Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air! With Thanksgiving barely in our rearview mirrors, we decide to spend time giving thanks to the watch hobby. In this installment, you'll hear what we love so much about this addiction and why. Settle in for this candid chat.

In honor of Thanksgiving, we figure that giving thanks is well overdue. Today, you'll hear a lovable Balazs talk about all the things he enjoys about collecting watches and the industry. Mike chimes in with a few of his thoughts. If you were expecting another list, don't worry; we'll be back soon with more controversy. For now, we're feeling festive, and we hope you enjoy it!

Handgelenkskontrolle

We kick off the episode with a chat about television shows. Mike has finally started the legendary British series Foyle's War and is enjoying it immensely. Balazs brings up another long-running classic, Endeavour. There's something special about these types of productions that feels very different from American programs. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Mike is wearing the Panerai he bought in 2002, the 40mm automatic PAM00048 Luminor Marina. Once again, Balazs is sporting his fantastic Rolex Submariner 5513. Yes, folks, larger watches are slowly making their way to our wrists!

Giving thanks

We kick off our main topic about giving thanks in a natural spot. The community is where we begin, and while we mention it frequently, both of us feel more grateful than ever before. Wherever we travel, we seem to bump into listeners, watch fans, and genuinely friendly folks who are happy to grab a beer or a bite. You've made us feel welcome everywhere, including online, and it's part of what keeps us so excited about the hobby. Next, we talk about a rather childlike feeling that still drives us to stay involved. Frankly, we love the connection we have with brands and the ability to see models before they're released. It's probably not a surprise, but seeing watches before and after they've gone on sale is still a thrill.

Another reason to be thankful is for the general creativity behind watches. Sure, some are better than others, but as vintage collectors, we constantly marvel at the aesthetic solutions found on our little marvels. In particular, our love of chronographs is mainly driven by their designs. The next reason for giving thanks may induce a groan, but we are deeply thankful for Rolex and Seiko. In many ways, these brands couldn't be more different, yet they're oddly very similar too. Most of all, each company deserves a lot of credit for keeping people interested in watches.

Our final dose of appreciation relates to our love of microbrands and independents. We rarely talk about micros, but these companies are driving enthusiasm, innovation, value, and showing agility. Indies, on the other hand, are pushing boundaries technically and aesthetically. Plus, most are incredibly friendly, which is a lovely attribute.

As always, thank you for listening! If you have any thoughts on future show topics, please feel free to let us know!