And that was 2006. A year full of interesting watches and interesting events regarding watches and the watch ’scene’. A lot of new watch sites, blogs and even new magazines. The latest one, Watch Lounge, just arrived in my mail box (thanks Elmar and Marcus!) and I am really impressed by the quality of it! I also think the quality of the existing watch magazines, websites and forums has increased. Nothing to complain about anymore! Horological events are being held regulary in places all over the world, and where it had been a simple diner or lunch in the past, today also the manufacturers of watch brands are showing up. They seem to appreciate (commercial agenda or not) the effort of us, watch fanatics, to show the love for their brand and work.

Also thanks for all regular visitors of Fratello! More and more visitors every day. I hope you still enjoy reading my short pieces of news, links and sometimes, long winded rants.

Hope to see you back in 2007!! Have a nice 2006 exit party and I wish you all the best for 2007!

Because I couldn’t find the Watchlounge magazine in Germany last weekend (tried 3 news stands), I bought the Chronos Magazine (German). To my surprise, they have added a Patek Philippe magazine. This magazine is normally only available to subscribers and you can only subscribe if you actually -own- a Patek Philippe. Once in a while, I flip through the pages of this magazine at Gerard’s watch store, but this time I can read it at home and dream about having a Patek Philippe Worldtimer or Nautilus

Anyway, the Patek Philippe magazine has this small booklet inside. “1976-2006: Nautilus, The Legend Lives On” it says. A great small booklet about the 1970s, about the Nautilus (featuring lots of pictures) and a small interview with Thierry Stern (future PP CEO).

Now, go on to the news stand and get one yourself. People across the ocean probably have to wait another month when all text is being translated for WatchTime magazine. Can’t have all the luck with your low tax rates and low gas prices

But what else is new with their Piguet movements… Thomas posted his story on his failing Omegas after being totally ignorant in the first place. Chuck Maddox let him have it at his blog.

Chuck Maddox’s Watch Blog: Hard to pick a title for this entry…

I am not that Zenith-ish the last few years, but that has been different in the past. I loved the Zenith El Primero Rainbow and the Zenith El Primero Chronomaster! I also like the first model (1969) and the models from the 1970s. However, I cannot identify myself with the ‘new’ Zenith with that awful Thierry Nataf at the steering wheel. The current line of Zenith watches is definately not my style.

However, in the search for those older fine models, I bumped into a few nice scans posted by Bruno from Belgium in the Zenith Forum over at TimeZone. I hope he doesn’t mind, but I copied them to my photohoster to post them here. To demonstrate that there were also nice Zenith watches in the past.

This particular model is the Chronomaster, featuring the caliber 410 El Primero movement by Zenith. I have seen these models in the used market starting at 3000 euro. Might be an option if this is your budget

In one of the replies to Bruno’s post was this link to a Zenith El Primero Chronomaster review. Click here to go to this review.

Why bother? There are a large number of watch magazines out there, most of them aren’t even interesting! This one is. I think it is the first watch magazine available that has its roots as an internet portal. Watchlounge.com presents a quarterly (printed) magazine at the news stands in Germany. The first issue (30 November 2006) covers the following subjects:

- Introduction of the Panerai Ferrari Scuderia Chronograph
- Story of the Omega Speedmaster Professional
- Rolex Submariner 5512/5513
- An interview with A.Lange & Söhne

All in German language ofcourse, but perhaps this one can also be translated into English, like Chronos (translates in to the US magazine ‘WatchTime’).

Credits for this news (and picture) go to the weblog over at OysterInfo.de, make sure to check it out!

Ordering information can be found at the website of the publisher, http://www.muellerverlag.at/.

AlexH from ‘Das Rolex Forum’ has found a solution on how to deal with fake Rollies.

And a few minutes (and a train) later….

A wonder that he found the watch after the ‘accident’ anyway….
Click here for the full photo story over at Das Rolex Forum!