Fratello
Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we discuss military watches new and old. We’re not here to discuss our favorite models, but we hit upon some major themes with these pieces. Some of them come from disgraced regimes, while newer models are similar to high-fashion collabs. Stick around to see what […] Visit Fratello On Air: Are Military Watches OK For Everyone? to read the full article.
Fratello
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For the third year in a row, Zenith presents a limited-edition watch to support this noble cause. In 2022, the Swiss brand made a Chronomaster Original with a very pink dial. Last year was the Chronomaster Sport’s turn, and now the Zenith Defy Skyline lends its dial to raise […] Visit Zenith Dresses Its 41mm Defy Skyline In Pink For The Fight Against Breast Cancer to read the full article.
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Aside from making complicated wonders, Glashütte Original has a Vintage Collection that takes inspiration from former models. The Sixties references have consistently been some of my favorites since launching in 2015. During this lengthy production period, the German watchmaker has produced several limited-series models with gorgeous dials. The Sixties Chronograph Annual Edition we’ll review today […] Visit Hands-On: The Glashütte Original Sixties Chronograph Annual Edition to read the full article.
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Whenever Czapek announces a new Antarctique, I am all ears. The brand’s take on a modern sports watch with an integrated bracelet and a touch of ’70s flair is one of my favorite models in this genre. The design, the movement, and the craftsmanship that goes into creating these watches make them stand out immediately. […] Visit Czapek Unveils A Flamboyant Version Of Its Antarctique For Milan’s GMT Great Masters Of Time to read the full article.
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Atelier Wen has enjoyed a meteoric increase in popularity over the past two years. The independent brand has shed a positive light on Chinese watchmaking while producing attractive watches with finishes and materials normally found on more expensive pieces. To celebrate the fans who have brought so much success to the company, a limited-edition Perception […] Visit Hands-On: The Atelier Wen Perception Titanium Millésime Mù to read the full article.
Fratello
Three years ago, I had the pleasure of wearing the Blancpain Villeret Quantième Complet for a little while. The combination of a 40mm steel case with a characteristic stepped bezel, a classic white dial, and a complete-calendar caliber proved an impressive watch at a competitive price. I wrote that the watch that bucks the retro […] Visit A Monday-Morning Reunion With The Blancpain Villeret Quantième Complet to read the full article.
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IFL Watches modifies watches by adding wildly creative, handpainted dials. The brand has used several watches as a canvas for its creations. Each release is limited, and a quick look at the company’s website shows plenty of “sold out” signs. Let’s see if the new IFL Watches Timex Q Space Dunk strikes the same chord […] Visit The IFL Watches Timex Q Space Dunk Slams It Home! to read the full article.
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Although I’ve told the story to many people, I’ve never put pen to paper and written the account of my Rolex Submariner 5512. The tale is probably more common than we think in light of what Rolex was 60 years ago. A watch like the Submariner could withstand the rigors of water-related activities and had […] Visit A Vintage Rolex Submariner 5512 With Stories To Tell to read the full article.
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Due to my smaller wrists, I tend to wear custom-size straps and adjusted bracelets. However, there are other options. The Artem nylon watch straps are a cut above typical offerings. I’ve paired one with a vintage Tudor Submariner for today’s review, and I’ll answer why it’s worth selecting a premium nylon strap over a flimsy […] Visit Hands-On With Artem Nylon Watch Straps to read the full article.
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In 2025, the Jack Mason brand, established by Peter Cho, will have been around for a decade. Peter is a watch designer by trade and always has been. Among other positions, he was a designer at Fossil in the US and Movado in Switzerland. Jack Mason started as a fashion brand available in department stores […] Visit The Story Of The Jack Mason Brand to read the full article.
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Going on a holiday is always something I look forward to. I work in quite a hectic field (daily international news), so any break is always welcome. After a recent trip, I have realized that sometimes it’s also nice to take a break from the watch hobby - taking some time off from time, so […] Visit Taking Time Off From Time: A Watch-Free Holiday to read the full article.
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Welcome to another installment of Sunday Morning Showdown. Last week, we threw two fairly affordable dress watches into the ring. This week, we’re going to do something completely different. Recently, both the Czapek Antarctique and Girard-Perregaux Laureato came out in new full-gold versions. Most of us will probably never seriously consider buying either of today’s […] Visit Sunday Morning Showdown: Czapek Antarctique Mount Erebus Vs. Girard-Perregaux Laureato 42mm In Rose Gold to read the full article.
Fratello
Meet the new Grand Seiko SBGY040 and SBGW321, a pair of limited-edition watches made specifically for the European market. Similar to most exclusive releases from the brand, these also gain inspiration from Japanese nature. Gardens, specifically ponds and the colorful koi that inhabit them, help define the dial artistry. Grand Seiko has mastered infusing the […] Visit Introducing: The Grand Seiko SBGY040 And SBGW321 - A Pair Of Limited Editions For Europe to read the full article.
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It’s been a while since we covered an Undone watch. The Hong Kong-based brand is widely known among watch enthusiasts for its affordable timepieces. Undone’s latest creation is the Urban Automatic, a triple-calendar watch that’s the first mechanical model in the vintage-inspired Urban series. I have always liked the Urban line because it takes inspiration […] Visit Hands-On With The Charming Undone Urban Automatic to read the full article.
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Another Friday, another list! Last week, we looked at the rarest Rolex Submariner references. This week, we have shifted our focus to Tudor. We decided to have a look at our favorite five vintage Tudor references. Most people will know the classic Submariner models, but there is plenty more to enjoy from the Tudor brand. […] Visit Fratello’s Top 5 Vintage Tudor References to read the full article.
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Back in 2019, when Sternglas was starting to make waves with its Bauhaus-inspired watches, I reviewed the first-generation Naos Automatik. Fast-forward five years, and the Naos Automatik has gotten a fantastic makeover. With the help of Sternglas’s dedicated community of fans, the brand improved an impressive number of things. There is plenty to discuss, from […] Visit Introducing: The New Sternglas Naos Pro Automatik to read the full article.
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Marathon Watch Company is well known for supplying several armed forces with tool watches since 1939. One of the most sought-after models is the SAR-D from the early 2000s. The Canadian brand now brings back an evolved version with the Marathon OSAR-D. The first thing to stand out? Those massive hour markers! Consider them a […] Visit Introducing: The Marathon OSAR-D - For The Love Of Legibility to read the full article.
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There are watch brands out there that, for some reason, we never really get around to appreciating. Perhaps it is because we don’t see them in the wild much, or it could be that their designs don’t jump out at us. For me, Panerai is one of those brands. This is a shame (for me, […] Visit Could Current-Day Panerai’s Biggest Competition Come From Its Recent Past? to read the full article.
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In 1984, Swatch hosted the World Breakdance Championship in New York City. One of the jury members was artist Keith Haring, who was known for his graffiti art. For this event, he created the artwork shown below. Swatch and Keith Haring Haring (1958–1990) was an artist who participated in the New York art scene in […] Visit Introducing: The Swatch Break Free Collection - With Two Featuring Keith Haring Artwork to read the full article.
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On April 6th, 1609, the Englishman Henry Hudson set sail from Texel with a Dutch ship called De Halve Maen (The Half Moon). He was sent on a mission to find a passage to the Indies via Nova Zembla. However, Hudson ignored his contract and decided to seek a structural passage. Via the Faroe Islands, […] Visit Maen Goes Back To Its Roots With The All-New Lunar Classic 36 to read the full article.
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The idea of “going round in circles” is often used as a synonym for not achieving anything. This is because, when moving in circles, you keep returning to the same point where you started, having made an effort to advance without actually achieving anything. But when it comes to watches, this is not necessarily a […] Visit #TBT A Trio Of Oddball Watches From A Former President Of Cartier - Ralph Destino to read the full article.
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It’s been a rumor for quite a while, so the fact that Rolex is out and LVMH is in as of next year didn’t come as a surprise. Maybe the length of the firm 10-year contract is. In addition, LVMH won’t promote just the historically correct watch brand TAG Heuer through Formula 1 but also […] Visit It’s Official: Rolex Is Out, And LVMH Is In - The Arnault-Led Luxury Group Lands A 10-Year Partnership With Formula 1 to read the full article.
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Almost four years ago, we announced that Omega was discontinuing the Speedmaster FOiS (First Omega in Space) model. The watch debuted in 2012 to commemorate the first Omega chronograph worn in space on the wrist of NASA astronaut Walter “Wally” Schirra during his Sigma 7 mission. The Speedmaster on Schirra’s wrist was a second-generation (CK2998) […] Visit Hands-On With The New 2024 Omega Speedmaster FOiS (First Omega in Space) to read the full article.
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Believe it or not, it has already been 11 years since Ressence introduced its oil-filled Type 3. At the time, it was the first oil-filled mechanical watch, and it debuted in both white- and black-dial versions. Today, the Belgian brand led by designer Benoît Mintiens reintroduces the black and white Type 3 with a few […] Visit Ressence Introduces An Updated Type 3 In Both Black And White Plus A Unique Type 1 Squared to read the full article.
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Until recently, I had heard of Beaufort but had never gotten the chance to check out the brand’s watches. Well, that changed with the introduction of the brand’s newest creation, the Fiordland GMT. This watch offers a good dose of vintage flair and combines it with a modern flyer-style GMT movement. Beaufort sent us two […] Visit Hands-On With The Beaufort Fiordland GMT - An Affordable ’50s-Inspired Travel Watch to read the full article.
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Hey there, and welcome to this week’s episode of Fratello Talks. What are some of the most underrated watch brands out there? That’s the question that Nacho, RJ, and Daan have chosen for today’s discussion. And though there are indeed many brands that may not receive the praise and recognition they deserve, the guys have […] Visit Fratello Talks: The Most Underrated Watch Brands to read the full article.
Fratello
Every once in a while, you see a watch that raises more questions than it can answer. The Nomos Tangente 2date is such a watch. The biggest question is, “Why?” Since an answer isn’t immediately at hand, more and more questions arise. Is this a watch that can keep track of two different dates? Is […] Visit Just When You Thought The Heated Date Debate Couldn’t Get Any Hotter, The Nomos Tangente 2date Shows Up to read the full article.
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Let’s start with some perspective: fewer than 700 human beings have ever been to space. Of them, only 24 went to the Moon. And of those 24, only 12 set foot on its rocky surface. Edgar Mitchell was number six. Most wore NASA-issued Speedmasters, which are property of the US government and will not be […] Visit Apollo Astronaut Edgar Mitchell’s Space-Flown Rolex GMT-Master Comes Up For Auction to read the full article.
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While enjoying a coffee at a family restaurant, Walter Sobchak told Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski, “You want a toe? I can get you a toe. Believe me. There are ways, Dude. You don’t wanna know about it; believe me. Hell, I can get you a toe by 3:00 this afternoon - with nail polish.” Now […] Visit The Decline In Desirability Is A Good Thing For Veritable Watch Enthusiasts to read the full article.
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On this very day, October 1st, 25 years ago, I bought my first Omega Speedmaster watch. I was a student at the time and obsessed with watches, specifically, Omega Speedmasters. My first purchase was a Speedmaster 145.012 with caliber 321. One evening, I was cycling in the city center of The Hague and passed a […] Visit My 25 Years Of Owning The Omega Speedmaster Professional to read the full article.
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