Another Friday, another list! This time, we re focusing on the brands that will be present at Geneva Watch Days 2025 next week. The event grows every year, and we have seen an increase in the number of participating brands. It s a mixed bag of small and big ones that are active at every price level, making Geneva Watch Days a great event in the second half of the year. This week, we have created a Top 5 list of brands we think you should keep your eyes on for some great releases. Let s find out what they are.But before we jump into our list, let me explain how we determined these five picks. The selection is based on brands that surprised us during previous editions of Geneva Watch Days and ...

For many, summer vacation is usually a time to travel, relax, and recharge for the second half of the year. Well, not for the people at Fears, it seems. The British brand introduces not one, not two, but three new watches today. The new Brunswick 38 Charcoal Rose has a textured black and rose gold dial. Then, there s the new Brunswick 40.5 Jump Hour Barleycorn with a plum centerpiece. And finally, there s the new Redcliff 39.5 Date ES with a frosted and hardened steel case and black DLC-coated parts.Usually, when Fears releases something new, it seems very considerate and often focuses on a single watch. However, this time, the company saved up over the summer and is letting it all out befor...

Anyone who has followed Praesidus over the past few years knows the brand has always focused on paying tribute to watches with military heritage. From revivals of the rugged A-11 to limited models tied to real veterans stories, the watches have been rooted in the world of utility and service. But now, the brand is taking a step into something new. With the Victory Collection, Praesidus unveils its very first all-out dress watch.This feels like a milestone not only for the brand but also for its audience. Praesidus has built a reputation on rugged authenticity, yet the Victory brings a softer voice into the catalog. Its a reminder that refinement and durability do not need to be at odds with ...

The first three iterations of the Roger Dubuis Excalibur Spider Flyback Chronograph were essentially watch equivalents of hypercars. Those chronographs, made of high-tech materials and unapologetically showing their highly tuned performance engines, came in bold, sporty colorways. The fourth version is different. Reference RDDBEX1138 comes in a pink gold and black DLC titanium case instead of carbon fiber and ceramic. It changes the essence of the watch. No longer is it a timepiece with only performance on its mind. It utilizes the same movement, so it s still technically advanced, but the caliber now shows warm pink gold details. Plus, with a different body, the emphasis has shifted from hi...

If last year s 32-strong collection of Chronomat B01 42s in NFL team colors was the rookie season, this year is the sophomore breakout for Breitling. The Swiss watchmaker has announced that it is becoming the popular sport league s inaugural timepiece partner, along with the release of new watches to the NFL collection. What can we expect from this partnership? We may have to wait for the season to kick off next month to comprehend fully. However, we can predict timing boards and digital banners prominently featuring the iconic cursive B logo and Breitling s bold branding. Coinciding with the latest news, there are two Breitling timepieces in 32 variations each, stylized in various franchise...

Horage is a brand that has never seemed content to sit still. Its watches often blur the line between experimental design and technical innovation, and the Lensman series has been one of the clearest examples of that. Now, the family grows with the Lensman 2 Global, a watch combining worldtimer and GMT functions.The company calls it a quintessentially modern 24-hour GMT watch, but what stands out is how it adapts the bold look of the earlier Lensman 2 into something much more practical. This is not simply a camera-inspired talking point but a slim, lightweight travel companion.From cameras to continentsHorages?original Lensman 2 leaned heavily into the world of photography, with its case and...

Vacheron Constantin is celebrating its 270th anniversary in 2025 with a steady stream of new releases. Among them is a pair of fresh takes on one of the most elegant sports watches in its stable, the Overseas Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin. This model has long been a showcase of the maisons ability to balance sportiness and horological sophistication in a single, slender package.Now, the Vacheron Constantin Overseas Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin returns in two new executions. One is dressed entirely in pink gold, including a matching golden dial and bracelet. The other combines cool white gold with a high-gloss burgundy lacquered dial for a more daring, high-contrast aesthetic. Join me for a ...

Christopher Ward has a knack for surprising us. Just when you think youve got a handle on its direction, the brand finds a way to shift gears. The Twelve collection was already a strong contender in the genre of integrated-bracelet sports watches. Now, with the new Twelve 660, Christopher Ward shows it can play the thinness game too.I ve only seen the press release and images from the brand, but I thought I d share a few thoughts with you, the Fratelli, on the launch. My first reaction was simple curiosity. Can a watch this slim, at just 6.6mm thick, still feel like a proper Twelve? Or does slimming down inevitably mean a compromise in character?A slimmer case with sharp detailingThe answer ...

One of the most interesting developments in the world of watches recently is the use of color. We have seen a drastic shift in overall color use, particularly on dials, over the past few years. The conservative world of watches predominantly likes its dials to be black, white, or dark blue. Add any shade of gray, along with gold for a gold watch, and it feels like you would have had the full palette of standard dial colors until recently. While those colors are as relevant as ever, the diversity of color has become much richer. One of the brands passionately enriching that palette is Nomos. The recently introduced Club Sport Neomatik Worldtimer is perfect proof of that. Let me explain why.If...

Welcome to another on-location episode of Fratello Talks, this time from the Watch Valley event in Utrecht, where the Swatch Group unveiled its latest novelties for 2025. In attendance were Nacho, Daan, and RJ, keen to get a full preview of the year s releases from the brands present. The event was packed with exciting novelties from Hamilton, Tissot, Rado, Certina, Balmain, and, for the first time, Mido. Lets kick things off with the wrist check. As we did last year, we each picked a watch that was shown to us during the fair, and this years trio didnt disappoint.This video is blocked because you did not accept marketing cookies. Change cookie settings This podcast player is blocked becau...

Bell & Ross has long leaned into its aviation credentials, but the new BR-03 Chrono Rafale Solo Display feels like one of the brands most authentic collaborations yet. Limited to 500 pieces, this watch celebrates the partnership with the Rafale Solo Display, the French Air and Space Forces flight demonstration team. It is stealthy, purposeful, and, above all, a watch that feels right at home in a cockpit rather than on a merch stand.The Rafale Solo Display is a virtuoso ambassador of French aeronautical talent. Its pilots showcase Dassault Aviations Rafale fighter jet through nine minutes of breathtaking maneuvers that combine precision, agility, and power. These routines are a mastercla...

If one model in the Zenith collection shows the great diversity of the brand s creative explorations, it s the Chronomaster Sport. Introduced in 2021, the popular chronograph has quickly become one of the brand s great successes. Additionally, the design team has used the Chronomaster Sport as a thankful canvas for exploring a wide variety of creative ideas. In the brand s 160th anniversary year, we were already treated to a bright blue ceramic model during Watches and Wonders. For its newest Chronomaster Sport, the creative team at Zenith introduces a stainless steel version of the Chronomaster Sport with a beautiful meteorite dial. I had a chance to wear the watch for a few days and learn ...

Time is one of those slippery concepts that even adults struggle to define. We live by it, complain we dont have enough of it, and try to manage it with apps and alarms, but ask a child to explain it, and youll likely get a blank stare or a shrug. Thats what makes About Time: A Childrens Guide to the History, Science, and Philosophy of Time such an extraordinary feat. Co-authored by acclaimed watchmaker and historian Dr. Rebecca Struthers and science teacher and childrens book writer Alom Shaha, About Time explores the vast and complex topic of time in a way thats both accessible and deeply engaging for young readers. It spans ancient timekeeping traditions, modern science, and philosophical...

Block September 2nd if you want to have a chance to wear a relatively affordable MB&F collaboration watch on your wrist. On that day, at 2:00 PM CEST, the raffle for the M.A.D.1S Grow Your Dreams in three colorways will start. These M.A.D.Editions are the result of a collaboration with British-Nigerian artist and designer Yinka Ilori. Each version is limited to 400 pieces, and all vibrate with Iloris colorful and joyful energy and dream-inspired philosophy.You probably dont need an introduction to Maximilian Bsser, the founder and driving force behind MB&F and a string of other crazy projects, such as M.A.D.Editions. However, you may not be familiar with British-Nigerian artist and ...

With the Contrail GMT, Nodus delivered one of my favorite affordable GMT watches that is currently available. The Los Angeles brand showed that an awesome travel watch does not have to cost more than $1,000. On top of that, the quality and level of finishing of the Contrail is nothing short of impressive. Stating that it blows similar watches at double the price out of the water would be an understatement. But with the new Sector II Dive GMT, Nodus takes the term affordable GMT to another level. Another price level, that is. Coming in at less than $500, the Nodus Sector II Dive GMT promises a lot. Can it live up to expectations? Let s find out.I had one big advantage when I reviewed the Nodu...

I recently published an article on whether social media causes a monoculture in watches. The article went into how mere exposure to the same stuff makes us all chase it. This makes it feel as if there is a singular way in which the watch hobby must be practiced. In this article, I would like to go a little bit deeper into how we might instead shape the hobby for ourselves.My aim is not to tell you how to experience and practice the watch hobby; that would be pretentious and hypocritical. Rather, I aim to offer some potentially liberating thoughts on ignoring the masses and setting a personal course. Lets dive in!Lessons from my other hobbyThe idea for this article came from my other hobby - ...

Over the past few years, we have seen Massena Lab team up with several interesting brands. For this new creation, William Massenas collaboration laboratory joined forces with Vianney Halter to produce the Old Soul. This timepiece blends the science fiction of steampunk with watchmaking references from the early 1900s. Additionally, it houses a vintage Minerva movement, resulting in a watch undefined by a specific era but, rather, by passing time itself. Let s find out what the Old Soul is all about.This watch is the second project in a series of conceptual creations brought to life in collaboration with independent watchmakers. Massena Lab calls the series Old Masters. The first watch was th...

While many brands have focused their efforts on producing smaller watches, it s nice to see Piaget carrying the banner for thin ones with its Altiplano series. As a longtime producer of wafer-like timepieces, the company continues to push boundaries with innovation. One example includes using the case back as the mainplate to reduce thickness. Today s pieces aren t brand new, but they offer refreshing takes on two lovely Altiplano models.With the recent clamor over the resissued Polo and Andy Warhol models, perhaps the Altiplano collection has been lost in the shuffle. Piaget is here today to rectify any of those thoughts with new colorways for two of its most visually arresting models. The ...

Theres so much to say about the Holthinrichs Signature Ornament Lab Series 1.24, but when I see the patinated copper dial adorned with 24K gold leaf, I want to sing the famous Nat King Cole jazz standard Autumn Leaves. The melancholy song starts with the words The falling leaves drift by the window and ends with When autumn leaves start to fall. Now look at the 3D-printed watch with green patina and gold flakes on the dial, and tell me you re not humming the song.For those unfamiliar with the Dutch brand Holthinrichs, heres a bit of insight. Michiel Holthinrichs, an architect turned watch manufacturer, made a name for himself and his brand by introducing the worlds first watch with a 3D-prin...

After weeks of discussion among our editors and a single session of reader voting, the results are clear: the Datejust 1601 has emerged as the favorite in our editors Datejust lineup. While initially highlighted by Thomas van Straaten as his pick, the 1601 received 41% of the vote, demonstrating broad appeal among collectors and enthusiasts alike. Its victory reflects not only editorial preference but also the collective judgment of the Datejust community, confirming the watchs enduring status as a classic and a benchmark for what makes the Datejust timeless, even 80 years since its debut.The Datejust 1601: A classic realizedThe 1601 represents the archetypal Datejust design. With its flut...