I would love to write about affordable dress watches, but let s be honest, there s always a certain price to pay for gold. However, the watches I ve picked from Breguet and Blancpain for today s Pre-Owned Spotlight are at least attractively priced, especially in comparison to their original MSRPs. I ve also included a Cartier Tank Americaine in yellow gold, which comes at a lower price than its current version.Breguet and Blancpain are the Swatch Group s high-end luxury brands and serve as its pillars of traditional watchmaking. However, in comparison to other brands, Breguet and Blancpain s watches are still undervalued. Especially when it comes to their gold dress watches, there are great ...

Seiko s Sharp Edged models offer something very attractive in todays watch market. You get a taste of higher-end finishing in watches under 2K. Seiko now releases two new models in its Sharp Edged range. There is a new time-and-date watch and a more complicated version that we will focus on here. Both come with a menacing black DLC finish and are fitted with degrade purple dials. Lets have a look.If you avoid coated watches out of fear of flaking, Seiko might have you covered here. DLC (Diamond-Like Coating) is rather durable. Seiko describes these as hard-coated. I cannot predict what these will look like after twenty-odd years of wear, but under somewhat careful use, they should remain per...

As 2022 draws to a close, its the time of year to get festive and flaunt those dazzling colors. For Parmigiani, this final week is the golden hour. We can totally get behind that and put the spotlight on the brand s rose gold models in its flagship Tonda PF collection. Looking through the lineup, there is one reference we have yet to present. By pure serendipity, as were all in the mood for some indulgence, it is a top-of-the-line gold Tonda, the PF Skeleton Rose Gold.The golden lineupIf I hadnt made a tally, I wouldnt have realized that Parmigiani Fleurier had pretty much covered all bases with rose gold versions this year. It certainly tells us something about the independent brands upward...

How I would love to see a brand-new 166.010! A while ago, I tested the Omega Aqua Terra 38mm. I really liked it but felt it was a bit too complicated aesthetically. A bit nerdy, even. I could not help but long for the simpler-looking alternatives from . Interestingly, Omega has a potential Datejust killer sitting right there in its back catalog. A properly reimagined 166.010 has the potential to be the ultimate do-it-all Omega watch. Lets explore that idea.You may know that I have a thing for smallish do-it-all watches. In my vintage-dealing days, I came across these Omega 166.010 models and similar references on a regular basis. They fit the bill perfectly. They are well-built and stylistic...

Many years ago, my first premium watch was going to be a 42mm El Primero, now known as the Chronomaster. By some twist of fate, it ended up being something very different, mainly because I didnt manage to save up the considerable sum before my round-numbered birthday. Now, Im not going to tell you what round number that was in 2010, but the watch in question was the Open Power Reserve model. It has somehow eluded me since, but it got back on my radar after my fellow editor Dave bought the very same one a few months back. But I never knew about the rare El Primero Retrotimer.After Dave s purchase, I was inspired and back on Chrono24, the danger of writing about watches unless you detach yours...

It s time for the last Sunday Morning Showdown of this year. After taking a break for almost a year, our Sunday Morning Showdown series returned in April 2022. And what a year it has been! We have seen some great battles, surprising results, and sharp comments. Overall, we had great fun reinstating the series, and it seems to be one of your favorites as well, dear Fratelli. For this last Showdown of 2022, Nacho and Jorg battle it out over the watches that are on the top of their wishlists. As it happens, they are among the top picks for the best watches of 2022 for many readers as well. In this battle, it s the Tudor Black Bay Pro versus the Seiko 5 Sports SSK005 GMT. Which of the two will c...

When an early Seiko Alpinist 14041 resurfaces in an auction in Japan, you can bet that there will be a fiery battle over who gets it. But did you know which model came first, the black-dialed or the white-dialed one? We found an answer in Sadao Ryugo s new book on vintage Seiko watches.Seiko s first sports and mountaineering watch was launched in December 1959. It was a robust watch with a screw-on back cover which was coated with an unprecedently large amount of luminous paint. In other words, it was the birth of Seiko s first luminescent waterproof sports watch, the Laurel Alpinist, writes Sadao Ryugo in the introduction to his latest book. He isn t new to the Fratello readers. Two years a...

As members of the press, when we attend major trade shows, we like to put our best foot forward when it comes to our watches. Everyone who attends likes to show off their latest and coolest watches, so it s no surprise to see a plethora of incredible timepieces adorning the wrists of industry folks and fellow journos alike. But, as you can imagine, it takes something special to catch the attention of our colleagues and peers. This year, I chose to wear a new piece that I d never seen out in the wild before. Indeed, I had never seen any watches by the brand before Geneva Watch Days. I am talking about the excellent NaviGraph B015 from Behrens.Who? you may ask. I could forgive you for that. Be...

At the end of November, three new Merci Instruments LMM-01 models were added to the Parisian brand s lineup. At a glance, these may seem like slightly iterative takes on the same theme. But look closer (and read the website), and you ll see that each is carefully designed. And not just designed, as the word here feels like an understatement. These watches are, quite literally, inspired. Each has its own story, conceived upon the wrist of a fictional character that may have existed at a given time in a specific place. Put that aside, and you have three crisp, legible, and eye-catching watches. Add the inspiration and story back in, and you have the new Merci Instruments LMM-01 Everest, Archiw...

‘Tis the season once again! And nothing beats getting together with friends and family to celebrate with good food, good wine, and even better festive spirit. As we wind down in time for the holidays, it s time to both look back on the year and forward to the next. And whether you re going all out in your Christmas or holiday celebrations, keeping things quiet and cozy by the fireplace, or taking it to the extreme with a spot of alpine adventure, it s always a time best enjoyed with a special watch on your wrist.Today, a few of our editors will showcase their watches of choice for this Christmas season. As ever, there s a wide range of picks from classy vintage watches to old reliables...

When we started talking about this week s list, I was triggered by several releases that visually stood out to me this year. As some of you will know, my absolute first benchmark to judge a watch is its design. While we see a lot of familiar designs that all move within the same, often retro-inspired parameters, sometimes timepieces stand out immediately because of their looks. It s why I decided to dedicate this week s list to exceptional watches that played with the visual status quo of watch design. Let s find out what these stunners are.But to stand out visually doesn t necessarily mean just breaking from the norm by being different. MB&F, URWERK, Trilobe, and HYT are just a few exam...

You cannot make this up: Seven Dials is an area in the vibrant district of Covent Garden in London. Mr Jones Watches has just relocated its brand store to this aptly named, fashionable destination right in the heart of England s capital. This move marks a new chapter for the British cult brand after 15 years in business. The store now opens daily to offer you an unforgettable discovery of its watches. For gift shoppers, there are certainly a few ideas to make giving as much fun as receiving.Unusual watches made in LondonThe new store has a playful and colorful interior to reflect the essence of Mr Jones Watches. It promises to surprise and engage visitors who have not seen the brand before. ...

When writing about a timepiece made by Hermes, it is legit to ask yourself fashion-related questions. At the same time, the French maison s recently released pieces rise way above the level of fashion watches. The Hermes H08 Blue Edition is a timepiece with a fascinating color scheme. It pairs blue PVD-coated titanium with black ceramic, and a touch of archetypical Hermes orange is also present. This is a seriously good-looking watch with some very serious features. Find out how this dressy sports watch in the colors of FC Internazionale Milano performs in this hands-on review.Hermes is not a Fratello regular, but whenever a timepiece from the brand comes along, it makes an impression. Im ta...

What a year 2022 has been. After waking up from the two-year hibernation that COVID put us into, we kicked back into gear this year. And by we, I dont only mean me or us at Fratello but the industry in general. There were Watches and Wonders, Geneva Watch Days, and many events hosted by brands to showcase their latest releases. I ve picked my five most memorable timepieces from 2022. These are not the only ones that I particularly wanted to own, but rather pieces with which have a personal connection to share with you.My collection is eclectic and spans from super affordable to, well, not so affordable. But this is not why I picked them. It was so much fun to look back and relive some memori...

The Dirty Dozen is a series of - you guessed it - twelve watches produced for the British MOD at the end of WWII. These watches obviously carry great historical significance. So much so, in fact, that I think they should be treated and collected with some reservation and humility. These are no status symbols or fashion statements. These are a silent nod to the brave people who gave their lives for our freedom.Yes, that is more serious than you might be used to reading from me. But with the end of the year in sight, this might be the right pensive time for it. The Dirty Dozen is an amazing set of watches that represent something much bigger than mere time-telling devices. In my pre-owned pick...

Grail alert! If you want a genuinely out-of-the-box classic vintage chronograph with a fine movement, you might put the Gallet Filmeter on your watch list.?Ah, the great irony of grail-watch hunting… You haven t seen the watch resurface at all for four or five years. Crawlers are set on all sites (im)possible, but all you get is nothing. And then, within a few months time, two of them pop up?! Well, usually, I would be happy to score just one of them. This time, I got super lucky because I managed to land both.Gallet Filmeter #1The first one I landed is the shiny, minty, and crispy example with a dial as smooth as my year-old son s skin. It was listed on eBay by Jewelry & Coin Buy...

When do you wonder what youre getting for your money? Well, when you book a hotel room, for example, you want to know what amenities it comes with. When buying a car, you want to know about its gas mileage or much horsepower it has. Isnt it the same when buying a watch? Perhaps it isn t for you, but it certainly is for some of us. Although Im the first one to advocate getting the watch that makes you smile, sometimes I do want to know whether or not its a good deal. And by deal, I mean what kind of specifications the watch comes with - whats under the hood, so to speak. So, lets talk about what you get from brands at different price brackets.?In 2022 - and I bet it will be the same in 2023 -...

Does the subject sound a bit dry, or are you already aware of this conundrum? It shouldnt even be a question we need to ask as cohesive graphics can be everything on a dial. If youve never noticed it, perhaps you re sticking to an Apple Watch. Its studied design language and non-clashing fonts are pitch-perfect, but what about the dials in your analog collection? I posit that the importance of graphic design in watches is still underrated and too often seems like an afterthought.I happen to find this hugely important. Legibility (well, we read typography) is just as important as a lovely bracelet and fit. Everything might sit perfectly balanced on the dial, the brand logo matching a divers m...

As you may have noticed, throughout the past few weeks, Fratello editors have been completing a homework assignment. This assignment is one of the toughest that watch journalists face each year, but its also the most fun. Im talking about our Fratello Favorites series. This is where we look back at 2022 and pick our favorite watches released since January 1st. If you cast your mind back to the start of 2022 and picture a fast-forward montage of the years releases (please, try it; take a few seconds to think back), youll see just how many great watches came out. The fun part is going through this process. The tricky part is narrowing down just a handful of picks because we are well and truly ...

In this episode of Fratello Talks, we compare and contrast the ways to buy watches. Should you buy pre-owned pieces, or is new the way to go? Whereas RJ and Daan don t mind buying their watches on the pre-owned market, Lex is not keen on doing so. Is it the result of a bad experience, or is there a deeper thought behind it? Let s find out.This podcast player is blocked because you did not accept marketing cookies. Change cookie settings Wrist checkWe always start with a quick check of the watches we re wearing during the podcast recording. For this episode, we find Lex wearing his Oris Big Crown Pointer Date Bronze (Fratelloris) from 2020. Daan is wearing his Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Du...