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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 brand flagship Navitimer and many others. We're sure you'll enjoy this extended and insightful episode, so be sure to tune in!

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 going to discuss some highly recognizable pieces and some of our favorites. This isn't exhaustive. Otherwise, we'd still be recording!

Handgelenkskontrolle

After some banter and an obligatory dad joke, we ease into the Handgelenkskontrolle. Mike is dressed for the occasion. He's wearing the Seiko Cronos J13846 from 1962. The watch has a two-piece screw-in case back. It's generally regarded as the brand's first waterproof watch. Balazs is wearing his hi-beat King Seiko 5625-7000, a lovely watch that continues to inspire Grand Seiko models.

Japanese watches

Our purpose in discussing Japanese watches is twofold. Balazs mentions five of the most well-known pieces from various brands. Mike heads in a different direction and discusses a handful of his favorite models. This was an extremely difficult task to come up with just five per person. Each Japanese brand has a deep history and, therefore, many important references. We are just scratching the surface! We discuss the following:

• Seiko Turtle in new and vintage form, one of the most recognizable dive watches in history
• Seiko 6215-7000, an incredible vintage diver that set a design standard
• Seiko SKX diver, probably the most popular "gateway drug" to mechanical watches ever
• Seiko Champion Alpinist J13043, one of the greatest designs from the brand
• Casio G-Shock original DW-5000C or its modern DW-5600 counterparts, the digital watch that started it all
• Grand Seiko 4420-9000 "44GS," likely one of the most important dress watch designs of all time
• Citizen Promaster Nighthawk, one of the most recognizable watches and potentially the most popular pilot's watch
• The Citizen Auto Dater Uni ADUS31201-T, a little-known gem that took on the Seiko Silver Wave
• Credor as a brand and the highest form of expression from Seiko
• Calendar Auto Orient 21 Diver T19755, a beautiful '60s JDM dive watch with stunning lume

Folks, that's a wrap, and we look forward to hearing about your top five Japanese watches. We're almost 100% sure they're different from our picks! Thanks for listening, and if you have any suggestions for show topics, please let us know.

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 these past 100 podcasts. Be sure to tune in and stick around as your question might be one of the many that we answer on this celebratory episode.

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 prepped for the night's festivities, and have holiday gift guide suggestions.

Handgelenkskontrolle

This week's Handgelenkskontrolle is complicated because we mention the watches on our wrists and several we brought for the evening's get-together. Balazs has brought the new Nivada Grenchen F77 Collection Ceramic, a stunning watch that starts at just €1,370 with a full ceramic case and bracelet. Mike has his Ming 37.02 Minimalist on an olive Jean Rousseau Barenia leather strap. We've listened to previous requests and have included a picture of all the watches discussed in the episode. From left to right, a '50s Tissot, an Omega 27 Chro, a Lemania 27 Chro, a Breitling Chronomat 769, an Angelus 250, an Angelus Chronodato Luxe, and a Gruen Ocean Chief.

Holiday gift guide

For the holiday gift guide, we each mention three different items. Some our watch-related, while others are great for daily life or travel. We mention the following:

• On Cloudmonster running shoes — Balazs swears by them and Mike needs to give them a try!
• The Fratello x Bergeon Mini Tool — both of us own one and it's a great stocking stuffer
• The Star 69 straps from Joseph Bonnie — these look like rubber Tropic straps, but are made of leather
• Treating yourself to a bespoke strap from the likes of Delugs or Handdn — there's nothing like a tailored strap to pair with your favorite watch
• The book, Chronographs for Collectors — we reviewed this in 2016 and it's a fantastic gift!
• Finally, the Rimowa Pilot Case — an expensive splurge, but such a cool piece for travel or storing camera gear

Thanks so much for listening and we'll be back next week with a new episode! If you have ideas for future show topics, please let us know.

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 great-grandson of Ferdinand Adolph Lange, brought the brand back to life. Since then, the brand has quickly risen to the top of the heap alongside prestigious that have been around for centuries. Today, we take a look at the brand, its watches, and what makes them both so special. 

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 in how we approach long-dormant brands or those who exist in name only. We've danced around this subject, but it's time to go head-on and share.

Handgelenkskontrolle

Mike is in the middle of moving, which caused us to miss last week's episode. Our apologies! We'd also appreciate it if you'd send your episode ideas as we've lost our shared file! We kick off our episode discussing Sneakerness, a recent sneaker event Balazs attended in Budapest. Then, we discuss the recent PAM01655 and our displeasure with the display that reveals an underwhelming movement. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Balazs is wearing the new Nivada Grenchen Antarctic GMT. Mike is wearing his trusty Rolex Submariner 14060M.

How we research a watch

There's no perfect answer when it comes to researching a watch, but we have plenty of thoughts. Firstly, ask someone who knows more about a given watch. Importantly, do this before buying! Next, we appreciate reference sites like Ranfft and other blogs dedicated to research. Old advertisements and catalogs are a good tip but need to be treated with caution if the illustrations are hand-drawn. eBay and old auction results can provide useful information. We also like Google Images and Instagram. Forums can hold key details even if many images have disappeared. Finally, YouTube is a newer medium that is increasingly useful. The reality is that researching a vintage watch, especially an obscure model, is hard work and it takes time. The key, once again, is to do this work before buying.

Thanks, Adam, for the suggestion, and thanks everyone for listening. Again, if you have ideas for future shows, please send them our way!

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.

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-ceramic lookalike of one of the most well-known dive watches out there. Tune in to find out more!

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 collected? We talk about this and more on today's podcast.

Handgelenkskontrolle

We kick off our latest episode with several topics before embarking on the main topic of passing down a watch collection. The latest release from Awake surfaces after Mike wrote a hands-on article. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Mike is wearing his Ming 22.01 GMT. He's had it on for nearly a week with the brand's titanium bracelet. Balazs is on a Speedmaster kick with his pre-moon 145.012.

Passing down our watch collections

Inevitably, we will all need to think about what to do with our watch collections. In the absence of a deeply interested relative, what will we do with our beloved timepieces? Our listener, Stephan, who comes from Switzerland but lives in Birmingham has asked the question. The easiest answer is to sell them over time at some point. However, many of us fancy ourselves as curators and have built focused collections of specific brands or models such as Seiko and Angelus. We'd hate to see the collection split up, so perhaps museums or other collectors are interested in obtaining the collections as a whole. We discuss these possibilities and more.

Thanks for listening to Fratello On Air and thanks to Stephan for the topic. If you have suggestions for future shows, please let us know!

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. Today, we speak on the topic and provide our honest take on what has become one of the year's most polarizing new releases.

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 faithful listener, Saku from Finland, is back again and asked if we purposely pair our watches and straps with our clothing. It's a deceptively simple question that leads to a sprawling conversation.

Handgelenkskontrolle

When we finally get around to the Handgelenkskontrolle, Balazs admits that he's been neglecting his Rolex GMT-Master 1675. He's wearing it on an original period-correct Oyster bracelet. Mike is wearing a first-generation Heuer Carrera 2447 with a horribly overpolished case he purchased ten years ago. He's just found an older case online and will complete the swap within weeks.

Watches and clothing

When it comes to watches and clothing, it's fair to say that both of us live by loose rules. There are rules, though. We both prefer straps unless we're wearing a Rolex. Then, if our clothes are extremely casual, we shy away from strict dress watches and always avoid black or brown alligator and crocodile straps. We both enjoy a bold strap pairing with a more toned-down watch and a look that contrasts with our clothes. However, we never mix a black or brown strap with the opposite color belt. Is it a pedantic discussion? You bet, but that's why you're listening! Let us know your favorite watch, strap, and clothing combos below.

Thanks for listening to the latest episode. If you have future show ideas, feel free to let us know!

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 episode, the guys take a look at examples of great bracelets from Rolex, Tudor, Omega, and more. Thomas even lends us some of his insights from having recently worked on designing and producing a watch for his brand, VPC. We cover all the stops, from the shape of the end links and integration to clasp size, micro-adjust, and sizing systems.

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 from Patek Philippe. We jabbered so much that the Handgelenks is last!

New York City

We kick off the show with a discussion about luggage and the Rimowa Pilot Case. Then, it's onto Balazs' retail and social experience in New York. Before we hit the main topic, we devote time to the controversial Cubitus.

Balazs was in New York for a full week and attended the two watch shows. There were a few debuts, but we had seen the watches under embargo in Switzerland or London. We discuss how the two shows have changed and also mention some of our faithful listeners who stopped and said hello. Some of the brands that make the highlight reel are Angelus, echo/neutra, Sherpa, Marathon, Furlan Mari, Baltic, Christopher Ward, and Maurice de Mauriac.

Handgelenkskontrolle

This episode, we end our show with the Handgelenkskontrolle. Balazs brought an armada of pieces to New York, but is back to his Rolex Submariner 5513. Mike is wearing his newly serviced sterling silver Omega 30T2. We hope you enjoyed today's episode. As always, if you have ideas for future shows, please let us know.

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 examples of humor and levity with varying degrees of success. Though not always visible at a glance, when you delve deeper, you can just about identify the odd example of humor and levity in watches. In today's show, we run through every example we can think of, from the clever tongue-in-cheek humor of seconde/seconde to some questionable advertisements and the odd time (or two) when Rolex has cracked a grin.

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 vintage market and the watches that will become popular (again).

Handgelenkskontrolle

Christmas came early in Germany and England. Mike received his Nike Air Tech Challenge 2's via the eBay authentication program and Balazs received the latest Nike x Travis Scott shoes from StockX. We then discuss a recent watch event in London held by 289 Consulting with 25 brands including Raymond Weil, Krayon, Doxa, Artya, Favre Leuba, and more. These intimate affairs are refreshing and a nice way to see a lot of watches in one place. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Balazs is wearing the soon-to-be-released Albishorn Air chronograph. We cannot say much about it, but it's a different take on a vintage aviator's chronograph. Mike is wearing a just-received 18K Movado Curviplan with a black dial. The watch came from France and was a buying adventure.

Vintage watches on our radar

For our main topic, we discuss the vintage watches on our radar. You'll hear about Movado chronographs, Angelus, and Hungarian military watches from Balazs. From Mike, tanks, a nice early Heuer 2447 Carrera, and a later gilt dial Rolex Submariner or GMT-Master make the list. We then discuss the current vintage market and how simple dress watches have become popular. However, these watches have limitations such as a lack of popular, commonly known references. We also opine that '60s chronographs will make a slow return to prominence. Also, vintage Rolex sports watches such as the 5512 we just reviewed are beginning to awaken from a lengthy slumber.

As always, thank you for listening to our latest episode. If you have ideas for future shows, please let us know.

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 what we like and what makes us uncomfortable.

Handglenkskontrolle

After our quick weather run-down, we jump straight into watches. Last week provided a bumper crop of new releases. The revamped Omega Speedmaster First Omega in Space debuted and was met with near-universal praise. We're fans! Then, the quizzical Nomos Tangente 2Date dropped with its bonkers complication. Like many, we hope the watch previews other pieces to come. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Balazs is wearing a special Grana chronograph with Hungarian military history. Mike is wearing a new old stock Certina Jubilé from 1971, a quirky tank-shaped watch with a manual wind movement.

Military watches

Military watches form an interesting sub-genre in our hobby. People collect them because of history, innovation, or even personal ties to the event or service branch. Some collectors have served while others may have a relative who fought for their country. Of course, some of these pieces were used by enemy forces. Some collectors choose to avoid these watches altogether. Then, there are modern military watches and collaborations. How do we feel about wearing a current production watch made in partnership with a special ops unit? We discuss all of this and more!

Thanks for listening today and we hope you enjoyed the show. If you have additional show topics, please let us know!

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 believe to be underrated. Being such a subjective topic, it's one that always results in a polarizing and interesting discussion that we know you'll enjoy. 

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-house or off-the-shelf? It was never the case, it's that we didn't care so much. Or, we weren't told to care. Now, we have a veritable buffet of descriptions for how a caliber ended up in a watch case. It's all too much now and in the end, does anyone give a rip? We're not so sure.

Handgelenkskontrolle

This week, we kick off our episode on in-house and other descriptions for movements with a load of banter. Balazs discusses his time at a Turkish airport. Mike mentions a friend who purchased a gray market Rolex Submariner Date in London and how demand is alive and well. Then, both hosts failed in their quest to purchase the recent Travis Scott Nike shoes (Mike was trying for Balazs). Finally, Mike has had it with snarky, know-it-all commenters who want gold stars. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Mike is wearing his Rolex Datejust Oysterquartz reference 17000. Balazs is wearing the cool new Nivada Grenchen Chronoking Mecaquartz Interchangeable Bezel. Stay tuned for an upcoming review here on Fratello!

In-house, designed by, made by, whatever!

Recently, Mike reviewed the new Norqain Independence Skeleton Chrono models. There was nothing wrong with the watches, but the movements were peculiar with in-house design and production at AMT. It got us thinking, do people really care about in-house, in-house designed, or off-the-shelf? We discuss the topic. You'll hear about mighty Rolex and the brand's purchase of Aegler, its longtime exclusive outside movement manufacturer. We mention Oris and question whether their in-house strategy has been helpful to sales.

We hope you enjoyed today's episode and thank you for listening! If you have ideas for future shows, please let us know.

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 know before.

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 to uncover deep in the digital library stacks. We discuss the effort and time it takes to scour the internet for information and the feeling of joy when something interesting is discovered.

Handglenkskontrolle

We are back in good form and before we move on to the main topic of watch research, we discuss travel, shoes, and more! It has been two weeks and we have much to chat about during the beginning of this episode! We move on to the Handgelenkskontrolle and Balazs is enjoying a beachside holiday in Turkey with his Ming 17.09. Mike has unearthed a late '90s Junghans Max Bill hand-winding model he bought on his first business trip to Germany in 1999. It's a lovely 34mm stainless steel watch that is finally seeing some use 25 years later!

Watch Research

Mike leads off with a quick synopsis of his recent in-depth article on the Movado Museum Watch. A sizeable amount of watch research led to debunking a couple of myths surrounding these watches. We discuss the power of digital archives such as the Library of Congress, newspaper archives, legal case histories, and more! The work wasn't easy or fast, but it led to publishing new information. Of course, several people helped along the way. We compare this recent research to a 2019 Angelus military vintage chronograph collector's guide that Balazs wrote about in 2019 and how information sources have changed. Finally, we bring up the official new Submariner book and how it mentions production totals. What could it mean for Rolex information in the future?

We hope you enjoyed this latest episode and thank you for listening! As always, if you have ideas for future shows please let us know.

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're living life on the edge and wearing your mechanical watch no matter what you're up to, or you play it safe and break out the G-Shock when the going gets tough, tune in to hear our take on the matter.

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.

Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we have a different episode style. Your friendly co-hosts check in while on the go at Geneva Watch Days 2024. Ultimately, we try to give you a feel for the non-stop schedule and what it's like to be at a show. There's no banter beforehand, so let the audio roll!

We're back from Geneva Watch Days 2024, but while we were on the go at the show, we turned the microphones on for brief segments. You'll hear us discuss our schedules, brands, individual watches, people, shoes, and more! We hope you like it. If not, we'll be back with a more normal episode next week!

Handgelenkskontrolle

While recording most segments, we attempted to bring up the watches on our wrists. Due to Mike's previous "fun" at the Swiss border, he kept his options to the Ming 17.09 Blue and the Patek Philippe Calatrava 570. Balazs was slightly more daring with his Rolex Submariner 5513, Ming 17.09 Burgundy, and Sinn Excelsior Park chronograph. Choosing a watch for an event like Geneva Watch Days is challenging and it's often best to pick a brand that isn't exhibiting. Plus, when on the go in 30-plus-degree humid weather, it also helps to consider a relatively robust watch. As an aside, none of our watches suffered any damage.

On the go in Geneva

Balazs and I spent three days at Geneva Watch Days 2024 and it felt like we maximized our time at the event. Meetings started at 9 am and ran until at least 6 pm. Then, afterglow events kicked off at the main tent or brand-specific parties. We moved back and forth between hotels and boutiques for discussions, fueled on espresso and water. Food? It takes a conscious effort to remember to eat! Still, it was great fun and we enjoyed seeing some amazing timepieces. We hope you enjoy today's episode. Next week, we will discuss our favorite watches from the event, which will wrap up Geneva Watch Days 2024!

Thanks for listening! If you have any future ideas for episodes, please let us know!

Hello, and welcome to Fratello Talks! Today, Nacho, RJ, and Thomas share their vintage watch wishlists. As you can imagine, these guys spend a lot of time thinking about watches. But when they're not writing about the latest releases, they're often lusting after (and hunting down) vintage watches online. It's a hazard of the job. Today, inspired by RJ's latest object of desire, the guys lend you insight into the timepieces on their current list of vintage (and neo-vintage) favorites.

Fratello On Air returns with an episode discussing how we service a watch collection. It's another listener suggestion and it's a good one! You'll hear about how and when we choose to service a watch and where. Then, we end the episode with some suggestions on the tools we have on hand. For our listeners, the watch content starts after approximately eight minutes.

Servicing a watch collection sounds daunting, but it doesn't have to be. Your friendly hosts have a decent number of pieces and haven't let maintenance get them down. Still, there are times when a watch needs to visit a watchmaker. Today, you'll hear us discuss how often we service our timepieces and what tools we keep at home to do some minor work.

Handgelenkskontrolle

We're relatively short on banter in this episode (rejoice, some of you!), so we quickly move to the Handgelenkskontrolle. Balazs is heading to Italy for a short week of vacation and is bringing two watches. The watch he's wearing during our recording has made the cut and it's the Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical. He's wearing it on a nylon strap for that easy, carefree summer feeling. Mike has returned to Japanese watches and is sporting his Citizen 51-2273 diver. This is an early '80s automatic that rivaled the original Seiko Turtle.

Servicing a watch collection

A hearty thanks goes out to one of our listeners in sunny Portugal for providing today's show topic. How do we service a sizable watch collection? It's a great question and one with a complex answer. Firstly, because our collections focus heavily on vintage, we service our watches as needed. We also keep records of watches that have been serviced or the pieces that need work. Regarding newer watches, we rarely service them until necessary. However, we do recommend having your dive watches pressure tested after the warranty period expires. Is quartz the answer? Not necessarily because some of these watches require servicing and routine battery changes.

We also mention the tools that we keep on hand for smaller jobs like battery changes and bracelet adjustments. Loupes, rubber case back opening balls, screwdrivers, tweezers, and pin pushers are some of our recommendations. Of course, the name "Bergeon" comes up several times.

We hope you enjoyed today's topic and thanks to our listener for the suggestion. If you have further ideas for show topics, let us know!

Hello, and welcome to Fratello Talks! If you're listening to this latest episode on the day it was released, then Geneva Watch Days 2024 is just a week away. Today, Nacho, Lex, and Thomas gather around the mics to discuss the event and make some wishes and predictions about what they'd like to see from brands at the show. There's plenty to look forward to, as more brands than ever will take part in this year's edition of the event. Be sure to stay tuned here on Fratello for all the latest. But, for now, it's just some wishes, predictions, and wild guesses.

Fratello On Air returns with our favorite watches from the '90s and early '00s. It's hard to believe that this period is nearly 30 years old! This was a key period for watches and brought pieces that exist today or are highly revered. Join us as we take a trip down memory lane. For our listeners, the watch content begins after approximately 14 minutes.

The '90s and early '00s gave us some truly memorable watches. We're thankful that our listener, Richard, asked us to discuss some of our favorite pieces from the era. Today, we'll mention dress watches, divers, aviators, and chronographs. Some may think of this as a malaise period, but we'll do our best to change your mind!

Handgelenkskontrolle

We kick off the episode with some discussions about TV shows with watches. Bosch and Lost both feature Rolex watches and Balazs discusses them in more detail. Regarding the Handgelenkskontrolle, Balazs starts us off with his first Swiss watch, the Tissot PRC200 Chronograph. Mike is wearing an 18-carat gold Movado Curviplan with a new strap.

Our favorite watches from the late '90s and early '00s

The main topic begins with an overview of four iconic watches that debuted during the '90s. These pieces are still in production today with similar designs. However, each of us mentions three more watches we love from this timeframe. Scratch that, Balazs mentions four! We talk about the following pieces:

• Omega Speedmaster Professional 3192.30, a limited edition Apollo XI commemorative made of white gold
• Patek Philippe 5014G, a Gondolo with an art deco dial
• Patek Philippe 3970EP-21, an amazing perpetual calendar
• IWC Mark XII, a JLC-powered 36mm pilot watch with a glorious bracelet
• Cartier Tank Basculante 2390, the large manual wind classic with a folding case
• Panerai PAM00127, the "Fiddy" from 2002 that went viral
• Seiko 7T27, an RAF-issued chronograph

We hope you enjoyed today's episode and thanks again to Richard for the topic suggestion! If you have suggestions for future shows, please let us know.

Welcome, dear Fratelli, to this latest episode of Fratello Talks. Today, Nacho, Lex, and Thomas spotlight some of their guilty pleasure watches. Everyone has at least one; most of us can list at least a handful. These are watches that, though we like them, we aren't too quick to admit it. This can be due to a number of reasons, whether it's a brand's (arguably undeserved) reputation, an eye-watering price tag, or even just a case of off-the-wall design. And though we often highlight carefully curated lists of favorites, we rarely reach into the back of the shelf for these oddball picks.

Fratello On Air is back with another rip-roaring episode! This week, our topic comes from one of our dear listeners and we talk about what like and dislike about working in the watch industry. It's a candid take on some of our favorite aspects with some that don't rate as highly. For those who wish to skip the banter, begin your journey after approximately 16 minutes.

The watch industry is a business like many others except that it entails one of our favorite subjects! While the good far outweighs the bad, there are some pestery facets. Today's episode focuses on what we like and dislike. Our faithful listener and commenter Richard inspired this show, so I hope we do his request justice!

Handgelenkskontrolle

Before discussing our relationship with working in the watch industry, we recap Balazs' recent visit to the 2024 Paris Olympics. He went up and back on a recent Sunday to watch handball. You'll hear about his experiences in Paris and at the match. He also visited the Omega House, but he missed Daniel Craig! For the Handgelenskontrolle, Balazs is wearing his Seiko 6100-8000 Skyliner, a gift from one of our mutual friends, James. Mike is wearing a new acquisition. It's an 18-carat gold Tavannes chronograph from 1935 made by Breitling.

Likes and dislikes about working in the watch industry

There's no doubt about it, we enjoy working in the watch industry. The early access to unreleased watches still gives us a thrill. More importantly, aside from meeting each other, we've met some amazing friends globally because of our collective ties to watches. There are also some challenging bits regarding employment in this field. Writing about watches with too few press pictures is a challenge. Then, unsurprisingly, egos persist in this area. Overall, though, we love the camaraderie within this slice of commerce. As you listen, if you have additional questions about what it's like to work with watches or even at a publishing title, feel free to ask. Perhaps we will consolidate the questions and make a show of it!

Finally, Balazs received a question about when we will release "Handgelenkskontrolle" t-shirts. It's a great question, but we need some help with the design. If you have ideas, we'd love to see them!

Thank you for listening to today's episode. If you have any future show topics, please 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!

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 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 another episode of Fratello On Air. This week, we discuss watch bracelets and cover a wide range of subtopics about these important devices that fasten watches to our wrists. It's another listener suggestion and we hope you enjoy the show! For our listeners, the watch content begins after approximately 20 minutes.

Watch bracelets are always the subject of heavy criticism. When a company decides to offer one with a watch, it can come under fire for the smallest reasons. Great bracelets are rare, but they do exist. Today, we discuss many aspects of these curious little accessories.

Handgelenkskontrolle

We engage in serious banter about, you guessed it (or didn't), recycling. Europe is a wild place when it comes to sorting one's consumables and the rules differ everywhere! Sneaker talk returns to a small degree with Balazs' lady shoes. Finally, for the Handgelenkskontrolle, Mike is sporting a vintage Tavannes tank. It's a funky piece from Japan made from gold and stainless steel. Balazs is wearing his vintage Doxa 300T Sharkhunter while in Hungary.

Watch Bracelets

Next, we're on to our main topic about watch bracelets.  Our listener, GP, sent an email asking if we would cover different types of watch bracelets, which we liked best, and the constructions that gave us the least amount of confidence. I'm not sure if we covered the question completely but we discussed the different types of links and how they're fastened together. We then touch upon vintage versus new. Finally, we cover some of our favorite bracelets. You'll hear names like the Doxa Expandro, Gay Freres, and more. We hope you enjoy this episode because it's another one that delves into the details. Feel free to list your favorite bracelets in the comments below.

Thanks for the topic, GP! If you have suggestions for future show ideas, please let us know.

Welcome to this latest episode of the Fratello Talks podcast! This week, Nacho, RJ, and Daan have prepared a watch market update for you. We often like to circle back to this topic as things evolve and change. We go through the facts and figures (so you don't have to) and summarize different trends and patterns, breaking it all down with their unique industry insights. We've all heard talk of a slump in the market, but is it actually the case? Are the speculative buyers backing out? And what does the current state of things mean for collectors and enthusiasts? All that, and more, in this week's episode.

Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air. This time, we discuss exit watches after receiving a great topic request from one of our favorite listeners. It's a familiar theme we may have touched upon before. Let's see if our collective tastes have changed. For our listeners, watch content starts after eight minutes.

Exit watches are a touchy subject. Some folks believe in the ultimate watch and the end of collecting. Admittedly, neither of us can picture an end to the hunt. Still, we will play along and discuss the watches that could send us out in style. A big thanks to Richard for the topic suggestion!

Handgelenkskontrolle

We're short on banter this week as Balazs is sweating it out in Hungary and nearly 40 degrees Celsius. Mike is shivering in England where 20 degrees and the sun would be a nice start to the summer. Before, discussing our exit watches, we divert our attention to the Handgelenkskontrolle. Balazs is wearing his mighty 38mm Gallet Multichron 12 with an EP40 movement. Mike is debuting a relatively new acquisition, a Longines 9ct gold dress watch with a lovely engraving on the case back. The '60s time-only piece uses the 19.4 caliber and is in barely-worn condition.

Exit watches

Exit watches supposedly represent the pinnacle of collecting. It also means there's nothing left to purchase after acquiring one of these pieces. We can't fathom such a scenario, but we've pulled together the watches that fit the description. Each of us has listed three and as you'll see, there's no theme. One brand, however, does make each of our lists. We discuss the following watches:

• Patek Philippe 3970, a perpetual calendar chronograph
• Patek Philippe 1463, the Borgel case waterproof chronograph
• Angelus Chrono-Datoluxe, a vintage chronograph with a day-date and moonphase complication
• Grand Seiko VFA 6185-8000/8010, a rare palladium silver watch with amazing accuracy
• Omega Speedmaster 105.003, the "Ed White" and the last vintage straight-lug Speedy
• Rolex Submariner 5513 gilt dial, a '60s beauty with an old-world dial and classic case design

We hope you enjoyed our picks and we're excited to hear about your exit watches in the comments section below! Thank you for listening and thanks to Richard for the show suggestion! If you have any ideas for future topics, please let us know.

Hello, and welcome to a sunny and warm episode of Fratello Talks! This week, Nacho, Lex, and Daan discuss summer watches. More specifically, they look at the ways they go about picking their ideal watch for the season. Is there such a thing as a perfect summer watch? If there is, you can follow Daan's method to find it. We also outline some categories, specs, and styles that make a watch ideal for the warm weather, active lifestyle, and water-based activities that we often enjoy in summer. Whether it's a cheap and cheerful watch that you can enjoy carefree days in the sun with or an action-ready piece that has all the specs to take on sand, surf, and sun, if you follow our advice, you'll have no trouble finding the perfect summer watch.

At long last, Fratello On Air has decided to address a request from one of our faithful listeners. The topic of font on watches has come up as a suggested topic many times. Does it sound mundane? Perhaps, but it couldn't be further from the truth. Our watch content begins after 15 minutes.

Fonts are a characteristic of most watches that we rarely consider. Yet, it's one of those details that if done badly can ruin a watch. Today, we discuss the power of typeface and why it matters. We praise the brands that spend time making fantastic design choices and throw a few tomatoes at missed opportunities.

Handgelenkskontrolle

Before we get to fonts, we open our episode with some discussion on the differences between saying, "half past the hour," in Germany and England. In fact, they translate to the same words, but mean something very different! Then, as we recorded this episode on the 4th of July, we brought up a gift that arrived earlier that morning from America. The Yeti Tundra 45 Patriotic Limited Edition landed in the UK. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Balazs is wearing the Vulcain Rosaspina GMT, a limited edition of 85 pieces available on the Bergamo-based jeweler's website. Mike is wearing another Borgel-cased Movado reference 18127 from the '50s.

Fonts on watches

Our faithful and committed listener, Saku from Finland, has asked us multiple times to discuss fonts on watches. Other topics have taken priority and, let's be honest, we were concerned about the ability to fill a show with the subject. We were wrong, though, because we had plenty to discuss.  We begin the chat with academic research from Balazs and his contact, @danova from Instagram. This sets the stage for subtopics including our favorite mixed uses of font on a dial, best logos, and our least favorite examples. We mention the following watches and articles:

• The Rolex Submariner 5512 and 5513
• The Seiko J13035, J13040, and J13043
• Thomas' article on building a watch brand, Episode 8
• Our logo discussion mentions Eterna, Tissot, the Roamer Stingray, and Doxa's new and old fonts
• Excelsior Park's number designs
• Our least favorites include the modern Patek Philippe logo, the Tissot Heritage 1938, and the Blancpain Fifty-Fathoms 70th Anniversary Act 1, Series II

Thank you for the suggestion, Saku, and we hope all of you enjoyed the episode! If you have any ideas for future shows, please send your suggestions.

Welcome to this week's episode of Fratello Talks, where Nacho, RJ, and Daan ask themselves the question: where did all the watches go? Whether consciously or otherwise, watch-spotting is something every watch-minded person partakes in. It may be walking down the street, at your office, in a restaurant, or even on holiday. Essentially, anywhere where there are people and where said people are wearing watches. But sometimes, a lack of watches can be as noticeable as the watches themselves. And recently, RJ has felt that he's seeing fewer watches on people's wrists. Is this about the specific location? Or does it have to do with awareness of watches and increasing thefts? Certainly, you'll never find yourself asking that question here at Fratello HQ. 

Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air. This week, we take a listener suggestion and discuss how we research watches before buying. We've hit upon this before, but it's a constantly evolving topic that deserves an update. For our beloved listeners, the watch content begins after 19 minutes.

If you're a watch collector and enjoy vintage, landing a great specimen often requires research. In this episode, we mention some of our most common tactics. Some of these processes are tried and true while others are more recent. They're all helpful, though, and can lead to a rewarding result. The lack of doing one's homework, however, can be disastrous.

Handgelenkskontrolle

We open our episode on watch research with a recap of Balazs' experience at a recent UEFA European Championship match in Stuttgart. It was a fantastic time without any travel troubles! Mike mentions a recent disappointing trip to the famed Portobello Road in London where the watches were abysmal. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Mike is wearing a new arrival. It's a '60s 14ct gold Movado Museum watch with a manual winding movement that needs a service. This leads to a discussion about the designer of the watch, Nathan George Horwitt. Balazs is still (rightfully!) in love with his new Rolex Submariner 5513.

Research before buying

One of our faithful listeners, Adam, sent us a note and asked if we could discuss how we research a watch before deciding to buy. In particular, he mentioned defunct brands. The topic is a wide one, but we mentioned several of our go-to tips including:

• Using a site such as Google Images to compare different examples of the same watch
• Following the links found on Google Images to see if old forums or sales ads add new information
• Forums
• Social media including Instagram to find similar models and authorities on given brands who can help

It is even more difficult to research defunct brands or watches from the '30s or '40s. We discuss our techniques for sorting the good from the bad.

Thanks again for listening and we hope you enjoyed the show. Feel free to send additional ideas for show topics and we will add them to the queue!

Hi there! Welcome to the latest episode of your favorite watch podcast: Fratello Talks. This week, Nacho is joined by Daan and Lex to run through some of their favorite recently released watches. Having not done one of these for a while, we thought we'd look back to some of the latest introductions from the post-Watches And Wonders period. As you might have come to expect, we've seen a ton of new watches released from the world's biggest brands. However, there are also a handful of novelties from less popular brands that we also show some love to. Tune in and check out this summary of our favorites!

Hello there, and welcome to another episode of Fratello Talks. This week, Thomas, Lex, and Nacho discuss Seiko Watches. A Seiko is a staple of most watch enthusiasts' collections, whether it's a first-ever mechanical watch or an inexpensive curiosity, a vintage rarity in museum-worthy condition, or anything in between. And though there will certainly be those out there who turn their nose up at the brand, most of us will have (at some point or another) been proud stewards of a watch bearing the name of one Kintaro Hattori Seiko on its dial. With a great range in terms of price, function, and design all across the board, it's no wonder the brand is so well-liked.

Fratello On Air returns with an episode about collecting watches and whether we'll ever stop. It's a good question that we lightly debate because we feel similarly. The watch world is endless, providing us with neverending opportunities to learn and enjoy.

Our watch content starts 15 minutes into the show. Both of your co-hosts enjoy collecting, but will we ever call it quits? We discuss the subject and explore what we might keep amassing. We imagine that many of our listeners face this question, so please feel free to add your comments at the end of the article. For now, enjoy the show!

Handgelenkskontrolle

Before we move to our main topic of collecting, we begin our podcast with some discussion about the European Championship. Balazs is heading to the Hungary versus Scotland match and Mike is cheering on England and Slovakia. Troubles with Germany's transportation system take center stage as Balazs is not looking forward to getting home late this coming Sunday. Balazs leads off the Handgelenkskontrolle with a fantastic new addition, a 1972 Rolex Submariner 5513 from Wind Vintage. Mike is wearing a '30s Movado Curviplan with a chronometer dial.

Will we ever stop collecting?

Our main topic is a discussion about whether we will stop collecting watches. The bottom line is that neither of us plans on stopping any time soon. We've realized there is so much more to experience with watches and all the related paraphernalia. There are new rabbit holes to experience and historic information is being unearthed constantly. Most of all, though, we enjoy watches and can imagine continuing the adventure.

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

Ladies and Gentlemen welcome to this latest episode of Fratello Talks. This week, Nacho is joined by RJ and Daan, who delve into the divisive topic of two-tone watches. This includes any watch whose case and bracelet comprise more than one metal with a distinct color difference. Though typically a combination of steel and gold, two-tone watches can also feature several other materials. This creates a rather unique look, highlighting specific design elements of the watch and breaking from the norm of single-material watches. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but a recent rise in the popularity of bi-metal watches has pushed us to embark on this discussion.

Fratello On Air is here with a new episode. We told you we'd be back! This week, our show topic comes courtesy of one of our listeners. We were asked how we'd behave with a dream watch that was purchased new. We have some thoughts and we expand the discussion to vintage watches. For those wondering, our watch content starts after roughly 21 minutes. 

Our listener, "12.5Lignes," has provided a great suggestion for a topic and it's one that many people ask. Finally, after saving and waiting for one's dream watch, should it be babied, protected, or worn? While I am sure many of our listeners and readers will jump to the tough guy response of wearing it, perhaps this isn't so simple. We'll discuss it. 

Handgelenkskontrolle

The banter is strong to open this episode about how to treat a dream watch. Mike has just attended an MLB game in London between the Mets and Phillies. It was a fantastic experience and sent us down a path of discussing different sports-related clothing companies. Regarding our wristwear, Mike is sporting his Zenith A386 Mk 3. This watch has returned after a lengthy stay at the watchmaker but is running beautifully and looking even better. Balazs is wearing his trusty Rolex GMT-Master reference 1675. The discussion turns to recent watch mishaps where Balazs dropped his Angelus 215 and Mike lost a crown on a 90-year-old Movado. It happens!

The dream watch

Our main topic is how to handle one's dream watch. Frankly, we think it's always best to wear the watch you've desired for so long even if it means picking up the occasional scratch. These are marks of experience and may make the watch more meaningful when it moves on to the next generation. The other choices suggested by our reader include wearing it sparingly and using labels or stickers on the watch's surface to protect it. Regarding the occasional use idea, we think this makes sense for a dressy, fragile watch or even a piece that may not be appropriate in some settings. It also may make sense for an irreplaceable vintage watch. When we talk about protection, we dislike this idea immensely because it covers the watch and no longer looks like the original item. 

We hope you enjoyed the show and thanks again to our listener for the great show idea. If you have any topics for future shows, please let us know!

Fratello On Air is back after more than two weeks. We didn't plan to be away but illness and travel got in the way again. Today, we talk about some new releases after our normal banter about a variety of topics. We hope you enjoy the show and, yes, we'll be back in a few short days per our normal schedule!

For those who are interested, our Handgelenks begins 23 minutes into the episode. Thanks for bearing with our maladies and travel diaries. This episode comes late in the week right in time for the weekend! New releases have come in a flurry over the past two weeks and we discuss some of the more notable newsmakers. Plus, since it's been a while since we've spoken, we have a bit of catching up to do!

Handgelenkskontrolle

Before we discuss the spate of new releases, we kick off our show with a wide range of banter. Some of you may wish to tune out, so fast forward to 23 minutes for watch-related content. The Walking Dead enters the conversation because Balazs is a zombie addict. Mike has a family tie with the Georgia area where most of the show was filmed. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Balazs has opted for the classic Speedmaster Speedy Tuesday 1. He has it on a lovely Artem strap with a deployant clasp. Mike is wearing a newly acquired 34mm Movado Sport with a Francois Borgel case. This leads to a discussion about another vintage gold Movado and how to decode the series of hallmarks inside the case back. This fantastic site gave all the clues necessary to understand the date and the maker.

New releases

New releases have come in droves during the past 2 weeks and we discuss four of them. We give our thoughts about the new two-tone Speedmaster Professional models (hint: we like them, but they're expensive). The MING 37.09 Bluefin is a huge hit in our minds and evolves the brand's design language further. Then, we discuss the Audemars Piguet (Re)Master 02. Balazs is a big fan, while Mike wishes it were smaller. Finally, we discuss the new King Seiko KS1969 and wish it were more representative of the original King Seiko line.

We hope you enjoyed today's episode and we look forward to coming back in a few days with another show. If you have any new show ideas, feel free to let us know!