Welcome all to a new year and a new season of Fratello Talks , your favorite watch podcast in the whole wide world. What should we expect from the world of watches in 2025? Nacho, RJ, and Lex share their predictions on today's show. Some of these are wishful thinking, but others are educated guesses based on anniversaries, notable dates, and insider secrets we swore blood oaths not to break. Okay, maybe nothing that secret will be revealed. But it's still worth tuning in because some of these pr...
Jan 02, 2025•36 min•Season 3Ep. 1
As we come to the end of the year, we’ll be looking back at some of the best watches of 2024. Nacho is joined by RJ and Lex, who have come prepared with a list of favorites under six pre-determined categories. And though they’ll discuss some of what they consider to be the best watches of the year, you can decide which of said timepieces will earn the title of Fratello reader’s choice for best watch of 2024. Be sure to vote for your favorite on the website (link below)! The winner will be reveal...
Dec 26, 2024•47 min•Season 2Ep. 46
Welcome back to Fratello Talks. Everyone knows Switzerland is home to some of the world's greatest and most renowned watch brands. But plenty of brands outside the Alpine region—and even outside Europe—produce high-end mechanical timepieces that can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with their Swiss contemporaries. Some of these non-Swiss brands have even garnered the fervent interest of collectors, who have formed communities around them. Some even rival Swiss manufacturers that have long held their p...
Dec 18, 2024•27 min•Season 2Ep. 45
Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air . In this episode, we stray from our original topic and discuss questionable vintage watches. Lately, too many questionable watches have received universal praise from "noted experts." We get on topic after approximately 15 minutes. Sorry for the aberration. We both love watches from brands that are non-mainstream. This means that shady activity is often afoot from unscrupulous vintage dealers. Ingrain yourself within a community and quickly fin...
Dec 17, 2024•58 min
Hi there, and welcome to Fratello Talks . Would you rather buy a watch from a microbrand or an entry-level legacy brand? That's the question Nacho, Thomas, and Lex ask themselves today. As we've begun to see microbrands develop and offer better quality and undeniable value while entry-level big-name brands stand relatively still, this has certainly become a valid thing to ponder. But do specs and value always trump a household name? And what about the difference in post-sales support? A legacy b...
Dec 12, 2024•29 min•Season 2Ep. 45
Welcome to another edition of Fratello On Air ! This week, we're back with a lengthy episode to see you through holiday travels or unruly guests. We received a listener suggestion to discuss our favorite watches from the '90s and '00s. We've added the '10s to the mix as a bonus. Wait 20 minutes for the watch content! One of our favorite listeners, Richard, suggested today's subject. Our favorite watches from three different decades inspired our lengthiest episode to date. We hope you enjoy it an...
Dec 10, 2024•1 hr 39 min
This week on Fratello Talks , we're talking all things Breitling with author, collector, and brand historian Fred Mandelbaum. Nacho and RJ join Herr Mandelbaum in a conversation that starts in the early 20th century with some of Breitling's earliest wrist-worn chronographs and spans the brand's development to the present day. We touch upon the evolution that led to some of the brand's most recognizable collections, most of which are still around today. From the dressy post-war Premier to the bra...
Dec 05, 2024•59 min
Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air ! This week, we discuss Japanese watches. That's a wide subject, so we attack it in different ways. Stick around to find out how we tackle one of our favorite watch genres. For our listeners, the watch content begins after approximately 17 minutes. Japanese watches rate highly in the minds of both hosts. Mike owns a large collection of pieces from the Land of the Rising Sun. Balazs has a tight collection of modern and vintage stalwarts. Still, we're ...
Dec 03, 2024•1 hr 24 min
Hello, and welcome to Fratello Talks ! Today, we are celebrating our 100th-episode milestone with a special Q&A. We asked you to send us your questions, and you delivered. We've gathered, sorted, and selected said questions over the past few weeks, and in today's episode, Nacho, RJ, and Thomas come together to answer them. We cover topics ranging from the usual hypotheticals to journalistic practices, favorite watches below a certain price point, and even lessons learned throughout recording...
Nov 28, 2024•41 min•Season 2Ep. 45
Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air ! We're a little later this week than usual because we decided to record this episode in person in London. We discuss several topics, but we end with a brief holiday gift guide. Our watch content starts after approximately 20 minutes. It's holiday gift guide season but also the last Time4APint of the year in London. Balazs has made the journey into the Big Smoke and we've decided to record in his hotel. We exchanged some gifts before the episode, are...
Nov 27, 2024•1 hr 11 min
Hello, and welcome, folks, to Fratello Talks . Germany's most prestigious watch brand has turned thirty this year! So today, in honor of their third decade of watchmaking from their seat in Glashütte, we're talking all about A. Lange & Söhne. Now, some of you may be thinking: "Wait, Lange has only been around since the 90s?" And you'd be right to question the fact, as the brand was originally founded in 1845 but closed its doors in 1948. After several decades of dormancy, Walter Lange, the g...
Nov 21, 2024•28 min•Season 2Ep. 44
After a two-week hiatus, Fratello On Air returns with an episode about how we research watches before buying. This is a listener suggestion that likely comes from the South in the USA. We know this because the message contained the word, "ya'll." Well, giddyup because it's time to discuss our top tips. For our listeners, the watch content starts after 20 minutes. Specifically, our listener Adam emailed us and asked how we research watches with little published history. He's especially interested...
Nov 19, 2024•1 hr 24 min
Could this be the next new Rolex? In today’s episode, we put ourselves in the shoes of the brand’s product developers and exchanged some pitches about what kind of watch we’d love to see Rolex release next. We fully acknowledge it’s practically impossible to guess The Crown’s next move. Still, it was a fun thought experiment to see which direction it could take. We discuss far-fetched wishful thinking, tongue-in-cheek suggestions, and potentially great ideas that genuinely got us excited.
Nov 14, 2024•27 min•Season 2Ep. 44
Today, we're bringing back the fan-favorite topic of affordable watches. Nacho, Lex, and Daan picked one favorite under €1000 from their personal collections. In this second time diving into the topic, we have a more varied lineup than last time. On our first time highlighting affordable favorites, we ended up with three divers: two from Seiko and one from Citizen. Today's selection is a bit more varied and counts among it an integrated bracelet steel sports watch, a titanium GMT, and a bio-cera...
Nov 07, 2024•25 min•Season 2Ep. 43
Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air . This week, we take on another listener topic and discuss passing down our watch collections or what might happen to our watches as we age. We're hopefully not near that time, but it's a subject worth discussing. For our listeners, the watch talk begins at approximately 17 minutes. The thought of passing down a watch collection to a family member is natural, but what if no one likes watches? Even if they do, will they like the watches we've collecte...
Nov 05, 2024•1 hr 10 min
This week on Fratello Talks , we examine the Patek Philippe Cubitus. Nacho, Lex, and Daan join forces to discuss this hotly debated release from one of the world's most prestigious watch brands. Initially leaked via a magazine ad, the watch did not receive the warmest welcome from watch enthusiasts. And despite journalists at the launch event providing some positive silver lining to Patek breaking its 25-year hibernation from releasing new models, the online rhetoric remained rather cynical. Tod...
Oct 30, 2024•37 min•Season 2Ep. 42
Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air . This week, we tackle a listener question about pairing watches and straps with our clothing. Do we care or put a lot of thought into what we wear with our garb? Stick around to find out more. Watch content begins after approximately 20 minutes. Halloween is upon us, which means starting the show off with another great joke to hear Balazs groan. Somehow, we get stuck on clothing brands including J.Crew, which takes us to the main topic. Our fai...
Oct 29, 2024•1 hr 8 min
Hello, and welcome to Fratello Talks! Today, Nacho, RJ, and Thomas discuss some of the best watch bracelets, looking at every element that goes into one, from end link to clasp. There’s nothing worse than a bracelet that feels cheap or like an afterthought. The way you fasten it to your wrist is truly an important part of any great watch. And, as opposed to straps, which are ultimately “disposable” products, a bracelet feels much more like an integral part of the watch as a whole. In this episod...
Oct 24, 2024•29 min•Season 2Ep. 41
We're back with another episode of Fratello On Air. Balazs has just stepped off a plane from New York and is ready to record. In this episode, we kick off with a healthy dose of banter, touch on some news, and review the two watch shows that just concluded. Watch content starts after roughly 25 minutes. WatchTime New York and Windup just finished and Balazs was on site. You'll hear about the events and how they've grown in stature. Plus, we discuss a certain square-shaped elephant in the room fr...
Oct 22, 2024•1 hr 14 min
Watches are many different things: functional objects, fashion accessories, charming anachronistic timekeeping companions... The list goes on. But one thing they aren't is funny. In the world of watches, the only thing more serious than the timepieces themselves is their prices. But does that mean there's no room for humor and levity in the watch world? That's the question Nacho, RJ, and Lex set out to answer today. In an industry that tends to take itself rather seriously, we look to find rare ...
Oct 17, 2024•21 min•Season 2Ep. 40
Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air ! This week, your hosts discuss the vintage watches currently tickling their collective fancies. Before that, though, there's plenty of banter about sneakers and watches. For your convenience, watch content starts after 20 minutes. Vintage watches are some of our favorite watches. We're always looking and thinking about what to buy next. In this episode, you'll hear about what has us searching auction sites and sale boards. We also discuss the v...
Oct 15, 2024•1 hr 24 min
Oct 10, 2024•39 min•Season 2Ep. 39
Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air ! This week, we discuss military watches new and old. We're not here to discuss our favorite models, but we hit upon some major themes with these pieces. Some of these pieces come from disgraced regimes while newer models are similar to high fashion collabs. Stick around and see what we think! Military watches are a deep subject. Books have been written about them and brands continue to invest in creating new models. We discuss the topic and explain ...
Oct 08, 2024•1 hr 5 min
Hey there, welcome to this week's episode of "Fratello Talks." What are some of the most underrated watch brands out there? That's the question that Nacho, RJ, and Daan have chosen for today's discussion. And though there are indeed many brands out there that could be seen as not receiving the praise and recognition that they deserve, they have chosen to focus only on a handful. For the sake of brevity, they also specify that their picks are limited to larger, more mainstream brands that they be...
Oct 03, 2024•36 min•Season 2Ep. 38
Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air ! This week, we discuss the increasing number of movement production claims and wonder whether it all really matters. In-house, in-house designed, and third-party are only some explanations we hear about movements and their origin. It's gotten a bit nutty! For our listeners, there's horology content interspersed initially, but fast-forward to 23 minutes for uninterrupted watch talk. Do you remember when life was simple and watch movements were in-hou...
Oct 01, 2024•1 hr 12 min
Welcome to this latest installment of "Fratello Talks," where we speak with a special guest. Today, we are happy to be joined by Benoît Mintiens, founder and CEO of the avant-garde Belgian watch brand Ressence. In this long-form episode, we learn about Benoît's origins as an industrial design consultant, how he transitioned into the watch world, and the philosophy that informed the creation of Ressence. Join us for this in-depth chat, you might just learn something about the brand you didn't kno...
Sep 26, 2024•58 min•Season 2Ep. 37
We're back with another episode of Fratello On Air ! We apologize for missing last week, but travel and visitors got in the way. This week, we're discussing watch research, the time it takes, and the self-satisfaction obtained when uncovering a new fact. It's another nerdy episode, but recording was a lot of fun. For our listeners, the watch content begins after 22 minutes. Watch research sounds like a decidedly dull topic. However, this couldn't be further from the truth because there is plenty...
Sep 24, 2024•1 hr 2 min
Welcome back to "Fratello Talks." Should you wear your watch while playing sports or exercising? It's a question we often hear. What could the possible risks be for your beloved mechanical timepiece? Or is there no real reason to be worried at all? In today's episode, Nacho, RJ, and Lex explore these questions and talk from their own experience. They also look to some sports professionals to see what their approach is and whether it should serve as an example in the first place. So, whether you'...
Sep 19, 2024•28 min•Season 2Ep. 36
Welcome to this latest episode of Fratello Talks. Does modern Rolex still have the magic? That's the question that Nacho, RJ, and Lex tackle today. There's no question that modern Rolex watches are reliable, luxurious timekeepers. But for many enthusiasts and collectors, nothing quite comes close to the magic of the older four and five-digit references. This is reflected in the prices that some of these (let alone rarer examples) can fetch in the pre-owned market. But what (if anything) makes th...
Sep 12, 2024•27 min•Season 2Ep. 35
It's time for another episode of Fratello On Ai r! This week, we cap off Geneva Watch Days 2024 with our favorites from the event. We saw some fascinating watches and met new and old acquaintances. For our listeners, there's not much banter in this episode! We've returned to our respective countries, are fully rested, and ready to go. Still, the glow from Geneva Watch Days 2024 hasn't completely left us. We spend the show talking about our favorites from the week before and we think you'll enjoy...
Sep 10, 2024•1 hr 8 min
