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Results for Vallée de Joux

24,100 articles · 198 videos found · page 278 of 810

Compromise In Colors Is Gray - Brighten Up Your Life With The Multicolored Omega Speedmaster Pilot Flight Qualified Fratello
Omega Speedmaster Pilot Flight Qualified Jan 18, 2025

Compromise In Colors Is Gray - Brighten Up Your Life With The Multicolored Omega Speedmaster Pilot Flight Qualified

Who would have thought a quote from the current Albanian prime minister would be the header of a Fratello article? It was Edi Rama (1964), who is not just a politician but also an artist and writer, who once said, “Compromise in colors is gray.” Too often, people make the safe choice of going for a […] Visit Compromise In Colors Is Gray - Brighten Up Your Life With The Multicolored Omega Speedmaster Pilot Flight Qualified to read the full article.

Sartory-Billard Introduces a Pair of New References on the SB04 Platform Worn & Wound
Jan 17, 2025

Sartory-Billard Introduces a Pair of New References on the SB04 Platform

Micro-indie brand Sartory-Billard, founded by Armand Billard and his friend Ludovic Sartory in 2015, is well-known for its custom bespoke timepieces. In a shift from its usual practices, the brand is set to release two new fully fleshed-out models featuring its standard SB04-E case: the Ruby Platinum, which will be a limited series, and the Tantalum Hand-Engraved, which will enter regular production. Both models aim to showcase the brand’s craftsmanship and expertise, a goal they seem to have achieved based on these brand supplied images. The Ruby Platinum watch features a dial centerpiece made from genuine ruby sourced from a responsibly harvested boulder in Tanzania, Africa. The ruby is crafted into dial inserts in Germany, just an hour away from the Sartory-Billard workshop. Because of the unique nature of the material, no two dials are identical; each displays distinct textures. Completing the dial is a fumé sunray-textured platinum-plated outer ring. Tantalum is one of the most challenging metals to work with due to its remarkable density and hardness. Engraving a delicate design on its surface requires great skill, which is exemplified in the intricate feather-like engraving found in the center of the Tantalum Hand-Engraved dial. Like the previous model, this one also features a surrounding ring; however, this one is made of solid tantalum and finished with a fumé sunray effect. Both watches have a 39.5mm diameter case, measuring 46mm from lug to lug and only 10....

Fratello’s Top 5 Modern Reissues - Featuring Vacheron Constantin, Omega, Zenith, And More Fratello
Vacheron Constantin Omega Zenith Jan 17, 2025

Fratello’s Top 5 Modern Reissues - Featuring Vacheron Constantin, Omega, Zenith, And More

Another Friday, another list! Attentive readers will notice that this is our second list article this week. On Wednesday, we put the spotlight on regulator watches, an often-forgotten style that deserves more attention. Today, we’ll continue our regular Friday series of lists with our picks for the best modern reissues of great classics. The watch […] Visit Fratello’s Top 5 Modern Reissues - Featuring Vacheron Constantin, Omega, Zenith, And More to read the full article.

Oris Celebrates a Big Anniversary, and Closes a Chapter, with the Divers Sixty-Five 60th Anniversary Edition Worn & Wound
Tudor money Jan 16, 2025

Oris Celebrates a Big Anniversary, and Closes a Chapter, with the Divers Sixty-Five 60th Anniversary Edition

This week, at their annual press event in Vail, CO, Oris unveiled the latest edition of the Divers Sixty-Five, the Divers Sixty-Five 60th Anniversary Edition. While some have met the news of yet another trip to the Divers Sixty Five well with some confusion or bemusement considering the big launch of its natural successor, the Divers Date, last year, the writing was on the wall that this was coming. I mean, it’s right there in the name of the watch, and the arithmetic is easy. Nobody misses a chance to celebrate an anniversary in this industry, and the Divers Sixty-Five is more than worthy of the treatment.  Before we get into the specifics of the new model, which we’re told is the true swan song for the Divers Sixty-Five, I think it’s worth stepping back and looking at the origins of the Sixty-Five and what makes it a genuinely important watch in the realm of enthusiast focused divers. While the original Divers Sixty-Five did indeed debut 60 years ago, the modern revival version has had a much more widespread impact. Oris brought the Sixty-Five back about ten years ago in a watch climate that was really beginning to see vintage inspired watches, particularly midcentury sports watches and divers, gain traction. The timing was perfect, and for new enthusiasts entering the hobby in those heady days, the Divers Sixty-Five was an easy recommendation on forums (remember those?) if a new collector wasn’t quite ready to spend Tudor money. The Sixty-Five not only offered ...

Fratello Talks: How Much Should You Spend On Your First Watch? Fratello
Jan 16, 2025

Fratello Talks: How Much Should You Spend On Your First Watch?

Welcome to this week’s episode of Fratello Talks. How much should you spend on your first watch? It’s a valid question we’ve all faced at some point. However, there are plenty of different ways to answer it. Today, Nacho, RJ, and Daan delve into the topic and discuss their approaches to budgeting for a first […] Visit Fratello Talks: How Much Should You Spend On Your First Watch? to read the full article.

Building A Watch Brand Episode 15: Looking Back On The First Two Years Of VPC Fratello
VPC Time flies when you’re Jan 15, 2025

Building A Watch Brand Episode 15: Looking Back On The First Two Years Of VPC

Time flies when you’re having fun! It has been a full two years since I set off on an adventure to build my dream watch, the VPC Type 37HW. Fratello offered me the fantastic opportunity to chronicle and share the journey with you all. Today, after having fulfilled all preorders, I would like to finish […] Visit Building A Watch Brand Episode 15: Looking Back On The First Two Years Of VPC to read the full article.

Hands-On: The New Oris Divers Sixty-Five 60th Anniversary Edition Fratello
Oris Divers Sixty-Five 60th Anniversary Jan 14, 2025

Hands-On: The New Oris Divers Sixty-Five 60th Anniversary Edition

In 1965, 61 years after Paul Cattin and Georges Christian founded the company, Oris revealed one of its most iconic models, the Oris Divers. Then, five decades later, it took the form of a heritage reissue called the Divers Sixty-Five. Today, it’s time to celebrate the original’s diamond jubilee with the presentation of the Oris […] Visit Hands-On: The New Oris Divers Sixty-Five 60th Anniversary Edition to read the full article.

Breaking: Swatch Now Offers Official Rubber MoonSwatch Straps Online Fratello
Omega × Swatch MoonSwatch Jan 14, 2025

Breaking: Swatch Now Offers Official Rubber MoonSwatch Straps Online

Which strap do you wear your MoonSwatch on? Are you still using the original strap, or have you ordered some third-party options? Well, listen up because, in a surprise move, Swatch opened an online strap store specifically for the Omega × Swatch MoonSwatch. The two-piece straps are made of rubber and have a two-tone design, […] Visit Breaking: Swatch Now Offers Official Rubber MoonSwatch Straps Online to read the full article.

Introducing: The New Omega Speedmaster Moonphase Meteorite Watches! Fratello
Omega Speedmaster Moonphase Meteorite Watches! Jan 14, 2025

Introducing: The New Omega Speedmaster Moonphase Meteorite Watches!

It’s a tradition! A new Omega Speedmaster comes on a (Speedy) Tuesday, and today, we even get two. Meet the Omega Speedmaster Moonphase Meteorite models, one with a black meteorite dial and another with a gray meteorite dial. Speedmaster Moonphase Meteorite Omega had a wonderful 2024 with great new Speedmaster releases, and the new year […] Visit Introducing: The New Omega Speedmaster Moonphase Meteorite Watches! to read the full article.

Fratello On Air: Finding Your Place In The Watch Community Fratello
Jan 14, 2025

Fratello On Air: Finding Your Place In The Watch Community

Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we discuss the watch community and how to find a group of like-minded (or differently minded) people within it. Whether you seek to meet people in person or online, there’s even a great option if you don’t live in a major city. For our listeners, […] Visit Fratello On Air: Finding Your Place In The Watch Community to read the full article.

Introducing: The Bulova Snorkel Collection With Hybrid Ceramic Cases And Tropical Colors Fratello
Citizen Group Jan 14, 2025

Introducing: The Bulova Snorkel Collection With Hybrid Ceramic Cases And Tropical Colors

After Swatch’s Speedmaster MoonSwatch and Scuba Fifty Fathoms collections, we were waiting for the next Swatch Group classic to undergo a Bioceramic metamorphosis. But now it looks like Citizen Group is entering the competition with its new Bulova Snorkel collection. The inspiration for these Hybrid Ceramic watches comes from the brand’s iconic Oceanographer Snorkel, nicknamed […] Visit Introducing: The Bulova Snorkel Collection With Hybrid Ceramic Cases And Tropical Colors to read the full article.

Hands-On With The Rolex GMT-Master II “Destro” - Because Every Watch Deserves A Second Chance Fratello
Rolex GMT-Master II “Destro” - Jan 13, 2025

Hands-On With The Rolex GMT-Master II “Destro” - Because Every Watch Deserves A Second Chance

When Rolex introduced the left-handed GMT-Master II ref. 126720VTNR in 2022, it seemed like the world this watch is intended to navigate had stopped - well, the world of watches, at least. It certainly made my head spin. It also had me write an article in which I voiced my confusion. That was almost three […] Visit Hands-On With The Rolex GMT-Master II “Destro” - Because Every Watch Deserves A Second Chance to read the full article.

The Watch You Knew Was Coming Finally Arrived - Hands-On With The Vacheron Constantin Historiques 222 In Steel Fratello
Vacheron Constantin Historiques 222 Jan 13, 2025

The Watch You Knew Was Coming Finally Arrived - Hands-On With The Vacheron Constantin Historiques 222 In Steel

Get ready for a year of special Vacheron Constantin creations. To grab your attention, the brand’s 270th-anniversary celebrations kick off with a watch you knew was coming - the Historiques 222 in steel. The much-anticipated watch made it to Fratello HQ ahead of the embargo. It was a perfect way to experience firsthand if the […] Visit The Watch You Knew Was Coming Finally Arrived - Hands-On With The Vacheron Constantin Historiques 222 In Steel to read the full article.

The Start Of A New Tennis Season Reveals Rolex’s Firm Grip On The Sport Fratello
Rolex s Firm Grip Jan 12, 2025

The Start Of A New Tennis Season Reveals Rolex’s Firm Grip On The Sport

In 2023, right after Wimbledon, I wrote an article questioning whether there was life for Rolex in tennis after Roger Federer left the sport as an active player. During that year’s Wimbledon, the Swiss maestro received a unique welcome from the English audience. It showed people’s respect and gratitude for Federer as a tennis player […] Visit The Start Of A New Tennis Season Reveals Rolex’s Firm Grip On The Sport to read the full article.

Nothing Is Certain In 2025 Except Death And Taxes…And Rolex Price Increases Fratello
Rolex Price Increases American statesman Jan 11, 2025

Nothing Is Certain In 2025 Except Death And Taxes…And Rolex Price Increases

American statesman and Founding Father Benjamin Franklin once famously wrote, “…in this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.” Franklin died in 1790, so the phrase doesn’t include Rolex price increases at the beginning of every year. Now, going through the entire Rolex catalog is an impossible task. Even if it weren’t, it would […] Visit Nothing Is Certain In 2025 Except Death And Taxes…And Rolex Price Increases to read the full article.

Fratello’s Top 5 High-End Horological Wishes For 2025 Fratello
Jan 10, 2025

Fratello’s Top 5 High-End Horological Wishes For 2025

Another Friday, another list! Last week, we kicked the year off with a list of horological wishes for 2025. This week, we extend our list of wishes by focusing on some high-end brands. Some interesting developments in 2024 led to this new list. With personnel shifts and new introductions in the past year, we thought […] Visit Fratello’s Top 5 High-End Horological Wishes For 2025 to read the full article.

Hot Take: The “Winter Cool” Tissot PR516 Automatic (Valjoux) Chronograph Fratello
Tissot PR516 Automatic Valjoux Chronograph Jan 10, 2025

Hot Take: The “Winter Cool” Tissot PR516 Automatic (Valjoux) Chronograph

Tissot is expanding its PR516 collection with new chronograph models. Two quartz versions in PVD rose gold and bicolor and one stainless steel model with an automatic chronograph movement will join the lineup. The latter is based on a Valjoux A05 movement, an update of the famous Valjoux 7753. It’s this full-steel model with automatic […] Visit Hot Take: The “Winter Cool” Tissot PR516 Automatic (Valjoux) Chronograph to read the full article.

[Video] Going Inside A Speedmaster Movement With The Slow Mo Guys Fratello
Omega s caliber 1869 That’s Jan 9, 2025

[Video] Going Inside A Speedmaster Movement With The Slow Mo Guys

An incredibly cool video went online the other day on The Slow Mo Guys’ YouTube channel. The guys (Gav and Dan) used insane equipment to get the frame rate to 10,000 per second and the magnification to 10× for some seriously close and slow footage inside the miniature marvel of Omega’s caliber 1869. That’s right […] Visit [Video] Going Inside A Speedmaster Movement With The Slow Mo Guys to read the full article.

Fratello Talks: Our New Year’s Watch Resolutions 2025 Fratello
Jan 9, 2025

Fratello Talks: Our New Year’s Watch Resolutions 2025

Hello, and happy New Year! What better way to venture into another trip around the Sun than by setting yourself up with a solid set of New Year’s watch resolutions? In today’s episode, Nacho, Daan, and Lex discuss theirs for 2025. They include everything from pondering potential future purchases to considering consolidating comprehensive collections. The […] Visit Fratello Talks: Our New Year’s Watch Resolutions 2025 to read the full article.

Hands-On: the Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph 42mm Worn & Wound
Vacheron Constantin 222 following Jan 7, 2025

Hands-On: the Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph 42mm

It is not common practice for us to spend time crafting a hands-on review for watches that sit outside of our personal periphery. There needs to be a thread to pull, some emotion to lean on, and an opinion worth sharing. So, in full disclosure, when arranging a loan for the Gerard-Perregeaux Leureato Chronograph 42mm I did so based on the fact that it had been a while since I had spent any considerable time with a GP and didn’t have any solid thoughts on writing about it. The model is a bit overlooked in the market, has a higher and extremely competitive price point, and has been overshadowed a bit by the titanium version released earlier in 2024. But sitting there with the Laureato Chronograph dial dancing in the light shooting bursts of blue at me, I really began studying the piece. To understand the Laureato though, you must understand the history and a bit of the controversy surrounding it.  An oft-forgotten integrated bracelet watch originating from the “golden” Genta age of design, the Girard-Perregaux Laureato can trace its roots back to 1975. While not a Genta design, some believe the Laureato bears a striking resemblance or is a love child of the iconic AP references that gained him eventual fame. For full context, we had the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak in 1972, the Baume et Mercier Riviera in 1973, the original Laureato in 1975, the IWC Ingenieur and Patek Philippe Nautilus in 1976, and then the Vacheron Constantin 222 following in 1977. Of course, there are...

A Speedmaster Collector’s Story - Marking A Special Olympic Moment Fratello
Jan 7, 2025

A Speedmaster Collector’s Story - Marking A Special Olympic Moment

We kick off the first Tuesday of 2025 with a reader’s story on his Speedmaster. This week’s contribution comes from Ricardo Rio, who resides in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Ricardo has been part of the Speedy Tuesday community for a long time. He has a professional background in sports and joined BMX Freestyle cyclist José Torres […] Visit A Speedmaster Collector’s Story - Marking A Special Olympic Moment to read the full article.

Collecting: Why I Chose the Zeitwinkel 273° Saphir Fumé Worn & Wound
Jan 6, 2025

Collecting: Why I Chose the Zeitwinkel 273° Saphir Fumé

Since I picked up the Zeitwinkel 273° Saphir Fumé in the fall of last year, I’ve been meaning to write something about it. It’s an incredible watch, probably the best I’ve owned, and I feel lucky to have it. That’s a strange thing to say, I know. I’m sure Zeitwinkel would happily sell this watch to anyone who was willing to provide the agreed upon amount of money – luck doesn’t really have that much to do with it. But there are things about this watch that are special and set it apart from other watchers I’ve owned that make having it in my watch box and on my wrist a unique pleasure.  This isn’t an owner’s review, because what I really want to talk about with respect to the 273° aren’t the specs, or the finishing, or even the experience of wearing it (all are great, by the way). What I want to talk about is the strange route I took to focusing on Zeitwinkel and picking the 273°. It echoes, I think, the piece I wrote at the end of last year for our “My Year in Watches” series, where I talked about a renewed focus on independent brands. Zeitwinkel is about as independent as it gets, and that’s a big reason why this watch resonates with me – it reflects the very specific interests of the brand founders, and represents a certain no-compromises approach to watchmaking that can’t easily be found with brands owned by big luxury groups, and certainly not at the price point of the 273°.  I’ll be honest here and admit that I was largely unfa...

Visiting Seiko UK And Witnessing A Seiko Tuna Battery Change Fratello
Seiko UK Jan 6, 2025

Visiting Seiko UK And Witnessing A Seiko Tuna Battery Change

Last month, I had the opportunity to visit the Seiko UK headquarters in Maidenhead. As a die-hard Seiko fan, I’ve always wanted to see what happens here. Does the site outsource much work, or is this a fully functional service center? The answer may surprise you because Seiko UK can handle practically everything when servicing […] Visit Visiting Seiko UK And Witnessing A Seiko Tuna Battery Change to read the full article.

Hot Take: The New And Improved CIGA Design Blue Planet II Fratello
Jan 4, 2025

Hot Take: The New And Improved CIGA Design Blue Planet II

The 2021 GPHG-winning CIGA Design Blue Planet is a unique take on time telling. Its domed dial with an engraved depiction of the earth tells time in a novel way. A good design firm rarely rests on its laurels, though, and the Blue Planet II brings subtle but positive changes. I remember the original CIGA […] Visit Hot Take: The New And Improved CIGA Design Blue Planet II to read the full article.

A Look Back At Vincent’s Top 20 Microbrand Watches Of 2024 Fratello
Jan 4, 2025

A Look Back At Vincent’s Top 20 Microbrand Watches Of 2024

As someone who solely writes about watches from micro/independent brands, I’m pleased to share my list of their 20 best releases of 2024. And there is a lot to talk about, of course. The list below is simply organized in alphabetical order by the brand name. All watches listed are ones I’ve handled in the […] Visit A Look Back At Vincent’s Top 20 Microbrand Watches Of 2024 to read the full article.