Watches Blog Wrist Watch Reviews

Here we are, in the final run-up to Christmas Its been a long time coming in a long year. Theres been a lot of up and downs, but at this time of the year, we like to focus on the good stuff. Christmas should be fun and enjoyable Goodness knows we need it to be this year!Thankfully the watch world doesnt disappoint and delivers some fun and grooviness. Santa is immortalized in watch format (FINALLY!) that is itself should be enough, but theres also some other coolness if you read on!Konstantin Chaykin Santa 2020 WristmonChristmas is nearly here. This time next week, Santa will have been down your chimney or other appropriate entry point and deposited vast numbers of gifts under your Christmas [...]

When it comes to Grand Seiko's headline release of the 2020 calendar, there's a lot to discuss. Caliber 9SA5 is an entirely new movement released in time to mark the commencement of Grand Seiko's second 60-year cycle. It hammers home the point (as if anyone had forgotten) that the Grand Seiko mission statement is, and always has been, that the best can always be bettered.For six decades, the Japanese juggernaut has stuck to its founding principles. In the hearts and minds of Grand Seiko's chief engineers and designers, even the idea of excellence can stagnate if allowed to stand still. As such, they set about designing a brand new caliber from the ground up. And rather than save time, money, [...]

The oxymoron of a professional tool with luxurious precious metal elements is a profoundly odd concept. Yet as I have discovered, the combination of gold and steel traces back much further than I previously acknowledged. My watch selections today consist of two-tone divers with serious street cred.All these watches were selected carefully by me without any influence from Chrono24. I chose the topic and found suitable wristwatches that related to the topic. I only request the high-resolution photos from Chrono24 without the watermark. As these are only my suggestions, it is advised that you carry out your own research on the watch details and the seller. Ask as many relevant questions you fee [...]

As the western world watches and waits for a result from the US election, the Land of the Rising Sun seems ever more removed from the tumult were seeing on our side of the map. Although Japanese politics is also undergoing a transition following the resignation of long-serving premier Shinzo Abe, his successor, Yoshihide Suga, served in the same government and promises and somewhat smoother transition than we might be about to witness stateside.Thankfully, Fratello is not a place to analyze or pass comment on such grandiose matters. Here all are welcome. We are connected by our love of watches. And in an unpredictable year, one thing has remained constant: Japanese companies are killing it o [...]

Earlier this year, Seiko announced a new spring drive movement intended to mark a new beginning for the brand. And with this new Spring Drive caliber is a great way to celebrate their 60th anniversary. Time to have a closer look at the Spring Drive 9RA5.Grand Seiko was born from a simple and ambitious aim, simply to create the best watches possible. With a small selection of Seiko's top watchmakers put to work in the late 50s, the first Grand Seiko was launched in December 1960. With numerology being very important, in Japan, the number 60 marks a moment of new energy and rebirth.Grand Seiko 60th AnniversaryAmong a selection of special edition watches celebrating this milestone, the brands m [...]

Roll up, roll up, weve got some tasty Grand Seiko news for all lovers of Japanese watchmaking today Our good friends at Hodinkee have just announced their latest limited edition model. It is, as of 10 am EDT today, available in the Hodinkee shop. Given how quickly these models sell out, you might want to hop over there and grab one before reading this article as only 500 pieces will be made. But if youre happy to hold fire for a few minutes more, allow me to introduce to you the ?Grand Seiko Automatic GMT SBGM239 Limited Edition For HODINKEE.Fans of Grand Seiko may be family with the brands raft of attractive GMT models, available in a variety of configurations. A great many GMT models from [...]

Whats better than having a watch for a hands-on review? Having three, of course. Especially if that brand that supplied you with them is called Grand Seiko. While they only differ in color, the Grand Seiko SBGE253, 255, and 257 offer great versatility for any watch lover. These new SBGE models might fill the void that the previous ones (SBGE201, SBGE215, SBGE248) left in terms of looks and size.They are simple, cleaner, and more elegant. While these are not necessarily attributes of a sports model, Im sure many of you who found the previous versions too bulky will enjoy checking these out. So let us help you with that.Grand Seiko CollectionsIf we want to position these new SBGE models in Gra [...]

Anything Grand Seiko does seem to be a winner. But not everyone is ready to spend 6000 on a Snowflake or 6500 on the Mt. Iwate. What does the pre-owned market have in stock for you, when it comes to Grand Seiko?Truth to be told, the pre-owned market for Grand Seiko isnt overly huge. It has partially to do with the relatively low production number of Grand Seiko watches (estimated 40.000). But it might also have to with the people who buy these watches, that these arent considered flippers and buy a Grand Seiko because they want to enjoy it for a long time. As a comparison: Audemars Piguet also has an estimated production of 40.000 watches per year (different pricepoint, I know), but only Chr [...]

For the people that are Grand Seiko devotees like we are at Fratello keeping up with the slew of new releases this year has been a full-time commitment. Now imagine if you are a watch enthusiast that is just getting into the magic of Grand Seiko. The maze that Grand Seiko has built can be hugely overwhelming. Do you go for mechanical, quartz, or Spring Drive? Do I go for a timepiece from the Elegance, Sport, or Heritage collection?? Well, we have an answer for you. If you are looking for an entry-level quartz Grand Seiko watch, look no further. The new Grand Seiko SBGP013 is your pick.For me, Grand Seiko is probably the only brand where I would first ask myself what kind of movement I would [...]

Welcome back to our Watch On Your Wrist? Instagram extravaganza Tag your watch snaps with fratellowatches to be in with a chance to win!Every week, we select four images. You can vote in the article for your favorite image. The winner moves on to the semi-final round (held every fifth week between the previous four weekly winners). Win that and youre into the final, which will be held at the end of the year. There will be five finalists in 2020 and ten from next year on.Basically, if you like winning things and there will be a prize for the champion of 2020 this year represents your best shot. So get snapping, get tagging, and get sharing. And dont forget to vote (once) for yourself Obvious [...]

As one of the novelties introduced for the brands 60th anniversary, Grand Seiko gave the SLGA001 Limited Edition 600M Professional Divers the honor of presenting its all-new Spring Drive caliber. The 9RA5 caliber is slimmer, more precise, and has a greater power reserve than its predecessor.Grand Seiko Professional Divers 600M?Spring DriveIn my first article on the Spring Drive principle I think it was early 2006 I said Spring Drive was a solution to a problem that didnt exist. That proved to be only partly true. The problem didnt exist indeed, but Spring Drive wasnt meant to be a solution. It became clear that it was an innovation. It was (and still is) an entirely new way of regulating a [...]

Its time for This Week in Watches for September 5, 2020 the new edition. There are more things to life than Rolex, so lets take a look at what else dropped.Grand Seiko 60th Anniversary L.E. SBGR321Our first new watch this week comes from Grand Seiko. GS is celebrating its 60th Anniversary this year and continues to roll out new models under the theme. The 40mm SBGR321 comes in titanium and is powered by the 9S65 automatic. 2,500 pieces of this blue-dialed watch will be made and are available in October. Grand Seiko calls out the sunrise and how it radiates into their Japanese studios.Im not sure we need a story all the time because the blue dial looks lovely. That trend continues on the disp [...]

Welcome back to our Watch On Your Wrist? Instagram extravaganza Tag your watch snaps with fratellowatches to be in with a chance to win!Every week, we select four images. You can vote in the article for your favorite image. The winner moves on to the semi-final round (held every fifth week between the previous four weekly winners). Win that and youre into the final, which will be held at the end of the year. There will be five finalists in 2020 and ten from next year on.Basically, if you like winning things and there will be a prize for the champion of 2020 this year represents your best shot. So get snapping, get tagging, and get sharing. And dont forget to vote for yourself ObviouslyV [...]

For Grand Seiko USA, we created a small magazine on the four special edition watches to celebrate the Japanese 24 seasons. Additionally, we cover the original 62GS design to have a better understanding of the current models. Last but not least, theres an article on Grand Seikos Hi-Beat and Spring Drive movements.This magazine is created for the US market and can be found in a number of their boutiques. For you, we have a digital copy of the Grand Seiko magazine available for download. When you are a Grand Seiko fan, theres probably nothing much new for you to discover, but I am sure you will enjoy it anyway!Grand Seiko MagazineThis 16-page magazine covers three articles. Theres one big artic [...]

Just before the lockdown, Grand Seiko announced that Fr d ric Bondoux had been appointed as President of Grand Seiko Europe. Travel restrictions kept us from meeting him for an interview and having a look at the newly opened Grand Seiko boutique in Paris until last month, but as soon as we were able to travel safely we headed off to the French capital to say hello.What better way to break the nearly-four-month grounding with a visit to Grand Seiko in Paris? The chance to talk to Fr d ric Bondoux about the Japanese brand in Europe was too tempting an offer to pass up. Check our video above to listen to what he has to say about Grand Seiko in Europe, the new boutique, and his favorite GS watch [...]

Transitioning to beach season calls for the perfect watch one that will not only make you like a vacay goddess but will also be your true partner in crime. Can you picture yourself in Zakynthos lying on the white sands of Navagio beach, with its breathtaking cliffs? Perhaps you're jumping into the blue waters of Capri or surfing in Portugal? For fun in the sun, all you need is a timepiece that looks gorgeous and is made for a special purpose: playing in the water or with your kids.?Here are my Top 4 summer watches for women who want to give their own beach look a sharp, contemporary twist one that celebrates and epitomizes the ultimate vacation.?Chanel J12What could be more classic and moder [...]

The Grand Seiko Hi-Beat SLGH002 watch is the latest in a long line of rootin tootin anniversary release from the hyperactive Japanese brand.And I love it. In fact, I take that back. I?adore it. And when you see the hands-on pictures we took of this baby when it passed through our headquarters in the Hague, I am sure you will too. But dont be distracted by the movement. The watch we received to photograph was a pre-production non-working sample. The movement that will feature in this watch is a princely caliber, but, for now, we had to make do with a sweet sticker on the inside of the sapphire display window. I thought that was worth mentioning right off the bat, on the off chance anyone assu [...]

If you were to ask watch enthusiasts what their favorite complication is, the answers will be very diverse. Ask them to list the most practical, and it is likely that GMT functionality would land near the top. Especially for frequent travelers, a GMT watch is the perfect timepiece. The all-new quartz Grand Seiko SBGN011 and SBGN013 could be the ideal travel companion for many of those frequent travelers.When finding the right GMT-watch for your travels, a question could be whether you prefer to travel stylish or sporty? I prefer the latter, but by no means does one necessarily exclude the other. And thats certainly true when it comes to the Grand Seiko SBGN011 and SBGN013.Although they are p [...]

I never get tired of getting new watches in hand. Even after thousands of timepieces have passed through my possession, I remain surprised at how surprised I am still able to be. The more watches I encounter, the more I must remind myself to keep an open mind and to get them on the wrist. If Id ignored that sage advice, I might still be sleeping on the Grand Seiko SBGW257 and SBGW259.The Grand Seiko SBGW257 and SBGW259 watches would not have been watches Id have gravitated to in the boutique. Why not? I hear you cry. Do you not think theyre beautiful? Well, yes, actually, I do think theyre beautiful. In fact, I would go as far as to say that their beauty far outstrips almost anything else th [...]

Throughout the last couple of months, we have witnessed the great appreciation our readers have for the Grand Seiko brand. In our weekly Sunday Showdown series, many of the Grand Seiko models are incredibly popular. And there is more fuel to add to that fire. For 2020 we have seen a string of brand new Grand Seiko models as well as updated models replacing current models in the line-up. With the introduction of the new Grand Seiko SBGP001, SBGP003, SBGP005 models, the brand introduces three new regular models. All of them are powered by the new Grand Seiko 9F85 quartz movement. We go hands-on with the black-dialed Grand Seiko SBGP003.In the last week of January, Grand Seiko released its high [...]