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Fratello On Air returns once again! Balazs and Mike are together after a three-week break due to heavy travel. It's a light-hearted show full of observations and head scratching. We talk about the Omega X-33 Marstimer, the Apple Watch, and even about luggage.

Yes, it's been a while, but the boys are back in town again. Balazs has been all over Europe while Mike has been in three time zones within the USA. We focus on the craziness that seems to surround collecting anything today and then dip into some discussion around the Omega X-33 Marstimer. It's two friends getting back together after a while...enjoy it!

Handgelenks Kontrolle

We kick things off with the Handgelnks Kontrolle and Balazs is sporting a brand new piece.  He is sporting a Benrus Sky Chief with a freshly serviced Valjoux 72. Mike is wearing his Rolex Sea-Dweller 1665 "Great White" and talks about how small it is versus the current Deep Sea Sea-Dweller. The discussion meanders to the classic pilot's chronographs and the Glycine Airman.

The Omega X-33 Marstimer and Rimowa

Before getting into the Omega X-33 Marstimer, we talk about how Rimowa has seemingly gone the way of Rolex. Apparently, the well-known luggage sells out on a daily basis these days and draws queues in front of the boutiques. The horror! We move on to the Omega and while we really like the looks of the watch, we both wish that it had more functionality such as solar or some sort of connectivity. It's a pricey piece and we feel like more could have been done with the opportunity. We finish our discussion by talking about the Apple Watch and how it has become so commonplace today that it just might be worth a try. Scary stuff indeed!

As always, thank you for listening, and thanks for waiting for us to return!  We'll be back next week with another episode!

Fratello On Air checks in with a new episode and Geneva Watch Days 2022 is the subject. Balazs and Mike discuss some of the key new releases. As always, expect banter and clear views on what's happening around us in the world of watches.

Geneva Watch Days 2022 is a wrap and Balazs was there. He gives his impressions on some of the most essential new releases while Mike weighs in. Naturally, there's talk about other watch news and equipment. Enjoy!

 Handgelenks Kontrolle

Before getting to the Handgelenks Kontrolle and our main topic, our hosts have a few items worth mentioning. Mike brings up a seriously lightweight and packing-friendly rain "shirt" from Patagonia called the "Houdini Jacket." It's available for men and women. Next is the Manfrotto Befree GT XPRO tripod, which has a nifty horizontal guide rail that should allow for great macro work. Finally, Balazs has stumbled upon the Baseus Magnetic Wireless Power Bank and vouches for its convenience. As far as the Handgelenks Kontrolle, Balazs is wearing his '50s Omega 2505 with a caliber 256. Mike is sporting his Citizen Homer HO150401 with glossy black dial and lumed indices.

Geneva Watch Days 2022

Balazs was on the ground during Geneva Watch Days 2022 while Mike watched from afar. We discuss the big release that wasn't actually part of the show, the Tudor Pelagos 39. Then, it's onto the Doxa Army, the new Bvlgari Octo Finissimo novelties, and the Oris Divers Sixty-Five with 12-hour bezel. We finish with thoughts on the newly announced pricing for the Speedmaster Professional.

As always, we hope you enjoyed the episode. If you have any topics you'd like us to discuss in a future episode, please let us know!

Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, Balazs and Mike rant a touch after talking about a number of topics and before finishing with Geneva Watch Days. We were feeling a bit feisty on this one, so forgive us…or don’t!

Who doesn’t love a good rant every so often? As much as we try to keep things on a relatively positive note, every so often something raises our collective eyebrows. Today is that day! Still, there are plenty of other topics to discuss.

Handgelenks Kontrolle

Balazs is busy packing for his evening drive to Geneva Watch Days and informs us about the watches that will make the journey. On his wrist, though, is his prized Speedmaster 145-022“Transitional.” Mike is still living in his vintage higher-end Seiko world. He’s wearing a King Seiko 44-9990 from 1966 in support of an upcoming article on this classic.

A rant or two

We discuss a true-crime podcast called “The Yellow Car.” Then we shift to a documentary on the once-popular basketball brand, And1.” We recall the “Starbury” shoes that were supposed to revolutionize the shoe world…but didn’t. Mike also brings up the Mickey Mantle baseball card that recently sold for $12.6 Million…a sign that big spenders aren’t going anywhere anytime soon for top-grade collectibles. Balazs mentions an upcoming Michael Jordan-themed auction where a game-worn jersey is estimated to sell for around $5 Million.

The rant begins when we get to watches. We discuss a recent video made by a watch personality that is aimed toward Breitling and question the intent. Then, it’s on to a W.M.T. watch with a bent case that’s a replica of a battle-worn piece that took a bullet. Neither of us is impressed with the commercial venture. Finally, we talk about Geneva Watch Days and what we might see.

We hope you enjoyed this episode. As always, if you have ideas for the show, let us know and we’ll be happy to consider them for a future episode.

Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air where Balazs and Mike return to talk watches and other semi-adjacent topics. Vintage Grand Seiko is in play towards the end, but there's plenty of other banter to consume as we near the end of summer.

Balazs and Mike are together again! Balazs just landed in Stansted and Mike returned from a weekend in Colmar, but they have united on the airwaves. In this episode, you'll hear about space-related TV, old trucks in Slovakia, straps, and, of course, watches. Vintage Grand Seiko comes into play when it comes to watches on Mike's radar. Balazs brings up some King Seiko models.

Handgelenks Kontrolle

Mike kicks things off with a truly brand-new (it arrived today) Sinn EZM 1.1 S and he's overjoyed with how well it fits despite its size. He offers a tip on some truly inexpensive but enjoyable straps from Fullmosa on Amazon. Balazs counters with his two-tone Rolex Datejust 16013. He ponders whether this watch would look good on a strap versus its stock Jubilee.

Vintage Grand Seiko

Before getting to vintage Grand Seiko, there are plenty of topics to discuss. We mention For All Mankind, a gripping TV show that's currently receiving great reviews. Then, we discuss old trucks from before the fall of the Berlin Wall. The Casio WV-59 Wave Ceptor from Better Call Saul has arrived, so expect a fun review soon! Gregoriades.com has some great-looking FKM Tropic-style straps with "Rally" holes and quick-release spring bars. Then, we come to Grand Seiko and we discuss the 44GS, the 4520-7000, and the SBGW235. We pivot slightly to some beautiful King Seiko models as well and end with custom display backs.

As always, we hope you enjoyed this episode. Feel free to let us know if there's anything you'd like us to cover in a future edition!

Fratello On Air returns with an amusing look at Casio. That's right, it's not just about GShock this time! With these picks, get ready to measure temperature, barometer, and other fun data.

Yes, Casio is in focus with Balazs and Mike on the airwaves. In this episode, the duo talks about a couple of their favorite watches from the Shibuya-based brand. As mentioned, there's more to GShock when it comes to the digital powerhouse. The discussion triggers a walk down memory lane and we hope you have as much fun as our hosts.

Handgelenks Kontrolle

Before heading into Casio, it's time for our one and only Handgelenks Kontrolle. Balazs leads off with the newly delivered King Seiko 45-7000. He's really enjoying the watch and its manual winding Hi-Beat movement. Mike is wearing his DOXA 300 SUB Black Lung. He feels it's still one of the best reissues and wore it on recent trips to England and Slovakia.

Casio

We turn our attention to Casio and give a brief history of the brand that makes a whole lot more than watches. Furthermore, we share some stories from childhood when it seemed that everyone was sporting some sort of digital watch. Then, it's time to name our favorites. We throw in a few surprise models along the way and in the end, but here are the main topics:

• The CMD-40, a watch that could be used as a remote control for all your home electronics
• Casio AMW-320, an ana-digi diver that was even worn by Arnie in some great movies
• TSR-100 Thermo Scanner — this watch has a barrel-like protrusion that measures temperature!
• GShock Riseman "Men in Rescue Orange" GW-9200RJ-4JF, a watch that Mike remembers from a 2008 trip to Japan

Thanks again for listening and, as always, feel free to let us know if there's a topic you'd like us to discuss.

Welcome back to a long-overdue episode of Fratello On Air! Balazs and Mike have returned from lengthy travel and that forms the underlying agenda of today’s chat. There’s plenty more, though, so sit back and enjoy!

Yes, Balazs and Mike have been away for a couple of weeks. Balazs spent time in Japan after his vacation in Hungary. Mike flew the opposite direction and stayed in South Florida for some much-needed holiday. In this episode, travel sets the stage, but with watches as the primary focus.

Handgelenks Kontrolle

After a brief chat, Balazs introduces the newly reborn Vulcain Cricket that is in with him for review. He has the larger-sized model and we even get to hear it! Mike stepped off a plane only hours earlier and is wearing the watch that accompanied him for two weeks in a row: the new Breitling SuperOcean 42.

Travel

Before discussing travel, we discuss the new Glashütte Original Seventies Chronograph Panorama Date models in “Vibing Orange” and “Disco Blue.” Neither of us are fans although we do enjoy G.O. Then, Balazs recaps his visit to Japan and some watch-related topics. Mike talks about South Florida and a particularly weak visit to Wempe at Frankfurt Airport prior to departure. Finally, we cap things off with a talk about recent watch thefts and whether it’s beginning to shape what we wear when we hit the road. (Hint: yes) Is it safe to wear a Rolex or a gold watch?

As always, if you have a topic that you’d like us to discuss, feel free to let us know. Thanks for listening!

Fratello On Air is back with another winding episode where the Tudor Ranger and the idea of a field watch are in focus. Enjoy this flowing discussion while Balazs and Mike are sweating it out in Europe!

That's right, it's hot out there, but a little (or a lot of) heat can't keep Balazs and Mike away from the mic. Balazs is holding court at a castle in Chemnitz, Germany while Mike is roasting in Frankfurt. Both are looking forward to cooler days whenever or wherever. Before discussing the Tudor and what a field watch means to each, they take care of some wristy business and the news.

Handgelenks Kontrolle

Mike kicks things off with his late model Rolex Explorer 1016, a nice example within the field watch genre. Balazs debuts his new Angelus Datalarm, a stainless model that joins his gold-plated version. For a bit of off-topic news, Mike discusses airline woes and his unfounded excitement over the upcoming Rimowa Pilot's case. Balazs has received a pair of new, discontinued leather Adidas Stan Smith's.

Tudor Ranger and the field watch

Next, we discuss the new Tudor Ranger. We like the watch but aren't wholly convinced. Perhaps, seeing will result in believing. The Ranger sparks a conversation about the field watch category in general. What is it and why do people like them so much? Are we all adventurers at heart or do we simply crave a basic and capable watch with good legibility? We cover a lot of different watches in the genre such as the Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical, the Nivada Super Antarctic, and even a GShock!

As always, thank you for listening. Feel free to let us know if there are any topics you'd like us to cover in a future episode.

Fratello On Air comes back with another brand-focused episode and this time, it's Oris! The independent watch company from Hölstein is in play and, as always, we've picked some unique models. Settle in and enjoy!

There's no doubt that Oris is a Fratello favorite. From the "FratellOris" to the Sixty-Five, we're fully locked into this fan-friendly brand. Most of us, though, know the company from the last decade or so. Are there some interesting gems from the past? Of course, there are!

Handgelenks Kontrolle

Traditional calls and that means that after some healthy banter, it's time for the Handgelenks Kontrolle. Mike kicks things off with his newly received Grand Seiko 6245-9000 (look forward to an upcoming review) and raves about its details. This also kicks off a broader discussion about King and Grand Seiko. Balazs pulls out a newly serviced black-dialed Angelus 210 chronograph. What a stunner!

Oris

When it comes to Oris, there's no doubt that the current models are winners. Did you know that there are some truly interesting older models? We take a look at a few of them!

• Star ChronOris, although Balazs pinks a funky green version with hooded lugs
• ChronOris 2005 Reissue, a 7750-powered model with a great kit
• Star Diver with a case design that showed up on several brands during the '70s
• Diver 7401, a wearable automatic dive watch from '90s
• Oris Dynasty, a wild square watch with a manual movement and mirrored dial
• The Divers Sixty-Five, the watch that put Oris on the map for many of us

We hope you enjoyed this look at some unique Oris watches! As always, feel free to contact us if there's a topic you'd like us to discuss.

Fratello On Air returns with a talkative episode. Balazs and Mike cover a lot of ground. Some of it is watch-related while some of it is not! We discuss the recent cranky comments on our site and ultimately spend a few minutes on our "grab and go" Summer favorites. There's a bit of Citizen headed your way. Enjoy this meandering episode.

Yes, Summer is in full swing and Balazs is sweating it out in Hungary. Mike is staying relatively cool in Germany. Our readers, however, seem a bit hot and bothered! Maybe some inexpensive Citizen dive watches will help assuage sore feelings.

Handgelenks Kontrolle

When it comes to the handgelenks kontrolle, Balazs is wearing his tried and true MoonSwatch Mars! This one is super lightweight, which helps beat the heat. Mike has also gone with a bantamweight in the Breitling SuperOcean 57. However, he has taken it off of the mesh for the first time and put on an inexpensive green canvas strap. Comfy!

Loads of other topics including Citizen

We hit on loads of topics today. Adidas Stan Smith shoes, Oakley sunglasses, and Swatch watches and sunglasses are just some of the fun. Then we talk about a recent Strap Check article where Mike paired his Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight 925 with the Forstner Model J. Our readers weren't fans! Then, we discuss the polarizing new Breitling SuperOcean and third-party movements in general. The Serica 5303 also comes up and Mike is interested! Finally, we discuss some of our favorite easy Summer watches.  Balazs mentioned the new Citizen JP2007-17W Aqualand with an all-lume dial. Mike mentions his Promaster Tough "Ray Mears" and BN0220 diver. Enjoy!