Watches Blog Wrist Watch Reviews

Purists take cover. The Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Automatic in polished ceramic cares not for your feelings. It is here to be heard, so theres no point ignoring what it has to say.External ceramic components used to raise eyebrows. These days, any brand?not exploring the possibilities of this fascinating material could be accused of sticking its head in the sand. Sure, it is highly unlikely that ceramic, however versatile and beautiful it is, will ever take the place of steel (or even titanium) as the ideal watch case material, but it certainly has a lot going for it in both the aesthetic and technical fields.A storm is comingThe Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Automatic is one of the greatest watches r [...]

The Bvlgari Octo Finissimo in steel is the talk of the town since its introduction earlier this year in Dubai. During these events, you only get a few moments with the watch, to take some pictures and do a quick try feel with the watches.It is certainly not enough time to really let the watch really work into you. It could be me of course, but often I need some time to have it all processed. Especially when it concerns an unusual design as the Bvlgari Octo Finissimo (yes, Bvlgari and not Bulgari). To me, it wasnt love at first sight, that I will have to admit. I like the fact that the watch has its own identity, that you can basically recognize an Octo (Finissimo) from 20 meters distance fo [...]

Although the Bvlgari Octo receives a lot of attention these days, theres another icon in the brands collection that shouldnt be overlooked. The Bvlgari Bvlgari Today, we introduce to you the Bvlgari Cities Special Edition 2020.Originally introduced back in 1975, the Bvlgari Roma was given to 100 of the brands best clients. Even in those days, without e-influencers, it mattered. As a result of Bvlgari gifting these watches to certain clients, the brand received tons of requests to extend the production of the Bvlgari Roma. There was an analog and a digital version (I tried to find a pre-owned digital version but without much luck) that had BVLGARI and ROMA engraved in its gold bezel. Then, in [...]

Stop the presses Bvlgari has something to sayAlthough Ive always wanted to say that, I really wish it wasnt under these circumstances. Minutes ago, the news that Bvlgari will not be attending Baselworld 2020 broke. As one of the most exciting and forward-thinking brands of the past decade, Bvlgaris absence is a real blow to a fair already reeling from a mass exodus.A decision for nowBvlgari has made one thing very clear: This is not yet a decision to end the brands relationship with Baselworld going forward. It is simply a decision for now. Given the roaring success of LVMHs watch week and the positive reception to Bvlgaris latest releases (such as the Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Minute Repeater [...]

Bvlgari brought the mythological motifs and iconic Italian style with the highest precision that created a seductive dream on a big scale ?the smallest tourbillon for women.And, of course, welcome to this first installment of Karinas Korner, where I will put the spotlight on womens watches here on Fratello Magazine. I would like to kick off with the new collection of Bvlgaris Serpenti Seduttori watches.A Serpenti Seduttori is bornFirst conceived in the late 1940s, the Serpenti collection has long been known for its strong design. Uncompromisingly elegant, the artisanal aesthetic stands out thanks to a unique combination of vibrant colors and precious stones. But the most memorable of charact [...]

One of the most popular models of recent yearsC the Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Minute RepeaterC gets treated to a new case in sandblasted rose gold. The result? A bonafide showstopper both technically and aesthetically.The Octo Finissimo range from Bvlgari is refusing to rest on its laurels. It seems crazy to doubt that there is yet more to come from this impressively persistent manufacture, following a run of award-winning releases. There are many brands able to cause a stylistic stir. There are fewer, but still plenty of brands pushing the envelope on a technical front. Rarer still are brands combining the two with as much seamless grace as Bvlgari. Although still better-known to the wider wor [...]

With bags of goodies from LVMH hitting the market at the same time, theres a lot to choose from. The stand-out piece? The Zenith Pilot Type 20 Rescue.Take a look at these new releases from Zenith and let us know which one youd like to see covered in an in-depth review in the comments below.Zenith Pilot Type 20 Rescue 03.2434.679/20.I010Youve heard about the fact that Zenith is the only watch company actually allowed to put the word Pilot on the dial, right? You hadnt? Wow, I hope the rock youve been living under was nice. Seriously, as much as I love Zenith (and I do love Zenith), Ive repeated that fact so many times Ive started saying it in my sleep.Every so often, however, it really feels [...]

With the new Serpenti and Octo Finissimo models stealing much of the limelight this week in Dubai, the Bvlgari Divas Dream collection has floated under the radar. But no longer. Here we give this concise range of jewelry watches their due.Although I dont wear much jewelry above the wrist, I never tire of seeing such time-honored techniques applied to watches. For many years now, Ive been critical of brands covering mens models in diamonds and passing them off as womens watches. I find it lazy, at best, insulting at worst. Were seeing more and more brands acknowledge misguided pasts (albeit quietly) by creating genuinely exciting watches for women. The Bvlgari Divas Dream collection appears s [...]

With the introduction of the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Chronograph GMT Automatic, Bulgari shows the world not only that they can produce record-breaking thin movements. They also cracked one of the most difficult design challenges by creating a chronograph version of the Octo Finissimo that fits the iconic design of the Octo Finissimo family.Bulgari has been very successful the last couple of years in breaking several the worlds thinnest records with the Octo Finissimo line of watches. The impressive Octo Finissimo collection features the thinnest tourbillon movement, the thinnest minute repeater movement, the thinnest automatic movement, and now it also features the worlds thinnest chronograph [...]

The Bulgari Octo Finissimo line has received a lot of praise for its impressive list of industry firsts including the thinnest tourbillon movement, the thinnest minute repeater movement and the thinnest automatic movement. Secondly, watch media and watch enthusiasts alike have praised the unique design of the Octo Finissimo as one of the most remarkable new watches out there.Like many, I also love the fact that Bulgari had the guts to start making incredibly thin in-house movements to break a number of industry records and I also appreciated the design of the first few watches that were introduced using a combination of shapes that define the unique character of the Octo Finissimo.The Octo F [...]

One of our first appointments during Baselworld 2018 was with Jean-Christophe Babin, CEO of Bulgari. Besides an appointment to learn about the new models for 2018 (which we will publish within short as well), we had this interview to learn about Bulgari more in general and Mr. Babin specifically.Before we took off, we were happy to learn that Mr. Babin was well aware of our magazine, and complimented us on our achievements. Always a good start. Of course, we did some homework, and after a bit of waiting, we were allowed to shoot our questions. Here we go!Jean-Christophe Babin InterviewGerard Nijenbrinks: When you started in 2013 with Bulgari, what were the first things you thought needed to [...]

Chopard is a brand that I truly believe is criminally overlooked in the watch landscape today. But for over 25 years now, the brand better known for its jewelry has taken phenomenal strides in truly in-house watchmaking. Chopards first manufacture movement, caliber 96.01-L, debuted in 1997 in the now-legendary L.U.C 1860. The 3.3mm-slim foundational caliber boasted a micro-rotor, double barrels, COSC certification, and the Geneva Hallmark for its immaculate craftsmanship and finishing. Since then, these four characteristics have become a signature of many of Chopards jaw-dropping high-horology creations. And now, at Watches Wonders 2022, the brand finally brings them all to its flagship spo [...]

One of the age-old questions in our hobby is, Are there genuine alternatives for some of the most sought-after watches? At Fratello, we never back down from a challenge, having already provided alternatives to the venerable Rolex Datejust and GMT Master, as well as the iconic Omega Speedmaster and Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. In this article, I am searching for five alternatives to the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 possibly the hottest watch in the world right now. Can anything come close? I certainly think so!Comparing any watch to something like the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 will always be a big ask. Not because that watch is so inherently better than every other watch out there, but reput [...]

Its time to burn rubber in Round 2 of The Fast And The Fratelli. You voted, you voiced your opinion, and now two watches have been eliminated from the race. Two qualifying racing chronographs from Round 1 are warming up their tires for a head-to-head shoot-out. This time, we pit two writers against one another for the knockout stage. Who will win? You decide So, buckle up, get voting, get sharing, and most importantly, get commenting for your chance to win a Traxxas Bandit RC car.Before we drop the clutch, lets back up to round one. Lex gave us the first taste of things to come with his choice of the Chopard Mille Miglia and the Singer Reimagined Track1. They were two good options of racing [...]

Time for another Fratello contest This time, it's chronographs that take center stage. But not just any chronograph will do. We're talking chronographs with racing pedigree high-octane watches that get both watch freaks and petrol heads to shift into high gear. First up is a drag race between the well-established Chopard Mille Miglia GTS Azzurro SS and a rookie on the track, the Singer Reimagined Track1 Launch Edition. The Fast and the Fratelli, start your engines!The goal is simple, and so is the race. The Fast and the Fratelli Grand Prix will determine the best racing chronograph of the past ten years. On the starting grid, you will only see watches that are able to track elapsed time for [...]

Happy Monday, dear Fratelli (or good day to you, whenever youre reading this) Today, Id like to talk about a pair of words that I sometimes see misused among watch enthusiasts carat and karat. As an American, I come from a country where both spellings are widely used in jewelry and watch-related media. And as the son of a jewelry-loving mother, I was fortunate enough to learn the uses of these terms very early on. Because of this, the difference between a carat and a karat always seemed clear-cut and super obvious to me, well into my early adulthood.As I got older, however, I noticed other Americans misusing these words in print. Additionally, I saw both native and non-native English speaker [...]

Im a bit of an oddball when it comes to watch collecting. I just dont like to buy watches that other people have. Or at least the ones that too many other people have. If youre familiar with my collection at all, you may be shaking your head, screaming Hypocrite by now. After all, the first two good watches in my current assembly were a Tudor Black Bay and a Rolex Submariner. How much more cliche could I possibly get? Hear me out, though.My Black Bay and Submariner were the first two grails I acquired. Mine are watches that, while fairly common, are loaded with memories and sentimental value. As such, they are pillars of my collection that will never leave until I pass them on to my children [...]

Its been a long time, but travel is slowly starting to open up again. After not stepping on an airplane for 18 months, I have found myself arranging four trips to three different countries in a relatively short period of time. Different countries mean different time zones, and Ill be straight up in admitting that I lack the basic memory skills to remember time differences. With that in mind, I have recently found myself frequently looking at travel watches the perfect tool for those who travel and want a convenient way of keeping track of time wherever they may land.Travel watches come in many different shapes and sizes, from the instantly recognizable world-timers to the traditional and som [...]

Welcome back to another installment of A Brief History Of Time. Todays spotlight is on Chopard. In Part One, we went over the brands history, from its founding in 1860 to the release of its first manufacture wristwatch in 1997. Since the release of the L.U.C 1860, the brand has done some spectacular things in the world of horology. Many of these, however, may have slipped under the radar of the casual watch enthusiast. While Chopard is still a huge name in the jewelry industry, let's face it: you're probably not here to read about that. This is a watch publication, after all. So, with our focus on its watches, today, we'd like to shed some light on just a few of Chopard Manufacture's greates [...]

If you've been following high horology seriously for a while, Chopard will no doubt be a familiar name. The brand has certainly been making a splash in the watch world for some time now.? I dare say, however, that for as many who know and appreciate Chopards work, there is an equal or even greater number who simply do not. Many of us may associate the name with jewelry, gem-laden women's watches, the Mille Miglia, or even a more controversial model, the Alpine Eagle. Unfortunately, many collectors are still unaware of just how much history the brand actually has, not simply as a jewelry maker, but as a legitimate player in the world of horology. Today, Chopard is not only one of the last ma [...]