Watches Blog Wrist Watch Reviews

Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air Finally, Balazs and Mike got their collective acts together, and theyre back with a return engagement Settle in and enjoy the banter about our favorite watches from 2021, along with a healthy rant for good measure!Folks, were back and better (or worse) than ever Balazs and Mike come together at the end of 2021 to talk about some of their favorite watch releases from another wild year. We wont give away everything, but the list is heavy on dive watches and chronographs. Seriously, what else do you expect from these two?Tudor, Breitling, Synchron, Excelsior Park, and Omega make the list along with a few more. Plus, the dynamic duo shares some recen [...]

Do you know Toby Young's book How To Lose Friends And Alienate People? And if you don't, you might have seen the movie with the same title, starring Simon Pegg as Toby and Megan Fox as the woman he so desperately wants. Toby is the most obnoxious man ever. He's rude and vulgar and rubs everyone the wrong way. And you know, sometimes watch brands act just like Toby. So, what do watch brands do to turn you off? Let us help you answer that question with a few issues we have ourselves.To be honest, we don't know the exact watch-brand equivalent of Toby Young. Let us quickly tell you the story of the high-flying British journalist that left London in 1995 for New York to become a contributing edi [...]

Unlike our dark STEALTH picks a couple of weeks ago, this time we go all-in for holiday sweetness. After another heavy hit of pandemic life, if there is one thing we need, it's holiday cheer. And here at Fratello, we aim to please, so enjoy some sweet CANDYCANE on us. Though I will warn you, this story might end with putting in some hard work to ensure a healthy New Year.I can't think of a better way to infuse yourself with the generous spirit of Christmas than with a sugary dose of candy. Inspired by the sweetness of a lickable candy cane, here are our immensely cheerful choices to lift your spirits, from Hublot to G-Shock, with style tips that include G-Star Raw and Nike.Just think twice [...]

Pilots watches Love em or hate em, theyre one of the most popular categories within watch collections worldwide. With an interesting heritage and iconic design cues, its hard not to eventually be won over by their bold designs and supreme legibility.So, what are, in my opinion, some of the top pilots watches on the market right now that you can actually buy? Check out my picks, and let us know your favorite(s) in the comments at the end!IWC Big Pilot Perpetual CalendarI have to start this list off with a big one. IWC is well known for its Big Pilot collection, and for me, the Perpetual Calendar represents the very pinnacle. Now, the elephant in the room for many people will be the size. This [...]

The diver is the new dress watch. OK, stop shouting. Yes, this is still a controversial topic for some collectors, I know. We all know the old rules of a dress watch with a white shirt and jacket, and no watch at all with a tuxedo. But a dive tool watch? God forbid, thats only for aquatic activities (though exceptions can be made for a wooly jumper or a denim shirt). Look, I am past 50, and even I know that this is an ancient way of thinking. We don't have to look any further than the Oscars to see stars suited up with a diver on the big night of tuxedos and gala dresses. A majority of suited wrists were rocking big tool watches, with slim shirts straining to contain the large weapons. Or wa [...]

Its a valid question, but to answer it, we also need to add another word to the equation chronometer. Youve probably heard of a chronometer (different from a chronograph), and it may even be written on the watch that youre wearing right now. But, what is COSC? And what is a chronometer?Ten points if you worked out that COSC is an acronym. Im sorry to say those points arent worth anything, and you cant trade them in. Points are nice to have, though, even if they dont mean prizes. It stands for Contr?le Officiel Suisse des Chronom tres, also known as the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute. You can see why people stick to COSC; its far less of a mouthful.Tell me more about this mysti [...]

Its Omega versus Breitling two major players in this last round before we go to the shoot-outs starting on December 1st. In the left track, we find a modern interpretation of the classic Speedmaster, the Dark Side of the Moon Apollo 8. Its been praised for its use of ceramic materials and the beautiful, laser-ablated decoration of the movement. In the right track, we have the modern version of the iconic 1980s Chronomat, featuring the return of the rouleaux bracelet. gallery-1 {margin: auto;} gallery-1 .gallery-item {float: left;margin-top: 10px;text-align: center;width: 50%;} gallery-1 img {border: 2px solid cfcfcf;} gallery-1 .gallery-caption {margin-left: 0;}/* see gallery_shortcode() i [...]

Is there such a thing as a fair contest? When I started writing this article, that was the first question that popped into my mind. But then again, should a contest be fair? Of course not The question arose most likely because I am slightly biased when it comes to my two contestants. But The Fast And The Fratelli is all about you, determining our readers favorite chronographs. So we will see how fair this match-up between the Breitling Premier B09 Chronograph 40 and the Tudor Black Bay Chrono turns out to be. I have faith in you, Fratelli Get ready to put the pedal to the metal!Before we get into this contest, lets remind ourselves what we are looking for. You, the Fratelli, will vote to dec [...]

Welcome back, race fans, to another installment of The Fast And The Fratelli Were on a mission to determine the best racing chronograph of the last ten years, and Week 1 of the prelims was packed with excitement. Two Speedmaster favorites wiped the floor with their opponents. A mean Massena LAB proved fairer than a Farer, while a snazzy Seiko toppled a tried-and-true Tissot. A Chopard slapped a Singer, a Sinn trounced a TAG, and a righteous Rolex roasted a racy Richard Mille. Oh, the drama. Oh, the speed And oh, the alliteration!The rules of the contest are simple. All contending chronographs must be mechanical. They must be capable of tracking elapsed time for at least one minute, and they [...]

Using the original 1953 Co-Pilot ref.765 AVI as its base, Breitling is releasing five chronographs inspired by four iconic fighter planes the P-51 Mustang, the Vought F4U Corsair, the battle-ready Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, and a British icon, the de Havilland Mosquito. For those of you with a strong visual memory, yes, these are similar to the AVI ref.765 1953 re-edition from last year. These ones, however, are on a bulk-up diet. I crushed on the 1953 re-edition and felt its 41mm size to be a perfect contemporary update. But these are big very big and I'm slightly confused as to why. Their functionality is top tier, with the COSC-rated B04 caliber and a GMT function. Fresh, popping red on black [...]

Every year, we receive a number of questions from our readers about the Grand Prix dHorlogerie de Gen ve, also known as the GPHG. According to some, one of the most important watch events of the year. One of the recurring questions on the GPHG is why some brands are missing completely from the nominated watches. Brands that make sense to be part of the nominations, or which could even perhaps go on to win a prize.For this year's GPHG contest, we received several questions as well. One of them came from Jeffrey, asking why certain brands aren't included in the contest or nominations:Over the years, I've noticed some of the brands like Patek Philippe, Rolex, and Omega are missing from the GPH [...]

This is going to be a highly debatable list. It's going to be far too short of a list. That's also why it's going to cause some annoyance amongst sneakerheads and time geeks alike. First of all, there isn't room for all the iconic trainers of the past you will find either your favorite shoe or even brand missing and why I paired the shoe with a certain watch was a very subjective process. This is not exact science people, it's a gut feeling. But it comes from a true love for both sneakers and watches, so please keep that in mind. So, with that disclaimer out of the way, here we go The 11 most iconic Sneakers and the watches that go with them.Before we really start, please take note that your [...]

What makes an icon? What is the magic formula for a classic? And perhaps even more importantly, what, exactly, is in a name? These are questions that watch designers, manufacturers, and marketers have been asking for decades. Unfortunately, they are questions for which they are no clear-cut answers, even for the Zenith El Primero.In the end, the success of a watch, especially a famous one, may just come down to a balancing act. How well a brand balances its history with its future, and its own vision with its customers desires, could determine everything. Today, Id like to take a look at the Zenith El Primero Espada. A now mostly forgotten piece of recent Zenith history, its an anomaly in th [...]

We like to talk about vintage watches a lot within the Fratello team. Though most of what we write about is primarily focused on the most recent releases and developments, for many of us, a lot of the fun can be found in the sometimes weird and often wonderful world of vintage watches. Its a world full of history, remarkable watches, incredible stories, and quirky details. It inspired us to come up with a series of articles focusing on the best watches per decade from a select group of brands. Some of them are priceless, some of them still affordable. In this installment, we will take a look at the best Breitling watches from the 1990s.This week we will continue our journey through watch his [...]

Gold and steel is a combination that we need to celebrate more. The glorious combination of utilitarian steel and exclusive gold is the perfect combo for people looking for something unique. Watch fans often prefer either full steel or full gold watches. In order to show that there are some glorious bi-color watches out there, I have come up with a list of the seven best gold and steel watches currently available. So bring out the double-breasted suits, pinkie rings, and glorious haircuts of the 1980s because we are going on a trip back in time.While that last statement might come across as trying to make fun of bi-color or two-tone watches, its certainly not how I feel about them. In all ho [...]

The Rolex Submariner is a legendary dive watch. Safe to wear in a tux as well as in the briny depths. As I write this sentence, a gentleman sitting opposite me on the train comfortably wears one as he feverishly types on his laptop. With a storied history and proven dependability, the Submariner has become the trophy for the hard-working backbone of society. As a result of more well-to-do ambitious workers in this era, demand outweighs Rolexs steady output. Therefore, it hasnt taken long for prospective buyers to seek out alternatives. These brands still cement a stake in aqua nautical timekeeping. The watches also go toe-to-toe with the Sub in features specific to diving. Without further ad [...]

Here we have the second of three Summer Splash Wild Card rounds for your voting pleasure. Its been a blast combing through your selections. You will notice that I lifted every single suggestion I could find (apologies if I missed any given my track record throughout this contest, it is highly likely Ive screwed up somewhere). You may be surprised to see your name or selection on this list, but you shouldnt be We read and consider every comment left on our articles and were doing our best to get back to all of you in due course. Thanks for your continued engagement. Now I turn things over to you to select your top two in this roundThe top two will go through to the Wild Card Decider, which w [...]

The world of watches is very much part of the wider universe of style. Wearing a watch the right way is not a stand-alone thing. Clothing can elevate the presence of a watch greatly. Its no coincidence that the legendary men are often also considered style icons because of their choice of watches. Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, and Sean Connery are just three examples of icons whose names are forever connected to watches they wore.When it comes to style, originality is often key in being labeled a style icon. For this first article, I have selected three style icons and their watches. While not all their stylistic choices when it comes to watches have stood the test of time, it doesnt take away [...]

Roll up, roll up The summer has hit The Hague, and Fratello is keen to celebrate. After the fizzing success of March Mania, we are back with a new knock-out competition conceived to find the very best summer watch out there, according to YOU, the Fratelli. And guess what? You can win prizes No, there wont be a watch available this time, but there WILL be some of the finest water-firing weapons money can buy: the Spyra 2 water cannon is reputedly the strongest of its kind ever made. Fancy getting your hands on one? Read on and take part in the poll and comments section of the Summer Splash.Eight Fratelli editors will choose three of their favorite summer watches and pitch them to you this tim [...]

Just a quick heads-up regarding Breitling's new Top Time Classic Cars Capsule Collection. Together with Mike, I witnessed a green 1968 Mustang, a blue Shelby Cobra, and a red Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray roar through an enormous hall at Palexpo in Geneva. The cars were a prelude, though. They introduced the 42mm Top Time Chevrolet Corvette, the Breitling Top Time Ford Mustang, and, my personal favorite you see in the picture, the 40mm Breitling Top Time Shelby Cobra.Nice detail; the squared-off circular registers. The car logo's on the dials are probably not for everyone. But I suspect that (especially my shiny blue chronograph of choice) could be nice enough to deal with the prominent repti [...]