Watches Blog Wrist Watch Reviews

..is that you can settle for a new strap while saving up for another model While browsing straps at TimeConnection, Elliots shop, I found multiple interesting straps. One of them though, is a strap I would never buy because of the material it is made of. I dont mind wearing croco, calf, shark, snake and stingray straps, but a strap made out of elephant goes a bit too far for me..Would you wear one? [...]

While browsing the ViaPaneristi forum, I came across a post by AdrianNJ. He shows off his neat collection, and one of the watches really stands out. this D.Dornbluth Sohn! Good Taste!Picture by AdrianNJ [...]

Erik sent me an email with the link to his website a few days ago. It is about photography and horology.See for yourself, click here. [...]

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 [...]

After moderating (and later on co-moderating) the Omega Forum at WatchUseek for years, I decided to jump in to moderate the Rolex Forum as well. The Omega Forum was a piece of cake, most of the time I just participated in threads and did some digging up for people. After Jean-Michel and Jon joined me to moderate the forum, I did a step back and just watch all threads and posters and post once in a while. While on the Rolex Forum, it seems that I am more busy with keeping it under control and friendly, then being involved on the true content of messages. Discussions are heated within a few lines in a thread and namecalling and brand bashing is often the result. Closing the thread or even dele [...]

I just received this email from Rambler, about a new forum on watches. Visit www.wristwatchforums.com and check their Omega, Rolex and Panerai forum! [...]

Maastricht is (just like The Hague) one of the nicer cities in The Netherlands ?? My girlfriend and I went there this weekend to relax a bit and do some shopping. I took the opportunity to check out some watchshops in Maastricht!The first shop I paid a visit was Scorpione. The shop is located near the central station of Maastricht and besides watches, they also sell jewellery in gold and silver. The watches they sell are all vintage and displayed in the shop and on their website. The owner of the shop showed me two Movados, a gold chronograph and a steel chronograph. Both with inhouse Movado calibers. The stainless steel model featured an hour totalizer and the gold model didnt. The owner of [...]

German Krimis (detective series) on the television always drew ( draw) my attention. I cant exactly explain why, but it probably has something to do that I grew up near the German border so the surroundings/environment is very recognizable. Germany always had an advance on Dutch (not to confuse with Deutsch) television, they (probably) have more money to produce decent and professional TV series. A few weeks back I bought this DVD set of Derrick (Aus der Reihe) tv-series. Derrick was aired during 1974 1998 and was quite populair in The Netherlands. The two biggest roles were those of Stephan Derrick and Harry Klein, both detectives in Muenchen (Munich). Probably due to nostalgic reasons I b [...]

I get a lot of e-mails lately, to quote my best price on watches I even have never held in my hands. So, to clear a few things, I do not sell new watches. I might sell some used watches occasionally, from my own collection or those of friends, but I dont sell new Breitling Bentley models or Patek Philippe Calatrava. People seem to think, after reading an article (some times full of bashing) they can order it right away.Oh, and I recently got two e-mails on the name Fratello Watches. To some it looks like a commercial name or website, but it is not. Fratello is Italian for Brother, which is Broer in Dutch, which is my last name. And Watches well, thats what it is about (most of the time at le [...]

I read about this brand before, also on WristWatchReview.com, but the last Dutch copy of Miljonair Magazine (and I am not the target audience probably -)) did a small essay on bling watches. Ritmo Mundo and ofcourse the terrible creations for hiphopping USA, Jacob Co were both heavily mentioned in the article as being awfully hip and populair amongst Paris Hilton, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, 50 cents and a lot of his iced homies.To quote probably the same target audience, these watches are like school on sunday no class! [...]

Speaking of Constellations (see post below), last weekend I visitted my grandfather and he told me he was quite happy with the accuracy and new looks of his Constellation. Some years ago, before the watch got a complete overhaul, I wrote a small essay/review on his watch. Next time I visit him, I should make a new picture of his watch. The dial is cleaned up and the crystal and case are bright and shiny again.Anyway, the review can be found here. Mind you, it is dated (2001) and the pictures are made with a digital camera which probably is even cheaper nowadays than a leather strap. [...]

Some time ago, Jon Langballe (co-moderates the Omega Forum at WatchUseek) sent me a picture of his Seamaster 300.I guess Omega nowadays seeks the internet as well, looking for whats hot and whats not amongst customers and collectors. Omega uses details from watches like these and apply them on new models like the Seamaster Planet Ocean and others (think of the vintage Constellation pie-pan and the modern DeVille Co-Axial).Thanks Jon!! [...]

The Paneristi Vancouver Get ToGether reports (2 parts) can be found here and here at Paneristi.com.Nice to see so much variation: [...]

When I started collecting watches in the late 1990s, my watch dealer and now Fratello contributor Gerard told me that I needed a Rolex Datejust. Cant go wrong with a Rolex Datejust as they always work. With anything.. A short and simple statement from someone who had by that time already seen and tried it all. A few years later, just after graduation, I got my first Datejust. It was a vintage Datejust from 1969, with reference 1600, on a jubilee bracelet that was clearly added later. I managed to find a couple of extra bezels, including the fluted white gold one, so I could change it to a reference 1601 when I felt like it. It was also an easy watch to wear on a leather strap.Rolex Datej [...]

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 [...]

I really thought that I had seen all kind of possible threads and topics on watchforums, until I crossed this post at TimeZone by beauSF.The whole thread is about watch store girls and which store has the prettiest.. Must have been a slow day at TimeZone yesterday.. ?? [...]

Want a watch wallpaper for your desktop? Jocke created www.watchwallpapers.com where you can download several very high quality photographs of watches for free. Certina, Seiko, Rolex, Omega, Dreadnought etc. Also check-out his tutorial section!Photo by Jocke. Ofcourse. [...]

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 [...]

Another OysterQuartz fansite here. However, only for the people who can read German. However, if you click here, you can download some QuickTime movies on these watches and their movements. [...]

I am back from my trip to Italy. Maybe I will post some pictures later on. Besides Rome, Perugia, Siena, the Trasimeno lake I visitted Florence. And ofcourse, the Panerai boutique. The salesperson gave a tour in the small Panerai Museum they have some floors up and it was marvelous. Didnt take pictures of it though, as I have seen loads of these on other websites (Paneristi.com).I wonder what is up with the Italians when it comes to watches. I just saw 1 Panerai in the wilde, in Rome. Just 1. Couldnt make up what it was because I saw in in a flash on someones wrist. It was just Rolex all over. I wonder how many of them were real, because even the guy serving ice cream on the campsite wore a [...]