Watches Blog Wrist Watch Reviews

Even before I traveled deep into the lands of horology, spotting fake Rolex watches by their ticking sound and jerky jumping seconds hand was one of life's Universal Truths. This is so ingrained that holding a Rolex up to your ear seemed the default quality check when checking the thrift store shelf for epic finds. Unfortunately for the lesser-learned bargain hunters out there, the complexity of modern-day fakery has moved up a notch. This means unknown dangers for the bargain hunters, all the way up to million-dollar Paul Newman Daytonas. The busting of this myth also takes a lateral turn, as we look at the excellent value of the cool quartz references produced by Rolex. Yes, they are real, [...]

I like the hypothetical and that brings us to a seemingly outlandish question that may become a little less so. By the end of this article, you will get to answer whether youd put down your hard-earned money to buy a steel sports Rolex even if you dont want it. It seems like an easy one, but lets seeI dont daydream enough, but when I do its often about scary great white shark encounters or hitting a World Series deciding homer in the bottom of the ninth with two outs and a full count. Sometimes, though, I think about watches. And when I do, its a thought thats probably not too original. Ive got this wild plan where Im in some sort of out of the way town and there just so happens to be a Role [...]

When you read the reviews and articles on Fratello Watches, I'm sure you have probably seen us talk about stainless steel watches. I mean, it's tough to get away from steel, as it's the most commonly used metal for watch cases and bracelets. It's a relatively affordable metal that offers excellent strength compared to its price to produce it. Sadly, as with anything in life, it's not just that simple. There are different types of stainless steel, each with its own pros and cons. You may have seen us classify different watches as using 316L or 904L steel. The thing is, what does that mean? What is the difference between 316L and 904L stainless steel?First things first, what is it?Technically [...]

As mentioned in our first story on Rolex Myth Busting, there is still plenty of fruit left on this tree. This particular myth is perhaps more meaningful than the last. For those of us who have already spent some years in this wrist-gazing niche, things have changed. The all too common sales pitch of In-House movements has never been so prevalent. What does In-House mean, and is it that important? Compare it to the automotive industry, and stand-alone Big Brands like BMW are proud to say they manufacture around 40% of the 3-series parts. Are watches so different that we should truly care? Well, I tend to say no. And the Rolex Daytona serves as a perfect example. So before we even get started, [...]

The Datejust is about as classic as it gets. Its a dressier model from Rolex, but it has all the go anywhere, do anything traits from the brand that also make it a great everyday watch. For the many of you who find it boring, I wont try and persuade you otherwise. Others, though, might be going through a struggle that I recently encountered; namely, which model to buy and how to feel comfortable with the purchase. I settled on a Rolex Datejust 16030 and this is my tale.It really doesnt matter which generation of Datejust one looks for, the variants are simply mind-boggling. This initially scared the living daylights out of me because I literally had no clue if what I was looking at was real [...]

There is no getting away from it, Rolex is HUGE in the big US of A, but is Rolex really an American Company? With the most recognizable brand on any dial from Key West to Montana, the myth has deep roots. Did you know that a surprising number of people actually believe The Crown to be as American as apple pie and ice cream sundaes? Thats right, and I am sorry to have to disappoint you, but it isn't. So where did this myth originate, and is there any truth to it? I mean Rolex sure is as Swiss as Raclette, right?The Origin of the 1 MythDid you believe Rolex to be a Latin term with intrinsic meaning, perhaps riffing on the passage of time itself? Well so did I, but do you know what? No, just l [...]

Rolex is the king of the luxury watch market today. That is by no means a bold or shocking statement. If anything, its so undeniable, at this point youre probably checking who wrote this article to make sure his name isnt Captain Obvious. And while some of the brands hot models, like the Submariner, Explorer, and vividly colored Oyster Perpetuals are on the simpler end of the horological spectrum, others show the range of horological capabilities the brand possesses. Watches like the GMT-Master II, Daytona, and Sky-Dweller are all examples of complications that the brand excels in not just producing, but producing really, really well.Some complain that Rolex doesnt make any complicated watch [...]

I remember the first time my wife ever had a root beer. We were on our first trip back to my hometown in the U.S. from my new home in Japan. After being away for almost two years, my longest stint ever to that point, I was excited to eat and drink all the things that didnt exist in Japan ranch dressing, Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, cake that didnt taste like air, and yes, root beer My wife (then-girlfriend) and I swung into the convenience store, and with an enormous adolescent grin on my face, I bought an AW. I cracked that sucker open and took a swig. Breathing a satisfying sigh of nostalgia, I passed my Japanese partner the bottle, exclaiming You gotta try this Excitedly, she took her first [...]

Welcome back to a Brief History of Time. Today, we bring you the fourth installment in our series on the complete history of Rolex. Though I swore at the end of Part Three that this would be the last installment, the analytics dont lie you guys love Rolex-related content So, in a multi-faceted strategy to both give you what you want and preserve my own sanity, this one is going to be a bit shorter than the previous chapters.To recap, when we left off in 1988, Rolex had just released the first major update to the Daytona in 16 years, the reference 16520. Not only did it feature a new look, but it also housed a new movement, the El Primero-based Rolex 4030. Indeed, throughout the 1970 and 80s, [...]

We see Rolex watches go up for auction all the time. But it doesnt happen that often that we see the legendary Rolex Submariner ref. 6200 go under the hammer. Live bidding for a 1954 Rolex Submariner ref. 6200 is currently underway at the English auction website Watch Collecting. With the auction ending today, the highest bid is currently a little over 150K in British Pounds. Its a remarkable figure because the Watch comes without a bezel insert or the original bracelet. Lets have a closer look.Whenever one of the first Rolex Submariner references comes up for sale, its usually big news within the watch bubble we live in. When a Submariner ref. 6200 shows up; thats even more special. Submari [...]

Shots fired Or so it may seem from that provocative title. The thing is, as much of a Rolex hater as I may sound like in proclaiming the Cellini Moonphase has the dumbest moonphase display in the industry, it actually pains me to have such an opinion. Why? Because I love the watch Or at least, I love the idea of it.The Cellini Moonphase is exactly the type of watch I feel Rolex should have in its collection. Sure, theres no doubt the brand makes absolutely killer sports watches. But I believe having one complicated dress model to balance the offerings is honestly a great idea. It has historical precedence for the brand. It provides a classy, understated, and less hyped option for those seeki [...]

Welcome back to A Brief History of Time: Rolexs Complete Brand History. This marks the third installment in our in-depth look at the Geneva watchmaking giant. Today, were excited to share the next chapter in its illustrious history.In Part One, we took a look at the early life of Hans Wilsdorf, his founding of the Rolex brand in 1905, and how his foresight made Rolex an early pioneer in the development of wristwatches. In Part Two, we explored the birth of many of Rolexs most legendary models. We also saw the brand further its reputation as the top choice of professionals and the powerful. Today, well explore the continual evolution of Rolexs professional range, and discover how the brand be [...]

Where does the time go? It only feels like a week or so ago that I was sat at my desk watching Rolexs presentation at Watches And Wonders 2021. That was back in March. You may recall that Rolex released an update to the Explorer II. Subtle and minor tweaks rather than something totally wild and new, but does anyone really care six months on?As with any Rolex announcement or launch, people get excited. People get very excited. Forums and Facebook groups become filled with guesses and theories about what the Crown will bring out next. March 2021 was no different. Rolex had hinted that something was happening with the Explorer. Still, nobody quite predicted the Explorer II would just get a mino [...]

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Its been two weeks since you were last graced by the presence of Wrist Game or Crying Shame. Welcome back and, this week, we let out the animal with the Rolex Daytona Leopard. Before we bare our claws, thoughTwo weeks back, while in sunny South Florida, I actually showed you a German watch. I chose an early Sinn 103 St with tritium dial and 85% of you gave it a firm, Jawohl On account of that success, lets hope that Sinn brings back such a reverse panda stunner. Todays pick may not qualify as stunning, but more as shocking. The Rolex Daytona Leopard is here and its ready to go for your throat and your wallet.The Rolex Daytona LeopardWhen we think of the Rolex Daytona, a relatively straightf [...]

Lately, Ive been in some lengthy conversations with a friend who is looking for either a Rolex Submariner 16610 or Sea-Dweller 16600. Imagine my surprise when I looked at the prices of these models Its time to look back on a couple of popular watches that left us more than ten years ago.Sure, we talk a lot about Rolex, but hardly a day goes by when someone doesnt message with questions about one of their models. New or old, theyre always on peoples minds. Recently, it seems people are turning their attention to modern models that were discontinued roughly ten years ago. The Rolex Submariner 16610 and the Sea-Dweller 16600 are two dive watches from the same period. Their differences are subtl [...]

Bezels. They split opinions almost as often as they are themselves split by two contrasting colors. While the two-color GMT bezel has a practical origin (to communicate daytime and nighttime hours at a glance), they have become just as appreciated for their aesthetic qualities as anything else. The Rolex GMT-Master II Pepsi still stands atop the mountain when it comes to the most sought-after releases in the last five years. But havent we supped enough Pepsi? Isnt it time for a fresh flavor to carry us into 2022? Here are my top five suggestions of what Rolex should do next.Given that the bezel of a GMT watch is a painfully obvious canvas for expression, it is kind of crazy we dont see more [...]

A few years ago, when I was examining my own vintage Rolex Datejust from 1969, I concluded that the dial inside was a service dial. I got it in 2002, and at the time there was little to no information available on the topic. But even a few years ago when I decided to finally replace it with an original dial, I realized that it can be very confusing to determine what's correct and what isnt. On eBay, there's a ton of Rolex accessories such as dials, hands, and bezels. I quickly found out that authenticity is not always guaranteed. With the help of some friends, who know more about Rolex dials than I do, I managed to source a nice one (also from eBay). Of course, I paid a stupid amount, but at [...]

For whatever reason, the Rolex Datejust glides past almost invisibly. Perhaps the reason is that it's so ubiquitous. Or is it overshadowed by its catalog mates with more tool-like intentions? Whatever the reason, this watch is a standard and deserves a bit more credit.Yawn, another Rolex Datejust. They're truly everywhere and if you're not seeing an actual example, someone is probably wearing some sort of imitation. The watch has been such a go-to choice for white-collared professionals that it has caused so many other brands to release a copycat or a nearly dead-on competitor over the past 30 to 40 years. As watch enthusiasts, we tend to focus on the sportier models from the brand, but the [...]

As a bit of a follow-up to an article I published at the start of the year, lets look at some of the vintage watches Ive added this year. For good or for bad, this isnt a complete picture. However, it is fairly representative of where my interests currently lie.Like many collectors, I go through phases. I have my rabid period where Im always on the hunt for various vintage watches. I have quiet times when, if I am looking for anything, its very specific. Those quiet times, by the way, are the WORST because this is usually when I get a message from someone I know who is ready to sell something epic. Woe is me, right? As I said, this isnt everything that Ive added in 2021 because there have be [...]