Watches Blog Wrist Watch Reviews

Last week, I claimed that when it comes to the Seiko Monster, it's go orange or go home. This week, I thought it only fair I bring orange lovers a few alternatives to the Monster. As such, allow me to introduce five more orange-dialed beast watches.While I cannot admit to owning any orange watches, I have always been drawn to the allure they offer. I scroll through listings imagining myself tanning poolside with a long drink in one hand and an orange dial diver affixed to the other wrist. Alas, I predominately find myself with a white, grey, or black dial watch in a matching suit or casual attire. Briefly, I was the owner of a Doxa Searambler Silver Lung, that had a silver dial and big ol' o [...]

Its time for Wrist Game or Crying Shame, the weekly series that lets you stop or start your chronograph. This week, well discuss a unique blip on the Breitling radar with the Superocean Heritage Chronoworks. But firstLast week, I did my best to take you back to the era of Boyz II Men with a look at the TAG Heuer Link chronograph. Sadly, it was the end of the road for this ornate sports watch as it fell to a crushing 68% crying shame loss. Lets see if todays watch can bring some of that Motown Philly magic because our Breitling Superocean Chronoworks happens to sit in a showcase near the City of Brotherly Love.Pricey cars and suchIm not sure why high-end watches drive so many automotive compa [...]

If you missed your chance at the most recent Breitling Superocean 57 Limited Edition, you now have a chance at a slightly different follow-up model. Significantly, proceeds will aid charities that support frontline healthcare workers in the battle against COVID-19.Just over a month ago, we shared news of Breitlings latest capsule collection. The Superocean Heritage 57 was announced during a video stream led by Georges Kern. While the watch could be considered as a somewhat niche offering, I threw my money behind it within a couple of hours of its release. After all, this watch recalls one of my all-time favorite vintage watches while adding some modern twists such as size and build quality. [...]

Introducing the new Breitling Chronomat that takes design cues from the future-classic 80s watch. The new Chronomat continues a burgeoning trend of revisiting heritage models from Breitling's esteemed back catalog.Under the leadership of Georges Kern, we have seen the Ref 806 from 1959, and Ref 765 from 1953 get the revision treatment. Also, the recently announced Top-Time with bow-tie dial. But these come from the Willy Breitling era. For some collectors, Breitling didn't begin until the 1980s.Legendary FutureFirst, a little bit of history. Breitling, during the 70s, was in a bit of a rut. This was true for many Swiss brands, left reeling from the onset of the quartz crisis. Rolex and Patek [...]

A surprising release comes our way in the new Breitling Superocean Heritage 57 and we have all the details. Lets dive inBreitling has been on a roll for a couple of years now. When looking at releases such as the Premier, the various limited edition reissues, or the reintroduction of the Top Time, its clear to us that the brand has returned to form.Under the leadership of Georges Kern, Breitling has done what so many have us have been asking for such a long time. That means producing watches in human sizes and respectfully honoring its back catalog. With todays Breitling Superocean Heritage 57, the trend continues. Oh, and lets add a little spice to the soup because this just might be my fav [...]

Pajamas, Vampires, or Snow Whites. Get some popcorn, welcome to our rundown of five bizarre watch nicknames. Which one is your favorite?Some of the watches you might have never seen or even heard of. Me neither. I probably would have forgotten about one or two of the listed watches if it weren't for the idea to write this article that I had about a year ago. I started writing down all the quirky nicknames I came across to entertain us all a bit. Serious or not, all the nicknames deserve their moment in the spotlight. Bear in mind that we avoided notoriously known nicknames derived from comic book heroes, sodas, or famous ambassadors on purpose. We decided to throw in a couple that might surp [...]

We tend to tell romanticized stories of brave men and women in survival situations. As watch-lovers, we find ourselves drawn to the wrists of these heroes and heroines. A watch worn during an adventure can take on a character of its own. And for those of us that cant get enough of these little tickers, they can make or break the story of survival itself.How many of you have pointed at your Omega Speedmaster, explaining to the non-watch aficionado that it went to the Moon? Or how the Speedy helped bring the Apollo 13 astronauts back to Earth? Maybe you drone on about the Rolex DEEP-SEA Sea-Dweller diving the depths of the Mariana Trench? Perhaps you prefer to talk about the Smiths Explorer su [...]

Theres a new kid on the blockchainAccompanying the rebirth of the Breitling Top Time (something all of us at Fratello are VERY excited about), is the news of a new digital service available to buyers. To better understand this new blockchain-stored digital passport, I caught up with Antonio Carriero, Breitlings Chief Digital and Technology Officer and a member of the senior executive team, the man with all the answers. Welcome, one and all, to the futureThe InterviewRob Nudds: It's a very exciting time for Breitling with the continued overhaul of the catalog. Everything feels very much on brand. Thats hard to achieve while also being progressive. And now we see the Top Time return to the fol [...]

With a little wink of course, but in a week when my Ploprof has been described by one commenter as the perfect survival tool, it seemed like an opportune moment to pick our top-five pre-owned survival watches.Well, I thought about this, and came up with a few more models for you to consider when its the end of time. Besides the discontinued Ploprof in steel, I selected a Panerai, a Breitling, a Rolex, and perhaps the sanest choice a Casio G-Shock. But one with a little twist, of course.All watches are pre-owned and picked from Chrono24.? Every week we pick a few pre-owned watches from Chrono24, the largest market place for wristwatches in the world watches that we love ourselves, or think th [...]

Today marks the return of the Breitling Top Time, a legendary vintage chronograph from the 1960s.If you were hoping for some fun news during these different and difficult times, we think Breitling has taken a good shot at answering the bell. With the new Breitling Top Time, we see the return of a fabled name and the use of a dial design thats bound to excite both collectors and lovers of chronographs. The watch also debuts a new Arianee blockchain certificate program to help prove authenticity and to transfer ownership of a watch should it be sold to a new owner. You can read more about this on Breitlings site.The Breitling Top Time ReturnsThats right, the Breitling Top Time returns and the [...]

This early up-down Breitling ref. 174 chronograph powered by a Venus 170 is truly a rare piece, especially in a black dial version.It would be a killer chronograph if it had a 38mm case. Well, it doesn't, but it still makes for a spectacular timepiece. The design, originality and unique feeling under your fingers when you start playing with the timer functions all contribute to the wow factor of this 33mm Breitling chronograph.Baby BreitlingBigger Breitling watches easily fetch north of 2,000 and getting a decent piece has become more and more challenging. As Mike used to joke, a smaller diameter Breitling is just too small for WatchFred?(check his Instagram, if his name doesn't ring the bel [...]

Breitling has been delivering hit after hit over the last twelve months. The Breitling Navitimer 1959 re-edition is a favorite of many including some of the Fratello team members. But does everything the brand touches turn to gold? Lets take a look at another recent release, the Navitimer B03 Chronograph Rattrapante 45 in 18k red gold.Lets just dive in straight away and compliment Breitling with making waves in the industry. With Georges Kern at the helm, the brand has found relevance amongst watch enthusiasts with a great number of releases. Some of them are re-issues of well-known classics like the Navitimer 1959 re-edition and the AVI Ref. 765 1953. Another release that stood out is the A [...]

Its no wonder the average age of first-time homeowners is on the increase. Breitling keeps mining its archives with unavoidably awesome results. Last years 1959 reissue was, in my opinion, the best thing Breitling has?ever done. I mean it. Ever. Well, chalk me up as consternated, because the Georges Kern carnival has just served up another doozy. The Breitling AVI Ref. 765 1953 Re-edition is truly something special. But its not without its controversiesThe Breitling AVI Ref. 765 1953 Re-editions life began 67 years ago with the launch of a pilots watch known as the co-pilot. Almost seven decades later, this oft-forgotten gem has been reborn. Seeing it now, it is a wonder it took a management [...]

Happy weekend folks Its time for This Week in Watches for January 25, 2020. Lets beginParmigiani Fleurier Kalparisma with Snow SettingWell, we hope you like ice because our first piece for This Week in Watches just happens to be the Parmigiani Fleurier Kalparisma with Snow Setting. The front of this 42.57mm x 30.15mm white gold watch is absolutely layered in roughly 6 carats of diamonds. In fact, between the case, dial, and buckle, there are 1,379 of the bright sparklers on this watch Somewhere inside all the bling, the PF342 in house automatic does its thing with a chronometer rating. Parmigiani uses a black crocodile strap. If youre interested, figure on handing over $119,800. Head to Parm [...]

We choose our 10 favorite vintage pieces from this years TBT feature.Scrolling through the articles from this years TBT brings me a satisfying smile. Here and there I stop for a while and recollect the memories connected to the shooting or research. Well, all watches and their stories rightly deserved to be featured, but we can shortlist just a few of them. We welcome you to see our selection of best pieces and reasons, why we picked it up. If some of them slipped your attention during the year, here is your chance to catch up on the best vintage pieces published in 2019.Top 10 Vintage Watches From TBTOmega Seamaster 300 CK2913It doesn't happen often such a grail watch re-surface in such [...]

It's time for our annual Fratello Christmas Special, where we take a long look at a special watch.? This year, we choose two with the Omega Speedmaster Apollo 11 50th Anniversary in gold and the Breitling Navitimer ref.806 1959 Re-Edition.We're well aware that both the Omega Speedmaster Apollo 11 and the Breitling Navitimer have been reviewed ad nauseam during 2019, so why have we returned to such a well-trodden subject?? That's an easy one to answer because we happen to have both side by side and your author has worn both extensively for well over a month.? Consider it a chance to hear the specs once more, if only briefly, but to hear more about what it's like to live with either of these i [...]

In this weekly Pre-Owned Picks series, a Fratello editor will select some watches from the pre-owned market and explain why it is an exciting offer (or watch). This week, we have two watches from Rolex (both with a touch of gold), an Omega Speedmaster, a Breitling Aerospace, and a Sinn 142.If youve been a reader of Fratello for a while now, you are probably aware that (especially) Michael Stockton and I have been going into the gold watches direction for a while now. I have some gold Omegas, including two Speedmasters and several Constellations, either in gold or bi-color. It is a material I fought against for a long time, as I felt it isnt me, or perhaps because I felt too young to be weari [...]

Welcome to the Fratello Holiday Gift Guide 2019: The Watches!? We have a cool assortment for you that includes both classics and new watchesenjoy and Happy Holidays!Over 5.000 Euro (or USD or GBP)Omega Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon Apollo 8 (9.100 Euro)Well, you knew a gift guide form Fratello would be thick with Speedmasters, so here is our first of two to make the guide: the Dark Side of the Moon Apollo 8.? I wasnt sure about this one when it debuted at Baselworld 2018, but then I saw it months later on the wrist of Roy Davidoffand I loved it (RJ called it the best of the DSotM collection).? What amazes me on this watch is the impressive dial detail thats crafted to look like the surfa [...]

Welcome back to Wrist Game or Crying Shame, our weekly series where you decide if a watch has what it takes to spend time on your precious wrist.? This week, well head back to the time of Maverick, Goose, and the Iceman with a look at an 80s/90s chronograph in the Breitling Cosmonaute.? But firstI honestly need to start choosing more controversial watches because you readers keep finding favor with the pieces in our series.? Last weeks Omega Aqua Terra Railmaster in steel and 39mm stormed to a landslide 71% Wrist Game win and that was despite a few cranky comments!? Bring em on, we love the entertainment and, after all, we always have the last word? So, if last weeks rider of the rails got y [...]

The early 1960's Cosmonaute reference 809 Wide Bezel' models are enough of an elusive piece for any vintage Breitling collector, so the news that one owned by Astronaut John Glenn will be coming up for sale is an absolutely awesome moment that might get some of us a little bit excited.On the 10th December 2019, Phillips Watches will be holding their Game Changers' auction in New York City where two of John Glenn's watches will feature, notably his Navitimer 809.John Glenns Breitling Navitimer 809 CosmonauteThis particular auction is already well known to be featuring Marlon Brando's Rolex GMT-Master as worn in the Film Apocalypse Now among other iconic watches.John Glenn Jr. was a United Sta [...]