Fratello.com

Latest Episodes:

Fratello Talks: Watch Brands Selling Vintage Watches Feb 02, 2023

Show notes

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: On The Autobahn Talking About Synchron, Omega, & Grand Seiko Jan 31, 2023

Show notes

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.

Fratello Talks: The Watches We'd Like To See In 2023 Jan 26, 2023

Show notes

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: Balazs & Mike Talk About Retro Watches Jan 25, 2023

Show notes

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!

Fratello Talks: Watch Brands Increased Their Prices In 2023 Jan 19, 2023

Show notes

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: Collection Spotlight — MING, Gallet, Zenith, Angelus & More! Jan 17, 2023

Show notes

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:

MING 17.09, a watch that Balazs has been considering for quite some time
Zenith Yugoslavian Air Force chronograph with an EP4 caliber, a truly stunning piece with a dial that has been "eaten" by radium
Gallet Decimal, is a lovely chronograph with an EP4 caliber that has a fun backstory
Angelus Dato 12, a stunning watch with a minty gold-plated case

Finally, we thank you for listening. As always, if you have any suggestions for future episodes, please let us know!

Fratello On Air: A Questionable Auction And Swatch Group Stays Away From CPO Jan 10, 2023

Show notes

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!

Fratello Talks: New Year's Resolutions - The Watches We're Planning To Buy In 2023 Jan 05, 2023

Show notes

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.

Fratello On Air: 2023 Is Here, And The Modern Rolex Secondary Market Is Falling Apart Jan 03, 2023

Show notes

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.

Fratello Talks: Beef Between Thomas And Lex About Dress Watches Dec 29, 2022

Show notes

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?

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected