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The Rolex GMT-Master (II) finally stepped out of the shadow of its diving brother, the Submariner. With the introduction of the ceramic Pepsi and Batman (on Jubilee) recently, the hype is real. Long waiting lists and market prices far over retail result in disappointed customers, but that doesnt seem to slow down the demand. On the contrary.I can imagine why the Rolex GMT-Master II is so much in demand. It is a great daily companion, with the added value of an extra timezone. I had my share of GMT-Master watches, including a few vintage 1675s and a GMT-Master II 16710. When I was ready to purchase a GMT-Master II Ceramic or Batman in 2017, I was confronted with the above-mentioned demand for [...]
When I borrowed the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Rubber Clad from Watch-Site, I got the AP Royal Oak 15300 as well. Just to?get some look feel?about this watch. Not too long ago, I was a bit reluctant on this particular model, since there was only one Royal Oak, and that was the Royal Oak Jumbo, also known as the ref.15202ST. I have written many times on this Jumbo by Audemars Piguet, saying it was my dream watch or number 1 or 2 (this position changes back and forth with the PP Nautilus 5711/1A) watch that I need to have somewhere in life. ??Friends of mine have the 15202 and are quite clear on the 15300. A no-brainer, because of the second hand with the wing on the short tip, the mo [...]
Although I dont wear it often, I still like my Chronoswiss R??gulateur Automatique a lot. Great dress watch and first real Chronoswiss watch (introduced in 1987 as a hand wound wrist watch).Christopher Meisenzahl mentioned the review on the Chronoswiss Digiteur at The Purists forum last week, and I thought that you might be interested!Enjoy the review by William Riepl on the Chronoswiss Digiteur Click here to read it [...]
A while ago, I posted about the Girard-Perregaux Richeville chronograph with caliber 8381. This movement is not inhouse as I wrote, but it is based on the Lemania 1872. David Alstott emailed me this correction and included a nice scan of a Lemania 1872 trio.You can read more about Girard-Perregaux at WatchRap (by ThePurists), they have a special section for Girard-Perregaux. [...]
Last sunday, I went to the Rikketik watch fair in Houten/The Netherlands. This fair is being held a few times a year, and is also held in Antwerp/Belgium. Besides wrist watches, there are a lot of clocks and pocket watches for sale on the fair. So far so good.My last visit to the watch fair was at least 1 1.5 years earlier and as soon as I entered the large hall with all the sellers, I knew why it was 1 1.5 years earlier. What a mess. They should seperate the (wooden cuckcoo) clocks from the watches to start with. But this is not the worst part. The worst part is the quality of the offered goods. Omega watches seems to be the most popular brand on the watch fair. Logically, because the vin [...]
Ive never been a big fan of TAG Heuer, but I do like their classics. Like this one below, the Monaco (also known as the Steve McQueen model):Photo by -AndrewIn this thread at TimeZone they are showing off their Heuer Monaco watches. If you are interested, take a look.For the real Steve McQueen (and/or Heuer) fans, there is a clothing line by this brand called Vintage 55 dedicated to Steve McQueen. In a local shop (Oger) here in The Netherlands they sell Vintage 55 Steve McQueen clothing (including the Heuer badge -)). [...]
Bart Thans, a Paneristi (amongst other watches) from Belgium, finished Level 1 from the famous TimeZone Watch School and created the project watch below with his new skills:Incredible eh?The watch has a handwound Unitas 6498 movement inside. Read the complete story on TimeZone here.If you dont care about reading and just want to see pictures, click here. [...]
Earlier this week I had a short but interesting mail exchange with Nick, owner of https://www.clockmaker.com.au/. He pointed this article out on his website, regarding the Dent 1508 Ship Chronometer.For collectors with a passion for accuracy, ship chronometers might interest you!Nick writes:Dent No. 1508 Ships Chronometer, signed Dent, 82 strand LONDON. Purchased by Admiralty in March 1841. Used as navigation instrument on HMS Virago 1847, HMS Plover 1869, HMS Sattelite 1886, HMS Carysfort. Serviced in 1879 Cape Observatory, 1895 Cape of Good Hope, 1895 by Mercer (famous Marine chronometer himself) , 1902 in Sydney, 1919 in Liverpool. Sold by auction in 1920. In private collection since [...]
Yesterday evening, I received an email from Daniel of the LondonWatchCompany.com, a specialist in selling Rolexes (vintage new). Since I am on the look-out for a 1977 (my year of birth) Submariner ref.1680, I found this site to be quite interesting. In the links section, I found a website called DoubleRedSeadweller.com. This site also sounded very interesting, since I only knew about www.redwatches.com formerly known as www.redsubmariner.com. This site has been renamed after a dispute between Rolex claiming the name Submariner and the owner of the website.Anyway, the website describes the Double Red Sea-Dweller (here) and has a lot of information about COMEX models as well. For those who do [...]
In 2021, Omega updated the iconic Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch with the caliber 3861 movement. A very good reason to update our Speedmaster Buyers Guide as well!This guide dates all the way back to 2014, and since then, a lot happened. Not only did we have our own way with Omega and the two Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday watches (in 2017 and 2018), Omega also introduced a number of interesting Speedmaster watches to the collection. What about the Speedmaster Calibre 321 from 2020, or the new Moonwatch Master Chronometer models in gold? Time for us to update this Speedmaster Buyers Guide.In this Speedmaster Buyers Guide, we give you an overview of the most important references of the Speedm [...]
For the watch lovers amongst us who have to wear a suit every (working) day, this might cheer you up:I saw these at the Public Forum at TimeZone.com. I dont know where to get them, but if you do a quick search on eBay or Google, you might get lucky. Have seen a few cufflinks with a working watch inside, but not with this moonphase feature ??Anyway, at least leave the tie bar at home. Unless you drive a bus. ?? [...]
Steve S shows his 5970 in white gold on the Paneristi Forum.Congrats on the watch Steve! [...]
TCStraps always used to be a great source for Panerai straps, however I just discovered that they have a great selection of Panerai watches now as well. Maybe I am just late, but I never saw so many watches for sale before on their web site.If you are in the fortunate situation to be able to purchase a (or more) vintage Panerai, definately take a peek over there.For the people who are longing for some White Dial Love, TCStraps (TC stands for Time Connection) also has this one (PAM3B) for sale for 4150 USD: [...]
The vintage Omega Constellation is the watch that basically started it all for me. The passion for watches that is. A number of relatives of mine had (and have) an Omega Constellation and it were these timepieces that got me interested in watches in the first place. I inherited a nice vintage Omega Constellation from 1968 which I truly cherish as it has been on the wrist of my grandfather for over 40 years (on a daily basis).?I also bought some Constellation watches myself as well through the years.So, it is about time I give the vintage Omega Constellation a bit of well-deserved attention here on Fratello Watches. A few months ago, we (Bert Buijsrogge and I) visited a collector of rare and [...]
I never really liked Coke too much.I was always a Pepsi guy. No, I'm not talking about the drink. I could not care less about the age-old debate of which soda is better. I'm talking about two specific Rolex GMT-Masters. The choice is between Pepsi (blue/red) or Coke (black/red) bezel inserts.I shared the reasoning behind my decision to go with reference 1675 in this old TBT article of mine. To me, the colors on the bezel were the primary factor. I liked the look of a vintage Sub, but I dug the GMT with its Pepsi insert. It added a pop of color to the watch. For the longest time, I thought that no other GMT would take its place. Until this week cameDon't worry, I'm still Team Pepsi, but for [...]
Available as per january 2006 and will cost you about 1900 Euro. The official Seiko site on this watch can be found here.Thanks Gadget.nl. Otherwise, I still would be able to tell people I liked Seiko for being innovative (Seiko Spring Drive). ??Btw, also via Gadget.nl, this clock that can bring you your voicemail messages [...]
..its an IWC, and I dont like IWC. Their attitude towards complaining customers on their company forum is embarrassing. Furthermore, the design of most IWCs is too sterile for me. Like Audi cars. I bet a lot of IWC fans drive Audi cars ??However, the Ingenieur is an exception to this feeling. I saw and handled one today in Gerards shop. An IWC Ingenieur ref. IW2337. A thick and solid watch, and one of the view watches I really like for having an integrated bracelet (as the AP Royal Oak and VC Overseas).Horloge Platform Nederland is selling this one New In Box (NIB) for 4640 Euro. If I had the money, and no problems with IWCs attitude, I would probably left the store today with a new watch.Ph [...]
..seem to have all the luck, like Edwin at the Lange Soehne forum @ TimeZone.comClick here for his posting [...]
Earlier this year, Seiko announced a new spring drive movement intended to mark a new beginning for the brand. And with this new Spring Drive caliber is a great way to celebrate their 60th anniversary. Time to have a closer look at the Spring Drive 9RA5.Grand Seiko was born from a simple and ambitious aim, simply to create the best watches possible. With a small selection of Seiko's top watchmakers put to work in the late 50s, the first Grand Seiko was launched in December 1960. With numerology being very important, in Japan, the number 60 marks a moment of new energy and rebirth.Grand Seiko 60th AnniversaryAmong a selection of special edition watches celebrating this milestone, the brands m [...]
Emmanuel Coindre has successfully achieved his challenge of rowing across the northern passage of the Pacific, from Japan to the United States, meaning almost 11,000 km in 129 days 17 hours 22 minutes and 22 seconds. Jaeger-LeCoultre supported the sportsman at each step of this daunting and ambitious undertaking, during which Emmanuel???s physical and mental preparation was confronted with extremely unfavourable weather conditions. The Master Compressor Extreme World Chronograph remained firmly strapped to his wrist throughout the voyage.Jaeger-LeCoultre introduces 30 models of this Master Compressor Extreme World Chronograph. 20 watches in titanium steel combination and 10 watches in titan [...]
