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Last week we visited Milan where we held our second Speedy Tuesday event this year (and more to come). In this article, you will find some impressions of that day.If youre new to Speedy Tuesday and wonder what it is about, please visit this introduction page on the topic. If you are already familiar, and perhaps already part of this movement, simply continue to read.This year started with an amazing cool Speedy Tuesday event in Switzerland, where we (with about 50 Speedmaster enthusiasts) witnessed the introduction of the caliber 321 re-birth. Omega kept this introduction especially for the Speedy Tuesday community, even before the press got to see it, to show their appreciation for enthusia [...]

Whether youre on the road or interested in taking delivery of a keepsake, we have your guide on how to celebrate the?Apollo 11 50th Anniversary.The?Apollo 11 50th Anniversary is a big deal and that means that theres little excuse not to celebrate the golden year of one of mans most incredible achievements.? Whether youre on the road traveling this summer (recall, the Moon Landing took place on July 20, 1969), hanging out at home, or looking for something for your office, there are all kinds of ways to personalize this historic event.? Weve scoured the web in search of all things Apollo 11 and while this article will be link heavy and picture short, we hope its of use.The WatchesOn a watch si [...]

Desiring an ornate, yet incredibly capable diver?? Look no further than the new Omega Seamaster 300 Malachite on strap.Malachite and Azurite?- My Grandfather and Father enjoyed a fair bit of lapidary work as a hobby and I still recall being quizzed about different gemstones.? When it came to that unfinished stone in blue and green, there was only one answer: malachite and azurite.? And so it was with great pleasure when I flipped through Omega's 2019 novelties and came across one gorgeously audacious watch, the yellow gold Omega Seamaster 300 Malachite that's now available on strap.? It's so wild that it almost makes the new 300M in Sedna Gold seem a touch normal.Yellow Gold SeamastersC Our [...]

Sometimes we see a watch that we dont recognize. Either it was very rare, a fake, a frankenwatch or a prototype.Today, we have a watch like that for you here on Fratello. A gold Speedmaster Professional that looks very similar to the well-known and sought-after BA145.022-69, but with a strange looking dial.We dont need to introduce you to the gold Speedmaster Apollo XI from 1969, I am pretty sure. We covered that watch many times here and even recently when we did the comparison article between this years 50th-anniversary edition of the Speedmaster Professional Apollo XI in Moonshine gold and the original 1969 model in gold. Often referred to as the Nixon watch, as it was offered to the then [...]

With Time to Move complete, were now free to shed details on all the new releases such as the new Omega Seamaster 300M Sedna Gold.Since the release of the new 42mm?Seamaster 300M at Baselworld 2018, weve been smitten by this diver.? With its reintroduction of the wave dial made popular by Pierce Brosnan as 007, but with far higher quality looks, whats not to like?? Whether in full stainless, bi-color (probably the watch we love most), 44mm titanium, or the limited edition tantalum titanium, its a real looker.? And with a Co-Axial Master Chronometer inside and a starting price of only 4,500 Euros for steel on rubber, its a seriously competitive watch.? Today, though, the ante has been upped a [...]

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 [...]

Remember when the first Omega Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday came out in 2017? Our reader Shawn was the first to pick it up at an Omega boutique in the USA. Now, 2 years later, we ask him about his fascination for the Speedmaster.The Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday wasnt his first encounter with Omega or the Speedmaster though. The story of Shawn is probably recognizable for many of you, but definitely interesting to read. He talks about the Speedy Tuesday community, his grail and the story about picking up his first Speedy Tuesday making him feel like a wrist model.QA With Speedmaster Enthusiast ShawnOn January 10th, 2017, together with Omega we introduced the first Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday watch [...]

Three recent auctions show exactly why the Speedmaster X-33 matters, yet it is still relatively unloved by many Speedmaster enthusiasts.The good thing about this? For starters, you can find a great bargain on the Speedmaster X-33. A watch with proven and significant space history, but under-appreciated because of the quartz crystal and digital display. Second, the Speedmaster X-33 has some cool functions on board that have been developed together with pilots and astronauts. First together with NASA, later on, with the X-33 Skywalker version, with the European Space Agency (ESA). Below, an early prototype of the Speedmaster X-33. Very early prototypes had Flightmaster printed on the sapphire. [...]

This is a situation that is getting sadder by the day. Former forward of Feyenoord, Michiel Kramer, did not sell his Rolex Day-Date because he thought he might get randomly robbed on the street. No, he did so because one of the convicted members of the so-called Rolexgang (who is currently serving a one-year prison sentence for robbery) confessed that Kramer was on their list. They were already tracking Kramer's movements with a plan to rob him of his watch. It was the certainty that he would get robbed that pushed him to sell for Kramer it was not a what if? It was a when?Footballer Michiel Kramer was not the only target, many other local celebrities are also on the radar of these Rolexgang [...]

The Rolex Sea-Dweller 16600 was my first sports Rolex back in 2003. After owning it for over 10 years, I decided to trade it for something else. Only to come to the realization a few Rolex sports models later that the Sea-Dweller is, in fact, the one for me.When I started taking my first steps into the world of watch collecting in the late 1990s, I had to learn everything from scratch. Magazines like Uhren Magazine, Chronos (later WatchTime), and websites like TimeZone, taught me a lot of the things I know about many brands, including Rolex. Although the prices (and availability) were much more attractive at the time, being a student, purchasing a Rolex was quite simply out of the question.B [...]

Its been a couple of years since I last picked up a vintage Rolex. Woe is me Its a hard life indeed. Jokes aside, I recently took delivery of a lovely Rolex Submariner 5513 Maxi Dial and I thought Id share my impressions.Im a dummy. As sure as I sit here today looking at the 90s and early 00s Bluesy Submariners telling myself to strike now before its too late (its already too late, by the way), I did the same thing five to seven years ago on another Rolex. I cant remember the websites, but I remember the watches. I was looking at 5513 Submariner watches and they were staring back at me with their lowly $4,500 to $6,000 price tags ALLaDAYaLONG. What did I do about it? Nothing. I did nothing e [...]

When it came out in 2012 BaselWorld was buzzing because of it. The buzz kind of died and so did BaselWorld, but that's an entirely different matter in the nine years that followed. The flagship model Rolex presented as some kind of uber GMT, but it never quite make it to the top of people's wish list. Partly because it all started with models in various precious metals with hefty price tags. But also because a complicated annual calendar with dual time zones is very un-Rolex. But still, the Rolex Sky-Dweller is the misunderstood genius you need in your life.I declare 2021 the year of the Rolex Sky-Dweller. And that's because since this year the ostentatious Sky-Dweller in steel with a wh [...]

As you can probably imagine, having long-winded, in-depth discussions about the watch industry, brand theory, and product particulars consumes a lot of our free time here at Fratello. But thats not to say we dont love it. Quite the contrary Our passion for these nuanced chats paints a clear picture: were mad about simply everything to do with our hobby. One such conversation gave rise to this article, so I thought Id share with you my thoughts on the current state of play at Rolex and what that might mean for the brand, its consumers, and the industry en masse in the future.Rolex is no longer a watch brand, I said nonchalantly. Ive been saying it for a couple of years and I often deliver thi [...]

We like to talk about vintage watches a lot within the Fratello team. While the daily routine is largely focused on the most recent developments in the world of watches, the most fun for many of us lies in the world of vintage watches. It's 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 priceless, some of them still affordable. In this installment, we will take a look at the best Rolex watches from the 1980s.While the 1970s marked a time of tremendous change in the watch industry, the 1980s showed the effects of that cha [...]

Lets talk about the Crown Rolex is, without a doubt the most divisive brand amongst our readers. We have seen an increasing number of people turn their back on Rolex for the way it conducts its business. The steady unavailability of their watches at authorized dealers and skyrocketing grey market prices have become a reason for many to say goodbye to the Geneva brand. But there are still plenty of watch enthusiasts that love the brand for its rich history and for creating great products. So we decided to put down some of the reasons why you do and dont need a Rolex in writing. The final question is simple: what camp are you in? Let us know your thoughts.We have some very passionate readers t [...]

All aboard for another voyage on the S.S. Wrist Game or Crying Shame. This week, we examine a watch that feels a bit polarizing to me: the Rolex Yacht-Master II. Before we leave for seaMarco Polo Marco Polo Ah, just kidding. Last week, I brought you back to the days of Studio 54 with the Piaget Polo. Folks, this equestrian-intended watch bracelet engaged in quite the horse race and it went down to the wire. Sadly, the Polo lost by a nose in a 51% Crying Shame result. Something tells me that todays Rolex Yacht-Master II will finish far more decisively. Lets see which direction.The Rolex Yacht-Master IIThe Rolex Yacht-Master II left the boatyard way back in 2007 and has motored on under its ow [...]

Its time for our annual overview of Top 10 Rolex watches according to our readers. Based on the reads per article, we created an overview of the Top 10 Rolex watches that you like best. We have been publishing this overview of the Top 10 Rolex watches for a few years now, and we keep it up-to-date based on your reading behavior.In Fratellos 17 years of existence, we have covered Rolex very frequently. Not only because we like their watches a lot, but also because we know that you do. Did you know for example, that the demand for Rolex watches is unmatched on websites like Chrono24? In recent years, the demand for Rolex has increased to an amazing extent while the production numbers are suppo [...]

What do you remember about the Rolex Datejust II? Do you remember what you thought of it at the time? Is it a model you pine for daily, still wear proudly, or had completely forgotten ever existed? I find myself in the latter category way too often, so I thought Id take a moment to look back on the watch that time forgot; the failed future hero that Rolex never cares to mention.Sports history is littered with nearly men and women. There are countless tales of careers that got off to a blistering start only to fall foul of injury, contract squabbles, or some other misfortune. Whenever I think of the Rolex Datejust II, those stars that came tantalizingly close to reaching the top of their resp [...]

I fully realize that my taste in watches is not what you could call traditional by any stretch. I adore the likes of URWERK. I love bold black and bright yellow color schemes. And I cant get enough of the liberal use of alternative materials in watchmaking (think carbon fiber composites!). Thats not very classic, yet I do have a healthy respect for timeless classicism in watch collecting.Being a part of the Fratello team, I, of course, have a strong appreciation for the Omega Speedmaster and its historical journey to the stars. I may not own a Speedy just yet, but thats only because Im taking some time to find the right one. There are many other staple watches that many of our kind covet and [...]

During the pandemic, we all inevitably became online shoppers. Now, in many countries, the third wave is abating. Finally, we can go shopping again. But do we want to?Visiting the high street near your home now, after you couldnt do so for months, because everything was closed, will probably leave a bitter taste in the mouth at first. You will notice all those shops that didnt survive. Maybe, you recall the last time you were buying something there, and perhaps you remember the people who worked there.Possibly, you dont notice anything like that because youre just exuberantly happy to return to normality and to meet other people again in an almost relaxed atmosphere. Potentially, your desire [...]