Fratello.com

Latest Episodes:

Fratello Talks: Where Did All The Watches Go? Jul 04, 2024

Show notes

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.

Fratello On Air: How We Research Watches Before Buying Jul 02, 2024

Show notes

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:

Using a site such as Google Images to compare different examples of the same watch
Following the links found on Google Images to see if old forums or sales ads add new information
Forums
Social media including Instagram to find similar models and authorities on given brands who can help

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!

Fratello Talks: Our Favorite Recently Released Watches Jun 27, 2024

Show notes

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!

Fratello Talks: Why Everyone Loves Seiko Jun 20, 2024

Show notes

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: Collecting Watches — Will We Ever Stop? Jun 18, 2024

Show notes

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.

Fratello Talks: Two-Tone Watches Jun 13, 2024

Show notes

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: Do You Wear, Protect, Or Baby Your Dream Watch? Jun 11, 2024

Show notes

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: A Flurry Of New Releases From Omega, Ming, Seiko, And More Jun 07, 2024

Show notes

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!

Fratello Talks: Cheap Straps On Expensive Watches Jun 06, 2024

Show notes

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.

Fratello Talks: The Quest For Relevance In A Hype Hungry Watch Industry May 30, 2024

Show notes

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?

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected