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Fratello Talks: Watches And Wonders 2024 Debrief

Hello, and welcome to this week's episode of Fratello Talks. Today, we wrap up our Watches And Wonders 2024 with a debrief episode featuring Nacho, Thomas, and Lex. The guys take some time to go over a number of brands (and their corresponding releases) that we missed in episode one. They also discuss the general mood of the show and how it reflects on the overall state of the watch industry today. And despite promises made several weeks ago, we recorded this one on a Friday afternoon, so y...

Fratello On Air: Haute Horlogerie On A Budget — Relatively Speaking

Fratello On Air returns to its normally scheduled slot with a look at some Haute Horlogerie that can be bought at a fair price. To be clear, we're focusing more on high-end complications that usually cost an arm and a leg. This is the second half of an episode we recorded a week ago and we hope you enjoy! Big-time complications often come with a nasty price tag. However, we've identified some examples of Haute Horlogerie that may not break the bank. Come with us while we run through so...

Fratello On Air: Catching Up With The New Amida Digitrend And A Tissot Antimagnetique

Welcome back to Fratello On Air ! This week, we're coming back late due to our busy schedules. We've decided to cut this recording in half and will come back on our regularly scheduled day next week. For this episode, we talk about the new Amida Digitrend and a vintage Tissot Antimagnetique. Sorry, folks; we're late again! Work is having its way with our schedules, but we were able to come together and record a lengthy discussion that we have separated into two distinct parts. Tod...

Fratello Talks: Swatch Group Novelties From The Watch Valley Event In Utrecht

Fratello Talks: Watches And Wonders 2024

Welcome to this week's episode of Fratello Talks. In this special long-form episode, Nacho, RJ, and Morgan discuss Watches and Wonders 2024. There's much to unpack from this year's fair, so prepare for an extended episode. The trio tackles topics including the general atmosphere of the fair, noticeable trends from brands and the industry overall, and finishes by going through many of the show's notable releases. This year's show was slightly slower than what we've s...

Fratello On Air: Watches And Wonders 2024 — Much Ado About Nothing

Fratello On Air returns after a three-week break. Half of us traveled to Geneva while the other went to Florida. Both of us saw fancy cars, but only one of us saw impressive watches. The question of who might have a surprising answer! Watches and Wonders 2024 has come and gone and, frankly, it was a bit of a stinker. Watches and Wonders 2024 certainly delivered on the first half of its name. The second part? Not so much in our opinion. There were several nice releases, but we'll go on recor...

Fratello Talks: A Guide To Gifting Watches

Hello there! Welcome to a new episode of Fratello Talks. This week, we have decided to discuss a topic we often get asked about: gifting watches. Nacho, RJ, and Daan explore the topic, from whom you should gift a watch, to when it's appropriate to gift someone a watch. Of course, they also provide some examples from their own experience and share some stories of times when they themselves have gifted and received watches as gifts. The former being the more common occurrence. Finally, they a...

Fratello Talks: Waitlists, Limited Editions, And Things That Make A Watch Worthwhile

Welcome to a fresh new episode of Fratello Talks. Today, Nacho is joined by RJ and Lex for a varied chat centered around the topic of things that make a watch worthwhile. From waitlists to limited editions and even watches for special occasions, added value is not really a matter of price. Does a reasonable wait add to the experience of eventually owning a watch? And does too long a wait spoil the desire? This is one of the topics tackled today. As is the matter of limited editions. These days, ...

Fratello Talks: The Best Watches Of 2024 So Far

Hello, and welcome to a rather rowdy episode of Fratello Talks. It's a Friday afternoon at Fratello HQ, and Nacho, Lex, and Thomas gather around the mics to list some of the best watches of 2024 so far. Each of them has picked three of their favorites released during this first quarter and three additional honorable mentions. But, despite their best efforts, it doesn't take long until the structure crumbles and their chat diverges into a discussion on some of their favorite (and not-so...

Fratello On Air: Our Favorite Watch And Strap Or Bracelet Combinations

Fratello On Air returns with a new episode inspired by one of our listeners. Today, we're talking about our favorite watch and strap combinations. Of course, we're allowing bracelets to enter the conversation as well. Like always, we also have several other topics on tap. So, what are our favorite watch and strap combinations? It's a good question, but one that we seek to answer. We thank our faithful listener, Richard, for today's topics. Metal enters the fray too because so...

Fratello Talks: Cut The Excuses And Enjoy Watches

Hi there, and welcome to a new episode of Fratello Talks. Excuses, excuses, excuses... Letting them get in the way of a good thing is a shame. So it's time to cut them out and enjoy watches. This is this week's topic of discussion, which Nacho, Lex, and RJ explore in detail. It's an interesting phenomenon that we've observed lately. A new watch is announced, and out pour the single-phrase comments providing personal justification for a lack of intention to purchase. It all re...

Fratello On Air: Wearing Vintage Watches On Airplanes

Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air. This week, we discuss flying on airplanes with our vintage watches and why we avoid it. We also cover several other watch-related topics before and after the main subject. Enjoy the show! Flying on airplanes may be a normal and safe activity, but how does it affect our vintage watches? We discuss our thoughts on the question and why we tend to wear newer pieces. For those who don't love our banter, we begin our main subject after 40 minutes. Ho...

Fratello Talks: Watch Marketing Past, Present, And Future

Welcome to Fratello Talks. This week, you join your host, Nacho, alongside RJ and Lex for a discussion on the evolution of watch marketing. The idea of marketing watches has been around since selling them became a lucrative endeavor. Since then, we have seen the watch industry's efforts take many different forms, from posters to print ads, television spots to ambassadors, and the many different ways in which watch brands are involved in the world of sports. Today, the guys take a look at ma...

Fratello On Air: Brands Everyone Should Have In Their Collections

Fratello On Air returns and this week we discuss watches from brands that everyone should own at some point on their collecting journey. Our ideas come across as more of a suggestion than an edict, though. We also touch on several other watch-related topics before the main event. Enjoy the show! Whether we're talking watches, cars, or any other item, we're not sure that anyone likes being told what they should or shouldn't buy. That's why our main topic today on watch brands ...

Fratello Talks: Watch Pet Peeves

Welcome to this week's episode of Fratello Talks. Today, you join Nacho, Morgan, and Thomas, who join forces to discuss a number of their watch pet peeves. The guys are feeling particularly grumpy today, so they decided to go on an extensive rant, listing some of the things watch brands do that rub them the wrong way. There are plenty of groan-inducing factors to consider, whether it's a lack of micro adjust, gratuitous exhibition case backs, deployant clasps, lack of AR coating, or su...

Fratello On Air: What Would Make You Buy A New Cartier?

Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air. This week, we're asking what would make us buy a Cartier watch. It's a good question because neither of your co-hosts owns a timepiece from the incredibly popular brand. As we'll see, the reasons have little to do with what's currently on offer and more about our wearing habits. What would make us buy a Cartier ? It's a good question and with popularity in the famed jeweler's watches at an all-time high, it's ...

Fratello Talks: Hidden Gems Under €5k

Are rising watch prices getting you down? Well, we’ve got good news for you. In this week’s episode of Fratello Talks , Nacho, Timo, and RJ take a look at some horological hidden gems under €5K. These are watches you can buy either new or pre-owned that offer something truly interesting for the price. If you want to get the most for your money, these nine options are perfect ways to go. We’ve got a little bit of everything, from big-brand bangers at a fraction of their current-day equivalent pri...

Fratello On Air: Opportunities For The Watch Industry

In this week's episode of Fratello On Air , we ponder what's wrong with the watch industry. Before you jump to conclusions, we're not upset. We have a wish list and think that certain areas within this sector could use further thoughts or updates. Get ready for a lengthy episode! So, what's wrong with the watch industry? Maybe "wrong" is too harsh a word, but we do see opportunities for improvement or alteration. Don't worry; we keep our suggestions above the b...

Fratello Talks: With Jérôme Burgert And Gabriel Vachette Of Serica Watches

In this week's episode of Fratello Talks, we're pleased to welcome special guests Jérôme Burgert And Gabriel Vachette, the men behind Serica watches. They join your host and Fratello's managing editor, Nacho Conde, for a deep dive into the every-classy French microbrand ahead of its fifth anniversary. They delve into the brand's origins and evolution over the last few years and give you a small taste of things to come later this year. So, whether you're a fan of the bran...

Fratello On Air: Choosing The Three Watches We'd Save In A Burning House

Fratello On Air is back with another listener-inspired show topic. This week, we talk about the three watches each of us would save from a burning house. Don't worry, we'll keep things light as a real fire is no joke. Of course, expect a bit of banter up front as we work up to the main theme. A fire at home is a terrible thought, so feel free to insert an emergency that would require a near-instantaneous choice of three watches from the collection. No more or no less can be taken. Of c...

Fratello Talks: What's The Deal With Watch Prices?

On today's episode of Fratello Talks, Nacho, RJ, and Lex take a look at and try to make sense of watch prices today. It's often a hot topic of discussion in the comments. In a world where price increases have become a bi-yearly phenomenon, it's a challenge to keep up with where value lies. But is it a mistake to expect bang-for-buck in the world of luxury? Then, the matter of brands' positioning within the world of watches comes into play. As watch enthusiasts, we are aware o...

Fratello On Air: What Would Make You Buy A New Seiko?

Fratello On Air returns with an episode featuring a hypothetical question. This is a recurring series and this time we ask what would make us buy a new Seiko. We'll cover more than just sports watches and settle on a few key asks to one of our favorite brands. Enjoy the show! What would make us buy a new Seiko? It's a good question and one that has many different answers. You'll be able to predict some of them while others may surprise you! We hope you enjoy the show and please fe...

Fratello Talks: Affordable Watches That Punch Above Their Weight

In this week's episode of Fratello Talks, we're taking a look at three affordable watches that punch above their weight. Nacho, Thomas, and Morgan have set their sights on sub-€500 offerings. This is a space in which the likes of Seiko, Hamilton, and even Tissot once reigned supreme. Today, it's the battleground for many microbrands. But there are still hundreds of options available. Today, we'll take a look at three. Each of the guys has selected one of their favorite watche...

Fratello On Air: Enjoying Watch Collecting Without Buying More Of Them

Fratello On Air returns after a one-week break. In this episode, we're discussing a topic suggestion from one of our listeners and readers. It's a question that likely comes into most of our minds at some point along the way. Namely, how do we enjoy watch collecting without always thinking about the next acquisition? We share our thoughts. Our listener, "Cleon.XIII," is responsible for this week's episode where we talk about watch collecting and how to find satisfaction ...

Fratello Talks: When Should You Service Your Watch?

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 stic...

Fratello Talks: LVMH Watch Week 2024 Special

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 co...

Fratello Talks: What Makes A watch Brand Great?

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 th...

Fratello On Air: Starting Over With Our Collections And A Pot Of Money

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 coul...

Fratello Talks: The Most Important Watches Of The Last Five Years

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,...

Fratello On Air: Curating Our Watch Collections

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 latt...