I was never a fan of artsy glassware. I always preferred paintings. But when I listened to Jan Prokop explaining the sandwich crystal creation process for their limited-edition watch, the Prokop & Broz Spiral, I could barely breathe. The work is so delicate that they have to make around 150 to 200 crystals to be able to select just one final perfect piece ready for installation.A standard watch crystal is usually formed as a sapphire monobloc. The dial of the Prokop&Broz Spiral is covered by a delicate set of glass pieces that Jan Prokop refers to as a metalized glass sandwich composed of twenty-two components.Glass Sandwich on the Prokop & Broz SpiralThe process begins with almo...
Considering a G-Shock with conventional looks and functionality? What would be your preferred style? Square or rounded?You might have learned from?previous articles that the original DW-5000C-1A G-Shock, presented in 1983, had a more or less squared case design. After that, in 1987, the first round-cased G-Shock model, the DW-5700C, was released. However, it was already 1995 before another truly iconic design saw the light - the DW-6900-1V nicked the Triple Graph.Triple Graph was G-Shock s second iconic designThe Triple Graph was composed of earlier designs. It wasn t just the round shape of the DW-5700C. The three register dial of the DW-5900C (1992) and the front back-light button of the D...
Almost four years have passed since we first talked about Two Stitch Straps on the pages of Fratello Watches. A lot has changed for both parties during that time. It was always inevitable, however, that we revisit the young company based in Serbia to check out its new designs. Enter; Two Stitch Straps Vol. 2.Ivan and I see each other from time to time, during watch fairs mostly. Although he doesn t live too far from my hometown in Hungary, we have yet to catch up there. We chat every once in a while on the phone, and he even accompanied me to one of my meetings at the last Baselworld. That was back in the Swatch Group days - a distant memory now. To keep me abreast of developments in these f...
This one seriously surprised me the first time I saw it hit the inbox. The second time this question was asked, you could have knocked me down with a feather. At the third time of asking, I figured it was time to stop being shocked the people wanted to know and get on with answering the question. Which watches do Rugby referees wear?So, which watches do rugby referees wear? Off the pitch, I can t comment. I m sure some of the best refs in the game have a few fancy watches they strap-on when they don t have to worry about getting trampled by the stampeding juggernauts of the modern game. But on the field of play, a referee s timepiece is often determined by sponsorship agreements between the ...
You re probably familiar with astronaut Ed White, who performed NASA s first spacewalk in 1965 as part of the Gemini IV mission. In the pictures of that spacewalk, you can see him wearing two watches.Unfortunately, Ed White died in a fatal accident with Apollo 1. His name will live forever, though, as the first NASA astronaut to walk in space. As a member of the Apollo 1 crew, White should have launched into space once more on February 21st, 1967. However, during a test on January 27th, he and fellow crew members Grissom and Chaffee all died in a horrible fire in the command module.Ed White wearing two Speedmaster 105.003 watches. Image by NASASpeedmaster collectors often mention Ed White s ...
I have a weak spot for the Seamaster Ploprof, and last year I purchased the steel 1200M version. Although Omega still lists the steel Ploprof on their website, it is out of production since last year. I enjoy the watch a lot and noticed that I am not alone.On Instagram, I got in touch with a fellow owner of the Seamaster Ploprof 1200M. I can t remember exactly when I started to follow him, but I was triggered by his Instagram account name Ploprof_guy. He doesn t have a very big account, but his pictures intrigued me. Besides his modern Omega Seamaster Ploprof 1200M, he also showed old black and white pictures of his father in Lebanon during the war in 1982. I reached out to him and asked him...
Today on #TBT we ll look at the Seiko Sportsmatic 427980. While it s not a landmark piece in any way, it represents an interesting transition in the brand s history.The Seiko Sportsmatic 427980 isn t a particularly famous or collectible watch. It lacks a nickname or an association with someone or something famous. Instead, I d classify it as a highly attractive vintage watch with some light sporting intent. And it just happens to take up a small corner in Seiko history.The Sportsmatic 427980 – A Transitional WatchThe Sportsmatic 427980 that sits before you was produced in 1964. That s an interesting year in Seiko annals primarily because it marked a change in the model naming system. E...
Concept laboratory MB&F has been working with legendary clockmaker L Epeee 1839 for several years now. Their collaborations are always interesting. Perhaps the rarity of desk clocks in the modern world makes them even more so. These are not just remarkable sculptures capable of displaying the time, but they are also futuristic anachronisms designed to mess with our heads. The new Starfleet Explorer is no exception…What year is this? Whenever I look at an MB&F desk clock I ask myself the same question. On one hand, it looks like something from the set of the latest Star Trek movie. On the other, however, it is a desk clock. And who the heck has a desk clock these days?Well, it w...
Last time out we addressed the question of why watches tick. This week, we re turning our attention to which watches sweep…Let s start out with a clear distinction: Last week s question was a why question, not a which question. And That is crucial to understand. Why? Because almost all watches that sweep also tick. The distinction between sweeping and ticking is all about frequency. And, to be honest, it is quite an arbitrary threshold. There is no universally agreed-upon definition of when ticking becomes sweeping. Although ticking is generally meant to mean one movement per second, claiming a seconds hand that moves twice per second is sweeping would seem a bit of a stretch of the im...
This morning, we received the news that Baselworld 2021 that was planned in from the 28th of January till the 2nd of February 2021, will not take place.We reported repeatedly on Baselworld in the last few months, but this morning we received another update worth sharing with you.?The Baselworld organization let us know the following, in full:The MCH Group and representatives of the exhibitors at Baselworld have reached agreement on the settlement for the cancelled Baselworld 2020. In collaboration with the Swiss Exhibitors Committee, an amicable solution has been drawn up, unanimously approved by the Comite Consultatif and also supported by industry associations.I welcome the constructive at...
Known for its flamboyant watches and jewelry, and one of the worlds thinnest automatic watches, Piaget is no stranger to the spotlight. The Limelight Gala collection embellishes the Swiss Maisons iconic collection.Its a great time to be a watch-obsessed woman. It s been a long time coming, but the tide is turning. Finally, we are getting more and more pieces of interest. Brands are finally taking note of their modern customer s needs. Firstly, creating timepieces exclusively for women is a must. Gone are the days in which it was acceptable to cover a man s watch with diamonds. This exclusivity shines through in the Piaget Limelight Gala models and exactly the kind of spontaneous femininity I...
After a couple of more open-ended topics, here we have a nice, simple, technical question to answer: Why do watches tick?Almost all watches tick. Generally, you will hear people saying that quartz watches tick and mechanical watches sweep. While this appears?true on the surface, it isn t technically correct.?There are very few mechanically-powered watches that don t tick. The most famous of which is the Grand Seiko Spring Drive?system. Exactly how that works and how it differs from more regular escapements is a conversation for another day. In the meantime, let s get back to the straightforward question posed: Why do watches tick?Every watch has a power source. For the sake of simplicity, le...
Filling out another niche in the Sixty-Five collection from Oris is a collaboration with an independent jeans manufacturer, Momotaro, based in Japan. The strap takes an off-cut of indigo denim with two white battle stripes on the buckle end of the strap.The twin stripes are a motif of Momotaro in their collection of high-end denim jeans and jackets made using vintage looms. While it wouldn t vibe with the majority of my wardrobe, this strap would be the perfect complement to a street or sports outfit. As interesting as the strap is, however, it is that gorgeous dial color that steals the limelight. Oris ?MomotaroThis might just be my favorite dial design of the Divers Sixty-Five so far. T...
Value appreciation, retention, and depreciation are often front and center in the minds of potential purchasers. They shouldn t be, but they are. The truth is, that nobody knows for sure how a watch will perform on the resale market long term. Let s dig into the reasons why that is and what purchases you can make in full confidence.Firstly, don t take anything you read on a website - much less a website that discusses a nuanced and changeable commodity like luxury wristwatches - as investment advice. This is not an investment guide. The same is true of any website analyzing the trends of pre-owned watches. It is an inexact science, to say the least. But there are some brands that have histor...
Beginning of the 1980s, Mr. Kikuo Ibe designed the first Casio watch according to the Tripple-10 concept. Waterproof to 10 bar, drop-proof to 10 meters, and a battery life of 10 years. This watch, the G-Shock DW-5000C, became an icon in its own right. And for many high-end watch aficionados, it became a guilty pleasure to love them.An original G-Shock DW-5000C from 1983Casio G-Shock SquareNow, almost 40 years later, for this matter, we re happy that we have many G-Shock Squares to choose from. Possibly too many! Determining what to look for following the original G-Shock is tough. We get many requests from our readers to help them decide which G-Shock they should buy. We will shed some light...
When writing my first photo book article, it brought up some of the things I have learned over time. It also shows some specific topics related to watch photography which I find fascinating. So after mentioning lume photos, there is another topic which is about the details. Though the years Ive created many watch macro photos that reveal details that can be hard to see with the naked eye.Watch macro photos simply reveal the true beauty of a watch, or, occasionally, the not so perfect craftsmanship. Thankfully that rarely happens but through the years only a few blemishes have crossed my lens. When this is something you dont want to find on a new watch, vintage watches are something different...
It s been a while, but our once-again regular column returns. In this space, we take-on readers questions about watches and give our honest answers. Some of the answers are based on facts, some on opinions, but all exist for the purpose of furthering the conversation. Please feel free to get in touch with your queries, and we ll add as many as we can to the list!I ve inherited a gem. There are very few formats that promise the same level of engagement that directly responding to questions does. And the best part? I am genuinely interested. We all are. That s what makes writing about watches a fun profession. Every day I get to talk to like-minded people. And it is a constant education. Thus...
I shamelessly confess that I wear this shiny, gold-tone Seiko Mickey Mouse more often than initially thought I would.?Being watch lovers, it is not surprising that we often find ourselves compelled to gift our newborns with their very first tickers. While the temptation to buy a 3-week olf baby a classic chronograph that will make it the envy of all the other babies in kindergarten, it makes more sense to buy a watch that will spend the first 18 years of your progeny s life on ice. Its generally considered that the Datejust or Omega Constellation are great choices for this kind of thing. But if neither of those well-trodden paths tickles your fancy, take a stroll through this list and see i...
The new Bell & Ross BR 03-92 GREY LUM is the latest addition to the brands Instruments line.Bell & Ross has three major model families, Vintage, Experimental, and Instrument. The latter is arguably one of B&Rs most iconic model families. Within that, the BR? 03 group is also the largest with 27 timepieces. From steel to PVD, two-tone, and even ceramic one can choose from many different looks as well as complications. The BR 03 line contains simple time-only pieces as well as watches with power reserve indicators, GMTs, and ever-popular chronograph complications. The BR 03-92 GREY LUM is coming to this line with its simple yet unmistakably Bell & Ross design. Great size, clean...
You don t have to spend too long in or around the luxury watchmaking industry to be aware of the modern classics such as the Submariner, GMT Master II, or the Datejust. Within the modern collection, a few more complicated watches exist, like the Sky-Dweller, Yacht-Master II, and Cellini Moon Phase. Although less common these days, complicated watches have played a huge part in the brand s history.For example, one?of the rarest models, very much sought after by worldwide collectors is reference?8171. This 38mm model features a complete calendar with moon phase complication also. It is nicknamed Padellone by Italian collectors. It gets this moniker from its dimensions in relation to the peri...
