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Fratello Talks: Buying Watches Pre-Owned Vs New Dec 22, 2022

Show notes

Lex, Daan, and RJ discuss the pros and cons of buying pre-owned watches versus new. We're not all on the same page, but agree that the pre-owned watch market does have something interesting to offer, aside from (often) more attractive prices. If you want to go worry-free, buying your watch new is the way to go. But you might miss out on some very nice offers out there.

Fratello On Air: Balazs & Mike With Way-Too-Early Hopes for 2023 Dec 20, 2022

Show notes

Fratello On Air comes at you with a new episode. This time, we're talking about our horological hopes for 2023. Of course, there's some typical banter along with some pre-holiday cheer. Settle in by the fireplace (or at the beach, perhaps) and enjoy our last episode before Christmas.

2022 absolutely blew by and we're now less than two weeks from entering a new year. With that, we have hopes for 2023 and we get into some of our prognostications and questions. The economy looks a tad shaky and that may spell opportunity for some and trouble for others. What will the next year bring?
Handgelenks Kontrolle

Before discussing our hopes for 2023, we have a chat about the seriously cold weather in Germany. We then move on to a couple of shows that we have either enjoyed or are enjoying — Car S.O.S. and Wheeler Dealers. These are fun shows that just might appeal to a vintage watch nerd who likes the thrill of the hunt for obscure parts while taking in some history. Then, it's time for the Handgelenks Kontrolle. Mike is wearing his Rolex GMT-Master 16758 with a "nipple dial" on a German-made strap with reindeer embossed on it. Balazs keeps on the brown theme with his MoonSwatch Mission to Saturn.
Our Hopes for 2023

We bounce around a lot during our main topic: our hopes for 2023. We refer to the Rolex market and the fact that watches are slowly becoming more available at AD's. Mike also surmises that limited editions will continue in force to help keep people addicted. Both Balazs and Mike have become more excited about what the independents will do next year and even discuss what MING could offer. When it comes to Omega, the duo feels that the Speedmaster Professional could be in play with exotic materials and/or new dial colors. Regarding Tudor, both are flummoxed when it comes to guessing what could come next. Finally, we'd love to see a Zenith diver, a genre that the brand needs to address.

We hope you enjoyed this episode and if you're celebrating in the next week or so, have a great time! As always, feel free to let us know if you have a topic that you'd like us to cover in a future episode.

Fratello Talks: What Makes The Patek Philippe Nautilus So Special? Dec 15, 2022

Show notes

Fratello editors Gerard, Lex, and RJ talk about one of the most coveted watches: the Patek Philippe Nautilus. With the first reference in front of them, the 3700/1A, they talk about the history of the Nautilus, how it went from virtually no demand to an incredibly high demand in the past few years, and which version they like best. Enjoy our Fratello Talks series and let us know via Fratello.com what you think of the Nautilus.

Fratello On Air: Balazs & Mike Talk Holiday Watches And Gifts Dec 14, 2022

Show notes

Fratello On Air is getting ready for the holidays! In this episode, Balazs and Mike talk about holiday watches and gifts sure to please almost any watch lover. Enjoy!

Yes, we are firmly in the season of giving, receiving, or buying for one's self! As such, we're here to discuss some of our favorite watches that debuted in 2022. Alongside these holiday watches, we've also decided to mention some watch-adjacent gifts that will delight you. Stick around and tune in for another fun episode of Fratello On Air!
Handgelenks Kontrolle

After some brief discussion on travel (where Mike reveals that London, despite all the news, is not a war zone), we get to the Handgelenks Kontrolle. Balazs is wearing his pre-moon Speedmaster on a Forstner flat link bracelet. We talk about Forstner and its great products for watch lovers. Mike is wearing a very different type of watch — the MING 27.02 on a blue Alcantara strap. He wore it all weekend in London as a fun, but less flashy option.
Holiday watches and gifts

For our main event, it's time to mention some holiday watches and gifts. Our choices run the gamut from inexpensive to dear, but there's hopefully something here for everyone. We go back and forth and alternate between watches and items and mention:

The Nivada Valjoux 23, a piece with a NOS column-wheel movement
Grand Seiko SBGW283, a gorgeous watch that Thor, our very own God of Thunder, purchased!
The Joseph Bonnie Star 69 leather strap, something that Balazs has fallen in love with and swears Mike would enjoy.
Zeiss Head Loupe, a tool that helps with battery changes or strap adjustments and will scare your significant other.
The Doxa Army in bronze and green, a watch that Balazs hasn't forgotten since trying it some months ago.
Serica 5303 in blue, a diver that Mike has been eyeing ever since it debuted in June.
An inexpensive but utile 40-slot felt watch case that Balazs has found on Ali Express for less than €16!
The Manfrotto Befree GT XPro tripod for macro photos, an amazing piece of kit that can help with lay-flat shots.

We hope you enjoyed today's show! If you have any suggestions for future episodes, please feel free to let us know!

Fratello Talks: Our Thoughts On The Rolex Certified Pre-Owned Program Dec 08, 2022

Show notes

This weekly "Fratello Talks..." podcast talks about the Rolex Certified Pre-Owned program that was introduced on December 1st.

Thomas, Daan, and I are discussing the new Certified Pre-Owned program that Rolex introduced. Authorized Dealer Bucherer is the first partner offering Rolex watches with this certification. But what is it exactly, and how does it work? We also received some comments and questions about the consequences of this certification process, and we try to answer them in our podcast. Additionally, we are discussing the effect on the market prices of pre-owned Rolex watches.

Fratello On Air: Balazs & Mike Discuss Rolex Pre-Owned And A Lovely New AP Dec 07, 2022

Show notes

Fratello On Air returns with Balazs and Mike in their respective saddles to discuss a number of topics. The new Rolex pre-owned program is a focal point along with new offerings from Nivada-Grenchen and Audemars Piguet. What do we think of all these new items? Have a listen and find out for yourself!

Balazs and Mike are back after a couple of weeks away and they've got plenty to discuss. Shoes, the gray weather in Germany, and watches are on tap with the latest episode. Of course, there's the Handgelenks Kontrolle...
Handgelenks Kontrolle

After a bit of chatter, it's time for the Handgelenks Kontrolle. Mike kicks things off with his white gold Rolex Day-Date 1803, a surprisingly subtle piece on his wrist for nearly two weeks. Keeping on theme, Balazs is wearing his lovely GMT-Master 1675. He currently has it on the Oyster, but will soon switch to his Jubilee for the festive season.
The Rolex Pre-owned program and more

After some more talk, it's time to get into the meatier subjects. The Rolex pre-owned program is here and, wow, is it exciting! Or is it? We'll discuss it, but we aren't so sure. We also mention the new Nivada Grenchen x Undone and, frankly, we dig it. Finally, we discuss the return of the Audemars Piguet Starwheel and declare it to be the best Code 11.59 yet and the best AP in donkey's years.

We hope you enjoy today's episode. Feel free to let us know if there's anything you'd like us to discuss on a future show.

Fratello Talks: Buying Your First Serious Watch Dec 01, 2022

Show notes

Ignacio talks with Sofia and Sinara about making that first big purchase! Buying your first serious (luxury) watch can be a nerve-racking process. How did Fratello's Ignacio, Sinara and Sofia dealt with it? They're all young (below 30), and spending that much money on your first watch can be stressful. What choices did they make, and why? Listen to our Fratello Talks — Buying your first serious watch podcast to hear about their stories.

Fratello Talks: Dress Watches Nov 24, 2022

Show notes

Fratello Talks is a new series next to the Fratello On Air podcast. In Fratello Talks, your hosts Ignacio and RJ discuss various horological topics. Ignacio, RJ, and Laurits talk about dress watches in this first episode. What is a dress watch exactly, and why would you need one? We also discuss our favorite dress watches.

Fratello On Air: The Rolex Deepsea Challenge & New Excelsior Park Nov 22, 2022

Show notes

Fratello On Air is here and Balazs and Mike are back together between extensive travels. This week, we talk about a number of random subjects and then move on to the main topics. New Excelsior Park is in focus as well as the massive Rolex Deepsea Challenge.

We have been keeping the road hot! Mike has just returned from a two-week trip to the USA where he was all over the place and Balazs is getting ready to leave for another visit to Japan. Luggage enters the discussion yet again and Mike is curious if Rimowa's service department will live up to his expectations (update: sadly not so far). As mentioned, we spend most of our time on new releases from Excelsior Park and the Rolex Deepsea Challenge.
Handgelenks Kontrolle

First things first, though, and that's the Handgelenks Kontrolle. After wearing his Explorer 14270 for two weeks in a row, Mike has swapped to his vintage Heuer Monaco 73633. Balazs has two new Excelsior Park pieces in hand - a limited piece released in conjunction with watch dealer "Shuck the Oyster" and a collab with Seconde/Seconde.
Excelsior Park and the Rolex Deepsea Challenge

For the main part of our show, we talk about modern Excelsior Park and how the Sellita-based movement feels in hand. Hint: it's no Excelsior Park caliber, but we love that the watches are manual wind and kissing cousins to the originals. We especially like how they've gotten the details right such as the dial fonts and case dimensions. Finally, for the money, they seem to be good value. When it comes to the Rolex Deepsea Challenge, it's a good thing that we let this one breathe for a week before discussing it. There's no doubt that this watch is ridiculous in almost every way, whether it be price, specs, or size. However, both of us appreciate it for what it is — an insane accomplishment from Rolex. It's an absolutely unnecessary watch, but we dig it.

We hope you enjoyed today's episode and we look forward to bringing you more. If you have any thoughts on future topics, please let us know!

Lex And Balazs Talk Breguet Nov 15, 2022

Show notes

For the second week in a row, Balazs has a guest on the podcast, another member of the Fratello family. After last week’s discussion with Dave about space watches this week, we have our one and only Lex on Fratello On Air. The man known for refined taste in clothing and timepieces is also somewhat of a Breguet fan. His impressive knowledge of the brand was a delight to listen to whenever it came up in a conversation.
So it was logical for Balazs to sit down with Lex and chat about the Swatch Group’s crown jewel.
Wrist check
We do not see Lex without something denim, so it was no surprise that he was sporting a piece that’s the love child of a watch company and a denim brand: the Oris Diver 65 Momotaro edition. The watch is the perfect blend of material and colors. A steel case with a bronze bezel, green dial, and indigo-blue denim strap. Such a fine eclectic ensemble. Not to mention that the watch is readily available on most used watch sites and for a very competitive price too. Great choice, Lex!
Balazs wore a loaner for the show, but boy, what a timepiece it was. He happened to have a Breguet with him that belonged to a friend. So Balazs chose that particular piece, the Breguet Classique 5157, as his wrist companion for the episode. It is an elegant and simple take on a dress watch with a beautifully decorated movement and display case back. Yet the magic of the 5157 lies in its breathtaking guilloché dial. And don’t forget those lovely Breguet hands, either.
Breguet
Finally, the boys arrive at the topic of this episode and the mighty Maison of Breguet. A brand that started in 1775 and, over the centuries, has had an incredibly intriguing history, just like its denominator and founder, Abraham-Louis Breguet. Lex and Balazs walk through the past and talk about some of the inventions still used in today’s watchmaking. Lex visited the atelier a few weeks ago, and we are lucky enough to hear his thought about that trip before we move to the final stage of the episode; watches.

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