...

Whenever I visit Paris, I try to stop by the Merci store on Boulevard Beaumarchais. It offers such a surprising palette of brands that you don t often see in other stores. I also appreciate the variety of products, like clothing, stationery, and household items. Another thing I thoroughly enjoy, of course, is the watch department. Today, Merci Instruments announces four new references for its LMM-01 collection inspired by 1940s field watches. The watches, dubbed the Dress, Numerals, Militare, and Scientifique, all offer unique dial configurations.At the end of 2022, Nacho covered the Merci Instruments LMM-01 watch collection for the first time here on Fratello. The Everest, Archiwatch, and N...

I am sure you are familiar with the Oris H?lstein Editions. If not, the principle is simple: Oris introduces a limited-edition watch every year to celebrate the brands birthday. This year, the house turns 121, which is certainly a justifiable reason to celebrate. What s the watch to commemorate this occasion? It s the Oris ProPilot H?lstein Edition 2025.The H?lstein Editions are typically a platform for Oris to do something fun that isnt necessarily commercially minded. In short, these are the ideas that would not make it through the top brasss scrutiny otherwise, so expect a gimmick or two! The Oris ProPilot H?lstein Edition 2025Lets start with the gimmick here. The Oris ProPilot H?lstein...

More than a platinum creation with an ice-blue dial, the combination of yellow gold and green is the ultimate expression of luxury. Luscious and alluring yellow gold dates back to ancient civilizations, and green is the brands signature color, often used in a celebratory way, that puts connoisseurs on high alert. Mix the material with the color and use it on the brands famous chronograph, and things start heating up. You can imagine my excitement when I got to go hands-on with the new yellow gold Daytona with a green dial. The watchs rock-star-like charisma is exciting indeed, and it probably makes you think of the nickname its predecessor got. But please dont call this Daytona the John Ma...

I must confess that I am not a big gamer, so I had to brush up on my knowledge of Death Stranding to create a bit more context before putting the Hamilton Boulton Death Stranding 2 Limited Edition on my wrist. The watch was created to celebrate the release of the hit game s sequel. As the highly realistic game often features real actors and uses their voices, it is only a small step from the world of movies in which Hamilton has made a name. For this new release, Hamilton worked with Yoji Shinkawa, the games art director, to create a timepiece that perfectly complements the post-apocalyptic environment of Death Stranding 2: On The Beach. How does it hold up in real life? It s time to find ou...

Last year, Citizen debuted a series of Super Titanium chronographs with integrated bracelets. The watches were received well for their looks and affordability. Since then, the brand has formally changed the names of these chronographs to Zenshin Senkei. Four more references now join the collection, but as we ll see, new colors are only a part of the story.It s nice to see Citizen making news with new, globally available watches. For years, it felt like the brand was highly focused on the Japanese market, and international releases were relegated to low-cost department store pieces. Something changed over the past few years, though, and we ve all benefited from a new global strategy. Last yea...

Welcome to another installment of Sunday Morning Showdown. This week, we decided to put the Swiss up against the Japanese, each with a purple-dial stainless steel watch of their own. The Oyster Perpetual with a lavender dial represents the Swiss, while the Grand Seiko Kiri SBGW323 represents the Japanese. Both came out during Watches and Wonders this year, have clean time-only dials, and come in iconic stainless steel cases. That gives Thomas and Daan enough similarities to compare them. But there are also more than enough differences to call out and formulate a preference for one or the other.As always, before we get into our writers arguments, let s quickly recap what happened in last we...