March Mania First Round Proper — Tudor, Czapek, Seiko, Breguet, And More March On…
Welcome, one and all, to the first round proper of March Mania 2021, here on Fratello. Are you a watch maniac like we are? If so, you’re sure to love our month-long feature. 96 watches reviewed last year line up for a battle royale like nothing that’s gone before. We need your votes. We want your comments. Help us decide the champion and share in its glory! Let the games commence…
In this first round proper, your task is a bit different from your task in the preliminaries. Below you will find the eight remaining timepieces of each of our Fratello competitors in four head-to-head contests of two timepieces. The seedings in the preliminaries dictate the match-ups. So it’s number 1 vs. number 8, number 2 vs. number 7, number 3 vs. number 6, and number 4 vs. number 5. Vote for your favorite in each of the matchups.
The remaining eight watches per competitor represent your favorite watches that we covered here on Fratello throughout 2020. Why not refresh your memory by clicking the links and reading those eruditely penned odes to wrist-wear? Once you’ve made your selection, vote using the poll form below. Every vote counts because only the top four will make it through to the next round.
Login to your Fratello account and drop us a comment. Who did you vote for and why? What’s your prediction for the later rounds? Will the Omega Speedmaster 321 triumph once again… Who knows? You decide!
(1) Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight Navy Blue Vs. Breguet Marine Tourbillon Équation Marchante 5887 (8)
Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight Navy Blue
It comes as no surprise the Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight Navy Blue claimed the top spot in the preliminary round. The Tudor Black Bay 58 offers incredible value for money. How can you beat a design rooted in the brand’s past, an in-house movement, a perfect size case, and an overall top-notch execution? But most of all the Black Bay Fifty-Eight is simply a stunning watch. On a stainless steel bracelet, it turns out to be just perfect in size and appearance even for my 18cm wrist. And considering the results in the preliminary round, you seemed to agree.
Breguet Marine Tourbillon Équation Marchante 5887
Value for money is not something to consider with a watch as special as the Breguet Marine Tourbillon Équation Marchante 5887. It’s part of why I’m delighted to see that it made its way through the preliminaries. We need this kind of €209,500 madness in our March Mania! Wearing this new flagship of the Breguet Marine collection changed me as a man. It was an exciting and humbling experience having this incredible piece of Haute Horlogerie on my wrist. Seeing all the complications in action in this stylish statement was one of my personal highlights of 2020.
March Mania: First Round Proper — Round ONE — (1) V (8)
(2) Czapek Antarctique Terre Adélie Vs. Panerai 42mm Submersible Goldtech (7)
Czapek Antarctique Terre Adélie
The Czapek Antarctique Terre Adélie came in the number 2 spot in the preliminaries. It’s great to see that a small brand like Czapek is able to produce a watch so many of you love. And I could not agree with you more. Both Rob and I have praised the Antarctique Terre Adélie on several occasions because of its incredible design, brilliant in-house developed movement, and top-notch execution. Considering this is Czapek’s first go at a modern steel luxury sports watch with an integrated bracelet, this Antarctique Terre Adélie is an incredible achievement. Can it make its way all the way to the end? Rob and I wouldn’t mind seeing that happening at all!
Panerai 42mm Submersible Goldtech
Panerai is a brand known for making grand statements. And this 42mm Submersible Goldtech is a statement you guys greatly appreciate. I read plenty of comments praising the 42mm version of the Panerai Submersible Goldtech. By decreasing the size, the brand made sure this beautiful piece wasn’t too in your face. In 2020 Panerai also released the 44mm Submersible Goldtech OroCarbo in an equal color combination only with brushed finishes of the case and bezel. It is another way of managing the bling factor. But the sweet spot for this brilliant combo of black and gold is with this 42mm Submersible Goldtech.
March Mania: First Round Proper — Round ONE — (2) V (7)
(3) Seiko SLA037J1 55th Anniversary Diver Vs. Oris Hölstein Edition 2020 (6)
Seiko SLA037J1 55th Anniversary Diver
The reviews of both Seiko watches in my preliminary round gathered huge numbers last year. But to my surprise, the Seiko SLA037J1 55th Anniversary Diver was the only one of the two that made it through. Many of you seem to love Seiko’s re-creation of the legendary 62MAS to celebrate 55 years of Seiko divers. Despite its €6,500 list price, its iconic design, the beautiful blue color, the 39.9mm Ever-Brilliant Steel case and the Hi-Beat Calibre 8L55 are more than enough to land it a spot in this first-round proper. It was hard not to have a positive opinion on one of Seiko’s most talked about releases of 2020.
Oris Hölstein Edition 2020
The comments in the preliminary round showed us that you guys feel that the Oris Hölstein Edition 2020 perfectly embodies this March Mania. With its full bronze version of the Diver Sixty-Five, the brand created one of the most fun releases of 2020. The moment I put this on my wrist, I had the biggest smile on my face. It’s definitely not as flashy as a full gold watch. Instead, it has an incredible wrist presence that has all the pulling power of a gold watch without screaming too loud. But is a fully bronze watch practical? Of course not, it’s madness!
March Mania: First Round Proper — Round ONE — (3) V (6)
(4) Breguet Marine Alarme Musicale 5547 Vs. Glashütte Original Sixties Chronograph Annual Edition 2020 (5)
Breguet Marine Alarme Musicale 5547
I was absolutely over the moon when I found out you guys voted in large numbers for the brilliant rose gold Breguet Marine Alarme Musicale 5547. It’s hard to state your favorite in a list of 12 watches you love. But if there is one watch that made a lasting impression on me last year, it’s this one. The moment I put the watch on my wrist I felt the majestic presence of this statement of Breguet watchmaking brilliance. Every single detail simply oozes class and sophistication. And the watch features the hands-down best-designed and executed bracelet in the watch industry. Yes: the best. You heard that right.
Glashütte Original Sixties Chronograph Annual Edition 2020
The Glashütte Original Sixties Chronograph Annual Edition 2020 was the biggest surprise for me. It clinched the number 5 spot in the preliminaries quite safely. It shows that you guys love the craftsmanship and the retro vibe of this watch over some of the other heavy-hitters. In 2020 Glashütte chose to go a little easier on the eyes by choosing a glacier blue color for the dial instead of the bright green and orange of the years before. The glacier blue color is complemented by a brown-grey nubuck calfskin strap with lightly contrasting stitching. It gives this round-shaped, 1960s inspired chronograph a stunning look.
March Mania: First Round Proper — Round ONE — (4) V (5)
Win the Hamilton Intra-Matic Chrono by participating!
So now it’s over to you! We want your votes but we also want to hear your thoughts. Better still, by sharing them with us, you’ll put yourself in the running to win either a LIC leather watch strap or (drum roll, please), the HAMILTON INTRA-MATIC AUTO CHRONO. Yes, that’s right, as Karina detailed in her post yesterday, we will be giving away one of Hamilton’s most popular models for one lucky commenter. How do you win? Comment on the March Mania tournament as often as you can, engaging with other readers, helping to create a happy community atmosphere. The best contribution will be handsomely rewarded, so what are you waiting for? Let your voice be heard!
