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5 days ago | 
fratellowatches.com | Michael Stockton
As a die-hard collector of vintage watches, I’ve grown to appreciate the right accessories to pair with my treasured pieces. Straps are a great option, and we’ve devoted plenty of articles to reviewing them. However, an appropriate bracelet is the chef’s kiss. The problem is that authentic bracelets are difficult to find and are often in rough condition. This is doubly so for plated versions. What’s a collector to do? Enter the gold-plated Forstner bracelets to save the day.
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1 week ago | 
fratellowatches.com | Michael Stockton
Last year, Citizen debuted a series of Super Titanium chronographs with integrated bracelets. The watches were received well for their looks and affordability. Since then, the brand has formally changed the names of these chronographs to Zenshin Senkei. Four more references now join the collection, but as we’ll see, new colors are only a part of the story. It’s nice to see Citizen making news with new, globally available watches.
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1 week ago | 
fratellowatches.com | Michael Stockton
CIGA Design produces watches that are different from the norm. It’s immediately apparent that this isn’t the typical timekeeper with central hour and minute hands. The round, UFO-like cases also stand out in a futuristic way. Now we see two new models that represent a departure from prior pieces. The Legend of Serpent editions use an exciting case material and precious metals. As an Asian brand, it’s clear that symbolism is important to CIGA Design.
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1 week ago | 
fratellowatches.com | Michael Stockton
Awake has a hit on its hands with the Sơn Mài watches. The pieces, which feature traditional Vietnamese lacquerware dials, are hot! Now the latest batch of limited-edition releases is here. The Frosted Leaf collection consists of three models, all containing dials inspired by a view of Earth’s surface from space. It’s been a whirlwind six months for Awake. The small independent brand showed us the first four Sơn Mài pieces last September, and they promptly sold out.
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1 week ago | 
fratellowatches.com | Michael Stockton
It’s OK; you don’t have to like the Patek Philippe Cubitus — ever. You can carry your vitriol around like a badge of honor and scream to the heavens. That’s fine, but if you choose to do so, you’ll miss a pretty damn decent watch. We can agree that the 45mm original was and is a pig, but the new 40mm Cubitus is right where it needs to be. Just six months ago, Patek Philippe dropped a bomb on the watch world with the Cubitus.
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2 weeks ago | 
fratellowatches.com | Michael Stockton
This year is a special one for TAG Heuer. After more than two decades, 2025 marks the brand’s return as the Official Timekeeper of Formula 1. Additionally, for the first time in history, the Grand Prix de Monaco will have a title sponsor. TAG Heuer will present the race and has created a new limited-edition Monaco Chronograph × Gulf for the occasion. By now, we’re used to specially designed Monaco chronographs. Somehow, though, TAG Heuer successfully imbues each with a unique flavor.
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2 weeks ago | 
fratellowatches.com | Michael Stockton
Today, we go hands-on with a new Certina. The DS Action Diver 40.5 is a significant release for the brand because it presents a new case size. In fact, most would argue that it will end up as the most successful model in the collection. Let’s take a closer look and discuss the merits of this high-value diver while mentioning some of our remaining wishes. Before moving to London, I visited Swatch Group Germany’s headquarters in Eschborn with Balazs.
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2 weeks ago | 
fratellowatches.com | Michael Stockton
Admittedly, when Venezianico first hit the scene several years ago, we were skeptical. Was this another fly-by-night brand that would soon disappear into the ether? To our positive surprise, the Italian brand has created some fantastic watches since that time. Today, though, everything changes with the new Redentore Utopia. Late last year, we met with Venezianico in London. The watches, such as the Arsenale, were even better in person than in photos.
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2 weeks ago | 
fratellowatches.com | Michael Stockton
Gerald Charles has rolled out a steady slate of releases in support of its 25th anniversary. Among these debuts are new versions of the Maestro 3.0 Chronograph, which feature métiers d’art in the form of tapisserie Clous de Paris dials. The releases also include two case materials. I spent time at the Gerald Charles booth at Watches and Wonders 2025. I saw several new pieces during our meeting, such as the GC Sport Tennis. The highlights, however, were the new Maestro 3.0 chronographs.
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2 weeks ago | 
fratellowatches.com | Michael Stockton
Welcome to another installment of Fratello On Air. This week, we respond to a listener’s request for a strap episode. Today’s show covers how to choose, which brands we enjoy, and pairing specific watches. Enjoy it! For our listeners, the watch content begins after approximately 21 minutes. There’s no other way to put it — Balazs is a strap monster! His Watch Strap Review articles are legendary and literally span the globe, as far as covering different makers.
