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Welcome to the year's third episode of Fratello Talks. Today, Nacho is joined by Morgan and RJ to discuss the most important watches of the last five years. We had a look back and carefully selected nine pieces that we consider to be the most influential, impactful, and interesting horological creations of the last half-decade. Swiss watch brands present hundreds (if not thousands) of new watches each year. In an effort to innovate, iterate, and attract potential customers around the world, these brands are on an endless quest to expand their catalogs. However, not all new watches are created equal. These nine are the ones we consider to have had the greatest impact on the world of watches.

Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we talk about curating our watch collections. That's a large topic with a lot of room for discussion. How have our interests changed over time and where do we go to look for help? Enjoy the casual discussion between two watch addicts who own and admire a wide variety of pieces.

Watch collections are a funny thing. Some folks stick to one or two themes while others seem to have no rhyme or reason. Both of us seem to fall into the latter camp, but we do enjoy certain genres more than others. This week, we discuss what we look for, how our tastes have changed, and where we go for advice. This is more of a fireside chat than a list of do's and don'ts yet we still think it's an enjoyable topic. We hope you feel the same!

Handgelenks Kontrolle

Before moving on to our watch collections, we discuss speeding in Germany and how tempo limits, unfortunately, do exist in the Fatherland. We also hit upon shoes for a moment before moving into watches. Mike kicks off the Handgelenks Kontrolle with a recent acquisition. It's a 1940s Tissot Pointer Date that came from a good friend in England. Balazs has some great knowledge about Tissot, so we spend time discussing the watch. Balazs is sporting his vintage Omega Speedmaster Mark II 145.014 with a racing dial. We've discussed these watches before and still feel that they represent great value.

Our watch collections

For our main topic, we talk about our watch collections. What has influenced our choices? What are the favorite parts of our collections and do we have watches that we've bought knowing that we won't wear them? How do we obtain information on obscure pieces and what do we look for when buying? There's a lot here and, arguably, each of these questions could make up an entire podcast episode. We hope you enjoy the back-and-forth. Feel free to let us know how you've pulled your collection together and whether it follows any firm rules. Furthermore, if there are specific areas you'd like us to discuss more deeply, just ask! We know that some of you enjoy vintage watches, but have some concerns about starting to collect. We're happy to share whatever we know — and what we don't!

Thanks again for listening!

Welcome to the second episode of the second season of Fratello Talks! As we kick off the year, we're dusting off old debates, and today, we talk about the myth of a perfect watch size. Your host, Nacho, is joined by RJ and Thomas to discuss horological proportions. Is there such a thing as a perfect watch size? We don't think so. Too many factors come into play, from thickness to lug-to-lug and even the case shape, not to mention the wearer's wrist circumference and profile. Ultimately, the way to go is to try as many different watches as possible and see what works for you. What may seem too big or too small on paper is sometimes more wearable than expected in the metal. You might just be surprised! 

Fratello On Air returns with a new episode and this time, we ask what would make each other buy a new Rolex. While there's no question that the brand makes amazing watches, we tend to be vintage lovers around here. So, what would make us pull the trigger on a new model?

A new Rolex is on everyone's shopping list, right? Not so fast. Neither of your co-hosts has a new Rolex at the top of our shopping lists. So, what would sway us? We talk about the models we do enjoy and a couple of desired changes to the lineup. Then, we shift gears and discuss the Longines Spirit Zulu Time and whether it truly stacks up against the Tudor Black Bay GMT. We hope you enjoy the show!

 Handgelenks Kontrolle

We kick off our episode on what would cause us to buy a new Rolex with our normal banter. Shoes are in play and there's a lot of excitement around the upcoming releases for the year. We mention a few pairs that we'll be watching closely as the year rolls forward. When it comes to the Handglenks Kontrolle, Balazs kicks it off with his Rolex 1675 GMT-Master. He's sporting this after wearing his friend's vintage Rolex 5513 in Hungary. Mike is donning a vintage 35mm Tissot pointer date from the late '40s. We discuss the history of these watches and our thoughts.

Buying a new Rolex

Both Balazs and I love our vintage Rolex watches. We admire current Rolex watches and do admire certain models such as the GMT-Master II in Pepsi form, the Daytona, and even the 36mm Datejust. However, we miss the days of the more rugged and simple Rolex watches. As a result, we express our thoughts on what changes to the lineup would make us desire a new model. After this, we move on to a discussion about the Longines Spirit Zulu Timer and Longines in general. They've truly made some strides over the last several years. Longines is now often in the same discussions as Tudor and we discuss whether this makes sense or not.

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

Welcome to the first episode of Fratello Talks of 2024. We hope the new year has been treating you well so far. Here at Fratello HQ, we decided to tackle the new year head-on and make predictions for what we expect to see over the coming twelve months. You join Nacho, your host, alongside Morgan and Lex, who voice their expectations and wishes for the new year. From educated guesses to wild predictions, the guys have the bases covered. And, who knows? Maybe some of their wishes may just come true before the year is up!

A very Happy New Year from your co-hosts at Fratello On Air! We're back with our first episode of the year. 2024 is here and we discuss some of the trends we expect to see while sending out 2023. It was quite a year with plenty of drama and plenty of new watches. We hit the high and low points.

Sending out 2023 - the year that was! In some ways, we're ready to move on, but it's worth taking some time to look back on some of the key events. We cover both vintage and new topics and then look ahead to what may come in 2024. Enjoy the show!

Handgelenks Kontrolle

Before sending out 2023, we take the time to discuss a recent article on Perezcope about the Rolex Space-Dweller. It's a worthwhile article and will certainly raise your eyebrows! Then, it's on to the Handgelenks Kontrolle. Balazs is at home in Hungary and sporting his vintage Grand Seiko 5646-7010. It's a great all-arounder that is getting plenty of holiday period wrist time. Mike has opted for a watch he hasn't worn in some time, the Omega Speedmaster 1957 Reissue. The watch is paired with a modern Forstner Komfit JB mesh bracelet.

Sending out 2023

We come to our main topic of sending out 2023 and focusing on 2024. Of course, we can't ignore some of the concerns that came to light on the auction circuit this year. We also discuss changing trends as they relate to dial colors, gold, smaller-sized watches, and the return of both simpler and square watches. For 2024, we question how the market will perform because it has certainly slowed down in the back half of the year. We expect "value for money" to play a strong role this coming year and, finally, we discuss the role of free-standing single-brand boutiques.

We hope you enjoyed this episode and we look forward to being with you all year! As always, if you have ideas for future show topics, please feel free to let us know.

Hello, and welcome to the last episode of Fratello Talks in 2023. Today, RJ, Lex, and your host, Nacho, are here to discuss their personal, professional, and horological highlights of the year. It's the 2023 wrap-up episode! Tune in and watch (or listen) as the guys reminisce over some of the past twelve months. They touch on topics ranging from some of the year's best watch releases and events to horological innovations, articles, and personal achievements. We put a ribbon on 2023 and send the year off on a high by reading off a handful of your comments. 

Mike and I are celebrating Christmas with our loved ones this week. But this is the last Fratello On Air of the year, and we had to go out with a bang, so I recorded a talk with fellow watch enthusiast, New York Times bestselling author, and all-around nice guy Gary Shteyngart. Enjoy this special holiday episode!

Gary, a fan of Fratello On Air, is a delight to talk to. As he’s passionate about watches and horology in general, I had an easy job. Aside from Gary’s state of the collection, we touch on several topics. Nomosgets mentioned alongside brands like Patek Philippe, Rolex, and Grand Seiko. Gary also shares some inside info about the making of Succession, the HBO hit TV show of 2023.

Hello, and welcome to the 50th and penultimate episode of Fratello Talks this year. Today, we dive into the topic of building a watch brand in 2023. Your host, Nacho, is joined by Morgan and Thomas. The latter comes well-equipped to share some insights into the experience. As some of you may know, Thomas—as well as being a writer for Fratello—is also the brain behind the upcoming watch brand, VPC. But what exactly goes into starting a watch brand today? What are the challenges one faces? And what are some of the most satisfying moments along the way? In today's episode, we'll get into this and much more.

Fratello On Air is here for you during the holiday period! In this episode, we talk about some wild integrated bracelet models that stray from the norm. Folks, there are loads to choose from at all price levels! Pour some mulled wine and enjoy the ride!

Ah, the integrated bracelet. Some like them while some abhor these fixtures. We're fine with either stance, but today, we discuss some very unique vintage opportunities that fit within the ever-popular sub-genre. We have a lot of fun in this episode and we hope you come along for the laughs as well!

Handgelenks Kontrolle

Naturally, we kick off our integrated bracelet episode with some shoe talk. The co-hosts have both chosen to purchase the recently released Air Jordan 11 "Gratitude" models and share their initial thoughts on them. The movie Air also receives a mention as both found it interesting for a wide audience. We then share some 2023 listener stats about the show. As far as the Handgelenks Kontrolle, Mike is wearing his vintage Heuer Carrera 12 Dato 2547. It's a lovely piece with a triple-date complication. Balazs gets funky with a new acquisition, the Amida Digitrend. Finally, we throw a bit of good-natured shade at our buddies in California on the Spirit of Time podcast for making a questionable goulash.

The integrated bracelet

Next, we're onto our main topic of integrated bracelet watches. They've certainly captivated the watch market over the past several years, but the same names always come up in discussion. We're here to offer some wildly different vintage options within the realm. Some of these may excite you while others may cause a bit of nausea. We discuss:

• Seiko Silver Wave 7123-8060, a watch that Balazs somehow confuses with everyday dining
• Seiko 7A38-7190, a chronograph that Mike reviewed way back in 2015
• Longines Collection Ferrari, a deeply polarizing watch collab with the prancing horse
• Rado Ceramica, a once-popular and now truly questionable pick that Mike's father cannot stand
• Ulysse Nardin A 7650, a potentially dangerous watch that likely visited Studio 54
• IWC Golf-Club SL, a sexy Genta-designed piece that came before the Ingenieur

We hope you enjoyed today's episode and thank you for all of your support during 2023! If you have future show ideas, please feel free to let us know!