It seems that every major brand has a white watch in their collection, especially for the ladies who love nice watches as well. Or for the men who love to give their wife or girlfriend a nice watch. Linde Werdelin just sent out a press release introducing their White Watch, based on the famous 3-Timer model.

Although it is a women’s watch, its dimensions are 46mm (w) & 42mm (bezel diameter) by 49mm (l) by 12mm (h). According to Linde Werdelin, it wears like a 42mm watch though. As you can see, it has been given a softer and more elegant touch while a new strap has been fitted to accommodate smaller feminine wrists.

The White Watch is limited to 51 pieces worldwide and will be soon available at LindeWerdelin.com and authorised retailers and will retail at €4,680.

For specifications, please read my 3-Timer review here.

Related posts:

1. Linde Werdelin 3-Timer review: No 13 arrived!
2. Linde Werdelin 3-Timer in Green: From Miami to Shanghai and St. Tropez…
3. Size Comparison: Linde Werdelin 3-Timer vs Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore (Safari)

The new Casio G-Shock GXW-56 (and its American counterpart, the GX-56) are proof that huge is the new big. With a case 55.5mm wide at its widest point, and 17.5mm high, the GXW-56 is the biggest G-Shock ever made.

From the press release by NAWCC:

On September 10 2010, the National Watch and Clock Museum will unveil for the first time a complete collection of all eight James Bond wristwatch models provided by Seiko UK! These eight watches have been identified for the “Bond Watches, James Bond Watches” exhibit by Mark Mills (former Technical Support Manager with Seiko UK).  Mills was Eon Productions’ contact person at Seiko from 1977 through 1985.

Dell Deaton of JamesBondWatches.com and Guest Curator for “Bond Watches, James Bond Watches,” was given unprecedented access to documentation and Mark Mills’ personal recollections with the support of Seiko Watch Corporation in Tokyo, Japan. Prior to Deaton’s initiative here, no one had ever conducted original research with the supplier to definitively identify model numbers, correct case references, and exact configurations for timekeepers worn in the 007 films.

Image courtesy of and copyright by Dell Deaton.

Actor Roger Moore wore a Seiko 150 meter, duo-display diver’s watch, model SPW001, case H558-5000 as James Bond 007 in the Eon Productions film “A View to a Kill” (1985).

——- end of press release excerpt..

Although I don’t have anything against Seiko (on the contrary), I do think that people responsible for product placement should have done their home work a bit better and should have realised that a Seiko isn’t very Bond, James Bond at all. Same goes for Bond’s cars though. James Bond shouldn’t wear a Seiko or an Omega and shouldn’t be driving in a BMW as well. Nothing wrong with these brands or products, but it just didn’t (and still doesn’t) fit.

Related posts:

1. James Bond watches
2. James Bond vs Daniel Craig
3. James Bond’s watches

Launched in 1992, Bell & Ross was founded by Bruno Belamich and Carlos Rosillo. The first Bell & Ross models were very similar to those of Sinn Spezialuhren and officially, this collaboration lasted till 2002 (although Bell & Ross made their own models long before that year). Most people who started their interest in watches just recently, probably know the BR Instrument watches best.

In 2005, the first BR instrument was introduced and Bell & Ross clearly have been inspired ever since. They have been introducing various models based on the famous flight panel instruments, including the BR 03-92 that’s now being featured on Fratellowatches. A 42mm glass bead blasted steel case with black carbon powder coating and amazing orange coloured hour markers, logo and hands. The matching Bell & Ross strap with a black carbon powdered steel buckle matches the dial perfectly.

Inside the black case, an ETA2892-A2 movement is ticking away your precious time with 28.800 beats per hour. This movement could be considered commodity, as it is being used by numerous brands who don’t manufacture their own movements. It is a perfect movement, that has proven itself over time (since 1982, when the first version of this movement was introduced). A watch maker can get this movement to run as accurate as it gets with respect to mechanical watches. I didn’t have the time or the equipment at hand to test the accuracy of this particular Bell & Ross movement.

As I wrote above, the strap and clasp are a perfect fit to the case and dial. As you can see, the buckle is quite large but certainly not uncomfortable when wearing or using. The modest BR logo is engraved in the black carbon powdered clasp. The tan coloured strap with white stitches and fabulous & logo will probably become a bit darker when wearing, but just like good Santoni shoes, it will age nicely.

The case back is a bit confusing with all the engraving in it. Especially the screw that you shouldn’t unscrew is very tempting to use your screwdriver on. This screw is to be able to remove the crown, but this should only be done by a watchmaker who knows what he is doing. The engraving further bears some very true but yet irrelevant information, like the fact that it is a stainless steel case, that it has a mechanical automatic movement inside and that it is made in Switzerland. The one thing engraved that is useful, is the water resistance level of this watch. You can use this watch with a Bell & Ross rubber strap as well, and that would make it perfectly useful for a swim.

This rectangular shaped watch is very comfortable on the wrist. Although I could probably handle its bigger brother, the BR 01-92 (which is 46mm), this one sits perfectly on my (large) wrist. The thick luminous hour markers and logo are a joy to glance at when wearing this Instrument watch. The 4 screws in the dial (for attaching/de-attaching the movement) are part of the ‘flight panel’-look and do not disturb me whatsoever. The small round date window is located between 4 o’clock and 5 o’clock and keeps the dial very clean.

With a list price of 2800 Euro, it is a very attractive time piece and you probably won’t see another guy wearing it in your office. The price is justified by the craftsmanship of the case, strap and dial. It is all done very well, feels solid and the finish of the various parts is of a high quality. As for comfort, you probably have to try one before you buy it, as not everyone likes a ‘flat’ and rectangular watch on his or her wrist.

Thanks to Watch-Site for lending me this watch. Watch-Site is a reputable on-line watch dealer and has this BR 03-92 (BNIB) for sale for 2155 Euro.

Related posts:

1. A Closer Look at a Bell & Ross Classic: the Vintage 123
2. Bell & Ross BR01 Airborne “Diamond Skulls” and Tribute Video
3. Bell & Ross Pilot watch 10 years

Hampus – a fellow blogger at How’s Hamp – did a great photo report of his visit to the Cote d’Azur. He photographed exactly what us watch nerds like to do, spotting watches on other people’s wrists. On Twitter for example, there is this #womw (what’s on my wrist) tag for everyone who wants to look at what people are wearing.

During Hampus’ vacation, he took the liberty to photograph a lot of people and did some wrist close-ups afterwards. Clearly, you need to have an Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe or Richard Mille when visiting the south of France (and Monaco).

On Hampus’ website, you can see a lot more of these ‘sunny’ pictures with incredible time pieces on people’s wrist. Even all the girls in Monaco seems to wear Richard Mille’s, Rolexes and APs.

Click here to visit the slide show by ‘How’s Hamp?’.

Related posts:

1. The Purists visit Audemars Piguet
2. Watches in Monaco
3. Audemars Piguet Royal Oak: Nick Faldo

Ateliers deMonaco is just over one year old (6th of April 2009) and time for Olivier Muller (The Watch Lounge) to do an excellent write-up on this Dutch / Monaco haute horlogerie brand.

From left to right: Robert van Pappelendam, Manuel da Silva Matos (engineer), Peter Stas and Pim Koeslag

Please read more about this brand at The Watch Lounge or read an earlier article on Fratellowatches here and here.

Related posts:

1. Les Ateliers DeMonaco Carre d’Or
2. Independent watchmaking: Les Ateliers deMonaco
3. Watch Lounge magazine #2

Bell & Ross has just caught my eye with one of the more interesting aviation watches I’ve seen in some time: the Instrument BR 01-92 Compass. As you can see, the design is inspired by a traditional aviation compass.

It seems that every Monday, visitors of the German Rolex Forum (www.r-l-x.de) who are fortunate enough to own a Rolex Oyster Day-Date, should post a picture of their precious time piece. In the meanwhile, Monday has been replaced by every day. Although it is not an everyday watch of course.

Although the original Day-Date is only 36mm in diameter, I still prefer it over a Day-Date II (which is 41mm). To me, the Day-Date is the classic wrist watch in precious metal (available in gold or platinum) that you can’t go wrong with.

Enjoy some of the Day-Date photos sent in by visitors of R-L-X.

Photo by Hannes

Photo by Savoy Truffle

Photo by Kurt

Photo by Kurt

Photo by RO.lex

The Day-Date models were introduced in 1956, being the first wrist watch featuring a day and a date window. This watch was and is only available in precious metals, such as gold (in various colours and combinations) and platinum. A vintage 1970s Day-Date on a leather strap can be found starting around 3250 Euro and 5750 Euro makes you own a white gold Day-Date with President bracelet.

If you are on a quest for a nice gold dress watch, you may want to consider a Rolex Day-Date ref.1803 on a leather strap, which is (as you can see above) quite affordable and will keep its value for years to come. The solid Rolex movement caliber 1555 won’t let you down, I am sure. Models later than 1980 with a solid gold President or Oyster bracelet will still cost you serious money.

Click here for the thread on the German Rolex Forum (pictorial).

Related posts:

1. Gold/Steel Rolex Allowed (again)
2. Dutch Rolex Forum Coming Up…
3. Some Rolex Yacht-Master History

I have been to Singapore two times now (for business) and from what I’ve seen, it is one of my favourite places in the world. Linde Werdelin, also a favourite of mine, now introduces the 3-Timer Racing time piece. A limited edition in close collaboration with E’Collezione (their website is really worth checking out), a watch retailer from Singapore (located in the Mandarin Gallery on Orchard Road), that is based on the ‘regular’ 3-Timer model. What’s so limited about it? Well, for starters, the colours. It will be available in red and yellow and only 9 (!!) pieces each.

As you can see, the colours are everywhere except on the dial. The bezel numerals (with special designed Linde Werdelin font) are in yellow or red, the bolts in both the case and strap and the strap itself has red or yellow stitching and dots.

The 3-Timer Racing time piece also has the word ‘Racing’ engraved in the stainless steel case back. All other characteristics of the watch correspond with the normal 3-Timer models, of which I am the proud owner as well (as you can read here, for a more in depth review). The 3-Timer is a watch that is always in my weekly rotation programme of watches and although the dimensions (46 mm x 49 mm) of the watch are impressive, so is the comfort when wearing it.

Price of these 18 beauties? SGD10,800 or €5,280 each!

Specifications for the wrist watch techies:

Size: 46mm (w) by 49mm (l) by 12mm (h)
Movement: ETA 2893 – A2 mechanical automatic 42 hour power reserve
Case: stainless steel case, 24 hour bidirectional bezel, screw on case-back, 2.2mm anti-reflective sapphire crystal, screw in crown
Dial: black
Water Resistance: 300 meters
Strap: black pointed calf strap with red details &stitching and steel ardillon buckle

Update: PuristsPro is fortunate enough to have a lot of live pictures of these beauties. Click here to see them!

Related posts:

1. Linde Werdelin 3-Timer in Green: From Miami to Shanghai and St. Tropez…
2. Linde Werdelin 3-Timer
3. Linde Werdelin Two Timer Review

Time And Gems, an independent Rolex retailer and a long time sponsor of FratelloWatches, is giving away your choice of a mens or ladies diamond Rolex watch with an estimated value of $7,000. All you need to do is sign up for their newsletter where they’ll send you exclusive Rolex discounts (only for subscribers) as well as entertaining Rolex-related articles written by their team of Rolex experts.

The Rolex that Time and Gems is giving away is a stainless steel Rolex Date-Just (either men or lady version) with diamond hour markers and an Oyster bracelet.

Check it out here:
Time and Gems Rolex Watch Giveaway

Please note that this contest is only open for US Citizens.

Related posts:

1. Haven’t Seen This One Before: Rolex GMT-Master DLC
2. Fratello’s Give Away: Orient Automatic Watch
3. Project X Designs introduces Rolex Submariner PXD SS1