On the morning of Day Two at Baselworld, team member Blaise and I broke off from the rest of the Fratello crew and ventured into Hall 2 to meet with a brand that enjoys a true cult-like following: Squale. Both of us were interested to meet with the brand that produces fairly priced dive watches that have changed little design-wise from their heyday in the 1960s. The result of our meeting was a fun, casual discussion over doppio espressos and some great information about the brands future.First, lets review a little history about Squale because its impossible to ignore. I say this because the small team that Squale employs is so passionate about the lineage of the brand to the point that they...
Since last year, Fratello Watches started to do more coverage on (Grand) Seiko watches. As we realized there is – besides an ever increasing demand from markets outside Japan – a lot of pride and craftsmanship in their Grand Seiko watches and due to the fact that Seiko has an incredible history on watches, we decided to finally give them the attention they deserve.During BaselWorld 2015, Fratello Watches sat down with Mr. Hattori, the CEO of Seiko. A wonderful opportunity for us to see if we can get a glimpse of what s happening at Seiko and to ask him to explain a number of things to us regarding the Seiko collections. We felt honoured that Mr. Hattori was willing to do the inte...
Three guys – Marc, Sylvain and Vincent – who are working in the Swiss watch industry just launched their private project called Toolwatch. This project consists of a website that enables you to measure and track the accuracy of your wristwatch(es), without using expensive measuring equipment or doing the maths yourself using an atomic clock.The Toolwatch website allows you to – after free registration – to add watches to your own private profile. As soon as you did, you can start tracking and measuring the accuracy of your watch. You just have to sync your timepiece with the Toolwatch website. It can be a bit confusing at first – it was for me, so that doesn t s...
Speedmaster fans can be excited! That includes us of course as well. Another introduction from Omega this year is their Speedmaster 57 Caliber 9300 Broad Arrow model. Based on the 41.5mm Speedmaster 9300 models they showed us in 2013, they now did a proper Caliber 9300 Broad Arrow release.We reviewed the 41.5mm Omega Speedmaster 57 in great extent in this article (in case you ve missed it) and frankly the specifications did not change much. The biggest optical change is in the hands and in the use of this faux patina or – as Omega calls it – Vintage Super Luminova. A while ago, we compared the original CK2915 with the Speedmaster 57 re-edition of the late 1990s and the Speedma...
In 1970, Omega developed a Speedmaster that was a bit different from the then current Moonwatch models. They called it the Alaska project (it had to withstand extreme temperatures, especially those on the dark side of the Moon) and therefore Omega came up with the solution of an external casing made of red-anodised aluminium. The project title Alaska was from then on used for every assignment they did for NASA, like this 1978 Alaska III project watch that was re-certified for the Space Shuttle missions.Did you know: The white-dialed Speedmaster Project Alaska watch I am showing you here today was Omega s Alaska II Project watch for NASA. The first Alaska project watch was a titanium model th...
Despite my affinity for vintage watches, this time of year is a bit like Christmas morning due to all the new releases to come at Baselworld. So, the bottom line is that, yes, I enjoy new watches as well. What I really enjoy, however, are new pieces that properly draw from a brands heritage. Certain manufacturers, such as Tudor, have exhibited a talent for introducing revised models based on their back catalog during the past several years. Other brands, which we wont mention, have been less successful. Today, however, on Fratellowatches, we are excited to introduce an unexpected model that we think will be a great vintage-inspired success: the Oris Divers Sixty-Five.First, lets review some ...
The title couldn t have been more corny, I ll admit. However, this watch is being smart for different reasons. One of them is that it is a great first mechanical watch for those who just get started with watches and don t want to blow a lot of money on a watch (yet). One of the other reasons is that it looks great, especially when worn with a suit or at least a bit more formal outfit.That s exactly what Baume & Mercier is aiming for with their new range of Classima models that they introduced last January in Geneva. Affordable good-looking watches for men and women, most probably in their twenties and just started their career and make some money. Perhaps this is what a lot of watch bran...
Ohio. I somehow found myself there after university for my first job. As a person born and raised in the sunshine of South Florida, this location was the polar opposite.In fact, not far from where I found myself, was the Ravenna Arsenal. This was the site of Americas largest bomb storage depot post WW2, so chosen because it contained the most cloud cover per year of ANYWHERE east of the Mississippi River. A great region to work on ones suntan, correct? Anyhow, my time in Ohio was a great learning experience and, amongst many other things, primarily mental, that are present with me today, it has allowed me to write an article on the Explorer 14270.Today, when we think about new s that are di...
In only a few weeks from now, the Fratello Watches team will be visiting Basel for the annual BaselWorld exhibition. Although it is a lot of fun to be there, it is also hard work. A full week of back-to-back appointments with watch brands with the five Fratelli?to bring you all the big news from Basel to your screen. From all the exhibitors (last year there were about 1500 of them), we only get to see a fraction of course, but we will make sure to bring you the novelties from the most important ones.Before we do so, let s give you a quick run down on what I liked best of BaselWorld 2014 and what I expect to see from these same brands this year.1. Omega Seamaster 300Like every year, our first...
To be honest I had to look it up, but it is already five years ago that Audemars Piguet introduced the Royal Oak Offshore Diver. The Royal Oak Offshore collection, originally introduced in 1993 and designed by Emmanuel Gueit, is the most popular line of Audemars Piguet. A variety of models (chronographs, calendars etc) were introduced in the first years of the Offshore collection, but it took a while before Audemars Piguet came with a Royal Oak Offshore for divers. Although there was already an Offshore diver watch in 2005,? the limited edition of 175 pieces only for the Wempe boutiques, the Royal Oak Offshore Diver was officially introduced in 2010.Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore DiverTh...
This year Cartier surprised us with a new collection, the Cle de Cartier. Cle is French for ‘key and refers to the winding crown of this watch. Cartier positions the Cle de Cartier line-up in the same range of iconic collections as the Santos and Tank. Very ambitious, but Cartier is one of those watch manufacturers that probably can live up to it, creating a new iconic model that is. For designing the Cle de Cartier, the maison was inspired by the perfect circle.Cartier Cle de CartierThe first thing that came to mind when seeing the Cle de Cartier from the front is the C-shape of the case, as Omega called it with their Constellation line-up of the late 1960s, early 1970s. However, the...
Omega Speedmaster Reduced White DialThe Omega Speedmaster Reduced was once the watch for the fellow who wanted an automatic version of the Moonwatch, or simply wanted to have a smaller timepiece than a 42mm giant chronograph. This particular model was introduced in 1988 and came in several different versions.Best known version is probably the black dial model, often being held for a Moonwatch (but it is not, read our Speedmaster Reduced versus Moonwatch here). Omega also used the Speedmaster Reduced for their bright coloured racing series (Schumacher had one). However, one of our readers owns a rare white dial version. Now you will come across a white dial version in a bi-color Speedmaster R...
Our loyal readers know that we have a strap review series on Fratello Watches. We publish a new strap maker once a month and do a little review on their products. It was during one of these hunts for a new participant that I came across the work of KUKI Works. These guys dont produce watch straps but watch rolls. The one thing instantly caught my eyes was the fact that the blokes are really down to earth. No fancy website, no lavish crocodile prints and most importantly no crazy high prices. What you get a lot though, are colours. Kuki Works has a very impressive line up of the most colourful watch rolls you can get on the market for a pretty handsome price. I mean where would you get a wove...
I am sure most of you remember that in July we had a survey at FratelloWatches in connection with our birthday anniversary. Many of you guys thought that we should deal a bit more with smaller up-and-coming brands and you also gave us a few ideas regarding these companies. One watch house many of you have mentioned was CT Scuderia. We are here to please you so we took the survey pretty seriously and I am happy to announce that the first CT Scuderia watch review has arrived. I am sure there will be many more to follow. Lets have a look at this brand and the watches they produce.CT Scuderia Salt Flat Racer 60 ReviewCT Scuderia is a relatively young brand and the watches they offer look quite s...
About a month ago we drove to Switzerland to visit a few watch brands. One of these brands was TAG Heuer, located in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Since our publication of the TAG Heuer Carrera CH80 review, a lot of things changed. Jean-Claude Biver, interim CEO of TAG Heuer and head of LVMH s watchmaking division decided that it was time for a change at TAG Heuer. In short, Jean-Claude Biver has set a clear focus on affordable TAG Heuer watches in the range of $1,500.- – $5,000.- USD (~ $1225,- – $4000,- Euro).A very competitive and interest price range we think. Not only because some other big brands increased their prices over the last few years so much that they are not competing in the...
Let s be honest, after the 1980s?of the last century, in the ‘real watch world there are only very few quartz watches considered as serious products. had its Oysterquartz models from 1977 till the early 2000s, not specially intended for professional use, and Breitling always had their?Chronospace and Aerospace models which were aimed at airline pilots. That was pretty much it.Except some Casio-like digital Speedmasters (some even signed Professional) that were introduced in 1977, for Omega it started to get serious in 1998 with the introduction of the Omega Speedmaster Professional X-33, nicked the ‘Marswatch . The earlier tuning fork movement Speedsonic line and the digital LC...
At the dawn of availability, last week Fratellowatches attended the introduction?of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Geophysic 1958 tribute in The Netherlands. The presentation was held in the beautiful historic Admiralty room of the former Arsenal, now National Maritime Museum in Amsterdam.The HistoryIn the mid 20th century the scientific community was preparing a program of scientific explorations towards the International Geophysical Year 1958. Jaeger-LeCoultre decided to associate with this initiative by creating an exceptional precision instrument, the Geophysic watch.The most important design elements of the watch were readability, precision and reliability. Its calibre 478BWSbr movement was deriv...
It was in 1975 when the 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.Earlier this year I ve met with the commander Apollo CSM-111 spacecraft, Thomas P. Stafford. Together with astronauts Vance D. Brand and Donald K. Slayton (one of the original 7 astronauts NASA selected for their space program) he flew from the 15th of July till the 24th of July 1975. At the same time this year, I met with Alexey Leonov, command...
The Omega Speedmaster CK2998 seems to be one of the most sought-after vintage Speedmaster watches. On a weekly basis we get a couple of questions whether we know one for sale. A few weeks ago, I met with Roy Davidoff of the Davidoff Brothers boutique in Geneva. He told me that their shop specializes in vintage watches and that they have a huge?love for Speedmasters (and Speedy Tuesday). Their collection of watches always include a couple of Speedmaster watches when possible.That s why they sent me photos of this Omega Speedmaster CK2998-4 with a so-called tropical dial. As you can see on the photo below, the dial has turned into this dark brown color over time. Collectors refer to this as &#...
Omega s Speedmaster family comes in many different variations, but always with that special Moonwatch DNA. In the 1990s and early 2000s, one of the popular Speedmaster models were the Speedmaster Automatic ‘Reduced watches. One of our friends, Andreas S. Gregoriades sent us photos of this wonderful Omega Speedmaster Day-Date Mk40 Triple Calendar watch.Omega Speedmaster Day-Date Mk40There were a number of Speedmaster Reduced models (click here to read our Speedmaster Pro ‘Moonwatch versus Speedmaster ‘Reduced article), but these Triple Calendar models were – to me – the most exciting variations. This particular Omega Speedmaster Day-Date has reference 3520.50 ...
