New Coke, the Porsche 996, and Star Wars: The Phantom Menace – all things that, upon introduction, were meant to be better than their predecessors. On paper, they probably were or perhaps they tested well amongst some group of people thought to encompass the products target market. But-we know what people ultimately thought. On the other hand, there are countless examples where a follow-up product or idea marks a vast improvement over the prior generation and the marketplace responds positively. Just consider about every piece of electronic or connected technology you own and how the bulk of these items have brought marked improvement, usability, and dependability with each new renditi...
We have partnered with Catawiki to bring you a selection of interesting watches they ve auctioned. Different from the other auctioneers in the market, Catawiki started originally in 2008 as a website where collectors could manage and keep track of their collections (comics for example). Then, because of growing popularity of the website, Catawiki started to host weekly auctions for collectible objects, including comics, art, antiques, classic cars, books and… watches.Every other week, we will bring you our picks of Catawiki s watch auctions. Give you some insights on the watch that has been sold and why we picked it. Because Catawiki has a very short lead time for their auctions, it is...
With over 2,000 watches in auction every week, you can imagine that some true treasures have been bought and sold at online auction platform Catawiki. Looking back at their previous watch auctions, youll find a number of intriguing timepieces. Their team of watch experts, who review every watch and curate each weekly auction, have shared the unique stories behind a few of the best watch sales.Omega Seamaster XVIThe rarity of this Omega Seamaster XVI which came up for auction is attributed to the design. It was never released for commercial sale. Omega has been the official timekeeper of the Olympic games since 1932, and as such has created a number of commemorative watches to celebrate the e...
Each week over 2,000 watches are up for auction at online auction platform Catawiki. Every watch is first reviewed by their team of 12 watch experts to ensure quality, authenticity, and suitability for auction. Their experts then carefully curate the auction to provide the most diverse and best possible quality listings. Have a look at a few of the top watches selected by their experts from this weeks auction below.IWC Schaffhausen Der FliegerOmega Seamaster PloProfJaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Grande TailleOmega Seamaster Olympic Limited Edition Oysterquartz President Day-DateFor more exceptional watches, visit Catawikis weekly Watches auctions....
Klokers needs little introduction. We ve been playing with the Klokers KLOK-01 watch a while ago (which you can read here), and it is a very fun watch to wear. Original from a design standpoint as well, as our own Teun ‘Toon van Heerebeek discussed (here).Klokers KLOK-08 and the 1960 sToday, we show you the new Klokers KLOK-08. According to them, this new version has been inspired by the? spirit of the 1960 s. Now, I am from the late 1970 s, so I can t talk from experience, but from what I ve heard it must have been pretty wild. Especially compared to the more conservative decades before. People felt liberated, music changed (the world), fashion changed (more freedom), technology beca...
Last month, the 100.000.000th Casio G-Shock has been delivered. An amazing number and accomplishment! Here at Fratello we are big fans of the G-Shock and recently covered the ‘essential model GW-5000.100.000.000th G-Shock Since 1983The development of the G-Shock already started in 1981, a watch that needed to withstand drops and heavy knocks. Around 200 prototypes later, the first G-Shock was launched in 1983. This was reference DW-5000C. The ‘tough watch that led to an entire new entity within the Casio company.DW-5000CThe philosophy of G-Shock is that every new developed model should be pushing the limits even more than the previous one. A while ago, we did an interview with ...
Every week online auction platform Catawiki auctions off over 2,000 watches from around the world. Every watch on the auctions is first reviewed by their team of watch experts to ensure quality and authenticity. Have a few of the top watches selected by their experts up for auction this week below. Oyster Perpetual Day-DateYear: 1991Gender: UnisexCase Material: Yellow goldMovement: AutomaticExtras: Certificate, original box and declaration of originClick here for the lot. DateJustYear: 1985Gender: UnisexCase Material: Gold/SteelMovement: AutomaticExtras: Full set including box and papersClick here for the lot DatejustYear: 1964Gender: UnisexCase Material: SteelMovement: AutomaticExtras: Box,...
Every week online auction platform Catawiki auctions offer over 2,000 watches from around the world. Every watch on the auctions is first reviewed by their team of watch experts to ensure quality and authenticity. Have a few of the top watches selected by their experts up for auction this week below. TurnoGraph 6202Year: 1954Gender: MenCase Material: SteelMovement: AutomaticType: Analogue WristwatchClick to see all detailsVacheron Constantin Quai de l IleYear: 2014Gender: MenCase Material: Rose GoldMovement: AutomaticType: Analogue WristwatchExtras: Travel box for watch and accessories, documents, certificate of originality and 5 original straps includedClick to see all detailsOmega Speedmas...
Within vintage circles, collectors now seem to clamor for simple watches with distinctive designs. Todays #TBT offers a choice within this theme and we even exhibit three different variants. Specifically, I happen to think that this weeks edition of our long-running series covers one of the more classically attractive series from that ever-discussed Japanese brand, Seiko. The Seiko 6106-8100 sport divers and their brethren are well known by the Seiko hardcore, but perhaps a bit unknown by others. Lets take a deeper look.A little over a year ago, I wrote an article on Seikos named Sports Divers. This was essentially a look at a handful of nicknamed watches with 70M of water resistance and eit...
You might be familiar with Hackett London, the menswear retailer from the UK. But did you know there is a Speedmaster Hackett? Hackett was founded in 1979 by Jeremy Hackett and?Ashley Lloyd-Jennings. In 1983 however, they opened their first shop under the name ‘Hackett in Parsons Green, London. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of that, Hackett bought two types of vintage watches: the Omega Seamaster and Omega Speedmaster Professional. 25 pieces were offered to mark the 25th anniversary of Hackett London.Omega Speedmaster Hackett – A Customized Vintage WatchSomeone over at Hackett London must (or still do) love their vintage timepieces. It is quite uncommon to re-sell vintage wa...
And now Im in trouble. The angel consistently perched atop my right shoulder with a consistent message: dont buy a yellow gold . Theyre too expensive, theyre too loud, and after all, its yellow gold for goodness sake, shouted the haloed figure. On the sinister shoulder, the fellow with the pointy tail appeared with that lustful voice cooing, you truly want a gold : theyre the horological version of forbidden fruit, the 24oz Porterhouse that calls your name when the 8oz filet will do just fine, or the V12-powered (pick your German marque) sedan that drives a sledgehammer through the word overkill. Well, since todays article extends beyond this very sentence, you dont have to guess which other...
As an American, and one who considers himself reasonably worldly, I have to admit that I get lost when it comes to identifying countries on a map east of Germany until ones eyes hit the landmass that is Russia. Its like the geographical enigma that is New England raised to an exponential level C yes I still struggle with that one too. And so I had to do a bit of cartographical research prior to the first date with my now wife when I found out that she was born and raised in the country of Slovakia. Yes, folks, its separate from the Czech Republic (you wouldnt believe how many people still say Czechoslovakia) and if youve never been, its a beautiful and welcoming country. The topography is va...
It is no secret that we like (Grand) Seiko here on Fratello. From the low cost mechanical watches till the Grand Seiko models with Spring Drive movement. It is also no secret that we (well, especially me) are no fan of some of the bracelets that come on these watches. It is mainly the appearance that bothers me, not the build quality. In short, I was looking for a nice alternative for one of my favorite go-to watches, the Seiko Marinemaster 300.Seiko Marinemaster 300There are a couple of articles and reviews on that Seiko Marinemaster Professional 300 on Fratello, the latest one being the 52Mondayz feature from Gerard, where he talks about the watch he will be wearing that week. The current ...
Do you remember the first time you sat in an old sports car either as a passenger or better yet, as a driver?We all know the feeling. The smell of petrol and old leather paired with the sound of the engine and the feeling how your body trembles inside is something you never forget. It is a mixture of fear, excitement and concentration. You start to roll out and after the drive when you stop it feels like the whole experience was only 5 seconds. You cant wait to get back in that car but this time you already know what to expect and that urges you. This may sound like a nice marketing text from a catalog but it really isnt. This is how I felt inside that Porsche 928 a long time ago. Same feeli...
After a bit of a break Watch Strap Review is back with a new article. This time we look back and discuss what we saw this year in BaselWorld regarding straps. We had more appointments than ever so I can honestly say that we had a great grip on what was going on. Nothing truly new hit the displays but a few reinterpretations and a handful of cool straps and bracelets. So without a further ado lets have a look what BaselWorld 2017 brought us this year.No more NATOThe first thing I recognized is the lack of NATO straps on the 2017 novelties. I mean they are still around and of course many still consider it the go-to strap for its versatility, ease of use and durability but the brands went on a ...
In January, we featured a look at some watches produced in collaboration with the large (and growing) Divers Watches Facebook Group. The group is now comprised of nearly 32,000 members who have strong appetites for aquatic watches and its founder, Andreas Gregoriades, is continuously looking for more projects to offer up to the group. Well, since the first Aquadive sold out quickly and the soon-to-be-delivered Gruppo Gamma sold faster than a blowout flat screen TV on Black Friday, hes decided to come back with another watch for the big group. By the looks of it, this new watch is a real winner C introducing the Zelos DMT (Diver Medic Technician).The Third Collaboration WatchAndreas, with his...
About two years ago, I received an e-mail from one of our German readers. He is a radiologist and told me he was ever so happy when Omega introduced their Aqua Terra >15,000 gauss in 2013. Even better, he wrote me that he tested it with one of the MRI equipment up to 30,000 gauss and it still worked perfectly. Not too long ago, Omega tested their watch at 160,000 gauss and guess what happened? Nothing.160,000 gaussHow important is anti-magnetism for a watch? Well, I wasn t even aware (I change watches fairly often that I can t properly measure its?accuracy) but when I was at the Omega HQ?in October one of my Speedmaster watches was performing quite badly. It was magnetized according to th...
A while ago, one of the founders of Revolo came to our head quarters in The Hague to talk about this new concept of customizing a watch. A few months later, Revolo made it happen and their on-line configurator is live. The proof is in the pudding. So we configured a watch ourselves and received it not much later.RevoloRevolo is located in Amsterdam, and I am pretty sure that people who are visiting the building have no clue that behind the doors of this typical office space, are a handful of watchmakers working to fulfill the orders from their clients. Next to the room with the watchmakers is an even larger room, stocked with watch parts. Dials, cases, movements, hands, straps, boxes. Everyt...
So it s time for something completely different now! It s weekend for us and probably most of our readers. Today we present you an easy to digest article. Going through our vast photo archive, we dug up the watch macro photo?A to Z. Some unpublished material or re-editited images. Taking a few detours to fill in the few missing brand names in the alphabet. Maybe an interesting quest for the upcoming Baselworld fair.Kicking it off with the A for A. Lange & S?hne. We didn t want to zoom in too much as there is so much going on for this Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon.A. Lange & S?hne Datograph Perpetual TourbillonB for Blancpain L-Evolution Tourbillon Carrousel, limited to 50 pieces. No...
Since the successful launch of the Speedmaster ‘Speedy Tuesday limited edition, quite a bit of people asked us about the radial dial. Although Omega already had a radial dial in one of their watches in 1966, it wasn t used in the Speedmaster Professional until 1972 with the Alaska Project II. Let s have a closer look at the radial dial models since then.Speedmaster Radial DialsIn short, you could say that – with the exception of the Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday limited edition – that the radial dial lay-out was only used in watches dedicated for NASA purposes. In 1972, Omega came up with their Alaska Project II, using the radial dial in the Speedmaster Professional. More inf...
