Watches Blog Wrist Watch Reviews

Lets forget about the 60 international awards (and 7 world records) for the Octo Finissimo watches for a brief moment. Thats important, especially for marketing purposes, but, in the end, its the watch itself that counts. Today, we bring you the latest iteration of this new icon: the Octo Finissimo Perpetual Calendar.Bvlgaris Octo Finissimo has grown up to become emblematic of the brand in an incredibly short period. That is a true accomplishment, especially today in an era in which many brands claim to have an icon (some brands even going as far as to name their product line Aikon). But icons are special. Icons are not simply anointed as such by marketing execs drunk on wishful thinking. Th [...]

Back in January when the new Bvlgari Octo Finissimo S with a steel silvered dial was introduced, Rob called it a possible contender for the watch of the year. But is it really? Time to find out. I had a chance to go hands-on with the steel Octo Finissimo model that is closest to the original concept of the titanium version that was introduced in 2017. The big question is whether it is better than the black and blue dial versions in steel? With those two models appealing to a broad audience, could the monochromatic steel version take the Bvlgari Octo Finissimo crown? As it turns out, the answer is not that simple.As most of you know by now, quite a few Fratello team members are fans of the Bv [...]

In our Sunday Morning Showdown, two of our writers go head-to-head in an epic showdown for the ages. Strong opinions and hysterical hyperbole are welcome (so feel free to join in with the fun in the comments section below). And don't forget to let us know which watches you'd like to see torn to shreds/effusively exalted next week. We'll try and feature as many of our readers' choices as we can. This week we line up two modern luxury steel sports watches from the mind of G rald Genta. The Royal Oak is one of Gentas pioneering designs, while the Octo Finissimo continued his legacy when Bvlgari acquired his eponymous brand. Which one would integrate into your life?Like Hansel in Zoolander, mode [...]

Are you a watch maniac like we are? If so, youre sure to love our month-long feature. 96 watches reviewed last year line up for a battle royale (with cheese) like nothing thats gone before. We need your votes. We want your comments. Welcome to our first round proper of March Mania 2021, here on Fratello.In this first round proper, your task is a bit different from your task in the preliminaries. Below you will find the eight remaining timepieces of each of our Fratello competitors in four head-to-head contests of two timepieces. The seedings in the preliminaries dictate the match-ups. So its number 1 vs. number 8, number 2 vs. number 7, number 3 vs. number 6, and number 4 vs. number 5. Vote [...]

Establishing a disruptive concept based on integrity is not always easy. Especially when you have created a winning concept like Bvlgari did with the Octo Finissimo. That is why it has been interesting to see how Bvlgari has been expanding its Octo Finissmo collection. Can you keep the concept and characteristics of the Octo Finissimo alive when adding new watches to the line-up? And is there an end to what is possible? For now, the brand shows that the end is not in sight with the stealthy Octo Finissimo Chronograph GMT Titanium.It is fascinating to see what Bvlgari comes up with every year regarding the Octo Finissimo. The brand struck gold with its sandblasted titanium version of the watc [...]

Its Bvlgari time. As you can see, the most visible LVMH player on Fratello has just dropped a rash of new releases. And, boy, are we excited Ive already covered the new Octo Finissimo reference 103464 (our lead article for January 25th, 2021, in case youve yet to check it out), but this column is concerned with the latest complicated addition to the Finissimo range. The Bvlgari Octo Finissimo S Chronograph GMT reference 103467 is a vibrant and vexingly complex addition to an already stellar range.You know we (Fratello) love the Bvlgari Octo Finissimo range. We wholly believe in the concept and genuinely love the products. Thats a good basis for excitement whenever anything new hits the catal [...]

Rolex Day-Date ref 118138 and 118139The watch that doesnt need further introduction, the Rolex Day-Date. Introduced in 1956 as the first chronometer wristwatch that had a day and date complication. A classic timepiece from the start, that in the meanwhile has and had a lot of prominent owners. This year during the Baselworld 2013 exhibition, Rolex introduced a few new variations to their flagship collection, yellow, Everrose and white gold Day-Date models on a leather strap with the following dial colors: cognac (yellow gold), ?cherry (white or Everrose gold), chocolate (white or Everrose gold), green (yellow gold) and blue (white or Everrose gold).?Day-Date , a Ladies or Mens Watch?Origin [...]

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master II 116680For us, one of the nice surprises this last Baselworld was definitely the stainless steel Rolex Yacht-Master II ref. 116680. A few years ago, Rolex introduced the Yacht-Master II. It wasnt a successor to the Yacht-Master ref. 16622 but an addition to the collection. While the Yacht-Master was connected with yachting, there was no specific feature of the watch that would support the men on boats. Except for being water resistant. The Yacht-Master II is one of the few Rolex watches with a real complication besides a date feature. The regatta (countdown) chronograph will help skippers in the yachting competition to have a perfect start. In this artic [...]

Rolex GMT-Master Black And BlueThe rumor machine was working full throttle before the Baselworld show started. Rumors included a new Rolex GMT-Master II with either a Coke (black and red) or Pepsi (red and blue) bezel. Eye brows were frowned when the curtain was lifted up and showed the stainless steel Rolex GMT-Master II reference 116710BLNR with a black and blue bezel.We waited a few days before posting news on this new GMT-Master II (except on our instagram account) as this was a combination we didnt expect as well and needed to give it a place first. After we tried it in the flesh during our appointment with Rolex in Baselworld, weve come to the conclusion that it is actually a nice addi [...]

Rolex NoveltiesAs every year, everyone started running towards the Rolex booth right after the opening of the Baselworld exhibition. Rumours about a new Rolex GMT-Master II seemed to be true, although there wasnt a Coke or Pepsi configuration to show. Instead, Rolex came up with a blue and black configuration. New was the Rolex Yacht-Master II in stainless steel. More about those models later. Lets focus on the brand new Rolex Daytona reference 116506 first!Rolex Daytona 116506Although Rolex doesnt celebrate it officially, its the 50th anniversary of the famous Daytona model. The all platinum version of the iconic Rolex Cosmograph Daytona is not a limited edition nor is it a time limited edi [...]

Yesterday, Chronolytics published an overview of the Top 50 most popular watch brands of 2012 in their monthly newsletter. The overview is based on data of the biggest on-line watch market platform in the world (Chrono24), which receives approximately 40 million page impressions each month. Chronolytics collects, analyzes and reports this market data to the watch industry. These market studies includes trends amongst watch consumers, interest in brands and models, the effect of marketing campaigns, and so on.Click here for the Top 50 Most Popular Watch Brands Of 2013The Top 50 most popular brands has been based on the most searched-for watches on Chrono24 by visitors from the USA as well as [...]

No need to get your hands dirtyMy fascination with cars started at an early age. Matchbox cars were diligently arranged in neat rows. No collisions took place for fear of scarring the paintwork. Boxes were carefully stored, a trait I continue to uphold in adult life.A psychologist would read the first paragraph and diagnose Obsessive- compulsive disorder from a pre-school age. I have always fussed over the minutiae. Small details have always been excessively valued. It is probably this fascination for fine details which has fuelled my obsession for haute horology.Ironically for someone with such a predilection for the mechanical, I have no aptitude for the hands-on fettling of oil clad compo [...]

When Rolex announced becoming the official timekeeper for the Formula 1 early December we thought it would be cool to do a Daytona-special here on Fratellowatches. For this occasion, we went out there and found this Formula 1 car of 2007 that has actually been used by Alonso.When you think of Rolex and Formula 1, the first watch that comes to mind is the Cosmograph Daytona. With its chronograph feature and tachymeter bezel this watch just breathes racing.Although Rolex produced chronograph watches since the 1930s, the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona wasn't introduced until the 1960s. The Daytona name was given to commemorate their sponsorship of races held on the Daytona Beach in Florida.Since we h [...]

Photographer Mike Mellia visited the special exhibit at the Rolex Service Center in NYC, showcasing the history of the Deepsea watches. From the very first giant domed 1960s model up to the latest version that James Cameron wore on his Deepsea Challenge mission.In addition to showcasing these historical watches, Rolex has recreated these watches for the exhibition as large-scale models showing cross sections of the inner case mechanisms.Mike Mellia took some pictures exclusively for Fratellowatches ?? Thanks Mike!Make sure to visit his official website as well, lots of cool photography. Click: www.mikemellia.com [...]

I have to admit that I had never heard about Gilt, but it is a US based luxury shopping platform. As of yesterday, theyre also selling a number of very cool watches.Friend of the show Ben Clymer of Hodinkee is the curator of the whole lot. A number of interesting pieces are being put up for sale. One of them is this cool Paul Newman Daytona, I guess it is a ref.6239 as the lot doesnt tell.Price tag, $85,000.- USD.Go Gilt, click here. [...]

The world of collecting vintage Rolex watches is an interesting one, where passion and friendship are key in order to attend GTGs (GetToGethers) like these. One of the most respectable vintage Rolex collectors (world wide) is Dutchman Philipp. Together with one of his friends he organized a superb GTG for collectors and enthusiasts who are passionate about Rolex (and watches in general).People from all over the world came over to Maastricht to join this Vintage Rolex Passion GTG. The first photo reports is up at the Vintage Rolex Forum website right now, posted by the host of the meeting.The world of collecting vintage Rolex can also be a messy one, we therefore advice you to seek all the ex [...]

As a watch collector, you will need to have proper resources in order to prevent from buying fugazzis, frankenwatches, put-togethers, fakes and so on. One of the advantages of collecting Rolex watches is that there are a lot of books and other publications on their watches to help you with this.Collecting Rolex watches especially vintage models can be a snake pit as weve mentioned a few times in the past. Even if you arent a newbie to [Rolex] watches, it wont hurt to come prepared. The books by Guido Mondani Editore are being regarded as the most complete and best documented works of art on the subject. Although they carry books on Panerai, OMEGA and Patek Philippe as well, they are best k [...]

If you are in London between the 3rd of July and the 2nd of October, make sure to pay 170 New Bond Street in London a visit. Haute Horlogerie boutique Marcus is celebrating three important things, his late fathers arrival in England in 1932, his 70th birthday and the 10th anniversary of his magnificent shop in London.On the picture above, you see owner Marcus Margulies wearing his AP RO, as also featured in the book about 40 years of Royal Oak.The Marcus watch store in London only hosts very interesting and often unique timepieces, including those of Alain Silberstein, Audemars Piguet (they always have +150 models in store), Greubel Forsey, Ikepod, MCT, Richard Mille and Urwerk to name a few [...]

Perhaps the mother of all modern wrist watches, the Rolex Datejust. Although it has been succeeded by the Datejust II (which we described here as the new cool), the 36mm Datejust remains a classic timepiece.Rolex introduced the Datejust collection in 1946 and although those very first Datejust models are looking a bit different from the models we know from the 1960s-now, they are unmistakably ancestors of the current Datejust II.For todays standards, a classic Datejust might just be a bit boring. It is its history that makes it a cool watch though. It is probably the most recognized Swiss wrist watch, youve seen them on the wrists of tourists, colleagues, movie stars, singers, politicians an [...]

Auction house Bonhams 1793 is hammering watches (pocket watches and wrist watches) on the 22nd of May. Their catalog has been published today for this auction in Knightsbridge (London) and has some nice pieces.Between the fair share of usual suspects (Rolex, Omega, IWC etc), this 1940s Hanhart chronograph with hand wound caliber 40 movement caught my attention. Not because of the condition, which seems to be quite poor, but because it resembles with Hanharts current Pioneer collection so well. Their MkI watch from the Pioneer collection with black dial and Arabic numerals is based on those very first mono pusher chronographs with caliber 40 movements (1938).Hanhart uses a movement (caliber H [...]