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Welcome back to a special episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we bring you a compilation of recordings from Watches and Wonders 2025. We patched together several segments and even had a guest! Enjoy this inside look at the world's largest watch event.
Watches and Wonders 2025 may be over, but it's still fresh in our minds. As we did for the last Geneva Watch Days, this episode is a collection of small recordings from the conference. It reflects our thoughts about the latest releases, people, and trends. Enjoy the content, and remember, this show was recorded on the floor in a crowded space.
Handgelenkskontrolle
Well, there's no real Handgelenkskontrolle this week. However, Mike brought two watches to help ward off the hairy eyeball of Swiss customs. The Patek Philippe Calatrava 570 and Ming 22.01 GMT made the cut. Balazs is wearing his Rolex GMT-Master 1675 at Watches and Wonders and brought several pieces, including a lovely Angelus 215. Mike delivered a vintage Montal beads-of-rice bracelet and another Angelus to Balazs — special delivery!
Watches and Wonders — live reporting
While we weren't at Watches and Wonders together the entire time, we found the time to meet up for a few different recording sessions. As a special treat, we managed to corner Gary Shteyngart, a friend of the show, and got his thoughts about the releases, the fair, and the craziness. We even gave our friend Eric Wind a shout-out! You'll hear about all the big brands, including Rolex and some smaller marques too!
We hope you enjoy the show, and thank you for listening! As always, if you have ideas for future episodes, please let us know!
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On this rapid-fire episode of Fratello Talks, Nacho and Lex take a short break from their busy schedules to discuss some of their Watches and Wonders 2025 highlights. On location at the YouTube studio at the show, they quickly run through some of the most notable releases, starting with Rolex and Tudor and moving on to some oddball favorites and unexpected head-turners. This episode only scratches the surface, of course. We'll be back next week with a full-length episode to discuss more of the new watches.
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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Watches and Wonders 2025 is just a few days away, so today, on Fratello Talks, we're making our predictions, voicing our wishes, and expressing our fears for the week ahead. Nacho, RJ, and Lex are feeling the pre-Watches and Wonders excitement. After all, it's the biggest week of the year for the watch industry, with a record 60 brands showcasing their novelties at the fair. Though we have unique early access to some of the new watches, we do our best not to give anything away and look to fill the gaps where we can only make an educated guess. Though you'll have to wait until next week to see what some of the world's biggest watch brands have got in store for us this year, we think this episode will whet your appetite for what's to come.
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Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we share our hopes and dreams (not really) for what should be an epic Watches and Wonders 2025. After a blah 2024, we're expecting some cracking releases. We discuss some of our wishes and the event in general. For our listeners, the watch content starts after 30 minutes.
Watches and Wonders 2025 is a week away, so it's time to hear our wishes for new releases. Leaks have occurred, but no one knows if they're true. We'll have to wait, but it won't be long!
Handgelenkskontrolle
We start our show by talking about traveling to Watches and Wonders. Then, we get into the event itself, the surrounding events, and the challenges of seeing everyone and everything within a tight timeframe. Dress codes are mentioned, and so is dining etiquette! Then, we move on to some recent topics, including the Nike: Form Follows Motion exhibition at the Vitra Museum in Weil am Rhein, Germany. We also cover recent TV shows and movies. Finally, Balazs regales us with a fantastic yet tragic tale of woe at a German hardware store. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Balazs is wearing a new Nivada Grenchen Chronosport supposedly based on a prototype. Mike is wearing a vintage Movado Kingmatic ref. 15163.
Wishes for Watches and Wonders 2025
It's hard not to kick off our wishes by talking about Rolex. Then again, if the recent leaks are real, any desires will fall on deaf ears. We move on to Tudor, a brand that always surprises us with interesting releases. Will we see a Big Block, a Ranger II, or a new North Flag? Patek Philippe is interesting, but the company's penchant for louder, larger watches has us looking toward Laurent Ferrier instead. Ming will be in Geneva, so let's see if something new will arrive. We mention TAG Heuer's reinvolvement in Formula 1, and perhaps it will translate to a flood of new pieces. Let's see!
We will be on the ground in Geneva, so feel free to stop us and say hello while we run to meetings. Hopefully, you'll enjoy today's episode, and thank you for listening. As always, if you have future show topic ideas, let us know!
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Simply put, not all complications are created equal. In today's episode of Fratello Talks, we discuss many of these horological elements adjacent to a watch's most essential time-telling function. Nacho, Thomas, and Lex begin by defining terms before listing their favorite complications and ending up with some they don't like so much. They also discuss the fact that some complications play more of an active role, such as a chronograph or GMT, whereas others are not as interactive, like a perpetual calendar or moonphase. Regardless, we encourage you to read up on all complications beyond those discussed today. The journey from their functional inception to their development and combination has resulted in some of the world's most impressive watches.
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Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air. This week, we discuss our feelings about revitalized watch brands. The retro trend has been strong for over a decade, meaning that long-dormant names have been brought back to life. Are all successful? Enjoy one of our lengthiest episodes yet. For our listeners, the watch content starts after 35 minutes.
It's hard to think of a brand that hasn't returned to the market. For those of us who have collected watches for a long time, this would have been unimaginable 10 or 15 years ago. But are all revitalized watch brands a success? Hear our thoughts on the matter.
Handgelenkskontrolle
We took a week off between episodes, meaning we have some catching up to do. Balazs mentions an upcoming Sotheby's auction featuring the first-ever jerseys from Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Mike talks about a recent 75th-anniversary event with Orient, and then it's on to a visit to the A. Lange & Söhne Berlin boutique, where Balazs spent two hours. We mention a recent evening at Phillips in London with amazing independent brands. For TV, we mention The White Lotus, Zero Day, A Murder At The End Of The World, and Adolescence. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Balazs is wearing his Omega Dynamic 166.079 with a blue dial. Mike has chosen his Rolex Submariner 5513 "Maxi Dial" from 1979.
Revitalized watch brands
For our main topic, we discuss a small fraction of the existing revitalized watch brands. It's a timely subject with the announcement of Breitling's purchase of Gallet. We share our thoughts on the modern-day efforts of the following historic names:
VertexNivada GrenchenBenrusExcelsior ParkAngelusUniversal GenèveKing SeikoA. Lange & SöhneAquastarYemaDennisonFavre-LeubeWe hope you enjoy today's lengthy show, and feel free to share your thoughts below on these and other reborn vintage brands. Also, let us know if you have any ideas for future episodes. Thanks for listening!
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We would all love to have an unlimited watch budget, but that's not the case for most of us. But that doesn't mean we can't have some hypothetical fun and select the watches we'd buy with €10K, €20K, and €30K. On today's episode of Fratello Talks, Nacho, RJ, and Lex run through their picks at those three price points. Technically, they can choose from new, pre-owned, or even vintage watches. But as you'll quickly see, their picks all benefit from the interesting prices on the pre-owned market.
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Have you ever wanted to buy a vintage watch but been put off by potential pitfalls? Well, this episode of Fratello Talks is the one for you. Today, Nacho, RJ, and Thomas share their advice on buying vintage watches. They've been doing it themselves for years. In Thomas's case, there's even a history of working as a dealer for Amsterdam Watch Co. On today's show, they combine their expertise and distill some advice that everyone taking their first steps toward vintage timepieces should hear. So be sure to tune in whether you're teetering on the edge of your first vintage purchase or a connoisseur in the field. And if you're one of the latter, we'd love for you to chime in with your words of advice in the comments section.
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Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we're each choosing three non-Swiss watches with a budget of €20,000. The task is tricky, though, because €20,000 is enough to afford great pieces from the usual suspects, but it means being picky if choosing just one from a costly brand. Get ready for some surprises! For our listeners, the watch content begins after approximately 19 minutes.
Switzerland is the center of watchmaking, but there are numerous countries with credible watchmaking chops. Non-Swiss watches are extremely popular, with brands from Germany and Japan leading the way. In this episode, we look at watches from these countries and others as we spend an imaginary budget.
Handgelenkskontrolle
We open our episode with a discussion about TV shows and movies. Sadly, the sneaker marker has been quiet, but we hope it takes off with warmer weather around the corner. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Balazs is wearing his vintage King Seiko 45-7001, a hand-winding Hi-Beat gem. Mike is off-theme with a Swiss watch. He's sporting his Borgel-cased Movado 18241 with central seconds and a manual-winding movement. We then discuss the brand and these early waterproof cases.
Non-Swiss watches
Will we make some surprising picks with €20,000 to spend, or will we go mainstream and choose something from A. Lange & Söhne or Grand Seiko? How about both? During this episode, we discuss the following non-Swiss watches:
A. Lange & Söhne 1815 ref. 233.026Garrick S7Yema Navygraf Slim CMM.20Weiss 38mm Standard Issue Field WatchSeiko Prospex Speedtimer Solar Chronograph SSC943Grand Seiko SBGW038Baltic Aquascaphe GMT - GreyOur choices came from Japan, Germany, France, the UK, and the USA. It shows the wide variety of watches from outside of Switzerland, and the chances are that interesting options from most countries exist.
We hope you enjoy today's episode, and thank you for listening. As always, if you have suggestions for future shows, please let us know.
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Today, on Fratello Talks, we're discussing Audemars Piguet. The brand is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2025 and has kicked things off by introducing a selection of new models earlier this week. Lex was in Le Brassus to report on the novelties, and Nacho and RJ now join him for this week's discussion. They begin by looking at said novelties and wrap things up by sharing their thoughts on the brand's current direction and whether they've felt the influence of recently appointed CEO Ilaria Resta yet.
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We're back with another episode of Fratello On Air. This week, we're in myth-busting mode. We've seen some silly things on social media, and it's time to shed light on them. For our listeners, the watch content begins after 25 minutes.
On one hand, we're pleased that so much watch-related content now exists. On the other, the flood of influencers brings a wide array of commentary. Social media is entertaining, but it's also important to keep a clear head while consuming it. In this episode, we go on a myth-busting mission. Enjoy the ride!
Handgelenkskontrolle
We kick off our episode discussing sneakers and TV shows. Nike and New Balance have released some new models worth consideration. Balazs mentions The Madness, a series on Netflix. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Mike is wearing his new Timex Ironman 8-Lap Gray Shades. It's a model sold exclusively by Timex Japan and is relatively affordable. Balazs is wearing his tried-and-true Ming 17.09 on his favorite black rubber strap.
Myth-busting
We move on to our main topic and begin with one of the silliest claims we've heard on social media. Seemingly, it's trendy to make provocative comments to help build a fan base. One influencer proclaimed that there are no underrated vintage watches left to discover. Hogwash, we say! Then, we discuss a recent video on salesperson etiquette at a watch boutique. Next, we tackle an influencer's self-created fan Q&A. Finally, there's some silly terminology running amok, geezer.
We hope you enjoy today's episode. If you have ideas for future shows, please let us know!
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In this week's episode of Fratello Talks, we're making a public service announcement: don't let money stop you from enjoying watches! This topic is close to our hearts and has come up more than once at Fratello HQ lately. So today Nacho, Lex, and Thomas gather around the microphones and hash out their thoughts on the matter. Ultimately, it's something we can recommend to you all: don't limit your appreciation. Ownership is a small (and somewhat arguably overrated) part of the equation. We believe it should still be possible to praise and enjoy a watch (or any other object of fascination) from a distance and on its merits alone. Arbitrarily discrediting something based on one factor eventually takes the fun out of it.
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Welcome back to Fratello On Air! This week, we tackle the second half of our discussion on vintage chronographs. We get into the weeds in this episode, so we hope you like it nerdy!
Last week, we kicked off this discussion on vintage chronographs with our thoughts on why we find these watches so alluring. We mentioned racing, the space race, and other daring feats, along with how chronographs were present during many of these activities. Now we're ready to go into detail.
Handgelenkskontrolle
Because we recorded this episode directly after the last, we skipped the usual banter. Don't worry; it will return next week! For the Handgelenkskontrolle, both of us are on task with our choices. Mike is wearing a Roamer Stingray Chrono Diver, one of the wildest vintage chronographs he owns. The case shape, quality, patina, and Valjoux 23 movement all make it a lovable piece. Balazs is wearing his Grana LE, a Hungarian Air Force piece with a lovely patina.
Vintage Chronographs Part 2
We begin with a discussion on the market for vintage chronographs. Then, we mention buying these watches, what to look out for, and what to expect during ownership. After all, these are relatively complex timepieces, so there is a greater potential for issues. Condition and originality are also worth considering. Chronographs contain many details, including specific pushers, hands, and dials. Finding replacements can be impossible. Finally, we mention key models and movements. The Valjoux 72, Lemania 321, EP 4, and El Primero 3019PHC are some of the calibers we discuss. The Breitling Chronomat, Gallet Decimal, Omega Speedmaster, and Zenith El Primero A386 come up during the show.
As always, thank you for listening, and we hope you enjoy this episode. If you'd like us to come back and discuss our favorite vintage chronographs, just comment below. Of course, if you have suggestions for future shows, please let us know.
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Hello, and welcome to Fratello Talks. In today's episode, we're taking on the challenge of building a €15,000 watch collection. Nacho, RJ, and Lex have crunched the numbers and leafed through the catalogs and each selected three modern (currently available at retail) watches that they would buy if they had a €15K budget. It's a hypothetical exercise and meant to be just a bit of fun, but ultimately, it's still a challenge trying to leverage the budget to get the most bang for their buck. So, if you want to know which watches these three members of the Fratello team would go for today, tune in to find out.
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Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air. This week, we begin a two-part series on vintage chronographs. Apparently, our listeners like hearing about these complicated watches that measure elapsed time. Note that the watch content starts after approximately 25 minutes.
Vintage chronographs are a special category of watches. They're complex, often fragile, and strangely addictive! In this episode, we'll begin exploring what makes them so alluring. In our next installment, we'll get specific on models, movements, and what to look out for when buying.
Handgelenkskontrolle
Our episode begins with a discussion about Super Bowl LIX. We then discuss more TV shows. Mike mentions a recent visit to Roseberys, a London-based auction house, where he attended a preview and witnessed some interesting behavior. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Mike is wearing his cherished Rolex Datejust 1600 with a blue dial. Balazs is enjoying his Rolex Submariner 5513, which he recently featured in a fantastic article.
Vintage chronographs
We then begin discussing our main topic — why we are so attracted to chronographs. We began our collecting journeys wanting these types of watches but found ourselves attracted to pieces from different decades. Mike leaped into the '60s, while Balazs enjoyed the '40s, '50s, and '70s. We end our episode by mentioning iconic models, including the Omega Speedmaster, Rolex Daytona, Breitling Navitimer, Heuer Carrera, and Universal Genève Compax. Stay tuned for next week's podcast in which we uncover more details!
Thank you for listening to this week's edition of Fratello On Air. As always, if you have suggestions for future shows, please let us know!
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Welcome back to Fratello Talks. It's time for some tough love! Today, Nacho, Lex, and Daan are talking about a handful of watch brands with untapped potential. These are big names in the watch world that they deeply respect and admire but feel are not currently delivering to the full extent of their capability. This can relate to a brand's history and legacy, its technical expertise, or even aspects of watchmaking on which a brand has fallen behind. Some of it may sound harsh, but it's all well-intentioned feedback. These are brands that they are rooting for to do better and that they know, with some finesse and adjustment, could be genuinely excellent.
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Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we stick to Rolex under €8K and pick our favorites. The entire history of the brand is up for grabs as long as the price is right. Enjoy the episode, and tune in to the watch content after approximately 19 minutes.
Getting a sweet Rolex under €8K is not only doable but pretty darn easy! There are loads of models available, including steel sports pieces and dress models in precious metals. Vintage or modern, we've got you covered!
Handgelenkskontrolle
We kick off our episode with some schnitzel talk. Depending on where one travels, different types of schnitzels exist that we're ready to try — most of them, that is! We also mention some upcoming Jordan 1 sneakers celebrating 40 years since the first pair. Then, we talk about a few TV shows we've been watching. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Balazs is wearing his faithful Seiko 6139 chronograph. Mike is sporting the recently reviewed G-Shock DW-5000R-1A Origin Revival.
Rolex under €8K
For our main topic, we discuss Rolex under €8K. How did we select this upper limit? That's a good question! We wanted to come in comfortably below the five-figure mark, but we also felt that €5K was too low in 2025. We realize that the upper end isn't inexpensive, but we mention several models that cost much less. For our search, we primarily used Chrono24 as a basis. Our picks are:
Explorer II ref. 16570 "Polar" with drilled lug holes, a watch that is still somewhat of a Rolex outcastDay-Date ref. 1803 in 18K gold on a leather strap, a beautiful dress watch that costs significantly less without the full-gold braceletExplorer ref. 14270, the iconic 36mm "GADA" watch that flies below the radarAir-King ref. 14000 from the '90s with a dark blue "Explorer-style" dial, the value king as long as a 34mm case isn't a concernSubmariner Date ref. 16610 from the '90s with drilled lug holes, the legendary sports watch that put Rolex on the map as the must-have luxury brandDatejust ref. 160x "Pie-Pan," quite possibly the only watch you'll ever need due to its supreme comfort, go-anywhere looks, and endless variantsWe hope you enjoy today's episode. As always, if you have ideas for future shows, please let us know!
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Last week, LVMH Watch Week took place. This week, Nacho, RJ, and Lex are looking at all the watches released by Zenith, TAG Heuer, Louis Vuitton, and Daniel Roth (to name a few). We review all the releases and share our thoughts on those we found worth highlighting. With Watches and Wonders just a couple of months away, you might not have expected the deluge of novelties, but it seems LVMH and its brands have more than one ace up their sleeve. It's a strong start to the year for watches, setting the bar high for 2025.
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Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we discuss a popular request from our listeners about traveling with watches. We've discussed this topic before, but it's been a while since we last did so. For our listeners, we begin the watch content after 32 minutes.
Traveling with watches is a typical topic on forums and boards. Some may think it's a tired subject, but with new collectors always entering the fray, the theme deserves more attention. Plus, with new schemes arising to defraud watch wearers, it is constantly on some folks' minds.
Handgelenkskontrolle
To kick off this episode, we have a lengthy chat about Burns Night, television, movies, and shoes. Balazs mentions one of his favorite Scottish comedians, Kevin Bridges. We've been watching or awaiting titles such as The Night Agent, Nosferatu, Cross, Shining Girls, Paradise, Landman, and a documentary on Kimbo Slice on the VICE channel. Regarding shoes, the latest Nike Air Tech Challenge 2 retro tennis shoes worn by Andre Agassi are about to launch. We discuss the anniversary of Kobe Bryant's tragic death and mention the upcoming Nike Kobe V Protro "Year of the Mamba" shoes. For the Handglenkskontrolle, Mike is wearing his newly repaired Movado Curviplan with a black dial and an 18K gold case. Balazs is sporting a new release, the Nivada Grenchen Antarctic Diver in green. The piece is limited to 75 pieces with a date and the same number without the function for €956. Expect a review soon!
Traveling with watchesSeveral people in our Discord group have asked about traveling with watches. It seems that the new year will bring heavy travel, and with watch friends all over the world, it's fun to bring a few watches to show and tell. However, is this the best idea? We discuss the pitfalls of packing precious timepieces for the trip. Safety, forgetfulness, how to pack, and more enter into the discussion. We hope you enjoy the episode and thanks again to our community for the topic suggestion!
If you have ideas for future shows, please feel free to let us know!
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Welcome back to Fratello Talks, folks! What's the best way to spend your hard-earned cash as a watch collector? Should you splurge on many or save for one special piece? One method satisfies curiosity and is fulfilling for some, but it can also leave you with your head spinning, a full watch box, and an empty wallet. The other limits you to fewer watches, but those can, in turn, be more expensive, rare, and "special." This is the topic of discussion for today's podcast. Nacho is joined by Daan and Thomas, who provide their thoughts on the matter and share their experience. If this dilemma has ever haunted you, be sure to tune in; this one's for you!
- Visa fler
