Fratello.com

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.HandgelenkskontrolleWe 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 2024For 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:Laurent Ferrier Classic Auto SandstoneBerneron Mirage 34mm LapisMing 37.09 BluefinArmin Strom Dual Time GMT ResonanceM.A.D.1SLederer Triple Certified Observatory ChronometerDoxa releases including the Sub 300T Professional Aristera and green modelsAtelier Wen Perception TantalumWe 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.

9/10/24 • 67:59

The show producer has not yet provided a description for this episode.

9/5/24 • 37:16

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!HandgelenkskontrolleWhile 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 GenevaBalazs 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!

9/3/24 • 73:12

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.

8/29/24 • 26:06

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.HandgelenkskontrolleWe'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 collectionA 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!

8/27/24 • 62:13

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.

8/22/24 • 30:57

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!HandgelenkskontrolleWe 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 '00sThe 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:Omega Speedmaster Professional 3192.30, a limited edition Apollo XI commemorative made of white goldPatek Philippe 5014G, a Gondolo with an art deco dialPatek Philippe 3970EP-21, an amazing perpetual calendarIWC Mark XII, a JLC-powered 36mm pilot watch with a glorious braceletCartier Tank Basculante 2390, the large manual wind classic with a folding casePanerai PAM00127, the "Fiddy" from 2002 that went viralSeiko 7T27, an RAF-issued chronographWe 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.

8/20/24 • 72:00

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.

8/15/24 • 29:21

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!HandgelenkskontrolleBefore 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 industryThere'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.

8/13/24 • 60:08

The show producer has not yet provided a description for this episode.

8/8/24 • 30:39

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.HandgelenkskontrolleWe 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!

8/6/24 • 68:29

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.

8/1/24 • 26:09

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...HandgelenkskontrolleWe 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 collectionToday, 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!

7/30/24 • 68:55

The show producer has not yet provided a description for this episode.

7/25/24 • 29:22

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.HandgelenkskontrolleWe 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 BraceletsNext, 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.

7/23/24 • 73:47

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.

7/18/24 • 30:23

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!HandgelenkskontrolleWe'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 watchesExit 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:Patek Philippe 3970, a perpetual calendar chronographPatek Philippe 1463, the Borgel case waterproof chronographAngelus Chrono-Datoluxe, a vintage chronograph with a day-date and moonphase complicationGrand Seiko VFA 6185-8000/8010, a rare palladium silver watch with amazing accuracyOmega Speedmaster 105.003, the "Ed White" and the last vintage straight-lug SpeedyRolex Submariner 5513 gilt dial, a '60s beauty with an old-world dial and classic case designWe 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.

7/16/24 • 57:51

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.

7/11/24 • 26:33

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.HandgelenkskontrolleBefore 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 watchesOur 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:The Rolex Submariner 5512 and 5513The Seiko J13035, J13040, and J13043Thomas' article on building a watch brand, Episode 8Our logo discussion mentions Eterna, Tissot, the Roamer Stingray, and Doxa's new and old fontsExcelsior Park's number designsOur least favorites include the modern Patek Philippe logo, the Tissot Heritage 1938, and the Blancpain Fifty-Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 1, Series IIThank 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.

7/9/24 • 82:16

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. 

7/4/24 • 24:13

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.HandgelenkskontrolleWe 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 buyingOne 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:Using a site such as Google Images to compare different examples of the same watchFollowing the links found on Google Images to see if old forums or sales ads add new informationForumsSocial media including Instagram to find similar models and authorities on given brands who can helpIt 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!

7/2/24 • 73:29

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!

6/27/24 • 37:18

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.

6/20/24 • 22:18

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!HandgelenkskontrolleBefore 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.

6/18/24 • 58:04

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.

6/13/24 • 25:36

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. HandgelenkskontrolleThe 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 watchOur 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!

6/11/24 • 73:32

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!HandgelenkskontrolleBefore 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 releasesNew 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!

6/7/24 • 77:46

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.

6/6/24 • 32:28

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?

5/30/24 • 36:54

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?

5/23/24 • 35:59