Watches Blog Wrist Watch Reviews

The Speedmaster is and will always be associated with the Apollo program and Moonlanding forever, but that was not what Omega had in mind when they introduced it in 1957. This chronograph was made to measure intervals by scientists, engineers, athletes, but also by racecar drivers. The Speedmaster was the first watch ever to have a tachymeter scale outside the dial, on a bezel. In the very first advertisements of the Speedmaster, we find two men sitting in a sports car, implying they're using the chronograph to time laps or measure average speed using the tachymeter scale.Omega Speedmaster advertisementThe Omega Speedmaster Racing StoryFor those who don't know, the tachymeter helps you calcu [...]

We all know that James Bond has worn a lot of watches throughout his years of dazzling us on the silver screen. Many of them were included in the film for commercial reasons. Some were the actors choice. Some have aged well, others not so much. However, in the wake of the curtain falling on the Daniel Craig era, I thought it would be helpful for Barbara Broccoli and co. to have a few modern suggestions of which watches 007 should wear next time they head out into the field (or for dinner).James Bond has lived a very varied life over the years. As such, Ive picked one or two watches for his six favorite activities, which I deem to be driving, diving, fighting, listening to evil villains regal [...]

The Omega Speedmaster is probably the most iconic chronograph in the world. However, it is not always easy to find your way into the world of the Speedmaster. There have been so many different variations in the past, and theyre still are today. Since 2004, we have published 500+ stories on the Speedmaster. From hands-on reviews to very personal stories from Speedmaster owners. Youll find them all in our new Speedmaster Archive!The Speedmaster is the watch that was worn on the moon, by astronaut Edwin Buzz Aldrin in July 1969 and it is still worn by astronauts today. Weve covered the story on how the Speedmaster became the Moonwatch more than once, but we also thought it would be good to have [...]

Well, it's come to a close in perhaps the most fitting fashion, but rather than reflect on the stunning silver screen conclusion to the Daniel Craig era (for fear of spoiling it for those of you yet to watch it) it's time to appreciate the generous helping of wrist candy we were treated to over the past 16 years. Since 1995's Goldeneye, Omega has furnished our super spy with watches aplenty, but how do the watches seen on Craig's wrist since his 2006 debut stack up against one another? Here are my top five Omega watches of Daniel Craig's James Bond era in reverse order.As always, I'm sure this will stir up some controversy, so let me have it in the comments section. Feel free to bring in com [...]

No less than 7 different variations of the recently introduced 43mm Omega Speedmaster Chronoscope can be found in the Omega catalog. I had the opportunity to have some hands-on time with the Speedmaster Chronoscope in bronze gold last week, the watch with reference 329.92.43.51.10.001. As I already did an in-depth overview of the steel models, you wont find many differences in terms of functionality and dimensions, but this model provides quite a different wearing experience. Plus, the looks alone make the Bronze Gold Omega Speedmaster Chronoscope worth talking about!Speedmaster Chronoscope in bronze goldThe Speedmaster Chronoscope is not the first watch that Omega has introduced in this spe [...]

It doesnt feel like much time has passed since my previous Why I bought- article. My subject last time was the new caliber 3861 Moonwatch with sapphire crystal. I find myself reaching into my admittedly shallower pockets again for another brand new 2021 Omega watch under five months later. This time it was the turn of the heritage diving watch, the Seamaster 300. Another new watch isnt doing my vintage watch street cred, nor bank account, any good. And I already have the Tudor Black Bay to fulfill my dreams of diving with Jacques Cousteau. So, where did the urge to own the new Seamaster 300 come from? Lets find out.Firstly, what is the Seamaster 300? The Seamaster is one of Omegas most proli [...]

Before you reach for the remote to change the channel, hear me out for a second. Watches featuring TV dials were big in the 70s. And though, admittedly, the square case design has held up better over time and even made a comeback, this dial shape has not received the love it deserves. That being said, who knows? Maybe it will be the next big thing In any case, today I'll be showing you my Omega Gen ve ST 166.0190 and you can make up your own mind on the subject.Before I make my case for TV dials and square cases, let me tell you about the watch that introduced me to the brilliant format itself. One of my first purchases as a watch-obsessed student living in Munster (shout-out to MeisterSing [...]

As promised, a hands-on review of the new Omega Speedmaster Chronoscope. This new 43mm Speedmaster collection was introduced a few weeks ago in Milan, Italy. However, we've been fortunate enough to have two of these watches in our Fratello offices and were able to give them some time on the wrist.Aside from the new 43mm case size and new movement (the hand-wound caliber 9908), it also brings a new dial design to the table. One with two additional scales to the existing tachymeter scale.Did you know that the Omega Speedmaster was the first watch to have a tachymeter scale on a bezel? Before its release, watches with a tachymeter scale had it printed on the dial. In 1957, Omega decided to come [...]

Navigating the world of luxury watches as a young and up-and-coming brand with products priced well below the radar of many luxury enthusiasts is tough. What makes things decidedly easier, though, is listening to the community that has propelled your small business to a position few could dream of reaching in such a short space of time. Forstner has done just that. The release of the new Forstner Flat Link with end-pieces specially tailored to fit the pre-2018 Omega Seamaster is a triumph of public relations. Ask and we shall deliver, cries the god of Forstner to the rapturous cheers of his followers!You all know I like Forstner. I have my favorites within the collection and the Flat Link is [...]

I cant believe it is already two years ago that I was visiting Matera to see the set of No Time To Die. A beautiful village in Italy, where parts of the James Bond movie have been shot. It was there, where Omega showed us (I was there together with Hodinkees Ben Clymer and Revolutions Wei Koh) the new Seamaster 300M No Time To Die edition.We were also invited to come to the set, where the crew (including Daniel Craig) were working on the scene with the Aston Martin being under fire. An incredible experience and I even ended up with some shells that were used during the opening scene (no worries, they were given to me, I didnt pick them up from the ground).It was in Matera where Omega showed [...]

Our December 2019 Watch Strap Review featured a small brand from icy Minnesota, Velle Alexander. At the time, the name represented nothing more than a passionate young man doing what he does best in the corner of his small Minneapolis apartment. A lot has changed since 2019, and Velle Alexander is now an established watch strap brand. It would only make sense to revisit Alex, look at his new goods and talk about what has changed over the past two years since we last met.Don't worry; we will be back with some fresh new makers next month for those interested in new ateliers. At the same time, we will also add another country to the Watch Strap Review map. Until then, however, let's look at the [...]

Was it close? Really? Was it ever going to be? The Tudor Black Bay .925 and the Doxa Sub 300 promised much and delivered a fair helping of competition for the ultimately victorious Omega Seamaster 300M, but did they split the anti-Omega vote too far? I guess well never know, but we do know this: after almost one month of voting and jawing, we have our summer supremo: RJ walks away with the title as the much-fancied Omega Seamaster 300M storms to the title.I also won too: way back in the first round I promised to eat my collection of baseball caps (nay,?all hats) if the Seamaster 300M finished anywhere but the first position in this competition. Im not so much crowing as I am breathing a HUGE [...]

Omega is surprising each and everyone with the new Speedmaster Chronoscope collection, and its not even a (Speedy) Tuesday. It is also the introduction of a new movement for the Speedmaster, caliber 9908. A hand-wound two-register movement that has been Master Chronometer certified.The first thing to notice about this new 43mm Omega Speedmaster Chronoscope are the scales on the dial and the applied Arabic numerals. We have two of the new models here, the silver dialed reference 329.30.43.51.02.001 and the blue dial reference 329.30.43.51.03.001. Chronoscope is not a new name indeed, in case it sounds familiar to you. Omega has used it before, for its De Ville collection. Fun fact: Buzz Aldri [...]

Here it is, ladies, gentlemen, exuberant watch collectors, and machiavellian sea creatures alike, allow us to present to you the grand final of Fratellos Summer Splash tournament. The contestants? Mike, RJ, and Phil. They bring to battle their trusty Tudor Black Bay .925, the seasoned Omega Seamaster 300M, and the vivacious-yet-versatile Doxa Sub 300. Who will steal your heart and earn your vote? Lets find out.The vote will run until Sunday at 5 pm CET (September 26th). At that point, we will verify the legality of the voting for the final time and announce the winner, crowning the best summer watch available right now. Dive in one last timeMike Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight 925Well, well, w [...]

One of the most heard comments on the Omega Speedmaster Calibre 321 is that you could also opt for an original 1960s Speedmaster reference 105.003. That's the reference the 2020 Speedmaster Calibre 321 has been based on.Whether you prefer a vintage Speedmaster 105.003 over the new Speedmaster Calibre 321 reference 311.30.40.30.01.001, that's a different discussion. It is mainly a matter of preference and opinion on watch collecting buying. If you want the real thing, the Speedmaster Calibre 321 might not cut it for you. If you don't want the hassle of finding an original 105.003 that has not been tampered with or are afraid to damage it while wearing it, the new Speedmaster Calibre 321 migh [...]

What can I say but thank you? After a roller-coaster month of hilarity, with accidental (and occasionally deliberate) controversies, we have reached our final Summer Splash round. We team Fratello, the Fratelli, and the newly-minted Kraken Kartel have narrowed down our combined selections to three models. Left standing after four weeks of furious voting are RJs Omega Seamaster 300M, Mikes Tudor Black Bay .925, and Phils Doxa Sub 300.Weve got a fresh, colorful line-up including a crisp white dial, a surprisingly versatile taupe dial, and, thanks to you the Fratelli, a vivid orange dial (nice one, Phil). The Doxa Sub 300 battled through a packed Wild Card tussle that saw more than 30 audience [...]

Introducing the new limited-edition Omega S Well, we havent heard that in a while. At least for a good six months. That may not sound like a long time ago. But over the last few years, learning about the latest Omega limited edition has been a regular occurrence. The steady release of exclusive Omega watches, mainly in the Speedmaster and Seamaster range, seemingly became a way of life. However, we see fewer and fewer Omega timepieces produced at a capped amount in recent times. So today, I am looking at the possible reasons for the sudden shift. Sorry to bait and switch you in the intro if you were hoping for something new from Omega. Hopefully, I can give some insights and advice on models [...]

We like to talk about vintage watches a lot within the Fratello team. Though most of what we write about is primarily focused on the most recent releases and developments, for many of us, a lot of the fun can be found in the sometimes weird and often wonderful world of vintage watches. It's a world full of history, remarkable watches, incredible stories, and quirky details. It inspired us to come up with a series of articles focusing on the best watches per decade from a select group of brands. Some of them are priceless, some of them still affordable. In this installment, we will take a look at the best Omega watches from the 1990s.This week we will continue our journey through watch histor [...]

After last weeks publication of my article on watch collecting (and thanks for all the amazing comments!), I also received a few messages about my preference for Omega.Although I did touch on the topic of Omega and its connection with my family, I thought I will freshen up a story that I wrote a few years ago.Why Do I Love Omega?I am often being asked why I only buy and wear Omega watches. Well, thats not entirely the case of course. I also own watches from other brands like Oris, Rolex, Hamilton, Grand Seiko, Seiko, Chronoswiss, Breitling, Swatch, G-Shock, and a bunch of other perhaps lesser-known ones. And in the past, I've owned IWC, Sinn, Audemars Piguet, Linde Werdelin, and others as we [...]

Hi and hello watch fans and welcome back to Watching Sports and Sporting Watches. In episode 8.0 and we will begin with a short interview, as the Hungarian Horntail takes the reins and welcomes his most charming guest to the smooth booth yetSpoiler alert: its Rob. But thats all were going to say about that. After Balazs has put our resident motormouth through his paces, we kick him into touch in favor of Dave down the pub Sergeant, who phones in (quite literally) to chat some hockey.And to round out the show we have another exhilarating installment of Robleys Believe It Or Not. This week, we will be touching base with the real/fictional stories of Eric Money, Ray Caldwell, and Nicolas Rieuss [...]