Fratello On Air returns and this week we discuss alternative watches to those already in our collections. The idea came from a listener of the Whiskey & Watches podcast. It was then covered by the folks on Wrist Cheese Radio and the Spirit of Time podcast. We take our own spin on this idea as you'll soon hear. We're uninvited guests to the party! A few podcasts we know and enjoy have all taken their shot at a similar theme or alternative watches to something they already own. In our case, we...
Aug 15, 2023•1 hr 7 min
Welcome, Fratelli of all shapes and sizes, to this week's episode of Fratello Talks. Today, Tomas, Morgan, and Nacho gather around the Fratello podcast table (and light up a scented candle) to discuss a topic that's been weighing heavy on their minds (and wrists) lately—big watches. All three have recently bought new pieces; in all three cases, they've been the biggest watches of their respective collections. Naturally, this has them wondering; are we going insane? Or are bigger watches ripe for...
Aug 10, 2023•30 min•Season 1Ep. 32
Fratello On Air is back with a new episode. This week, we touch on a couple of recent topics including the gray market and some associated troubles. We also discuss a newly released homage watch and the light controversy that it brought. As always, we enjoyed ourselves and hope that you'll do the same! It's another week and that means another installment of Fratello On Air. Mike is still sweating it out in Atlanta, which explains the tinnier-than-normal sound of his voice (no fancy microphone in...
Aug 08, 2023•1 hr 13 min
One of the most recurring topics here in the office is the so-called neo-vintage watches. Watches that were produced anywhere between the 1980s and the early 2000s. There's no clear definition (yet), so we go with this roughly 20-25 year time span starting in 1980. There are some neglected but very interesting watches to be discovered in this specific era. Ignacio, Morgan, and RJ talk about these neo-vintage watches in this podcast episode of Fratello Talks.
Aug 03, 2023•33 min•Season 1Ep. 31
We're back at Fratello On Air after a two-week break. Mike is moving to London and Balazs is busy with all sorts of Summer activities. But here we are and we're ready to talk about vintage Seiko, buckles, and Speedy bracelets. We think today's episode flows quite well and we hope that you enjoy the ride! For this episode, your friendly hosts came together on a Friday evening with Mike traveling in Atlanta and Balazs back in the "heimat." We get into vintage Seiko on this episode and then talk ab...
Aug 01, 2023•1 hr 14 min
Welcome, one and all, to this week’s episode of Fratello Talks! Today, two of the men behind the lenses here at Fratello sit for a chat about watches, photography, and the sweet spot where those two things meet. Morgan and Nacho share their stories on how they first discovered photography and eventually started shooting watches. They also share some tips and tricks they’ve found (the hard way), which may help you become a better watch photographer.
Jul 20, 2023•32 min•Season 1Ep. 30
Fratello On Air returns with a discussion on some of the latest new watches. We discuss a number of brands including Seiko, Nivada, TAG Heuer, Louis Vuitton, and Aquastar. As always, expect a fair dose of candor! Geneva Watch Days may be coming in just a month, but there has been a bevy of new watches on the scene over the past couple of weeks. These are some interesting pieces and they spark conversation from our hosts. You'll hear both positive and constructive feedback on the industry's lates...
Jul 18, 2023•1 hr 6 min
Welcome to this week's episode of Fratello Talks. Today, we offer you, our dear Fratelli, a public service announcement: get your watches tested for water resistance before jumping into the pool/sea/ocean this summer! Inspired by a recent experience made by Lex, which serves as a cautionary tale, the guys keep it brief today. The moral of the story? Please don't risk the repair; get your watch tested before you get it wet! Morgan, Lex, and Nacho also offer tips and advice on where and how to get...
Jul 13, 2023•14 min•Season 1Ep. 29
In this 28th episode of Fratello Talks, hosts Lex, Thomas, and RJ discuss useless features when it comes to watches. It's not (only) about complications that one never uses but also about useless functions, such as a power reserve on an automatic watch or a screw-down crown on a 30M WR watch (yes, this exists). We also try to come up with features that are not invented yet, but that would be useful.
Jul 07, 2023•34 min•Season 1Ep. 28
Fratello On Air returns with another listener-inspired topic. This week, we tackle buying used watches and give some tips that we've learned over time. Expect a good back-and-forth dialog while our co-hosts are traveling away from Germany. As always, we're interested in your thoughts on a topic like this — we're sure that many of you have great ideas! Buying used watches can be a daunting activity. Concerns about the seller, the price, the location, and the watch itself are just some of the chal...
Jul 04, 2023•1 hr 3 min
In today's episode of Fratello Talks, Nacho is joined by Daan and Morgan (a podcast debutant and Fratello's photographer) to discuss the topic of GADA watches. They already shared their thoughts in article form on the website. Still, they decided to have a chat that expands on the topic, tackling hypotheticals such as their "grail GADA" watch or even the ideal adventure they'd take their GADA watch on. Get your headphones in, have a listen, and make sure to tune in next week for another episode ...
Jun 29, 2023•20 min•Season 1Ep. 27
Fratello On Air returns, and we talk about recent controversies related to vintage watches, auctions, and heritage departments. We spare our usual chit-chat in the beginning and loop in a watch-related sighting in an upcoming Christopher Nolan movie. If you like candid talk, we hope you enjoy today's episode! Handgelenks Kontrolle Before talking about auctions and other related topics, we kick off with some discussion on Oppenheimer . The upcoming Christopher Nolan film about the atomic bomb loo...
Jun 27, 2023•1 hr 5 min
Do you approach other watch wearers in the wild? Or are you hesitant to do so? We often see others wearing incredibly nice watches on their wrists, but it's only once in a while we will comment about it. Lex remembers someone wearing a full gold Cartier Santos 100 with a very special strap he commented on. And RJ commented on someone's Rolex that wasn't well-received. In this episode, we talk about approaching watch wearers in the wild!
Jun 22, 2023•28 min•Season 1Ep. 26
Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air. This week, we each discuss our idea of the ideal three-watch collection. Then, we offer up three more at a more approachable level. Enjoy the show and let us know your thoughts. Yes, the three-watch collection is a popular topic. This time, it's our turn and we each offer a trio without any cost constraints. Then, Balazs and I come back around and do it again with more thoughts on our wallets. We have some similar picks, but also some very different...
Jun 20, 2023•1 hr 12 min
Welcome to this week’s episode of Fratello Talks, where we dive head-first into quartz watches. Lex, Thomas, and Nacho gather in the podcast studio to discuss their love for battery-powered timepieces. There’s a lot to like about them. They’re reliable, accurate, and typically more affordable than their mechanical counterparts. And though sometimes quartz watches can get a bad rap, there are plenty of impressive electronic timekeepers out there worth admiring. And though the immediate associatio...
Jun 15, 2023•29 min•Season 1Ep. 25
In this week's episode of Fratello Talks, Nacho, RJ, and Thomas discuss the matter of in-house movements. What is an in-house movement? Which brands produce/use them? And how much do they matter to the guys when buying a watch? If you want the answers to these questions, listen to the episode below.
Jun 09, 2023•34 min•Season 1Ep. 24
Fratello On Air is back with another episode and this time we talk about whether it's worth consolidating to one great watch versus having two (or more) really good watches. Of course, your definition of a great and good may vary, but we think you get the gist. Is it worth owning one great watch or is variety the spice of life if it occurs at a slightly lesser level? That's our question today from one of our great listeners from Finland who goes by "zenithist" on Instagram. It's a tough question...
Jun 06, 2023•1 hr 6 min
It's not every day we run into someone wearing an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Watch from 2002. But when you meet Jerrel Manbodh, of Manbodh Watches, chances are likely you will see him wearing that special Royal Oak watch made of Alcrite. For this Fratello Talks podcast, RJ and Nacho went on location with Manbodh at his watch boutique. We talk about the watch business, the development in the vintage and pre-owned market over the last few years, and, of course, about his favorite watches....
Jun 02, 2023•35 min•Season 1Ep. 23
Fratello On Air returns with a look at six divers for under €1,000. We could do this episode any time, but Summer is the perfect time due to casual wear and loads of water-related activities. We've picked a fairly wide range of pieces from a wide array of countries. If rotating bezels are your thing, sit back and listen! So, you don't dive? Well, neither of us do either, but we do spend a fair amount of time in the water during the Summer months. And hey, maybe one of us will dust off the snorke...
May 31, 2023•59 min
Welcome one and all to this week’s episode of Fratello On Air. As Mike is out of town, Balazs invites Nacho — who happened to be in Germany — to join him for a chat. Today’s installment brings you a loosely structured discussion. The guys talk about their current comings and goings before steering into the topics of watch news and case back engravings. They then wrap things up by running through some first impressions of classic watches from TAG Heuer, IWC, and Grand Seiko.
May 23, 2023•1 hr
Fratello On Air returns with a rip-roaring episode where we ask you, dear listeners, to step away from the hype. There's a lot of it around these days and it can be overwhelming. We're here to talk about it and have a little fun along the way. Don't believe the hype! No, this isn't a discussion about Public Enemy, but a discussion about watches and some of the brands that have been making their way back into the mainstream. The hype is well orchestrated at times, a little too orchestrated as we'...
May 16, 2023•1 hr 13 min
Welcome to this week's episode of Fratello Talks. This time, Nacho, Lex, and Thomas light a candle, dim the lights, and get nice and cozy as they touch on the topic of MoonSwatch. After a stunning debut, the Omega × Swatch Speedmaster MoonSwatch has struggled to follow up on its initial hype. We have been following along with the latest developments and have been left a little bit baffled. So, we ask ourselves the question: " how do we feel about the current state of the MoonSwatch? " We also lo...
May 11, 2023•24 min•Season 1Ep. 22
Fratello On Air returns with more listener questions. This time we take on selling practices from brands and attempt to respond to yet another Speedmaster question. Enjoy the ride! Yes, we are back with more listener questions and this time we take on a two-part question that revolves around selling practices by brands. There's also some more talk about the cherished Omega Speedmaster and its fan base. It's another candid discussion where no punches are pulled, so turn it up! Handgelenks Kontrol...
May 09, 2023•1 hr 3 min
Welcome to this week's episode of Fratello Talks. Today, we are rolling with the punches and discussing buying watches on impulse. Sinara, Lex, and Nacho gather around the Fratello podcast table to share their stories, have a laugh, and misquote Mike Tyson. Because there's nothing quite like having a plan for purchasing a specific watch to just getting caught off guard by an impulse buy.
May 04, 2023•30 min•Season 1Ep. 21
Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air. This week, we discuss a recent visit to the Swatch Group in the Frankfurt area. We also respond to a listener's question about the beloved Omega Speedmaster. Enjoy! Yes, Balazs and I were on the move and managed to visit the Swatch Group in their offices near Frankfurt. We've also received a number of reader questions that we'll attempt to answer over the next several episodes. Our first question is about the Speedmaster and it's a good one. Ha...
May 02, 2023•1 hr 5 min
For this episode, the topic is hype and hype watches. Lex, Daan, and Nacho discuss their own experiences with hype and how they've navigated this tricky topic. Daan shares his unique view as a RedBar Amsterdam member, who surrounds himself with people and watches every month — a precarious position for those partial to falling for the hype. Overall, the discussion leads them back to Watches And Wonders 2023, an event with a distinct lack of hype. They also touch on the topic of watch brands manu...
Apr 27, 2023•29 min•Season 1Ep. 20
Fratello On Air returns with an episode that focuses on vintage watches that are great for everyday wear. We all love our pieces from yesteryear, so why not choose some that can handle the rigors of daily life? Settle in and listen while we talk for a while. The problem with most vintage watches is that they're fragile and can be hard to fix once broken. Parts are rare and the watches are often so valuable that they remain locked away for safekeeping. Well, we have some picks for you that should...
Apr 25, 2023•1 hr 14 min
Fratello On Air returns after a bit of a layoff and we discuss a number of things including the new IWC Ingenieur. We're glad to be back with you and we hope you enjoy today's candid show! Folks, we're sorry that we've been away for so long, but vacation, travel, and visitors have gotten in the way. Now, though, we're here and ready to discuss all sorts of topics. The new IWC Ingenieur is the greatest focus, but we talk about loads of other subjects. We kick it all off with some news about trave...
Apr 18, 2023•1 hr 21 min
Lex, Daan, and RJ discuss the watches that impressed them the most at Watches And Wonders, but also those who failed to make them enthusiastic. The Rolex Yacht-Master 42 in titanium is being discussed in detail, because it is very cool on the one hand (according to Lex), but also very far away from previous Yacht-Masters (according to RJ). Here's the hits and misses from the Watches And Wonders 2023 edition!
Apr 13, 2023•52 min•Season 1Ep. 19
The Fratello boys are back in town! And as the fog of war begins to settle, we've sat together and gathered our thoughts on last week's watch fair. This is the Watches and Wonders 2023 debrief episode. In keeping with the short-form format of Fratello Talks, we don't get to cover every single one of the novelties. Instead, we discuss some of our highlights from the show. From the novelties, we knew were coming and still surprised us to those that seemingly came out of nowhere to become our favor...
Apr 06, 2023•31 min•Season 1Ep. 18
