350 avsnitt • Längd: 55 min • Veckovis: Tisdag
A regular podcast about watches. Hosted by Fratello Magazine. During our podcast shows, we discuss watches, the watch industry, watch collecting, watches events and more. Make sure to subscribe!
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Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we discuss two popular complications and their usefulness. It's the type of nerdy talk we hope you enjoy!
Watch complications are a big part of why many of us collect timepieces. Dive watches, chronographs, alarms, and others form the cornerstone of some collections. Today, though, we focus on two types of watches that couldn't be any more different if they tried! The GMT and perpetual calendar genres were popular at Watches and Wonders 2025, so we discuss the utility of each.
Handgelenkskontrolle
Before tackling two very different complications, we engage in some banter. This week, we keep it relatively brief and discuss a few TV shows. Silo, 3 Body Problem, Dope Thief, Stranger Things, and You all come up in our chat. Balazs also quickly mentions some New Balance 990V6 Miusa Action Bronson Untitled shoes he will purchase. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Mike is wearing his Ming 18.01 H41 with a newly received mango rubber strap. It's a great color! Balazs is enjoying his Omega Speedmaster 145.022 transitional from 1968. He has it on a perforated strap from Joseph Bonnie.
Complications — useful or useless?
For some reason, there were a lot of GMT and perpetual calendar complications at Watches and Wonders 2025. Seeing GMTs wasn't a surprise, but the flood of new perpetual calendars gave us pause. In this episode, we talk about whether anyone is actually using these functions. Simply put, we see a GMT as useful and a perpetual calendar as relatively useless. A GMT is potentially practical, but we bring up that it might be better behind a desk in a global job. A perpetual calendar is interesting and expensive, but does anyone keep them running consecutively to ensure they stay on track? Plus, is this type of complication a way to show off for the wearer and/or the brand? Have a listen, and tell us what you think. Do you or would you use either of these complications?
Thanks for listening! If you have ideas for future shows, please let us know.
It's 2025, and dress watches are in! But that doesn't mean you have to dust off your tuxedo. In fact, it's quite the opposite: the dress watch's link to formal attire has never been less relevant than it is today. Dress watches — both in the stricter definition and in adjacent style — are gaining popularity, but it's not because of all the opulent, Great Gatsby-esque cocktail parties that millennials and zoomers are throwing; it's because of a relatively recent styling trend of juxtaposing a geezer-worthy timepiece with the most casual of outfits. Today, on Fratello Talks, we discuss the phenomenon and get into some exquisite examples of recently introduced dress watches. Whether we'll see them poking out from beneath the cuff of a dinner jacket or a Carhartt jacket seems just as likely, but one thing is sure; we're all for it.
We're back with another episode of Fratello On Air. This week, we're wrapping up Watches and Wonders. We've had time to think about the show, the adjoining events, and the watches. You'll hear our impressions and some good old banter. For our listeners, the watch content begins after 30 minutes.
Mike is at his childhood home in Parkland, Florida, this week while Balazs is in Germany. We apologize for the late release, but vacations get in the way every so often. We've had some time to digest all the releases and news that occurred in Geneva. Now, we're wrapping up with our thoughts.
Handgelenkskontrolle
We kick off our show with errant banter about travel to the USA, current trends, and a bit about old-school Rimowa. Then, it's time to talk TV and the latest shows, including The Last of Us and The Narrow Road to the Deep North. We eventually move on to watches, and Balazs shares that he's finally trying the Ming universal bracelet on his 17.09. It was a slow burn, but now he's hooked on the supple links! Mike is in full vacation mode with his favorite beach watch, the Citizen Promaster BN0220. It's a carefree piece that works well and takes a beating.
Wrapping up Watches and Wonders 2025
Wrapping up Watches and Wonders isn't the easiest task because it leads to many tangential conversations. We discuss some key trends at the show. Then, we tackle some of the standout releases, such as the Rolex Land-Dweller, Angelus watches, Parmigiani, JLC, and more. We also mention the undeniable rise of Sellita and La Joux-Perret. Finally, we wonder if 2025 was so good or if 2024 was that bad! Regardless, it was a fun show to record, and we hope you enjoy it.
Thanks for listening! As always, if you have suggestions for future episodes, just let us know.
We don't just go to Watches and Wonders to get our hands on all the new watches; we also keep our eyes on the bigger picture, looking at the overarching themes that emerge at the show. On today's episode of Fratello Talks, we're looking at some of the trends that we felt were most prominent this year. These are the things we expect to see more of as the year goes on — the influential factors that shape what watch brands will be doing over the coming months. Daan and Lex join Nacho for some trend spotting and to discuss some of the most interesting and noticeable ones they noticed during the fair.
Welcome to this special installment of Fratello Talks. This is the Watches and Wonders 2025 debrief episode, where Nacho, RJ, Daan, and Lex share their highlights from this year's show. We also discuss just about every brand and novelty released at the fair. Honorable mentions go to some of the novelties released at the other events that took place in town last week. It's not unfair to say that it was the biggest this ever-monumental week for the watch world has been in recent times. There's a lot to take in. So whether you want to hear our take on a specific novelty or to find out what our favorites are, make sure to tune in to this long-form episode of Fratello Talks.
Welcome back to a special episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we bring you a compilation of recordings from Watches and Wonders 2025. We patched together several segments and even had a guest! Enjoy this inside look at the world's largest watch event.
Watches and Wonders 2025 may be over, but it's still fresh in our minds. As we did for the last Geneva Watch Days, this episode is a collection of small recordings from the conference. It reflects our thoughts about the latest releases, people, and trends. Enjoy the content, and remember, this show was recorded on the floor in a crowded space.
Handgelenkskontrolle
Well, there's no real Handgelenkskontrolle this week. However, Mike brought two watches to help ward off the hairy eyeball of Swiss customs. The Patek Philippe Calatrava 570 and Ming 22.01 GMT made the cut. Balazs is wearing his Rolex GMT-Master 1675 at Watches and Wonders and brought several pieces, including a lovely Angelus 215. Mike delivered a vintage Montal beads-of-rice bracelet and another Angelus to Balazs — special delivery!
Watches and Wonders — live reporting
While we weren't at Watches and Wonders together the entire time, we found the time to meet up for a few different recording sessions. As a special treat, we managed to corner Gary Shteyngart, a friend of the show, and got his thoughts about the releases, the fair, and the craziness. We even gave our friend Eric Wind a shout-out! You'll hear about all the big brands, including Rolex and some smaller marques too!
We hope you enjoy the show, and thank you for listening! As always, if you have ideas for future episodes, please let us know!
On this rapid-fire episode of Fratello Talks, Nacho and Lex take a short break from their busy schedules to discuss some of their Watches and Wonders 2025 highlights. On location at the YouTube studio at the show, they quickly run through some of the most notable releases, starting with Rolex and Tudor and moving on to some oddball favorites and unexpected head-turners. This episode only scratches the surface, of course. We'll be back next week with a full-length episode to discuss more of the new watches.
Watches and Wonders 2025 is just a few days away, so today, on Fratello Talks, we're making our predictions, voicing our wishes, and expressing our fears for the week ahead. Nacho, RJ, and Lex are feeling the pre-Watches and Wonders excitement. After all, it's the biggest week of the year for the watch industry, with a record 60 brands showcasing their novelties at the fair. Though we have unique early access to some of the new watches, we do our best not to give anything away and look to fill the gaps where we can only make an educated guess. Though you'll have to wait until next week to see what some of the world's biggest watch brands have got in store for us this year, we think this episode will whet your appetite for what's to come.
Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we share our hopes and dreams (not really) for what should be an epic Watches and Wonders 2025. After a blah 2024, we're expecting some cracking releases. We discuss some of our wishes and the event in general. For our listeners, the watch content starts after 30 minutes.
Watches and Wonders 2025 is a week away, so it's time to hear our wishes for new releases. Leaks have occurred, but no one knows if they're true. We'll have to wait, but it won't be long!
Handgelenkskontrolle
We start our show by talking about traveling to Watches and Wonders. Then, we get into the event itself, the surrounding events, and the challenges of seeing everyone and everything within a tight timeframe. Dress codes are mentioned, and so is dining etiquette! Then, we move on to some recent topics, including the Nike: Form Follows Motion exhibition at the Vitra Museum in Weil am Rhein, Germany. We also cover recent TV shows and movies. Finally, Balazs regales us with a fantastic yet tragic tale of woe at a German hardware store. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Balazs is wearing a new Nivada Grenchen Chronosport supposedly based on a prototype. Mike is wearing a vintage Movado Kingmatic ref. 15163.
Wishes for Watches and Wonders 2025
It's hard not to kick off our wishes by talking about Rolex. Then again, if the recent leaks are real, any desires will fall on deaf ears. We move on to Tudor, a brand that always surprises us with interesting releases. Will we see a Big Block, a Ranger II, or a new North Flag? Patek Philippe is interesting, but the company's penchant for louder, larger watches has us looking toward Laurent Ferrier instead. Ming will be in Geneva, so let's see if something new will arrive. We mention TAG Heuer's reinvolvement in Formula 1, and perhaps it will translate to a flood of new pieces. Let's see!
We will be on the ground in Geneva, so feel free to stop us and say hello while we run to meetings. Hopefully, you'll enjoy today's episode, and thank you for listening. As always, if you have future show topic ideas, let us know!
Simply put, not all complications are created equal. In today's episode of Fratello Talks, we discuss many of these horological elements adjacent to a watch's most essential time-telling function. Nacho, Thomas, and Lex begin by defining terms before listing their favorite complications and ending up with some they don't like so much. They also discuss the fact that some complications play more of an active role, such as a chronograph or GMT, whereas others are not as interactive, like a perpetual calendar or moonphase. Regardless, we encourage you to read up on all complications beyond those discussed today. The journey from their functional inception to their development and combination has resulted in some of the world's most impressive watches.
Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air. This week, we discuss our feelings about revitalized watch brands. The retro trend has been strong for over a decade, meaning that long-dormant names have been brought back to life. Are all successful? Enjoy one of our lengthiest episodes yet. For our listeners, the watch content starts after 35 minutes.
It's hard to think of a brand that hasn't returned to the market. For those of us who have collected watches for a long time, this would have been unimaginable 10 or 15 years ago. But are all revitalized watch brands a success? Hear our thoughts on the matter.
Handgelenkskontrolle
We took a week off between episodes, meaning we have some catching up to do. Balazs mentions an upcoming Sotheby's auction featuring the first-ever jerseys from Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Mike talks about a recent 75th-anniversary event with Orient, and then it's on to a visit to the A. Lange & Söhne Berlin boutique, where Balazs spent two hours. We mention a recent evening at Phillips in London with amazing independent brands. For TV, we mention The White Lotus, Zero Day, A Murder At The End Of The World, and Adolescence. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Balazs is wearing his Omega Dynamic 166.079 with a blue dial. Mike has chosen his Rolex Submariner 5513 "Maxi Dial" from 1979.
Revitalized watch brands
For our main topic, we discuss a small fraction of the existing revitalized watch brands. It's a timely subject with the announcement of Breitling's purchase of Gallet. We share our thoughts on the modern-day efforts of the following historic names:
We hope you enjoy today's lengthy show, and feel free to share your thoughts below on these and other reborn vintage brands. Also, let us know if you have any ideas for future episodes. Thanks for listening!
We would all love to have an unlimited watch budget, but that's not the case for most of us. But that doesn't mean we can't have some hypothetical fun and select the watches we'd buy with €10K, €20K, and €30K. On today's episode of Fratello Talks, Nacho, RJ, and Lex run through their picks at those three price points. Technically, they can choose from new, pre-owned, or even vintage watches. But as you'll quickly see, their picks all benefit from the interesting prices on the pre-owned market.
Have you ever wanted to buy a vintage watch but been put off by potential pitfalls? Well, this episode of Fratello Talks is the one for you. Today, Nacho, RJ, and Thomas share their advice on buying vintage watches. They've been doing it themselves for years. In Thomas's case, there's even a history of working as a dealer for Amsterdam Watch Co. On today's show, they combine their expertise and distill some advice that everyone taking their first steps toward vintage timepieces should hear. So be sure to tune in whether you're teetering on the edge of your first vintage purchase or a connoisseur in the field. And if you're one of the latter, we'd love for you to chime in with your words of advice in the comments section.
Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we're each choosing three non-Swiss watches with a budget of €20,000. The task is tricky, though, because €20,000 is enough to afford great pieces from the usual suspects, but it means being picky if choosing just one from a costly brand. Get ready for some surprises! For our listeners, the watch content begins after approximately 19 minutes.
Switzerland is the center of watchmaking, but there are numerous countries with credible watchmaking chops. Non-Swiss watches are extremely popular, with brands from Germany and Japan leading the way. In this episode, we look at watches from these countries and others as we spend an imaginary budget.
Handgelenkskontrolle
We open our episode with a discussion about TV shows and movies. Sadly, the sneaker marker has been quiet, but we hope it takes off with warmer weather around the corner. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Balazs is wearing his vintage King Seiko 45-7001, a hand-winding Hi-Beat gem. Mike is off-theme with a Swiss watch. He's sporting his Borgel-cased Movado 18241 with central seconds and a manual-winding movement. We then discuss the brand and these early waterproof cases.
Non-Swiss watches
Will we make some surprising picks with €20,000 to spend, or will we go mainstream and choose something from A. Lange & Söhne or Grand Seiko? How about both? During this episode, we discuss the following non-Swiss watches:
Our choices came from Japan, Germany, France, the UK, and the USA. It shows the wide variety of watches from outside of Switzerland, and the chances are that interesting options from most countries exist.
We hope you enjoy today's episode, and thank you for listening. As always, if you have suggestions for future shows, please let us know.
Today, on Fratello Talks, we're discussing Audemars Piguet. The brand is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2025 and has kicked things off by introducing a selection of new models earlier this week. Lex was in Le Brassus to report on the novelties, and Nacho and RJ now join him for this week's discussion. They begin by looking at said novelties and wrap things up by sharing their thoughts on the brand's current direction and whether they've felt the influence of recently appointed CEO Ilaria Resta yet.
We're back with another episode of Fratello On Air. This week, we're in myth-busting mode. We've seen some silly things on social media, and it's time to shed light on them. For our listeners, the watch content begins after 25 minutes.
On one hand, we're pleased that so much watch-related content now exists. On the other, the flood of influencers brings a wide array of commentary. Social media is entertaining, but it's also important to keep a clear head while consuming it. In this episode, we go on a myth-busting mission. Enjoy the ride!
Handgelenkskontrolle
We kick off our episode discussing sneakers and TV shows. Nike and New Balance have released some new models worth consideration. Balazs mentions The Madness, a series on Netflix. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Mike is wearing his new Timex Ironman 8-Lap Gray Shades. It's a model sold exclusively by Timex Japan and is relatively affordable. Balazs is wearing his tried-and-true Ming 17.09 on his favorite black rubber strap.
Myth-busting
We move on to our main topic and begin with one of the silliest claims we've heard on social media. Seemingly, it's trendy to make provocative comments to help build a fan base. One influencer proclaimed that there are no underrated vintage watches left to discover. Hogwash, we say! Then, we discuss a recent video on salesperson etiquette at a watch boutique. Next, we tackle an influencer's self-created fan Q&A. Finally, there's some silly terminology running amok, geezer.
We hope you enjoy today's episode. If you have ideas for future shows, please let us know!
In this week's episode of Fratello Talks, we're making a public service announcement: don't let money stop you from enjoying watches! This topic is close to our hearts and has come up more than once at Fratello HQ lately. So today Nacho, Lex, and Thomas gather around the microphones and hash out their thoughts on the matter. Ultimately, it's something we can recommend to you all: don't limit your appreciation. Ownership is a small (and somewhat arguably overrated) part of the equation. We believe it should still be possible to praise and enjoy a watch (or any other object of fascination) from a distance and on its merits alone. Arbitrarily discrediting something based on one factor eventually takes the fun out of it.
Welcome back to Fratello On Air! This week, we tackle the second half of our discussion on vintage chronographs. We get into the weeds in this episode, so we hope you like it nerdy!
Last week, we kicked off this discussion on vintage chronographs with our thoughts on why we find these watches so alluring. We mentioned racing, the space race, and other daring feats, along with how chronographs were present during many of these activities. Now we're ready to go into detail.
Handgelenkskontrolle
Because we recorded this episode directly after the last, we skipped the usual banter. Don't worry; it will return next week! For the Handgelenkskontrolle, both of us are on task with our choices. Mike is wearing a Roamer Stingray Chrono Diver, one of the wildest vintage chronographs he owns. The case shape, quality, patina, and Valjoux 23 movement all make it a lovable piece. Balazs is wearing his Grana LE, a Hungarian Air Force piece with a lovely patina.
Vintage Chronographs Part 2
We begin with a discussion on the market for vintage chronographs. Then, we mention buying these watches, what to look out for, and what to expect during ownership. After all, these are relatively complex timepieces, so there is a greater potential for issues. Condition and originality are also worth considering. Chronographs contain many details, including specific pushers, hands, and dials. Finding replacements can be impossible. Finally, we mention key models and movements. The Valjoux 72, Lemania 321, EP 4, and El Primero 3019PHC are some of the calibers we discuss. The Breitling Chronomat, Gallet Decimal, Omega Speedmaster, and Zenith El Primero A386 come up during the show.
As always, thank you for listening, and we hope you enjoy this episode. If you'd like us to come back and discuss our favorite vintage chronographs, just comment below. Of course, if you have suggestions for future shows, please let us know.
Hello, and welcome to Fratello Talks. In today's episode, we're taking on the challenge of building a €15,000 watch collection. Nacho, RJ, and Lex have crunched the numbers and leafed through the catalogs and each selected three modern (currently available at retail) watches that they would buy if they had a €15K budget. It's a hypothetical exercise and meant to be just a bit of fun, but ultimately, it's still a challenge trying to leverage the budget to get the most bang for their buck. So, if you want to know which watches these three members of the Fratello team would go for today, tune in to find out.
Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air. This week, we begin a two-part series on vintage chronographs. Apparently, our listeners like hearing about these complicated watches that measure elapsed time. Note that the watch content starts after approximately 25 minutes.
Vintage chronographs are a special category of watches. They're complex, often fragile, and strangely addictive! In this episode, we'll begin exploring what makes them so alluring. In our next installment, we'll get specific on models, movements, and what to look out for when buying.
Handgelenkskontrolle
Our episode begins with a discussion about Super Bowl LIX. We then discuss more TV shows. Mike mentions a recent visit to Roseberys, a London-based auction house, where he attended a preview and witnessed some interesting behavior. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Mike is wearing his cherished Rolex Datejust 1600 with a blue dial. Balazs is enjoying his Rolex Submariner 5513, which he recently featured in a fantastic article.
Vintage chronographs
We then begin discussing our main topic — why we are so attracted to chronographs. We began our collecting journeys wanting these types of watches but found ourselves attracted to pieces from different decades. Mike leaped into the '60s, while Balazs enjoyed the '40s, '50s, and '70s. We end our episode by mentioning iconic models, including the Omega Speedmaster, Rolex Daytona, Breitling Navitimer, Heuer Carrera, and Universal Genève Compax. Stay tuned for next week's podcast in which we uncover more details!
Thank you for listening to this week's edition of Fratello On Air. As always, if you have suggestions for future shows, please let us know!
Welcome back to Fratello Talks. It's time for some tough love! Today, Nacho, Lex, and Daan are talking about a handful of watch brands with untapped potential. These are big names in the watch world that they deeply respect and admire but feel are not currently delivering to the full extent of their capability. This can relate to a brand's history and legacy, its technical expertise, or even aspects of watchmaking on which a brand has fallen behind. Some of it may sound harsh, but it's all well-intentioned feedback. These are brands that they are rooting for to do better and that they know, with some finesse and adjustment, could be genuinely excellent.
Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we stick to Rolex under €8K and pick our favorites. The entire history of the brand is up for grabs as long as the price is right. Enjoy the episode, and tune in to the watch content after approximately 19 minutes.
Getting a sweet Rolex under €8K is not only doable but pretty darn easy! There are loads of models available, including steel sports pieces and dress models in precious metals. Vintage or modern, we've got you covered!
Handgelenkskontrolle
We kick off our episode with some schnitzel talk. Depending on where one travels, different types of schnitzels exist that we're ready to try — most of them, that is! We also mention some upcoming Jordan 1 sneakers celebrating 40 years since the first pair. Then, we talk about a few TV shows we've been watching. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Balazs is wearing his faithful Seiko 6139 chronograph. Mike is sporting the recently reviewed G-Shock DW-5000R-1A Origin Revival.
Rolex under €8K
For our main topic, we discuss Rolex under €8K. How did we select this upper limit? That's a good question! We wanted to come in comfortably below the five-figure mark, but we also felt that €5K was too low in 2025. We realize that the upper end isn't inexpensive, but we mention several models that cost much less. For our search, we primarily used Chrono24 as a basis. Our picks are:
We hope you enjoy today's episode. As always, if you have ideas for future shows, please let us know!
Last week, LVMH Watch Week took place. This week, Nacho, RJ, and Lex are looking at all the watches released by Zenith, TAG Heuer, Louis Vuitton, and Daniel Roth (to name a few). We review all the releases and share our thoughts on those we found worth highlighting. With Watches and Wonders just a couple of months away, you might not have expected the deluge of novelties, but it seems LVMH and its brands have more than one ace up their sleeve. It's a strong start to the year for watches, setting the bar high for 2025.
Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we discuss a popular request from our listeners about traveling with watches. We've discussed this topic before, but it's been a while since we last did so. For our listeners, we begin the watch content after 32 minutes.
Traveling with watches is a typical topic on forums and boards. Some may think it's a tired subject, but with new collectors always entering the fray, the theme deserves more attention. Plus, with new schemes arising to defraud watch wearers, it is constantly on some folks' minds.
Handgelenkskontrolle
To kick off this episode, we have a lengthy chat about Burns Night, television, movies, and shoes. Balazs mentions one of his favorite Scottish comedians, Kevin Bridges. We've been watching or awaiting titles such as The Night Agent, Nosferatu, Cross, Shining Girls, Paradise, Landman, and a documentary on Kimbo Slice on the VICE channel. Regarding shoes, the latest Nike Air Tech Challenge 2 retro tennis shoes worn by Andre Agassi are about to launch. We discuss the anniversary of Kobe Bryant's tragic death and mention the upcoming Nike Kobe V Protro "Year of the Mamba" shoes. For the Handglenkskontrolle, Mike is wearing his newly repaired Movado Curviplan with a black dial and an 18K gold case. Balazs is sporting a new release, the Nivada Grenchen Antarctic Diver in green. The piece is limited to 75 pieces with a date and the same number without the function for €956. Expect a review soon!
Traveling with watches
Several people in our Discord group have asked about traveling with watches. It seems that the new year will bring heavy travel, and with watch friends all over the world, it's fun to bring a few watches to show and tell. However, is this the best idea? We discuss the pitfalls of packing precious timepieces for the trip. Safety, forgetfulness, how to pack, and more enter into the discussion. We hope you enjoy the episode and thanks again to our community for the topic suggestion!
If you have ideas for future shows, please feel free to let us know!
Welcome back to Fratello Talks, folks! What's the best way to spend your hard-earned cash as a watch collector? Should you splurge on many or save for one special piece? One method satisfies curiosity and is fulfilling for some, but it can also leave you with your head spinning, a full watch box, and an empty wallet. The other limits you to fewer watches, but those can, in turn, be more expensive, rare, and "special." This is the topic of discussion for today's podcast. Nacho is joined by Daan and Thomas, who provide their thoughts on the matter and share their experience. If this dilemma has ever haunted you, be sure to tune in; this one's for you!
Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air. This week, we discuss our favorite divers from the '60s, '70s, and '80s. We also offer more affordable alternatives. Enjoy this lengthy episode! For our listeners, the watch content begins after 27 minutes.
We're receiving some great show ideas from our listeners. For example, today's show on our favorite divers from the '60s, '70s, and '80s came from our chat group. We aim to please with this discussion, and it's one of our longest recordings yet!
Handgelenkskontrolle
We kick off our show with a lengthy chat about TV shows. The Penguin, Bad Sisters, and Silo are some of the titles we discuss. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, we're both wearing some of our favorite divers. Balazs kicks it off with his Doxa Sub 300T Sharkhunter, a big dive watch from the late '60s. Mike is wearing his early '70s Rolex 1680 Red Submariner.
Our favorite divers
We head to the main topic and mention a watch from each decade along with an affordable alternative. Two top picks per decade isn't a lot, so we expect differing views in the comments section. During the episode, we discuss the following:
'60s:
'70s:
'80s:
We hope you enjoy today's episode. If you have ideas for future episodes, please feel free to let us know.
Welcome to this week's episode of Fratello Talks. How much should you spend on your first watch? It's a valid question we've all faced at some point. However, there are plenty of different ways to answer it. Today, Nacho, RJ, and Daan delve into the topic and discuss their approaches to budgeting for a first watch. It's worth mentioning that we aren't talking about a "first-ever" watch but, rather, a first "nicer" watch. Whether you ultimately decide to go all out or cleverly invest a smaller amount to test the waters, we hope today's discussion will help you navigate the subject.
Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we discuss the watch community and how to find a group of like-minded (or differently minded) people within it. Whether you seek to meet people in person or online, there's even a great option if you don't live in a major city. For our listeners, the watch content begins after 25 minutes.
At times, it feels like the watch community is an exclusive place. Flashy Instagram photos in New York show groups of people having fun around watches. But how can typical watch fans living in more rural areas have fun and meet people? Plus, are you missing something if you're not at these parties? We chat about the community and how to find your cadre of collectors. A big thanks to Kevin, who suggested today's topic!
Handgelenkskontrolle
Guess what? The dad joke is back, and Balazs falls for it hook, line, and sinker! We deliver on our promise to discuss sneakers, including the latest Nike announcements. New Agassis and the Deion Sanders Air Diamond Turf "Falcons" models are coming in a few weeks! For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Mike is wearing a 34mm stainless steel Movado ref. 14775. It's a simple three-hand watch with a lovely dial. Balazs is opting for a modern Ming 17.09 with the fantastic new Ming rubber strap.
The watch community
Look, we get it: the watch community seems daunting at times. The same names show up everywhere, and the whole environment feels exclusive rather than inclusive. Don't fear, though, because there are many ways to get involved and enjoy watches with friendly people. Reaching out to collectors of a similar brand or theme on Instagram is a great way to learn and become active in a subcategory. Chat groups are all over that app, WhatsApp, and Facebook. Before you know it, you'll be chatting away and enjoying watches more than ever! Different meetups also occur in smaller towns and cities. If nothing is happening, why not start a group? It's easy, and you'll be surprised at the response when organizing an easy night out to chat about timepieces.
We hope you enjoy today's show! If you have ideas for future episodes, please let us know.
What better way to venture into another trip around the Sun than by setting yourself up with a solid set of New Year's watch resolutions? In today's episode, Nacho, Daan, and Lex discuss theirs for 2025. They include everything from pondering potential future purchases to considering consolidating comprehensive collections. The guys also reflect on some of last year's resolutions and report on how they managed to (or didn't) stick to them. Finally, they also share a handful of non-watch-related resolutions they have set for 2025. We encourage you to share your New Year's resolutions (horological and otherwise) in the comments section below.
We're finally back with another episode of Fratello On Air after a lengthy break from the holidays, illness, and travel! This week, we're reflecting on 2024 and some key events that shaped the year. Enjoy the episode, and we look forward to 2025! For our listeners, the watch content begins after 27 minutes.
Whew, it's been a few weeks since we last recorded. The holiday period was fantastic, but we had a bout of the flu. Finally, illnesses have subsided, and we're reflecting on 2024. In many ways, this was a tough year for the industry, but it was a great year for the community.
Handgelenkskontrolle
Before reflecting on 2024, we discuss a variety of topics. Our Handgelenkskontrolle signals a rare instance when we've come together and are wearing the same brand. Balazs is wearing his beloved new Angelus Chrono Dato Luxe. Mike received a package from Balazs on Christmas Eve. An Angelus 250 chronograph arrived from Germany, and it's a beauty. This sparks discussion on the next Angelus that needs to join Mike's collection, the 215.
Reflecting on 2024
Last year was a great one for both of us. The podcast grew, and we ran into a lot of listeners in cities across the globe. Thank you for listening! Today, we discuss the following topics:
We hope you enjoy this latest episode. As always, if you have ideas for show topics, please let us know!
Welcome all to a new year and a new season of Fratello Talks, your favorite watch podcast in the whole wide world. What should we expect from the world of watches in 2025? Nacho, RJ, and Lex share their predictions on today's show. Some of these are wishful thinking, but others are educated guesses based on anniversaries, notable dates, and insider secrets we swore blood oaths not to break. Okay, maybe nothing that secret will be revealed. But it's still worth tuning in because some of these predictions may just end up coming true (or be hilariously wrong). Being aware of some of the anniversaries taking place, which may be celebrated with corresponding releases, will certainly give us an idea of what to expect!
As we come to the end of the year, we’ll be looking back at some of the best watches of 2024. Nacho is joined by RJ and Lex, who have come prepared with a list of favorites under six pre-determined categories. And though they’ll discuss some of what they consider to be the best watches of the year, you can decide which of said timepieces will earn the title of Fratello reader’s choice for best watch of 2024. Be sure to vote for your favorite on the website (link below)!
The winner will be revealed after a week of voting. For now, tune in for an overview of horological highlights from the past 12 months.
Vote for the best watch of 2024 here!
Welcome back to Fratello Talks. Everyone knows Switzerland is home to some of the world's greatest and most renowned watch brands. But plenty of brands outside the Alpine region—and even outside Europe—produce high-end mechanical timepieces that can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with their Swiss contemporaries. Some of these non-Swiss brands have even garnered the fervent interest of collectors, who have formed communities around them. Some even rival Swiss manufacturers that have long held their place in the pantheon of horology. In today's episode, Nacho, Thomas, and Lex highlight more than a handful of these brands. From the entry-level value propositions we know and love to the very high-end of watchmaking outside the Helvetian domain.
Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air. In this episode, we stray from our original topic and discuss questionable vintage watches. Lately, too many questionable watches have received universal praise from "noted experts." We get on topic after approximately 15 minutes.
Sorry for the aberration. We both love watches from brands that are non-mainstream. This means that shady activity is often afoot from unscrupulous vintage dealers. Ingrain yourself within a community and quickly find out what's correct and what isn't. Hear about watches that have been passed around for years, but somehow find a home with an unsuspecting buyer.
Handgelenkskontrolle
Before we get cranky, it's time to discuss the Handgelenkskontrolle. Mike is wearing his VPC Type 37HW Dove Grey. The watch just arrived, and it's fantastic! Balazs is still under the weather and is wearing his stunning new Angelus Chrono-Datoluxe.
Questionable vintage watches and dealers who need to disclose
We're not sure what put a bur under the collective saddles of our hosts. We started the show discussing an Angelus 250 that Mike bought and had delivered to Balazs. Balazs has an incredible spreadsheet of serial numbers, photos, and dial types. With this, he provided a bill of clean health before Mike bought it. Another Angelus 250 popped up on eBay, and Balazs checked the serial number. Someone, along the way, changed the dial and polished the case. This leads to a discussion about vintage dealers and a recent Movado Celestograph that sold in France for an eye-watering sum of €10,000. Unfortunately, the watch lacks a bezel, but many dealers and "experts" commented on its beauty. Further research revealed that this watch was offered to many collectors and dealers before finally falling into the hands of an unsuspecting buyer. To be fair, the watches simply needed more disclosure to allow fair consideration.
We hope you enjoy today's episode. Next week, we'll begin our year-end and holiday topics. If you have any suggestions for future shows, let us know!
Hi there, and welcome to Fratello Talks. Would you rather buy a watch from a microbrand or an entry-level legacy brand? That's the question Nacho, Thomas, and Lex ask themselves today. As we've begun to see microbrands develop and offer better quality and undeniable value while entry-level big-name brands stand relatively still, this has certainly become a valid thing to ponder. But do specs and value always trump a household name? And what about the difference in post-sales support? A legacy brand promises to be able to service a watch 20 years down the line. But can a micro/independent deliver on that promise? Clearly, there are many factors to consider, so tune in, listen to what we have to say, and then join the debate in the comments section below.
Welcome to another edition of Fratello On Air! This week, we're back with a lengthy episode to see you through holiday travels or unruly guests. We received a listener suggestion to discuss our favorite watches from the '90s and '00s. We've added the '10s to the mix as a bonus. Wait 20 minutes for the watch content!
One of our favorite listeners, Richard, suggested today's subject. Our favorite watches from three different decades inspired our lengthiest episode to date. We hope you enjoy it and the special surprises along the way.
Handgelenkskontrolle
We kick off our episode discussing Japan-related topics. Balazs just returned from a quick trip to the country, while Mike visited Seiko UK in Maidenhead. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Mike is wearing a Movado with Breguet numerals and caliber 125 that has just returned from service. Balazs is wearing his trusty Rolex Submariner 5513.
Favorite watches from recent decades
We enjoyed discussing our favorite watches from the '90s, '00s, and '10s. Balazs put in extra work and decided to bring affordable and expensive suggestions from each decade. He also mentions his favorite shoes and movies from each period. Mike joins the fray and adds watches, flicks, and kicks too! We discuss the following pieces:
Thanks for listening to our latest episode, and thanks to Richard for the fantastic suggestion! If you have any thoughts on future episodes, please feel free to let us know.
This week on Fratello Talks, we're talking all things Breitling with author, collector, and brand historian Fred Mandelbaum. Nacho and RJ join Herr Mandelbaum in a conversation that starts in the early 20th century with some of Breitling's earliest wrist-worn chronographs and spans the brand's development to the present day. We touch upon the evolution that led to some of the brand's most recognizable collections, most of which are still around today. From the dressy post-war Premier to the brand flagship Navitimer and many others. We're sure you'll enjoy this extended and insightful episode, so be sure to tune in!
Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we discuss Japanese watches. That's a wide subject, so we attack it in different ways. Stick around to find out how we tackle one of our favorite watch genres. For our listeners, the watch content begins after approximately 17 minutes.
Japanese watches rate highly in the minds of both hosts. Mike owns a large collection of pieces from the Land of the Rising Sun. Balazs has a tight collection of modern and vintage stalwarts. Still, we're going to discuss some highly recognizable pieces and some of our favorites. This isn't exhaustive. Otherwise, we'd still be recording!
Handgelenkskontrolle
After some banter and an obligatory dad joke, we ease into the Handgelenkskontrolle. Mike is dressed for the occasion. He's wearing the Seiko Cronos J13846 from 1962. The watch has a two-piece screw-in case back. It's generally regarded as the brand's first waterproof watch. Balazs is wearing his hi-beat King Seiko 5625-7000, a lovely watch that continues to inspire Grand Seiko models.
Japanese watches
Our purpose in discussing Japanese watches is twofold. Balazs mentions five of the most well-known pieces from various brands. Mike heads in a different direction and discusses a handful of his favorite models. This was an extremely difficult task to come up with just five per person. Each Japanese brand has a deep history and, therefore, many important references. We are just scratching the surface! We discuss the following:
Folks, that's a wrap, and we look forward to hearing about your top five Japanese watches. We're almost 100% sure they're different from our picks! Thanks for listening, and if you have any suggestions for show topics, please let us know.
Hello, and welcome to Fratello Talks! Today, we are celebrating our 100th-episode milestone with a special Q&A. We asked you to send us your questions, and you delivered. We've gathered, sorted, and selected said questions over the past few weeks, and in today's episode, Nacho, RJ, and Thomas come together to answer them. We cover topics ranging from the usual hypotheticals to journalistic practices, favorite watches below a certain price point, and even lessons learned throughout recording these past 100 podcasts. Be sure to tune in and stick around as your question might be one of the many that we answer on this celebratory episode.
Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air! We're a little later this week than usual because we decided to record this episode in person in London. We discuss several topics, but we end with a brief holiday gift guide. Our watch content starts after approximately 20 minutes.
It's holiday gift guide season but also the last Time4APint of the year in London. Balazs has made the journey into the Big Smoke and we've decided to record in his hotel. We exchanged some gifts before the episode, are prepped for the night's festivities, and have holiday gift guide suggestions.
Handgelenkskontrolle
This week's Handgelenkskontrolle is complicated because we mention the watches on our wrists and several we brought for the evening's get-together. Balazs has brought the new Nivada Grenchen F77 Collection Ceramic, a stunning watch that starts at just €1,370 with a full ceramic case and bracelet. Mike has his Ming 37.02 Minimalist on an olive Jean Rousseau Barenia leather strap. We've listened to previous requests and have included a picture of all the watches discussed in the episode. From left to right, a '50s Tissot, an Omega 27 Chro, a Lemania 27 Chro, a Breitling Chronomat 769, an Angelus 250, an Angelus Chronodato Luxe, and a Gruen Ocean Chief.
Holiday gift guide
For the holiday gift guide, we each mention three different items. Some our watch-related, while others are great for daily life or travel. We mention the following:
Thanks so much for listening and we'll be back next week with a new episode! If you have ideas for future show topics, please let us know.
Hello, and welcome, folks, to Fratello Talks. Germany's most prestigious watch brand has turned thirty this year! So today, in honor of their third decade of watchmaking from their seat in Glashütte, we're talking all about A. Lange & Söhne. Now, some of you may be thinking: "Wait, Lange has only been around since the 90s?" And you'd be right to question the fact, as the brand was originally founded in 1845 but closed its doors in 1948. After several decades of dormancy, Walter Lange, the great-grandson of Ferdinand Adolph Lange, brought the brand back to life. Since then, the brand has quickly risen to the top of the heap alongside prestigious that have been around for centuries. Today, we take a look at the brand, its watches, and what makes them both so special.
After a two-week hiatus, Fratello On Air returns with an episode about how we research watches before buying. This is a listener suggestion that likely comes from the South in the USA. We know this because the message contained the word, "ya'll." Well, giddyup because it's time to discuss our top tips. For our listeners, the watch content starts after 20 minutes.
Specifically, our listener Adam emailed us and asked how we research watches with little published history. He's especially interested in how we approach long-dormant brands or those who exist in name only. We've danced around this subject, but it's time to go head-on and share.
Handgelenkskontrolle
Mike is in the middle of moving, which caused us to miss last week's episode. Our apologies! We'd also appreciate it if you'd send your episode ideas as we've lost our shared file! We kick off our episode discussing Sneakerness, a recent sneaker event Balazs attended in Budapest. Then, we discuss the recent PAM01655 and our displeasure with the display that reveals an underwhelming movement. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Balazs is wearing the new Nivada Grenchen Antarctic GMT. Mike is wearing his trusty Rolex Submariner 14060M.
How we research a watch
There's no perfect answer when it comes to researching a watch, but we have plenty of thoughts. Firstly, ask someone who knows more about a given watch. Importantly, do this before buying! Next, we appreciate reference sites like Ranfft and other blogs dedicated to research. Old advertisements and catalogs are a good tip but need to be treated with caution if the illustrations are hand-drawn. eBay and old auction results can provide useful information. We also like Google Images and Instagram. Forums can hold key details even if many images have disappeared. Finally, YouTube is a newer medium that is increasingly useful. The reality is that researching a vintage watch, especially an obscure model, is hard work and it takes time. The key, once again, is to do this work before buying.
Thanks, Adam, for the suggestion, and thanks everyone for listening. Again, if you have ideas for future shows, please send them our way!
Could this be the next new Rolex? In today’s episode, we put ourselves in the shoes of the brand’s product developers and exchanged some pitches about what kind of watch we’d love to see Rolex release next. We fully acknowledge it’s practically impossible to guess The Crown’s next move. Still, it was a fun thought experiment to see which direction it could take. We discuss far-fetched wishful thinking, tongue-in-cheek suggestions, and potentially great ideas that genuinely got us excited.
Today, we're bringing back the fan-favorite topic of affordable watches. Nacho, Lex, and Daan picked one favorite under €1000 from their personal collections. In this second time diving into the topic, we have a more varied lineup than last time. On our first time highlighting affordable favorites, we ended up with three divers: two from Seiko and one from Citizen. Today's selection is a bit more varied and counts among it an integrated bracelet steel sports watch, a titanium GMT, and a bio-ceramic lookalike of one of the most well-known dive watches out there. Tune in to find out more!
Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air. This week, we take on another listener topic and discuss passing down our watch collections or what might happen to our watches as we age. We're hopefully not near that time, but it's a subject worth discussing. For our listeners, the watch talk begins at approximately 17 minutes.
The thought of passing down a watch collection to a family member is natural, but what if no one likes watches? Even if they do, will they like the watches we've collected? We talk about this and more on today's podcast.
Handgelenkskontrolle
We kick off our latest episode with several topics before embarking on the main topic of passing down a watch collection. The latest release from Awake surfaces after Mike wrote a hands-on article. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Mike is wearing his Ming 22.01 GMT. He's had it on for nearly a week with the brand's titanium bracelet. Balazs is on a Speedmaster kick with his pre-moon 145.012.
Passing down our watch collections
Inevitably, we will all need to think about what to do with our watch collections. In the absence of a deeply interested relative, what will we do with our beloved timepieces? Our listener, Stephan, who comes from Switzerland but lives in Birmingham has asked the question. The easiest answer is to sell them over time at some point. However, many of us fancy ourselves as curators and have built focused collections of specific brands or models such as Seiko and Angelus. We'd hate to see the collection split up, so perhaps museums or other collectors are interested in obtaining the collections as a whole. We discuss these possibilities and more.
Thanks for listening to Fratello On Air and thanks to Stephan for the topic. If you have suggestions for future shows, please let us know!
This week on Fratello Talks, we examine the Patek Philippe Cubitus. Nacho, Lex, and Daan join forces to discuss this hotly debated release from one of the world's most prestigious watch brands. Initially leaked via a magazine ad, the watch did not receive the warmest welcome from watch enthusiasts. And despite journalists at the launch event providing some positive silver lining to Patek breaking its 25-year hibernation from releasing new models, the online rhetoric remained rather cynical. Today, we speak on the topic and provide our honest take on what has become one of the year's most polarizing new releases.
Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air. This week, we tackle a listener question about pairing watches and straps with our clothing. Do we care or put a lot of thought into what we wear with our garb? Stick around to find out more. Watch content begins after approximately 20 minutes.
Halloween is upon us, which means starting the show off with another great joke to hear Balazs groan. Somehow, we get stuck on clothing brands including J.Crew, which takes us to the main topic. Our faithful listener, Saku from Finland, is back again and asked if we purposely pair our watches and straps with our clothing. It's a deceptively simple question that leads to a sprawling conversation.
Handgelenkskontrolle
When we finally get around to the Handgelenkskontrolle, Balazs admits that he's been neglecting his Rolex GMT-Master 1675. He's wearing it on an original period-correct Oyster bracelet. Mike is wearing a first-generation Heuer Carrera 2447 with a horribly overpolished case he purchased ten years ago. He's just found an older case online and will complete the swap within weeks.
Watches and clothing
When it comes to watches and clothing, it's fair to say that both of us live by loose rules. There are rules, though. We both prefer straps unless we're wearing a Rolex. Then, if our clothes are extremely casual, we shy away from strict dress watches and always avoid black or brown alligator and crocodile straps. We both enjoy a bold strap pairing with a more toned-down watch and a look that contrasts with our clothes. However, we never mix a black or brown strap with the opposite color belt. Is it a pedantic discussion? You bet, but that's why you're listening! Let us know your favorite watch, strap, and clothing combos below.
Thanks for listening to the latest episode. If you have future show ideas, feel free to let us know!
Hello, and welcome to Fratello Talks! Today, Nacho, RJ, and Thomas discuss some of the best watch bracelets, looking at every element that goes into one, from end link to clasp. There’s nothing worse than a bracelet that feels cheap or like an afterthought. The way you fasten it to your wrist is truly an important part of any great watch. And, as opposed to straps, which are ultimately “disposable” products, a bracelet feels much more like an integral part of the watch as a whole. In this episode, the guys take a look at examples of great bracelets from Rolex, Tudor, Omega, and more. Thomas even lends us some of his insights from having recently worked on designing and producing a watch for his brand, VPC. We cover all the stops, from the shape of the end links and integration to clasp size, micro-adjust, and sizing systems.
We're back with another episode of Fratello On Air. Balazs has just stepped off a plane from New York and is ready to record. In this episode, we kick off with a healthy dose of banter, touch on some news, and review the two watch shows that just concluded. Watch content starts after roughly 25 minutes.
WatchTime New York and Windup just finished and Balazs was on site. You'll hear about the events and how they've grown in stature. Plus, we discuss a certain square-shaped elephant in the room from Patek Philippe. We jabbered so much that the Handgelenks is last!
New York City
We kick off the show with a discussion about luggage and the Rimowa Pilot Case. Then, it's onto Balazs' retail and social experience in New York. Before we hit the main topic, we devote time to the controversial Cubitus.
Balazs was in New York for a full week and attended the two watch shows. There were a few debuts, but we had seen the watches under embargo in Switzerland or London. We discuss how the two shows have changed and also mention some of our faithful listeners who stopped and said hello. Some of the brands that make the highlight reel are Angelus, echo/neutra, Sherpa, Marathon, Furlan Mari, Baltic, Christopher Ward, and Maurice de Mauriac.
Handgelenkskontrolle
This episode, we end our show with the Handgelenkskontrolle. Balazs brought an armada of pieces to New York, but is back to his Rolex Submariner 5513. Mike is wearing his newly serviced sterling silver Omega 30T2. We hope you enjoyed today's episode. As always, if you have ideas for future shows, please let us know.
Watches are many different things: functional objects, fashion accessories, charming anachronistic timekeeping companions... The list goes on. But one thing they aren't is funny. In the world of watches, the only thing more serious than the timepieces themselves is their prices. But does that mean there's no room for humor and levity in the watch world? That's the question Nacho, RJ, and Lex set out to answer today. In an industry that tends to take itself rather seriously, we look to find rare examples of humor and levity with varying degrees of success. Though not always visible at a glance, when you delve deeper, you can just about identify the odd example of humor and levity in watches. In today's show, we run through every example we can think of, from the clever tongue-in-cheek humor of seconde/seconde to some questionable advertisements and the odd time (or two) when Rolex has cracked a grin.
Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, your hosts discuss the vintage watches currently tickling their collective fancies. Before that, though, there's plenty of banter about sneakers and watches. For your convenience, watch content starts after 20 minutes.
Vintage watches are some of our favorite watches. We're always looking and thinking about what to buy next. In this episode, you'll hear about what has us searching auction sites and sale boards. We also discuss the vintage market and the watches that will become popular (again).
Handgelenkskontrolle
Christmas came early in Germany and England. Mike received his Nike Air Tech Challenge 2's via the eBay authentication program and Balazs received the latest Nike x Travis Scott shoes from StockX. We then discuss a recent watch event in London held by 289 Consulting with 25 brands including Raymond Weil, Krayon, Doxa, Artya, Favre Leuba, and more. These intimate affairs are refreshing and a nice way to see a lot of watches in one place. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Balazs is wearing the soon-to-be-released Albishorn Air chronograph. We cannot say much about it, but it's a different take on a vintage aviator's chronograph. Mike is wearing a just-received 18K Movado Curviplan with a black dial. The watch came from France and was a buying adventure.
Vintage watches on our radar
For our main topic, we discuss the vintage watches on our radar. You'll hear about Movado chronographs, Angelus, and Hungarian military watches from Balazs. From Mike, tanks, a nice early Heuer 2447 Carrera, and a later gilt dial Rolex Submariner or GMT-Master make the list. We then discuss the current vintage market and how simple dress watches have become popular. However, these watches have limitations such as a lack of popular, commonly known references. We also opine that '60s chronographs will make a slow return to prominence. Also, vintage Rolex sports watches such as the 5512 we just reviewed are beginning to awaken from a lengthy slumber.
As always, thank you for listening to our latest episode. If you have ideas for future shows, please let us know.
Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we discuss military watches new and old. We're not here to discuss our favorite models, but we hit upon some major themes with these pieces. Some of these pieces come from disgraced regimes while newer models are similar to high fashion collabs. Stick around and see what we think!
Military watches are a deep subject. Books have been written about them and brands continue to invest in creating new models. We discuss the topic and explain what we like and what makes us uncomfortable.
Handglenkskontrolle
After our quick weather run-down, we jump straight into watches. Last week provided a bumper crop of new releases. The revamped Omega Speedmaster First Omega in Space debuted and was met with near-universal praise. We're fans! Then, the quizzical Nomos Tangente 2Date dropped with its bonkers complication. Like many, we hope the watch previews other pieces to come. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Balazs is wearing a special Grana chronograph with Hungarian military history. Mike is wearing a new old stock Certina Jubilé from 1971, a quirky tank-shaped watch with a manual wind movement.
Military watches
Military watches form an interesting sub-genre in our hobby. People collect them because of history, innovation, or even personal ties to the event or service branch. Some collectors have served while others may have a relative who fought for their country. Of course, some of these pieces were used by enemy forces. Some collectors choose to avoid these watches altogether. Then, there are modern military watches and collaborations. How do we feel about wearing a current production watch made in partnership with a special ops unit? We discuss all of this and more!
Thanks for listening today and we hope you enjoyed the show. If you have additional show topics, please let us know!
Hey there, welcome to this week's episode of "Fratello Talks." What are some of the most underrated watch brands out there? That's the question that Nacho, RJ, and Daan have chosen for today's discussion. And though there are indeed many brands out there that could be seen as not receiving the praise and recognition that they deserve, they have chosen to focus only on a handful. For the sake of brevity, they also specify that their picks are limited to larger, more mainstream brands that they believe to be underrated. Being such a subjective topic, it's one that always results in a polarizing and interesting discussion that we know you'll enjoy.
Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we discuss the increasing number of movement production claims and wonder whether it all really matters. In-house, in-house designed, and third-party are only some explanations we hear about movements and their origin. It's gotten a bit nutty! For our listeners, there's horology content interspersed initially, but fast-forward to 23 minutes for uninterrupted watch talk.
Do you remember when life was simple and watch movements were in-house or off-the-shelf? It was never the case, it's that we didn't care so much. Or, we weren't told to care. Now, we have a veritable buffet of descriptions for how a caliber ended up in a watch case. It's all too much now and in the end, does anyone give a rip? We're not so sure.
Handgelenkskontrolle
This week, we kick off our episode on in-house and other descriptions for movements with a load of banter. Balazs discusses his time at a Turkish airport. Mike mentions a friend who purchased a gray market Rolex Submariner Date in London and how demand is alive and well. Then, both hosts failed in their quest to purchase the recent Travis Scott Nike shoes (Mike was trying for Balazs). Finally, Mike has had it with snarky, know-it-all commenters who want gold stars. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Mike is wearing his Rolex Datejust Oysterquartz reference 17000. Balazs is wearing the cool new Nivada Grenchen Chronoking Mecaquartz Interchangeable Bezel. Stay tuned for an upcoming review here on Fratello!
In-house, designed by, made by, whatever!
Recently, Mike reviewed the new Norqain Independence Skeleton Chrono models. There was nothing wrong with the watches, but the movements were peculiar with in-house design and production at AMT. It got us thinking, do people really care about in-house, in-house designed, or off-the-shelf? We discuss the topic. You'll hear about mighty Rolex and the brand's purchase of Aegler, its longtime exclusive outside movement manufacturer. We mention Oris and question whether their in-house strategy has been helpful to sales.
We hope you enjoyed today's episode and thank you for listening! If you have ideas for future shows, please let us know.
Welcome to this latest installment of "Fratello Talks," where we speak with a special guest. Today, we are happy to be joined by Benoît Mintiens, founder and CEO of the avant-garde Belgian watch brand Ressence. In this long-form episode, we learn about Benoît's origins as an industrial design consultant, how he transitioned into the watch world, and the philosophy that informed the creation of Ressence. Join us for this in-depth chat, you might just learn something about the brand you didn't know before.
We're back with another episode of Fratello On Air! We apologize for missing last week, but travel and visitors got in the way. This week, we're discussing watch research, the time it takes, and the self-satisfaction obtained when uncovering a new fact. It's another nerdy episode, but recording was a lot of fun. For our listeners, the watch content begins after 22 minutes.
Watch research sounds like a decidedly dull topic. However, this couldn't be further from the truth because there is plenty to uncover deep in the digital library stacks. We discuss the effort and time it takes to scour the internet for information and the feeling of joy when something interesting is discovered.
Handglenkskontrolle
We are back in good form and before we move on to the main topic of watch research, we discuss travel, shoes, and more! It has been two weeks and we have much to chat about during the beginning of this episode! We move on to the Handgelenkskontrolle and Balazs is enjoying a beachside holiday in Turkey with his Ming 17.09. Mike has unearthed a late '90s Junghans Max Bill hand-winding model he bought on his first business trip to Germany in 1999. It's a lovely 34mm stainless steel watch that is finally seeing some use 25 years later!
Watch Research
Mike leads off with a quick synopsis of his recent in-depth article on the Movado Museum Watch. A sizeable amount of watch research led to debunking a couple of myths surrounding these watches. We discuss the power of digital archives such as the Library of Congress, newspaper archives, legal case histories, and more! The work wasn't easy or fast, but it led to publishing new information. Of course, several people helped along the way. We compare this recent research to a 2019 Angelus military vintage chronograph collector's guide that Balazs wrote about in 2019 and how information sources have changed. Finally, we bring up the official new Submariner book and how it mentions production totals. What could it mean for Rolex information in the future?
We hope you enjoyed this latest episode and thank you for listening! As always, if you have ideas for future shows please let us know.
Welcome back to "Fratello Talks." Should you wear your watch while playing sports or exercising? It's a question we often hear. What could the possible risks be for your beloved mechanical timepiece? Or is there no real reason to be worried at all? In today's episode, Nacho, RJ, and Lex explore these questions and talk from their own experience. They also look to some sports professionals to see what their approach is and whether it should serve as an example in the first place. So, whether you're living life on the edge and wearing your mechanical watch no matter what you're up to, or you play it safe and break out the G-Shock when the going gets tough, tune in to hear our take on the matter.
Welcome to this latest episode of Fratello Talks. Does modern Rolex still have the magic? That's the question that Nacho, RJ, and Lex tackle today. There's no question that modern Rolex watches are reliable, luxurious timekeepers. But for many enthusiasts and collectors, nothing quite comes close to the magic of the older four and five-digit references. This is reflected in the prices that some of these (let alone rarer examples) can fetch in the pre-owned market. But what (if anything) makes these more special than current-day Rolex watches? Is it a mix of pop-culture presence, aesthetics, nostalgia, and rarity? And do those models sold today still have that x-factor that their predecessors possess? Perhaps it's something we'll only know in hindsight.
It's time for another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we cap off Geneva Watch Days 2024 with our favorites from the event. We saw some fascinating watches and met new and old acquaintances. For our listeners, there's not much banter in this episode!
We've returned to our respective countries, are fully rested, and ready to go. Still, the glow from Geneva Watch Days 2024 hasn't completely left us. We spend the show talking about our favorites from the week before and we think you'll enjoy the variety.
Handgelenkskontrolle
We spend some time discussing the new Grand Seiko 45GS reissues, the SLGW004 and SLGW005. They're lovely watches, but the originals offer stunning value and similar looks. The Handgelenkskontrolle is firing on all cylinders this week! Balazs is still rocking his burgundy Ming 17.09 and is enjoying it on a Delugs Rubber CTS strap. Mike is wearing his vintage Heuer Monaco 73633B on a perforated blue strap.
Our favorites from Geneva Watch Days 2024
For our main topic, we choose three of our favorites from Geneva Watch Days 2024. Then, we add a couple of honorable mention pieces. We don't often discuss haute horlogerie, so we hope you enjoy the change of pace. There were some real stunners and they're worthy of mention. You'll hear about the following pieces:
We hope you enjoyed this episode and feel free to share your favorites from the event! As always, if you have ideas for future shows, please let us know.
Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we have a different episode style. Your friendly co-hosts check in while on the go at Geneva Watch Days 2024. Ultimately, we try to give you a feel for the non-stop schedule and what it's like to be at a show. There's no banter beforehand, so let the audio roll!
We're back from Geneva Watch Days 2024, but while we were on the go at the show, we turned the microphones on for brief segments. You'll hear us discuss our schedules, brands, individual watches, people, shoes, and more! We hope you like it. If not, we'll be back with a more normal episode next week!
Handgelenkskontrolle
While recording most segments, we attempted to bring up the watches on our wrists. Due to Mike's previous "fun" at the Swiss border, he kept his options to the Ming 17.09 Blue and the Patek Philippe Calatrava 570. Balazs was slightly more daring with his Rolex Submariner 5513, Ming 17.09 Burgundy, and Sinn Excelsior Park chronograph. Choosing a watch for an event like Geneva Watch Days is challenging and it's often best to pick a brand that isn't exhibiting. Plus, when on the go in 30-plus-degree humid weather, it also helps to consider a relatively robust watch. As an aside, none of our watches suffered any damage.
On the go in Geneva
Balazs and I spent three days at Geneva Watch Days 2024 and it felt like we maximized our time at the event. Meetings started at 9 am and ran until at least 6 pm. Then, afterglow events kicked off at the main tent or brand-specific parties. We moved back and forth between hotels and boutiques for discussions, fueled on espresso and water. Food? It takes a conscious effort to remember to eat! Still, it was great fun and we enjoyed seeing some amazing timepieces. We hope you enjoy today's episode. Next week, we will discuss our favorite watches from the event, which will wrap up Geneva Watch Days 2024!
Thanks for listening! If you have any future ideas for episodes, please let us know!
Hello, and welcome to Fratello Talks! Today, Nacho, RJ, and Thomas share their vintage watch wishlists. As you can imagine, these guys spend a lot of time thinking about watches. But when they're not writing about the latest releases, they're often lusting after (and hunting down) vintage watches online. It's a hazard of the job. Today, inspired by RJ's latest object of desire, the guys lend you insight into the timepieces on their current list of vintage (and neo-vintage) favorites.
Fratello On Air returns with an episode discussing how we service a watch collection. It's another listener suggestion and it's a good one! You'll hear about how and when we choose to service a watch and where. Then, we end the episode with some suggestions on the tools we have on hand. For our listeners, the watch content starts after approximately eight minutes.
Servicing a watch collection sounds daunting, but it doesn't have to be. Your friendly hosts have a decent number of pieces and haven't let maintenance get them down. Still, there are times when a watch needs to visit a watchmaker. Today, you'll hear us discuss how often we service our timepieces and what tools we keep at home to do some minor work.
Handgelenkskontrolle
We're relatively short on banter in this episode (rejoice, some of you!), so we quickly move to the Handgelenkskontrolle. Balazs is heading to Italy for a short week of vacation and is bringing two watches. The watch he's wearing during our recording has made the cut and it's the Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical. He's wearing it on a nylon strap for that easy, carefree summer feeling. Mike has returned to Japanese watches and is sporting his Citizen 51-2273 diver. This is an early '80s automatic that rivaled the original Seiko Turtle.
Servicing a watch collection
A hearty thanks goes out to one of our listeners in sunny Portugal for providing today's show topic. How do we service a sizable watch collection? It's a great question and one with a complex answer. Firstly, because our collections focus heavily on vintage, we service our watches as needed. We also keep records of watches that have been serviced or the pieces that need work. Regarding newer watches, we rarely service them until necessary. However, we do recommend having your dive watches pressure tested after the warranty period expires. Is quartz the answer? Not necessarily because some of these watches require servicing and routine battery changes.
We also mention the tools that we keep on hand for smaller jobs like battery changes and bracelet adjustments. Loupes, rubber case back opening balls, screwdrivers, tweezers, and pin pushers are some of our recommendations. Of course, the name "Bergeon" comes up several times.
We hope you enjoyed today's topic and thanks to our listener for the suggestion. If you have further ideas for show topics, let us know!
Hello, and welcome to Fratello Talks! If you're listening to this latest episode on the day it was released, then Geneva Watch Days 2024 is just a week away. Today, Nacho, Lex, and Thomas gather around the mics to discuss the event and make some wishes and predictions about what they'd like to see from brands at the show. There's plenty to look forward to, as more brands than ever will take part in this year's edition of the event. Be sure to stay tuned here on Fratello for all the latest. But, for now, it's just some wishes, predictions, and wild guesses.
Fratello On Air returns with our favorite watches from the '90s and early '00s. It's hard to believe that this period is nearly 30 years old! This was a key period for watches and brought pieces that exist today or are highly revered. Join us as we take a trip down memory lane. For our listeners, the watch content begins after approximately 14 minutes.
The '90s and early '00s gave us some truly memorable watches. We're thankful that our listener, Richard, asked us to discuss some of our favorite pieces from the era. Today, we'll mention dress watches, divers, aviators, and chronographs. Some may think of this as a malaise period, but we'll do our best to change your mind!
Handgelenkskontrolle
We kick off the episode with some discussions about TV shows with watches. Bosch and Lost both feature Rolex watches and Balazs discusses them in more detail. Regarding the Handgelenkskontrolle, Balazs starts us off with his first Swiss watch, the Tissot PRC200 Chronograph. Mike is wearing an 18-carat gold Movado Curviplan with a new strap.
Our favorite watches from the late '90s and early '00s
The main topic begins with an overview of four iconic watches that debuted during the '90s. These pieces are still in production today with similar designs. However, each of us mentions three more watches we love from this timeframe. Scratch that, Balazs mentions four! We talk about the following pieces:
We hope you enjoyed today's episode and thanks again to Richard for the topic suggestion! If you have suggestions for future shows, please let us know.
Welcome, dear Fratelli, to this latest episode of Fratello Talks. Today, Nacho, Lex, and Thomas spotlight some of their guilty pleasure watches. Everyone has at least one; most of us can list at least a handful. These are watches that, though we like them, we aren't too quick to admit it. This can be due to a number of reasons, whether it's a brand's (arguably undeserved) reputation, an eye-watering price tag, or even just a case of off-the-wall design. And though we often highlight carefully curated lists of favorites, we rarely reach into the back of the shelf for these oddball picks.
Fratello On Air is back with another rip-roaring episode! This week, our topic comes from one of our dear listeners and we talk about what like and dislike about working in the watch industry. It's a candid take on some of our favorite aspects with some that don't rate as highly. For those who wish to skip the banter, begin your journey after approximately 16 minutes.
The watch industry is a business like many others except that it entails one of our favorite subjects! While the good far outweighs the bad, there are some pestery facets. Today's episode focuses on what we like and dislike. Our faithful listener and commenter Richard inspired this show, so I hope we do his request justice!
Handgelenkskontrolle
Before discussing our relationship with working in the watch industry, we recap Balazs' recent visit to the 2024 Paris Olympics. He went up and back on a recent Sunday to watch handball. You'll hear about his experiences in Paris and at the match. He also visited the Omega House, but he missed Daniel Craig! For the Handgelenskontrolle, Balazs is wearing his Seiko 6100-8000 Skyliner, a gift from one of our mutual friends, James. Mike is wearing a new acquisition. It's an 18-carat gold Tavannes chronograph from 1935 made by Breitling.
Likes and dislikes about working in the watch industry
There's no doubt about it, we enjoy working in the watch industry. The early access to unreleased watches still gives us a thrill. More importantly, aside from meeting each other, we've met some amazing friends globally because of our collective ties to watches. There are also some challenging bits regarding employment in this field. Writing about watches with too few press pictures is a challenge. Then, unsurprisingly, egos persist in this area. Overall, though, we love the camaraderie within this slice of commerce. As you listen, if you have additional questions about what it's like to work with watches or even at a publishing title, feel free to ask. Perhaps we will consolidate the questions and make a show of it!
Finally, Balazs received a question about when we will release "Handgelenkskontrolle" t-shirts. It's a great question, but we need some help with the design. If you have ideas, we'd love to see them!
Thank you for listening to today's episode. If you have any future show topics, please let us know.
Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we ask what the hell is so special about Rolex anyhow. Sure, the brand has been discussed heavily, but both hosts have had recent Submariner experiences and hash out what makes these watches so fantastic. For our faithful listeners, the watch content begins at approximately 23 minutes.
What is the secret to the success of Rolex and why are they so special? Before you Rolex-haters bring venom to the comments section, give us a listen. We won’t try to change your mind if you dislike the brand, but we will share why we think the company is so successful.
Handgelenkskontrolle
We kick off our episode with some banter about the Olympics as Balazs is headed to a special event the day after recording. Mike is still in Spain and discusses the new Inter Miami Adidas Gazelles that have arrived. Then, we mention Kobe Bryant’s Staples Center locker that auctioned for $2.9m. Regarding our watch choices, Mike is wearing his trusty Rolex Submariner 14060M and discusses again why it’s his favorite modern model. Balazs has swapped out his Submariner 5513, giving his GMT-Master 1675 a workout.
What is so special about Rolex?
For our main topic, we hit on several key points. First, Rolex has done a thorough job of buying its suppliers. We review some of the key acquisitions from the past 30 years. Advertising is another area where the brand differs from others by choosing champions and discussing the technical features of their watches. The look and feel of a Rolex is also something special, especially for such a mass-produced item. Finally, design consistency and a slow evolution have helped bolster the brand’s reputation over time.
We hope you enjoyed today’s episode! If you have any future topics, please let us know!
Hello, welcome! You're listening to Fratello Talks. This week's episode features RJ, Daan, and Nacho: three members of the Fratello team who join forces this week to wax poetic about some of their favorite affordable watches. This is the first volume of what will almost certainly become a recurring topic for the podcast. There are simply too many great watches with reasonable price tags to cover them all in one episode. But over the next twenty-six minutes and nine seconds, you'll hear all about a handful of them, with the primary focus placed upon three of them. These are the same watches you'll find on the guys' wrists this week. So, without further ado, let's jump into a wrist check.
Welcome back to Fratello On Air! This week, we discuss thinning out our watch collections. It's a tough topic because only one of us has ever sold a watch! We're happy to take on the subject, though, because it's easy to pile up watches that see very little wrist time. For our listeners, the watch content begins approximately 23 minutes into the episode.
Thinning out the watch collection is an idea that Balazs is comfortable with because he's done it! On the other hand, Mike has never sold or traded a watch and is finally thinking about doing so. Today, we discuss weaning down the collection, how to do it, and what to do with the funds. But first...
Handgelenkskontrolle
We kick off our episode with a return to one of our favorite subjects, sneakers. Adidas has released a new collection of shoes and jerseys for Inter Miami 2024 and they're hot! Balazs made the mistake of sharing the news with Mike and now pastel Miami Dolphins-hued Gazelles are on the way to Mike's feet alongside a sweet retro-themed jersey. You can take the boy out of South Florida, but... Balazs also mentions the upcoming Nike: Form Follows Motion exhibit at the Vitra Design Museum in Germany. If you're visiting this exhibition, it's worth stopping at the Musée National de l'Automobile in Mulhouse, France. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Balazs is wearing the new Nivada Grenchen Chronosport that Lex briefly covered when it debuted. Expect a hands-on review soon! Meanwhile, Mike is enjoying his trusty Citizen BN0220 in the Spanish heat, making good on his Best Summer Watches at Three Different Price Points recommendation.
Thinning out the watch collection
Today, we thank our dedicated listener, Tristan, for his suggestion for an episode on thinning out the watch collection. We modified the topic slightly to discuss how to pick the watches ready for a new home and what to do with the funds. Balazs has more experience in this area and discusses how he recently sold a pair of two-tone Rolex Datejust models to help fund a watch he desired, the Submariner 5513. Mike has never sold a watch and is considering it. He has a target watch in mind and will begin stacking up watches in his collection for trade. We promise to report back on any progress!
We hope you enjoyed today's show and thank you for the suggestion, Tristan! If you have any ideas for future episodes, please let us know!
Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air. This week, we discuss watch bracelets and cover a wide range of subtopics about these important devices that fasten watches to our wrists. It's another listener suggestion and we hope you enjoy the show! For our listeners, the watch content begins after approximately 20 minutes.
Watch bracelets are always the subject of heavy criticism. When a company decides to offer one with a watch, it can come under fire for the smallest reasons. Great bracelets are rare, but they do exist. Today, we discuss many aspects of these curious little accessories.
Handgelenkskontrolle
We engage in serious banter about, you guessed it (or didn't), recycling. Europe is a wild place when it comes to sorting one's consumables and the rules differ everywhere! Sneaker talk returns to a small degree with Balazs' lady shoes. Finally, for the Handgelenkskontrolle, Mike is sporting a vintage Tavannes tank. It's a funky piece from Japan made from gold and stainless steel. Balazs is wearing his vintage Doxa 300T Sharkhunter while in Hungary.
Watch Bracelets
Next, we're on to our main topic about watch bracelets. Our listener, GP, sent an email asking if we would cover different types of watch bracelets, which we liked best, and the constructions that gave us the least amount of confidence. I'm not sure if we covered the question completely but we discussed the different types of links and how they're fastened together. We then touch upon vintage versus new. Finally, we cover some of our favorite bracelets. You'll hear names like the Doxa Expandro, Gay Freres, and more. We hope you enjoy this episode because it's another one that delves into the details. Feel free to list your favorite bracelets in the comments below.
Thanks for the topic, GP! If you have suggestions for future show ideas, please let us know.
Welcome to this latest episode of the Fratello Talks podcast! This week, Nacho, RJ, and Daan have prepared a watch market update for you. We often like to circle back to this topic as things evolve and change. We go through the facts and figures (so you don't have to) and summarize different trends and patterns, breaking it all down with their unique industry insights. We've all heard talk of a slump in the market, but is it actually the case? Are the speculative buyers backing out? And what does the current state of things mean for collectors and enthusiasts? All that, and more, in this week's episode.
Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air. This time, we discuss exit watches after receiving a great topic request from one of our favorite listeners. It's a familiar theme we may have touched upon before. Let's see if our collective tastes have changed. For our listeners, watch content starts after eight minutes.
Exit watches are a touchy subject. Some folks believe in the ultimate watch and the end of collecting. Admittedly, neither of us can picture an end to the hunt. Still, we will play along and discuss the watches that could send us out in style. A big thanks to Richard for the topic suggestion!
Handgelenkskontrolle
We're short on banter this week as Balazs is sweating it out in Hungary and nearly 40 degrees Celsius. Mike is shivering in England where 20 degrees and the sun would be a nice start to the summer. Before, discussing our exit watches, we divert our attention to the Handgelenkskontrolle. Balazs is wearing his mighty 38mm Gallet Multichron 12 with an EP40 movement. Mike is debuting a relatively new acquisition, a Longines 9ct gold dress watch with a lovely engraving on the case back. The '60s time-only piece uses the 19.4 caliber and is in barely-worn condition.
Exit watches
Exit watches supposedly represent the pinnacle of collecting. It also means there's nothing left to purchase after acquiring one of these pieces. We can't fathom such a scenario, but we've pulled together the watches that fit the description. Each of us has listed three and as you'll see, there's no theme. One brand, however, does make each of our lists. We discuss the following watches:
We hope you enjoyed our picks and we're excited to hear about your exit watches in the comments section below! Thank you for listening and thanks to Richard for the show suggestion! If you have any ideas for future topics, please let us know.
Hello, and welcome to a sunny and warm episode of Fratello Talks! This week, Nacho, Lex, and Daan discuss summer watches. More specifically, they look at the ways they go about picking their ideal watch for the season. Is there such a thing as a perfect summer watch? If there is, you can follow Daan's method to find it. We also outline some categories, specs, and styles that make a watch ideal for the warm weather, active lifestyle, and water-based activities that we often enjoy in summer. Whether it's a cheap and cheerful watch that you can enjoy carefree days in the sun with or an action-ready piece that has all the specs to take on sand, surf, and sun, if you follow our advice, you'll have no trouble finding the perfect summer watch.
At long last, Fratello On Air has decided to address a request from one of our faithful listeners. The topic of font on watches has come up as a suggested topic many times. Does it sound mundane? Perhaps, but it couldn't be further from the truth. Our watch content begins after 15 minutes.
Fonts are a characteristic of most watches that we rarely consider. Yet, it's one of those details that if done badly can ruin a watch. Today, we discuss the power of typeface and why it matters. We praise the brands that spend time making fantastic design choices and throw a few tomatoes at missed opportunities.
Handgelenkskontrolle
Before we get to fonts, we open our episode with some discussion on the differences between saying, "half past the hour," in Germany and England. In fact, they translate to the same words, but mean something very different! Then, as we recorded this episode on the 4th of July, we brought up a gift that arrived earlier that morning from America. The Yeti Tundra 45 Patriotic Limited Edition landed in the UK. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Balazs is wearing the Vulcain Rosaspina GMT, a limited edition of 85 pieces available on the Bergamo-based jeweler's website. Mike is wearing another Borgel-cased Movado reference 18127 from the '50s.
Fonts on watches
Our faithful and committed listener, Saku from Finland, has asked us multiple times to discuss fonts on watches. Other topics have taken priority and, let's be honest, we were concerned about the ability to fill a show with the subject. We were wrong, though, because we had plenty to discuss. We begin the chat with academic research from Balazs and his contact, @danova from Instagram. This sets the stage for subtopics including our favorite mixed uses of font on a dial, best logos, and our least favorite examples. We mention the following watches and articles:
Thank you for the suggestion, Saku, and we hope all of you enjoyed the episode! If you have any ideas for future shows, please send your suggestions.
Welcome to this week's episode of Fratello Talks, where Nacho, RJ, and Daan ask themselves the question: where did all the watches go? Whether consciously or otherwise, watch-spotting is something every watch-minded person partakes in. It may be walking down the street, at your office, in a restaurant, or even on holiday. Essentially, anywhere where there are people and where said people are wearing watches. But sometimes, a lack of watches can be as noticeable as the watches themselves. And recently, RJ has felt that he's seeing fewer watches on people's wrists. Is this about the specific location? Or does it have to do with awareness of watches and increasing thefts? Certainly, you'll never find yourself asking that question here at Fratello HQ.
Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air. This week, we take a listener suggestion and discuss how we research watches before buying. We've hit upon this before, but it's a constantly evolving topic that deserves an update. For our beloved listeners, the watch content begins after 19 minutes.
If you're a watch collector and enjoy vintage, landing a great specimen often requires research. In this episode, we mention some of our most common tactics. Some of these processes are tried and true while others are more recent. They're all helpful, though, and can lead to a rewarding result. The lack of doing one's homework, however, can be disastrous.
Handgelenkskontrolle
We open our episode on watch research with a recap of Balazs' experience at a recent UEFA European Championship match in Stuttgart. It was a fantastic time without any travel troubles! Mike mentions a recent disappointing trip to the famed Portobello Road in London where the watches were abysmal. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Mike is wearing a new arrival. It's a '60s 14ct gold Movado Museum watch with a manual winding movement that needs a service. This leads to a discussion about the designer of the watch, Nathan George Horwitt. Balazs is still (rightfully!) in love with his new Rolex Submariner 5513.
Research before buying
One of our faithful listeners, Adam, sent us a note and asked if we could discuss how we research a watch before deciding to buy. In particular, he mentioned defunct brands. The topic is a wide one, but we mentioned several of our go-to tips including:
It is even more difficult to research defunct brands or watches from the '30s or '40s. We discuss our techniques for sorting the good from the bad.
Thanks again for listening and we hope you enjoyed the show. Feel free to send additional ideas for show topics and we will add them to the queue!
Hi there! Welcome to the latest episode of your favorite watch podcast: Fratello Talks. This week, Nacho is joined by Daan and Lex to run through some of their favorite recently released watches. Having not done one of these for a while, we thought we'd look back to some of the latest introductions from the post-Watches And Wonders period. As you might have come to expect, we've seen a ton of new watches released from the world's biggest brands. However, there are also a handful of novelties from less popular brands that we also show some love to. Tune in and check out this summary of our favorites!
Hello there, and welcome to another episode of Fratello Talks. This week, Thomas, Lex, and Nacho discuss Seiko Watches. A Seiko is a staple of most watch enthusiasts' collections, whether it's a first-ever mechanical watch or an inexpensive curiosity, a vintage rarity in museum-worthy condition, or anything in between. And though there will certainly be those out there who turn their nose up at the brand, most of us will have (at some point or another) been proud stewards of a watch bearing the name of one Kintaro Hattori Seiko on its dial. With a great range in terms of price, function, and design all across the board, it's no wonder the brand is so well-liked.
Fratello On Air returns with an episode about collecting watches and whether we'll ever stop. It's a good question that we lightly debate because we feel similarly. The watch world is endless, providing us with neverending opportunities to learn and enjoy.
Our watch content starts 15 minutes into the show. Both of your co-hosts enjoy collecting, but will we ever call it quits? We discuss the subject and explore what we might keep amassing. We imagine that many of our listeners face this question, so please feel free to add your comments at the end of the article. For now, enjoy the show!
Handgelenkskontrolle
Before we move to our main topic of collecting, we begin our podcast with some discussion about the European Championship. Balazs is heading to the Hungary versus Scotland match and Mike is cheering on England and Slovakia. Troubles with Germany's transportation system take center stage as Balazs is not looking forward to getting home late this coming Sunday. Balazs leads off the Handgelenkskontrolle with a fantastic new addition, a 1972 Rolex Submariner 5513 from Wind Vintage. Mike is wearing a '30s Movado Curviplan with a chronometer dial.
Will we ever stop collecting?
Our main topic is a discussion about whether we will stop collecting watches. The bottom line is that neither of us plans on stopping any time soon. We've realized there is so much more to experience with watches and all the related paraphernalia. There are new rabbit holes to experience and historic information is being unearthed constantly. Most of all, though, we enjoy watches and can imagine continuing the adventure.
We hope you enjoyed today's episode and thank you for listening. If you have any ideas for future shows, please feel free to let us know.
Ladies and Gentlemen welcome to this latest episode of Fratello Talks. This week, Nacho is joined by RJ and Daan, who delve into the divisive topic of two-tone watches. This includes any watch whose case and bracelet comprise more than one metal with a distinct color difference. Though typically a combination of steel and gold, two-tone watches can also feature several other materials. This creates a rather unique look, highlighting specific design elements of the watch and breaking from the norm of single-material watches. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but a recent rise in the popularity of bi-metal watches has pushed us to embark on this discussion.
Fratello On Air is here with a new episode. We told you we'd be back! This week, our show topic comes courtesy of one of our listeners. We were asked how we'd behave with a dream watch that was purchased new. We have some thoughts and we expand the discussion to vintage watches. For those wondering, our watch content starts after roughly 21 minutes.
Our listener, "12.5Lignes," has provided a great suggestion for a topic and it's one that many people ask. Finally, after saving and waiting for one's dream watch, should it be babied, protected, or worn? While I am sure many of our listeners and readers will jump to the tough guy response of wearing it, perhaps this isn't so simple. We'll discuss it.
Handgelenkskontrolle
The banter is strong to open this episode about how to treat a dream watch. Mike has just attended an MLB game in London between the Mets and Phillies. It was a fantastic experience and sent us down a path of discussing different sports-related clothing companies. Regarding our wristwear, Mike is sporting his Zenith A386 Mk 3. This watch has returned after a lengthy stay at the watchmaker but is running beautifully and looking even better. Balazs is wearing his trusty Rolex GMT-Master reference 1675. The discussion turns to recent watch mishaps where Balazs dropped his Angelus 215 and Mike lost a crown on a 90-year-old Movado. It happens!
The dream watch
Our main topic is how to handle one's dream watch. Frankly, we think it's always best to wear the watch you've desired for so long even if it means picking up the occasional scratch. These are marks of experience and may make the watch more meaningful when it moves on to the next generation. The other choices suggested by our reader include wearing it sparingly and using labels or stickers on the watch's surface to protect it. Regarding the occasional use idea, we think this makes sense for a dressy, fragile watch or even a piece that may not be appropriate in some settings. It also may make sense for an irreplaceable vintage watch. When we talk about protection, we dislike this idea immensely because it covers the watch and no longer looks like the original item.
We hope you enjoyed the show and thanks again to our listener for the great show idea. If you have any topics for future shows, please let us know!
Fratello On Air is back after more than two weeks. We didn't plan to be away but illness and travel got in the way again. Today, we talk about some new releases after our normal banter about a variety of topics. We hope you enjoy the show and, yes, we'll be back in a few short days per our normal schedule!
For those who are interested, our Handgelenks begins 23 minutes into the episode. Thanks for bearing with our maladies and travel diaries. This episode comes late in the week right in time for the weekend! New releases have come in a flurry over the past two weeks and we discuss some of the more notable newsmakers. Plus, since it's been a while since we've spoken, we have a bit of catching up to do!
Handgelenkskontrolle
Before we discuss the spate of new releases, we kick off our show with a wide range of banter. Some of you may wish to tune out, so fast forward to 23 minutes for watch-related content. The Walking Dead enters the conversation because Balazs is a zombie addict. Mike has a family tie with the Georgia area where most of the show was filmed. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Balazs has opted for the classic Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday 1. He has it on a lovely Artem strap with a deployant clasp. Mike is wearing a newly acquired 34mm Movado Sport with a Francois Borgel case. This leads to a discussion about another vintage gold Movado and how to decode the series of hallmarks inside the case back. This fantastic site gave all the clues necessary to understand the date and the maker.
New releases
New releases have come in droves during the past 2 weeks and we discuss four of them. We give our thoughts about the new two-tone Speedmaster Professional models (hint: we like them, but they're expensive). The MING 37.09 Bluefin is a huge hit in our minds and evolves the brand's design language further. Then, we discuss the Audemars Piguet (Re)Master 02. Balazs is a big fan, while Mike wishes it were smaller. Finally, we discuss the new King Seiko KS1969 and wish it were more representative of the original King Seiko line.
We hope you enjoyed today's episode and we look forward to coming back in a few days with another show. If you have any new show ideas, feel free to let us know!
Hello there! Welcome to this week's episode of Fratello Talks. Today, we're discussing the topic of wearing expensive watches on cheap straps. Does it make sense to wear a €3000–10000 watch on a €10 strap? Does a €300 OEM strap make sense to begin with? And where do you actually get your money's worth in the strap market? What about aftermarket bracelets? Join Nacho, RJ, and Morgan (making his final appearance on Fratello Talks, for real this time) for an in-depth discussion on the topic.
Welcome to the latest episode of Fratello Talks. This week, Nacho is joined by RJ and Lex to discuss their thoughts on a hype-hungry watch industry. Lately, more than ever before, it seems that big brands within the watch industry are doing their best to remain relevant by chasing hype. We saw the natural hype behind the Omega × Swatch MoonSwatch take over the world a couple of years ago, but have brands been successful in manufacturing similar excitement?
Hello, and welcome to this week's episode of Fratello Talks. This topic is familiar to all those who spend enough time in the watch space and especially to those who consider themselves collectors. Buying, selling, and trading watches comes with the territory, and though a decision may seem solid at the time you make it, you may always regret it. In this week's episode Nacho, RJ, and Morgan discuss keeping regrets to a minimum when buying, selling, or trading watches and offer advice in doing so. But is it possible to operate in this space with no regrets?
Fratello On Air returns with an on-location episode where we discuss overpriced vintage watches. Specifically, we bring up models from Tudor, Cartier, Seiko, and Rolex. Yes, these are fighting words, but someone had to say them! We hope you enjoy the episode!
This week, we're together in London as Balazs traveled in for work. Close listeners on either side of Balazs' hotel room must have thought it was a nerd convention, but, no, it was just another recording of Fratello On Air! We focus on overpriced vintage watches in this episode and question several stalwarts. We don't dislike these watches, but we do feel that there are better options for the money.
Handgelenkskontrolle
For those who are interested, our banter lasts roughly 15 minutes. Do note that there's a fair amount of watch content within this beginning portion. Both co-hosts brought a selection of watches for a bit of off-air show-and-tell. As far as gifts, the long-awaited, never-worn American flag Stance socks are finally with Balazs. Mike, on the other hand, is overjoyed about receiving a jar of Erõs Pista, a spicy Hungarian pepper sauce. Regarding watches, Mike is sporting his sterling silver Omega 30T2 on a new GLC fixed lug strap that Balazs has brought. Balazs has chosen a gorgeous Angelus 250 with a 33.5mm case.
Overpriced Vintage Watches
Now it's time for controversy as we discuss four overpriced vintage watches. Let's make something very clear; we're fans of these watches. Heck, some of us even own several of the picks. However, the current market prices have reached a level where there are better options. Of course, if money is no option, then spend away! We discuss:
We hope you enjoyed today's episode. Stay tuned for more and if you have any additional show ideas, please feel free to let us know! Thank you for listening.
Hello, and welcome! Thanks for tuning in to this week’s episode of Fratello Talks. Today, Nacho, Morgan, and Daan pick their desert island watches. Say one day you were unfortunate enough to become stranded on a desert island; which watch from your collection would you want there with you? Now, let’s say it’s not a life-or-death situation but more of a leisurely, perhaps even orchestrated, self-stranding in your tropical location of choice (a holiday, if you will); what would be your watch of choice for the occasion? Join the guys as they have fun selecting timepieces for these hypothetical scenarios.
Fratello On Air returns and we discuss several recent great recent watches that were quickly forgotten. Attention spans are short these days which can be unfair to some excellent releases. We shed light on some of our favorite unheralded pieces. Enjoy the show!
What have you done for me lately? We live in the now and with new watches coming at us daily it can be easy to forget something halfway decent from yesterday. The other problem is that some watches don't even receive coverage. Well, we're here to talk about recent watches that may have escaped your attention. One of our favorite listeners, Richard, suggested the topic and it's a good one! Of course, we kick off the show with just a touch of banter. For those who are keeping track, our main topic starts after 15 minutes.
Handgelenkskontrolle
Before discussing watches that have faded quickly, we engage in some light discussion. We talk about ultrasonic cleaners and other watch-related topics. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Balazs is wearing his Grand Seiko SBGA439 on a strap. Mike is enjoying the fine English weather with his Rolex Datejust Thunderbird 1625 on a light blue strap.
Watches that deserve another look
Our main topic focuses on recent watches that were quickly forgotten or possibly not covered at all! In general, we chose relatively affordable watches (i.e. no haute horlogerie). Some of these watches are still for sale, while others were on the market briefly. The common point is that all are available on the secondary market for less than their current or original retail prices. We discuss:
As we mentioned during the show, we'd love to hear your thoughts on some recent hidden gems. There are plenty to consider! Thank you again for listening and we look forward to the next episode.
Fratello On Air returns on its non-normal day because your co-hosts have been under the weather. We're both on the mend, though, and happy to be on the airwaves. In this episode, we cover several topics, but our main discussion centers on the recent TAG Heuer Formula 1 × Kith releases. We try to bring some level of sense to these watches.
In this episode, we discuss the nearly universal outcry against the TAG Heuer Formula 1 × Kith releases. What should have been a joyous reminder of many of our childhoods took a decidedly negative turn in the comments section. We're critical too, but we also try to find the silver linings.
Other topics and the Handgelenkskontrolle
For everyone's benefit, we reach our main topic around the TAG Heuer × Kith watches roughly 27 minutes into the recording. Before this, we discuss the most recent Jordan 4 Retro sneakers in Industrial Blue that Mike ordered. Then, we discuss two recent TV shows, Reacher and Man In Full. Oddly, our Handgelenkskontrolle comes at the end, but it makes sense to mention them here. Mike is wearing his appropriate TAG Heuer WA1211 that he received in the late '80s. Balazs has a Rolex Datejust 16030 on loan from a friend. He's thinking about buying it!
The TAG Heuer Formula 1 × Kith
Mike wrote up the press release for last week's TAG Heuer × Kith lineup and the comments were incredible. Other watch content sites fared no better with their critics. Surely, the collaboration was a surprising one. However, the watches still brought more than a partial smile to Mike's face. These watches bring back a lot of memories from a very different time. We also think and hope that these pieces will result in other new releases from TAG Heuer. To cap things off, Balazs discusses similar criticisms laid upon the newly revived Amida Digitrend.
Hi there! Welcome to another episode of Fratello Talks. This week, you join Nacho, Daan, and Morgan, who discuss the many possible ways of building a watch collection. This includes looking at some common approaches, sharing some sound advice from their experience, and a spot of soul-searching concerning their watch collections. What works for them may not be what works for you, but some of their tips may prove helpful along the way. Ultimately, everyone will have a different approach to building a watch collection, but if you’re feeling a bit lost or uninspired, tune in to this episode.
Hello, and welcome to this week's episode of Fratello Talks. Today, we wrap up our Watches And Wonders 2024 with a debrief episode featuring Nacho, Thomas, and Lex. The guys take some time to go over a number of brands (and their corresponding releases) that we missed in episode one. They also discuss the general mood of the show and how it reflects on the overall state of the watch industry today. And despite promises made several weeks ago, we recorded this one on a Friday afternoon, so you'll get your fair share of banter and jokes throughout.
Fratello On Air returns to its normally scheduled slot with a look at some Haute Horlogerie that can be bought at a fair price. To be clear, we're focusing more on high-end complications that usually cost an arm and a leg. This is the second half of an episode we recorded a week ago and we hope you enjoy!
Big-time complications often come with a nasty price tag. However, we've identified some examples of Haute Horlogerie that may not break the bank. Come with us while we run through some specific references. Enjoy the show!
Opening thoughts
We covered the Handgelenkskontrolle on our last episode, so we jump into the topic of affordable Haute Horlogerie. We do mention the crocheted watch rolls now in the Fratello Shop as Mike's mother-in-law created them. This inspires small talk about grandmothers and their focus on food and handicrafts. Also, just to be clear, Mike ends the show with a public service announcement. Everyone who owns a car should own a battery booster!
Haute Horlogerie on a budget
New watch prices may be escalating beyond control, but there are great deals on the used market. Specifically, when we discuss Haute Horlogerie, we have found some epic watches that bring incredible complications or features for less than the price of a steel Submariner. Some of the watches we discuss are:
We hope you enjoyed today's eclectic mix of watches. Feel free to add your suggestions in the comments section. If you have future show ideas, please let us know. Thanks for listening!
Welcome back to Fratello On Air! This week, we're coming back late due to our busy schedules. We've decided to cut this recording in half and will come back on our regularly scheduled day next week. For this episode, we talk about the new Amida Digitrend and a vintage Tissot Antimagnetique.
Sorry, folks; we're late again! Work is having its way with our schedules, but we were able to come together and record a lengthy discussion that we have separated into two distinct parts. Today's episode does have a lot of non-watch-related content for the first half. We discuss running shoes, tennis shoes, and new shoe releases. Then, we discuss our Handgelenkskontrolle, including the new Amiga Digitrend and a vintage Tissot Antimagnetique.
Banter
We've received some feedback that our shoe talk has ebbed dramatically. Some of you asked for a return, so we're responding. Before discussing the Amida and the Tissot, we start with functional shoe talk related to running and tennis. Mike ponders why sneaker brands can't use a classic form, such as a Stan Smith, and pair it with modern technology underneath. This would make it useable on the tennis courts. We bemoan the lack of recent compelling releases on the Nike SNKRS app and hope the situation improves.
Handgelenkskontrolle
The Handgelenkskontrolle is our main section today. Balazs kicks it off with the new Amiga Digitrend, a passion project that resurrects a wild watch from the '70s. The periscopic "heads-up" display is back! This heavy steel watch has moved upmarket with a much better movement and a larger price tag. Balazs will return in a few weeks with a full review, but you can check out more on the official Amida website. Meanwhile, Mike is wearing a very different type of watch. It's an early '50s Tissot Anitmagnetique with a 37.5mm chrome case. Since Balazs published an article on his back in 2018, Mike has been on a quiet hunt. Finally, he located a lovely example at a nice price. The two discuss the watches in detail and how they offer great value.
We hope you appreciated today's brief episode, and stay tuned for the second part next Tuesday.
Welcome to this week's episode of Fratello Talks. In this special long-form episode, Nacho, RJ, and Morgan discuss Watches and Wonders 2024. There's much to unpack from this year's fair, so prepare for an extended episode. The trio tackles topics including the general atmosphere of the fair, noticeable trends from brands and the industry overall, and finishes by going through many of the show's notable releases. This year's show was slightly slower than what we've seen in the past, but there were no fewer releases from the 54 participating brands. Do you want to get an idea of what it was like to walk the halls and touch (and feel) the watches? Then tune in to this episode of Fratello Talks!
Fratello On Air returns after a three-week break. Half of us traveled to Geneva while the other went to Florida. Both of us saw fancy cars, but only one of us saw impressive watches. The question of who might have a surprising answer! Watches and Wonders 2024 has come and gone and, frankly, it was a bit of a stinker.
Watches and Wonders 2024 certainly delivered on the first half of its name. The second part? Not so much in our opinion. There were several nice releases, but we'll go on record to say there wasn't a shocking piece that set the watch world on edge. We discuss why it was such a dull event. Of course, we mention our favorites and bring up some of the questionable releases. We hope you enjoy the show!
Handgelenkskontrolle
Before heading to our main topic of Watches and Wonders 2024, we spend some time talking about movies and television. Long flights and travel have allowed us to catch up on recent films and shows. As far as the Handgelenkskontrolle, Balazs is sporting a pre-production watch from TUUL watches. This is a military-style watch from the makers of B&R Bands from Brooklyn. Mike is wearing his L-Series Rolex Explorer 1016, a watch that came on his trip to Florida.
Watches and Wonders 2024
We move on to our main topic of Watches and Wonders 2024. Balazs was on the ground in Geneva while Mike covered some of the releases from South Florida. Overall, we felt this was one of the sleepiest years in recent memory. The color variants were more common than actual new watches. The new watches that did arrive weren't landmark pieces. As far as our favorites, we liked the Nivada F77, L.U. Chopard sector dial pieces, TAG Heuer Skipper in 18K, Zenith Triple Calendar Boutique Edition, and Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight GMT. We discuss the odd gold Rolex Deepsea, Cartier Rewind, Bremont revision, and Patek "Canadian Tuxedo" models.
What were your thoughts on Watches and Wonders 2024? Did you enjoy it? We hope you at least enjoyed this episode and we look forward to coming back to you next week! If you have any thoughts for future shows, please let us know.
Hello there! Welcome to a new episode of Fratello Talks. This week, we have decided to discuss a topic we often get asked about: gifting watches. Nacho, RJ, and Daan explore the topic, from whom you should gift a watch, to when it's appropriate to gift someone a watch. Of course, they also provide some examples from their own experience and share some stories of times when they themselves have gifted and received watches as gifts. The former being the more common occurrence. Finally, they also provide some recommendations on the kinds of watches you should consider if looking to give someone this special gift. After all, a watch is an exceptional gift that could potentially last someone a lifetime. So, tune in for some solid Fratello advice on gifting watches.
Welcome to a fresh new episode of Fratello Talks. Today, Nacho is joined by RJ and Lex for a varied chat centered around the topic of things that make a watch worthwhile. From waitlists to limited editions and even watches for special occasions, added value is not really a matter of price. Does a reasonable wait add to the experience of eventually owning a watch? And does too long a wait spoil the desire? This is one of the topics tackled today. As is the matter of limited editions. These days, everything seems to be limited and exclusive; but does this spoil it for everyone? It seems that, on the other hand, a total lack of LEs from certain brands is also no fun. So, where's the sweet spot? And what makes a watch worthwhile?
Hello, and welcome to a rather rowdy episode of Fratello Talks. It's a Friday afternoon at Fratello HQ, and Nacho, Lex, and Thomas gather around the mics to list some of the best watches of 2024 so far. Each of them has picked three of their favorites released during this first quarter and three additional honorable mentions. But, despite their best efforts, it doesn't take long until the structure crumbles and their chat diverges into a discussion on some of their favorite (and not-so-favorite) new releases of the year so far.
Fratello On Air returns with a new episode inspired by one of our listeners. Today, we're talking about our favorite watch and strap combinations. Of course, we're allowing bracelets to enter the conversation as well. Like always, we also have several other topics on tap.
So, what are our favorite watch and strap combinations? It's a good question, but one that we seek to answer. We thank our faithful listener, Richard, for today's topics. Metal enters the fray too because some watches look better with a bit of dangle. Shoes are also in focus as this was also a request from our listener. We hope you enjoy the show!
Handgelenkskontrolle
After some television discussion, we kick off our show with the Handgelenkskontrolle and are wearing watch and strap pairings that will be mentioned during the main topic. Balazs is home in Hungary and has brought his Grand Seiko SBGA439 on a denim blue Delugs strap. Mike is wearing his 1951 Longines 14ct Park Avenue on a "Honey Wind" leather strap. We then turn our attention to our current grail sneakers. Balazs lists the Asics Gel Lite 3 Miami Beach Edition, Jordan 1 Fragment x Travis Scott, and his signed Adidas Stan Smith shoes as his favorites. Mike is still pining for one of his high school favorites to return. His all-time crush is the gray, white, black, and yellow Nike Air Trainer Max '91 worn by Bo Jackson. Finally, Mike has purchased a vintage Tissot pocket watch, which sparks a discussion about what to do with these lovely objects.
Watch and strap combinations
Asking about our favorite watch and strap combinations is a tough question. It depends on the day, the season, and the specific watch. However, we've tried to bring up some of our most frequent picks. Here are the main points we discuss:
We hope you enjoyed today's episode and thanks again to Richard for the great topic suggestions! If you have any additional topics for future shows, feel free to let us know.
Hi there, and welcome to a new episode of Fratello Talks. Excuses, excuses, excuses... Letting them get in the way of a good thing is a shame. So it's time to cut them out and enjoy watches. This is this week's topic of discussion, which Nacho, Lex, and RJ explore in detail. It's an interesting phenomenon that we've observed lately. A new watch is announced, and out pour the single-phrase comments providing personal justification for a lack of intention to purchase. It all results in a rather dull, nasty, and repetitive rabbit hole of cynicism. But why does this happen? Is it a FOMO-induced face-saving reaction? Does it have more to do with how information is shared online? Or is it just the nature of online comments? And can't we just cut it out and enjoy watches regardless?
Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air. This week, we discuss flying on airplanes with our vintage watches and why we avoid it. We also cover several other watch-related topics before and after the main subject. Enjoy the show!
Flying on airplanes may be a normal and safe activity, but how does it affect our vintage watches? We discuss our thoughts on the question and why we tend to wear newer pieces. For those who don't love our banter, we begin our main subject after 40 minutes. However, all but a few minutes of the first portion are watch-related. So, fast-forward at your peril!
Handgelenks Kontrolle
We kick off our show about wearing our vintage watches on airplanes with several topics. Balazs mentions a recent visit by his friend and fellow Angelus lover, Bosko. Bosko brought along a stunning Angelus Chrono-Datoluxe that has made Balazs just a tad envious. We then discuss the recent Sunday Morning Showdown where the black Speedmaster Professional easily bested the new white Speedy. The Handgelenks Kontrolle brings a story from Mike about a newly acquired vintage Jaeger-LeCoultre. The watch was purchased at auction and needed work. This led to a fun adventure in London last week. Balazs, on the other wrist, is wearing his Grand Seiko SBGA439 on a Delugs strap.
Wearing vintage watches on airplanes
Today, we respond to one of our listeners who asked why Balazs no longer wears vintage watches like his Rolex GMT-Master on airplanes. Balazs isn't the only one as Mike also tends to wear newer watches. The risk of spills, knocks, and more leads us to choose newer, more robust watches. Are we overprotective and unreasonably concerned? Who knows, but we've both flown a lot and have experienced our share of accidents. We're curious if you're also cautious when flying and keep your older, more fragile watches in a bag or at home. Feel free to let us know!
Thanks for listening to today's episode, we hope you enjoyed it! If you have ideas for future episodes, let us know.
Welcome to Fratello Talks. This week, you join your host, Nacho, alongside RJ and Lex for a discussion on the evolution of watch marketing. The idea of marketing watches has been around since selling them became a lucrative endeavor. Since then, we have seen the watch industry's efforts take many different forms, from posters to print ads, television spots to ambassadors, and the many different ways in which watch brands are involved in the world of sports. Today, the guys take a look at many of these aspects and discuss examples that they find memorable, effective, and downright cool. They also list some examples of not-so-effective marketing. Finally, they do some wishful thinking for its future.
Fratello On Air returns and this week we discuss watches from brands that everyone should own at some point on their collecting journey. Our ideas come across as more of a suggestion than an edict, though. We also touch on several other watch-related topics before the main event. Enjoy the show!
Whether we're talking watches, cars, or any other item, we're not sure that anyone likes being told what they should or shouldn't buy. That's why our main topic today on watch brands is fairly light. We also spend a decent amount of time talking about last week's Cartier episode, the new white Speedmaster, and Balazs' watch-related travel in the USA.
Handgelenks Kontrolle
We kick off our episode with a mention of one of our listeners. He asked about aluminum luggage, which fed a conversation during last week's podcast. He also happens to be a stuntman who has worked with Tom Selleck and shared some news about Tom's Rolex GMT-Master. We move on to Cartier and how it must be one of the most polarizing brands in existence. Then, we transition to the white Omega Speedmaster, a watch that Balazs saw while traveling in Miami. As far as our wristwear, both of us are doing our best Magnum P.I. impersonations. Balazs has his trusty Rolex GMT-Master 1675 and Mike is rocking his later 16750.
Brands everyone should own at least once
We move on to our main topic regarding brands that everyone should own. The idea came from one of our listeners, so thank you very much! Balazs names some brands and watches that may come across as a surprise. The Bvlgari Octo Finissimo makes an appearance along with the Zenith El Primero. Then, he mentions Omega, Grand Seiko, Tudor, and Breitling. Mike brings in Parmigiani and Moser. However, despite the venom that exists among so many people, he can't resist bringing up Rolex. Pound for pound, they make a fantastic watch and if purchased at retail price, a Rolex is hard to beat.
We hope you enjoyed today's show and thanks for listening! Feel free to let us know if you have any suggestions for future episodes!
Welcome to this week's episode of Fratello Talks. Today, you join Nacho, Morgan, and Thomas, who join forces to discuss a number of their watch pet peeves. The guys are feeling particularly grumpy today, so they decided to go on an extensive rant, listing some of the things watch brands do that rub them the wrong way. There are plenty of groan-inducing factors to consider, whether it's a lack of micro adjust, gratuitous exhibition case backs, deployant clasps, lack of AR coating, or sub-par timekeeping. We start off slow but finish feeling like we just scratched the surface, but all grievances aside, it turned out to be a fun episode.
Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air. This week, we're asking what would make us buy a Cartier watch. It's a good question because neither of your co-hosts owns a timepiece from the incredibly popular brand. As we'll see, the reasons have little to do with what's currently on offer and more about our wearing habits.
What would make us buy a Cartier? It's a good question and with popularity in the famed jeweler's watches at an all-time high, it's one that probably doesn't beg for loads of discussion. Yet, here we are without one on either of our wrists. We'll explore why and if that may change in the future. Of course, there are other discussions to be had about watches and unrelated topics. Enjoy the show!
Handgelenks Kontrolle
In this episode, we stay relatively true to our ten-minute non-watch talk promise. We kick off with a chat about aluminum luggage as we received a question from one of our listeners. We then transition into a topic brought up by one of Mike's friends in Detroit. It's a series of movies starring Tom Selleck as the character Jesse Stone. He's still wearing his famed Rolex GMT-Master from Magnum P.I., which leads to a question that Mike's friend asked. Namely, is this a seriously valuable celebrity watch? As far as our wristwear, Mike is wearing a NOS Bulova Arnold from the '40s. He received this watch during high school and it's now getting some long overdue wrist time. Balazs is heading to the Big Apple and, therefore, he has on his go-to travel watch, the G-Shock GWB-5600.
What would make us buy a Cartier?
Of all the lovely watches both of us own, neither have us have ever owned a Cartier. It turns out that whenever we've thought about one, another watch jumps to the front of the queue which would likely get more time on the wrist. This is a very different scenario than past "What Would Make Us Buy Brand X" episodes where we have requested significant changes from the brands. No, we like the current Cartier lineup. We also admit that whenever we think of the brand, we cannot help but recall our dearly missed friend, George Cramer. His name is synonymous with Cartier and his articles here are classics.
We hope you enjoyed today's show and thank you for listening. As always, if you have ideas for future episodes, feel free to let us know!
Are rising watch prices getting you down? Well, we’ve got good news for you. In this week’s episode of Fratello Talks, Nacho, Timo, and RJ take a look at some horological hidden gems under €5K. These are watches you can buy either new or pre-owned that offer something truly interesting for the price. If you want to get the most for your money, these nine options are perfect ways to go. We’ve got a little bit of everything, from big-brand bangers at a fraction of their current-day equivalent prices to under-the-radar watches currently available at prices that won’t stay low for long.
In this week's episode of Fratello On Air, we ponder what's wrong with the watch industry. Before you jump to conclusions, we're not upset. We have a wish list and think that certain areas within this sector could use further thoughts or updates. Get ready for a lengthy episode!
So, what's wrong with the watch industry? Maybe "wrong" is too harsh a word, but we do see opportunities for improvement or alteration. Don't worry; we keep our suggestions above the beltline, but we do think we score a few points. We love watches and want to see brands continue to do well, so we share our highly esteemed (well, not really) opinions. As always, feel free to share your thoughts below!
Handgelenks Kontrolle
We kick things off with a short disclaimer about last week's episode about the three watches we'd save from a burning house. Once again, folks, no one was hurt in that scenario, and we felt it was more catchy to come up with such a title. When several of you suggested that taking the insurance money was a better idea, I guess we lost you! Next, there is a bit of sneaker news. The Nike Air Tech Challenge II in Lava is coming again! These were Andre Agassi's famous shoes, and there's a nice history video clip here. Before talking about the watch industry, Balazs shares a new watch he has in for review. The new Vulcain Grand Prix with a champagne dial and 39mm case is on his wrist. Mike is wearing a new arrival as well. It's the 1939 Omega reference 13322 with a sterling silver case and a 30T2 movement. More to come on that one!
Our wish list for the watch industry
Next, we discuss opportunities for the watch industry. We talk about several different topics, including:
We hope you enjoy today's lengthy episode, and thank you for listening. As always, if you have any show ideas, feel free to let us know!
In this week's episode of Fratello Talks, we're pleased to welcome special guests Jérôme Burgert And Gabriel Vachette, the men behind Serica watches. They join your host and Fratello's managing editor, Nacho Conde, for a deep dive into the every-classy French microbrand ahead of its fifth anniversary. They delve into the brand's origins and evolution over the last few years and give you a small taste of things to come later this year. So, whether you're a fan of the brand, have heard about it, or are curious to learn more, make sure to tune in and listen to the entire chat, which exceptionally pushes the boundaries of the short-form podcast.
Fratello On Air is back with another listener-inspired show topic. This week, we talk about the three watches each of us would save from a burning house. Don't worry, we'll keep things light as a real fire is no joke. Of course, expect a bit of banter up front as we work up to the main theme.
A fire at home is a terrible thought, so feel free to insert an emergency that would require a near-instantaneous choice of three watches from the collection. No more or no less can be taken. Of course, the family and pets are safe, so it's fine to focus on your prized possessions. We'll set a couple of rules below to help ensure we get to our absolute favorites.
Handgelenks Kontrolle
Before discussing the three watches that we would choose above all others, we turn to some brief banter. Never fear, we're going to do our best to keep it to ten minutes! Balazs mentions a great book called, "Soled Out: The Golden Age of Sneaker Advertising (A Sneaker Freaker Book)." He then mentions two television shows named, "Gangs of London," and "Godless." Mike brings up the "Mayor of Kingstown." As far as our wristwear, Mike is wearing a relatively new acquisition, the '30s Movado Curviplan. Balazs is sporting his gorgeous vintage Sinn Excelsior Park chronograph. It was the perfect watch for his recent visit to Sinn HQ.
The three watches we'd save
It's a tough topic to think about, but if we had to save three watches in our collection, what would we choose? Before we get to it, though, we are excluding any family heirloom watches if they aren't selected. The choices were tough and some familiar names made the list. A couple of surprises come along, though.
Balazs:
Mike:
What watches in your collection would you grab in a pinch?
Thanks again to one of our listeners for suggesting this fun topic and thanks to everyone for listening. If you have ideas for future show topics, please feel free to let us know!
On today's episode of Fratello Talks, Nacho, RJ, and Lex take a look at and try to make sense of watch prices today. It's often a hot topic of discussion in the comments. In a world where price increases have become a bi-yearly phenomenon, it's a challenge to keep up with where value lies. But is it a mistake to expect bang-for-buck in the world of luxury? Then, the matter of brands' positioning within the world of watches comes into play. As watch enthusiasts, we are aware of the plate tectonics within the watch industry and can feel when something doesn't sit quite right. So, how do we make sense of all of this? That's the question.
Fratello On Air returns with an episode featuring a hypothetical question. This is a recurring series and this time we ask what would make us buy a new Seiko. We'll cover more than just sports watches and settle on a few key asks to one of our favorite brands. Enjoy the show!
What would make us buy a new Seiko? It's a good question and one that has many different answers. You'll be able to predict some of them while others may surprise you! We hope you enjoy the show and please feel free to comment if you have other suggestions for the Japanese powerhouse!
Handgelenks Kontrolle
Before getting into our new Seiko topic, we kick the show off with some very light banter. This time, it's a fairly short preamble. Mike has just returned from Dublin, Ireland, and discusses a nice visit at a vintage watch shop. As far as the Handgelenks Kontrolle, Balazs is sporting his vintage Angelus 210 with a white dial and stick lugs. This generates some discussion about the watch, its variants, and its history. Mike is wearing a new acquisition. It's a '30s rectangular Cyma Watersport with a clamshell case. Yes, non-round watches are back in business!
What would make us buy a new Seiko?
Let's be clear, both of us like current Seiko models. There's a huge catalog and plenty to enjoy for all. Still, we're picky and are always pushing for more from our favorite watch brands. Plus, it's probably been four years since either of us has purchased a new Seiko. So, what is it that would have us grabbing our collective wallets? We discuss the need for a true killer diver at the high end that isn't a reissue. Then, we join the bandwagon and continue to mourn the passing of the once-mighty SKX. King Seiko has been a nice surprise, but we're looking for more variety there and better movements. As for chronographs, we feel that Seiko is missing a huge opportunity to recreate a unique 6139-like movement to help bring down the thickness and separate itself from the crowd. Of course, we have plenty of other suggestions from case finishing to strap quality.
We hope you enjoyed today's episode and thanks for listening! As always, feel free to let us know if you have any ideas for a future show topic.
In this week's episode of Fratello Talks, we're taking a look at three affordable watches that punch above their weight. Nacho, Thomas, and Morgan have set their sights on sub-€500 offerings. This is a space in which the likes of Seiko, Hamilton, and even Tissot once reigned supreme. Today, it's the battleground for many microbrands. But there are still hundreds of options available. Today, we'll take a look at three. Each of the guys has selected one of their favorite watches available at that price point, which they'll highlight in today's episode.
Fratello On Air returns after a one-week break. In this episode, we're discussing a topic suggestion from one of our listeners and readers. It's a question that likely comes into most of our minds at some point along the way. Namely, how do we enjoy watch collecting without always thinking about the next acquisition? We share our thoughts.
Our listener, "Cleon.XIII," is responsible for this week's episode where we talk about watch collecting and how to find satisfaction without moving on to the next piece. It's a tough one, especially for one of our hosts! Regardless of this, we provide some of the tactics that either work for us or seem to work for others with more self-control! Enjoy it!
Handgelenks Kontrolle
We kick off our episode on watch collecting without always thinking of collecting more with a bit of banter. Shoes make their way to the list of topics. Mike recounts his recent trip to Florida where he spent some time with Eric Wind and Charlie Dunne of Wind Vintage. He also had the chance to attend a dinner with Josh Shapiro of J.N. Shapiro Watches which was fantastic. Balazs mentions some recent podcasts and TV shows that he has enjoyed during travel. As far as the Handglenks Kontrolle, Mike is wearing his Eterna 852. Balazs is enjoying his Seiko Skyliner 6100-8000.
Watch collecting without buying
For our main topic, we discuss the idea of appreciating the watch hobby without always having to be on the hunt for another watch. Each of us brought some suggestions and while some aren't perfectly free, they likely come in well below the cost of a new timepiece. In short, here are our suggestions:
We hope you enjoyed today's episode. If you have any topics for future shows, please feel free to let us know!
Welcome to this week's episode of Fratello Talks. Today, Nacho is joined by Morgan and RJ to discuss the topic of watch servicing. More specifically, they answer common questions on the topic, including: when should you service your watch? How often should you service your watch? And how much should you expect to pay for a service? Keeping your beloved watch ship-shape is not something you should overlook. Most watch brands have a recommended service interval, but do you really need to stick to this advice? We don't think so, especially in the common case where you own/wear multiple watches. It's a topic that's not as clear-cut as it may seem. Today, the guys tackle the topic and give you their views and share their experiences with watch servicing.
Welcome to this special episode of Fratello Talks for LVMH Watch Week 2024! You join Nacho, Timo, and RJ, who run through the list of releases from Bulgari, TAG Heuer, Hublot, and Zenith. It may yet be early in the year, but we've already seen a ton of new watches. These brands have given us more than a handful of new watches to be excited about. You'll find technically impressive innovations and contemporary takes on classic designs among the novelties. From Zenith adding a classic complication to a fan favorite, TAG Heuer bringing back the Dato dial in the Glassbox formula, to Bulgari dropping a couple of new bold colorways for the Octo Finissimo, and Hublot flexing their technical chops with the MP-10 Linear Weight Tourbillon.
Welcome to this episode of Fratello Talks, where Nacho, Lex, and Laurits try to answer the question: what makes a watch brand great? It's not as obvious as one might imagine. There are as many factors to consider as parts of a watch's movement. Yet a handful of specific criteria come into play in separating the many from the few. From heritage to storytelling and, ultimately, the product itself. Make sure to tune in to this week's discussion for a nuanced dive into the topic as the guys share their opinions.
Fratello On Air is back with another rip-roaring episode. This time, we talk about what starting over would look like for our watch collections. Of course, we give ourselves all the funds that we've used in the past for watches and are armed with the knowledge we've picked up over the last decade or so. We hope you enjoy it!
One of our favorite readers, "Goldenyears," commented on our last podcast with the following:
"Sometimes I wonder what watches would I own if I could start all over again from scratch — have no watches but all the money I ever spent so far on every watch I ever owned, including the inexpensive, fashion, and junk watches and the Timex and Casio watches of my youth. It’s a tidy sum of money. I, for one, can attest that my collection would look dramatically different."
This generated today's podcast topic where Balazs and I consider starting over with our collections and what would change or stay the same. Thanks, Goldenyears! Journey with us to an alternate reality.
Handgelenks Kontrolle
Before discussing starting over with our collections, we discuss several topics. We hit upon our recent travels to Germany and mention both the good and bad things that occurred along the way. Yes, the much-maligned Frankfurt Airport makes an appearance, and, spoiler alert, it does live up to its reputation. We then transition to the new Omega Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon Apollo 8 and its hefty price tag. For the Handglenks Kontrolle, Mike has on a loaner Ming 29.01 Dubai Edition. It's a stunning watch with some incredible details. Balazs is going simple, yet pleasing with his O.G. Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical. Finally, before hitting our topic, the news of Arnold Schwarzenegger and his run-in with the German Zoll had just broken, so it's worth a few words.
Starting Over
When we finally hit our main topic of starting over with our collections, we set some ground rules. We have all the money that we ever spent on watches. Plus, we are armed with all the knowledge that we've picked up over time. As you'll hear, both of us head in different directions with our empty wrists and full coffers. Balazs feels that he'd keep his collection small with some key pieces. Mike would also add some key pieces, but would probably find himself down a rabbit hole and begin amassing a decent number of watches again. Of course, we also discuss the problems of starting a collection today such as being able to find some of the vintage pieces we currently own. In a way, this is like a daydream about winning the lottery and the options are endless.
Thanks for listening and we hope you enjoyed the show! If you have any future topic suggestions, feel free to let us know!
Welcome to the year's third episode of Fratello Talks. Today, Nacho is joined by Morgan and RJ to discuss the most important watches of the last five years. We had a look back and carefully selected nine pieces that we consider to be the most influential, impactful, and interesting horological creations of the last half-decade. Swiss watch brands present hundreds (if not thousands) of new watches each year. In an effort to innovate, iterate, and attract potential customers around the world, these brands are on an endless quest to expand their catalogs. However, not all new watches are created equal. These nine are the ones we consider to have had the greatest impact on the world of watches.
Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we talk about curating our watch collections. That's a large topic with a lot of room for discussion. How have our interests changed over time and where do we go to look for help? Enjoy the casual discussion between two watch addicts who own and admire a wide variety of pieces.
Watch collections are a funny thing. Some folks stick to one or two themes while others seem to have no rhyme or reason. Both of us seem to fall into the latter camp, but we do enjoy certain genres more than others. This week, we discuss what we look for, how our tastes have changed, and where we go for advice. This is more of a fireside chat than a list of do's and don'ts yet we still think it's an enjoyable topic. We hope you feel the same!
Handgelenks Kontrolle
Before moving on to our watch collections, we discuss speeding in Germany and how tempo limits, unfortunately, do exist in the Fatherland. We also hit upon shoes for a moment before moving into watches. Mike kicks off the Handgelenks Kontrolle with a recent acquisition. It's a 1940s Tissot Pointer Date that came from a good friend in England. Balazs has some great knowledge about Tissot, so we spend time discussing the watch. Balazs is sporting his vintage Omega Speedmaster Mark II 145.014 with a racing dial. We've discussed these watches before and still feel that they represent great value.
Our watch collections
For our main topic, we talk about our watch collections. What has influenced our choices? What are the favorite parts of our collections and do we have watches that we've bought knowing that we won't wear them? How do we obtain information on obscure pieces and what do we look for when buying? There's a lot here and, arguably, each of these questions could make up an entire podcast episode. We hope you enjoy the back-and-forth. Feel free to let us know how you've pulled your collection together and whether it follows any firm rules. Furthermore, if there are specific areas you'd like us to discuss more deeply, just ask! We know that some of you enjoy vintage watches, but have some concerns about starting to collect. We're happy to share whatever we know — and what we don't!
Thanks again for listening!
Welcome to the second episode of the second season of Fratello Talks! As we kick off the year, we're dusting off old debates, and today, we talk about the myth of a perfect watch size. Your host, Nacho, is joined by RJ and Thomas to discuss horological proportions. Is there such a thing as a perfect watch size? We don't think so. Too many factors come into play, from thickness to lug-to-lug and even the case shape, not to mention the wearer's wrist circumference and profile. Ultimately, the way to go is to try as many different watches as possible and see what works for you. What may seem too big or too small on paper is sometimes more wearable than expected in the metal. You might just be surprised!
Fratello On Air returns with a new episode and this time, we ask what would make each other buy a new Rolex. While there's no question that the brand makes amazing watches, we tend to be vintage lovers around here. So, what would make us pull the trigger on a new model?
A new Rolex is on everyone's shopping list, right? Not so fast. Neither of your co-hosts has a new Rolex at the top of our shopping lists. So, what would sway us? We talk about the models we do enjoy and a couple of desired changes to the lineup. Then, we shift gears and discuss the Longines Spirit Zulu Time and whether it truly stacks up against the Tudor Black Bay GMT. We hope you enjoy the show!
Handgelenks Kontrolle
We kick off our episode on what would cause us to buy a new Rolex with our normal banter. Shoes are in play and there's a lot of excitement around the upcoming releases for the year. We mention a few pairs that we'll be watching closely as the year rolls forward. When it comes to the Handglenks Kontrolle, Balazs kicks it off with his Rolex 1675 GMT-Master. He's sporting this after wearing his friend's vintage Rolex 5513 in Hungary. Mike is donning a vintage 35mm Tissot pointer date from the late '40s. We discuss the history of these watches and our thoughts.
Buying a new Rolex
Both Balazs and I love our vintage Rolex watches. We admire current Rolex watches and do admire certain models such as the GMT-Master II in Pepsi form, the Daytona, and even the 36mm Datejust. However, we miss the days of the more rugged and simple Rolex watches. As a result, we express our thoughts on what changes to the lineup would make us desire a new model. After this, we move on to a discussion about the Longines Spirit Zulu Timer and Longines in general. They've truly made some strides over the last several years. Longines is now often in the same discussions as Tudor and we discuss whether this makes sense or not.
We hope you enjoyed this latest episode and thank you for listening! As always, if you have ideas for future shows, let us know.
Welcome to the first episode of Fratello Talks of 2024. We hope the new year has been treating you well so far. Here at Fratello HQ, we decided to tackle the new year head-on and make predictions for what we expect to see over the coming twelve months. You join Nacho, your host, alongside Morgan and Lex, who voice their expectations and wishes for the new year. From educated guesses to wild predictions, the guys have the bases covered. And, who knows? Maybe some of their wishes may just come true before the year is up!
A very Happy New Year from your co-hosts at Fratello On Air! We're back with our first episode of the year. 2024 is here and we discuss some of the trends we expect to see while sending out 2023. It was quite a year with plenty of drama and plenty of new watches. We hit the high and low points.
Sending out 2023 - the year that was! In some ways, we're ready to move on, but it's worth taking some time to look back on some of the key events. We cover both vintage and new topics and then look ahead to what may come in 2024. Enjoy the show!
Handgelenks Kontrolle
Before sending out 2023, we take the time to discuss a recent article on Perezcope about the Rolex Space-Dweller. It's a worthwhile article and will certainly raise your eyebrows! Then, it's on to the Handgelenks Kontrolle. Balazs is at home in Hungary and sporting his vintage Grand Seiko 5646-7010. It's a great all-arounder that is getting plenty of holiday period wrist time. Mike has opted for a watch he hasn't worn in some time, the Omega Speedmaster 1957 Reissue. The watch is paired with a modern Forstner Komfit JB mesh bracelet.
Sending out 2023
We come to our main topic of sending out 2023 and focusing on 2024. Of course, we can't ignore some of the concerns that came to light on the auction circuit this year. We also discuss changing trends as they relate to dial colors, gold, smaller-sized watches, and the return of both simpler and square watches. For 2024, we question how the market will perform because it has certainly slowed down in the back half of the year. We expect "value for money" to play a strong role this coming year and, finally, we discuss the role of free-standing single-brand boutiques.
We hope you enjoyed this episode and we look forward to being with you all year! As always, if you have ideas for future show topics, please feel free to let us know.
Hello, and welcome to the last episode of Fratello Talks in 2023. Today, RJ, Lex, and your host, Nacho, are here to discuss their personal, professional, and horological highlights of the year. It's the 2023 wrap-up episode! Tune in and watch (or listen) as the guys reminisce over some of the past twelve months. They touch on topics ranging from some of the year's best watch releases and events to horological innovations, articles, and personal achievements. We put a ribbon on 2023 and send the year off on a high by reading off a handful of your comments.
Mike and I are celebrating Christmas with our loved ones this week. But this is the last Fratello On Air of the year, and we had to go out with a bang, so I recorded a talk with fellow watch enthusiast, New York Times bestselling author, and all-around nice guy Gary Shteyngart. Enjoy this special holiday episode!
Gary, a fan of Fratello On Air, is a delight to talk to. As he’s passionate about watches and horology in general, I had an easy job. Aside from Gary’s state of the collection, we touch on several topics. Nomosgets mentioned alongside brands like Patek Philippe, Rolex, and Grand Seiko. Gary also shares some inside info about the making of Succession, the HBO hit TV show of 2023.
Hello, and welcome to the 50th and penultimate episode of Fratello Talks this year. Today, we dive into the topic of building a watch brand in 2023. Your host, Nacho, is joined by Morgan and Thomas. The latter comes well-equipped to share some insights into the experience. As some of you may know, Thomas—as well as being a writer for Fratello—is also the brain behind the upcoming watch brand, VPC. But what exactly goes into starting a watch brand today? What are the challenges one faces? And what are some of the most satisfying moments along the way? In today's episode, we'll get into this and much more.
Fratello On Air is here for you during the holiday period! In this episode, we talk about some wild integrated bracelet models that stray from the norm. Folks, there are loads to choose from at all price levels! Pour some mulled wine and enjoy the ride!
Ah, the integrated bracelet. Some like them while some abhor these fixtures. We're fine with either stance, but today, we discuss some very unique vintage opportunities that fit within the ever-popular sub-genre. We have a lot of fun in this episode and we hope you come along for the laughs as well!
Handgelenks Kontrolle
Naturally, we kick off our integrated bracelet episode with some shoe talk. The co-hosts have both chosen to purchase the recently released Air Jordan 11 "Gratitude" models and share their initial thoughts on them. The movie Air also receives a mention as both found it interesting for a wide audience. We then share some 2023 listener stats about the show. As far as the Handgelenks Kontrolle, Mike is wearing his vintage Heuer Carrera 12 Dato 2547. It's a lovely piece with a triple-date complication. Balazs gets funky with a new acquisition, the Amida Digitrend. Finally, we throw a bit of good-natured shade at our buddies in California on the Spirit of Time podcast for making a questionable goulash.
The integrated bracelet
Next, we're onto our main topic of integrated bracelet watches. They've certainly captivated the watch market over the past several years, but the same names always come up in discussion. We're here to offer some wildly different vintage options within the realm. Some of these may excite you while others may cause a bit of nausea. We discuss:
We hope you enjoyed today's episode and thank you for all of your support during 2023! If you have future show ideas, please feel free to let us know!
Welcome to the penultimate episode of Fratello Talks in 2023. Before wrapping up the year, we thought we'd do a little bit of housekeeping. So today, your host, Nacho, and his guests, RJ and Lex, are here to bring you a watch market update. Before settling into the holidays, it's good to look back at the year we'll soon be leaving behind. And one thing that really caught our eye is the current shift in the state of the watch market. New watches' prices have grown like never before, playing catch-up with the over-inflated pre-owned market. Now, as the latter softens, we reach a tipping point. There will be winners, and there will be losers.
Mike and I are taking some time off from the podcast this week, but we’d still like to leave you with an episode. So this week, I’ll publish my talk with Bosko, the man behind the “Zenith Yugoslavian Military Chronograph Collector’s Guide.” This guide won’t be out for another few days, but rest assured, it’s coming this week. Don’t worry; vintage chronographs are not the only topic the guys will discuss. While this is indeed a vintage-heavy episode, plenty of other timepieces get a mention.
Aside from the usual watch talk, Bosko and I sprinkled in some drinks, sports, travel, and other topics. We hope you enjoy this particular collector-focused discussion.
Handgelenks Kontrolle
It’s a tradition on our show that Mike and I do the Handgelenks Kontrolle, which also goes for guests. For the recording, Bosko did not wear his beloved Zenith 143-6. Instead, he rocked a fantastic vintage US Military field watch, a MIL-W-46374B made by Hamilton. This early ’80s timepiece is as much fun as it gets. A genuine military watch, these very models were the predecessors of many modern field watches, such as the Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical.
I was rocking something like the Zenith 143-6, namely, my Angelus 215 Hungarian Air Force chronograph. I wore it in honor of the Zenith to stay on theme with the show. While they came from different eras and saw action in different countries, both timepieces had close military ties. That is different from how Bosko and Balazs got to know each other, which resulted in this podcast.
JLC, Lange, and more
Although Bosko and I initially started talking about the Angelus Chrono-Datoluxe, the conversation quickly shifted. As it turned out, Bosko is not merely a fan of the Zenith 143-6 (like me). In fact, he even wrote a guide about this model. Please stay tuned as the third and final installment of the Zenith 143-6 topic will come this Friday. That will be the day the Zenith 143-6 Yugoslavian Military Chronograph Collector’s Guide will come out. I also acquired one of those timepieces, so the interest was mutual. This led to further discussion, the recording of this episode, and finally, the publishing of the Collector’s Guide. But before we jumped into that topic, we chatted about some marvelous timepieces in Bosko’s collection — none of them are vintage, for the record. An amazing Jaeger-LeCoultre Duométre gets a mention, and so does an A. Lange & Söhne Datograph.
We hope you enjoy this latest episode, and thank you for listening. If you have ideas for future shows, please let us know.
Welcome to the 48th episode of Fratello Talks. Today, we have a very special episode lined up for you. We invited our good friend, watch photographer, and Instagram staple, Tom, a.k.a. Bowl of Salmon, onto the show. We've always received a lot of questions on watch photography. Even more so after our first episode on the topic featuring Nacho and Morgan. So what better way to answer some of these recurring questions than to get not two but three photographers on the show? Slightly longer than our usual episode, we take a deep dive into photography advice, gear, lights, and even editing.
Fratello On Air returns for another episode and this week, we're talking about our recent €25,000 watch collection choices. Lists are always sure to create some sort of kerfuffle and these articles were no exception. We discuss the watches along with some of the feedback. Enjoy the show!
Our site's recent series on a €25,000 watch collection has been enormously popular. People love to chime in with their thoughts on our picks. This week, we talk about them along with some of those comments, but we go in a slightly different direction. Stick with us to find out more!
Handgelenks Kontrolle
This week, we settle into our normal banter about the weather and, most certainly, sneakers before discussing the €25,000 watch collection. From there, Mike mentions a recent lunch with Parmigiani where they announced their impending return to London. Watches were at the event and Mike was incredibly impressed by the 36mm Tonda (want!). Mike is wearing the new Aquastar Benthos H1 (see the review here) and loves the funky crown at 2:00. Balazs has a watch in review and it's none other than the beastly Omega Seamaster Ultra Deep in Summer Blue.
The €25,000 watch collection
When it comes to our main topic about our €25,000 watch collection choices, we do get around to discussing the actual selections. However, we spend more time on some of the comments. Particularly, there was an undercurrent of readers asking why we chose such customary, boring, pieces. The Rolex Submariner 14060(M) made it to both of our lists while watches from popular brands such as Omega, Cartier, and Patek Philippe also made the cuts. Some had expectations that we would choose off-the-beaten-path pieces and provide new levels of inspiration. Perhaps not, but it makes for some fun discussion.
We hope you enjoyed this latest episode and thank you for listening. If you have ideas for future shows, please feel free to let us know.
Another week, another episode of Fratello Talks! This is our 47th episode so far, and one in which we're feeling a bit philosophical. You join Lex, Daan, and Nacho who get into some eye-opening moments in their watch-enthusiast experience, and the watches responsible. That's right, today's discussion is all about watches that changed the way we look at watches. It might be a timepiece that taught us a lesson, a first when it comes to ownership, or one that opened our eyes to a different horological taste. Each of the guys is bound to have a story (or two) to share.
Fratello On Air returns with a fresh new episode! 2023 still has a month left in the tank, but we're ready to declare our favorite watches thus far. You'll hear about a wide variety of pieces this week at different price points and why they made the list. Enjoy the ride!
Yes, we're in the final stretch of 2023 and that means it's time to look back upon the year. We do know that there will still be new releases to come, but that's ok. Plenty has crossed our keyboards and wrists over the past 11 months. Our favorite watches make the airwaves this week along with the normal banter that starts the show.
Handgelenks Kontrolle
Before discussing our favorite watches of 2023, we take some time to recount last week's adventures in London. Both Mike and Balazs were in the big city for the last Time4APint session of the year. It was a great time with even better people and watches! There were even some boutique visits before Balazs returned to Germany. Of course, we discuss sneakers, but not for too long this time! Regarding the Handgelenks Kontrolle, Mike is wearing his vintage Universal Geneve Polerouter. Balazs has the fresh new Certina DS Super PH1000M, an amazing diver at an even more amazing price. Be on the lookout for his upcoming hands-on review!
Our favorite watches of 2023
For the main topic of our favorite watches of 2023, we each attempt to name three pieces. I say, "attempt," because both of us unknowingly chose the same watch for one of our picks! We discuss the following pieces:
We'd love to hear your favorite releases so far for 2023 in the comments section below. As always, we thank you for listening and if you have any ideas for future episodes, feel free to let us know!
Today's episode of Fratello Talks is all about accessories. And no, we're not talking about wallets, scarves, and pinkie rings, don't worry. Have a listen as your host, Fratello managing editor Nacho, editor Daan, and shop manager Laurits discuss the watch accessories we can't live without. Despite the somewhat hyperbolic titles, these are all accessories that we truly use just about every single day. Most watch enthusiasts are affected by the same challenges: storage, transport, and strap changes. So, rather unsurprisingly, all three of the guys are rather aligned in their picks. However, there are some twists in the individually chosen accessories to suit their needs.
Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we're excited because we're recording from the same room and we're in London. In fact, we're in the Square Mile! Today, we're talking about vintage Excelsior Park watches, movements, and the related brands that used the movements. Enjoy this vintage deep cut!
Together again! Balazs has made the voyage from the continent over to Blighty and we've decided to record an episode before heading off to the year's last Time4APint get-together. We've been looking forward to this evening for a while and we promised to each bring watches that relate to a certain theme. Well, that common thread is Excelsior Park and we've brought along a number of related watches.
Handgelenks Kontrolle
Before getting to the main topic, we hit upon a little news. Both of us are sporting the Adidas Homer Simpson Stan Smith editions and mention how comfy they are on the city streets. We also bring up a well-written article about the Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox by Charlie Dunne of Wind Vintage. As far as the Handgelenks Kontrolle, Balazs is wearing his new go-to watch, the Ming 17.09. Mike has brought along his treasured Patek Philippe Calatrava 570.
Excelsior Park and friends
Next, we get to the main topic around Excelsior Park. We've assembled roughly 15 watches for the night's gathering and we run through them all to some degree. Excelsior Park was a watchmaker and movement maker and created the EP4/40 line of manual wind chronograph movements. We happen to think that they're some of the smoothest and sweetest operators ever. We've brought along Excelsior Park branded watches, Gallet, Sinn, and Zenith pieces that all used similar cases, dials, and movements. A collection of similarly styled Gallet watches has come along for the ride, but they use Valjoux calibers because Excelsior Park had gone defunct. Finally, there's the big Excelsior Park Monte Carlo, a strange '80s concoction that simply uses the once-famous name. For good measure, Balazs has brought along a couple of Angelus pieces.
We hope you enjoyed today's episode. As always, thanks for listening, and feel free to share ideas for future shows!
Welcome, Fratelli, to Fratello Talks. This week, your host, Nacho, is joined by Gerard and Daan. Together, the three take to the topic of G-Shock watches. The great equalizers, the trusty go-to's, and the watch that every collector should own at least one of. But if you're reading this, you're deep enough down the horological rabbit hole (unless they're genuinely not your thing, which is also OK) that you probably have at least one.
Fratello On Air returns and this week, we discuss the wide world of case back engravings. Whether they relate to military-issued pieces or special occasions, there's a lot to potentially learn from these inscriptions. We hope you enjoy this episode and feel free to comment below about your thoughts on these adornments.
Case back engravings are a wide subject. They cover some of life's most special moments and achievements. Or, they can give us clues about a watch's origin and story. Whatever the case, they're not always to everyone's liking. We talk about our likes and dislikes around these markings while sharing plenty of other side tales. But first...
Handgelenks Kontrolle
No matter what our friends on the Spirit of Time Podcast say, the Handglenks Kontrolle is firmly back on European soil. Mike is wearing one of the first vintage chronographs that joined his collection, the Croton Skymaster. It's making a return to the wrist because it features a case back inscription related to the original owner's 21st birthday. Balazs is also on theme with his Angelus 215 L.E. Chronograph. Here, the L.E. means Légi Er which stands for the Hungarian Air Force. So, yes, we are supporting case back inscriptions.
Case back markings
Once we hit the main topic related to case back markings, we spend time on issued military pieces. Balazs even explains how it has helped to piece together the history of certain models from his favorite brand, Angelus. Mike brings up a special family heirloom Rolex that he covered earlier this year along with a recent engraved purchase. We also discussed whether or not we would have a watch engraved. It's a back-and-forth conversation that allows us to bring up a number of related subjects.
We hope you enjoyed today's episode. As always, if you have any ideas for future show topics, feel free to let us know.
Thank you for tuning in to this week's episode of Fratello Talks. You join RJ, Timo, and your host Nacho, who are going to be covering a rather broad topic. That's right, this week it's all about watches in cinema. In this episode we'll cover anything from memorable sightings, to examples of marketing gone too far. How much can brands get away with when it comes to blatant product placement? And does it actually have its desired effect? We also cover movie-themed watches and touch upon some of our favorites featured on film.
After a three-week hiatus, Fratello On Air is back with a new episode. This week, we're talking about our collections, what we are currently wearing, and what's on our radar. As always, it's a recording with plenty of diverse topics. We invite you to kick back and enjoy the show.
We've been on the road for the past several weeks and we apologize for the lack of new episodes. However, we're back and talking about our collections. That's a large topic, so we're focusing on what we've purchased recently, what we're wearing more than ever, and where we're looking to bring in new pieces. But first...
Handgelenks Kontrolle
I won't kid you, we kick off our episode with about 15 minutes of random chatter. After all, we haven't spoken in quite some time! Ultimately, we decided to bring back the Handgelenks Kontrolle in favor of the Kettle Kite. Balazs kicks things off with his Omega 2451 from 1949 with its 27CHRO. This is a fantastic chronograph with loads of radium that has acted upon the dial. Mike, on the other hand, is wearing his blue Ming 17.09 on a Jean Roussea Alcantara strap.
The state of our collections
We move on to our collections and spend some time talking about why both of us have slowed down our purchases. We've become more selective on what should enter the fold. If we consider recent interests, we've gone in slightly different directions. Balazs has been wearing larger, more modern watches. Mike continues his return to the 36mm and below realm. As far as future interests, Balazs still has a Submariner 5513 or 14060 on his mind along with the Grand Seiko 44GS. As far as future additions, Mike will continue to focus on the '40s and '50s while seeing what randomly comes his way.
We hope you enjoyed our return to the airwaves. As always, if you have future ideas for the show, feel free to let us know!
Welcome to the 43rd episode of Fratello Talks. Today, we are feeling retrospective, so we decided to look back at some highlights released throughout this year so far. You join RJ, Lex, and Nacho, who will run through what, to them, are the best watches of 2023. Each has been tasked with picking their five favorites from the year. They kept these picks to themselves, but as you’ll see, there was no overlap. But before we check out their highlights of the year so far, it’s time for a wrist check.
It's time to crank up your Bluetooth speaker, whip out your AirPods, or put your headphones on! A fresh episode of Fratello Talks is here. This week, Daan and Laurits join your host, Nacho, to chat about wearing classically-sized watches. That's right! We're talking 36mm maximum and a minimum of 32mm, with a sweet spot of 34mm. These numbers read a bit on the smaller side, but once upon a time, 34mm was the standard. Anything bigger would be considered "jumbo" or "oversized." Today, the standard has shifted upwards, with 36–38mm being a reasonable size for a watch and 39–42mm covering the lion's share of all releases we see hit the market today. So, is 34mm a bold choice? A return to form? Or simply a welcome breath of fresh air in a world dominated by larger timepieces? Tune in to find out!
Welcome to this week's episode of Fratello Talks. Today, Lex, Morgan, and Nacho discuss the Tudor Pelagos FXD. They have all four models, from the original Marine Nationale version from 2021 to the latest USN model. Even the two carbon-cased Alinghi Red Bull Racing models are present. So, if you want to know more about how these guys feel about a watch that has dominated Tudor's lineup of releases this year, make sure to tune in!
Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air where we discuss our recent picks of the best watches under €5,000. We apologize for the late publishing of this week's episode, but travel is back in season. Get ready for another candid episode with our usual pre-topic banter!
Recently, Balazs and I contributed to a running topic on Fratello about the best watches under €5,000. Articles like this always generate a fair amount of feedback which we greatly appreciate. We discuss our picks, some of the feedback, and how the industry has changed. In particular, some of our favorite brands are now priced out of this all-important spending cap. Still, there are some fantastic new and used watches out there.
Kettle Kite
This week, we are coming to you from the Big Apple and the Big Smoke! Before getting to the kettle kite and our main topic of watches under €5,000, we talk about a recent Longines meetup in London. We also discuss how important face-to-face gatherings are to keep interest alive in vintage watches. Balazs is currently in the USA and will be for the next week. He's wearing his faithful G-Shock (similar to, but not exactly the model above). Mike is wearing a watch he has in for review, the Ollech & Wajs OW M-110 AS. It's a great watch that we will feature soon enough on the site.
Our picks under €5,000
Next, we come to the main topic of our favorite watches under €5,000. Mike published his article first and chose pieces from Seiko, Breitling, Nomos, and Breguet. Balazs came with his article a couple of weeks later and chose entries from Grand Seiko, Ming, and Omega. He also threw in various vintage chronograph options. We discuss why we chose these models along with some of the comments we received. Finally, we discuss how brands like Omega and Rolex no longer play in this market if we are looking at retail prices. A lot has changed within the past several years indeed!
As always, thank you for listening! If you have any ideas for future shows, please feel free to let us know!
Welcome, one and all, to this week's episode of Fratello Talks. Today, RJ, Morgan, and your host Nacho gather around the mics to discuss gold and two-tone watches. Each has a different level of experience and many opinions regarding the topic. RJ is a bit of a gold-watch connoisseur, owning more than a couple of 18K heavy hitters. Nacho has dabbled in gold but has never dared to go two-tone (yet). And Morgan has not yet owned a watch with precious metal at all. However, he certainly seems ready to enter the world of gold and two-tone watches.
Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air. This week, we have a discussion about time-only watches from the '40s and '50s. It's a subject that Balazs knows well and Mike is keen to pick his brain on the subject. This is a slightly different topic for us, so don't expect the usual brands to surface. We hope you enjoy it.
Time-only watches from the '40s and '50s are a fascinating subject. These pieces came before the '60s models that we so frequently discuss and catalog in our articles. The post-war decades are filled with absolute gems, but the scholarship is often lacking. This is especially true when it comes to certain smaller brands. We'll cover a number of aspects regarding this period and what to consider if you're thinking about wading into this very deep pool of amazing timepieces.
Kettle Kite
Before the Kettle Kite, we mention a recent vintage show in London and meeting up with friends. Then it's onto our episode-appropriate wristwear. Mike is wearing a new pickup from the aforementioned show. It's an IWC Cal 89 reference 309, a time-only steel watch that resembles a Patek Philippe Calatrava. Balazs is sporting his Omega CK 2657, a steel watch with a bumper automatic and a fine dose of patina.
Time-only watches from the '40s and '50s
Next, we hit our main topic on time-only watches from the '40s and '50s. Here, Balazs's knowledge is on display along with Mike's curiosity. We mention brands such as Omega, Longines, Eterna, Cyma, Tavannes, and more. We talk about redials, how to treat these watches, and even pricing. Research on these watches can be scarce, but forums, Instagram, and watch friends are there to help. It's a show that covers a lot of ground and possibly opens the door for a new avenue of collecting.
As always, thanks for listening! If you have ideas for future topics, please feel free to share them with us!
This week on Fratello Talks, RJ, Lex, and Nacho discuss their parallel passions beyond watches. Because, believe it or not, it’s not just watches that these guys spend every waking hour of their lives on. However, the approach and nature of their passions are no different. It has been an ongoing discussion here at HQ, so today we share with you our parallel passions (or PPs, as Lex so elegantly put it).
Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air. This time, we talk about replacements for three of the most popular watches in existence: the Submariner, Speedmaster, and Calatrava. These watches aren't one-for-one options but are either meant to give off similar feelings or serve a similar purpose. Enjoy the ride!
Sometimes, it's difficult to justify spending so much money on a watch. Pieces like the Rolex Submariner, Omega Speedmaster, and Patek Philippe Calatrava are pricey selections indeed. In this episode, we offer up some alternatives and talk about why we think they would work. There are some surprising choices here, so feel free to give us your thoughts on suitable replacements in the comments section.
Kettle Kite
Yes folks, before we get onto the main topic of finding a Submariner pro-tem, we have a chat. We must warn you that the first 12 minutes or so contain a lot of shoe content. Then, we mention the recent Certina DS-7, a watch that Mike reviewed in a recent post. As far as the Kettle Kite, Mike is wearing his vintage Hamilton Military Chronograph as he celebrates two months of living in England. Balazs is sporting his Grand Seiko 5646-7010 with a Hi-Beat movement.
Replacements for the Calatrava and more
Now, it's time for the main event. Essentially, both of us offer an alternative to a much-beloved, dare I say, iconic model. In order, we present the following options.
Rolex Submariner:
Omega Speedmaster
Patek Philippe Calatrava
That's all for now folks! As always, thank you for listening and if you have any show ideas, feel free to let us know.
In this episode of Fratello Talks, the team (Lex, Nacho, and RJ) talks about Japanese watchmaking. From Citizen to Grand Seiko, we talk about the craftsmanship in Japanese watches, the Zaratsu polishing method, the movements, and what we've seen during our visits to Japan. Japanese watchmaking is or has become synonymous with quality.
Fratello On Air returns with an admittedly noisy episode. Our apologies, but the show must go on! This week, it's a lighter show as we discuss our recent whereabouts (watches included) and hit upon some new releases. Enjoy the show and the clattering of plates, glassware, and cutlery.
Yes, Balazs is on the move again and this time he's competing with a cacophony within the Detroit Lufthansa lounge. Again, we apologize for the ruckus and the audio quality. Mike is within the cozy confines of his London abode. This week, we discuss some new releases and recent activities. We hope you take pleasure in this off-the-cuff episode!
Kettle Kite
Before we tackle our primary subject, we engage in some banter. Balazs has spent a week in the heart of rock 'n' roll, aka Cleveland, visiting some friends. We briefly discuss his travels. Mike mentions his trip to World Time UK, which was held on September 23rd at Heathrow Airport. It was a great event with over forty brands including Doxa, Aquastar, Farer, Formex, Studio Underdog, Ollech & Wajs, and Isotope. We take a moment to discuss the recent Doxa Sub 300β Sharkhunter now that Mike has seen it in person. As far as what we are wearing, Balazs is rocking his faithful GShock. Mike is wearing his Rolex Submariner 5513 Maxi Dial. Finally, Mike mentions a recent trip to the Swatch boutique in Covent Garden, London. No SwatchPains were in stock, but they did have nine of the MoonSwatch models available.
New Releases
As far as the main subject, we discuss some new releases. First, there's the new Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 3. It's a nice enough-looking watch, but the pricing strikes us as incredibly high. Then, we mention the Bulova Oceanographer GMT, a piece that Balazs seems to love. Finally, there's the Benrus Ultra Deep, a 36.5mm retro diver with a super compressor-style case.
As always, we appreciate you tuning in to the show. We'll be back next week hopefully with less background noise!
Lex, RJ, and Laurits discuss the Blancpain x Swatch Scuba Fifty Fathoms that was introduced on September 7th and went on sale two days later. We are not all a fan of the watch, especially when compared to the successful MoonSwatch. Here at Fratello, the opinions are very mixed on the Blancpain x Swatch release.
Fratello On Air returns and while we planned to discuss yacht timers, we never got there! It's a fun episode where we discuss Andrew Grima Omega watches, Doxa, the new Tudor FXD, and the SwatchPain. We got a bit carried on some of the subjects, but we think you'll enjoy our talks about some interesting brands and details. Enjoy and, yes, we will come back to regatta watches soon!
Before recording today's episode, we were a bit concerned about having a good topic for the show. Well, we needn't have worried because we actually had to cut ourselves off after more than an hour! It's a great show where talk about the Andrew Grima era at Omega and our continuing love for the Doxa 300 limited editions from back in 2017. Then, we move on to the new black Tudor FXD and the rest of the brand's lineup. Finally, we end the show with a bit more on the SwatchPain.
Kettle Kite
Before getting into the Kettle Kite, Mike discusses a recent visit to a Time4APint get-together in London. Once again, the watches that made their way to the event were fantastic and surprising. Mike mentioned a Longines 30ch, the Vernal Pulsations, and more. The watch that really surprised him, however, was an Omega DeVille that was inspired by Andrew Grima designs. The watch was originally part of the Time in Style series from the early '70s and it was a stunning throwback. We discuss Andrew Grima and reference a great article that shows some of the history of this influential English designer. At the event, Mike wore his Doxa 300 Black Lung and remarked how it was a big hit. It shows how well these limited models have stood the test of time.
As far as wristwear, Balazs is sporting his lovely Eterna 852 Jumbo. It's a watch with a neat inscription on the case back related to a Swiss steel firm. Mike then moves on to a watch that sets up the main topic on the Tudor FXD. He's wearing his Tudor Heritage Chrono from 2010 and he recalls the scene when this watch was first released.
Tudor FXD and more SwatchPain
Next, we discuss the new Tudor FXD and our thoughts on the watch. We like it, but neither of us is convinced that we could live with the fixed lugs on a daily basis. It then prompts a discussion on Tudor overall and what we'd choose from their current lineup if we had to walk away with one model. Finally, we return to the SwatchPain. We hadn't realized that three models have a date while the remaining two do not. Plus, Balazs is considering buying one and putting it through its paces for a month without switching out for another watch.
We hope you enjoyed today's episode. As always, please let us know if you have an idea for a future show.
This week’s episode of Fratello Talks is about new watches always being better than their previous versions — but are they really? Laurits, Lex, and RJ discuss whether this applies to all watches that come out and whether things like better accuracy, greater antimagnetic properties, and so on are that important to buyers. But before we get into it, you know what time it is… It’s time for a wrist check.
Fratello On Air is back with an electrifying episode. Balazs is on the mend and we've decided to have a go at quartz watches. Yes, we realize that some of our listeners may not feel any love for these battery-powered beasts. But we've come up with a quartet of interesting pieces. Oh, and of course we'll touch upon the recent SwatchPain.
Quartz watches are a controversial topic on enthusiast sites like Fratello. Sterile, a once-upon-a-time killer of the Swiss watch industry, and often cheap, quartz is a tough topic. Still, quartz is about to get its AARP card and there are many interesting and significant vintage models. Plus, they're often affordable alternatives to their mechanical counterparts. We'll hit upon four selections in this episode. Look out for more quartz coverage in article form at some point soon!
Kettle Kite
Before getting into quartz watches, we discuss the "SwatchPain" and the hullabaloo caused by the latest collab. We give our thoughts and answer a key question; would we buy one if they were easily available? Next, Mike introduces a recent acquisition with the appropriate Rolex Datejust Oysterquartz 17000. It's a cool watch with a great story. Balazs is staying with old-school technology and has the Vulcain Cricket Nautical reissue in for review. It's a ~42mm diver with an alarm and a great dial.
Quartz Watches
Next, we discuss quartz and talk through four very different pieces. The watches we review are:
Thanks for listening this week. If you have any ideas for future episodes, feel free to let us know!
Hello, and welcome to this week's episode of Fratello Talks. This week, we ask ourselves: how useful are GMT watches? Lex, Morgan, and Nacho join forces to take an honest look at this most popular of complications and how useful it truly is in real life. They also share some personal experiences with GMT watches, explain the difference between flyer and caller GMTs, and talk about their favorite multi-time-zone watches they've owned.
Fratello On Air is back with another episode where we cover the latest release from Tissot and the highlights from Geneva Watch Days 2023. Of course, we speak about additional topics and watches as well. Oh, and one of your hosts has suffered a recent injury but has still managed to make it to the microphone to bring his voice to the world of watches.
Oof, Balazs took quite a tumble on his bicycle the day before recording and is working through a couple of sets of stitches. His voice is a bit off on account of an upper lip that is several times its normal size. But hey, he's here for YOU! This week, we discuss the controversial digital Tissot PRX and some of the key releases from Geneva Watch Days 2023. Enjoy the show!
Kettle Kite
This week, Balazs kicks off our Kettle Kite with an unexpected watch, the Union Glashütte Belisar Date Sport Pro. This 42mm diver is from a brand that we don't hear about too frequently, so be on the lookout for the upcoming review. Mike is also wearing a surprising watch. It's the Casio × PAC-MAN Collaboration Model A100WEPC from 2021. It's a fun piece that allows us to segue into our first discussion topic: the digital Tissot PRX collection. Despite the fair amount of criticism, this watch has been receiving, both like it due to its uniqueness.
Geneva Watch Days 2023
Next, we discuss Geneva Watch Days 2023 and some of the key pieces. We discuss and give our frank opinions on the following pieces:
We hope you enjoyed this week's show. As always, if you have ideas for a future episode, feel free to let us know!
Welcome back to another riveting episode of Fratello On Air. This week, we’re back as a duo and we have much to discuss. The Rolex news looms large as well as the upcoming Geneva Watch Days. Of course, we add several additional topics for good measure.
Kettle Kite
This is the first week we bring in our “Kettle Kite” in honor of Cockney Rhyming Slang. It’s a bit awkward, so let’s see if it lasts. Regardless of our diction, Balazs bats first and shares his vintage Omega Speedmaster Mark II Racing on a black three-hole Tropic strap. Although he doesn’t wear it often, he’s convinced that this is a heavily undervalued watch. Mike shares his vintage Breitling Aerospace E56060. He has paired it with an inexpensive 20mm olive canvas strap. The combo has become a comfortable partner due to the slender and lightweight case.
As far as other topics, we discuss the recent Adidas Stan Smith “Homer Simpson” models. Both have landed a pair while Balazs has acted as a delivery depot for several friends. We also mention the most recent Time4APint gathering in London and meeting up with some mutual watch friends. Finally, the recently released Synchron Military Poseidon Black Edition is also in focus. It’s another great watch at a decent price and reminds us both of vintage Doxa SUB 300T Sharkhunter Aqualung pieces.
Rolex and Geneva Watch Days
Last week, Rolex threw a proper curveball when it announced that it had acquired Bucherer. We discussed the acquisition along with the possibilities and concerns. It’s interesting indeed and only time will tell as far as the real effects of the news. We then move on to Geneva Watch Days 2023. Balazs and many of the Fratello will attend, so look forward to more! Specifically, we discuss the new Doxa 300 “Beta” and the Bulgari Octo Finissimo novelties in black carbon. Black and gold seem to be the new darlings if we take these models as references. For our thoughts on them, you’ll have to take a listen!
Thanks as always for tuning in to the latest episode. If you have thoughts on future show topics, feel free to let us know!
It's another week, and Fratello Talks is back! This episode is all about Rolex and, specifically, about the Crown's uncanny ability to always come out on top. RJ and Lex join Nacho to discuss Rolex's inability to lose, make mistakes, or create a bad watch. But wait, is that actually the case? Sure, Rolex tops most lists out there in terms of popularity, sales, and iconicity of its watches, but surely not all that glitters is gold. Sometimes that glitter you see from a distance is a Cellini when you get up close! All jokes aside, join the guys for a discussion on the brand's perceived invincibility and a look at why this is the case. But before that, let's take a look at what's on the wrist.
The first Fratello Talks podcast that is also available to watch on video. We (Ignacio, Morgan, and RJ) discuss not babying your watches in this episode. They're made to be worn, despite the sometimes hefty price tag. Getting some of those battle scars on your watches makes it YOUR watch and perhaps even makes it stand out of the crowd. We also discuss that the watches produced today will not age that much differently from each other and will still look like they just came out of a shop 20 years from now. Get some of those scratches!
Fratello On Air returns and this week we discuss alternative watches to those already in our collections. The idea came from a listener of the Whiskey & Watches podcast. It was then covered by the folks on Wrist Cheese Radio and the Spirit of Time podcast. We take our own spin on this idea as you'll soon hear.
We're uninvited guests to the party! A few podcasts we know and enjoy have all taken their shot at a similar theme or alternative watches to something they already own. In our case, we choose watches from each other's collections, "throw them away," and then suggest a replacement. There's a lot of watch talk here, so get ready!
Aufwiedersehen Handgelenks Kontrolle
Mike has officially relocated to London, England, and has left Balazs to watch the fort that is Germany. As a result of the move, we've decided to retire the Handgelenks Kontrolle usage unless both are back in Germany. Therefore, we need a new saying and you can help! We want something English and have discussed Cockney rhyming slang possibilities. "Kettle and Hob" is slang for a watch, so we're sticking with a "Kettle Check" for now. Again, though, feel free to bring it! Mike kicks things off with his Seiko Cronos reference J13028 from the early '60s. It's a rare black-dialed variant that many see as a precursor to the brand's first divers. Balazs, on the other wrist, is wearing the new Nivada Grenchen Chronoking "Paul Newman" Orange.
Alternative Watches
We move on to the main topic related to alternative watches. Here, we each pick three of each other's watches, dispose of them, and suggest alternatives. Most are a real surprise!
Balazs suggests the following changes to Mike's collection:
Mike suggests the following changes to Balazs' collection:
We hope you enjoyed this latest episode. If you have ideas for a future show, please don't hesitate to let us know!
Welcome, Fratelli of all shapes and sizes, to this week's episode of Fratello Talks. Today, Tomas, Morgan, and Nacho gather around the Fratello podcast table (and light up a scented candle) to discuss a topic that's been weighing heavy on their minds (and wrists) lately—big watches. All three have recently bought new pieces; in all three cases, they've been the biggest watches of their respective collections. Naturally, this has them wondering; are we going insane? Or are bigger watches ripe for a comeback? Perhaps it's a general fatigue of smaller timepieces or even an adjustment into a state of broader appreciation for timepieces big, small, and everything in between. We don't claim to have all the answers to these questions, but we tackle the topic all the same.
Fratello On Air is back with a new episode. This week, we touch on a couple of recent topics including the gray market and some associated troubles. We also discuss a newly released homage watch and the light controversy that it brought. As always, we enjoyed ourselves and hope that you'll do the same!
It's another week and that means another installment of Fratello On Air. Mike is still sweating it out in Atlanta, which explains the tinnier-than-normal sound of his voice (no fancy microphone in tow). Balazs is enjoying the rain in Germany — not really! This week, it's a bit of a rant session with a focus on some gray market high jinks and a new homage watch that has generated some critical comments.
Handgelenks Kontrolle
Before getting into our discussion on the gray market, we take care of our customary Handgelnks Kontrolle. Balazs is rocking his vintage King Seiko 45-7001 on a funky metallic purple Has No Bounds watch strap. Mike is also going vintage and is debuting a 1962 Patek Philippe Calatrava 570 that was sourced from Eric Wind. Clearly, we're both into our vintage dress watches in this episode!
The gray market and other news
During the past week, reports surfaced regarding the Los Angeles-based watch site, "The Timepiece Gentleman." Apparently, the founder recorded a recent video discussing the fact that he has spent monies owed to clients who sent their watches to him for sale on consignment. At this stage, he is attempting to pay those folks back over time. Let's see and let's also see how it affects the overall gray market. We also discuss the recent Massena LAB collaboration with Revolution. The watch generated criticism for looking almost exactly like a rare vintage Patek Philippe, but the response video caused an even larger reaction.
We hope you enjoyed today's episode. If you have any topics that you'd like for us to discuss in a future podcast, please don't hesitate to let us know.
One of the most recurring topics here in the office is the so-called neo-vintage watches. Watches that were produced anywhere between the 1980s and the early 2000s. There's no clear definition (yet), so we go with this roughly 20-25 year time span starting in 1980. There are some neglected but very interesting watches to be discovered in this specific era. Ignacio, Morgan, and RJ talk about these neo-vintage watches in this podcast episode of Fratello Talks.
We're back at Fratello On Air after a two-week break. Mike is moving to London and Balazs is busy with all sorts of Summer activities. But here we are and we're ready to talk about vintage Seiko, buckles, and Speedy bracelets. We think today's episode flows quite well and we hope that you enjoy the ride!
For this episode, your friendly hosts came together on a Friday evening with Mike traveling in Atlanta and Balazs back in the "heimat." We get into vintage Seiko on this episode and then talk about buckles and Speedy bracelets. This was a really fun episode to record, so we hope you enjoy it as well.
Handgelenks Kontrolle
For this episode, Balazs is wearing a vintage Seiko 6100-8000 Skyliner. The watch is new to him and has a nice story behind it. Mike is wearing his new MING 37.07 on the brand-new stainless steel universal bracelet from the company. Expect a mini-review soon, but know that it's good!
Vintage Seiko, buckles, and Speedy bracelets
Mike then goes on to discuss his vintage Seiko 4420-9000, otherwise known as the 44GS. The good folks at the Seiko Frankfurt boutique helped get this beauty from 1967 back on the wrist and it's a lovely watch. It's clear that Balazs will need one! This goes on to inspire a discussion about tracking down the correct vintage buckle for our watches. It's a really satisfying purchase that can act as the crowning touch to an amazing piece. Balazs brings up a great link on Omega buckles. Finally, we respond to a listener's question about the favorite straps and bracelets for our Speedmasters. We even talk about our favorite strap tools (hint: the Bergeon 6767 is it).
As always, thanks for listening! If you have any show ideas, feel free to let us know!
Welcome, one and all, to this week’s episode of Fratello Talks! Today, two of the men behind the lenses here at Fratello sit for a chat about watches, photography, and the sweet spot where those two things meet. Morgan and Nacho share their stories on how they first discovered photography and eventually started shooting watches. They also share some tips and tricks they’ve found (the hard way), which may help you become a better watch photographer.
Fratello On Air returns with a discussion on some of the latest new watches. We discuss a number of brands including Seiko, Nivada, TAG Heuer, Louis Vuitton, and Aquastar. As always, expect a fair dose of candor!
Geneva Watch Days may be coming in just a month, but there has been a bevy of new watches on the scene over the past couple of weeks. These are some interesting pieces and they spark conversation from our hosts. You'll hear both positive and constructive feedback on the industry's latest wares. Enjoy!
Handgelenks Kontrolle
Before getting into the newest releases, we get into the Handgelenks Kontrolle. Mike has decided to honor Balazs' recent appearance on the Spirit of Time podcast and its references to Magnum P.I. He has chosen his vintage Rolex GMT-Master 1675 on a Jubilee bracelet. Balazs is wearing a new release that has arrived for testing: the Nivada Grenchen F77. Both declare that this is a highly attractive watch in the integrated bracelet genre at a great price. It is a tough watch to purchase, though, as it is normally out of stock.
New Watches
This week we discuss a number of new watches including the Seiko 62MAS SJE093, Louis Vuitton Tambour, our upcoming Fratello × Aquastar Deepstar II Pink Salmon Limited Edition, and the TAG Heuer Carrera Skipper. We have a lot to say about all of these watches and get into a lot of detail. When it comes to the Seiko and the Louis Vuitton, we really like them, but wish they were more affordable. The Skipper was a real surprise and it has a lot of positive attributes with a few details that seem extraneous. Finally, the Aquastar represents a step in a different direction with a dial that's very different for a Deepstar II.
We hope you enjoyed today's episode. If you have ideas for future shows, please feel free to let us know. Thanks for listening!
Welcome to this week's episode of Fratello Talks. Today, we offer you, our dear Fratelli, a public service announcement: get your watches tested for water resistance before jumping into the pool/sea/ocean this summer!
Inspired by a recent experience made by Lex, which serves as a cautionary tale, the guys keep it brief today. The moral of the story? Please don't risk the repair; get your watch tested before you get it wet! Morgan, Lex, and Nacho also offer tips and advice on where and how to get this done. They also exchange some anecdotes on their experience with water-adjacent use of watches.
In this 28th episode of Fratello Talks, hosts Lex, Thomas, and RJ discuss useless features when it comes to watches. It's not (only) about complications that one never uses but also about useless functions, such as a power reserve on an automatic watch or a screw-down crown on a 30M WR watch (yes, this exists). We also try to come up with features that are not invented yet, but that would be useful.
Fratello On Air returns with another listener-inspired topic. This week, we tackle buying used watches and give some tips that we've learned over time. Expect a good back-and-forth dialog while our co-hosts are traveling away from Germany. As always, we're interested in your thoughts on a topic like this — we're sure that many of you have great ideas!
Buying used watches can be a daunting activity. Concerns about the seller, the price, the location, and the watch itself are just some of the challenges that come to mind. We'll do our best to explore these in more detail and provide our thoughts.
Handgelenks Kontrolle
This week, Mike is in London, England and Balazs is in his hometown of Pecs, Hungary. To cope with their travels, they're each sporting easygoing watches for this episode. Balazs is wearing his trusty G-Shock GW-B5600-2 that serves as his "only-G-Shock." Mike decided to bring his MoonSwatch Mission to the Moon on a black Artem strap with a deployant buckle. Clearly, comfortable is the name of the game during this recording.
Buying used watches
Used watches are so plentiful and so many people buy them every day that it seems like easy business. However, challenges do exist. A listener of ours, Hugh, sent us a note and asked about the Omega Seamaster GMT 2534.50.00 , a model he has been eyeing. He asked us to discuss some of the top concerns we have about buying a pre-owned piece, so we're happy to comply! Everything from buying from a source with protection, asking for better pictures, and pitfalls to avoid come up in the discussion. Locating spare parts and a good watchmaker also makes the cut. If you're one who likes to trawl online marketplaces, this episode might interest you. As mentioned above, feel free to share your top tips in the comments section below.
As always, we thank you for listening. Feel free to let us know if you have any topics for a future episode.
In today's episode of Fratello Talks, Nacho is joined by Daan and Morgan (a podcast debutant and Fratello's photographer) to discuss the topic of GADA watches.
They already shared their thoughts in article form on the website. Still, they decided to have a chat that expands on the topic, tackling hypotheticals such as their "grail GADA" watch or even the ideal adventure they'd take their GADA watch on. Get your headphones in, have a listen, and make sure to tune in next week for another episode of Fratello Talks!
Fratello On Air returns, and we talk about recent controversies related to vintage watches, auctions, and heritage departments. We spare our usual chit-chat in the beginning and loop in a watch-related sighting in an upcoming Christopher Nolan movie. If you like candid talk, we hope you enjoy today's episode!
Handgelenks Kontrolle
Before talking about auctions and other related topics, we kick off with some discussion on Oppenheimer. The upcoming Christopher Nolan film about the atomic bomb looks fantastic. Balazs, however, has done some sleuthing and noticed that Robert Downey Jr. is wearing an interesting vintage chronograph. Could it be a Gallet? We'll try to find out. For the Handgelenks Kontrolle, Mike has unearthed a '60s chronometer-certified Omega Constellation 165.008. It's a watch that will need to go into the regular rotation. Balazs, on the other wrist, is sporting his Benrus Sky Chief chronograph.
Vintage watches, auctions, and heritage departments
We kick off our discussion on auctions concerning the recent Omega announcement about a fraudulent Speedmaster sold in 2021. Then we discuss the effects on the vintage-watch market and what it could mean for collectors, auction houses, and heritage departments going forward. We also discuss transparency and the need for more of it during vintage-watch sales. As for help, the old-school forums are still a great place to ask questions. Finally, we also hope that questionable pieces in auction catalogs gain more coverage going forward to help warn would-be buyers.
We hope you enjoy today's episode. If you have ideas for future shows, feel free to let us know!
Do you approach other watch wearers in the wild? Or are you hesitant to do so? We often see others wearing incredibly nice watches on their wrists, but it's only once in a while we will comment about it. Lex remembers someone wearing a full gold Cartier Santos 100 with a very special strap he commented on. And RJ commented on someone's Rolex that wasn't well-received. In this episode, we talk about approaching watch wearers in the wild!
Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air. This week, we each discuss our idea of the ideal three-watch collection. Then, we offer up three more at a more approachable level. Enjoy the show and let us know your thoughts.
Yes, the three-watch collection is a popular topic. This time, it's our turn and we each offer a trio without any cost constraints. Then, Balazs and I come back around and do it again with more thoughts on our wallets. We have some similar picks, but also some very different choices.
Handgelenks Kontrolle
After some talk about watches we've seen during travel, it's time to get into the Handgelenks Kontrolle. Balazs is wearing his Excelsior Park and enjoying the use of the EP40 movement. Mike is wearing his recent travel watch, the Doxa SUB 300 "Black Lung." Both declare it as a modern classic.
Three-Watch Collection
Next, it's time to focus on the three-watch collection. We have some real fun with this one. There's some real variety here!
Balazs kicks things off with the Omega Speedmaster Professional 145.022 Transitional. It has all the trappings of a 321, but with the more reliable caliber 861. For an affordable alternative, he brings in the Seiko 6139-7070. This watch has one of the first automatic chronograph movements and can be had for roughly €1,000. Mike leads off with the current Speedmaster Professional, a €7,400 gem with a perfect bracelet. For an alternative, it's another manual wind chronograph known as the Hamilton Intra-Matic H. This 40mm beauty is available for €2,195 in a couple of different dial colors.
For the second round of the three-watch collection, Balazs starts with the Rolex Submariner 14060. He follows this up with the Yema Superman Heritage Special Edition, an affordable vintage-inspired alternative. Mike brings his all-time favorite watch, the Rolex Explorer 14270. His option watch is surprising because it's the Doxa SUB 300 Sharkhunter, a real beauty that can do just about everything.
For our final spin, Balazs leads off with the Patek Philippe Calatrava 5196G, a discontinued beauty of a dress watch. While it's less expensive, the vintage Omega 2505 "Jumbo" is no less attractive. Mike finishes his with yet another Patek, the sublime Calatrava 570. Despite its simple looks, there's nothing basic about this watch. Finally, the more approachable icon is the Grand Seiko 4420-9000. Like the Patek, this watch also boasts a case that is best kept away from the polishing wheel. What is your favorite three-watch collection?
As always, thank you for listening. Feel free to let us know if you have some ideas for an upcoming episode.
Welcome to this week’s episode of Fratello Talks, where we dive head-first into quartz watches. Lex, Thomas, and Nacho gather in the podcast studio to discuss their love for battery-powered timepieces. There’s a lot to like about them. They’re reliable, accurate, and typically more affordable than their mechanical counterparts. And though sometimes quartz watches can get a bad rap, there are plenty of impressive electronic timekeepers out there worth admiring. And though the immediate association of quartz movements with cheaply produced, disposable watches certainly exists for a reason, there are also plenty of high-end options.
In this week's episode of Fratello Talks, Nacho, RJ, and Thomas discuss the matter of in-house movements. What is an in-house movement? Which brands produce/use them? And how much do they matter to the guys when buying a watch? If you want the answers to these questions, listen to the episode below.
Fratello On Air is back with another episode and this time we talk about whether it's worth consolidating to one great watch versus having two (or more) really good watches. Of course, your definition of a great and good may vary, but we think you get the gist.
Is it worth owning one great watch or is variety the spice of life if it occurs at a slightly lesser level? That's our question today from one of our great listeners from Finland who goes by "zenithist" on Instagram. It's a tough question and while we may not have the perfect answer, we debate the possibilities nonetheless.
Handgelenks Kontrolle
Prior to talking about boiling it down to one great watch or not, we hit the news. There's a recent visit to the Seiko boutique for some "routine" servicing, a touch of sneaker talk, and some new watches. We discuss the new Credor Goldfeather, the Seiko Prospex Speedtimers, and the Yema x Alpine Endurance Team watches made for the 100th running of Le Mans. When it comes to our wrists, Balazs is wearing his Omega Speedmaster 145.022 "transitional" with a lovely step dial. Mike is wearing his 1964 Seiko Liner 46999, a watch that will be up for review soon enough.
One great watch?
It's a really tough question that our listener poses — do you consolidate a couple of really nice watches in order to buy a more prestigious watch? The example that we were given is a tough one. The Tudor Black Bay 58 and the Tudor Prince Date-Day have been tossed out as possible trade subjects. What's the upscale bounty? Well, none other than the small but mighty Rolex Explorer. Mike is firmly in the camp of consolidation. Then again, the 14270 Explorer is one of his favorites. Balazs, on the other hand, plays devil's advocate. He likes a bit of variety and the ability to change size. Where do you fall in this argument?
Thanks for listening to the latest episode. As always, feel free to hit us up with any show ideas that you might have.
It's not every day we run into someone wearing an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Watch from 2002. But when you meet Jerrel Manbodh, of Manbodh Watches, chances are likely you will see him wearing that special Royal Oak watch made of Alcrite. For this Fratello Talks podcast, RJ and Nacho went on location with Manbodh at his watch boutique. We talk about the watch business, the development in the vintage and pre-owned market over the last few years, and, of course, about his favorite watches.
Fratello On Air returns with a look at six divers for under €1,000. We could do this episode any time, but Summer is the perfect time due to casual wear and loads of water-related activities. We've picked a fairly wide range of pieces from a wide array of countries. If rotating bezels are your thing, sit back and listen!
So, you don't dive? Well, neither of us do either, but we do spend a fair amount of time in the water during the Summer months. And hey, maybe one of us will dust off the snorkeling gear at some point. Regardless of actually strapping on a tank, divers have become a go-to practical watch for just about any activity these days and that includes simply acting as a good watch. We've come together to name six divers that truly range in price, but all come in below €1,000. We hope you enjoy it!
Handgelenks Kontrolle
For those of you who don't love blathering, we're fairly light on the small talk this week and get right into the divers. Well, almost. Before the Handgelenks Kontrolle, Balazs discusses his profound admiration for the Tissot PRX. We think this would make a great Summer watch because it pairs so well with some shorts and a rolled-up linen shirt. Then, Balazs talks about wearing his Doxa 300T Sharkhunter, a watch that made the trip with him to his hometown in Hungary. Mike is wearing the newly released Aquastar Model 60, a 37mm skin diver that wears really well. He also discusses bringing the Tudor Black Bay 58 Silver and the Synchron Military Poseidon on a recent trip to Italy - a foray filled with pool and ocean activities.
Six divers under €1,000 for Summer
We're ready for the main topic and that means choosing six divers that all sell for below €1,000. Let us know what you think of these choices:
We hope you enjoyed today's episode and thank you for listening. If you have thoughts on future episode topics, please feel free to let us know!
Welcome one and all to this week’s episode of Fratello On Air. As Mike is out of town, Balazs invites Nacho — who happened to be in Germany — to join him for a chat. Today’s installment brings you a loosely structured discussion. The guys talk about their current comings and goings before steering into the topics of watch news and case back engravings. They then wrap things up by running through some first impressions of classic watches from TAG Heuer, IWC, and Grand Seiko.
Fratello On Air returns with a rip-roaring episode where we ask you, dear listeners, to step away from the hype. There's a lot of it around these days and it can be overwhelming. We're here to talk about it and have a little fun along the way.
Don't believe the hype! No, this isn't a discussion about Public Enemy, but a discussion about watches and some of the brands that have been making their way back into the mainstream. The hype is well orchestrated at times, a little too orchestrated as we'll see. It doesn't mean that the watches are bad, but are they the second coming? We have our doubts.
Handgelenks Kontrolle
We kick things off with some discussion around the recent Geneva auctions. There were some interesting lots, but the weekend felt a bit muted. The hordes of "AquaNautilus" and Royal Oaks seemed to dominate the scene, which got a bit snoozy. Vintage was there but to a relatively small degree. Mike discusses his impressions after watching some of the proceedings over the weekend and we even chat about certain lots. For the Handgelenks Kontrolle, Balazs is wearing his '70 Grand Seiko 5646-7010 which leads to a discussion on a Seiko Duotime that Mike owns with the same base movement. Mike is back to his trusty Rolex 1016 because he's in comfort mode.
The Hype Machine is alive
The main focus of our show today is to discuss brands that have been inundating our Instagram accounts, the web, and now the auction circuit as recently as this past weekend. Daniel Roth and Gerald Genta are LVMH brands that have received a lot of press coverage recently. In our eyes, they were niche at best and controversially designed at a minimum. Should you be as excited as the collective wants you to be? Then, we see heavy dealer activity on brands like Franck Muller and vintage Piaget. Is this where we're heading or does the push boil down to hype? We discuss and hypothesize why this is happening. The hype is real folks.
We hope you enjoyed today's episode. If you have thoughts on upcoming shows, don't hesitate to let us know.
Welcome to this week's episode of Fratello Talks. This time, Nacho, Lex, and Thomas light a candle, dim the lights, and get nice and cozy as they touch on the topic of MoonSwatch. After a stunning debut, the Omega × Swatch Speedmaster MoonSwatch has struggled to follow up on its initial hype. We have been following along with the latest developments and have been left a little bit baffled. So, we ask ourselves the question: "how do we feel about the current state of the MoonSwatch?" We also look at what the future of this collaboration might look like, making some wild guesses and predictions.
Fratello On Air returns with more listener questions. This time we take on selling practices from brands and attempt to respond to yet another Speedmaster question. Enjoy the ride!
Yes, we are back with more listener questions and this time we take on a two-part question that revolves around selling practices by brands. There's also some more talk about the cherished Omega Speedmaster and its fan base. It's another candid discussion where no punches are pulled, so turn it up!
Handgelenks Kontrolle
We kick things off with a bit of a weekend recap and then get right into watches. We talk about the upcoming Argon release and a new Nivada diver. Then, it's time for Handgelenks Kontrolle. Mike is wearing a '60s Rado Starliner that features a "water sealed" case back with seahorses just like the Captain Cook of the same era. Balazs is rocking his Speedmaster 145.022 "transitional," a lovely piece that looks like it has a caliber 321.
Selling Practices
We received a query from a listener regarding a small microbrand that decided to sell unsold watches from its first batch at the recent Windup show in California. The brand did this instead of fulfilling the orders of some patient customers who ordered as part of a second batch. Was this a good idea? We debate the good and the bad. Then, we discuss whether brands can take action to prevent flipping. We don't have all the answers, but we do like the selling practices of a brand like Oak & Oscar. They pledge to always offer their newest releases to their existing customers. Finally, we talk about whether Speedmaster fans are the most fanatical in the watch world.
We hope you enjoyed this latest episode and thanks for listening! Feel free to let us know if you have an idea for a future episode.
Welcome to this week's episode of Fratello Talks. Today, we are rolling with the punches and discussing buying watches on impulse. Sinara, Lex, and Nacho gather around the Fratello podcast table to share their stories, have a laugh, and misquote Mike Tyson. Because there's nothing quite like having a plan for purchasing a specific watch to just getting caught off guard by an impulse buy.
Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air. This week, we discuss a recent visit to the Swatch Group in the Frankfurt area. We also respond to a listener's question about the beloved Omega Speedmaster. Enjoy!
Yes, Balazs and I were on the move and managed to visit the Swatch Group in their offices near Frankfurt. We've also received a number of reader questions that we'll attempt to answer over the next several episodes. Our first question is about the Speedmaster and it's a good one.
Handgelenks Kontrolle
We begin our episode with some sneaker talk as Balazs mentions an upcoming re-release of the Nike Huarache that Kobe once wore. Mike mentions the newly announced Yema Urban Field, a cool series of field watches with loads of optionality. Next, we get to the Handgelanks Kontrolle and Balazs is debuting his new MING 17.09 in burgundy! Mike is wearing his vintage Gruen Ocean Chief on a Forstner Klip bracelet.
Visiting Swatch Group and a reader question
Our visit to Swatch Group was truly a pleasure. The fine folks in Eschborn shared a number of watches with us from Rado, Hamilton, Tissot, Mido, and more! We share the highlights while remarking that it's always nice to see watches in person. Finally, we answer a listener's question about the Omega Speedmaster. The question is simple — what's the big deal about the Speedmaster anyway?
Thank you for listening and as always, if you have any ideas for future shows, don't hesitate to contact us!
For this episode, the topic is hype and hype watches. Lex, Daan, and Nacho discuss their own experiences with hype and how they've navigated this tricky topic. Daan shares his unique view as a RedBar Amsterdam member, who surrounds himself with people and watches every month — a precarious position for those partial to falling for the hype. Overall, the discussion leads them back to Watches And Wonders 2023, an event with a distinct lack of hype. They also touch on the topic of watch brands manufacturing hype, as well as the hype watches they wish they had bought when they had the chance.
Fratello On Air returns with an episode that focuses on vintage watches that are great for everyday wear. We all love our pieces from yesteryear, so why not choose some that can handle the rigors of daily life? Settle in and listen while we talk for a while.
The problem with most vintage watches is that they're fragile and can be hard to fix once broken. Parts are rare and the watches are often so valuable that they remain locked away for safekeeping. Well, we have some picks for you that should stand up well to daily routines while not breaking the bank (too much).
Handgelenks Kontrolle
After some discussion about a recent guitar auction, we jump into the Handgelenks Kontrolle. Mike is wearing his beloved MING 27.02 and has taken it along to Spain for a few days of work. Balazs is going with one of his vintage watches and is enjoying his 7750-powered Heuer Montreal with Hungarian Air Force provenance.
Vintage Watches
Now, we're into the main topic and discuss older watches that can accompany you on life's daily adventures. It's a mix of all sorts of genres and price tags, but most are easily found and repaired. Plus, they all have "street cred" to a large degree, which should give them staying power on anyone's wrist. Our vintage picks are:
Well, there you have it! We hope you enjoyed today's episode and we look forward to coming back to you next week! Feel free to let us know if there's anything you'd like us to discuss.
Fratello On Air returns after a bit of a layoff and we discuss a number of things including the new IWC Ingenieur. We're glad to be back with you and we hope you enjoy today's candid show!
Folks, we're sorry that we've been away for so long, but vacation, travel, and visitors have gotten in the way. Now, though, we're here and ready to discuss all sorts of topics. The new IWC Ingenieur is the greatest focus, but we talk about loads of other subjects. We kick it all off with some news about travel, a pair of game-worn Jordans, New Era MLB hats, and a visit to the mall in Boca Raton.
Handgelenks Kontrolle
The Handgelenks Kontrolle is back and Balazs goes first with the new Vulcain Chronograph 1970's. Mike is wearing his newly received MING 22.01 GMT Gilt. This leads to discussions about a possible acquisition in Balazs' future!
The IWC Ingenieur and Other New Watches
We start the main part of the episode with a bit of Watches and Wonders talk. Balazs was on the ground while Mike was writing about some of the new releases. We talk about the new TAG Heuer Carrera, Zenith Defy Shadow, and all the Tudor pieces. Then, it's onto the new IWC Ingenieur and there's a lot of disappointment from the team. Oh, don't get us wrong, we like the watch, but we're semi-confused by the marketing strategy. Announcing a shortage before the watches hit the street feels wrong, especially for a watch that so many have wanted. Finally, we end with some of our favorite watches from the show. Vacheron, Laurent Ferrier, and Rolex make the list!
We hope you enjoyed today's episode and we look forward to recording again for next week. As always, if you have any ideas for future shows, please let us know!
Lex, Daan, and RJ discuss the watches that impressed them the most at Watches And Wonders, but also those who failed to make them enthusiastic. The Rolex Yacht-Master 42 in titanium is being discussed in detail, because it is very cool on the one hand (according to Lex), but also very far away from previous Yacht-Masters (according to RJ).
Here's the hits and misses from the Watches And Wonders 2023 edition!
The Fratello boys are back in town! And as the fog of war begins to settle, we've sat together and gathered our thoughts on last week's watch fair. This is the Watches and Wonders 2023 debrief episode. In keeping with the short-form format of Fratello Talks, we don't get to cover every single one of the novelties. Instead, we discuss some of our highlights from the show. From the novelties, we knew were coming and still surprised us to those that seemingly came out of nowhere to become our favorites and everything in between. So grab your beverage of choice, put on your headphones, and click, tap, or bark the command at your smart device of choice, and have a listen to this week's episode of Fratello Talks!
This episode of Fratello On Air was recorded on the eve of Watches & Wonders. We talk about a couple of the newest releases before turning to our main topic. We choose an accessory, an article of clothing, and a watch for each other. After so many years and countless episodes, can we get it right for each other?
Yep, we're picking watches for each other along with an accessory and a piece of clothing. First, though, we hit upon some of the releases at Watches & Wonders. The new IWC Ingenieur, the TAG Heuer Carrera Glassbox, and even the Biver debuts pieces make our discussion.
Handgelenks Kontrolle
Before we start picking watches for each other, we walk through the Handgelenks Kontrolle. Balazs starts things off from Bari, Italy with the Fratello × Nivada Grenchen Racing Chronograph. He's rocking the reverse panda while enjoying the heat. Mike is wearing a watch that he bought in 1994, an automatic Omega Seamaster 120m Chronometer reference 2301.21.00. Almost thirty years later, the gold bezel has turned a bronze-like color which works well with a burgundy Horween shell cordovan strap.
Choosing watches for each other
We get into our main topic by starting off with some accessories. Balazs found a cool Rimowa-like AirPods holder and thinks Mike would enjoy it as well. For Balazs, Mike recommends the iconic Chris Reeve small Sebenza 31 Plain Insingo. It's a no-nonsense tool that should last several lifetimes. For clothing, Balazs stumbled upon pieces from Felco while Mike recommends Western shirts from his favorite clothier, Double RL. When it comes to the main event, Balazs digs deep and plays to Mike's love of Japanese watches with the limited-edition Citizen "The Citizen" NC0206-18E. Mike goes old-school and feels that it's high time for Balazs to add a classic Rolex Submariner 5513 Maxi-dial to his collection.
We hope you enjoyed today's episode. If you have any ideas for future episodes, please feel free to let us know!
Fratello On Air is back again this week, and although we are late, we are here! This episode features several topics, including a new Vulcain chronograph, the Speedmaster bracelet, TrueDome crystals, and small watches. It's a conversation you won't want to miss!
We struggled with German Wi-Fi this week and are coming to you a few days later than normal. Thankfully, this episode was largely problem free. Three more days gave us the time to add some more thoughts, and we bring you a varied discussion, highlighting the new Vulcain chronograph and some good vintage discussion in general. We hope you enjoy it!
Handgelenks Kontrolle — a Rolex and a Vulcain
For this episode, Mike is wearing his Rolex Datejust "Turn-o-Graph" 1625 in 18K yellow gold. The weather is starting to turn, and the light blue suede strap is fitting for the upcoming season. Balazs is wearing a watch that literally just arrived in the mail. It's the new Vulcain Chronograph 1970's, a hand-wound 38mm piece that will make for a great review. This leads to a bit of banter about a vintage Vulcain chronograph that we featured all the way back in 2015!
Several topics and that Speedmaster bracelet!
After discussing Vulcain, we kick things off by talking about the current Speedmaster bracelet. After the past weekend, we've now both finally tried on the new Speedmaster with its bracelet and declare it to be among the best in the business. Truly, it's that damn good! After that, we move on to talking about TrueDome crystals and whether we like them on vintage Rolex models instead of the Cyclops. We then get into smaller watches, and Balazs talks about wearing his 34mm vintage Angelus and how it truly doesn't wear like such a small piece. Mike then confesses his new crush on a vintage Patek Philippe Calatrava and wonders whether it would work as an everyday watch.
As always, thank you for listening! If you have ideas for future topics, don't hesitate to let us know!
It's only a few days before Watches & Wonders '23 in Geneva, and we're getting in the right mood! Exhibiting brands have been sending over their news under embargo, with the exception of the obvious. In this podcast, Lex, Nacho, and RJ are talking about the expectations we have, and what we're looking forward to!
Daan, Dave, and RJ sit together for this podcast and talk about their most recent watch purchases. We talk about the whats, the whys, and the hows when it comes to our new watches. All three of us bought through different channels: a boutique, a colleague, and via Chrono24. Sit back, relax, and have a drink of your choice, while you listen to the soothing voices of our editorial team.
Fratello On Air is here with loads of new watches in this episode. No, it's not Watches & Wonders, but it's busy nonetheless! There's a new Fratello Collaboration and even a MoonSwatch!
New watches season is definitely here! Balazs and I take some time to discuss some of the latest pieces to ensure they get coverage before the Watches & Wonders onslaught begins! Settle in and enjoy!
Handgelenks Kontrolle
Before getting to all the new watches, Balazs kicks things off with a decidedly old watch. In fact, this is a pretty lousy piece because it's a so-called office GMT. Yes, he's sporting a watch that no one wants, a vintage Rolex 1675! Mike kicks off the new release topic with a vintage Excelsior Park "Tuxedo Dial" chronograph. This sets our main topic in focus because Excelsior Park just announced that this watch will be their next release. Exciting!
New Watches
We kick things off with the newly announced Seiko Prospex GMT Divers and despite the fact that they're not "pilot's" GMT's, we really like them. That golden GMT hand is the bee's knees! Next, we mention the Mido Ocean Star Decompression Worldtimer because it was pitted against the Seiko in a recent Sunday Morning Showdown. It has a fancier movement, but we're a bit concerned about everyday legibility. Next, we broach the latest MoonSwatch and declare it to be a neat, but quickly passing event. Last but not least, we roll out the Fratello × Nivada Grenchen Racing Chronograph and talk about the different variants.
Thanks so much for listening! As always, if you have episode suggestions, feel free to let us know!
The anger surrounding the new Swatch MoonSwatch Mission to Moonshine Gold was very visible in the comments section on our website. It was less noticeable during the Swatch "pop-up" sales event in Zurich on March 7th. We did a report here, but we also want to discuss the watch itself a bit more in-depth. How does the story sit with us, do we like the watch as such? Listen to our Fratello Talks podcast of this week to find out.
Fratello On Air is back with another rollicking episode. This time, we cover dress watches and ask, in the face of all the hoopla, if dress watches are making a comeback. We think not, but there are a few caveats. Stick around — we recorded this one on a Friday night after a long week, so it's bound to be good!
Dress watches are all over the media landscape these days and we decide to take on the topic. We both own at least a couple of collared shirts, so we feel that we're qualified to make a decision on whether these watches are making a comeback! First, though, we return to a comment on the recent Sinn T50 and even bring up the whole "caller" versus "pilot" GMT argument. The heat is on!
Handgelenks Kontrolle
We decide to don dress watches for this episode and both of us have picked real doozies. Balazs saunters into the ballroom with his Omega Cosmic Moonphase, a gold-plated stunner with loads of complications. He even raises a pinky when drinking tea whilst wearing this watch! Mike is strangling himself with an overtightened half-Windsor while wearing his King Seiko 4420-9990 from 1965. That kicks off a discussion about his watch and a donor that he purchased with a similar serial number — listen for more details!
Dress Watches
Are they really making a comeback? Will people dump their beloved sports watches for simple, three-handed dress watches with leather straps? Nah, we think this is over-baked and talk about why. We also talk about the definition of a dress watch and chuckle about this definition and discuss this one. There's also the fact that the dress watch never went away. In the end, though, we like a formal watch, but we just don't see them supplanting a more versatile, "dressier" watch. Enjoy the ride!
Daan, Ignacio, and RJ talk about traveling with their watches in this podcast. Being watch journalists, we travel a lot, and often want to bring more than one watch. But with Switzerland as the main destination, it's not as easy as you think. You need to be mindful of Customs and the fact that they can stop you to ask if you're "importing" any valuable goods. In this podcast, we talk about the risks of traveling with multiple watches.
We've been away for a few weeks, but Fratello On Air is back again! We're talking about the newly announced Sinn T50 lineup and then dipping into some travel talk. Balazs attended the recent NBA All-Star Game in Salt Lake City, Utah, and we talk about the festivities.
Yes, we've been on the road for quite some time now. England, Switzerland, Austria, and America — we're beginning to sound like a Johnny Cash song around here! We apologize for missing the last couple of weeks, but we should be around for the foreseeable now.
Handgelenks Kontrolle
We kick things off with our Handgelenks Kontrolle and we've both decided to go vintage. Balazs is sporting his Benrus Sky Chief with a Valjoux 72 movement. Mike is wearing the Rolex Datejust 1601 with a lavender no-lume dial that recently came from Eric Wind. Both of us have declared that we're really enjoying wearing smaller (sub 40mm) watches lately. Before moving on to the Sinn T50 and the NBA, we discuss a few things that we've watched on TV lately.
Sinn T50
The Sinn T50 dropped last week and we are pretty excited about this watch. We think it looks great and should do well in the face of its titanium competition. It starts at roughly €3,000, so it isn't inexpensive, but it offers a lot of nice features in an attractive package. We then talk about our travels. Mike mentions a trip to Vienna and some of the nice watches he saw at a ball. Balazs, on the other hand, was a literal baller and attended the NBA All-Star Game in Salt Lake City. He talks about his trip and some of the icons he saw while there.
Thanks for tuning in again and, as always, if you have show ideas, please let us know!
Lex, Nacho, and RJ talk about Swatch and its upcoming 40th birthday! One of the coolest brands of the 1980s celebrates 4 decades of amazing and colorful watches. Last year put this brand back on the horological map with the MoonSwatch, but there's so much more to the brand that saved the entire Swiss watch industry in the 1980s. In this episode, Lex, Nacho, and RJ show the plastic watch a lot of love, not only because of the MoonSwatch but also for many other Swatch variations.
In this episode of Fratello Talks, Daan, Timo, and RJ talk about the fanatic fans of watch brands. The comments on articles where we discuss Rolex, Tudor, or Omega, are sometimes quite unforgiving towards one of the brands. But often also entertaining (and educational). We discuss why fans are so important for brands, why fans feel the need to defend their favorite brand with all they got, and why some brands have louder fans than others.
Welcome to this week's episode of the Fratello Talks podcast. Today, Nacho, Lex, and Daan sit together once again. Today's topic of discussion? It's all about the money! More specifically, about luxury watch prices. In other words, the money that we (meant in the broadest sense possible) are asked to pay, by watch brands, for their products. Call it what you will, RRP, price tag, cost of horological indulgence... anyway you spin it — in Swiss Francs, Euros, Dollars, with or without tax — as watch enthusiasts (and buyers) sooner or later, the price gets to us all. Therefore, when faced with an influx of new watches, which often go hand in hand with a nice long list of new prices, we ask the question(s): do these prices make sense? Does the price match the product? Is there value to be had when purchasing these watches for their retail price?
Fratello On Air comes at you with another brand-focused episode. This week, we’re talking about DOXA and the picks are a bit less diver-centric than you might think. Have a listen and hear about watches that, surprisingly, don’t have a dive bezel.
Yes, with the recent Synchron news, we’ve had our eyes on the brand that inspired the watch. DOXA is in play this week and it’s a company we both genuinely enjoy. If you’re a fan, perhaps you’ll already know our picks. If not, at least one of these might serve as a low-cost way of getting one on your wrist!
Handgelenks Kontrolle
The Handgelenks Kontrolle is properly on point this week as both Balazs and Mike are sporting DOXA 300’s. Balazs is wearing his early generation 300 Sharkhunter with US Divers logo on the dial. His is differentiated by its pre-Synchron dial, sailboat case back, and screw-down crown. Mike is sporting his early ‘70s Synchron-era 300 Sharkhunter. His lacks a screw-down crown and was found in Israel where it seems to have lived the life of a real dive watch.
DOXA
As mentioned, DOXA is a real favorite of both of ours. While we don’t own many models from the company, we’re constantly looking and considering more for our collections. We each decided to pick two pieces that we find interesting from the brand and as usual, Balazs makes some funkier choices. We discuss:
We hope you enjoyed our show today and thanks for listening! If you have ideas for topics, feel free to let us know.
Today, Nacho, Lex, and Daan sit together to discuss watch brands selling their own stock of vintage watches. Lex joins the podcast after a week away visiting Jaeger-LeCoultre, the latest brand to jump on the bandwagon. Armed with knowledge, vintage-buying experience, and plenty of opinions, this week's trio is ready to delve into the details. Who are these premium vintage pieces, painstakingly restored by the brand itself, meant to be for? It may not be us, but perhaps it's a perfect introduction to vintage watches for those willing and able to pay the premium. The guys share their thoughts extensively, but not before a quick wrist check.
Fratello On Air returns with a moving episode — pun intended! We're on the Autobahn late at night talking about the newest releases from Synchron, Omega, and Grand Seiko. Enjoy the ride!
That's right, Balazs and Mike are on the move across Germany and the Netherlands. They've decided to bring along some wireless mics and record while driving because, honestly, they're talking about watches anyhow. It just so happens that the episode falls during a period when there's some real news from Synchron, Omega, and Grand Seiko. We think that the sound quality is rather good despite our high-speed transit, but please be aware that some wind noise may occur.
Synchron, Grand Seiko, and Omega
This week, our Handgelenks Kontrolle is actually part of the main topic! Mike kicks things off from the helm with the brand spanking new Synchron Militsary Poseidon, a cool take on the Synchron Military/Doxa Army theme. He explains the back story of this fun release. Balazs, on the other hand, is in the passenger seat wearing his stunning Grand Seiko SBGA375. Despite some struggles with finding the right size, he's rocking it on the factory bracelet. This leads the duo to discussions about the new Grand Seiko SLGA021, a watch that both really like.
Then, we take a verbal detour and spend a few minutes talking about the Autobahn explaining that it's not always all that it's cracked up to be. Finally, we give our thoughts on the just-announced Omega Speedmaster Super Racing. It's not a small watch, but both find aspects to like while hoping that the technology continues to make its way to more Omega watches.
We hope you enjoyed this week's episode and thank you for listening. It was truly a lot of fun to record! As always, if you have ideas for future shows, feel free to let us know.
Daan, Laurits, and RJ talk about the watches they would like to see introduced by brands in 2023. Daan is hoping Vacheron to come up with a smaller-sized Overseas, while Laurits likes to see a new Milgauss from Rolex. RJ is in for a "proper" re-edition of a gold Piaget Polo, with engraved lines on the case and bracelet. What are the watches you want to see appearing this year? Let us know!
Fratello On Air has returned and we cover several subjects this week. However, we spend the most time on a topic initiated by one of our readers about retro watches. Namely, are they at the end of their rope?
We're back a day later than usual this week with our episode, but we've made it! In this episode, we discuss a number of topics including some of the TV shows and movies we've seen lately. It's not overly watch-related, but it's cold and gray outside, so perhaps this will help pass the time. We also dive into a topic related to retro watches, a movement that has been with us for quite a long time. Will brands move on and go in a different direction?
Handgelenks Kontrolle
Before hitting on retro watches, we have some yesteryear pieces of our own for Handgelenks Kontrolle. Mike kicks things off with his newly acquired Seiko SUS 4S15 "military." It's a neat, but small JDM-only piece from 1996 that was meant to lure younger buyers into the world of mechanical watches. That crafty Seiko tore down Switzerland with quartz tickers only to say, "just kidding," a couple of decades later with the promise of automatics. Cheeky Balazs, on the other hand, stays on the electronic side with an even newer addition. The two-tone Rolex Datejust 17013 Oysterquartz is in play and Mike is jealous! What a score!
Retro Watches
One of our faithful listeners, Saku, from Finland sent us a note and asked about retro watches. In particular, he mentioned the 2010's and all of the releases that take inspiration from the past. He was curious if we see things continuing on this path. Neither of us is sure we want reissues to keep coming in the same volume, but we do like them from certain brands. We love retro brands, but we're not sure we dig modern brands relying so heavily on their back catalogs. MING, Rolex, Omega, and more make their way into the conversation!
Thanks to Saku for writing to us. If you have thoughts on a future topic, please let us know! As always, thank you for listening!
The Omega Speedmaster Professional will be priced at €7,500 as per February 1st (it was €7,100). The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Duoface? It is now €13,100 instead of €9,100 not even a year ago. That's a price increase of nearly 44%. It almost sounds like Rolex is keeping it sane for their sports models, with increases of approx. 2%, the catch here is that you can't buy them anyway.
Ignacio, Lex, and RJ talk about the price increases of watch brands in 2023.
Fratello On Air returns with Balazs and Mike in the same room! In this episode, Balazs travels to Frankfurt and amongst some surprise topics, the duo decides to engage in a collection spotlight. Hear about four attractive watches from each. Enjoy it!
Yes, Balazs has made his way north from Karlsruhe to Mainhattan. Both decided to check out the local Seiko boutique and dine on the Fratello favorite: schnitzel. Then, it was time to record an episode where it was time for a collection spotlight.
Handgelenks Kontrolle
This week's Handgelenks Kontrolle features some exciting new arrivals. Mike is wearing his new 1965 Grand Seiko 5722-9970 Chronometer, which Balazs hand-delivered! It's a neat piece that was made for Toshiba employees who were celebrating 25 years with the company. Balazs surprises us all with the new Vulcain Skindiver Nautique, a lovely retro diver in either dark blue or black. We can't wait for the review when this launches on the 18th!
Mike was recently on the Spirit of Time podcast and there was a decent amount of pocket-watch talk. So, Balazs has elected to surprise us all with a real collection spotlight as he has brought three amazing Angelus pocket watches. The large piece is a porcelain-dialed chronograph, the upper piece is an alarm complete with a fold-out stand, and the piece with the long stem was made to time rotary telephone calls. Amazing!
Collection Spotlight
Amongst some other banter, we get to our main topic, the collection spotlight. For this section, we each decided to choose two of each other's watches for discussion. Next, we cover:
Finally, we thank you for listening. As always, if you have any suggestions for future episodes, please let us know!
Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air. In this installment, Balazs and Mike hit on two topics. We start with the fact that Swatch Group has no intentions of following Rolex into the CPO market. Next, we talk about a recent article highlighting concerns about a questionable auction that took place in 2018. Sit back and relax while we work the mics.
Yes, it's another week and that means another podcast. This time we're talking more about CPO programs and a questionable auction. Balazs is taking care of business in Karlsruhe and Mike has literally just arrived back in Frankfurt. The two kick off with a number of topics. Balazs mentions the upcoming Lego Ford GT, which features a working engine. Balazs also mentions that he's decided to bite the bullet and purchase the Adidas Stan Smith Lux. Hoch leben! Finally, we discuss TV. Balazs is watching BMF and Mike just finished season 2 of The White Lotus.
Handgelenks Kontrolle
Before hitting the main topics on used watches and a questionable auction, we go through our Handgelenks Kontrolle. Mike is wearing his cherished Rolex Datejust 1600. This time, however, he has it on a new-to-him folded Oyster 7836 bracelet with 258 end links. He recently picked it up in Florida during a visit with our friend, Eric Wind. Will it stay on or will the Jubille return? Time will tell. Balazs is sporting his newly received Grand Seiko SBGA439. He loves it but is having a tough time getting the bracelet to fit and is also struggling with reflections during photographs.
A questionable auction and Swatch Group stays away from CPO
We kick off the main section with a brief mention that Rolex is increasing prices yet again. Apparently, the increase is capped at "around" 2.5%, but that brings prices up by roughly 20% since the beginning of the pandemic. Yikes! Next, Balazs discusses an article about Swatch Group and that Nick Hayek will not be following Rolex into the used market any time soon. We think that's smart! Finally, we discuss a questionable auction that took place in 2018 related to the so-called "Unicorn" Rolex Daytona.
As always, thanks for listening. If you have any suggestions for a future episode, please feel free to let us know!
Lex, Nacho, and RJ talk about their New Year's resolutions regarding watches. We look back at the watches we purchased in 2022, and what we have on our wishlists for 2023. Nacho already made his first purchase in 2023, to celebrate his upcoming 30th birthday. Bonus material: A small contribution from Sinara.
Happy New Year! Yes, 2023 is here, and we're bringing you the latest episode of Fratello On Air! Balazs and Mike are ready for another rip-roaring year, and they start with a bang. The modern Rolex secondary market and the CPO program are back in focus.
We're back — sort of. Balazs has returned to Germany from Hungary while Mike is still hanging out with the iguanas in sunny South Florida. They reminisce about the holidays and strike up some banter about other topics. The Rolex CPO program and the modern Rolex secondary market overall are the subjects of today's episode. There are dreamers out there, folks, and they still believe we are in the salad days of April 2022.
Handgelenks Kontrolle
Before discussing the Rolex secondary market, we dip into the Handgelenks Kontrolle. This time, we talk about the watches that we wore most during the holidays and share what is currently occupying wrist space. For Balazs, his trip to Hungary had an ulterior motive: he picked up some new old watches! He's sporting a Zenith from the '50s with a black dial and an Excelsior Park EP4 caliber. The watch was likely made for the Yugoslavian Air Force, and we discuss how it compares to his Angelus 215. Mike is wearing his trusty Citizen Promaster BN0220 in the heat and taking it to the pool every day.
The modern Rolex secondary market
Here's a bold take: the modern Rolex secondary market is falling apart, and the decline shows no sign of slowing. During the holiday, we've been cruising the internet, looking up prices for current models. It's clear that the market peaked back in April 2022 and that the downward trend has been constant since then. However, we pick on the current GMT-Master II "Batman" and chuckle at a current ad on Bucherer's website for a CPO model listed for CHF 21,000! This is all while similar models are available in droves for 25–30% less. Similarly, we note that tone-deaf dealers are still listing watches such as the 36mm Datejust for 60% over retail while similar pieces exist for 10–15% over list. We dig our heels in and declare that a newer Rolex will not hit our wrists at a premium. Finally, we profess our love for vintage (even 10-year-old) Rolex watches because finding a minty model is so much more challenging.
We hope you enjoy this episode, and we look forward to spending 2023 with you! Feel free to reach out if you'd like to suggest a future show topic.
Daan, Thomas, and Lex talk about the definition of dress watches. In a recent article on Fratello, Thomas wrote about his vintage Seamaster being a dress watch. It upset Lex tremendously, and it ultimately led to a fight. Time to straighten it out, and what better way to do it in a podcast?
Lex, Daan, and RJ discuss the pros and cons of buying pre-owned watches versus new. We're not all on the same page, but agree that the pre-owned watch market does have something interesting to offer, aside from (often) more attractive prices. If you want to go worry-free, buying your watch new is the way to go. But you might miss out on some very nice offers out there.
Fratello On Air comes at you with a new episode. This time, we're talking about our horological hopes for 2023. Of course, there's some typical banter along with some pre-holiday cheer. Settle in by the fireplace (or at the beach, perhaps) and enjoy our last episode before Christmas.
2022 absolutely blew by and we're now less than two weeks from entering a new year. With that, we have hopes for 2023 and we get into some of our prognostications and questions. The economy looks a tad shaky and that may spell opportunity for some and trouble for others. What will the next year bring?
Handgelenks Kontrolle
Before discussing our hopes for 2023, we have a chat about the seriously cold weather in Germany. We then move on to a couple of shows that we have either enjoyed or are enjoying — Car S.O.S. and Wheeler Dealers. These are fun shows that just might appeal to a vintage watch nerd who likes the thrill of the hunt for obscure parts while taking in some history. Then, it's time for the Handgelenks Kontrolle. Mike is wearing his Rolex GMT-Master 16758 with a "nipple dial" on a German-made strap with reindeer embossed on it. Balazs keeps on the brown theme with his MoonSwatch Mission to Saturn.
Our Hopes for 2023
We bounce around a lot during our main topic: our hopes for 2023. We refer to the Rolex market and the fact that watches are slowly becoming more available at AD's. Mike also surmises that limited editions will continue in force to help keep people addicted. Both Balazs and Mike have become more excited about what the independents will do next year and even discuss what MING could offer. When it comes to Omega, the duo feels that the Speedmaster Professional could be in play with exotic materials and/or new dial colors. Regarding Tudor, both are flummoxed when it comes to guessing what could come next. Finally, we'd love to see a Zenith diver, a genre that the brand needs to address.
We hope you enjoyed this episode and if you're celebrating in the next week or so, have a great time! As always, feel free to let us know if you have a topic that you'd like us to cover in a future episode.
Fratello editors Gerard, Lex, and RJ talk about one of the most coveted watches: the Patek Philippe Nautilus. With the first reference in front of them, the 3700/1A, they talk about the history of the Nautilus, how it went from virtually no demand to an incredibly high demand in the past few years, and which version they like best. Enjoy our Fratello Talks series and let us know via Fratello.com what you think of the Nautilus.
Fratello On Air is getting ready for the holidays! In this episode, Balazs and Mike talk about holiday watches and gifts sure to please almost any watch lover. Enjoy!
Yes, we are firmly in the season of giving, receiving, or buying for one's self! As such, we're here to discuss some of our favorite watches that debuted in 2022. Alongside these holiday watches, we've also decided to mention some watch-adjacent gifts that will delight you. Stick around and tune in for another fun episode of Fratello On Air!
Handgelenks Kontrolle
After some brief discussion on travel (where Mike reveals that London, despite all the news, is not a war zone), we get to the Handgelenks Kontrolle. Balazs is wearing his pre-moon Speedmaster on a Forstner flat link bracelet. We talk about Forstner and its great products for watch lovers. Mike is wearing a very different type of watch — the MING 27.02 on a blue Alcantara strap. He wore it all weekend in London as a fun, but less flashy option.
Holiday watches and gifts
For our main event, it's time to mention some holiday watches and gifts. Our choices run the gamut from inexpensive to dear, but there's hopefully something here for everyone. We go back and forth and alternate between watches and items and mention:
We hope you enjoyed today's show! If you have any suggestions for future episodes, please feel free to let us know!
This weekly "Fratello Talks..." podcast talks about the Rolex Certified Pre-Owned program that was introduced on December 1st.
Thomas, Daan, and I are discussing the new Certified Pre-Owned program that Rolex introduced. Authorized Dealer Bucherer is the first partner offering Rolex watches with this certification. But what is it exactly, and how does it work? We also received some comments and questions about the consequences of this certification process, and we try to answer them in our podcast. Additionally, we are discussing the effect on the market prices of pre-owned Rolex watches.
Fratello On Air returns with Balazs and Mike in their respective saddles to discuss a number of topics. The new Rolex pre-owned program is a focal point along with new offerings from Nivada-Grenchen and Audemars Piguet. What do we think of all these new items? Have a listen and find out for yourself!
Balazs and Mike are back after a couple of weeks away and they've got plenty to discuss. Shoes, the gray weather in Germany, and watches are on tap with the latest episode. Of course, there's the Handgelenks Kontrolle...
Handgelenks Kontrolle
After a bit of chatter, it's time for the Handgelenks Kontrolle. Mike kicks things off with his white gold Rolex Day-Date 1803, a surprisingly subtle piece on his wrist for nearly two weeks. Keeping on theme, Balazs is wearing his lovely GMT-Master 1675. He currently has it on the Oyster, but will soon switch to his Jubilee for the festive season.
The Rolex Pre-owned program and more
After some more talk, it's time to get into the meatier subjects. The Rolex pre-owned program is here and, wow, is it exciting! Or is it? We'll discuss it, but we aren't so sure. We also mention the new Nivada Grenchen x Undone and, frankly, we dig it. Finally, we discuss the return of the Audemars Piguet Starwheel and declare it to be the best Code 11.59 yet and the best AP in donkey's years.
We hope you enjoy today's episode. Feel free to let us know if there's anything you'd like us to discuss on a future show.
Ignacio talks with Sofia and Sinara about making that first big purchase! Buying your first serious (luxury) watch can be a nerve-racking process. How did Fratello's Ignacio, Sinara and Sofia dealt with it? They're all young (below 30), and spending that much money on your first watch can be stressful. What choices did they make, and why? Listen to our Fratello Talks — Buying your first serious watch podcast to hear about their stories.
Fratello Talks is a new series next to the Fratello On Air podcast. In Fratello Talks, your hosts Ignacio and RJ discuss various horological topics. Ignacio, RJ, and Laurits talk about dress watches in this first episode. What is a dress watch exactly, and why would you need one? We also discuss our favorite dress watches.
Fratello On Air is here and Balazs and Mike are back together between extensive travels. This week, we talk about a number of random subjects and then move on to the main topics. New Excelsior Park is in focus as well as the massive Rolex Deepsea Challenge.
We have been keeping the road hot! Mike has just returned from a two-week trip to the USA where he was all over the place and Balazs is getting ready to leave for another visit to Japan. Luggage enters the discussion yet again and Mike is curious if Rimowa's service department will live up to his expectations (update: sadly not so far). As mentioned, we spend most of our time on new releases from Excelsior Park and the Rolex Deepsea Challenge.
Handgelenks Kontrolle
First things first, though, and that's the Handgelenks Kontrolle. After wearing his Explorer 14270 for two weeks in a row, Mike has swapped to his vintage Heuer Monaco 73633. Balazs has two new Excelsior Park pieces in hand - a limited piece released in conjunction with watch dealer "Shuck the Oyster" and a collab with Seconde/Seconde.
Excelsior Park and the Rolex Deepsea Challenge
For the main part of our show, we talk about modern Excelsior Park and how the Sellita-based movement feels in hand. Hint: it's no Excelsior Park caliber, but we love that the watches are manual wind and kissing cousins to the originals. We especially like how they've gotten the details right such as the dial fonts and case dimensions. Finally, for the money, they seem to be good value. When it comes to the Rolex Deepsea Challenge, it's a good thing that we let this one breathe for a week before discussing it. There's no doubt that this watch is ridiculous in almost every way, whether it be price, specs, or size. However, both of us appreciate it for what it is — an insane accomplishment from Rolex. It's an absolutely unnecessary watch, but we dig it.
We hope you enjoyed today's episode and we look forward to bringing you more. If you have any thoughts on future topics, please let us know!
For the second week in a row, Balazs has a guest on the podcast, another member of the Fratello family. After last week’s discussion with Dave about space watches this week, we have our one and only Lex on Fratello On Air. The man known for refined taste in clothing and timepieces is also somewhat of a Breguet fan. His impressive knowledge of the brand was a delight to listen to whenever it came up in a conversation.
So it was logical for Balazs to sit down with Lex and chat about the Swatch Group’s crown jewel.
Wrist check
We do not see Lex without something denim, so it was no surprise that he was sporting a piece that’s the love child of a watch company and a denim brand: the Oris Diver 65 Momotaro edition. The watch is the perfect blend of material and colors. A steel case with a bronze bezel, green dial, and indigo-blue denim strap. Such a fine eclectic ensemble. Not to mention that the watch is readily available on most used watch sites and for a very competitive price too. Great choice, Lex!
Balazs wore a loaner for the show, but boy, what a timepiece it was. He happened to have a Breguet with him that belonged to a friend. So Balazs chose that particular piece, the Breguet Classique 5157, as his wrist companion for the episode. It is an elegant and simple take on a dress watch with a beautifully decorated movement and display case back. Yet the magic of the 5157 lies in its breathtaking guilloché dial. And don’t forget those lovely Breguet hands, either.
Breguet
Finally, the boys arrive at the topic of this episode and the mighty Maison of Breguet. A brand that started in 1775 and, over the centuries, has had an incredibly intriguing history, just like its denominator and founder, Abraham-Louis Breguet. Lex and Balazs walk through the past and talk about some of the inventions still used in today’s watchmaking. Lex visited the atelier a few weeks ago, and we are lucky enough to hear his thought about that trip before we move to the final stage of the episode; watches.
Well, hello folks! After a one-week respite, we're back with another episode of Fratello on Air! This time, we talk about Seiko and each discusses a couple of our favorite pieces. We must warn you, this is only the beginning...
Seiko is an absolute favorite here at Fratello, which makes picking favorites a daunting endeavor! Still, we've managed to start down the path in what will likely be the first of many episodes covering this storied brand. Of course, there's plenty of banter before getting into the main subject.
Handgelenks Kontrolle
Before moving to the Handgelenks Kontrolle and Seiko, the dynamic duo hit upon a few topics. Firstly, Mike is on the way to the Big Easy for the first time and Balazs is prepping for a seriously hectic schedule. Mike mentions his ho-hum experience at the "new" Berlin airport and a humorous tour of Szczecin, Poland. Both are excited to watch the newly released All Quiet On The Western Front film on Netflix and in theaters. As far as watches, Mike has on the new Monta Skyquest and is truly impressed by the fit and finish (review soon!). Balazs is wearing yet another lovely Excelsior Park — this time with the three-register EP40 movement.
Seiko
When it comes to Seiko, there are just so many models to consider. Somehow, we've each picked two to discuss, and hopefully, you'll appreciate just how much we enjoy these watches. We walk through the following pieces:
We hope you enjoyed listening to this episode. Feel free to let us know if there's anything you'd like us to discuss in the future!
As Mike is on a business trip in the US Balazs pulls Dave out of retirement.
Fratello On Air is back with a new episode and this time, we discuss the watch market. In the background, we bring up a couple of reports that have recently been published. There are some interesting numbers, but the market hasn't fallen apart to the extent where secondary prices are reaching retail. Will they?
The watch market is in a bit of turmoil lately as prices for hype watches have been on a 6-month downtrend. We discuss the recent third-quarter watch market report published by Morgan Stanley and go through some interesting and telling figures. The recent Chrono24 watch report contains some interesting figures as well. It collectively blows our minds how popular Rolex is versus all other brands.
Handgelenks Kontrolle
The Handgelnks Kontrolle this episode is on point! Balazs is sporting the new Doxa Army with green ceramic and bronze bezel. He declares it a winner and it seems that most people like the surprising color combination! Mike is wearing his Omega Speedmaster X-33 1st generation on an Artem strap. It has just returned from a €30 battery change and Mike vows to wear it more frequently.
The Watch Market
Let's start by saying that neither of us is predicting that the watch market is going to crash and burn to the point where Rolex Daytona models will be below retail. However, we do think that there are some serious macro headwinds that will continue to put pressure on the typical speculative watches. In the end, if it means that people will stand a chance to buy watches at retail, we're all for it and think it's actually more healthy than an overheated scenario. Funnily enough, if all of the hype watches were more available, neither of us would run out to buy something. If we did, though, the GMT-Master II with Pepsi Bezel ranks as the most likely candidate.
Thanks again for listening! We hope you enjoyed the show and as always, feel free to let us know if there's a topic you'd like us to discuss!
Fratello on Air returns with an episode about one of our favorite brands: Grand Seiko! That's right, it's an hour of back and forth about a premium line that got its start during the '60s. What are the favorite models from our hosts? Tune in and find out...
You've listened to our brand-focused episodes before and while we've taken on some big brands, Grand Seiko has so many great models that it was tough to pick our favorites. Whether we're talking about today or yesteryear, Grand Seiko is a treasure trove. Here's a hint: we've both decided to go vintage. With that, we've also decided to return to this brand in future episodes to focus on more vintage and modern pieces.
Handgelenks Kontrolle
Before getting to our Handgelenks Kontrolle, we discussed a recent trip to Washington D.C. where Mike had the chance to visit the National Air & Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center. It's an incredible place that's only five minutes away from Dulles. Mike also mentions a run along the National Mall. which is a great way to sightsee while grabbing a workout. As far as watches, Mike is wearing his Grand Seiko SBGW047, a 44GS reissue from 2013. Balazs is wearing his newest Excelsior Park-powered piece, a chrome-cased Varix.
Grand Seiko
Things go awry from the get-go because Balazs picks the same Grand Seiko model line that Mike had in mind. Trust us, we don't pre-review and like to keep things spontaneous! All is well, though, because we spend some serious time talking about the true heavyweights from this storied marque: the VFA models. These watches were and still are incredible! Mike goes on to discuss the 4520, aka "45GS" models and focuses on the -7000 and -8000 models. Finally, Balazs closes us out with the 5646 models that feature day and date complications.
Thank you again for listening. We hope you enjoyed this episode. As always, feel free to let us know if you have any ideas for future shows.
Fratello On Air returns once again! Balazs and Mike are together after a three-week break due to heavy travel. It's a light-hearted show full of observations and head scratching. We talk about the Omega X-33 Marstimer, the Apple Watch, and even about luggage.
Yes, it's been a while, but the boys are back in town again. Balazs has been all over Europe while Mike has been in three time zones within the USA. We focus on the craziness that seems to surround collecting anything today and then dip into some discussion around the Omega X-33 Marstimer. It's two friends getting back together after a while...enjoy it!
Handgelenks Kontrolle
We kick things off with the Handgelnks Kontrolle and Balazs is sporting a brand new piece. He is sporting a Benrus Sky Chief with a freshly serviced Valjoux 72. Mike is wearing his Rolex Sea-Dweller 1665 "Great White" and talks about how small it is versus the current Deep Sea Sea-Dweller. The discussion meanders to the classic pilot's chronographs and the Glycine Airman.
The Omega X-33 Marstimer and Rimowa
Before getting into the Omega X-33 Marstimer, we talk about how Rimowa has seemingly gone the way of Rolex. Apparently, the well-known luggage sells out on a daily basis these days and draws queues in front of the boutiques. The horror! We move on to the Omega and while we really like the looks of the watch, we both wish that it had more functionality such as solar or some sort of connectivity. It's a pricey piece and we feel like more could have been done with the opportunity. We finish our discussion by talking about the Apple Watch and how it has become so commonplace today that it just might be worth a try. Scary stuff indeed!
As always, thank you for listening, and thanks for waiting for us to return! We'll be back next week with another episode!
Fratello On Air checks in with a new episode and Geneva Watch Days 2022 is the subject. Balazs and Mike discuss some of the key new releases. As always, expect banter and clear views on what's happening around us in the world of watches.
Geneva Watch Days 2022 is a wrap and Balazs was there. He gives his impressions on some of the most essential new releases while Mike weighs in. Naturally, there's talk about other watch news and equipment. Enjoy!
Handgelenks Kontrolle
Before getting to the Handgelenks Kontrolle and our main topic, our hosts have a few items worth mentioning. Mike brings up a seriously lightweight and packing-friendly rain "shirt" from Patagonia called the "Houdini Jacket." It's available for men and women. Next is the Manfrotto Befree GT XPRO tripod, which has a nifty horizontal guide rail that should allow for great macro work. Finally, Balazs has stumbled upon the Baseus Magnetic Wireless Power Bank and vouches for its convenience. As far as the Handgelenks Kontrolle, Balazs is wearing his '50s Omega 2505 with a caliber 256. Mike is sporting his Citizen Homer HO150401 with glossy black dial and lumed indices.
Geneva Watch Days 2022
Balazs was on the ground during Geneva Watch Days 2022 while Mike watched from afar. We discuss the big release that wasn't actually part of the show, the Tudor Pelagos 39. Then, it's onto the Doxa Army, the new Bvlgari Octo Finissimo novelties, and the Oris Divers Sixty-Five with 12-hour bezel. We finish with thoughts on the newly announced pricing for the Speedmaster Professional.
As always, we hope you enjoyed the episode. If you have any topics you'd like us to discuss in a future episode, please let us know!
Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, Balazs and Mike rant a touch after talking about a number of topics and before finishing with Geneva Watch Days. We were feeling a bit feisty on this one, so forgive us…or don’t!
Who doesn’t love a good rant every so often? As much as we try to keep things on a relatively positive note, every so often something raises our collective eyebrows. Today is that day! Still, there are plenty of other topics to discuss.
Handgelenks Kontrolle
Balazs is busy packing for his evening drive to Geneva Watch Days and informs us about the watches that will make the journey. On his wrist, though, is his prized Speedmaster 145-022“Transitional.” Mike is still living in his vintage higher-end Seiko world. He’s wearing a King Seiko 44-9990 from 1966 in support of an upcoming article on this classic.
A rant or two
We discuss a true-crime podcast called “The Yellow Car.” Then we shift to a documentary on the once-popular basketball brand, And1.” We recall the “Starbury” shoes that were supposed to revolutionize the shoe world…but didn’t. Mike also brings up the Mickey Mantle baseball card that recently sold for $12.6 Million…a sign that big spenders aren’t going anywhere anytime soon for top-grade collectibles. Balazs mentions an upcoming Michael Jordan-themed auction where a game-worn jersey is estimated to sell for around $5 Million.
The rant begins when we get to watches. We discuss a recent video made by a watch personality that is aimed toward Breitling and question the intent. Then, it’s on to a W.M.T. watch with a bent case that’s a replica of a battle-worn piece that took a bullet. Neither of us is impressed with the commercial venture. Finally, we talk about Geneva Watch Days and what we might see.
We hope you enjoyed this episode. As always, if you have ideas for the show, let us know and we’ll be happy to consider them for a future episode.
Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air where Balazs and Mike return to talk watches and other semi-adjacent topics. Vintage Grand Seiko is in play towards the end, but there's plenty of other banter to consume as we near the end of summer.
Balazs and Mike are together again! Balazs just landed in Stansted and Mike returned from a weekend in Colmar, but they have united on the airwaves. In this episode, you'll hear about space-related TV, old trucks in Slovakia, straps, and, of course, watches. Vintage Grand Seiko comes into play when it comes to watches on Mike's radar. Balazs brings up some King Seiko models.
Handgelenks Kontrolle
Mike kicks things off with a truly brand-new (it arrived today) Sinn EZM 1.1 S and he's overjoyed with how well it fits despite its size. He offers a tip on some truly inexpensive but enjoyable straps from Fullmosa on Amazon. Balazs counters with his two-tone Rolex Datejust 16013. He ponders whether this watch would look good on a strap versus its stock Jubilee.
Vintage Grand Seiko
Before getting to vintage Grand Seiko, there are plenty of topics to discuss. We mention For All Mankind, a gripping TV show that's currently receiving great reviews. Then, we discuss old trucks from before the fall of the Berlin Wall. The Casio WV-59 Wave Ceptor from Better Call Saul has arrived, so expect a fun review soon! Gregoriades.com has some great-looking FKM Tropic-style straps with "Rally" holes and quick-release spring bars. Then, we come to Grand Seiko and we discuss the 44GS, the 4520-7000, and the SBGW235. We pivot slightly to some beautiful King Seiko models as well and end with custom display backs.
As always, we hope you enjoyed this episode. Feel free to let us know if there's anything you'd like us to cover in a future edition!
Fratello On Air returns with an amusing look at Casio. That's right, it's not just about GShock this time! With these picks, get ready to measure temperature, barometer, and other fun data.
Yes, Casio is in focus with Balazs and Mike on the airwaves. In this episode, the duo talks about a couple of their favorite watches from the Shibuya-based brand. As mentioned, there's more to GShock when it comes to the digital powerhouse. The discussion triggers a walk down memory lane and we hope you have as much fun as our hosts.
Handgelenks Kontrolle
Before heading into Casio, it's time for our one and only Handgelenks Kontrolle. Balazs leads off with the newly delivered King Seiko 45-7000. He's really enjoying the watch and its manual winding Hi-Beat movement. Mike is wearing his DOXA 300 SUB Black Lung. He feels it's still one of the best reissues and wore it on recent trips to England and Slovakia.
Casio
We turn our attention to Casio and give a brief history of the brand that makes a whole lot more than watches. Furthermore, we share some stories from childhood when it seemed that everyone was sporting some sort of digital watch. Then, it's time to name our favorites. We throw in a few surprise models along the way and in the end, but here are the main topics:
Thanks again for listening and, as always, feel free to let us know if there's a topic you'd like us to discuss.
Welcome back to a long-overdue episode of Fratello On Air! Balazs and Mike have returned from lengthy travel and that forms the underlying agenda of today’s chat. There’s plenty more, though, so sit back and enjoy!
Yes, Balazs and Mike have been away for a couple of weeks. Balazs spent time in Japan after his vacation in Hungary. Mike flew the opposite direction and stayed in South Florida for some much-needed holiday. In this episode, travel sets the stage, but with watches as the primary focus.
Handgelenks Kontrolle
After a brief chat, Balazs introduces the newly reborn Vulcain Cricket that is in with him for review. He has the larger-sized model and we even get to hear it! Mike stepped off a plane only hours earlier and is wearing the watch that accompanied him for two weeks in a row: the new Breitling SuperOcean 42.
Travel
Before discussing travel, we discuss the new Glashütte Original Seventies Chronograph Panorama Date models in “Vibing Orange” and “Disco Blue.” Neither of us are fans although we do enjoy G.O. Then, Balazs recaps his visit to Japan and some watch-related topics. Mike talks about South Florida and a particularly weak visit to Wempe at Frankfurt Airport prior to departure. Finally, we cap things off with a talk about recent watch thefts and whether it’s beginning to shape what we wear when we hit the road. (Hint: yes) Is it safe to wear a Rolex or a gold watch?
As always, if you have a topic that you’d like us to discuss, feel free to let us know. Thanks for listening!
Fratello On Air is back with another winding episode where the Tudor Ranger and the idea of a field watch are in focus. Enjoy this flowing discussion while Balazs and Mike are sweating it out in Europe!
That's right, it's hot out there, but a little (or a lot of) heat can't keep Balazs and Mike away from the mic. Balazs is holding court at a castle in Chemnitz, Germany while Mike is roasting in Frankfurt. Both are looking forward to cooler days whenever or wherever. Before discussing the Tudor and what a field watch means to each, they take care of some wristy business and the news.
Handgelenks Kontrolle
Mike kicks things off with his late model Rolex Explorer 1016, a nice example within the field watch genre. Balazs debuts his new Angelus Datalarm, a stainless model that joins his gold-plated version. For a bit of off-topic news, Mike discusses airline woes and his unfounded excitement over the upcoming Rimowa Pilot's case. Balazs has received a pair of new, discontinued leather Adidas Stan Smith's.
Tudor Ranger and the field watch
Next, we discuss the new Tudor Ranger. We like the watch but aren't wholly convinced. Perhaps, seeing will result in believing. The Ranger sparks a conversation about the field watch category in general. What is it and why do people like them so much? Are we all adventurers at heart or do we simply crave a basic and capable watch with good legibility? We cover a lot of different watches in the genre such as the Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical, the Nivada Super Antarctic, and even a GShock!
As always, thank you for listening. Feel free to let us know if there are any topics you'd like us to cover in a future episode.
Fratello On Air comes back with another brand-focused episode and this time, it's Oris! The independent watch company from Hölstein is in play and, as always, we've picked some unique models. Settle in and enjoy!
There's no doubt that Oris is a Fratello favorite. From the "FratellOris" to the Sixty-Five, we're fully locked into this fan-friendly brand. Most of us, though, know the company from the last decade or so. Are there some interesting gems from the past? Of course, there are!
Handgelenks Kontrolle
Traditional calls and that means that after some healthy banter, it's time for the Handgelenks Kontrolle. Mike kicks things off with his newly received Grand Seiko 6245-9000 (look forward to an upcoming review) and raves about its details. This also kicks off a broader discussion about King and Grand Seiko. Balazs pulls out a newly serviced black-dialed Angelus 210 chronograph. What a stunner!
Oris
When it comes to Oris, there's no doubt that the current models are winners. Did you know that there are some truly interesting older models? We take a look at a few of them!
We hope you enjoyed this look at some unique Oris watches! As always, feel free to contact us if there's a topic you'd like us to discuss.
Fratello On Air returns with a talkative episode. Balazs and Mike cover a lot of ground. Some of it is watch-related while some of it is not! We discuss the recent cranky comments on our site and ultimately spend a few minutes on our "grab and go" Summer favorites. There's a bit of Citizen headed your way. Enjoy this meandering episode.
Yes, Summer is in full swing and Balazs is sweating it out in Hungary. Mike is staying relatively cool in Germany. Our readers, however, seem a bit hot and bothered! Maybe some inexpensive Citizen dive watches will help assuage sore feelings.
Handgelenks Kontrolle
When it comes to the handgelenks kontrolle, Balazs is wearing his tried and true MoonSwatch Mars! This one is super lightweight, which helps beat the heat. Mike has also gone with a bantamweight in the Breitling SuperOcean 57. However, he has taken it off of the mesh for the first time and put on an inexpensive green canvas strap. Comfy!
Loads of other topics including Citizen
We hit on loads of topics today. Adidas Stan Smith shoes, Oakley sunglasses, and Swatch watches and sunglasses are just some of the fun. Then we talk about a recent Strap Check article where Mike paired his Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight 925 with the Forstner Model J. Our readers weren't fans! Then, we discuss the polarizing new Breitling SuperOcean and third-party movements in general. The Serica 5303 also comes up and Mike is interested! Finally, we discuss some of our favorite easy Summer watches. Balazs mentioned the new Citizen JP2007-17W Aqualand with an all-lume dial. Mike mentions his Promaster Tough "Ray Mears" and BN0220 diver. Enjoy!
Rikki and David from Scottish Watches sit down with Rob for the first of two crossover episodes a la Murder, She Wrote, and Magnum P.I. (but with fewer murders and Rolex GMT-Masters).
Follow me on Instagram @robnudds
Fratello On Air returns with a focused episode on one of our favorite watches, the Rolex Day-Date. Mike and RJ are here with some serious heft on the wrist. You'll hear about their love for these decadent, yet classic pieces.
We really think that you're going to enjoy today's episode on the Rolex Day-Date. This edition features two watch fans in an unscripted discussion about the flagship of the world's most famous watch brand. The watches are different, but the admiration is similar. A word of warning, though, have the pause ready after the opening salvo to regain your composure!
Handgelenks Kontrolle with the Rolex Day-Date
It's no surprise that the Hangelenks Kontrolle sets the stage for the main topic. RJ is wearing his new-to-him 18238 in yellow gold with an equally champagne dial. Mike, goes with a watch from a different era and in a different hue. He's sporting his "new" white gold 1803 with a black dial. Yes, this is the watch that suffered an agonizing shipping delay! Both talk about what makes this watch special along with their memories of seeing it on the wrists of others or on TV. Enjoy the ride!
Fratello On Air is here with an episode covering several topics. In the end, you'll want to stick around because Balazs meets his "shoe idol," who is none other than Stan Smith. Not the shoe, mind you, but the tennis player with an incredibly famous shoe. Of course, we talk about watches as well...
That's right, Balazs has finally met Stan Smith and talks to him about several things including "the shoe." We also discuss travel and how good it is to get out again. There's also the topic of finding a MoonSwatch randomly and going hands-on with a new retro Certina dive chronograph.
Handgelenks Kontrolle
Mike is in Atlanta during this episode and it's a Sunday. He's heading back to Germany in about 6 hours. What to do? Well, he's wearing his Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight 925 on the Forstner Model J (and his Stan Smith sneakers). Plus, he has just returned from Waffle House! Balazs is in Germany and he's wearing the new "Mission to Mars" MoonSwatch that he unexpectedly found at the Swatch HQ in Biel!
Certina and the Stan Smith interview
We talk about travel and that includes Balazs and his adventures in Switzerland. As mentioned, Mike traveled to Atlanta and enjoyed wearing his Tudor as an "only watch." We discuss the new Certina DS Chronograph Automatic 1968 that he has in for review. After that, it's time for the Stan Smith interview that Balazs held in person while he was in Switzerland. Stan stopped in on his way to where else but the French Open! Enjoy it!
As always, thanks for listening to Fratello On Air. Don't hesitate to let us know if you have any additional subjects you'd like us to cover in a future episode.
Fratello On Air is here and we’re excited to discuss the recent Breitling Navitimer Cosmonaute release and provide an interview with Fred Mandelbaum. Balazs and Mike are on the mics again talking travel. Tune in and listen to their latest experiences.
That’s right, Breitling came with a new Navitimer Cosmonaute in the form of a limited edition model. It’s an interesting watch with an interesting build-up to its introduction. The introduction actually took place in Europe and there were some surprises. Enjoy the ride!
Handgelenks Kontrolle
Before hitting the new Navitimer Cosmonaute, Balazs and Mike do the usual with the Handgelenks Kontrolle. Balazs is wearing his beloved Eterna 852 and even shares a story related to the watch with his recent travels to Switzerland. Then, Mike brings out something he hasn’t worn in quite a while — the IWC Aquatimer 3536.
The Breitling Navitimer Cosmonaute
Mike had the opportunity to spend a couple of nights in Zurich for a Breitling event which included the release of the new Navitimer Cosmonaute. Next, we discuss the watch, its story, and a fantastic collectors dinner that loads of friends attended. Listen hard and you’ll even hear something from our friend Eric Wind — this sound byte will live on in eternity! Finally, enjoy a chat with Fred Mandelbaum where he shares some history about the original Cosmonaute.
As always, thanks for listening, and feel free to let us know if there’s anything you’d like us to discuss in future episodes.
We’re back with another episode of Fratello On Air. This time, Balazs and Mike discuss Longines. This is an episode where we cover some of our favorite models and play an interview that RJ had with Giuseppe Maccio, the head of product at Longines. Enjoy it!
It’s been a couple of weeks since Balazs and Mike have come together due to travel and life in general. Here they are, though, talking about one of the most iconic brands in history: Longines.
Handgelenks Kontrolle
Before coming to Longines, it’s time to hit the Handgelenks Kontrolle. Mike goes first with the Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight 925 and brings a twist. He has chosen to add the Forstner Model J and the results are positive. Balazs shares his Angelus 215 that has been on a weeklong trip to Switzerland. Good for him for wearing this classic on the road!
Longines
We then move onto some news which is actually specific to Longines. The new Ultra-Chron debuted as a 43mm diver with a 36,000vph automatic movement. This is an impressive watch and we like the brand’s direction. Then, we move onto the main topic and begin to name our favorite pieces. We discuss the:
• Admiral, an interesting early ‘70s collection that reminds us of the Omega Dynamic
• The Big Indian ref 6111 – an amazing ‘50s military piece that weighs in at a daunting 44mm
We then cut to the interview between RJ and Giuseppe. Then, it’s back to a couple more of our favorites.
• The Nonius Chronograph with the Valjoux 72
• Finally, the Weems watches with their innovative bezels used for flight navigation
We hope you enjoyed this episode on Longines. Thanks for listening and if you have ideas for future shows, feel free to let us know!
Fratello On Air is back with another brand-focused episode. This time, Balazs and Mike focus on Bulova. Finding six favorites from this legendary brand was a real task, but we've pulled out some winners. We hope you enjoy it!
Bulova, the brand founded in New York in 1875, is on the hot seat. We do our best to find six attractive models to help paint a picture of how varied this brand was during its heyday and even after the quartz crisis. Expect the unexpected — especially when it comes to Balazs' picks!
Handgelenks Kontrolle
Before getting to Bulova, we take care of our Handgelenks Kontrolle. Balazs kicks things off with a new arrival, his "NOS" vintage Excelsior Park EP 4 chronograph. Congrats on the arrival of this long-awaited stunner! Mike is doing his best Balazs impression with the late '40s, early '50s Siduna Commander. This is a Danish brand, but a Swiss watch with a 36.5mm "waterproof" stainless steel case and an ETA 1110.
Bulova
For the main part of our show, we discuss six of our favorite models from Bulova. Before doing so, though, we give a little bit of history and bring in some stories about how we were personally impacted by this brand. Then, it's time to hit the watches. We discuss the following:
We hope you enjoyed today's show! As always, if there's anything you'd like to discuss, feel free to let us know.
Get ready for a winding episode for this week's Fratello On Air! Balazs and Mike return after a one-week hiatus with news from the road. Enjoy this open discussion!
Mike has been on the road for much of the last month and Balazs is gearing up to leave. Movement around the globe forms part of today's episode along with a couple of news bits. As always, though, it's time to start with a Handgelenks Kontrolle.
Handgelenks Kontrolle
Balazs is sporting the new Nivada Datomaster Mecaquartz and we discuss this affordable entry. We also muse about how this watch looks like the Nivada Dato 4368 that Tomas reviewed for #TBT. Mike has pulled out his Omega Speedmaster Professional "TinTin" and decided to put it on the original bracelet for the first time in years. We're not sure how long that will last!
Travel and the news
We spend some time talking about the news. Specifically, we mention the new IWC Pilot's Watch for the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team. That sparks a conversation about racing in general. Then, we discuss shipping woes including lost and stolen packages. Regarding travel, we talk about some of the most common watches we see while moving through airports. Mike brings up the enduring Rolex GMT-Master II reference 16710 and 15 to 20-year-old Speedies. Balazs talks about Breitling. Finally, Mike mentions a quick coffee with Jason Heaton in Minneapolis and the Vertex AquaLion he was wearing.
As always, we thank you for listening! We're ready to discuss another brand, so if you have any suggestions, please feel free to let us know!
Fratello On Air returns with an episode where both hosts are finally in the same room. It took two years, but the dynamic duo are together again. Face to face - reunited and it feels so good!
That’s right, Balazs and Mike are finally sitting in the same room, recording a podcast, and checking out watches. It’s a fun show with a couple reader questions and a look at a handful of watches from each host’s collection. Enjoy a candid discussion between two friends who haven’t seen each other in awhile.
Handgelenks Kontrolle
Before moving on to the main topic, the two discuss the recent DOXA ArmyDOXA Army release. They both offer their thoughts on this limited edition, sold out timepiece. Then, for the Handgelenks Kontrolle, Balazs discusses his prized Omega 27CHRO 12. Mike has decided on his Rolex Submariner 5513 MaxiRolex Submariner 5513 Maxi dial.
Face To Face
Once the formalities, are over, we decide to answer a couple reader questions. The first question relates to making a watch with a large lug to lug wear smaller. Next, we address a question about strap colors for watches with either black or white/silver dials. Then, we move on to looking at some key watches in the collection. Some of the watches we discuss are:
We hope you enjoy this one! As always, feel free to send your questions. Thanks for listening!
Fratello On Air is here and we finally get around to answering a reader's question about vintage chronograph movements. Are there differences? Which do we like best? We attempt to answer some of these questions in a chatty, non-technical way. We hope you enjoy it!
Balazs and Mike love a good reader question and after over a month of travel and tackling different subjects, it was time to respond. Our reader sent us a question about vintage chronograph movements. Which do we like, are there differences, and should some be avoided? Well, we aren't watchmakers, so the technical discussion is light. Still, little differences find their way into the conversation along with some of our favorite watches that use these movements.
Handgelenks Kontrolle
Before moving on to the main topic of vintage chronograph movements, it's time for a Handgelenks Kontrolle. Balazs has come correct with his newly acquired Omega Speedmaster Professional 145.012-67 with a 321 caliber movement. Mike also enters the game with his Excelsior Park "Tuxedo Dial" with an EP4 movement.
The chronograph movements
For our main topic, we have decided not to boil the ocean. We simply could not discuss every vintage chronograph, so we chose our four favorite manual-wind movements with column wheels. As we mentioned, we aren't watchmakers, so technical intricacies are left for others. However, our research did point out that all four movements were stellar and that personal preference likely towers over true technical prowess. We discuss:
As always, thanks for listening! Please feel free to let us know if you have any other show ideas.
Fratello On Air returns after a one-week hiatus with Part Two of the new watch rundown. Balazs and Mike continue to roll through some of the more notable releases from the past month or so.
Who doesn't like a new watch? Well, if you're like us, the season's introductions mark an exciting period. Therefore, it was notable enough o mark the occasion with two episodes. Make sure to catch the first one if you haven't already!
Handgelenks Kontrolle
After a bit of chit-chat about travel, fitness, and normal life, the duo moves into the Handgelenks Kontrolle. Balazs is sporting a brand new watch with the Nivada Grenchen Datomaster Mecaquartz. Mike has received his MoonSwatch Mission to the Moon and the two discuss the fun around these watches.
New Watch Rundown Part Two
Then, we move onto the main part of the show and that's more from the new watch parade that has occurred over the last month. We discuss new pieces from:
As always, thanks for tuning in, and stay tuned for more from Fratello On Air!
It's time for another episode of Fratello On Air and, wow, do we have news! In fact, we have so much news that our New Watch Rundown will consist of two episodes. Enjoy the first one!
'Tis the season for all the debuts. Balazs and Mike are here with a new watch rundown! It's not just Watches & Wonders 2022 here, though, because plenty of brands have come to the table.
Handgelenks Kontrolle
As always, the duo kick things off with a bit of banter about Balazs's trip to Miami with Maurice Lacroix and then move on to the Handgelenks Kontrolle. Mike is wearing his fresh-off-the-delivery-truck Aquastar Deepstar Mid-Size chronograph. Stay tuned for a hands-on review! Balazs takes a trip to Saturn, not the german electronics store, with his new MoonSwatch! The two spend some time talking about the mania around these watches and some personal experiences near the Swatch boutiques.
New watch rundown, part 1
Next, we hit a number of new watch brands and discuss our thoughts on their newest pieces. In this episode, you'll find:
As always, thank you for listening, and be sure to check us out every week!
Fratello On Air is here with Balazs and Mike. This week, Zenith is in focus as the duo roll through their favorite models out of Le Locle. You'll be surprised with this list because the El Primero doesn't factor so heavily.
Zenith dates way back to 1865 with its founding in Le Locle, Switzerland. While we won't go back that far at all, we will look backward at some of our favorite models. Of course, Zenith makes some fantastic new models (ooh, we love that Chonomaster Original!), but bring two vintage nerds together and vintage is what you get!
Handgelenks Kontrolle
As always, Balazs and Mike kick off with a Handgelenks Kontrolle. Balazs is sporting his Casio G-Shock GW-B5600 with Bluetooth. Mike is wearing his vintage Technos Sky Diver on a bracelet.
Zenith
As mentioned, there's more to Zenith than just the El Primero and there are some proper surprises here. In fact, there are watches that one of our hosts had seen for the very first time. We discuss:
As always, thanks for tuning in and we look forward to "chatting" with you next week!
Fratello On Air is back with another brand-focused episode. We truly promise that we're not on a Swatch Group parade, but we will hit our third marque within the portfolio. Hamilton is our topic today with Balazs and Mike on the - erm - mic. Enjoy it because the guys really enjoy this brand.
Before we get to what was once America's most famous brand, we talk a little bit of news. Mike brings up the latest MING 22.01 GMT and asks Balazs what he thinks about "caller" GMT's. In the end, both think this is a subject that receives more scrutiny than necessary. It's not Hamilton time yet because next, it's time for a...
Handgelenks Kontrolle
Balazs is in point with his Hamilton Intramatic chronograph, a stunning modern reissue in blue. This watch will play a part later on in the episode. Mike is wearing his MING 17.09 in blue on the Universal bracelet. It's a watch that offers the perfect move from his recent blue-dial Datejust infatuation.
Hamilton
We move on to Hamilton and talk a bit of history. This is a brand that truly appeals to Mike as he lived in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the ancestral home of this longstanding company. With the six watches that we'll discuss, watches from both Lancaster and Switzerland will make their appearances. We discuss:
As always, we thank you for listening - stay tuned for more!
In the second episode of “Meet The…”, Balazs chats with Alex Gravelle, the man behind Velle Alexander, a strap company from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Alex tells us why he chose this path, what watches he’s into, and which timepiece is on top of his wish list.
If you are a fan of the Fratello On Air podcast, first of all, thank you. Your support means a lot to us all, who sit down week after week to research, record, edit, and put out new episodes for your listening pleasure. I consume a lot of podcasts myself, so I know how it feels when my phone notifies me about a new episode from one of my favorite channels.
Velle Alexander
We featured Velle Alexander for the first time on Fratello in 2019. Then, last year, we revisited the brand, and I was happy to see how well the company had taken off since our initial article. Aside from the fantastic craftsmanship Alex imbues in his straps, he is also a great guy to talk to. His passion, attention to detail, and meticulous process never cease to amaze me. So, when the opportunity came to interview him for the next episode of “Meet The…” I did not hesitate one bit. The first part of our interview revolves around straps. We chatted about leathers, designs, special orders, and more. Later on, Alex and I moved on to other topics like watches, a bit about cars, and some more watches.
We finished the talk with a fun round of This or That, but not before he gave us his SOTC (as we often used on watch forums back in the day, State Of The Collection). If you are looking for a strap, need inspiration for what to get, or want to spend some time on IG browsing through watch eye candy, I suggest you check out Velle Alexander’s Instagram page. I kept on scrolling up and down during our interview, sometimes for questions, other times just admiring the level of watch (strap) photography he posts there.
The idea for our new “Meet The…” series is simple. We’ll feature another job or position in and around the watch industry or community in every episode. We’ll chat with watchmakers, owners of strap ateliers, CEOs, collectors, and researchers. It’s going to be fun and, hopefully, highly informative.
As always, thanks for tuning in to Fratello On Air! Feel free to let us know if there’s anything you’d like us to cover in future episodes.
Well, well, well. After a hiatus of almost exactly four months, WASP returns for the (very) long-awaited LIVE Episode 10, which was so important to Balazs and me that we even went down the route of decimal show numbers to ensure we kept our promise.
And keep it we did (eventually)! Now, for the first time in ages, the Fridge & Freezer presenting duo have the chance to chat in person. The show was recorded in one take and is available in video format too.
Check out fratellowatches.com to see us in all our dubious glory, as we rattle through our favorite watches from Balazs's private collection, mock my "old-fashioned" diameter preferences when it comes to Rolex, and discuss what those extended lines on the minute counter sub-dial of many aviation chronographs are actually there for.
When WASP will return to the airwaves on a regular basis, we don't know. If you've enjoyed the show and would like to hear more from us in this vein, hit us up in the comments section below.
Follow us on Instagram @robnudds and @ferenczibazs
Fratello On Air is here with another vintage-focused episode. This time, we talk about our favorite models from Certina. If you enjoyed our previous episode on Tissot, this will be right up your alley.
Balazs and Mike return with an episode focused on Certina. Before getting to the heart of the matter, there is some news related to current events. Then, it's time to move on to what has become a tradition: the Handgelenks Kontrolle.
Handgelenks Kontrolle
Neither Mike nor Balazs chose a Certina for today's episode, but hopefully, you'll enjoy these choices just the same. For Balazs, he's wearing his Hi-Beat Grand Seiko 5640, a lovely example with both a day and date wheel. Mike is wearing his newly arrived Citizen Homer HO140501 from 1964.
Certina
It's time to move on to the main topic: Certina. After a bit of history, six great models receive mention.
As always, thanks so much for tuning in, and feel free to send us topics!
Fratello On Air returns and this week, Mike talks to Martin Klocke from Sherpa Watches. If you're a watch lover and want to hear a tale about an incredible passion project, this episode is definitely for you!
Martin Klocke is someone I "met" well over a year ago via Instagram. He had aired his intentions to bring back highly faithful, yet modern, renditions of vintage Enicar models. Sherpa Watches was born and, now, production of the Sherpa OPS and Ultradive models is about to begin.
Handgelenks Kontrolle
Martin is from Germany, so you'll get to hear "Handgelenks Kontrolle" pronounced correctly! Martin is wearing one of his watches and I'm sporting my Enicar Sherpa Super Jet. After some pleasantries, we get into how Martin got into vintage and the story of Sherpa Watches.
Sherpa Watches
In our discussion, we walk through the painstaking research that Martin did on EPSA, the engineering behind the cases, crowns, and all the details. Next, we talk about how challenging this project was to ensure sourcing from Europe. Again, you won't want to miss this! Finally, it's an honest and open story that sheds a lot of new light on a subject all of us truly enjoy — watches! A huge thanks to Martin for his time and look out for an upcoming full review of the new Sherpa Watches.
Fratello On Air kicks off a new series where Balazs and Mike discuss their six favorite watches of all time from a given brand. First up on the docket is Tissot, a historic Swiss brand with loads of options. Settle in and hear about some watches that you know and some that just might surprise.
Before getting to Tissot, Balazs and Mike talk a bit about cycling, lead-lined film bags as a radium shield, and Balazs' informative article on the Tissot Antimagnetique. We also hit upon the recent Seiko 5 Brian May release and both declare it to be a bit of a head-scratcher!
Handgelenks Kontrolle
Regarding our Handgelenks Kontrolle, Mike is wearing his Gallet Decimal with its glorious EP4 movement. He chose it as a nod to Balazs' recent fascination with Excelsior Park, their watches, and movements. Balazs storms in with an on-point piece. He's sporting his Lemania 174 and it's relevant because it was a related brand to both Tissot and Omega.
Our favorite Tissot models
Once we enter the main topic, we go back and forth discussing our six favorite Tissot models. We hope this sheds some light on some previously unknown watches for you!
As always, thanks for tuning in, and feel free to let us know if you have any questions or suggestions on future topics.
Fratello On Air is here with your weekly installment. This time, Balazs and Mike handle a reader question about a few rather different chronographs.
We love a good reader question and this week, our faithful listener John sent us a great one! Firstly, thanks, John! John works at a hospital and we're thankful for the efforts he's putting in during these trying times. We're glad that our podcast helps just a little during those tough days.
Handgelenks Kontrolle
Before getting to our reader question, though, we talk a bit about bicycles and then get into our "Handgelenks Kontrolle." Mike is still in love with his '90s Rolex Datejust 16200 with few signs of it leaving his wrist. Balazs is wearing a truly uncommon Certina Chronolympic with Hungarian Air Force cred.
The Reader Question
John's question brought a number of subtopics. He brings up the legendary Sinn EZM1 with its Lemania 5100, the original Orfina Porsche Design chronograph, and the Breguet Type XX. John asked what we thought about these watches and why they haven't become as legendary as some other iconic pieces. It's a fun discussion on three watches that we wouldn't have considered discussing otherwise.
As always, we thank you for tuning in to Fratello On Air and welcome your questions!
Shortly after the turn of the New Year, I invited our resident Formula One fantastic, Ben Hodges, into the smooth booth to record a TAG Heuer special, focusing on the brand's most visible ambassador on Planet Earth right now: the flying Dutchman, Max Verstappen.
We discuss the controversial conclusion to the 2021 Formula One season that saw Sir Lewis Hamilton denied a record eighth driver's championship in almost unbelievable circumstances. Whether what came to pass should have happened in the first place is, by now, a moot point: the result is in the books and the Netherlands has its first World Champion in the sport.
In addition to recapping the wild final lap that decided one of the most talked-about titles in recent memory, Ben also shares with us his favorite TAG Heuer pieces from the current collection, surprisingly confirming along the way that ambassadorship really do work.
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Fratello On Air is back! This time, Balazs and Mike come back to case materials and focus on precious metals. Specifically, we discuss gold and platinum along with some of our favorite examples. Before we get to the main topic...
Precious metals are in play this week, but Balazs and Mike pick up on the latest news. It's watch-release season with LVMH week in full swing! First, though, it's time for a Handgelenks Kontrolle and Balazs is sporting a pair of light blue DOXA watches — the SUB 200 and SUB 300 — while Mike is enjoying his new MING 17.09 in blue (everything runs well, thanks for asking).
Some news and onto precious metals
The news was fast and furious over the past week. We discuss the King Seiko Collection and how, in the end, we are fans of these reasonably sized watches. Then, it's time to discuss the new Zenith Defy Skyline. We see it as a great entrant in the integrated bracelet game and remark how Zenith is on a roll in general.
When it's time to discuss precious metals, we admit that our interest in gold has grown over the past several years, We also talk about how it feels in the wrist and, oddly, how it even sounds different! Regarding some picks, Balazs mentions the Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight 18K along with the Grand Seiko SBGW252. Mike also brings in a Grand Seiko with the SBGW264 and throws in a '90s crush with the Patek Philippe Gondolo 5014G. Then it's time to "flatten 'em with platinum." Platinum is a stealthy and expensive material, but it's like getting a free arm workout! Balazs discusses the eye-watering Patek 5970P Perpetual Calendar Chronograph along with the Omega Speedmaster Moonphase Chronograph — both mortgage-worthy timepieces. Mike discusses one of his favorite all-time watches, the Patek Calatrava 5196P, and ends the discussion with a 36mm Rolex Day-Date.
As always, thanks for tuning in to Fratello On Air! Feel free to let us know if there's anything you'd like us to cover in a future episode!
Today, I sit down with Pim Koeslag, the CEO of Ateliers de Monaco, and technical director of both Frederique Constant and Alpina.
Perhaps the highlight of the exchange is the conversation surrounding Frederique Constant's innovative high-frequency oscillator, the "monolithic" oscillator, created from a single piece of silicon. With an operating frequency of 40Hz, this affordable regulating organ (installed in pieces starting around €5,000) looks to change consumer expectations in regards to accessible accuracy from a mechanical watch.
The conversation strays into the philosophical as I ask Pim what it is that defines the line between tradition and innovation and what brands and watchmakers, and the surrounding innovators themselves, must do to stay on the right side of it.
If you enjoyed this podcast, you can learn more about Alpina here, Frederique Constant here, and Ateliers de Monaco here.
You can follow me on Instagram @robnudds.
Exotic materials — titanium, ceramic, and carbon. What do we think of them for our watches? Tune in to the latest episode of Fratello On Air to find out what Balazs and Mike have to say.
What happens when two vintage watch lovers come together to discuss exotic materials? Well, we had to open our minds and consider alternatives to our beloved stainless steel. In the first of a two-part series, we talk about materials that find their way to watch cases. Titanium, ceramic, and carbon are in play and while they aren't our favorites, we come up with some suggested models.
Getting into exotic materials
As always, we begin with the Handgelenks Kontrolle and Balazs is rocking his vintage Heuer Montreal and Mike has his (titanium) Seiko Marinemaster "Emperor Tuna" SBDX011. Then, we chat a little about TV shows as Mike expresses his boredom related to the movie, The Eternals. Balazs gives some watchable suggestions to help get past those winter blues including Endeavour, Grantchester, Broadchurch, and Bodyguard.
When we come to the main event related to exotic materials, neither of us is truly in love with titanium, ceramic, or carbon, but that doesn't stop us from providing some suggestions. Regarding titanium, Mike brings up the trusty Tudor Pelagos, while Balazs discusses Zelos. Ceramic brings to mind one of Mike's favorite all-time review pieces, the Omega Speedmaster Grey Side of the Moon. Balazs chimes in with some wild card suggestions such as the Bell & Ross like the BR 03-92. Finally, we discuss the fanciest material: ceramic. We discuss the ultra-pricey such as the Zenith Defy Classic and the Panerai Luminor Marina PAM1661. Balazs mentions a crowd pleaser with DOXA SUB 300 Carbon (a watch both of us would love to own) and affordable options from Tempest.
Enjoy the show and, as always, feel free to let us know if there are any topics you'd love for us to discuss on a future episode!
Fratello On Air returns with what we think is a fun episode. We talk about large watches that work for smaller wrists and small watches for larger wrists. Balazs and Mike exist on both sides of the wrist border, so there's plenty of personal experience on this subject.
Balazs and Mike are here to talk about large watches for those with small wrists and vice versa. It's a show chock full of ideas and, thankfully, watches. Some other topics weave their way in as well.
"Handgelenks Kontrolle" and Sneakers!
Before hitting the main topic on large watches for small wrists and the reverse, though, Balazs talks about one of his favorite other subjects: sneakers. First, there's a "Handgelenks Kontrolle" that sees Balazs rocking an Angelus Dato 12 and Mike with his Seiko SBCM023 Perpetual Calendar, The Jordan 12 Playoffs are back again and the Air Jordan 13 "Court Purple" has already come and gone. We briefly reminisce about retro shoes, Stan Smiths, and then get into the main topic.
Large watches for small wrists and vice versa
We have a lot to say about large watches for small wrists. Watches like the Omega Ploprof, the Speedmaster Professional, and the Breitling Navitimer all make sense with their large diameters and short lug to lug measurements. The Rolex Submariner makes a guest entrance and the Seiko Turtle offers an affordable option. No matter what, we suggest trying these watches on and, importantly, trying different straps to make a watch more comfortable or to look larger or smaller.
For small watches, there are loads of great options for the thick wristed! The 36mm Rolex gets a brief mention while the gents spend more time on the 39mm Omega Railmaster 2503.52.00. The vintage Universal Geneve Polerouter, modern twin crown Seiko Alpinist, and Hamilton Khaki Mechanical all receive a discussion.
Finally, Balazs mentions a great YouTube channel called Wristwatch Revival - it's worth watching!
That's right, we're trying to do keep our podcast on a tight weekly schedule! Fratello On Air returns and this week, Balazs and Mike talk about some wishes for 2022. This isn't a pure recap of a recent 2022 Watch Wishes article, so tune in for new content!
Balazs and Mike are keeping the microphone hot! Both return and while Balazs is not feeling his best, they're here to talk about what they're looking forward to in 2022. Some of those wants are realistic, while others are hopeful thinking.
The "Handgelenks Kontrolle" kicks things off with Balazs wearing his bi-color Datejust 16013 and Mike sporting his Breitling Superocean Heritage '57. Then, we talk about a few movies that we're excited to see in 2022 with the hopes that cinemas remain open for the whole year. Batman, Death on the Nile, Operation Fortune, Mission Impossible: 7, and Top Gun: Maverick make an appearance. We are a watch podcast, however, so, we move on to the main part of our episode.
Mike kicks things off with an unlikely wish about a proper reincarnation of Universal Geneve. Balazs talks about Nivada and what they will likely do next. Will we ever see a Nomos chronograph? Will Tudor add a new color for their GMT? What will Omega come with during 2022 after the Speedmaster 65th Anniversary launch?
Finally, we mention the upcoming Vintage Rolex Datejust Buyer's & Collector's Guide that is still available on Kickstarter. We can't wait to read this one!
We're back with more block rockin' beats — errrr, talk! Balazs and Mike return (quickly) to talk about vintage watch opportunities in 2022. If you love the old stuff and are looking for value, tune in and relax!
That's right, the dastardly duo of Balazs and Mike are back and we return to one of our favorite subjects: the vintage watch market and where to find opportunities. As we know, there's little out there that hasn't been uncovered. However, that doesn't mean that value doesn't exist. There's no highfalutin talk during this podcast, so your trust funds are safe!
Vintage watch picks for 2022
After a bit of a "Handgelenks Kontrolle," we head off into our vintage watch picks for 2022. Balazs talks about Angelus, the Certina DS, and even the ubiquitous 7750 (respect due for this nearly 50-year-old movement!). Mike brings up '60s Omega Seamaster models with fat lugs, 34-36mm Rolex such as the 6694 Precision, and (gasp!) '90s IWC.
As always, thanks for tuning in to Fratello On Air! If you have any thoughts on what you'd like to hear next, feel free to let us know!
Fratello On Air returns with a seriously focused episode as our resident Seiko nut, Mike, speaks with Nick Ferrell, the owner of DC Vintage Watches. If you're a Seiko fan, you won't want to miss this!
Nick Ferrell is the owner and founder of DC Vintage Watches, a site that not only sells vintage Seiko, but will help clients find the watch of their dreams. Nick is a seriously nice person to speak with and, together with Mike, they go in many directions related to vintage Seiko. Whether it's the JDM scene in Southern California (where Nick now lives), favorite "hidden gems" in the vintage Seiko world or a number of helpful tangents for collectors, this is a podcast you won't want to miss.
A big thanks to Nick for joining and sharing so many stories about one of our favorite watch topics here on Fratello. Vintage Seiko - we just can't get enough!
Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air! Finally, Balazs and Mike got their collective acts together and are back with a return engagement! Settle in and enjoy the banter about our favorite watches from 2021 along with a healthy rant for good measure!
Folks, we're back and better or worse than ever! Balazs and Mike come together at the end of 2021 to talk about some of their favorite watch releases from another wild year. We won't give away everything, but the list is heavy on dive watches and chronographs. Seriously, what else do you expect from these two?
Tudor, Breitling, Synchron, Excelsior Park, and Omega make the last along with a few more. Plus, the dynamic duo shares some recent encounters in the outside world at AD's. Finally, there's a healthy dose of crankiness when Mike kicks off a rant about the current behavior in the marketplace. Tune in and enjoy!
Today, I am is joined in the studio by Monica Porracin, the founder and director of The Blue Company, based in London. The Blue Company manages the interests of seven popular brands in the UK, working as a distributor for some and an agent for others.
Monica represents Doxa, Junghans, Meistersinger, Maurice Lacroix, Mühle Glashütte, Scatola del Tempo, and SwissKubik in the UK and at events all around the world. Her tireless championing of brands she seems united by a mutually strong design DNA has earned her the respect of her peers.
With over ten years of specific experience in this sector of the industry (the Blue Company was founded in 2008), she has amassed a broad knowledge of not just her own brands, but also those competing with them. Jump into the conversation to find out exactly what we talked about.
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This week, Balazs takes the reigns and welcomes the fastest Canadian swimmer of all time, Olympic medalist Brent Hayden to the smooth booth.
In a wide-ranging chat, Brent and Balazs explore the mental pressures endured by professional athletes, track the human side of the sport, and delve deeply into a couple of unexpectedly personal issues that place our hobby of watch collecting in sharper context.
This is one of the longest WASP episodes ever and it really makes use of every second. This is why we created this podcast: to mold a perfect fusion of our love of sports and watches. Brent is not only a pro athlete and an inspiration to those around him, but he is also a genuine watch nut, having been bitten by the Omega bug when he won his first watch in the early 2000s.
Follow us on Instagram @robnudds, @balazsferenczi, and @thebrenthayden
Rob talks to Guido Terreni of Parmigiani Fleurier. With over twenty years of experience in the industry, a decade of which was spent with Bvlgari, Terreni brought with him a definite vision to a brand that still benefits from having its iconic founder a living, breathing part of the company.
In this podcast, Terreni explains how it is important to honor your existing customer by keeping the product message close to a clearly recognizable core silhouette in order to add permanence to the client's purchase.
Watchmaking is not a business of fads, nor even fashion in the short term. He aims to create timeless watches that need no explanation. Distilling a design down its bare elements is the hardest but most rewarding endeavor when achieved satisfactorily. Listen to the podcast now to find out more.
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The ever-charming Antoine Pin of Bvlgari fame sits down with Rob to chat about his life in the industry, how his experience has shaped his approach to watch design and story-telling, and what possibilities might lie in store for Bvlgari in the future.
In an energetic chat, Pin explains how he became bewitched by the industry and never managed to stay away from it for long. The fusion of passion, talent, and manual skill enthralls him on a daily basis at Bvlgari, and his guiding "why not" principle has led him to many happy design discoveries.
He touches also on his perception of the effects the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the industry and what we can expect to see from brands as they adjust their communication and product strategies going forward.
Follow me on Instagram @robnudds.
Here at Fratello, we love Casio. Some would say we love the brand too much. Those people would be wrong. Very wrong indeed... Today, Rob is talking to three of his teammates to the smooth booth to discuss their shared love and long-held obsessions with the Japanese Juggernaut that blessed the world with the G-Shock watch family.
First up is G2. As the elder statesman of the team, "the G-Father" was actually an adult when G-Shock first appeared in the early eighties. This gives him a unique perspective within the team as the rest of the gang we either in their teens, nappies, or fathers' eyes when Casio first unveiled the model that would go on the redefine the quartz watch industry.
Design classics come along rarely. The Casio G-Shock square series has remained largely unchanged for almost 40 years now. That kind of permanence speaks volumes. But for Balazs, our second guest on the show, his Casio journey started with a much more demure (although no less interesting timepiece) that has since been stolen by his mother
Lastly, Rob welcomes Mike to the show. Our in-house Floridian shares a tale of global proportions and explains how his collection of Casio watches grew to four pieces and is showing no signs of stopping there.
If you love Casio, this is a must-listen show. Let us know what you make of it in the comments below.
Today on the Fratello on Air, Rob is joined by the boys from Straum watch company, way up in Norway. This emerging brand is the result of five years' hard work, a huge personal investment of time and money, and the inspiration offered by Norway's myths, legends, and landscape. The brand's Opphav model ranks near the top of several Fratello team members' wish lists so we thought it'd be a good idea to get the lads on the show to find out more.
You can buy these watches online at Straum.co. The (very) limited edition model is already sold out and the other four Oppav models (now limited to 500 pieces each to ensure Straum is able to fulfill orders in a timely manner and guarantee excellent aftercare).
The watches come with vegetable-tanned travel cases and integrated leather straps available in dark brown, light brown, blue, green, and black.
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WASP 9.91 sees the guys go to two decimal places for the first time, much to the confusion of everyone else. Less confusing, however, is the duo's shared love of a very special Omega Speedmaster created for the Olympics, but that's not the only Olympic watch to feature... Far from it...
For the first time ever, an on-air purchase occurs as Rob stumbles across his all-time favorite Swatch available on eBay for a stunning price (box and papers included). Additionally, Fridge and Freezer discuss Balazs's recent purchases (lovers of vintage Angelus be sure to tune in) and Rob's burgeoning collection of caps that had a sudden injection of volume thanks to the chance discovery of an old forgotten sports store in Alcudia on Mallorca.
The biggest conversation of the show, however, centers around a question posed by RJ in one of his recent articles: what does it take to consider oneself a watch collector? The boys pick over the nuances of their own feelings towards their own habits and collections with some interesting results. Would you believe that Balazs is not a watch collector but he is a collector of vintage Angelus watches? If that sounds crazy, you'd better listen to the show to hear the reasoning behind that conclusion...
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myhe boys are back in town after a desperately long hiatus. We've plugged in the fridge and switched on the freezer — Balazs and I are back and this week we have our top Olympic moments and some awesome vintage Omega purchases to share with you.
We decided to choose our bronze, silver, and gold performers/moments from the Olympics this year, to round off what turned out to be a pretty darn exciting edition of the greatest sporting carnival of all. Normally, I don't reveal much about the show in my notes, but for posterity, I thought it best that I note down the picks for all those that don't have time to listen to the pod but might like to offer their own suggestions in the comments below.
Balazs
Bronze: on the third step, Balazs placed Annika Schleu of Germany. The talented pentathlete already has six world and three European golds to her name, but she was desperately seeking the Olympic title to add to her haul. In the prime of her career, she looked set to snare it when, in the last round of the modern pentathlon, her horse (an animal unfamiliar to her as per the somewhat puzzling rules) refused to do as she instructed. Distraught, Schleu fell out of contention with her British rival going on to snare gold. Balazs felt sorry for Schleu and her experience inspired a very interesting discussion on the rules of the modern pentathlon.
Silver: one of the most heartwarming moments of the games was also one of the most controversial...at least in Rob's opinion. The men's high-jump competition ended with the Italian and Qatari competitors agreeing to share the gold, having achieved identical records up until that point. The world rejoiced; Rob grumbled about bloodlust or something or other... Check out his full gripe on the show.
Gold: a proud Hungarian, it is somewhat unsurprising Balazs chose one of his countrymen for the gold medal position. But this was more than a patriotic nod. Áron Szilágyi became the only male fencer in Olympic history to win three golds, which he has done in the last three games. Still only 31 with just three years until the next games in Paris, it isn't impossible Szilágyi will still be around to contest a fourth Olympics.
Rob (me)
Bronze: My bronze position goes to national treasure, Tom Daley. Not so much for (finally) winning the gold medal Rob was thrilled to see him snare, but more for chilling out in the crowd of the women's event, knitting. We've decided Tom Daley should knit us big purple WASP sweaters to wear while presenting (it gets cold when you're a fridge and/or freezer) and also "horse cozies" to keep annoying horses calm in the modern pentathlon.
Silver: love can find us when we least expect it. My silver medal goes to one of my heroes and most muscular crushes, Lisa Carrington. The indomitable New Zealander is the finest kayaker on planet Earth right now, and her destruction of the field in no less than three separate events proves that. I happen to be a keen kayaker myself, and while I'm not worthy to clean Carrington's paddle, I'd gladly offer my services if she ever needed a lackey to cheer her on at races.
Gold: just as Tomas recently flouted the rules in the Summer Splash and was allowed to compete regardless, I too will bend the rules here. I'm giving my golden moment to one event: the 400m hurdles. The men's and the women's finals were mind-blowing. World-class performances abounded. If you want to know exactly what went down, listen to the pod. It's a lot of fun!
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Over in article land, my good friend Dave Sergeant has written up the new release from URWERK and Collective today, so please feel free to check that out at your leisure for a detailed look at the watch itself and Dave's hot takes, and what is his favorite base model in the URWERK catalog.
On the Podcast today, however, we're diving into the background of this project with Martin Frei of URWERK fame and co-founder of Collective, Asher Rapkin. Collective is a US-based group of watch lovers that works directly with brands to create thoughtful, imaginative, and emotive special edition pieces available to the members of the movement only.
We get a really genuine insight into the method of collaboration, how organically these things come about, what it's like working (and getting to know one another) digitally, and both URWERK and Collective's philosophies on collaboration.
Following the truly immersive interview with Fred Buyle, Ulysse Nardin ambassador and pro freediver in WASP 9.8 (which aired on Sunday), the podcast is on a bit of a roll. If you've not checked out that fascinating talk with an experienced submariner, do so. You won't regret it.
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Welcome watch fans, to another very special episode of Watching Sports And Sporting Watches. Today, I (Rob) am joined by Fred Buyle, Ulysse Nardin ambassador, professional free diver, passionate conservationist, and, perhaps most interestingly for our community, a real watch guy.
You'd probably expect a lot more ambassadors to be as into watches as Fred clearly is, but it really isn't the case. I've encountered sports stars and celebrities that have no idea what their agent is telling them to strap to their wrist. I think that's a real shame. When I was working for NOMOS Glashütte, we discussed the possibility of hiring an ambassador —something the brand has never done — frequently. We came close to a decision several times, but we always backed away at the very last. It never felt genuine. It never felt on-brand. Oh, how wonderful would it have been to have a genuine collector in the limelight profess his or her love for NOMOS and solve the problem organically. It didn't happen then. In truth, it rarely does. But, in one of those seldom situations, it seems the very best man ended up with the right job for Ulysse Nardin.
There's a bit of a running joke about how many free divers there are representing watch brands. It kind of gives the impression that 80% of the people you meet on the street can hold their breath for seven minutes or don't bat an eyelid when confronted with a Great White Shark. That isn't the case, of course. As such, I'd never actually met or had the pleasure of speaking with a professional free diver. I relished the opportunity to ask all the stupid questions a sub-aquatic novice might wish to.
What's the deepest you've ever dived? Is it cold down there? Does it hurt? What's the most memorable experience you've had beneath the waves? Surprisingly, however, Fred's interest and genuine passion for watches meant the conversation was able to stay very much within the intended wheelhouse of this pod column. I hope you enjoy listening to the show as much as I did recording it.
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Fridge and Freezer return after a short break with fifty minutes of top-quality sports chat, as several competitions get down to the sharp end.
In an impassioned exchange, Balazs question's Rob's right to support England in Euro 2020 given his Irish birth, while Bobbysled Bobby defends himself on the grounds of dual nationality and his upbringing having been blighted by the national woe of being so thoroughly incompetent when it comes to major tournaments.
The boys lament the fate of Primož Roglič, forced to abandon the Tour de France following a brutal crash early on in the race. The Tissot ambassador and friend of the show was a great loss to a Grand Tour that looks likely to be won by last year's winner, Tadej Pogacar.
Balazs enjoys poking fun at Rob's awful run of predictions (and heartbreak) in the Stanley Cup playoffs, while lording his NBA calls over the belittled little man.
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After coming down from the interview with World Number One Primož Roglič last week, Fridge and Freezer are back in the Smooth Booth, foraging around in a bulging mailbag. This week, the boys select two very watch-centric questions for one another.
This week, the terrible twosome tackle questions about dress watches (the best ones and the very definition of the genre), which watches one should buy to commemorate achieving the PADI diving certification, why they collect watches and sports memorabilia, and Rob fields the easiest watchmaking he's ever been asked: which watches would you recommend buying as a "his and her's" wedding gift?
Next week, we'll be back on the boards and the ice to round up the end of both the NBA and NHL seasons. In the meantime, please feel free to send your questions to us via our Instagram profiles @ferenczibazs and @robnudds. We'd love to hear from you and welcome you to the show if you'd like to take part.
Until next time, stay safe, and keep on ticking!
Can you believe it? Fourteen episodes in, WASP welcomes its very first pro-athlete, and we've kicked things off with an absolute stunner: we're welcoming Primož Roglič, the number one ranked road cyclist in the world. A two-time grand tour winner, Roglič began his career as a ski-jumper, before rapidly rising the rankings to stand at the very summit of his new sport.
Following Rob's chat with Primož, Balazs returns to the studio, reuniting the Fridge & Freezer presenting duo at long last. The boys spin around the leagues, catching up with the NBA and NHL playoffs that are very much in full swing. Rob's full of the joys of Spring as his Golden Knights look to continue their fine form against the underdog Canadiens, while the Tampa Bay Lightning hope to recover against the streaking New York Islanders.
On the boards, the seeds have a good chance of hilding all the way to the conference deciders, but will we see the number one seeds face off in Finals? Our analysts aren't so sure...
Find and follow us on Instagram @ferenczibazs and @robnudds.
With Rob "the little man" Nudds on the road, Balazs takes over the mic and welcomes Dave "down the pub" Sergeant to the smooth booth to round up the NBA action from the play-offs.
How will Fridge fare without Freezer? And what on Earth is the wee man's excuse for leaving the Horntail untended? Tune in to find out.
Find and follow us on Instagram at @davesergeant, @ferenczibazs, and @robnudds.
The last year or so has certainly been special, but now that things are reopening, it's time to get back out there. Perhaps you've read Fratello like crazy, but have you been able to try on any of the great watches that came out over the past 12 to 18 months?
Finally, the reopening is here. Sure, in places like the USA or Japan, they never truly closed. However, some folks have waited to head out until feeling comfortable. Here in Europe, stores were closed for something like six months!
The trio is back! Balazs, Jorg, and Mike talk about watches from the past year that people should try in person. Balazs goes fancy and lists a Lange as one of his favorites. Jorg picks a tough find with one of the newer Rolex models. Mike takes it down a notch with a Breitling and something even less expensive from Seiko. For good measure, the OG Nike Air Jordan kicks make an appearance in relation to the GShock "Blue Phoenix" during Jorg's Handgelenks Kontrolle.
A couple of weeks ago, our very own Ben Hodges enjoyed an illuminating back-and-forth with one of his musical heroes. The gracious Misha Mansoor of the metal band Periphery took some time out of his day to chat about timepieces. Today, we revisit that interview with the audio supplied by Misha, interspersed with the fearsomely inane commentary of Ben and Rob.
Okay, we're not that bad. In fact, there's a good argument to be made that we might be mildly entertaining. From my perspective, the highlight of the show is definitely my spot-on impression of Ben's delicious British accent, but he would probably disagree. He might point to the first-hand testimony of one of music's most talented guitarists as the centerpiece of episode 62. Who's to say?
Well, to be precise, you are! Let us know in the comments below if you enjoyed the show. If you did, and you'd like more content like this, please let us know. Suggestions are always welcome. If you didn't like it, tell us why. Unless you didn't like my hilarious accents. That's just mean.
Find and follow us on Instagram @benjameshodges and @robnudds.
It's true that Fratello boasts one of the more multinational teams. One of our listeners from Finland decided to take advantage of that by asking us about watch culture around the globe. How do people come together, do they come together, and do they even like watches in some countries? We don't have all the answers, but we enjoyed the chat. This time, it's Mike, Jorg, and Balazs on the mics for a bit of banter.
Wrist check and the news
The gents roll through a "Handgelenks Kontrolle" and you'll find a lovely Rolex GMT-Master 1675 on the wrist of our main Magyar, Balazs, who happens to be in his homeland. Jorg hails from the land of wooden shoes and tulips and is there watching the pounding rain. He's sporting his beloved Omega Speedmaster Professional X-33. Mike comes from the land of the free and the home of the brave, but he's back in Germany. This time, he's wearing his Grandfather's '90s Rolex Datejust 16220. Talk about watch culture! As far as news, we highlight the free hardbound 60th-anniversary catalog that everyone can, and should, order on the Sinn website.
Watch culture
The trio talks about watch culture, how "get-togethers" work (and don't work) depending on the country. The USA looms large here because people are spontaneous and seem to have few qualms about bringing expensive wares to a group of strangers. Europe, as no surprise, is a bit more conservative and privacy-focused. Neither is right nor wrong, but there are definitely differences no matter where you travel.
Welcome to Episode 61 of Fratello on Air, otherwise known as WASP 9.3. After spending the last three weeks rummaging around in our mailbag, we’re returning to the world of sports to provide you with a quick whizz around the American sports leagues to keep you abreast of news and developments in the NBA, NHL, MLB, and NFL.
Find us on Instagram @robnudds and @ferenczibazs.
RJ chats with the guiding IWC into the next phase of its development, who, coincidentally, also happens to be the same man that designed IWC's current manufacturing headquarters...
Some people have all the talent...
Hi and hello watch fans, and welcome to Fratello on Air Episode 59, otherwise known as WASP 9.2. Balazs is in Hungary; Rob is in Dresden but soon to hit the road once more. As such, a whistle-stop episode of WASP was recorded in between many other things, so our dedicated listeners don't have to go without their weekly fix of Skilly Music's sweet theme tune...
Today we talk about the Champions League finalists (and how we called it way back in Episode 9.0), the best watch to wear (or not) while rock climbing, and the watchmaking stories from our own pasts. Do we have heirloom watches in our families? Have we got a family history of the craft? Is there something within us that makes us love watches so? Tune in to this, the latest episode of WASP, to find out...
Find us on Instagram @robnudds and @ferenczibazs.
Yo, yo, yo, we've gone decimal! I knew there was a reason we had those funny old episode numbers. Now we finally know why. The long-planned episode 10 has been delayed because for the first time this year both Balazs (Fridge) and Rob (Freezer) are in different countries (whaaat?).
That's right, episode 9.1 (the second installment of our mailbag series) sees the Podcast come to you from Dresden (Germany) and Pécs (Hungary). Our intrepid international impresarios have watches from Omega, Artya, Armin Strom, and more.
This week, we touch on Murderball (correcting an error in last week's episode), Ice Hockey (the Olympics), the Isle of Man TT, Stamford Bridge, and Baseball. It's a fun show with plenty of mustard, spiders, and chewing gum to keep you all entertained on your daily commute.
Don't miss it!
Follow us on Instagram @ferenczibazs and @robnudds.
Today on Fratello on Air, I welcome my old friend Giles Ellis of Schofield Watch Company to the smooth booth to discuss some of his finest creations in exacting detail.
Giles has been busy. Despite the world shutting down for many businesses, Schofield is busier than ever. The recent Strange Lights collection has been a great success thus far with very few units still remaining. Its release last year heralded a new and more consistent design language moving through the brand.
We talk about pens, we talk about materials (ceramic, bronze, and titanium particularly), we talk about tactility. In short, for those of you that care about watch design and the processes (read agonies) watch designers go through to bring you these beautiful wares, tune in.
Find me on Instagram @robnudds
Hi and hello watch fans, welcome to Episode 56 of Fratello On Air, otherwise known as WASP 9.0. This week on Watching Sports and Sporting Watches, Balazs and I will be stepping away from North America itself and focusing on our very own mailbag, which is bursting at the seams thanks to our valued listeners writing in with their questions.
We have questions from both sides of the Atlantic to address, with fun answers to chew through. First, though, we touch on the latest developments in European Soccer following the semi-finals of both of Europe's major cup competitions, the Champions League and the Europa League.
In the mailbag we find questions about the NBA, our watch experiences, how we got into American sports and luxury watches despite neither of us being American nor possessing a familial background in the industry.
Find us on Instagram @robnudds and @ferenczibazs.
Balazs and I are inquisitive folks. We acted on this trait with a very different type of show. Each of us came up with two questions for the other person. The rules? They were simple! The question had to relate to watches in some way and neither of us could prep the other person ahead of time. The hypothetical looms large and your hosts had to think on their feet. We think you'll enjoy this candid listen.
Wrist check and the news
Before hitting the main topic, we do a wrist check and then mention friend of the show Jason Heaton's new book. Depth Charge sounds like a riveting thriller and we're rooting for the success of Jason's first book!
Two questions
The questions begin and along the way, we mention everything from Rolex to Omega to Moser. Like I said, this is unscripted, so enjoy us in our natural state.
Hi and hello watch fans and welcome back to Watching Sports and Sporting Watches. In episode 8.0 and we will begin with a short interview, as the Hungarian Horntail takes the reins and welcomes his most charming guest to the smooth booth yet...
Spoiler alert: it's Rob. But that's all we're going to say about that. After Balazs has put our resident motormouth through his paces, we kick him into touch in favor of Dave "down the pub" Sergeant, who phones in (quite literally) to chat some hockey.
And to round out the show we have another exhilarating installment of Robley's Believe It Or Not. This week, we will be touching base with the real/fictional stories of Eric Money, Ray Caldwell, and Nicolas Rieussec. There's mid-game team switching, lightning strikes, and bizarre inventions to entertain. We hope you enjoy the show.
This year's introduction of the new Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch, Seamaster 300, De Ville Trésor, Constellation, and black ceramic 300M is a good reason to catch up with Omega's CEO and President, Raynald Aeschlimann.
On the first (Speedy) Tuesday of this year, Omega introduced its new and improved version of the iconic Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch. A combination of the latest innovation when it comes to movements and heritage when it comes to design. Then, at the end of March, Omega introduced the other aforementioned watches. New models in each Omega collection: Speedmaster, Seamaster, De Ville, and Constellation.
After some jocular banter and a wrist check, the trio gets down to business. The team trades watches (and quips) in rotation with two favorites per person. We talk about the following:
It's a diverse group of watches mixed with a bit of fun — enjoy the ride!
Welcome to Episode 51 of Fratello on Air, otherwise known as WASP 7.0. Today we’re going to discuss our three favorite sporting icons and which watches we’d gift them if we had the chance.
We've got disgraced and redeemed French cyclists, Swiss footballers and tennis stars, Hungarian and Irish soccer legends, a swaggering quarterback, and arguably the GOAT of all GOATs for your listening pleasure. The watches we've handed over to these sporting heavyweights range from the ludicrous to the luxury.
Ending the show today we have a new segment called "Robley's Believe It Or Not" based on the popular books, "Ripley's Believe It Or Not". In this new segment, Rob presents Balazs with frankly unbelievable stories and Balazs has to decide whether they are true or false.
Today we have sports stars turned watchmakers, the fascinating Schillertron movement, and the sports played in space as well as their potentially deadly consequences.
Find us on Instagram @robnudds and @ferenczibazs
Rob and RJ select their three favorite watches from Watches & Wonders 2021. Some very unexpected choices appear in their lists. And, on top, they pick a bonus (4th) watch. Listen to Rob and RJ talking watches from Watches & Wonders.
We discuss the new Rolex Explorer, Explorer II, Daytonas, and new Datejust dials in detail in this podcast. The responses were all over the place yesterday, and so are ours. A bit different for Tudor, with some proper new releases in silver and gold. And its new Black Bay Chronograph, of course. We have these watches in the Fratello offices for a closer look and will be publishing a hands-on review soon. Last but not least, we talk about the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 in steel, with a green dial. Will this really be the last Nautilus in steel, or will they keep it for precious metals only?
This week, Balazs and Rob tackle the subject of watch brand ambassadors in the four major professional sports leagues in North America.
Amazingly, six episodes in, this is a topic that hasn't been fully addressed. In our pilot episode, we touched upon Tom Brady's ambassadorship for IWC but he is far from alone in the NFL, with Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings coming in atop Balazs' list of football-playing watch lovers and Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers is Rob's pick.
The MLB throws up a couple of throwbacks, with Balazs stretching all the way back to the fifties for his selection. Rob, meanwhile, reaches back about a decade to call upon a superstar that played in the modern era.
The NHL gifts us a couple of under-the-radar players and brands, along with the predictable powerhouse. And, as for the NBA, we take polarized routes to find our champions.
Most exciting of all, however, is WASP'S first phone in Ben Hodges of team Fratello joins us to discuss his love of Formula 1 and how it and his passion for watchmaking combine.
We hope you enjoy the show. Follow us both on Instagram @ferenczibazs and @robnudds.
Part of me was scared to over-hype this interview/podcast in case you'd feel let down by the end of it. Then I re-read the interview, listened to the Podcast (enduring an hour of my own voice), and revisited the Lapinist's Instagram account and realized that, if you class yourself as a fan of vintage Seiko or Grand Seiko, you won't possibly be disappointed. On the contrary, I'm willing to wager you will be totally amazed...
About a week ago, I conducted an interview with Kamil, otherwise known as the Lapinist (@lapinist_watchrestoration on Instagram). He wasn't comfortable coming on Fratello on Air himself, but after sharing the content (and the images of Kamil's work with Balazs) he agreed to hop into the recording booth with me and act out the interview so you have the choice of consuming the content in either format.
Honestly? If this subject interests you, I'd recommend consuming BOTH. In the Podcast, we go a bit off base and discuss a few interesting asides that Kamil's answers gave rise to. So right below this paragraph, you'll find the Podcast link. Below that, you'll find the interview text. Hit us up in the comments and let us know your own vintage Seiko/Grand Seiko stories. And don't forget to tell us what you make of Kamil's work. I'm hoping you'll be as impressed as we were.
Welcome to WASP 5.0, the fifth edition of the Fratello On Air Pod-column, Watching Sports and Sporting Watches. This week, Rob and Balazs celebrate reaching their fifth episode by sharing some of their favorite players from around the four major North American sports leagues.
R&B had planned to pick one player each and assign each superstar an on-field/court/rink watch and one off-field/court/rink ticker. Apparently, this was Rob's idea. Unsurprisingly, Rob got confused and just picked two players from each league and gave each of them a very special timepiece.
We've got surprising choices like Ryan Fitzpatrick, two NHL goalkeepers, and the eternally sexy John Stockton. Additionally, we have some slam-dunk superstars like Dennis Rodman, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Mike Trout for your entertainment. And what of the watches? Major brands like Omega, MB&F, Richard Mille, Rolex, and Vacheron Constantin dominate the arena, but there's plenty of space for the little guy, with Doxa, Konstantin Chaykin, and NOMOS Glashütte making into the smooth booth along with several others.
Follow me on Instagram @robnudds
Omega introduced the new and upgraded Seamaster 300, a new Seamaster 300M Black Black in ceramic, and new De Ville Trésor watches with small seconds and power reserve indicator. Mike and RJ discuss the novelties and give you an insight into how brands work with media titles for new releases.
Rob and Balazs scoot through five major sports leagues (and touch on a sixth) as they seek out the very best on-field threads available right now. Pairing each jersey/team with a watch model or brand, is, of course, their secondary task.
We've got lots of Rolex, wild creations like Hublot and HYT, fun stuff like Neff and Casio, and loads more watchmaking wonders to discuss. Jump in and enjoy, and let us know your favorite jerseys in the comments section on Fratellowatches.com.
The third time's a charm, or so they say. R&B take to the ice in an effort to help the NHL rename its four woefully-monikered divisions while attaching watch sponsors that reflect each lineup's unique character for good measure.
We briefly touch on NFL free agency, with some big moves deserving a mention, which resulted in us slipping into a weird "would you rather" bit that pitted the career (thus far) of Carson Wentz against that of Dolphins legend Dan Marino.
The recently renamed NHL divisions get the Balazs treatment, walking away from this awesome episode with some much better titles and new watch sponsors. There is a massive controversy between Union Glashütte and Glashütte Original as Balazs favors one as a sponsor, while Rob leans toward the other.
Follow me on Instagram @robnudds
Giles Ellis joins Rob on this latest edition of Fratello on Air, as the pair discuss the trials and tribulations of independent brand-ownership, the thrill and responsibility of opening a mono-brand store, and how Giles got into watchmaking in the first place.
As always with the owner, founder, chief designer, logistics manager, and coffee maker extraordinaire of Schofield Watch Company, the chat is a fascinating meander that touches on many different subjects linked to starting up on your own in the modern watchmaking industry. We hope you enjoy the show!
Ranting Robbie enters the "smooth booth" and unloads about the recent controversy surrounding Bill Belichick's legacy. It's a brutal monolog, but the riposte is worth waiting for so hang tight.
This week, we're talking about great coaches and great locations to play pro sports. Inspired by the recent outdoor NHL games at Lake Tahoe, we're choosing our dream locales for the NBA, NHL, NFL, MLB, and PLL, and discussing which watch brands should sponsor and outfit the the events and teams in question.
It's a rollicking ride and we hope you enjoy the show. Let us know what you liked and didn't like and we'll adapt accordingly.
Follow me on Instagram @robnudds
On an earlier episode, we discussed our most cherished chronographs. It's hard to say which watch genre is our favorite, but there's no doubt that vintage dive watches vie for top spot. There are just so many great models out there. Super Compressors, Submariners, Seamasters, oh my! You'll hear about which models we chose and why. Then, we touch on a couple modern stand-ins and even throw out some budget friendly vintage options. You won't want to miss this week's salty banter!
Handgelenkskontrolle
Our faithful listener and reader Lukas gave us a friendly "top tip" and you can see that our wrist check now has the correct German translation. Thanks Lukas!
News
Before hitting the main topic on vintage dive watches, we talk a little about the recent the new Synchron Military and the upcoming DOXA Army reissue. Is the first proper watch beef?
The Main Topic
Enter the realm of the ocean deep as we embark on a fun discussion about our favorite vintage divers and why.
Balazs talks about the following:
Mike mentions some of his all time faves:
Balazs brings up the Certina DS PH200M as well as the Rado Captain Cook as great modern alternatives and brings up skin diver style vintage dive watches. Mike mentions Squale as well as the original and new Seiko Turtle as a great option.
We hope you enjoy this podcast on vintage dive watches. Don't forget to let us know if there's a topic you'd like us to discuss.
Welcome one and all to our new Sunday afternoon Pod-Column, Watching Sports (Or WASP, for short).
To celebrate this new Fratello feature, host Rob Nudds welcomes fellow sports fanatic Balazs to the virtual booth. This week, the despicable duo look back on Super Bowl LV and the remarkable achievements of 43-year old Tom Brady, as he guided the Buccs to their second championship while picking up his seventh (seventh) in the process.
We talk about team building, Brady's place in both NFL and general sports history, and why the heck the GOAT is wearing an IWC these days?
There will be fun. There will be frolics. And there will most definitely be more sports talk than you can shake a stick at.
As the Fratello team seeks to form new bonds with its readership, expect more Pod-Columns discussing our interests outside of watchmaking and how those fields occasionally intersect. Why do we want to share this with you? Fratello is a community made up of like-minded individuals and we're keen to get to know you all better as the people behind our (quite frankly delicious) readership stats.
Hit us up in the comments on Fratellowatches.com with sports/athletes/competitions you'd like us to talk about, and let us know if you want to take part in the show yourself!
Rob dials in Maurice Lacroix HQ to speak with Thiébaut Bentz, International Product and Marketing Director of the brand to discuss Friday's release of the Aikon Venturer GMT. A short and snappy episode, tune in to stay on top of this week's watch news.
We touch on a topic that's top of mind for many watch collectors and that's this idea of rare and exclusive watches. We have so many questions! Is it foolish when we call a watch such as the Submariner "rare"? Would we snap up a steel Rollie at retail? Do we think this current trend of finding scores of supposedly unobtainable watches on the grey market is a bit ridiculous? What do we think about burgeoning brands like MING or Unimatic that purposely limit production? And finally, how does early aughts rapper Fat Joe come into this?
Before hitting the main topic, the trio review the cornucopia of watches on their respective wrists.
We touched on the upcoming Watches & Wonders to be held on April 7 — 13 to be held on a computer screen near you and not in Geneva. We'll get to see all the new releases from the likes of Rolex, Patek, and more. This derailed us a bit and set up our main topic on supposedly rare watches, but not before we discuss the fact that none of us are enthralled with the current Explorer II.
Thanks for listening and if you have ideas for new shows, don't hesitate to contact us. And remember, don't lick your sneakers or your watches!
This (somewhat raucous) episode sees Arcanaut co-founder and chief designer Anders Brandt join Rob and a particularly feisty Black Badger (James Thompson) in the virtual studio. This trio of horophiles discusses the background of Arcanaut, why everybody loves Canada, and whether or not creating a watch that tells the time on Neptune is of any use to anybody at all...
Rob invites James Thompson, AKA Black Badger, into his Dresden-based den for lockdown laughs. The pair chat about James's experiences in the industry, what he's got on his plate right now, their failed gridiron careers, and a whole host of other nonsense.
That's right, vintage chronographs are in focus yet again, but this time we talk about the pieces on our wish list with some cool anecdotes thrown in for good measure. We don't own these, but would love to acquire them if funds allow.
Before hitting the main topic on vintage chronographs, we roll through our customary "Handgelenk Kontrolle". Mike comes prepared in his vintage 38mm Excelsior Park "Tuxedo Dial." Balazs turns back the clock with his fetching Eterna Caliber 852 and its unique case back.
The gents move on to some news and regret the fact that the latest James Bond movie has been pushed out yet again until October due to a certain pesky virus. The big topic, however, is the new Zenith Chronomaster Sport with its new El Primero 3600 caliber. There's no doubt that this watch boasts some serious technical chops. However, both love Zenith vintage chronographs and are a bit unsure about the highly familiar styling of this new piece.
We ease into our main topic where Balazs and Mike go back and forth on vintage chronographs that would receive a warm welcome in each's respective collection. Here are the watches that made the grade:
Balazs:
Mike:
If you're thinking of getting into vintage chronographs, but are concerned that you've missed the boat, don't fret! There are still some wonderful options with great names and movements out there at very reasonable prices. Here are some of the options:
As always, we thank you for listening to our latest Fratello on Air podcast. Keep the questions and ideas flowing — we'll be back!
Balazs & Mike return with a new episode and we talk vintage Chronographs!
First, it's a "Handgelenk Kontrolle" where Balazs is sporting a '70s Seiko 6139-7070. Mike is donning a 1960 Gruen Ocean Chief.
News-wise, the gents discuss the new Omega Speedmaster Professionals, the recently announced 2021 European L.E. Seiko Alpinist SPB201J1, and the MING 27.02 and Mike reveals a guilty confession..
Our main topic focuses on vintage Chronographs — the favorite style of watch to collect for both Balazs & Mike. It wasn't easy for each to pick their three favorites, but here they are!
Balazs discusses the following three pieces:
Mike takes his turn on vintage chronographs and heads to the '60s:
We close out the show with some talk on Tritium dial Speedmaster models and a promise to return with vintage chronographs we'd like to buy. Enjoy the show!
Alon Ben Joseph has been a Bvlgari dealer for six years. He's been a Bvlgari owner, however, for three. He finally decided to pull the trigger on a model from the famous Italien brand when the Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Automatic (in titanium and on a titanium bracelet) was released at Baselworld 2017. Now, three years on, Rob wants to know what he makes of it.
Yesterday was the big day for Speedmaster fans all around the world! The introduction of the new Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Master Chronometer.
Four new models basically, two steel variations and two in gold. You can read all about the new Moonwatch here. Rob and I decided to host a podcast on the new Moonwatch and answer some of the hottest questions we've read in the comments and on social media.
In this podcast, Balazs and Mike sit down on the very last day of 2020 and hit upon a couple key topics. Collaboration watches and rerelease hope for 2021 are in store in this latest episode.
The Handgelenk Kontrolle
Mike kicks things off with this newly received MING 18.01 H41 Diver.
Balazs goes vintage cool with his funky and unusual Omega Genève Dynamic.
News Update
We then hit the news and talk about the Speedmaster World Cup and our favorite Speedmaster models from the competition. Balazs talks about the recently completed "Watch On Your Wrist? Instagram Photo Contest". Finally, before we move on to our main topics on collaboration watches and 2021 wishes, we discuss the new Fratello App for iOS (hint: it's cool and flawless to use) and our new website design!
Collaboration Watches
We talk about collaboration watches in general and then walk through six of our favorite "teamwork" pieces. Some of these will surprise you!
2021 Rerelease Wishes
After hitting on their favorite collaboration watches, Balazs and Mike discuss their rerelease wishes for 2021.
Thanks for your collaboration!
Speaking of collaboration, we end the show with a hearty thanks to all of you for listening and wish you a very safe and healthy New Year!
In this podcast, I talk with OMEGA's Mr. Andreas Hobmeier, Vice President of Production and Procurement, about Master Chronometer and the role of METAS. We speak about all the facets of Master Chronometer, and why precision and anti-magnetism is such an important topic.
Balazs and Mike make good on their promise to come back with frequency! On this episode we give recommendations for the upcoming Holiday Season and then we talk about our favorite bracelets.
First, it's a "Handgelenk Kontrolle" and Mike is wearing a vintage Meylan Chronograph while Balazs is sporting his Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical with a Kill Hubris NATO.
We then talk about the "Fratelloris" Fratello x Oris Big Crown Bronze Pointer Date that's now in our shop!
For the holidays, we roll out some affordable recommendations:
We then talk about our favorite bracelets.
Vintage:
Modern:
And we end with a few words on the modern gold Speedmaster Apollo XI 50th Anniversary "Nixon Bracelet" and how Omega is on the comeback trail with their most recent bracelets.
Rob and RJ received a number of watches from Glashütte Original this week, and discuss the green dialed PanoMaticLunar watch. And a lot of other things. Enjoy this episode!
In a surprisingly structured fashion, Alon and Rob blitz through their favorite (and least favorite) novelties of 2020 from the Breitling, Tudor, and Bvlgari brands.
Swatch gets a brief mention and so does team member Mike Stockton, who, after a joyous week of watching his brainchild (the Fratelloris) wend its way to readers' homes, seems to be on everyone's mind...
It's episode 25 and Balazs & Mike come together to talk about their favorite divers of 2020.
This one was recorded a few weeks back and we jabber about lockdowns, border crossings, quarantines, and uncomfortable boots.
Then, it's time for a "Handgelenk Kontrolle" and Balazs is sporting a DIY Casio G-Shock GW-B5600 with a fresh DIY metal body kit from eBay. Mike is wearing his modified Oris Big Crown Bronze Pointer Date. Consider it a day of mods!
We talk about our favorite divers:
We end things with a discussion on how the Swatch Group is absolutely crushing it with affordable divers.
Today, in Episode "definitely-not-22-but-we're-calling-it-22-for-now", Alon and Rob talk about the future of retail. Alon lays down his background and interests and why he loves retail.
This week, on Fratello On Air, Rob and Alon chat about many things. They touch on different retail strategies. The (now-released) Oris movement gets a mention. Terrifying teddy bears make a surprise appearance. And, finally, the new Snoopy goes under the microscope. Crucially, Alon attempts to make sense of Rob's strange, "moderately ridiculous" feelings towards it...
If you are an Haute Horlogerie and/or car enthusiast, the name Singer Reimagined should definitely ring a bell. Although the brand is still relatively new to the watch scene, it already has a dedicated fan base comprising both petrol heads and watch guys. The brand's new model, the Flytrack, looks a bit like its big brother, the Track 1. It is, however, a simpler but equally fun timepiece.
On this occasion, we thought it would be fun to sit down with Marco Borraccino, the man behind Singer Reimagined. We went all the way back to the beginning. Marco was kind enough to share his path with us. From his childhood in Italy, surrounded by modern design. All the way to his first job in the watch industry with Panerai. And finally establishing Singer Reimagined and teaming up with Rob Dickinson from Singer Vehicle Desing.
The post can be found here.
RJ talks to the Head of Product Development of Longines, Xavier Ligero, to talk about the new Longines Spirit collection. Get some insights on how the watch came to life, what challenges Longines experienced, and about the exclusive Longines calibers by ETA. We talk about how such an exclusivity actually works between Longines and ETA.
In this 20th episode of Fratello on Air, RJ and Rob discuss their favorite Seiko watches. Their favorite Seiko of all time, but also their favorite watch of the releases in 2020. They discuss these watches in detail and tell them why they love these references so much, or what makes them so special. Head over to Fratello.com to see all show notes for this episode, including pictures of the Seiko watches discussed.
All in one big episode, Mike and RJ pick their Top 3 from the novelties of the Geneva Watch Days and discuss the new Rolex watches that were just released last week.
This year, Omega introduced the new Constellation 39mm and 41mm. Time for us to sit down with Petros Protopapas (Brand Heritage Manager at Omega) and talk about Constellations, vintage and new.
In this Fratello on Air episode, RJ talks to Jean-Marc Pontroué, the Officine Panerai CEO. We talk about how Panerai is doing today, Jean-Marc's views on the status of today's watch industry, and about PAMCast.
When you're a watch collector, there's always a wish list. At Fratello, we are collectors in the first place, the writing part came (much) later. In this episode of Fratello on Air, Mike and RJ talk about the next 3 pieces on their radar. There's no overlap in watches this time, just one brand that is mentioned twice.
For RJ, the lists consists of a Zenith El Primero Rainbow (Flyback), a Rolex Day-Date 118238 and last not but least, something modern, a Bvlgari Octo Finissimo. Mike has a slightly different list, with a Rolex Datejust 1600, a Patek Philippe Calatrava, and a Grand Seiko SBGW235.
Mike and RJ discuss their top picks (they selected two watches each) from Watches & Wonders and the new Breitling releases: Chronomat and the SuperOcean'57. One of the Fratello members already has received his new Breitling from this new collection: the Chronomat Tricolore.
Recently, Tim Stracke gave an interview on WatchPro, discussing the impact of Corona on the (online) watch sales. Sitting on a big pile of data, generated by the millions of users of the world's largest watch market platform, Tim Stracke is the go-to place for the watch industry when it comes to numbers.
In this 14th episode of Fratello on Air, I speak with Tim about Chrono24, why he purchased the platform back in 2010 and, of course, what he sees happening right now due to the corona crisis. Are sales going up, or down? Are people trying to get rid of their watches via Chrono24 or is the opposite happening? Tim gives us some very useful and clear insights on the state of the watch market today, based on fresh data. I also ask him how he can assure that someone is making a safe purchase via Chrono24, how the transaction basically works and what they do to make sure you get what you want. This, and a lot more, is being discussed in this hour-long podcast with Chrono24 (Co-)CEO Tim Stracke.
In this 13th episode of Fratello on Air, Mike and RJ talk about the new watches that have been introduced last month by Grand Seiko. As there was no Grand Seiko Summit this year, the introductions have been done mainly digitally so far. Mike and RJ comment on their favourites so far: the GS Diver 60th anniversary, the 1960's re-creation in gold, the green dial dress watch in rose gold.
In Episode 12 of our Fratello on Air podcast we try to take our minds of the Coronavirus a bit and focus on some watches and other forms of distraction. However, we do share some words on it of course, but mainly how it affects our private lives basically.
The main topic of this podcast though are the watches we kind of rediscovered recently. Home Office and not traveling, or the combination of these two, give us the opportunity to reflect a bit on our own watch collection a bit, and both Mike and me selected two watches that we have in our collection that we are giving some attention (again) as of late.
Handgelenk Kontrolle (wrist check)
The watches we are talking about in this Fratello on Air podcast, are the following:
Oak & Oscar Olmsted 38, as reviewed in this article.
I am wearing the Speedmaster Tokyo 2020 “Rising Sun” during the podcast, as described in this article. It has the discontinued (1990s) reference 1479 bracelet on it.
Rediscovered Watches
As we’re talking about some of the watches that we rediscovered, below you will find some images of the watches we discuss. Mike kicks off with this Doxa Searambler 300 (no T) and talks about his DIY restoration on the bezel.
I selected my Chronoswiss Regulateur Automatique, a watch that I’ve owned since late 2000 and was produced in 1993. One of the earlier models, but already with the self-winding Enicar based movement. The really early 1980s Regulator models had a hand-wound movement. Below, my old 1993 Regulateur next to a modern interpretation.
ike’s other watch he talks about is the Seiko diver below, with reference 6215-7000 from 1967. The first Seiko diver with 300m water resistance. Mike had it restored recently by James from Belgium, and enjoys wearing it (again).
Last but not least, I recently took out this Seamaster 300M Chronograph Diver (2296.80) from my bank safe. I bought it a few years ago, after hunting one for a long time, but it ended up in the safe in the end. This watch dates back from 1994 (originally introduced in 1993), and was a heavy hitter with its titanium, tantalum and rose gold materials.
Thanks for listening to our podcast and reading these show notes. If you have a question for our upcoming podcast, drop us note via email.
Episode 11 is about the effect of the Coronavirus on the watch shows and the watch industry in general, where we service our watches and an open discussion on the Seiko and Grand Seiko limited editions.
As we reported here and here, the Coronavirus COVID-19 killed the Time to Move, Watches & Wonders and Baselworld shows, as well as the Breitling and Grand Seiko summits. Michael and RJ talk about the impact of this virus on these shows and how brands deal with it. When we recorded the news on Baselworld wasn't there yet, but to be expected. Michael also starts a discussion on having your watch serviced or repaired. How he finds a watchmaker, sources his parts and the role of watch forums. RJ elaborates on the importance of finding a good watchmaker when you're a collector, and why you should find a (different) skilled watchmaker for your specific watches.
Another topic they touch is the flow of Seiko and Grand Seiko special and limited editions. How (Grand) Seiko changed their strategy over the last few years and what the effects are of these changes. For starters, we see more variations of existing watches and limited editions popping up. A good thing, or does it dilute the brand a bit? Michael and RJ share their thoughts on this topic.
In this 10th episode, Michael Stockton and Robert-Jan Broer talk about the recent LvmH Watch Week that took place in Dubai and that we visited. News from Bvlgari, Zenith and Hublot in early January, when normally we'd be visiting the SIHH (Watches & Wonders). We dive into the highlights of the LvmH Watch Week, especially the Bvlgari Octo Finissimo seems to receive a lot of love. But, we kick off with a wrist check, of course. Mike is wearing a Seiko 6159-7000 from 1968 (the predecessor of the Marinemaster 300) and RJ wears his Omega Constellation'95 1202.30.
Then, our friends of Time and Tide in Australia organize a watch auction called 'Watch & Act' and all proceeds will go to the recovery of Australia and its wildlife. Fratello donated a Frederique Constant Moonhase from our shop with all proceeds going to this good cause. Mike mentions an initiative on Instagram where Seiko watches are being auctioned for the same good cause.
Next, we talk about the downside of Instagram. The ongoing rants and comments on the market resale value of watches seem to be more important than watches that are showing something truly unique. If it isn't a Nautilus, Royal Oak, or Daytona, a lot of people don't seem to be interested. Is it lack of interest, is it about purchasing for investment reasons only, or what is it? You should buy the watch that sings to you, no matter what brand name is on the dial or what price tag is on there. Mike and RJ discuss this topic at length.
Follow us on Instagram:
Fratello Magazine: @fratellowatches
Mike Stockton: @mikeinfrankfurt
Robert-Jan Broer: @rjbroer
Visit our website: www.fratellowatches.com
RJ and Mike discuss their 5 most favorite watches that were introduced in 2019. It was quite difficult to choose from all the releases, but they picked 5 that they liked best, for various reasons. Listen to our 9th episode of Fratello on Air.
In this 8th episode of Fratello on Air, Balazs and RJ report from the Dubai Watch Week. It's a relatively short episode without any listener's questions but instead, focus on the initiative from the Seddiqi family in Dubai. This family, a large and important retailer for the middle east region, organized its 4th Dubai Watch Week event, the third in Dubai. In 2018, Dubai Watch Week had a smaller event in London, in close cooperation with Christie's.
During the Dubai Watch Week, it isn't so much about novelties (which makes this event less time-critical than Baselworld and SIHH/Watches&Wonders for example), but about creating a platform where watch manufacturers, watch journalists and watch collectors can meet and discuss. However, some brands did come up with a novelty especially for the Dubai Watch Week (7 in total) and mainly focused on the middle-east market with them. A few examples are the Ressence Type 1 DXB Dubai edition, the Singer Reimagined rack1 Emirates edition and the Bvlgari Octo with green dial (non-limited, but only marketed in the middle east).
Follow us on:
Instagram: @fratellowatches @ferenczibazs @rjbroer
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/fratellomagazine/
In this 7th episode of Fratello on Air, Michael Stockton and Robert-Jan Broer try to answer two questions from our listeners. One is about watches from microbrands (and independent watchmakers) and the other is about getting a discount on watches. The first question is asked because it seems like we are mainly interested in watches from the big brands, and perhaps it gives the impression that we also own only watches from these brands. But Mike and RJ explain what they love (and dislike) about microbrands and independent watchmakers, and which brands they like (and own) themselves.
With regard to the question about getting a discount on watches, we discuss why discounts are given to customers and what the impact is on the brand's image (and value) when watches are heavily discounted. With brands that are closing authorized dealers and focus on their own boutique sales and on-line sales, it will become more difficult for customers to find a good discount. Michael and RJ explain the pros and cons of direct selling by watch brands and what the effect is on discount. And whether a discount is necessary.
In every episode of Fratello on Air, we also discuss the watches that we are wearing during the podcast recording. For Mike, it is this special Oris Bigcrown Pilot and for RJ, his beloved Omega Constellation Globemaster in Sedna gold. We both explain why we like these watches so much.
Follow us on:
Instagram: @fratellowatches @mikeinfrankfurt @rjbroer
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/fratellomagazine/
Website: https://www.fratellowatches.com
Michael Stockton and Robert-Jan Broer talk about the new Breitling Avenger, SuperOcean and Aviator 8 Mosquito watches that were introduced last week in Zurich, Switzerland. But first, the wrist check (as always). RJ is wearing a Grand Seiko Mt Iwate (SBGJ201) and Michael is boosting his brand new Omega Speedmaster Professional Apollo XI in Moonshine gold. And talking about that, Mike and RJ are discussing whether it would make sense if Omega would re-introduce a Speedmaster Professional in 18-ct gold in the regular collection. It was in the collection previously but discontinued in 2012. With the recent demand for (vintage) gold Speedmasters, it might make sense to have it back into the collection. We also share thoughts on the new Seiko Presage Chronograph and Seiko Prospex Chronograph, for the 50th anniversary of Seiko's automatic chronograph movements. Michael isn't blown away by them, to say the least. The Grand Seiko Godzilla that was introduced last week also gets discussed. RJ likes the colors and Grand Seiko case design but has no link with Godzilla. The price of €12.700,- is being discussed as well, as it is definitely putting certain things in a different perspective. Last but not least, Mike and RJ answer a reader's question: What watches are your wives wearing? Admitted, they have been heavily influenced by us, but what are the watches they are wearing and were these really their choice?
Follow us on:
Instagram: @fratellowatches @mikeinfrankfurt @rjbroer
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/fratellomagazine/
Website: https://www.fratellowatches.com
Michael and RJ talk about Longines and our partnership with them on finding the oldest Longines watch in The Netherlands. This contest came to an end a few weeks ago and the winners (and us) travelled to the Longines headquarters in St-Imier, Switzerland, to have a look at their production facility and their impressive museum. RJ shares some of the highlights of this contest and the trip to St-Imier.
Another topic in episode 5 is an anonymous reader's question, concerning keeping your watches (and jewellery) safe. She asked us if we would advise her to purchase a safe or use a safe deposit box instead. There are pros and cons to both, RJ elaborates on both but has slight favour for keeping the watches in a safe deposit box. We all know this scary story on safe deposit boxes, so make sure to read the contracts before you sign. Mike uses the opportunity to explain how things work in the USA and that the use of a safe (at home) is quite common.
Our mandatory wrist check is about three watches because one of us is wearing two watches. Two Seikos and a Hamilton. Mike is wearing a Seiko SBDC079 Ginza Edition and RJ has the Seiko SNJ028 on his wrist, the new 'Arnie', as you wish. So, who's wearing the Hamilton?
Last but not least, the hosts of this Fratello on Air Episode 5 podcast discuss their favourite quartz watches. Amongst others, you'll hear us talk about the Breitling Aerospace, Rolex Oysterquartz, Omega Speedmaster X-33, Grand Seiko 9F, but also about this little niche Citizen Promaster Tough, which is only available in the UK (shameless plug here).
All images that go with this podcast can be found here.
In this episode 4, Michael talks with Daniel (as RJ was on holiday during the recording) about the Top 3 watches in their collections that get most wrist time, about Daniel joining Fratello and about his role (Head of Operations) and answering a listener's question about their favourite sub-40mm sports watch. Below, an overview of some of the mentioned watches, and all the links to articles/websites and people mentioned in this episode.
Enjoy and thanks for listening!
Links for show notes:
About Daniel
https://www.fratellowatches.com/author/daniel
How Daniel got to his first Fratello event
https://www.fratellowatches.com/subscribe-newsletter
Photo challenge posse @RewatchTeam
https://www.instagram.com/rewatchteam
@my.wrist Tim with modded First Omega in Space
https://www.instagram.com/my.wrist
@luk.ast Lukas, Speedy modder
https://www.instagram.com/luk.ast
Jason Heaton
https://www.instagram.com/jasonheaton/
TwoBrokeWatchSnobs
https://www.instagram.com/twobrokewatchsnobs/
Story of Daniel's dad's world trip (in German)
https://www.spiegel.de/geschichte/weltreise-mit-einem-citroen-2cv-a-947703.html
https://www.instagram.com/dugena_watches
G.Shock articles from Gerard on Fratello:
https://www.fratellowatches.com/you-asked-us-g-shock-square-which-one-to-choose/
https://www.fratellowatches.com/casio-g-shock-gw-5000-52mondayz-week-34/
https://www.fratellowatches.com/casio-gshock-gpw-1000raf-52mondayz-week-16/
Seiko013 pic from the Seiko013 @seikoskxoftheworld https://www.instagram.com/p/BtTnHbdn2d4/
Mike's write-up on the trilogy Seamaster
https://www.fratellowatches.com/omega-seamaster-300-60th-anniversary-2/
This third episode has been recorded in the week that the Rolex GMT-Master 1675 from Marlon Brando was in the news via the New York Times. This watch will be auctioned for the good cause, and we share a few thoughts and emotions about it. Also, we do our usual wrist check (see below) and elaborate a bit on these watches. For Mike, it's a vintage Omega De Ville chronograph and RJ went with a digital Seiko from 1982. We also answer one of your questions. After RJ called his modern Submariner 114060 a boring watch in our previous podcast, listener Maciek asked us about our most un-boring watch. For Mike, this is a Seiko Rally Diver and for RJ it is his recently acquired Seamaster PloProf 1200M in steel (now discontinued). This third episode of Fratello on Air is also about limited editions and collaborations: what do we think of them? What are the positives and what are the things we don't like?
Robert-Jan just got back from the Speedy Tuesday events in Singapore and Hong Kong and gives a little feedback on those, as well as the final dates for the upcoming events in New York and Tokyo. Michael talks about the recent trips he did with Breitling and Omega. Of course, we start with a quick wrist check, on what’s on the wrists of Mike and RJ during the podcast. Michael is wearing a Rolex Submariner 5512 and RJ sports a modern Submariner ref. 114060. The main topic of this episode though is the lack of availability of Rolex sports watches. We did an article on this topic here, but we get so many questions about this topic that Mike decided to touch it once more. Furthermore, Mike and RJ answer the question of a listener of the first episode, about the watches that mean the most to them.
Mike's Instagram account is @mikeinfrankfurt. RJ's Instagram account is @rjbroer.
Welcome to our first episode of Fratello on Air. A bi-weekly podcast on watches, the watch industry, collecting watches and random watch talk by the editors of Fratello Watches (online watch magazine since 2004). In this episode, we cover the new Omega Speedmaster Apollo XI 50th anniversary watches, the watches on our wrists during the podcast recording and which watches we'd buy when there would be no financial limit.
We refer to a number of watches and articles:
- Speedmaster Apollo XI in stainless steel
- Speedmaster Apollo XI in Moonshine gold
- Rolex GMT-Master in gold
- A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1
- This Week in Watches June 16th
Mike's Instagram account is @mikeinfrankfurt. RJ's Instagram account is @rjbroer.
En liten tjänst av I'm With Friends. Finns även på engelska.
