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19,037 articles · 2,918 videos found · page 315 of 732

Inside the Watchmaking Journey of Dann Phimphrachanh SJX Watches
Citizen Aug 5, 2025

Inside the Watchmaking Journey of Dann Phimphrachanh

In the world of independent watchmaking, Phimphrachanh – pronounced “fin-fra-chan” – is a name worth learning. Born in France, Dann Phimphrachanh is a Portuguese citizen with Laotian heritage who produces watches in Switzerland. That multicultural heritage that informs his approach to horology, personified by the Seconde Vive, his first wristwatch. The Phimphrachanh surname, inherited from his Laotian grandfather, a political figure in Laos, speaks to this lineage, but Dann’s professional and personal identity is firmly rooted in Portugal. After training in Lisbon’s watchmaking school and working at traditional Swiss watch brands, Dann set out to build his first watch on his own terms: by hand, with minimal industrial tools, and a commitment to preserving classical methods in a modern context. In a world where “independent watchmaking” can sometimes feel like just another label, Dann reminds us what it really means. The Seconde Vive, the result of years of solitary work, is both a technical achievement and a reflection of a deeper pursuit, a journey shaped by tradition, silence, and the slow mastery of time itself. The Seconde Vive Origins When Dann first left for Switzerland, he carried with him an image shaped by the glossy pages of watchmaking magazines, a world where the watchmaker was portrayed as a solitary figure, pursuing perfection in a quiet, idyllic workshop. “It was that image I went looking for,” he recalls. Reality, of course, was more co...

My Favorite Rolex Datejust Doesn’t Exist Yet - But These References Come Quite Close Fratello
Rolex Datejust Doesn’t Exist Yet Aug 5, 2025

My Favorite Rolex Datejust Doesn’t Exist Yet - But These References Come Quite Close

The mighty Rolex Datejust turns 80 this year. That makes it one of the longest continually produced watches out there, which is no small feat. At Fratello, we intend to celebrate with a series of articles on the model, and today it’s my turn to choose my all-time favorite. That’s not an easy task, though. […] Visit My Favorite Rolex Datejust Doesn’t Exist Yet - But These References Come Quite Close to read the full article.

Hands-On: the Citizen Promaster Aqualand 40th Anniversary Edition Worn & Wound
Citizen Promaster Aqualand 40th Anniversary Aug 4, 2025

Hands-On: the Citizen Promaster Aqualand 40th Anniversary Edition

As my thirties pass by and more gray hairs emerge, I can’t help but notice the unironic fondness I’ve been feeling for two-tone watches. Much like my inability to understand the slang my kids use, feeling that the rizz of two-tone slaps (am I doing that right?) seems to be an inevitable part of aging. And while Citizen’s decision to opt for gold accents to mark the 40th anniversary of the Promaster Aqualand probably isn’t a nod to middle aged collectors and is more likely a heartfelt way to honor the original Aqualand C0023, it feels satisfyingly appropriate that this icon is embracing two-tone to celebrate being over the hill. In full transparency of my own horological biases, I went into this review feeling burnt out on dive watches, which in retrospect seems inevitable after owning about a dozen black dialed divers over a five year period. In recent months I’ve also developed a bit of a pro-quartz preference as my first mechanical watches start to show their age and I’m seeking out watchmakers on a limited budget, another seemingly inevitable result of my collecting journey. I share this because, no longer dazzled by ratcheting bezels and mechanical movements in the way I once was, I thought it would be nice to get my hands on a robust and worry free quartz watch to take on my annual road trip from New Hampshire to Michigan. One text to our Managing Editor Zach Kazan during which I forgot to clarify that I would be content if I never saw another black dial d...

Introducing – Playing with Distortion… Meet the new Anoma A1 Optical Monochrome
Aug 4, 2025

Introducing – Playing with Distortion… Meet the new Anoma A1 Optical

Anoma, the indie microbrand founded in London by Matteo Violet-Vianello, derives its name from “anomaly”, indicating its less-than-conventional approach to design. Taking design cues from art, architecture and nature, the brand is making a name for itself with its shaped watch case. The brand’s first watch, the sculptural A1 with a rounded triangular case inspired […]

Anoma Introduces the A1 Optical, Inspired by the Optical Art Movement Worn & Wound
Aug 4, 2025

Anoma Introduces the A1 Optical, Inspired by the Optical Art Movement

Anoma has quickly emerged as one of our favorite small independents making truly interesting, design forward watches. Few watches point more toward the enormous pendulum swing away from straightforward vintage inspired sports watches than the brand’s A1, introduced in the summer of last year. It’s more than just a watch with a uniquely shaped case – it’s a deliberate design exercise by brand founder Matteo Violet Vianello, and illustrates that rather than taking design inspiration from other watches, you can find shapes and textures to emulate in furniture, art, and the natural world. It’s also just an extremely well made object at a price point that feels fair for the originality of the design, and watch enthusiasts seem to agree. Vinaello says his waitlist is currently ten times longer than the number of watches available.  Anoma’s latest is the A1 Optical, which takes the same, vaguely triangular case shape and adds an engraved dial inspired Optical Art. Also known as Op Art, this was an art movement that has its origins in the 1960s and can be characterized by the use of abstract geometric patterns formed to create optical illusions. Optical Art will often play with the viewer’s perception of depth and movement to create the kinds of objects and imagery that have us questioning our senses.  The engraved dial on the new A1 is created with a sharp and very fine tool that is used to carve into the dial’s metal base. A total of fifty slightly offset trian...

Introducing: New Panerai Submersible Marina Militare Models PAM01697 And PAM01698 Fratello
Panerai Submersible Marina Militare Models Aug 4, 2025

Introducing: New Panerai Submersible Marina Militare Models PAM01697 And PAM01698

Panerai is no stranger to working with the Italian Navy. The two have joined forces on watches, technical tools, and other products for over a century. As watch enthusiasts, we’ve become accustomed to these collaborative projects featuring the bold Marina Militare typography on the dial. Today, the partnership expands and is dedicated to the Aviazione […] Visit Introducing: New Panerai Submersible Marina Militare Models PAM01697 And PAM01698 to read the full article.

Introducing – The Europe-Exclusive Seiko Prospex Alpinist Night Sky SPB531 Monochrome
Seiko Prospex Alpinist Night Sky Aug 4, 2025

Introducing – The Europe-Exclusive Seiko Prospex Alpinist Night Sky SPB531

One of the oldest Seiko watches still in production, the Alpinist was introduced in 1959 (note that the Laurel, released in 1913, is even more enduring), and it has since become a staple of the brand’s catalogue. Considered Seiko’s first professional watch, it was designed specifically by Seiko for Yama-Otoko, or mountain men. The collection […]

Introducing – The New Porsche Design Chronograph 1 – 1975 Limited Edition in Titanium Monochrome
Porsche Design Chronograph 1 – 1975 Aug 4, 2025

Introducing – The New Porsche Design Chronograph 1 – 1975 Limited Edition in Titanium

Back in 1972, Porsche Design introduced the Chronograph I, the first all-black watch inspired by Porsche cockpit gauges. By 1975, the design evolved into brushed stainless steel. This year, to mark the brand´s retail partnership with the Watches of Switzerland Group, the new Porsche Design Chronograph 1 – 1975 Limited Edition swaps steel for bare, […]

Sunday Morning Showdown: Citizen Tsuyosa Vs. Casio Edifice EFK-100 Fratello
Citizen Tsuyosa Vs Casio Edifice Aug 3, 2025

Sunday Morning Showdown: Citizen Tsuyosa Vs. Casio Edifice EFK-100

Good morning, and welcome to the Sunday Morning Showdown you knew was coming. Today, we put Casio’s all-new mechanical Edifice EFK-100 up against the fan-favorite Citizen Tsuyosa. We’re still not entirely sure why Casio took this new path, but, like the Citizen Tsuyosa, the watches punch way above their weight. Both brands offer a design […] Visit Sunday Morning Showdown: Citizen Tsuyosa Vs. Casio Edifice EFK-100 to read the full article.

Seiko Samurai Review: Smaller And Better Than Ever Teddy Baldassarre
Seiko Aug 1, 2025

Seiko Samurai Review: Smaller And Better Than Ever

Last year, we saw a trio of new Seiko Samurai watches that aimed to broaden the collection’s appeal within the Prospex family. It’s fairly well understood that the Samurai has been seen as the odd man out among the “Seiko with a nickname” family, but why exactly is that? Well, it doesn’t have that vintage heritage, having only debuted in 2004. Also, the second generation has been around since 2017, and since then, tastes have certainly changed. The 44mm-wide case is a little too big for today’s tastes, where conventional wisdom puts anything above 42mm safely in the “huge” category (the case has been pretty thick, as well) . And while models like the Turtle, SKX007, or Willard (or even Tuna and Arnie) have rounded cases, the Samurai’s case has a very sharp and almost aggressively angular design that, again, is not for everyone. Wisely, Seiko’s third-generation Samurai addresses that persistent case-size issue while giving the dial a refresh too. Fortunately, the angular case is a bit more refined, yet no less geometrical. Sorry, that’s just part of the Samurai’s identity. Seiko Samurai Case and Bracelet First off, yes - the new Seiko Samurai has taken design cues from the Shogun. If that makes it not a “true Samurai,” then so be it, but the end result is one good-looking watch. The case improves over that of the second generation in just about every meaningful way (the older case is still available alongside this new iteration). First off, it ...

Introducing – The Sophisticated & Feminine Montblanc Bohème Perpetual Calendar 36mm Monochrome
Montblanc Bohème Perpetual Calendar 36mm Aug 1, 2025

Introducing – The Sophisticated & Feminine Montblanc Bohème Perpetual Calendar 36mm

Like many of Montblanc’s watches, the name Bohème was originally assigned to a line of fountain pens. Released in 2014 as a collection of women’s watches, the current collection of automatics and day & night models expands with the arrival of a sophisticated Perpetual Calendar in 36mm rose gold and two-tone rose gold and steel […]

Fratello EDC: Nacho Shares His Everyday Carry Essentials From Uniqlo, Fujifilm, Alpaka, And More Fratello
Aug 1, 2025

Fratello EDC: Nacho Shares His Everyday Carry Essentials From Uniqlo, Fujifilm, Alpaka, And More

Our watches are not the only things we carry with us every day. Sure, they’re the primary focus of what we do here at Fratello, but sometimes it’s nice to shift that focus onto other elements of our everyday carry (or EDC). Today, I’ll contribute to the Fratello EDC series by walking you through a […] Visit Fratello EDC: Nacho Shares His Everyday Carry Essentials From Uniqlo, Fujifilm, Alpaka, And More to read the full article.

Hands-On With The Highly Impressive New Casio Edifice EFK-100 Fratello
Casio Edifice EFK-100 Casio Jul 31, 2025

Hands-On With The Highly Impressive New Casio Edifice EFK-100

Casio is probably one of the strongest brands in the watch world. It is so, however, primarily in the digital-watch world with its G-Shock sub-brand. The Japanese company has produced analog watches for a long time already under its other sub-brand, Edifice. Those watches always came with battery- and solar-powered quartz movements. Well, no more! […] Visit Hands-On With The Highly Impressive New Casio Edifice EFK-100 to read the full article.