Watches Blog Wrist Watch Reviews

We who write for Fratello are passionate watch lovers like you. But our writing bears the risk of persuading ourselves to fall in love with one or the other watch or even follow one of the current trends in design. Next to the inescapable vintage trend and the continuously evolving diversity of structured dials in all imaginable color hues, the unbroken demand for what has been named luxury sports watches also haunts us Fratello editors in our dreams.Very few of these sports watches are indeed appropriate companions for really sporty situations. Many are too valuable to risk smashing against sports gear or on the ground when our enthusiasm gets the best of us. Others are plainly uncomfortabl [...]

Blame it on my sharing nature while writing this story, but I fear my wife wants to remortgage the house. OK, I might be exaggerating a bit. But that is the Italian way, after all, and shes from Milano. I am only wearing one ring (and a bracelet or three; call me metrosexual), but it is a B.zero1, and so is hers. Yes, Bulgari made our wedding rings, I didnt really have a say in the matter. So I should have been more careful about sharing this watch. Shes smitten with it, and its all my own fault.And you know what? Maybe shes on to something. MBF and Bvlgari just had a beautiful love child, and its name is the LM FlyingT Allegra. I am wearing a tool watch today, so I dont know about you, but [...]

The ever-charming Antoine Pin of Bvlgari fame sits down with Rob to chat about his life in the industry, how his experience has shaped his approach to watch design and story-telling, and what possibilities might lie in store for Bvlgari in the future.In an energetic chat, Pin explains how he became bewitched by the industry and never managed to stay away from it for long. The fusion of passion, talent, and manual skill enthralls him on a daily basis at Bvlgari, and his guiding why not principle has led him to many happy design discoveries.He touches also on his perception of the effects the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the industry and what we can expect to see from brands as they adjust the [...]

That's right ladies and gentlemen It's that time of the year again. No, not time to start rummaging through the attic for your Christmas decorations, please do yourself the favor and leave that until at least the end of November. What I'm talking about is the Oscars of the watch world, the Grand Prix D'Horlogerie De Genve (GPHG). This year, a total of 84 watches were selected, with six different watches going head-to-head in 14 different categories with a total of 19 different prizes up for grabs. In case you didnt know, the event has just taken place if youre reading this, you missed it But not to worry, here at Fratello weve put together a list of all the winners along with the official d [...]

We spend a lot of time talking about the Bvlgari Octo Finissimo on Fratello (because we love that line dearly), but the Octo Roma line has a lot to offer also. In fact, while the Finissimo is truly groundbreaking, its unerring thinness can, for some, be a dealbreaker. The Octo Roma takes the gloriously architectural lines of its slimmer (and squarer) brother and delivers them with the kind of elegant machismo we might expect of the horological embodiment of the worlds most famous and enduring empire.Rome wasnt built in a day, or so the saying goes. When it comes to a watchmaking corollary, the establishment of Bvlgaris reputation could hardly be more perfect. These things take time. Even tho [...]

I love a good list because it really makes me think. I find myself see-sawing between picks for hours, wondering whether I can include the curveball I cant take my eye off over one of the more obvious choices whose omission will no doubt rankle the masses. However, that is my cross to bear (talk about first-world problems). As such, I gamely tackled a question posed to me in the office the other: what are the best five Bvlgari watches on the market right now? Some of my picks may well be low-hanging fruit, but Ill wager the top five contains a couple you didnt see coming. Read on to find outBvlgari is an odd brand. It has, perhaps most like Cartier, a wider reputation as a jeweler. However, [...]

OK, be honest with me. When you hear the name Bvlgari, what are the first things that come to mind? Gold? Diamonds? Snakes? A funny name spelled with a V instead of a U thats pronounced like a U anyway? Or, dare I suggest, high horology? If youre reading Fratello, its probably safe to assume youre at least somewhat familiar with Bvlgari watches. However, Id be willing to bet every last penny of my lunch money that high horology was not the right answer to that question.Ill be honest with you. As a child of the 90s, for the longest time, I merely associated Bvlgari with Colosseum-shaped rings and boldly branded bling. And therein lies a dilemma. How does a legendary jewelry brand cross over i [...]

Lugs One of the make-or-break elements of a watch. In the best scenario, lugs define a watch. In the worst of situations, they can ruin a watch. When I just got into watches, the latter played a more significant part in my opinion about a watch, or rather than recognizing great lugs. I used to see them as a natural part of a case design. But over time, I found a great appreciation for lugs and how important they are in the overall design of a watchs face.Though lugs have always played an essential part in the looks of a watch, their importance has also increased in other aspects. Nowadays, lugs are often a big part of the discussion of whether a watch works on the wrist of a wearer. It has b [...]

A what? And How much did you say that thing costs? These have been recurring comments Ive heard while wearing this G rald Genta Mickey Mouse watch. Or, as it is officially called, the Arena Retrograde Mickey Mouse reference 103613. And I understand. Especially when a bit of context is missing.Truth to be told, it was often comments made by people who know I do something to do with watches. People who have heard of Rolex, and perhaps of Patek Philippe, but thats about it. Yes, I also hang out with that other kinds of people (I wont say normal). My first encounter with a Retrograde Mickey Mouse watch must have been years ago when my colleague Gerard brought back some brochures (remember those? [...]

You have to draw the line somewhere. And I draw the line at cheese. Anything beyond cheese is a step too far for me. I'm talking cheese as a building material for watches of course, not cheese as food. Cement, granite, wood, and marble are highly debatable, but at least you can't eat the stuff. Anyway, after looking at all kinds of metals in the first part of this How Watches Work, I'm leaving alloys behind and will proceed to look at some of the more exotic offerings out there.Let's start with getting some of the more unusual, maybe I should say ridiculous, materials brands make watch cases from out of the way. H. Moser Cie. used Vacherin Mont-dOr cheese to make a point regarding the Swiss [...]

When I think about cartoon characters and watches, nothing stands out quite like Mickey Mouse. Over the past 90 years, hes been featured on the dial of countless numbers of watches. From high-end pieces to inexpensive quartz souvenirs, Disneys most popular character transcends culture. Todays Gerald Genta Arena Retrograde Smiling Mickey Mouse definitely falls on the exotic side of things, but it scored well with our team.The Gerald Genta Retrograde has been with us since 1996 under the Arena name. Its a watch that Genta developed and it continued even after Bvlgari bought the brand in 2000. It has come in many different forms, case materials, and designs. Regardless of the exact variant, the [...]

If a job is worth doing, then its worth doing properly. At least, thats how the saying goes. It seems that Bvlgari has heeded these words of wisdom, and, at Geneva Watch Days 2021, it has made the most of the occasion by launching five new watches. Thats a lot of fresh horological goodness right there, so lets take a brief look at each of these new models in the Bvlgari Geneva Watch Days Roundup 2021!Bvlgari Octo Roma WorldtimerThe Fratello team has traveled over to Geneva from our various home bases across Europe, so it feels appropriate to start with a travel watch. Its nice that, after 18 months, we are finally seeing parts of the world open up again. I recently wrote about some of my fav [...]

Last year around the same time, during Geneva Watch Days, Bvlgari re-introduced its Aluminium watch. Or should we say that the Bvlgari Diagono from 1998 got something of a facelift? When we first encountered this range in the (very lightweight) metal, we werent sure the industry had been crying out for it. But after a short period on the wrist, our tunes almost universally changed. Aluminium is not the first material one thinks of when it comes to luxury watchmaking, but it certainly makes for an interesting experience on the wrist.Last years GWD was the last time Fratello hit the road as a team. Next week (August 30th) sees the 2021 edition of the decentralized fair. Crazily, it will be the [...]

Geneva Watch Days will run from August 30th CSeptember 3rd: Its that time of year again. For the second year in a row, the worlds (or at least Europes) watch media will descend on Geneva for a week of boutique-and-suite-based showcases. All the major brands from last years inaugural run-through are returning, with expectations high of what another travel-lite year might have in store for us. Today, Im going to share my hopes for Jaeger-LeCoultre, Bvlgari, De Bethune, Moser, and Urwerk. Let us know what youd like to see from these brands in the comments below.One year ago, we stepped into the unknown. The Geneva Watch Days event was, in short, a revolution. Being there at the opening ceremony [...]

You like the idea of it, its shape, and the overall aesthetic. Youve done a little bit of research, and decided that you want a Royal Oak or even a Nautilus but that goes without saying. Both Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe have calculated a price for these watches, which can be found in their respective catalogs.? With your eye on the price tag, youve saved up and grown your savings to match the magic number. Alas, to no avail Your AD says he can't help you. But not to worry, there are many alternatives that cater to your specific needs, as long as you don't mind another name on the dial. To guide you through an alternative watch world, we put together a list of shadow warriors: a battal [...]

The Octo Finissimo, Royal Oak, and Nautilus have made it onto my list of five of the best steel sports watches of all time. Would they make it onto yours?If you've experienced any measure of success in life, you're bound to have considered owning a luxury sports watch as a means of commemorating those achievements. Reaching such a milestone in the first place, however, takes considerable perseverance, determination, and, of course, a fraction of knowledge about the luxury watch industry itself. Which steel sports watch appeals to you the most?How much should the heritage of a brand influence the direction your heart wants to follow when choosing one? The answer to those questions may be infl [...]

Sometimes its just fun to be grouchy Who doesnt love a good whine session every so often? Well, thats me, and today, Im going to talk about three popular modern watches that I simply dont get. However, I will bring solutionsWe now live in an age where there are luxury products that seemingly everyone has to have. No, these arent your run-of-the-mill newest iPhones or the latest Air Jordan sneakers. Instead, these are some mega pricey objects and many are watches. Heres the thing, though, as a watch lover, I just dont get some of these watches. Every watch Ill show you today is undeniably nice, but the secondary prices have the aroma of tulips if you know what I mean. Like I always say in my [...]

The dust clouds have barely settled after Watches Wonders 2021, where Bvlgari introduced another record-breaking marvel. The all-new Octo Finissimo Perpetual Calendar is the seventh record-breaking Octo Finissimo. While this breaking of records is without a doubt spectacular and does wonders for the reputation of the brand, in the end, its all about having people buy your watches. Without a doubt, the one Octo Finissimo to end up on most peoples wrists is the Automatic version in steel. But another great option is the titanium Octo Finissimo Chronograph GMT. I had a chance to go hands-on with it to find out how good it really is.Back in January, I also wrote the introduction article for the [...]

Welcome to Episode 51 of Fratello on Air, otherwise known as WASP 7.0. Today we're going to discuss our three favorite sporting icons and which watches we'd gift them if we had the chance.Weve got disgraced and redeemed French cyclists, Swiss footballers and tennis stars, Hungarian and Irish soccer legends, a swaggering quarterback, and arguably the GOAT of all GOATs for your listening pleasure. The watches weve handed over to these sporting heavyweights range from the ludicrous to the luxury.Ending the show today we have a new segment called Robleys Believe It Or Not based on the popular books, Ripleys Believe It Or Not. In this new segment, Rob presents Balazs with frankly unbelievable sto [...]

I dont usually buy into the hype around things. When people around me are all praising something, I typically try to avoid it. For example, when Game Of Thrones was on TV, my friends were raving about how fantastic it was and how I simply had to watch it. I declined and didnt even give it a chance. My friends later tricked me into watching an episode, which turned out to be just as good as they had promised, so I went back and watched the entire thing. Curses At least I wasnt trapped in the one episode a week and months/years between seasons cycle. The same goes for Bvlgari and its Octo Finissmo watches. The hype and praise are unanimous and unrelenting. Today I have been given the Bvlgari O [...]