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Fratello On Air: Case Back Engravings

Fratello On Air returns and this week, we discuss the wide world of case back engravings. Whether they relate to military-issued pieces or special occasions, there's a lot to potentially learn from these inscriptions. We hope you enjoy this episode and feel free to comment below about your thoughts on these adornments. Case back engravings are a wide subject. They cover some of life's most special moments and achievements. Or, they can give us clues about a watch's origin and story. Whatever the...

Fratello Talks: Watches In Movies

Thank you for tuning in to this week's episode of Fratello Talks. You join RJ, Timo, and your host Nacho, who are going to be covering a rather broad topic. That's right, this week it's all about watches in cinema. In this episode we'll cover anything from memorable sightings, to examples of marketing gone too far. How much can brands get away with when it comes to blatant product placement? And does it actually have its desired effect? We also cover movie-themed watches and touch upon some of o...

Fratello On Air: The Status Of Our Collections

After a three-week hiatus, Fratello On Air is back with a new episode. This week, we're talking about our collections, what we are currently wearing, and what's on our radar. As always, it's a recording with plenty of diverse topics. We invite you to kick back and enjoy the show. We've been on the road for the past several weeks and we apologize for the lack of new episodes. However, we're back and talking about our collections. That's a large topic, so we're focusing on what we've purchased rec...

Fratello Talks: Best Watches Of 2023

Welcome to the 43rd episode of Fratello Talks. Today, we are feeling retrospective, so we decided to look back at some highlights released throughout this year so far. You join RJ, Lex, and Nacho, who will run through what, to them, are the best watches of 2023. Each has been tasked with picking their five favorites from the year. They kept these picks to themselves, but as you’ll see, there was no overlap. But before we check out their highlights of the year so far, it’s time for a wrist check....

Fratello Talks: Wearing Classically Sized Watches

It's time to crank up your Bluetooth speaker, whip out your AirPods, or put your headphones on! A fresh episode of Fratello Talks is here. This week, Daan and Laurits join your host, Nacho, to chat about wearing classically-sized watches. That's right! We're talking 36mm maximum and a minimum of 32mm, with a sweet spot of 34mm. These numbers read a bit on the smaller side, but once upon a time, 34mm was the standard. Anything bigger would be considered "jumbo" or "oversized." Today, the standard...

Fratello Talks: Tudor Pelagos FXD

Welcome to this week's episode of Fratello Talks. Today, Lex, Morgan, and Nacho discuss the Tudor Pelagos FXD. They have all four models, from the original Marine Nationale version from 2021 to the latest USN model. Even the two carbon-cased Alinghi Red Bull Racing models are present. So, if you want to know more about how these guys feel about a watch that has dominated Tudor's lineup of releases this year, make sure to tune in!

Fratello On Air: Discussing Our Under €5,000 Picks And How The Industry Has Changed

Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air where we discuss our recent picks of the best watches under €5,000. We apologize for the late publishing of this week's episode, but travel is back in season. Get ready for another candid episode with our usual pre-topic banter! Recently, Balazs and I contributed to a running topic on Fratello about the best watches under €5,000. Articles like this always generate a fair amount of feedback which we greatly appreciate. We discuss our picks, some of th...

Fratello Talks: Gold And Two-Tone Watches

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...

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

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 po...

Fratello Talks: Parallel Passions Beyond Watches

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

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. ...

Fratello Talks: Japanese Watchmaking

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

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 ...

Fratello Talks: Can We Call The Blancpain x Swatch Scuba Fifty Fathoms Successful?

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

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 ha...

Fratello Talks — Is A New Watch Always Better Than The Previous Version?

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

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, quar...

Fratello Talks - How useful are GMT watches?

Hello, and welcome to this week's episode of Fratello Talks . This week, we ask ourselves: how useful are GMT watches? Lex, Morgan, and Nacho join forces to take an honest look at this most popular of complications and how useful it truly is in real life. They also share some personal experiences with GMT watches, explain the difference between flyer and caller GMTs, and talk about their favorite multi-time-zone watches they've owned.

Fratello On Air: Tissot, Geneva Watch Days 2023, And More

Fratello On Air is back with another episode where we cover the latest release from Tissot and the highlights from Geneva Watch Days 2023. Of course, we speak about additional topics and watches as well. Oh, and one of your hosts has suffered a recent injury but has still managed to make it to the microphone to bring his voice to the world of watches. Oof, Balazs took quite a tumble on his bicycle the day before recording and is working through a couple of sets of stitches. His voice is a bit of...

Fratello Talks — The Best Of Geneva Watch Days 2023

Fratello On Air: Rolex, Geneva Watch Days, And More

Welcome back to another riveting episode of Fratello On Air. This week, we’re back as a duo and we have much to discuss. The Rolex news looms large as well as the upcoming Geneva Watch Days. Of course, we add several additional topics for good measure. Kettle Kite This is the first week we bring in our “Kettle Kite” in honor of Cockney Rhyming Slang. It’s a bit awkward, so let’s see if it lasts. Regardless of our diction, Balazs bats first and shares his vintage Omega Speedmaster Mark II Racing ...

Fratello Talks - Why Is Rolex Always Winning?

It's another week, and Fratello Talks is back! This episode is all about Rolex and, specifically, about the Crown's uncanny ability to always come out on top. RJ and Lex join Nacho to discuss Rolex's inability to lose, make mistakes, or create a bad watch. But wait, is that actually the case? Sure, Rolex tops most lists out there in terms of popularity, sales, and iconicity of its watches, but surely not all that glitters is gold. Sometimes that glitter you see from a distance is a Cellini when ...

Fratello On Air: Matt From Spirit Of Time Joins The Show

Fratello Talks - Don't Baby Your Watches

The first Fratello Talks podcast that is also available to watch on video. We (Ignacio, Morgan, and RJ) discuss not babying your watches in this episode. They're made to be worn, despite the sometimes hefty price tag. Getting some of those battle scars on your watches makes it YOUR watch and perhaps even makes it stand out of the crowd. We also discuss that the watches produced today will not age that much differently from each other and will still look like they just came out of a shop 20 years...

Fratello On Air: Alternative Watches To Pieces In Our Collections

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...

Fratello Talks: Big Watches

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...

Fratello On Air: Rants On Gray Market Tomfoolery And Homages

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...

Fratello Talks: It's Time To Look For Neo-Vintage Watches

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.

Fratello On Air: Vintage Seiko, Buckles, And Speedy Bracelets

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...

Fratello Talks: Watch Photography

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.