Over in article land, my good friend Dave Sergeant has written up the new release from URWERK and Collective today, so please feel free to check that out at your leisure for a detailed look at the watch itself and Dave's hot takes, and what is his favorite base model in the URWERK catalog.

On the Podcast today, however, we're diving into the background of this project with Martin Frei of URWERK fame and co-founder of Collective, Asher Rapkin. Collective is a US-based group of watch lovers that works directly with brands to create thoughtful, imaginative, and emotive special edition pieces available to the members of the movement only.

We get a really genuine insight into the method of collaboration, how organically these things come about, what it's like working (and getting to know one another) digitally, and both URWERK and Collective's philosophies on collaboration.

Following the truly immersive interview with Fred Buyle, Ulysse Nardin ambassador and pro freediver in WASP 9.8 (which aired on Sunday), the podcast is on a bit of a roll. If you've not checked out that fascinating talk with an experienced submariner, do so. You won't regret it.

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Welcome watch fans, to another very special episode of Watching Sports And Sporting Watches. Today, I (Rob) am joined by Fred Buyle, Ulysse Nardin ambassador, professional free diver, passionate conservationist, and, perhaps most interestingly for our community, a real watch guy.

You'd probably expect a lot more ambassadors to be as into watches as Fred clearly is, but it really isn't the case. I've encountered sports stars and celebrities that have no idea what their agent is telling them to strap to their wrist. I think that's a real shame. When I was working for NOMOS Glashütte, we discussed the possibility of hiring an ambassador —something the brand has never done — frequently. We came close to a decision several times, but we always backed away at the very last. It never felt genuine. It never felt on-brand. Oh, how wonderful would it have been to have a genuine collector in the limelight profess his or her love for NOMOS and solve the problem organically. It didn't happen then. In truth, it rarely does. But, in one of those seldom situations, it seems the very best man ended up with the right job for Ulysse Nardin.

There's a bit of a running joke about how many free divers there are representing watch brands. It kind of gives the impression that 80% of the people you meet on the street can hold their breath for seven minutes or don't bat an eyelid when confronted with a Great White Shark. That isn't the case, of course. As such, I'd never actually met or had the pleasure of speaking with a professional free diver. I relished the opportunity to ask all the stupid questions a sub-aquatic novice might wish to.

What's the deepest you've ever dived? Is it cold down there? Does it hurt? What's the most memorable experience you've had beneath the waves? Surprisingly, however, Fred's interest and genuine passion for watches meant the conversation was able to stay very much within the intended wheelhouse of this pod column. I hope you enjoy listening to the show as much as I did recording it.

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Fridge and Freezer return after a short break with fifty minutes of top-quality sports chat, as several competitions get down to the sharp end.

In an impassioned exchange, Balazs question's Rob's right to support England in Euro 2020 given his Irish birth, while Bobbysled Bobby defends himself on the grounds of dual nationality and his upbringing having been blighted by the national woe of being so thoroughly incompetent when it comes to major tournaments.

The boys lament the fate of Primož Roglič, forced to abandon the Tour de France following a brutal crash early on in the race. The Tissot ambassador and friend of the show was a great loss to a Grand Tour that looks likely to be won by last year's winner, Tadej Pogacar.

Balazs enjoys poking fun at Rob's awful run of predictions (and heartbreak) in the Stanley Cup playoffs, while lording his NBA calls over the belittled little man.

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After coming down from the interview with World Number One Primož Roglič last week, Fridge and Freezer are back in the Smooth Booth, foraging around in a bulging mailbag. This week, the boys select two very watch-centric questions for one another.

 This week, the terrible twosome tackle questions about dress watches (the best ones and the very definition of the genre), which watches one should buy to commemorate achieving the PADI diving certification, why they collect watches and sports memorabilia, and Rob fields the easiest watchmaking he's ever been asked: which watches would you recommend buying as a "his and her's" wedding gift?

Next week, we'll be back on the boards and the ice to round up the end of both the NBA and NHL seasons. In the meantime, please feel free to send your questions to us via our Instagram profiles @ferenczibazs and @robnudds. We'd love to hear from you and welcome you to the show if you'd like to take part.

Until next time, stay safe, and keep on ticking!

Can you believe it? Fourteen episodes in, WASP welcomes its very first pro-athlete, and we've kicked things off with an absolute stunner: we're welcoming Primož Roglič, the number one ranked road cyclist in the world. A two-time grand tour winner, Roglič began his career as a ski-jumper, before rapidly rising the rankings to stand at the very summit of his new sport.

Following Rob's chat with Primož, Balazs returns to the studio, reuniting the Fridge & Freezer presenting duo at long last. The boys spin around the leagues, catching up with the NBA and NHL playoffs that are very much in full swing. Rob's full of the joys of Spring as his Golden Knights look to continue their fine form against the underdog Canadiens, while the Tampa Bay Lightning hope to recover against the streaking New York Islanders. 

On the boards, the seeds have a good chance of hilding all the way to the conference deciders, but will we see the number one seeds face off in Finals? Our analysts aren't so sure...

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With Rob "the little man" Nudds on the road, Balazs takes over the mic and welcomes Dave "down the pub" Sergeant to the smooth booth to round up the NBA action from the play-offs.

How will Fridge fare without Freezer? And what on Earth is the wee man's excuse for leaving the Horntail untended? Tune in to find out.

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The last year or so has certainly been special, but now that things are reopening, it's time to get back out there. Perhaps you've read Fratello like crazy, but have you been able to try on any of the great watches that came out over the past 12 to 18 months?

Finally, the reopening is here. Sure, in places like the USA or Japan, they never truly closed. However, some folks have waited to head out until feeling comfortable. Here in Europe, stores were closed for something like six months!

The trio is back! Balazs, Jorg, and Mike talk about watches from the past year that people should try in person. Balazs goes fancy and lists a Lange as one of his favorites. Jorg picks a tough find with one of the newer Rolex models. Mike takes it down a notch with a Breitling and something even less expensive from Seiko. For good measure, the OG Nike Air Jordan kicks make an appearance in relation to the GShock "Blue Phoenix" during Jorg's Handgelenks Kontrolle.

A couple of weeks ago, our very own Ben Hodges enjoyed an illuminating back-and-forth with one of his musical heroes. The gracious Misha Mansoor of the metal band Periphery took some time out of his day to chat about timepieces. Today, we revisit that interview with the audio supplied by Misha, interspersed with the fearsomely inane commentary of Ben and Rob.

Okay, we're not that bad. In fact, there's a good argument to be made that we might be mildly entertaining. From my perspective, the highlight of the show is definitely my spot-on impression of Ben's delicious British accent, but he would probably disagree. He might point to the first-hand testimony of one of music's most talented guitarists as the centerpiece of episode 62. Who's to say?

Well, to be precise, you are! Let us know in the comments below if you enjoyed the show. If you did, and you'd like more content like this, please let us know. Suggestions are always welcome. If you didn't like it, tell us why. Unless you didn't like my hilarious accents. That's just mean.

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It's true that Fratello boasts one of the more multinational teams. One of our listeners from Finland decided to take advantage of that by asking us about watch culture around the globe. How do people come together, do they come together, and do they even like watches in some countries? We don't have all the answers, but we enjoyed the chat. This time, it's Mike, Jorg, and Balazs on the mics for a bit of banter.

Wrist check and the news

The gents roll through a "Handgelenks Kontrolle" and you'll find a lovely Rolex GMT-Master 1675 on the wrist of our main Magyar, Balazs, who happens to be in his homeland. Jorg hails from the land of wooden shoes and tulips and is there watching the pounding rain. He's sporting his beloved Omega Speedmaster Professional X-33. Mike comes from the land of the free and the home of the brave, but he's back in Germany. This time, he's wearing his Grandfather's '90s Rolex Datejust 16220. Talk about watch culture! As far as news, we highlight the free hardbound 60th-anniversary catalog that everyone can, and should, order on the Sinn website.

Watch culture

The trio talks about watch culture, how "get-togethers" work (and don't work) depending on the country. The USA looms large here because people are spontaneous and seem to have few qualms about bringing expensive wares to a group of strangers. Europe, as no surprise, is a bit more conservative and privacy-focused. Neither is right nor wrong, but there are definitely differences no matter where you travel.

 Welcome to Episode 61 of Fratello on Air, otherwise known as WASP 9.3. After spending the last three weeks rummaging around in our mailbag, we’re returning to the world of sports to provide you with a quick whizz around the American sports leagues to keep you abreast of news and developments in the NBA, NHL, MLB, and NFL.

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