Fratello.com

Welcome back to Fratello Talks. Everyone knows Switzerland is home to some of the world's greatest and most renowned watch brands. But plenty of brands outside the Alpine region—and even outside Europe—produce high-end mechanical timepieces that can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with their Swiss contemporaries. Some of these non-Swiss brands have even garnered the fervent interest of collectors, who have formed communities around them. Some even rival Swiss manufacturers that have long held their place in the pantheon of horology. In today's episode, Nacho, Thomas, and Lex highlight more than a handful of these brands. From the entry-level value propositions we know and love to the very high-end of watchmaking outside the Helvetian domain.

Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air. In this episode, we stray from our original topic and discuss questionable vintage watches. Lately, too many questionable watches have received universal praise from "noted experts." We get on topic after approximately 15 minutes.

Sorry for the aberration. We both love watches from brands that are non-mainstream. This means that shady activity is often afoot from unscrupulous vintage dealers. Ingrain yourself within a community and quickly find out what's correct and what isn't. Hear about watches that have been passed around for years, but somehow find a home with an unsuspecting buyer.

Handgelenkskontrolle

Before we get cranky, it's time to discuss the Handgelenkskontrolle. Mike is wearing his VPC Type 37HW Dove Grey. The watch just arrived, and it's fantastic! Balazs is still under the weather and is wearing his stunning new Angelus Chrono-Datoluxe.

Questionable vintage watches and dealers who need to disclose

We're not sure what put a bur under the collective saddles of our hosts. We started the show discussing an Angelus 250 that Mike bought and had delivered to Balazs. Balazs has an incredible spreadsheet of serial numbers, photos, and dial types. With this, he provided a bill of clean health before Mike bought it. Another Angelus 250 popped up on eBay, and Balazs checked the serial number. Someone, along the way, changed the dial and polished the case. This leads to a discussion about vintage dealers and a recent Movado Celestograph that sold in France for an eye-watering sum of €10,000. Unfortunately, the watch lacks a bezel, but many dealers and "experts" commented on its beauty. Further research revealed that this watch was offered to many collectors and dealers before finally falling into the hands of an unsuspecting buyer. To be fair, the watches simply needed more disclosure to allow fair consideration.

We hope you enjoy today's episode. Next week, we'll begin our year-end and holiday topics. If you have any suggestions for future shows, let us know!

Hi there, and welcome to Fratello Talks. Would you rather buy a watch from a microbrand or an entry-level legacy brand? That's the question Nacho, Thomas, and Lex ask themselves today. As we've begun to see microbrands develop and offer better quality and undeniable value while entry-level big-name brands stand relatively still, this has certainly become a valid thing to ponder. But do specs and value always trump a household name? And what about the difference in post-sales support? A legacy brand promises to be able to service a watch 20 years down the line. But can a micro/independent deliver on that promise? Clearly, there are many factors to consider, so tune in, listen to what we have to say, and then join the debate in the comments section below. 

Welcome to another edition of Fratello On Air! This week, we're back with a lengthy episode to see you through holiday travels or unruly guests. We received a listener suggestion to discuss our favorite watches from the '90s and '00s. We've added the '10s to the mix as a bonus. Wait 20 minutes for the watch content!

One of our favorite listeners, Richard, suggested today's subject. Our favorite watches from three different decades inspired our lengthiest episode to date. We hope you enjoy it and the special surprises along the way.

Handgelenkskontrolle

We kick off our episode discussing Japan-related topics. Balazs just returned from a quick trip to the country, while Mike visited Seiko UK in Maidenhead. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Mike is wearing a Movado with Breguet numerals and caliber 125 that has just returned from service. Balazs is wearing his trusty Rolex Submariner 5513.

Favorite watches from recent decades

We enjoyed discussing our favorite watches from the '90s, '00s, and '10s. Balazs put in extra work and decided to bring affordable and expensive suggestions from each decade. He also mentions his favorite shoes and movies from each period. Mike joins the fray and adds watches, flicks, and kicks too! We discuss the following pieces:

• Omega Seamaster 300M 2531.80
• Girard-Perregaux Chronograph 47930 with a Lemania 1872 movement
• Audemars Piguet John Schaeffer 14994 BA
• Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Day-Date 25594ST
• Breguet Type XX
• IWC Aquatimer IW354806 Cousteau Divers
• Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5164R-001
• Rolex Submariner 14060M
• Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Traditionelle 82172/000R-9382

Thanks for listening to our latest episode, and thanks to Richard for the fantastic suggestion! If you have any thoughts on future episodes, please feel free to let us know.

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!