Fratello.com

Latest Episodes:

Fratello Talks: When Should You Service Your Watch? Feb 01, 2024

Show notes

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.

Fratello Talks: LVMH Watch Week 2024 Special Jan 29, 2024

Show notes

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.

Fratello Talks: What Makes A watch Brand Great? Jan 25, 2024

Show notes

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: Starting Over With Our Collections And A Pot Of Money Jan 23, 2024

Show notes

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!

Fratello Talks: The Most Important Watches Of The Last Five Years Jan 18, 2024

Show notes

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.

Fratello On Air: Curating Our Watch Collections Jan 16, 2024

Show notes

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!

Fratello Talks: The Myth Of Perfect Watch Size Jan 11, 2024

Show notes

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: What Would Make You Buy A New Rolex? Jan 09, 2024

Show notes

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.

Fratello Talks: Watch Wishes And Predictions For 2024 Jan 04, 2024

Show notes

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!

Fratello On Air: Sending Out 2023 And Moving On To 2024 Jan 02, 2024

Show notes

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.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected