Fratello celebrated its twentieth anniversary this 12 months. That’s proper; twenty years in the past, RJ began his very personal watch weblog from his neighbor’s storage…or was it his girlfriend’s attic? Anyway, that in itself may be very thrilling. Apart from that, in 2024, we launched our very personal wrist butter to your completely hydrated wrist pictures. However most significantly, we additionally had extra readers than ever and obtained greater than 30,000 feedback from you all. Thanks for that, expensive Fratelli. At this time, I’ll spotlight essentially the most learn tales of 2024 and those who bought essentially the most feedback. Let’s see what moved the watch fanatic group most this 12 months.
The MoonSwatch continues to be going sturdy
For those who solely take a look at essentially the most learn articles of 2024, the Omega × Swatch MoonSwatch is the king. One massive headline this 12 months was that the MoonSwatch turned accessible for buy on-line within the US and China. However the brand new black and white Mission to the Moonphase fashions that includes Snoopy additionally bought a number of consideration. Lastly, the three new Mission on Earth editions additionally stirred issues up. It’s unimaginable how a lot consideration the MoonSwatch nonetheless will get over two years after its debut. Let’s see what occurs to the gathering in 2025.
The Japanese take a giant piece of the Swiss pie
Aside from the MoonSwatch, the highest 10 tales of 2024 have been primarily about new Omega releases — extra on these later. Nonetheless, our readers additionally confirmed a large curiosity in Japanese watches, resembling Citizen’s new Eco Drive-powered Tremendous Titanium assortment (later named Zenshin), Seiko’s stunning octagonal-bezel Prospex divers, and the IFL restricted editions of the G-Shock CasiOak. As well as, extra opinionated articles on Seiko shedding its value-for-money picture and Citizen taking its place as the brand new king of reasonably priced Japanese watches did properly.
What bought you speaking
Relatively than simply highlighting essentially the most learn articles, it is likely to be extra fascinating to see what articles obtained essentially the most feedback. In the long run, that’s the place the actual engagement comes into play. Let’s begin with “comment-jerker” primary — Rolex. On the finish of the 12 months, Lex requested himself whether or not Rolex was nonetheless the undisputed king of watches in 2024. He may’ve saved himself some work if he had merely taken a take a look at profitable articles on classics like the newest Rolex Day-Date in yellow gold and folks’s appreciation for the Rolex Submariner as only a nice dive watch.
In the meantime, Rolex’s little brother Tudor definitely didn’t fall in need of consideration both. New fashions, such because the Pelagos FXD GMT “Zulu Time,” monochrome Black Bay, and Black Bay 58 GMT, bought important appreciation. When Lex wrote about what was subsequent for Tudor, he argued that the model may very properly substitute Rolex because the producer of the final word gents’s instrument watches — do-it-all luxurious timepieces providing the proper steadiness of high quality, performance, and luxurious. Nonetheless, he additionally contemplated whether or not the model forces its hand with too many restricted editions.
Omega on the mind
We already stated it many occasions, however Omega had fairly the 12 months in 2024. The model used the Olympic Video games in Paris as an important excuse to introduce a formidable variety of enticing new references. The 12 months began with the brand new Speedmaster Darkish Aspect of the Moon Apollo 8, which contains a miniature Saturn V rocket on the dial. Nonetheless, that was solely only the start. After that, the Speedmaster Skilled Moonwatch with a white dial took almost everybody’s breath away. And whereas we have been all nonetheless recovering from the introduction of the gorgeous new Speedmaster First Omega in Area for 2024, Omega launched a client model of its Speedmaster Pilot Flight Certified.
However there’s extra than simply Speedmasters, after all. Whereas Thomas requested himself in February whether or not the Seamaster 300M was due for an replace, the model couldn’t cease introducing new references to the gathering. First, there have been two particular editions, with one for the Olympics and one other for the thirty seventh America’s Cup. Nonetheless, those that bought essentially the most consideration have been the fashions launched towards the tip of the 12 months. In case you missed them, ensure to take a look at the brand new model in titanium and Bronze Gold, the basic black and white one, and the show-stopping “Silver Surfer,” as Lex so aptly nicknamed it.
Additionally, in the course of the summer time, Omega launched a really clear trio of black-dial Seamaster Aqua Terras that charmed many people.
The battle for feedback
In fact, our Sunday Morning Showdown articles are the actual area for our commenters. Jorg already wrote a abstract of this 12 months’s most notable battles, so please verify that out. Nonetheless, it’s nearly as if Thomas and Lex are competing for essentially the most feedback, or possibly they merely have a knack for provocative writing. In a single article after the opposite, they knew precisely easy methods to contact a nerve and hold the feedback flowing in.
Lex did so by sharing why shopping for a watch instead of one other isn’t a good suggestion. He additionally tried to make problems nice once more, broke down the Longines model, and referred to as upon all watch manufacturers and followers to cease the abuse of one of the best all-around watches on the market.
On the identical time, Thomas continued along with his profitable Again to Fundamentals collection, gave quartz watches some well-deserved consideration, and, after all, launched his debut watch and VPC model. Nonetheless, 2024 was additionally the 12 months by which he requested himself whether or not he was shedding contact with Rolex, admitted to essentially liking Hublot watches, and mirrored on whether or not revising the “Holy Trinity” of watchmaking is sensible. You may resolve who will get the prize for essentially the most comment-provoking articles this 12 months.
Rising costs and declining desirability
A recurring theme all year long was the rising costs on the watch market. In January, Jorg took a take a look at whether or not the 2024 Tudor worth will increase would have an effect on the model’s success. Then, in February, RJ, Nacho, and Lex tried to make sense of the unending upward pattern on an episode of Fratello Talks. Later within the 12 months, Henry thought of whether or not rising costs have been altering the enjoying discipline for watch fans. Lastly, inside the final three months, Lex tried to clarify that the decline in desirability (which he thought was good for veritable watch fans) was brought on by a foul case of luxurious fatigue. We’re curious to see what manufacturers will do to their costs in 2025, however they’ll nearly definitely go up once more.
The stunning standouts of 2024
Lastly, we’ll identify some standouts that bought important consideration this 12 months and/or caught us off guard. Early within the 12 months, the gorgeous and understated Grand Seiko SBGX355 took the stage because the Quartz Snowflake. Additionally, Gerard’s hands-on evaluation of the Cartier Tank Should SolarBeat obtained fairly some consideration, as did his article on Horage’s and Miniswys’s revolutionary invention, the Microreg.
In fact, we are able to’t neglect in regards to the introduction of Patek Philippe’s first new mannequin line in 25 years, the Cubitus. Fortunately, Lex tried to make sense of the divisive watch in his “Behind The Patek Philippe Cubitus” article. Moreover that, we noticed the return of the TAG Heuer System 1 in collaboration with Kith and the relaunch of an ’80s icon within the magnificent Piaget Polo 79.
All proper, there you may have it — our 12 months of horological highlights our most learn and commented-on articles! Oh, and let’s not neglect about Arnold Schwarzenegger getting caught at German customs when he tried to deliver some watches over whereas sporting a rose gold Royal Oak Offshore.
Pricey Fratelli, have an important 2025, and please hold studying and commenting within the coming 12 months. When you’re at it, tell us your favourite article from 2024 within the feedback.
