Its true that when Gil Scott-Heron wrote in 1970 that, the Revolution Will Not be Televised, he wasnt referring to the watch industry. With what weve seen lately, though, its looking more and more like the revolution is likely to take place via Social Media C or perhaps were already in the thick of massive changes in the way watches are marketed and sold. We saw just this past week the Omega Speedy Tuesday Limited Edition sell out in record time all with clicks or finger taps C an experiment that had never really been tried before by such a large and prominent brand. But what about the grass-roots movement? Is there anything happening out there aside from the continued surge in online-only b...
With only a day to go, 2016 has come to its end. It was a very interesting year for the watch industry and for watch collectors. The watch industry is currently going through a rough time, but still managed to come up with some very interesting watches this past year.State of the watch industry2017 will likely be an even tougher year for some brands, which means we havent seen the end of the crisis in the luxury watch market yet. The trend will now be all about how creative brands are with their new collections and, just as important, the value proposition. In my belief, for many watch enthusiasts it has become more important that you indeed get a bit of value for your money instead of buyin...
Watch GiveawayWe love Seiko and we know you do too! After neglecting the brand a bit our first years of existence (since 2004), we started to publish on Seiko (especially on the vintage models) since a couple of years and the response was – and still is – awesome. A trip to the Seiko factories in 2015 made our love for the brand only grow more (click here for the Seiko Factory Trip reports). Every year they surprise us with new interesting models, like this year s Seiko SRP777 ‘Turtle watch.We were among the first to bring you the news on these new ‘Turtle models after one of their own websites leaked info, and we did an in-depth article on the Seiko SRP777 only a f...
Tic Watches is one of the most admired online retailers of designer watches over the web. The brand which has already made a niche online reputation with its standout collection of designer watches has recently come up with its own retail outlet in Darlington. With this move the EBay shop is going to widen its retail presence beyond web and making its range available for UK customers to step inside the store and choose their favourite fashion watches. The high street shop of the retail watch brand in Darlington is expected to create sensational presence with its wide array of fashionable watches representing every taste and mood.Tic Watches had been an well acclaimed designer watch shop reta...
In the second edition of Formex Watch of the Week, we bring you the DS 2100. This technical diver timepiece with a dynamic allure, combines the essentials of design, quality and robustness. Like all Formex models, it features the patented suspension system. Check it out here.???Complementing their collection of motor sports themed timepieces, Formex jumps into the deep blue with this line of modern divers. With an exciting overall aspect and clear square-round Formex DNA, the DS 2100 stands out of the crowd. The prominent rotating bezel with large numbers and a minimalistic dial design, offer perfect readability, whether you are way below the surface or simply use it in our day to day life. ...
, the most popular watch brand in the world but unaccessible for the majority of people. Of course. However, we show you the 5 most accessible and (relatively) affordable watches in this article. We notice a lot of people buying a (high) number of cheaper watches, but really long for a . It might be wise to refrain from buying all the cheaper watches you come across, and save up for something big. Something .Five Affordable WatchesWe show you five different affordable models, from really accessible models like the Oyster Perpetual to the classic Explorer?and Datejust II and specific watches like the Milgauss and Air-King.There is no reason to speak of entry-level watches.?All watches to...
Lac CradoA nice leather strap can really change the look of your watch. Whether its vintage leather with gorgeous patina or suede thats as soft as plush it gives character to any timepiece. A color-coordinated stitching can look cool if its not pushed too far. Like black and white for a Submariner or a Speedmaster, a dark blue and red for a GMT-Master Pepsi and so on. Then you have the exotic leathers as materials. While I agree that less is more and sometimes people go to the extreme with these materials, I can also appreciate a nicely done croc strap for one of my watches. Our October edition of Watch Strap Review brings you a strap maker from Singapore?who mostly deals with exotic leath...
Omegas remarkable first automatic chronographIn 1971, Omega launched the Speedmaster Mark III Automatic, the first automatic chronograph of the brand. It was presented as the next step in the Speedmaster-series: a self-winding Speedmaster. The watch featured the new, automatic chronograph movement c 1040, housed in a funky chunk of steel. In retrospect, there is a lot to love about the Omega Speedmaster Mark III, its ridiculous case and the inconsistent Mark-line.Omega Speedmaster Mark IIIThe automatic chronograph became available to the public in 1969 by Zenith, while Breitling and Heuer/Leonidas were also completing their versions (ChronoMatic). Seiko had already released the very first au...
A sapphire setting for the record-breaking movementWhile the original design of the MP-05 LaFerrari was created to show off the beauty of its movement, its alter ego C with its case carved out of sapphire C is a movement which appears to be literally suspended in mid-air. All the details of this record-breaking movement can be admired from all angles. With the MP-05 LaFerrari Sapphire, Hublot takes us into a supernatural world. A material presence which is almost intangible.The story behind the mythUnveiled in 2013, the MP-05 LaFerrari,?created as a tribute to the eponymous supercar, showcased its unique and ultra-complex architecture. The lines of the MP-05 LaFerrari are the result of close...
Watch AmbassadorsOnly yesterday, during a press event from a?watch brand, the topic of ‘watch ambassadors and ‘red carpet brands was being discussed with a colleague watch journalist. Here on Fratello, we touched the subject before (click here for my rant on watch brand ambassadors) so there is no need to do that again. Instead, let s have a look at the real watch ambassadors. People who endorsed a watch that were not on the payroll of a watch brand. People who made a watch famous even, without knowing it themselves. Or realizing which impact they would have on the watch (brand).Steve McQueen – Although Steve McQueen endorsed the Heuer Monaco during the movie Le Mans, he ...
I am Ziv Nissimov, a 17 year old entrepreneur. My history with wristwatches started when my dad offered to take me to his watch manufacture when I was a young child, where I would spend my time with watch designers who mentored me into becoming a qualified designer myself.For the past year and half, I have joined the group of designers that I had once been mentored by, and helped bring more watch designs to the manufacture. Moreover, right now is a great time for me to be a watch designer because I have designed many watches that are now a part of the market. Also, right now would be the time for me to dive into the industry due to all the original ideas I have to bring to the market, but at...
GTGThe aim of going to a get-together (GTG) is to meet like-minded watch enthusiasts. It is also a great chance to check out watches you?never saw in the flesh. Collecting watches can be a real lonely hobby if you have nobody around sharing?your interest. Once you get to the GTG you want to keep the memory and pull out the smart phone or the camera for some shots. I personally dont take my camera to these meetings. On the one hand I do not want to carry lenses, tripods, flashlights etc around with me. On the other hand, I do not have the time, I love the interaction with other watch guys and would spend my time talking to them than taking photos with the camera.ZtylusYour smartphones camera ...
Before Formula 1 driver Michael Schumacher switched to Audemars Piguet, he was Omega ambassador since 1995. Omega honored him with many pieces, starting in 1996 with a Speedmaster Reduced model. These models came in different colors. Below is the yellow version we covered earlier.Michael SchumacherSchumacher was active in Formula 1 from 1991 till 2006 and returned in 2010 to be active till 2012. He became World Champion F1 driver 7 times. End of 2013, he had a nearly fatal accident during a ski trip in France. He has been released from the hospital since 2 years to focus on revalidation at home. It has become relatively silent around Michael Schumacher since then.Omega Speedmaster Michael Sc...
Today on #TBT, Ill take a look at one of my favorite watches: the Omega Speedmaster 105.003 Ed White. Yes, I know, this is two weeks in a row for me with a Speedmaster, but I figured that any time is a good time to speak about a straight-lugged Speedy. And-this one has somewhat of an interesting background thats worth a listen.A Straight-Lugged SpeedmasterA few years back, I decided it was time to get serious about tracking down a premoon Speedmaster. At that time, vintage Speedmasters were nowhere near as expensive as today, but they were still not easy to find and, much like today, were often filled with replacement or incorrect parts. Still, I hadnt decided on what watch I wanted and I pr...
A letter from someone I knowA couple of years ago, 2012 to be precise, I traveled to Paris together with Bert and Gerard to witness the 40th anniversary exhibition of the Royal Oak. Being a big fan of the Royal Oak, we decided to drive down there and have a look. A friend, who was working at AP at the time, arranged an interview with designer Octavio Garcia for me. So we sat down and since I am a huge fan of the Royal Oak, I didn t have to prepare much and just fired away. You can read about that visit (and interview) here. However, Garcia left AP a while ago and it became a bit silent. Now, not too long ago I received an e-mail from him. I was honored already when I noticed it wasn t just a...
Apollo-SoyuzIn 2014, we already covered the Speedmaster Apollo-Soyuz and the background of this watch:?The Apoll0-Soyuz mission in 1975.Two super powers forgot about the Cold War for just a moment by docking the Apollo and Soyuz spacecrafts at an altitude of 138 miles. Launched at the 15th of July in 1975, the docking took place on the 17th of July and lasted for 44 hours. After the docking, the American crew transferred from the Apollo to the Soyuz spacecraft.All men in this mission, astronauts and cosmonauts, wore Omega Speedmaster watches. Interesting enough, commander Thomas P. Stafford (we had a look at his personal watch here), wore his gold Speedmaster Professional Apollo XI that he r...
The Explorer 1016 sprawls on a table, a scant few years shy of its 30th birthday, appearing much as it did when it was produced in 1989.An odd paradox of a watch by this time, its ultimate year of production, for it must have looked like something from so long ago, but yet it bore, and still bears, that newish look of a semi-modern . These contradictions, and the fact that the 1016 is, in my highly biased opinion, the most starkly beautiful sports watch ever created, make it a highly covetable timepiece indeed. In this weeks edition of #TBT, we take a closer look at the end of the line for one of s greatest creations.The Explorer 1016The Explorer 1016, of all of the brands sport watches,...
Why you want an Extract of the ArchivesWhen I bought my first vintage Omega Speedmaster, I wanted to know more about this specific watch. Information on the Speedmaster I could find on-line or in magazines, but I was curious to learn about the history of my own Speedmaster. For this, Omega – and a number of other brands – are able to provide you with an extract from the archives.Omega s?Museum And ArchivesI ordered quite a few of these Omega Extract of the Archives documents over the years as I feel they do add value to the (vintage) watch.?It also gives you a production and shipping date, as well as the country it was originally shipped to. But what exactly are these archives, a...
This week Casio opened a ‘G-shock Master of G pop-up store at Kalverstraat 101 in Amsterdam, and Fratello Watches was invited.The opening event took off with bubbles and an informal chat amongst friends.?Which immediately set the right atmosphere for the event. As?you ll find all the difficult stuff Casio supplies under the ‘G-shock Master of G label,?this pop-up store is the place to be?for the real G-shock fans and freaks.Right when you enter the store, you breath an atmosphere of toughness.?More than life-size pictures on the wall of people wearing, and using premium G-shock models in harsh and real life environments. Think of sea rescue teams, fire fighters and law enforcem...
ShkiraAnother month another Watch Strap Review. For May I have a really cool company lined up for you. We add yet another country to the ever-growing list of places we virtually visit to search for the best strap makers around. The place we are having our latest craftsman from is the picturesque city of Ternopil in West-Ukraine and the company is SHKIRA. As with in most cases Shkira does not only sell watch straps but wallets, iPhone holders, card holders, notebook covers, iPad sleeves and such. What really took my attention was however not the items at first but the quality and composition of images Stepan (Mr Shkira himself) used to illustrate his products. So we exchanged a few messages a...
