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Fratello Talks: Gold And Two-Tone Watches Oct 12, 2023

Show notes

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.

Fratello On Air: Discussing Time-Only Watches From The '40s And '50s Oct 10, 2023

Show notes

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!

Fratello Talks: Parallel Passions Beyond Watches Oct 05, 2023

Show notes

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).

Fratello On Air: Stand-Ins For the Submariner, Speedmaster, And Calatrava Oct 02, 2023

Show notes

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:

Squale Sub-39
Rado Captain Cook 42mm in Stainless Steel with a black dial

Omega Speedmaster

Fortis Official Cosmonauts Chronograph
Longines Avigation Chrono

Patek Philippe Calatrava

IWC Cal. 89
Grand Seiko SBGW253

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.

Fratello Talks: Japanese Watchmaking Sep 28, 2023

Show notes

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: New Releases From Blancpain, Bulova, and Benrus Sep 25, 2023

Show notes

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!

Fratello Talks: Can We Call The Blancpain x Swatch Scuba Fifty Fathoms Successful? Sep 21, 2023

Show notes

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: Grima Omega, Doxa, The Tudor FXD And The SwatchPain Sep 19, 2023

Show notes

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.

Fratello Talks: Is A New Watch Always Better Than The Previous Version? Sep 14, 2023

Show notes

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: Tick, Tick, Tick With Quartz Watches Sep 12, 2023

Show notes

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:

Omega Marine Chronometer from 1974
Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Quartz
Girard Perregaux Equation Perpetuelle
Bell & Ross Hydro Challenger made by Sinn

Thanks for listening this week. If you have any ideas for future episodes, feel free to let us know!

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