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Fratello’s December 30, 2019 roundup gathered more than 30 watches that its editors and contributors found especially compelling among that year’s releases. It is best read as a set of personal favorites—not a ranked contest, a market-wide verdict, or a guide to what is currently available. The selections range from mechanical tool watches and chronographs to dress watches, independents, and more accessible options.
How to read this list
Robert-Jan Broer framed the roundup around watches introduced in 2019 that individual editors and contributors most enjoyed. The contributors did not use a shared scoring system, and at least one explicitly separated personal favorites from watches they would call “the best.” The article therefore records the team’s tastes and reasons, rather than proving that one watch was objectively superior to another. Read Fratello’s original 2019 roundup.
The reasons vary by contributor: design, movement, materials, heritage, wearability, and personal appeal. The breadth is part of the list’s value. It puts very different watches in view without pretending they are direct substitutes.
Standout picks from the roundup
Omega Speedmaster Apollo XI Moonshine
Several contributors chose the gold Speedmaster commemorating the Apollo 11 moon landing. The roundup describes Moonshine gold, a burgundy ceramic bezel, black onyx markers, and a caseback featuring a lunar meteorite image. Those details are the source’s 2019 descriptions, not a current product specification or availability statement. Robert-Jan Broer summed up his own enthusiasm by writing, “I think this is one of the best Speedmasters that was ever made.” That is his opinion, not a team ranking.
#1 Best Overall
Oris Big Crown ProPilot X
Contributors praised the ProPilot X’s contemporary design and skeletonized in-house movement. Bert Buijsrogge’s 2019 account gave the movement a 10-day power reserve. The roundup’s naming and specifications reflect the model as discussed then; check the exact reference and official product details before treating them as current.
Seiko 5 Sports
Gerard Nijenbrinks highlighted the SRPD73-K1 and described the new Seiko 5 Sports line as having 26 variations. That makes the pick a useful reminder of the range’s variety, but neither the historical variation count nor the named reference establishes what is currently sold or in stock.
MING 17.06 Slate
Michael Stockton singled out this independent watch for its slate-colored design and reported that the first-year run of 200 pieces sold out in 40 minutes. He cited a price of 1,250 CHF. Both the production-and-sales account and price belong to the 2019 article; the roundup does not independently establish them or say what the watch costs now.
Breitling Navitimer 806 1959 Re-Edition
Ben Hodges valued the historically informed approach of this re-edition and noted the consultation of vintage Breitling specialist Fred S. Mandelbaum. Hodges also connected it to Breitling’s 2019 success story, an editorial observation rather than a measured claim about what caused the brand’s performance.
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Grand Seiko SBGA415 Sekki Collection – Taisetsu (Winter)
The roundup describes the SBGA415 as a grey-dial winter watch and says the Sekki collection was intended for the US market. That is a historical description of the collection’s positioning; it should not be read as a current statement about regional distribution.
anOrdain Model 2
The Model 2 drew praise for its vitreous enamel dial and its individual character. Its place in the roundup illustrates how strongly personal taste shaped the selection, alongside more conventional considerations such as movement or heritage.
More watches named by the editors
The roundup’s range extends well beyond those examples. Other selections include the Omega Seamaster 300M Sedna Gold; Breitling Aviator 8 Mosquito; Montblanc 1858 Split Second Chronograph; Bulgari Octo Finissimo Chronograph GMT Automatic; Seiko Prospex SPB105J1; Oris Big Crown Pointer Date Oxblood; Swatch Pay; Grand Seiko SBGH273; Omega Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition; Sinn 206 Arktis II; Louis Erard x Alain Silberstein Excellence Regulator; Singer Reimagined x GoS for Only Watch; Chanel’s new J12; Yema Superman Heritage Bronze; and Timex S1 by Giorgio Galli. This is a representative roll call, not the complete list of more than 30 watches in the original article.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Prices in the article are historical, not buying advice
Several contributors included prices when writing in 2019. They help show the range of watches being discussed at the time, but they are not current quotations and cannot be used to compare today’s value or availability.
Best Value
| Watch | Price cited in the 2019 roundup | Attribution and qualification |
|---|---|---|
| MING 17.06 Slate | 1,250 CHF | Price cited by Michael Stockton in 2019; not a current quote. |
| Omega Seamaster 300M Sedna Gold | 19,500 CHF | Price cited by Michael Stockton in 2019; not a current quote. |
| Breitling Aviator 8 Mosquito | 7,100 euros | Price cited by Michael Stockton in 2019; not a current quote. |
| Omega Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition | €8,700 | List price cited by Jorg Weppelink in 2019; not a current quote. |
What this retrospective can—and cannot—tell you
The list is useful for exploring what a group of watch writers noticed in 2019, and for finding models that might merit further investigation. It does not establish independent sales performance, a consensus among watch buyers, or a present-day recommendation. The original article is a single editorial source; its descriptions and reported figures are not independently validated here.
If you are considering one of these watches now, first identify the exact reference, then check official specifications, production status, current pricing, and availability with the brand or an authorized retailer. For a meaningful comparison, consider intended use, movement and complications, case size and material, water resistance, and the price and availability of the specific reference. Those are practical buying criteria, not tests or rankings applied by Fratello in 2019.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
