The Day-Date has long been the brand s flagship model. We sometimes forget that fact due to all the new releases every year. We usually only see new dial variations for the Day-Date. But that makes sense; after all, why drastically change something if it s already so good? This is why we decided to focus on Day-Date dials for this week s list. Specifically, we selected five Day-Date models that stand out immediately because of their exotic dials and show the great variety of this classic.Before getting into the list, we should note that several dial styles/materials were available with different references. So whenever we mention a reference, it is not necessarily exclusive to that dial....
Regardless of your opinion on the brand, there s bound to be a out there for just about anyone. The brand s back catalog is vast and full of brilliant references. On today s episode of?Fratello Talks, we re each picking three of our all-time favorites. Nacho, Thomas, and Lex have done some research, but little to no alignment ahead of this impromptu episode, so there s bound to be plenty of deep cuts, some overlap, and on-the-fly changes. In the end, each of the guys ends up pretty pleased with his picks. And in this quest for favorites, we certainly get into some of the best watches ever made. Tune in, and be sure to comment your favorites below. Now, let s see what s on the wrist today.A...
It s 2025, and dress watches are in! But that doesn t mean you have to dust off your tuxedo. In fact, it s quite the opposite: the dress watch s link to formal attire has never been less relevant than it is today. Dress watches - both in the stricter definition and in adjacent style - are gaining popularity, but it s not because of all the opulent, Great Gatsby-esque cocktail parties that millennials and zoomers are throwing; it s because of a relatively recent styling trend of juxtaposing a geezer-worthy timepiece with the most casual of outfits. Today, on?Fratello Talks, we discuss the phenomenon and get into some exquisite examples of recently introduced dress watches. Whether we ll see t...
I feel a strong sense of nostalgia for the old flipping scoreboards I remember from my childhood. That s probably why I adore digital jump-hour watches and quartz flip clocks so much. When I first saw the Plato Clock, patented in 1903, I froze in amazement.I believe I m pretty strong when it comes to controlling my watch-buying sprees. I made peace with the idea that I cannot have them all. That s why I felt confident to start looking at clocks or pocket watches without worrying about falling into a rabbit hole and having an uncontrollable urge to buy everything I see. Occasionally, I check some auctions, wondering how many creations have been made. Getting inspired by pictures is good enoug...
Early in March, I attended the second British Watchmakers Day at Lindley Hall (Royal Horticultural Halls) in Westminster. The sophomore effort had another fantastic turnout and cemented the show as a bona fide addition to the watch-event calendar. With 45 British-based watch brands presenting, there was plenty for everyone to enjoy. All brands have a connection to the British Isles and are part of the Alliance of British Watch and Clock Makers. Bremont was also in attendance for the first time after being notably absent last year. However, it didn t stop Bremont CEO Davide Cerrato from roaming the halls and checking out the competitors and compatriots wares. As anyone who attended can att...
Another Friday, another list! In the lead-up to Watches and Wonders 2025, we have been highlighting brands that have an anniversary to celebrate. Last week, we focused on Vacheron Constantin, and in the weeks before, we put the spotlight on Zenith. Brands like Breguet, Blancpain, and Audemars Piguet have anniversaries this year too, but they will not participate in Watches and Wonders. We also looked at some watch models with notable anniversaries, and that s where is always interesting. On top of that, the rumor mill is very active, so we decided to feature some of our favorite GMT-Master references. launched the GMT-Master 70 years ago this year, so hopefully, we will see something grea...
Another Friday, another list! Multiple people on the Fratello team own or have owned a Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso. One of them is Daan, who has a beautiful Reverso Classic Medium Duoface Small Seconds. He usually wears it on a leather and canvas Casa Fagliano strap. Last week, though, he swapped it for an Arroway mesh bracelet, which looks awesome. One photo of that combination suddenly resulted in a massive Reverso search in the Fratello offices. At the end of that search, one of the main takeaways was that there are so many Reversos to choose from, it can almost be overwhelming. That s why we have lined up our top five Reverso models for this week s list.The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso is one o...
If youve been keeping up with Fratello, you might remember Mikes recent article introducing the Artem Loop-less?? HydroFlex?? straps. Well, theyre back in the spotlight, and for good reason. We just dropped a video showing you these awesome straps in more detail. After all, if a picture says a thousand words, how about a video? Artems Loop-less?? HydroFlex?? straps are a rare case in which style and substance come together seamlessly - literally.For those unfamiliar, the straps offer the refined aesthetic of sailcloth with the robust performance of FKM rubber. And no, thats not just marketing fluff. Unlike traditional sailcloth straps that require waterproofing treatments or feature hybrid c...
Elvis Presley was known to have a soft spot for nice watches. In 2018, Presleys Omega dress watch, made of white gold and with 44 brilliant-cut diamonds on the bezel, was auctioned for US$1.8 million. The watch ended up in the Omega Museum in Biel, Switzerland.Elvis Presley s Omega watchDuring my last visit to Omega in Biel, they took the Elvis Presley watch out of the display and let me wear it and observe it up close. But before I go into details about the Tiffany & Co.-signed Omega watch, lets dig into how it ended up with Elvis Presley.Now, I must admit, my knowledge about Elvis Presley is limited to what I have read about him on Wikipedia, a documentary I watched years ago, and the ...
Back to Basics is our series aimed at newcomers to our lovely watch hobby. In this installment, we will delve into bracelet sizing. Maybe you just got a brand-new watch as a gift, or perhaps you ordered one online. In any case, you now have an oversized watch bracelet in your hands and are wondering how to get it to fit.Well, fear not; Fratello is here! In this article, well go over the common types of bracelets and how to size them properly. Lets jump in!General tips when trying to size your watch braceletLets start with some basic tips that apply to all bracelet types, starting with how to know how many links to remove. The easiest way is to put the watch on, then fold a part of the bracel...
Miyota is synonymous with high-quality, affordable mechanical movements. Collectors of independent and microbrand watches know the name well. This year is special for the brand because it marks the 50th anniversary of the popular Caliber 82 series. To celebrate this automatic movement s success, let s examine its core elements.In a world where small, creative watch brands wish to equip their wares with a robust and affordable automatic movement, the Miyota Caliber 82 series looms large. The original 82 was introduced in 1975 by Miyota, a division of Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Ironically, it was an answer to Citizen s affordable quartz movements that were dominating the watch landscape. Indeed, ...
Hello there, and welcome to Fratello Talks. Last week, LVMH Watch Week took place. This week, Nacho, RJ, and Lex are looking at all the watches released by Zenith, TAG Heuer, Louis Vuitton, and Daniel Roth (to name a few). We review all the releases and share our thoughts on those we found worth highlighting. With Watches and Wonders just a couple of months away, you might not have expected the deluge of novelties, but it seems LVMH and its brands have more than one ace up their sleeve. It s a strong start to the year for watches, setting the bar high for 2025. Before we get into the new watches, let s see which ones the guys are wearing this week.This video is blocked because you did not ac...
Another Friday, another list! For the first one of the new year, we decided to sum up our wishes for 2025. We at Fratello all agreed that 2024 was a great year in watches. Some like to define that by the waves that big brands make. However, we based it on the sheer number of exciting releases we had in the office, got to try at the shows and events, or covered on the website and still want to see in person. Our list of wishes for 2025 will include things we writers would love to see (more of) in the watch world and what we d like to see go in the upcoming 12 months. It ll be no surprise that after a good year in watches, some of these wishes are based on the things we saw in 2024. We ll keep...
Fratello celebrated its 20th anniversary this year. That s right; two decades ago, RJ started his very own watch blog from his neighbor s garage…or was it his girlfriend s attic? Anyway, that in itself is very exciting. Other than that, in 2024, we launched our very own wrist butter for your perfectly hydrated wrist shots. But most importantly, we also had more readers than ever and received more than 30,000 comments from you all. Thank you for that, dear Fratelli. Today, I ll highlight the most read stories of 2024 and those that got the most comments. Let s see what moved the watch enthusiast community most this year.The MoonSwatch is still going strongIf you only look at the most re...
Welcome to the Season 2 finale of Fratello Talks. As we come to the end of the year, we ll be looking back at some of the best watches of 2024. Nacho is joined by RJ and Lex, who have come prepared with a list of favorites under six pre-determined categories. And though they ll discuss some of what they consider the best watches of the year, you can decide which of these timepieces will earn the title of Fratello Readers Choice for best watch of 2024. Be sure to vote below for your favorite! The winner will be revealed after a week of voting. For now, tune in for an overview of horological highlights from the past 12 months. Before we do that though, here s the final wrist check of 2024.Thi...
The Omega Speedmaster is one of the few watches that we can truly call iconic. While that must be one of the most overused words in the English language these days, it is apt in this case. But despite the Omega Speedmaster being truly iconic, I have never owned one. Worse yet, I have never even come close to owning one! Why? Well, to me, the Speedy seems like such a default option (in the best sense) that I ve almost been swayed away from it.The other factor is that it s not associated with underwater endeavors or capability. Even so, as RJ has pointed out several times, the current Speedmaster Professional is indeed capable of a pool dip if you don t use those chronograph pushers. Plus, the...
Hello, and welcome to Fratello Talks! Today, we are celebrating our 100th-episode milestone with a special Q&A. We asked you to send us your questions, and you delivered. We ve gathered, sorted, and selected said questions over the past few weeks, and in today s episode, Nacho, RJ, and Thomas come together to answer them. We cover topics ranging from the usual hypotheticals to journalistic practices, favorite watches below a certain price point, and even lessons learned throughout recording these past 100 podcasts. Be sure to tune in and stick around as your question might be one of the many that we answer on this celebratory episode. Before we get into it, though, we begin (as always) w...
At the end of 2023, Speedmaster enthusiast @watchstick_81 organized a GTG for approximately 20 enthusiasts (you can find the photo report here). At this year s edition, no fewer than 51 Speedmaster collectors showed up, many with their collections in tow. It was the first year that we at Fratello didn t host a Speedy Tuesday event due to busy schedules on Omega s and our side, so it was nice to join a similar event simply as a guest! It was well organized, and I enjoyed it very much. I took some pictures during the afternoon and received some more from the other attendees. Please have a look at some of the fabulous Speedmasters that some of the guests brought with them.Speedmaster GTG NLThis...
Hello, and welcome to this week s episode of?Fratello Talks. Today, we re bringing back the fan-favorite topic of affordable watches. Nacho, Lex, and Daan picked one favorite under $1,000 from each of their collections. Our first time highlighting affordable favorites, we ended up with three divers - two from Seiko and one from Citizen. Today s selection is a bit more varied and counts among it an integrated-bracelet steel sports watch, a titanium GMT, and a Bioceramic lookalike of one of the most well-known dive watches out there. Without further ado, let s check out the watches in this episode s wrist check.This video is blocked because you did not accept marketing cookies. Change cookie ...
Another Friday, another list! This week, we look at the Milgauss, the oddball engineer s watch that first came out in the 1950s, just like many of The Crown s classics. But unlike the Submariner and the GMT-Master, the Milgauss hasn t always been part of the brand s collection since then. It s part of the reason we couldn t make this a list of five Milgauss references simply because there aren t. Technically, there are only four Milgauss reference numbers. But most of you will know that the dial variations will still allow us to pick our favorite five Milgauss models. Let s find out more!It s no secret that engineer s watches have never been the industry s biggest sellers. But these timepi...
