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 these more special than current-day Rolex watches? Is it a mix of pop-culture presence, aesthetics, nostalgia, and rarity? And do those models sold today still have that x-factor that their predecessors possess? Perhaps it's something we'll only know in hindsight.

It's time for another episode of Fratello On Air! 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 the variety.

Handgelenkskontrolle

We spend some time discussing the new Grand Seiko 45GS reissues, the SLGW004 and SLGW005. They're lovely watches, but the originals offer stunning value and similar looks. The Handgelenkskontrolle is firing on all cylinders this week! Balazs is still rocking his burgundy Ming 17.09 and is enjoying it on a Delugs Rubber CTS strap. Mike is wearing his vintage Heuer Monaco 73633B on a perforated blue strap.

Our favorites from Geneva Watch Days 2024

For our main topic, we choose three of our favorites from Geneva Watch Days 2024. Then, we add a couple of honorable mention pieces. We don't often discuss haute horlogerie, so we hope you enjoy the change of pace. There were some real stunners and they're worthy of mention. You'll hear about the following pieces:

• Laurent Ferrier Classic Auto Sandstone
• Berneron Mirage 34mm Lapis
• Ming 37.09 Bluefin
• Armin Strom Dual Time GMT Resonance
• M.A.D.1S
• Lederer Triple Certified Observatory Chronometer
• Doxa releases including the Sub 300T Professional Aristera and green models
• Atelier Wen Perception Tantalum

We hope you enjoyed this episode and feel free to share your favorites from the event! As always, if you have ideas for future shows, please let us know.

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 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 off on account of an upper lip that is several times its normal size. But hey, he's here for YOU! This week, we discuss the controversial digital Tissot PRX and some of the key releases from Geneva Watch Days 2023. Enjoy the show!

Kettle Kite

This week, Balazs kicks off our Kettle Kite with an unexpected watch, the Union Glashütte Belisar Date Sport Pro. This 42mm diver is from a brand that we don't hear about too frequently, so be on the lookout for the upcoming review. Mike is also wearing a surprising watch. It's the Casio × PAC-MAN Collaboration Model A100WEPC from 2021. It's a fun piece that allows us to segue into our first discussion topic: the digital Tissot PRX collection. Despite the fair amount of criticism, this watch has been receiving, both like it due to its uniqueness.

Geneva Watch Days 2023

Next, we discuss Geneva Watch Days 2023 and some of the key pieces. We discuss and give our frank opinions on the following pieces:

• Laurent Ferrier Série Atelier V Sport Auto 40
• Doxa 300ß Sharkhunter
• Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute 8Tech
• Girard-Perregaux Laureato 38mm
• MB&F HM9
• Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Carbongold

We hope you enjoyed this week's show. As always, if you have ideas for a future episode, feel free to let us know!

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 on a black three-hole Tropic strap. Although he doesn’t wear it often, he’s convinced that this is a heavily undervalued watch. Mike shares his vintage Breitling Aerospace E56060. He has paired it with an inexpensive 20mm olive canvas strap. The combo has become a comfortable partner due to the slender and lightweight case.

As far as other topics, we discuss the recent Adidas Stan Smith “Homer Simpson” models. Both have landed a pair while Balazs has acted as a delivery depot for several friends. We also mention the most recent Time4APint gathering in London and meeting up with some mutual watch friends. Finally, the recently released Synchron Military Poseidon Black Edition is also in focus. It’s another great watch at a decent price and reminds us both of vintage Doxa SUB 300T Sharkhunter Aqualung pieces.

Rolex and Geneva Watch Days

Last week, Rolex threw a proper curveball when it announced that it had acquired Bucherer. We discussed the acquisition along with the possibilities and concerns. It’s interesting indeed and only time will tell as far as the real effects of the news. We then move on to Geneva Watch Days 2023. Balazs and many of the Fratello will attend, so look forward to more! Specifically, we discuss the new Doxa 300 “Beta” and the Bulgari Octo Finissimo novelties in black carbon. Black and gold seem to be the new darlings if we take these models as references. For our thoughts on them, you’ll have to take a listen!

Thanks as always for tuning in to the latest episode. If you have thoughts on future show topics, feel free to let us know!

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 you get up close! All jokes aside, join the guys for a discussion on the brand's perceived invincibility and a look at why this is the case. But before that, let's take a look at what's on the wrist.

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 from now. Get some of those scratches!

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 choose watches from each other's collections, "throw them away," and then suggest a replacement. There's a lot of watch talk here, so get ready!

Aufwiedersehen Handgelenks Kontrolle

Mike has officially relocated to London, England, and has left Balazs to watch the fort that is Germany. As a result of the move, we've decided to retire the Handgelenks Kontrolle usage unless both are back in Germany. Therefore, we need a new saying and you can help! We want something English and have discussed Cockney rhyming slang possibilities. "Kettle and Hob" is slang for a watch, so we're sticking with a "Kettle Check" for now. Again, though, feel free to bring it! Mike kicks things off with his Seiko Cronos reference J13028 from the early '60s. It's a rare black-dialed variant that many see as a precursor to the brand's first divers. Balazs, on the other wrist, is wearing the new Nivada Grenchen Chronoking "Paul Newman" Orange.

Alternative Watches

We move on to the main topic related to alternative watches. Here, we each pick three of each other's watches, dispose of them, and suggest alternatives. Most are a real surprise!

Balazs suggests the following changes to Mike's collection:

• Rolex Explorer 14270 for the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150m 38mm Blue
• MING 37.07 for the Minase Divido VM14
• Seiko 4420-9000 "44GS" for the Citizen Auto Dater 200m Skin Diver

Mike suggests the following changes to Balazs' collection:

• Omega Seamaster 2627 Steel for the Omgea Seamaster 2627 14K with black dial
• Certina Chronolympic Valjoux 72 Hungarian Air Force for the Longines 7981-1 Big Eye with 30CH
• At least 3 Angelus models for a vintage Angelus Medical

We hope you enjoyed this latest episode. If you have ideas for a future show, please don't hesitate to let us know!

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 a comeback? Perhaps it's a general fatigue of smaller timepieces or even an adjustment into a state of broader appreciation for timepieces big, small, and everything in between. We don't claim to have all the answers to these questions, but we tackle the topic all the same.

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 tow). Balazs is enjoying the rain in Germany — not really! This week, it's a bit of a rant session with a focus on some gray market high jinks and a new homage watch that has generated some critical comments.

Handgelenks Kontrolle

Before getting into our discussion on the gray market, we take care of our customary Handgelnks Kontrolle. Balazs is rocking his vintage King Seiko 45-7001 on a funky metallic purple Has No Bounds watch strap. Mike is also going vintage and is debuting a 1962 Patek Philippe Calatrava 570 that was sourced from Eric Wind. Clearly, we're both into our vintage dress watches in this episode!

The gray market and other news

During the past week, reports surfaced regarding the Los Angeles-based watch site, "The Timepiece Gentleman." Apparently, the founder recorded a recent video discussing the fact that he has spent monies owed to clients who sent their watches to him for sale on consignment. At this stage, he is attempting to pay those folks back over time. Let's see and let's also see how it affects the overall gray market. We also discuss the recent Massena LAB collaboration with Revolution. The watch generated criticism for looking almost exactly like a rare vintage Patek Philippe, but the response video caused an even larger reaction.

We hope you enjoyed today's episode. If you have any topics that you'd like for us to discuss in a future podcast, please don't hesitate to let us know.

Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we ask what the hell is so special about Rolex anyhow. Sure, the brand has been discussed heavily, but both hosts have had recent Submariner experiences and hash out what makes these watches so fantastic. For our faithful listeners, the watch content begins at approximately 23 minutes.

What is the secret to the success of Rolex and why are they so special? Before you Rolex-haters bring venom to the comments section, give us a listen. We won’t try to change your mind if you dislike the brand, but we will share why we think the company is so successful.

Handgelenkskontrolle

We kick off our episode with some banter about the Olympics as Balazs is headed to a special event the day after recording. Mike is still in Spain and discusses the new Inter Miami Adidas Gazelles that have arrived. Then, we mention Kobe Bryant’s Staples Center locker that auctioned for $2.9m. Regarding our watch choices, Mike is wearing his trusty Rolex Submariner 14060M and discusses again why it’s his favorite modern model. Balazs has swapped out his Submariner 5513, giving his GMT-Master 1675 a workout.

What is so special about Rolex?

For our main topic, we hit on several key points. First, Rolex has done a thorough job of buying its suppliers. We review some of the key acquisitions from the past 30 years. Advertising is another area where the brand differs from others by choosing champions and discussing the technical features of their watches. The look and feel of a Rolex is also something special, especially for such a mass-produced item. Finally, design consistency and a slow evolution have helped bolster the brand’s reputation over time.

We hope you enjoyed today’s episode! If you have any future topics, please let us know!

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.

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 about buckles and Speedy bracelets. This was a really fun episode to record, so we hope you enjoy it as well.

Handgelenks Kontrolle

For this episode, Balazs is wearing a vintage Seiko 6100-8000 Skyliner. The watch is new to him and has a nice story behind it. Mike is wearing his new MING 37.07 on the brand-new stainless steel universal bracelet from the company. Expect a mini-review soon, but know that it's good!

Vintage Seiko, buckles, and Speedy bracelets

Mike then goes on to discuss his vintage Seiko 4420-9000, otherwise known as the 44GS. The good folks at the Seiko Frankfurt boutique helped get this beauty from 1967 back on the wrist and it's a lovely watch. It's clear that Balazs will need one! This goes on to inspire a discussion about tracking down the correct vintage buckle for our watches. It's a really satisfying purchase that can act as the crowning touch to an amazing piece. Balazs brings up a great link on Omega buckles. Finally, we respond to a listener's question about the favorite straps and bracelets for our Speedmasters. We even talk about our favorite strap tools (hint: the Bergeon 6767 is it).

As always, thanks for listening! If you have any show ideas, feel free to let us know!

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.

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 latest wares. Enjoy!

Handgelenks Kontrolle

Before getting into the newest releases, we get into the Handgelenks Kontrolle. Mike has decided to honor Balazs' recent appearance on the Spirit of Time podcast and its references to Magnum P.I. He has chosen his vintage Rolex GMT-Master 1675 on a Jubilee bracelet. Balazs is wearing a new release that has arrived for testing: the Nivada Grenchen F77. Both declare that this is a highly attractive watch in the integrated bracelet genre at a great price. It is a tough watch to purchase, though, as it is normally out of stock.

New Watches

This week we discuss a number of new watches including the Seiko 62MAS SJE093, Louis Vuitton Tambour, our upcoming Fratello × Aquastar Deepstar II Pink Salmon Limited Edition, and the TAG Heuer Carrera Skipper. We have a lot to say about all of these watches and get into a lot of detail. When it comes to the Seiko and the Louis Vuitton, we really like them, but wish they were more affordable. The Skipper was a real surprise and it has a lot of positive attributes with a few details that seem extraneous. Finally, the Aquastar represents a step in a different direction with a dial that's very different for a Deepstar II.

We hope you enjoyed today's episode. If you have ideas for future shows, please feel free to let us know. Thanks for listening!

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 this done. They also exchange some anecdotes on their experience with water-adjacent use of watches.

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. 

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 challenges that come to mind. We'll do our best to explore these in more detail and provide our thoughts.

Handgelenks Kontrolle

This week, Mike is in London, England and Balazs is in his hometown of Pecs, Hungary. To cope with their travels, they're each sporting easygoing watches for this episode. Balazs is wearing his trusty G-Shock GW-B5600-2 that serves as his "only-G-Shock." Mike decided to bring his MoonSwatch Mission to the Moon on a black Artem strap with a deployant buckle. Clearly, comfortable is the name of the game during this recording.

Buying used watches

Used watches are so plentiful and so many people buy them every day that it seems like easy business. However, challenges do exist. A listener of ours, Hugh, sent us a note and asked about the Omega Seamaster GMT 2534.50.00 , a model he has been eyeing. He asked us to discuss some of the top concerns we have about buying a pre-owned piece, so we're happy to comply! Everything from buying from a source with protection, asking for better pictures, and pitfalls to avoid come up in the discussion. Locating spare parts and a good watchmaker also makes the cut. If you're one who likes to trawl online marketplaces, this episode might interest you. As mentioned above, feel free to share your top tips in the comments section below.

As always, we thank you for listening. Feel free to let us know if you have any topics for a future episode.

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 of Fratello Talks!

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 looks fantastic. Balazs, however, has done some sleuthing and noticed that Robert Downey Jr. is wearing an interesting vintage chronograph. Could it be a Gallet? We'll try to find out. For the Handgelenks Kontrolle, Mike has unearthed a '60s chronometer-certified Omega Constellation 165.008. It's a watch that will need to go into the regular rotation. Balazs, on the other wrist, is sporting his Benrus Sky Chief chronograph.

Vintage watches, auctions, and heritage departments

We kick off our discussion on auctions concerning the recent Omega announcement about a fraudulent Speedmaster sold in 2021. Then we discuss the effects on the vintage-watch market and what it could mean for collectors, auction houses, and heritage departments going forward. We also discuss transparency and the need for more of it during vintage-watch sales. As for help, the old-school forums are still a great place to ask questions. Finally, we also hope that questionable pieces in auction catalogs gain more coverage going forward to help warn would-be buyers.

We hope you enjoy today's episode. If you have ideas for future shows, feel free to let us know!

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! 

Hello, welcome! You're listening to Fratello Talks. This week's episode features RJ, Daan, and Nacho: three members of the Fratello team who join forces this week to wax poetic about some of their favorite affordable watches. This is the first volume of what will almost certainly become a recurring topic for the podcast. There are simply too many great watches with reasonable price tags to cover them all in one episode. But over the next twenty-six minutes and nine seconds, you'll hear all about a handful of them, with the primary focus placed upon three of them. These are the same watches you'll find on the guys' wrists this week. So, without further ado, let's jump into a wrist check.

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 choices.

Handgelenks Kontrolle

After some talk about watches we've seen during travel, it's time to get into the Handgelenks Kontrolle. Balazs is wearing his Excelsior Park and enjoying the use of the EP40 movement. Mike is wearing his recent travel watch, the Doxa SUB 300 "Black Lung." Both declare it as a modern classic.

Three-Watch Collection

Next, it's time to focus on the three-watch collection. We have some real fun with this one. There's some real variety here!

Balazs kicks things off with the Omega Speedmaster Professional 145.022 Transitional. It has all the trappings of a 321, but with the more reliable caliber 861. For an affordable alternative, he brings in the Seiko 6139-7070. This watch has one of the first automatic chronograph movements and can be had for roughly €1,000. Mike leads off with the current Speedmaster Professional, a €7,400 gem with a perfect bracelet. For an alternative, it's another manual wind chronograph known as the Hamilton Intra-Matic H. This 40mm beauty is available for €2,195 in a couple of different dial colors.

For the second round of the three-watch collection, Balazs starts with the Rolex Submariner 14060. He follows this up with the Yema Superman Heritage Special Edition, an affordable vintage-inspired alternative. Mike brings his all-time favorite watch, the Rolex Explorer 14270. His option watch is surprising because it's the Doxa SUB 300 Sharkhunter, a real beauty that can do just about everything.

For our final spin, Balazs leads off with the Patek Philippe Calatrava 5196G, a discontinued beauty of a dress watch. While it's less expensive, the vintage Omega 2505 "Jumbo" is no less attractive. Mike finishes his with yet another Patek, the sublime Calatrava 570. Despite its simple looks, there's nothing basic about this watch. Finally, the more approachable icon is the Grand Seiko 4420-9000. Like the Patek, this watch also boasts a case that is best kept away from the polishing wheel. What is your favorite three-watch collection?

As always, thank you for listening. Feel free to let us know if you have some ideas for an upcoming episode.

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 association of quartz movements with cheaply produced, disposable watches certainly exists for a reason, there are also plenty of high-end options.

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.

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 and while we may not have the perfect answer, we debate the possibilities nonetheless.

Handgelenks Kontrolle

Prior to talking about boiling it down to one great watch or not, we hit the news. There's a recent visit to the Seiko boutique for some "routine" servicing, a touch of sneaker talk, and some new watches. We discuss the new Credor Goldfeather, the Seiko Prospex Speedtimers, and the Yema x Alpine Endurance Team watches made for the 100th running of Le Mans. When it comes to our wrists, Balazs is wearing his Omega Speedmaster 145.022 "transitional" with a lovely step dial. Mike is wearing his 1964 Seiko Liner 46999, a watch that will be up for review soon enough.

One great watch?

It's a really tough question that our listener poses — do you consolidate a couple of really nice watches in order to buy a more prestigious watch? The example that we were given is a tough one. The Tudor Black Bay 58 and the Tudor Prince Date-Day have been tossed out as possible trade subjects. What's the upscale bounty? Well, none other than the small but mighty Rolex Explorer. Mike is firmly in the camp of consolidation. Then again, the 14270 Explorer is one of his favorites. Balazs, on the other hand, plays devil's advocate. He likes a bit of variety and the ability to change size. Where do you fall in this argument?

Thanks for listening to the latest episode. As always, feel free to hit us up with any show ideas that you might have.

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.

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 snorkeling gear at some point. Regardless of actually strapping on a tank, divers have become a go-to practical watch for just about any activity these days and that includes simply acting as a good watch. We've come together to name six divers that truly range in price, but all come in below €1,000. We hope you enjoy it!

Handgelenks Kontrolle

For those of you who don't love blathering, we're fairly light on the small talk this week and get right into the divers. Well, almost. Before the Handgelenks Kontrolle, Balazs discusses his profound admiration for the Tissot PRX. We think this would make a great Summer watch because it pairs so well with some shorts and a rolled-up linen shirt. Then, Balazs talks about wearing his Doxa 300T Sharkhunter, a watch that made the trip with him to his hometown in Hungary. Mike is wearing the newly released Aquastar Model 60, a 37mm skin diver that wears really well. He also discusses bringing the Tudor Black Bay 58 Silver and the Synchron Military Poseidon on a recent trip to Italy - a foray filled with pool and ocean activities.

Six divers under €1,000 for Summer

We're ready for the main topic and that means choosing six divers that all sell for below €1,000. Let us know what you think of these choices:

• Certina DS Action Diver, a €975, 43mm PVD-coated stealth watch that we loved during our recent visit to Swatch Group in Germany
• Yema Pearldiver, a €799 retro-styled diver with a thick Hesalite crystal and in-house automatic movement
• Nivada Grenchen Antarctic-Diver, a brand new €815 retro diver with a Cyclops!
• Seiko Prospex Solar Diver SNE573, this €499 watch has a no-fuss solar heartbeat, a great footprint, and is only 10.6mm thick
• Baltic Aquascaphe Titanium Blue, for €849, is a classic diver with a comfortable and lightweight case
• Citizen Promaster Mechanical Diver, for roughly €579 was a long time coming for the big brand and it also brings a titanium case

We hope you enjoyed today's episode and thank you for listening. If you have thoughts on future episode topics, please feel free to let us know!

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.

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'll see. It doesn't mean that the watches are bad, but are they the second coming? We have our doubts.

Handgelenks Kontrolle

We kick things off with some discussion around the recent Geneva auctions. There were some interesting lots, but the weekend felt a bit muted. The hordes of "AquaNautilus" and Royal Oaks seemed to dominate the scene, which got a bit snoozy. Vintage was there but to a relatively small degree. Mike discusses his impressions after watching some of the proceedings over the weekend and we even chat about certain lots. For the Handgelenks Kontrolle, Balazs is wearing his '70 Grand Seiko 5646-7010 which leads to a discussion on a Seiko Duotime that Mike owns with the same base movement. Mike is back to his trusty Rolex 1016 because he's in comfort mode.

The Hype Machine is alive

The main focus of our show today is to discuss brands that have been inundating our Instagram accounts, the web, and now the auction circuit as recently as this past weekend. Daniel Roth and Gerald Genta are LVMH brands that have received a lot of press coverage recently. In our eyes, they were niche at best and controversially designed at a minimum. Should you be as excited as the collective wants you to be? Then, we see heavy dealer activity on brands like Franck Muller and vintage Piaget. Is this where we're heading or does the push boil down to hype? We discuss and hypothesize why this is happening. The hype is real folks.

We hope you enjoyed today's episode. If you have thoughts on upcoming shows, don't hesitate to let us know.

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 look at what the future of this collaboration might look like, making some wild guesses and predictions.

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 Kontrolle

We kick things off with a bit of a weekend recap and then get right into watches. We talk about the upcoming Argon release and a new Nivada diver. Then, it's time for Handgelenks Kontrolle. Mike is wearing a '60s Rado Starliner that features a "water sealed" case back with seahorses just like the Captain Cook of the same era. Balazs is rocking his Speedmaster 145.022 "transitional," a lovely piece that looks like it has a caliber 321.

Selling Practices

We received a query from a listener regarding a small microbrand that decided to sell unsold watches from its first batch at the recent Windup show in California. The brand did this instead of fulfilling the orders of some patient customers who ordered as part of a second batch. Was this a good idea? We debate the good and the bad. Then, we discuss whether brands can take action to prevent flipping. We don't have all the answers, but we do like the selling practices of a brand like Oak & Oscar.  They pledge to always offer their newest releases to their existing customers. Finally, we talk about whether Speedmaster fans are the most fanatical in the watch world.

We hope you enjoyed this latest episode and thanks for listening! Feel free to let us know if you have an idea for a future episode.

Welcome back to Fratello On Air! This week, we discuss thinning out our watch collections. It's a tough topic because only one of us has ever sold a watch! We're happy to take on the subject, though, because it's easy to pile up watches that see very little wrist time. For our listeners, the watch content begins approximately 23 minutes into the episode.

Thinning out the watch collection is an idea that Balazs is comfortable with because he's done it! On the other hand, Mike has never sold or traded a watch and is finally thinking about doing so. Today, we discuss weaning down the collection, how to do it, and what to do with the funds. But first...

Handgelenkskontrolle

We kick off our episode with a return to one of our favorite subjects, sneakers. Adidas has released a new collection of shoes and jerseys for Inter Miami 2024 and they're hot! Balazs made the mistake of sharing the news with Mike and now pastel Miami Dolphins-hued Gazelles are on the way to Mike's feet alongside a sweet retro-themed jersey. You can take the boy out of South Florida, but... Balazs also mentions the upcoming Nike: Form Follows Motion exhibit at the Vitra Design Museum in Germany. If you're visiting this exhibition, it's worth stopping at the Musée National de l'Automobile in Mulhouse, France. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Balazs is wearing the new Nivada Grenchen Chronosport that Lex briefly covered when it debuted. Expect a hands-on review soon! Meanwhile, Mike is enjoying his trusty Citizen BN0220 in the Spanish heat, making good on his Best Summer Watches at Three Different Price Points recommendation.

Thinning out the watch collection

Today, we thank our dedicated listener, Tristan, for his suggestion for an episode on thinning out the watch collection. We modified the topic slightly to discuss how to pick the watches ready for a new home and what to do with the funds. Balazs has more experience in this area and discusses how he recently sold a pair of two-tone Rolex Datejust models to help fund a watch he desired, the Submariner 5513. Mike has never sold a watch and is considering it. He has a target watch in mind and will begin stacking up watches in his collection for trade. We promise to report back on any progress!

We hope you enjoyed today's show and thank you for the suggestion, Tristan! If you have any ideas for future episodes, please let us know!

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.

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.

Handgelenks Kontrolle

We begin our episode with some sneaker talk as Balazs mentions an upcoming re-release of the Nike Huarache that Kobe once wore. Mike mentions the newly announced Yema Urban Field, a cool series of field watches with loads of optionality. Next, we get to the Handgelanks Kontrolle and Balazs is debuting his new MING 17.09 in burgundy! Mike is wearing his vintage Gruen Ocean Chief on a Forstner Klip bracelet.

Visiting Swatch Group and a reader question

Our visit to Swatch Group was truly a pleasure. The fine folks in Eschborn shared a number of watches with us from Rado, Hamilton, Tissot, Mido, and more! We share the highlights while remarking that it's always nice to see watches in person. Finally, we answer a listener's question about the Omega Speedmaster. The question is simple — what's the big deal about the Speedmaster anyway?

Thank you for listening and as always, if you have any ideas for future shows, don't hesitate to contact us!

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 manufacturing hype, as well as the hype watches they wish they had bought when they had the chance. 

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 stand up well to daily routines while not breaking the bank (too much).

 Handgelenks Kontrolle

After some discussion about a recent guitar auction, we jump into the Handgelenks Kontrolle. Mike is wearing his beloved MING 27.02 and has taken it along to Spain for a few days of work. Balazs is going with one of his vintage watches and is enjoying his 7750-powered Heuer Montreal with Hungarian Air Force provenance.

Vintage Watches

Now, we're into the main topic and discuss older watches that can accompany you on life's daily adventures. It's a mix of all sorts of genres and price tags, but most are easily found and repaired. Plus, they all have "street cred" to a large degree, which should give them staying power on anyone's wrist. Our vintage picks are:

• Tudor Chrono-Time 79180 "Big Block," a robust 7750-fueled chronograph with all sorts of Daytona vibes
• Omega Geneve 131.018, a simple three-hand manual wind dress watch that is about as classic as it gets
• Seiko 7549-7010 "Tuna Can." a quartz (the horror!) diver from 1978 that wears like a dream
• Seiko 6117-6409 World Timer, a colorful c-cased watch that's ready to travel the world!
• Omega Speedmaster Mark II, an underrated '70s gem with a manual chronograph movement and plenty of innovation
• The Valjoux 773x chronographs, an iconic series of chronograph movements that are easy to repair, durable, and affordable

Well, there you have it! We hope you enjoyed today's episode and we look forward to coming back to you next week! Feel free to let us know if there's anything you'd like us to discuss.

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 travel, a pair of game-worn Jordans, New Era MLB hats, and a visit to the mall in Boca Raton.

Handgelenks Kontrolle

The Handgelenks Kontrolle is back and Balazs goes first with the new Vulcain Chronograph 1970's. Mike is wearing his newly received MING 22.01 GMT Gilt. This leads to discussions about a possible acquisition in Balazs' future!

The IWC Ingenieur and Other New Watches

We start the main part of the episode with a bit of Watches and Wonders talk. Balazs was on the ground while Mike was writing about some of the new releases. We talk about the new TAG Heuer Carrera, Zenith Defy Shadow, and all the Tudor pieces. Then, it's onto the new IWC Ingenieur and there's a lot of disappointment from the team. Oh, don't get us wrong, we like the watch, but we're semi-confused by the marketing strategy. Announcing a shortage before the watches hit the street feels wrong, especially for a watch that so many have wanted. Finally, we end with some of our favorite watches from the show. Vacheron, Laurent Ferrier, and Rolex make the list!

We hope you enjoyed today's episode and we look forward to recording again for next week. As always, if you have any ideas for future shows, please let us know!

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!

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 favorites and everything in between. So grab your beverage of choice, put on your headphones, and click, tap, or bark the command at your smart device of choice, and have a listen to this week's episode of Fratello Talks!

This episode of Fratello On Air was recorded on the eve of Watches & Wonders. We talk about a couple of the newest releases before turning to our main topic. We choose an accessory, an article of clothing, and a watch for each other. After so many years and countless episodes, can we get it right for each other?

Yep, we're picking watches for each other along with an accessory and a piece of clothing. First, though, we hit upon some of the releases at Watches & Wonders. The new IWC Ingenieur, the TAG Heuer Carrera Glassbox, and even the Biver debuts pieces make our discussion.

Handgelenks Kontrolle

Before we start picking watches for each other, we walk through the Handgelenks Kontrolle. Balazs starts things off from Bari, Italy with the Fratello × Nivada Grenchen Racing Chronograph. He's rocking the reverse panda while enjoying the heat. Mike is wearing a watch that he bought in 1994, an automatic Omega Seamaster 120m Chronometer reference 2301.21.00. Almost thirty years later, the gold bezel has turned a bronze-like color which works well with a burgundy Horween shell cordovan strap.

Choosing watches for each other

We get into our main topic by starting off with some accessories. Balazs found a cool Rimowa-like AirPods holder and thinks Mike would enjoy it as well. For Balazs, Mike recommends the iconic Chris Reeve small Sebenza 31 Plain Insingo. It's a no-nonsense tool that should last several lifetimes. For clothing, Balazs stumbled upon pieces from Felco while Mike recommends Western shirts from his favorite clothier, Double RL. When it comes to the main event, Balazs digs deep and plays to Mike's love of Japanese watches with the limited-edition Citizen "The Citizen" NC0206-18E. Mike goes old-school and feels that it's high time for Balazs to add a classic Rolex Submariner 5513 Maxi-dial to his collection.

We hope you enjoyed today's episode. If you have any ideas for future episodes, please feel free to let us know!

Fratello On Air is back again this week, and although we are late, we are here! This episode features several topics, including a new Vulcain chronograph, the Speedmaster bracelet, TrueDome crystals, and small watches. It's a conversation you won't want to miss!

We struggled with German Wi-Fi this week and are coming to you a few days later than normal. Thankfully, this episode was largely problem free. Three more days gave us the time to add some more thoughts, and we bring you a varied discussion, highlighting the new Vulcain chronograph and some good vintage discussion in general. We hope you enjoy it!

Handgelenks Kontrolle — a Rolex and a Vulcain

For this episode, Mike is wearing his Rolex Datejust "Turn-o-Graph" 1625 in 18K yellow gold. The weather is starting to turn, and the light blue suede strap is fitting for the upcoming season. Balazs is wearing a watch that literally just arrived in the mail. It's the new Vulcain Chronograph 1970's, a hand-wound 38mm piece that will make for a great review. This leads to a bit of banter about a vintage Vulcain chronograph that we featured all the way back in 2015!

Several topics and that Speedmaster bracelet!

After discussing Vulcain, we kick things off by talking about the current Speedmaster bracelet. After the past weekend, we've now both finally tried on the new Speedmaster with its bracelet and declare it to be among the best in the business. Truly, it's that damn good! After that, we move on to talking about TrueDome crystals and whether we like them on vintage Rolex models instead of the Cyclops. We then get into smaller watches, and Balazs talks about wearing his 34mm vintage Angelus and how it truly doesn't wear like such a small piece. Mike then confesses his new crush on a vintage Patek Philippe Calatrava and wonders whether it would work as an everyday watch.

As always, thank you for listening! If you have ideas for future topics, don't hesitate to let us know!

It's only a few days before Watches & Wonders '23 in Geneva, and we're getting in the right mood! Exhibiting brands have been sending over their news under embargo, with the exception of the obvious. In this podcast, Lex, Nacho, and RJ are talking about the expectations we have, and what we're looking forward to!

Daan, Dave, and RJ sit together for this podcast and talk about their most recent watch purchases. We talk about the whats, the whys, and the hows when it comes to our new watches. All three of us bought through different channels: a boutique, a colleague, and via Chrono24. Sit back, relax, and have a drink of your choice, while you listen to the soothing voices of our editorial team.

Fratello On Air is here with loads of new watches in this episode. No, it's not Watches & Wonders, but it's busy nonetheless! There's a new Fratello Collaboration and even a MoonSwatch!

New watches season is definitely here! Balazs and I take some time to discuss some of the latest pieces to ensure they get coverage before the Watches & Wonders onslaught begins! Settle in and enjoy!

Handgelenks Kontrolle

Before getting to all the new watches, Balazs kicks things off with a decidedly old watch. In fact, this is a pretty lousy piece because it's a so-called office GMT. Yes, he's sporting a watch that no one wants, a vintage Rolex 1675! Mike kicks off the new release topic with a vintage Excelsior Park "Tuxedo Dial" chronograph. This sets our main topic in focus because Excelsior Park just announced that this watch will be their next release. Exciting!

New Watches

We kick things off with the newly announced Seiko Prospex GMT Divers and despite the fact that they're not "pilot's" GMT's, we really like them. That golden GMT hand is the bee's knees! Next, we mention the Mido Ocean Star Decompression Worldtimer because it was pitted against the Seiko in a recent Sunday Morning Showdown. It has a fancier movement, but we're a bit concerned about everyday legibility. Next, we broach the latest MoonSwatch and declare it to be a neat, but quickly passing event. Last but not least, we roll out the Fratello × Nivada Grenchen Racing Chronograph and talk about the different variants.

Thanks so much for listening! As always, if you have episode suggestions, feel free to let us know!

The anger surrounding the new Swatch MoonSwatch Mission to Moonshine Gold was very visible in the comments section on our website. It was less noticeable during the Swatch "pop-up" sales event in Zurich on March 7th. We did a report here, but we also want to discuss the watch itself a bit more in-depth. How does the story sit with us, do we like the watch as such? Listen to our Fratello Talks podcast of this week to find out.