Another Friday, another list! This week, it s the start of a new series. In 2026, we want to keep you informed about all the best releases that come out during the year. That is why we decided to create a Top 5 of our favorite releases from every month. As this is the first Friday after January ended, this week, we ll look at our favorite picks from the first month of 2026. It s been a month full of highlights, contrasting the usual assumption that the year starts slowly in the watch world. Let s find out what our five highlights are.We ve already seen a string of brilliant new releases in 2026. LVMH Watch Week kicked off the year in terms of events, with Audemars Piguet s Social Club event ...
George Russell took fourth in last year s Formula One championship in his Mercedes-AMG Petronas race monster. He did so by reaching the podium nine times, including two wins in both Canada and Singapore. No, he didn t become the world champion, but bookmakers have high hopes for him in 2026. That s probably why IWC honors the Brit with two of his very first limited-edition Pilot s watches. One is the Pilot s Watch Chronograph, and the other is the Pilot s Watch Automatic. Both feature a 41mm black zirconium oxide ceramic case with an asphalt-like dial and details in Russell s signature shade of blue.The first Formula One race of 2026 is exactly one month away and will take place at the Alber...
It is no secret that I am a fan of Unimatic. The Italian brand has built its reputation on wonderful tool watches that stand out for their clever minimalist design. On top of that, it would be fair to say that Unimatic has released some of the most creative collaborative efforts of the last few years. Granted, the brand does quite a few of them, but that makes it even more impressive to see how many are truly great. For the limited-edition Unimatic U5S-BL, founders Giovanni Moro and Simone Nunziato reimagined the brand s Modello Cinque. It has resulted in a refreshing take on the classic field watch using modern design and introducing the brand s proprietary Unilight 3D luminous markers. I w...
The Formula 1 season is about to start, and that also means new sponsors will appear on the cars. Beginning this season, Breitling will have its name and logo on the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team cars raced by Canadian Lance Stroll and Spanish double World Champion Fernando Alonso. Breitling is the teams Official Watch Partner. And you know what that means: a watch for the fans is hitting the market. To celebrate the new partnership, Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Aston Martin Formula One Team makes its way to the starting grid. Its a 43mm titanium not-so-limited edition of 1,959 pieces, paying tribute to the year of Aston Martins first foray into Formula 1.How do you make peo...
Collaborations in high watchmaking are nothing new, but most stop at the wrist. The LA VDB-03 Louis Varius Project goes a step further by pairing a modern GMT wristwatch with a large mechanical clock designed to wind and reset it automatically. Developed jointly by Louis Vuitton and De Bethune, the project brings together a contemporary travel watch and a centuries-old horological idea, the Sympathique clock.Louis Vuitton De Bethune LVDB-03 Louis VariusRather than positioning the watch as a standalone object, the LVDB-03 project treats timekeeping as a system that links wristwatch, clock, and user through mechanics rather than electronics. It is an unusual approach in modern watchmaking an...
We have seen quite a lot of news from Le Brassus this week, havent we? If you thought we were done, think again! In fact, were barely getting warmed up. Today, I get to introduce you to possibly the most impressive of all the new releases, the Audemars Piguet 150 Heritage pocket watch.Now, before you hit Command-Q or Alt-F4, because pocket watches arent your jam, hear me out. This one comes with a mind-blowing 47 functions, at least 22 of which are traditional complications. This platinum beauty features a mechanical computer on its case back, with the ambition of bringing cultures together. Trust me, it is worth a few minutes of your time, even if you are sure you will never own one. Lets h...
Have you ever wondered exactly what the water resistance rating on your watch s dial means? In this episode of Fratello Talks, Nacho, Thomas, and Daan get into the different ratings, what they mean in theory, and, more importantly, in practice for the person wearing a watch. Tune in and listen to this episode, and if you don t already, you ll come away fully understanding water resistance. The guys also offer some easy-to-follow advice to keep your watches safe from a watery demise. Before we jump into it, make sure you screw down your crowns, and let s start with a wrist check.This video is blocked because you did not accept marketing cookies. Change cookie settings This podcast player is...
Sometimes, a watch that lands on my desk ends up being markedly different from the standard fare. It didn t take me long to realize that the RGM Model 222-RR was one of them. This watch takes inspiration from some of the great American railroad stories from the early 20th century, which instantly makes the Model 222-RR interesting. Given that RGM has made a name for itself as one of the most important American watch brands, I was more than happy to wear this Model 222-RR for a few days, and it took me back to simpler times. As it turns out, that was just what I needed.In all honesty, I generally do not pay too much attention to railroad watches. While they have a great history, their style i...
After using a relatively common Frederic Piguet movement for almost 30 years, Audemars Piguet now introduces the 6401, an in-house automatic chronograph caliber. It offers higher accuracy, greater reliability, and a more refined appearance. The brand s 38mm Royal Oak is the first model to feature the new movement. You can choose between a stainless steel model with the iconic blue Grande Tapisserie dial and two 18K rose gold models. One of them has a dark gray reverse-panda dial, while the other swaps the gray base for sand gold and adds a diamond-set bezel. All three models now also feature a sapphire-equipped display case back.Next year, Audemars Piguet will celebrate 30 years of Royal Oak...
Aim high. Thats what Arions founder, Eric Tillman, does. Meet the Arion Delphinus. Its a debut watch with a seven-day manual Chronode movement housed in a 37 8.5mm titanium case made by Voutilainen & Cattin. What Tillman aims for with the Delphinus is to create a timeless, high-quality timepiece with an elegant twist and flair. The Melian Pearl variant, with its natural mother-of-pearl shades and patterns, is probably the best example of that goal. Having said that, the Ichthyian Silver and Aeolian Blue versions also flaunt a high degree of self-assured, individual style. Theres some mid-century nostalgia to enjoy with contemporary qualities.With a 37mm case diameter and an 8.5mm thick...
On January 13th, we hosted our first Speedy Tuesday event for 2026 in Hong Kong. With about 80 guests, we celebrated the day that became synonymous with the Omega Speedmaster in the world of watches. Since 2013, weve been organizing events worldwide for collectors and enthusiasts of Omega s most famous chronograph.Our second Speedy Tuesday event in Hong KongIn close collaboration with Omega, we selected Hong Kong as our first destination for this year. We already had a Speedy Tuesday event there in 2019 and thought it would be about time to go there again. This time, we held the event in the beautiful K11 Musea shopping district.Usually, these events are hosted at different locations, but Om...
What s my favorite version of the Royal Oak Offshore after the illustrious Beast? This might surprise you, but I always thought the three-hand diver was a very good watch. The dial, free of cluttering sub-dials, and the crown that rotates the inner dive bezel on the side of the 42mm case looked cool, clean, and functional. The robust octagonal look is befitting of a dive watch. And now there are three new iterations as a wave of Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore variations hits. There are also two new variants in the 43mm Selfwinding Chronograph collection.For a Royal Oak Offshore, a 42mm case is perfect, especially with a 14.2mm thickness. These proportions are muscular and powerful, and t...
Last year, Audemars Piguet introduced the revolutionary in-house caliber 7138. The movement introduced a completely new, user-friendly way to operate the perpetual calendar functions. It also lets users adjust the calendar forward and backward, which is a huge plus if they mistakenly set it too far ahead. After the release of last year s Royal Oak and Code 11.59 models with this movement, we knew it would only be a matter of time before we saw openworked versions. In particular, the Royal Oak Selfwinding Perpetual Calendar Openworked has long been a fan favorite. Now, a little less than a year after the introduction of the new caliber, we get a refreshed Royal Oak Selfwinding Perpetual Calen...
I vividly remember visiting the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH), the predecessor of Watches and Wonders, in Geneva in 2010. Alongside Richard Mille, Richemont Group brands, and a few others, Audemars Piguet showcased its latest creations. That year, the Royal Oak Openworked ref. 15305 stood out to me. It was based on the then-popular standard 15300 with its 3120 movement.New Royal Oak additions in different sizesFollowing that, the 39mm Royal Oak Jumbo received skeletonized editions in 2012 and 2014, and the 41mm Royal Oak Openworked in 2016 featured a Double Balance Wheel movement.This year, Audemars Piguet showed its new Royal Oak Openworked models in 37mm and 39mm sizes ...
Audemars Piguet is releasing a host of new models today, which were covering here on Fratello. I was quite happy to see this specific release article appear in my schedule. Among several rather impressive releases, this one leans most heavily on design, which is my jam. Meet the Audemars Piguet Neo Frame Jumping Hour.This new model harks back to Audemars Piguets past. It is a modern reinterpretation of the jump-hour watches AP made in the 1920s. Join me for a closer look!The new Audemars Piguet Neo Frame Jumping HourLets start with the basics. What we have here is an 18K pink gold case with a 32.6mm width, a 34mm length, and an 8.8mm thickness. The eye immediately travels to the crazy gadroo...
Hermes expands the Squelette Lune range with two new titanium and platinum models displaying the lunar cycle as seen from both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The earlier Slim d Hermes Squelette Lune combined a 39.5mm bead?blasted Grade 5 titanium case with a polished platinum bezel. The new releases, however, take this concept further. One watch comes in full Grade 5 titanium, while the other is in fully polished platinum. By extending the collection to three distinct material configurations, Hermes positions the design across a broader spectrum of luxury price points. Despite these variations, each maintains the line s signature openworked dial with its intricate facets and movement...
You ve got to hand it to Papar Watch Co.; the young American brand certainly has a unique way of doing things. It all started with the radically brutalist Anillo GMT, and now the Cenote debuts. The Cenote Titanium + Blue and Rose Gold Titanium are dive watches with a design that builds on the angular, edgy case shape of the Anillo GMT. With the Cenote, Papar presents a Grade 2 titanium and ceramic 200m-water-resistant watch with a 40mm diameter and a lovely 10.9mm thickness. While larger than the Anillo, it s still no giant. Its also not a heavyweight. The Cenote, including the strap and buckle, weighs just 60 grams. These specs and looks call for a closer inspection.The arrival of the Papar...
Welcome back to another installment of Back to Basics, our series aimed at newcomers to the watch world. This time, were looking into watches that set a good starting point for a collection. Which watches make for a good first real watch?I will provide a selection of different categories. You can consider these different approaches to buying your first watch. Of course, each category will contain a few watches as examples. As always with Back to Basics, I also invite our more seasoned readers to share their insights and knowledge. Together, we can make this a warm welcome and a useful starting point for budding enthusiasts. Lets dive in!Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical Power ReserveOne good s...
Over the past year, the Bulova Super Seville has become a popular canvas for IFL Watches hand-painted and bespoke dials. For the new Super Seville Risky Riches, IFLW decided to have fun with the concept of making bold moves to become rich. The dial takes the iconic style of the board game Monopoly and transforms it to fit the theme. This dial made me smile the second I saw it. Could this be the perfect watch to wear to a casino? If you win, it will help you celebrate in style, but it will also be a nice reminder that big risks can also lead to big rewards. Let s take a closer look at the new limited-edition Bulova Super Seville Risky Riches from the team at IFL Watches.If you have followed ...
Audemars Piguet has created a bespoke Royal Oak Tourbillon dash clock for the one-off Bugatti F.K.P. Hommage. Honoring 20 years since the launch of the Bugatti Veyron, this unique creation takes a modern Bugatti Mistral platform and incorporates design cues from the original, legendary 1,001PS hypercar. Displaying meticulous attention to detail with luxury materials and insane performance numbers, the Bugatti F.K.P. Hommage is a showcase of the French carmakers capabilities.Bugatti Automobiles is a hypercar marque based in Molsheim, France. Now part of the Bugatti Rimac group, the French carmaker creates extremely luxurious yet high-performing vehicles for an incredibly wealthy clientele. It...
