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In this 8th episode of Fratello on Air, Balazs and RJ report from the Dubai Watch Week. It's a relatively short episode without any listener's questions but instead, focus on the initiative from the Seddiqi family in Dubai. This family, a large and important retailer for the middle east region, organized its 4th Dubai Watch Week event, the third in Dubai. In 2018, Dubai Watch Week had a smaller event in London, in close cooperation with Christie's.

During the Dubai Watch Week, it isn't so much about novelties (which makes this event less time-critical than Baselworld and SIHH/Watches&Wonders for example), but about creating a platform where watch manufacturers, watch journalists and watch collectors can meet and discuss. However, some brands did come up with a novelty especially for the Dubai Watch Week (7 in total) and mainly focused on the middle-east market with them. A few examples are the Ressence Type 1 DXB Dubai edition, the Singer Reimagined rack1 Emirates edition and the Bvlgari Octo with green dial (non-limited, but only marketed in the middle east).

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In this 7th episode of Fratello on Air, Michael Stockton and Robert-Jan Broer try to answer two questions from our listeners. One is about watches from microbrands (and independent watchmakers) and the other is about getting a discount on watches. The first question is asked because it seems like we are mainly interested in watches from the big brands, and perhaps it gives the impression that we also own only watches from these brands. But Mike and RJ explain what they love (and dislike) about microbrands and independent watchmakers, and which brands they like (and own) themselves.

With regard to the question about getting a discount on watches, we discuss why discounts are given to customers and what the impact is on the brand's image (and value) when watches are heavily discounted. With brands that are closing authorized dealers and focus on their own boutique sales and on-line sales, it will become more difficult for customers to find a good discount. Michael and RJ explain the pros and cons of direct selling by watch brands and what the effect is on discount. And whether a discount is necessary.

In every episode of Fratello on Air, we also discuss the watches that we are wearing during the podcast recording. For Mike, it is this special Oris Bigcrown Pilot and for RJ, his beloved Omega Constellation Globemaster in Sedna gold. We both explain why we like these watches so much.

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Instagram: @fratellowatches @mikeinfrankfurt @rjbroer
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/fratellomagazine/
Website: https://www.fratellowatches.com

Michael Stockton and Robert-Jan Broer talk about the new Breitling Avenger, SuperOcean and Aviator 8 Mosquito watches that were introduced last week in Zurich, Switzerland. But first, the wrist check (as always). RJ is wearing a Grand Seiko Mt Iwate (SBGJ201) and Michael is boosting his brand new Omega Speedmaster Professional Apollo XI in Moonshine gold. And talking about that, Mike and RJ are discussing whether it would make sense if Omega would re-introduce a Speedmaster Professional in 18-ct gold in the regular collection. It was in the collection previously but discontinued in 2012. With the recent demand for (vintage) gold Speedmasters, it might make sense to have it back into the collection. We also share thoughts on the new Seiko Presage Chronograph and Seiko Prospex Chronograph, for the 50th anniversary of Seiko's automatic chronograph movements. Michael isn't blown away by them, to say the least. The Grand Seiko Godzilla that was introduced last week also gets discussed. RJ likes the colors and Grand Seiko case design but has no link with Godzilla. The price of €12.700,- is being discussed as well, as it is definitely putting certain things in a different perspective. Last but not least, Mike and RJ answer a reader's question: What watches are your wives wearing? Admitted, they have been heavily influenced by us, but what are the watches they are wearing and were these really their choice?

Follow us on:

Instagram: @fratellowatches @mikeinfrankfurt @rjbroer
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/fratellomagazine/
Website: https://www.fratellowatches.com

Michael and RJ talk about Longines and our partnership with them on finding the oldest Longines watch in The Netherlands. This contest came to an end a few weeks ago and the winners (and us) travelled to the Longines headquarters in St-Imier, Switzerland, to have a look at their production facility and their impressive museum. RJ shares some of the highlights of this contest and the trip to St-Imier.

Another topic in episode 5 is an anonymous reader's question, concerning keeping your watches (and jewellery) safe. She asked us if we would advise her to purchase a safe or use a safe deposit box instead. There are pros and cons to both, RJ elaborates on both but has slight favour for keeping the watches in a safe deposit box. We all know this scary story on safe deposit boxes, so make sure to read the contracts before you sign. Mike uses the opportunity to explain how things work in the USA and that the use of a safe (at home) is quite common.

Our mandatory wrist check is about three watches because one of us is wearing two watches. Two Seikos and a Hamilton. Mike is wearing a Seiko SBDC079 Ginza Edition and RJ has the Seiko SNJ028 on his wrist, the new 'Arnie', as you wish. So, who's wearing the Hamilton?

Last but not least, the hosts of this Fratello on Air Episode 5 podcast discuss their favourite quartz watches. Amongst others, you'll hear us talk about the Breitling Aerospace, Rolex Oysterquartz, Omega Speedmaster X-33, Grand Seiko 9F, but also about this little niche Citizen Promaster Tough, which is only available in the UK (shameless plug here).

All images that go with this podcast can be found here.

In this episode 4, Michael talks with Daniel (as RJ was on holiday during the recording) about the Top 3 watches in their collections that get most wrist time, about Daniel joining Fratello and about his role (Head of Operations) and answering a listener's question about their favourite sub-40mm sports watch. Below, an overview of some of the mentioned watches, and all the links to articles/websites and people mentioned in this episode.

Enjoy and thanks for listening!

Links for show notes:

About Daniel
https://www.fratellowatches.com/author/daniel

How Daniel got to his first Fratello event
https://www.fratellowatches.com/subscribe-newsletter

Photo challenge posse @RewatchTeam
https://www.instagram.com/rewatchteam

@my.wrist Tim with modded First Omega in Space
https://www.instagram.com/my.wrist

@luk.ast Lukas, Speedy modder
https://www.instagram.com/luk.ast

Jason Heaton
https://www.instagram.com/jasonheaton/

TwoBrokeWatchSnobs
https://www.instagram.com/twobrokewatchsnobs/

Story of Daniel's dad's world trip (in German)
https://www.spiegel.de/geschichte/weltreise-mit-einem-citroen-2cv-a-947703.html

https://www.instagram.com/dugena_watches

G.Shock articles from Gerard on Fratello:
https://www.fratellowatches.com/you-asked-us-g-shock-square-which-one-to-choose/
https://www.fratellowatches.com/casio-g-shock-gw-5000-52mondayz-week-34/
https://www.fratellowatches.com/casio-gshock-gpw-1000raf-52mondayz-week-16/

Seiko013 pic from the Seiko013 @seikoskxoftheworld https://www.instagram.com/p/BtTnHbdn2d4/

Mike's write-up on the trilogy Seamaster
https://www.fratellowatches.com/omega-seamaster-300-60th-anniversary-2/

This third episode has been recorded in the week that the Rolex GMT-Master 1675 from Marlon Brando was in the news via the New York Times. This watch will be auctioned for the good cause, and we share a few thoughts and emotions about it. Also, we do our usual wrist check (see below) and elaborate a bit on these watches. For Mike, it's a vintage Omega De Ville chronograph and RJ went with a digital Seiko from 1982. We also answer one of your questions. After RJ called his modern Submariner 114060 a boring watch in our previous podcast, listener Maciek asked us about our most un-boring watch. For Mike, this is a Seiko Rally Diver and for RJ it is his recently acquired Seamaster PloProf 1200M in steel (now discontinued). This third episode of Fratello on Air is also about limited editions and collaborations: what do we think of them? What are the positives and what are the things we don't like?

Robert-Jan just got back from the Speedy Tuesday events in Singapore and Hong Kong and gives a little feedback on those, as well as the final dates for the upcoming events in New York and Tokyo. Michael talks about the recent trips he did with Breitling and Omega.  Of course, we start with a quick wrist check, on what’s on the wrists of Mike and RJ during the podcast. Michael is wearing a Rolex Submariner 5512 and RJ sports a modern Submariner ref. 114060. The main topic of this episode though is the lack of availability of Rolex sports watches. We did an article on this topic here, but we get so many questions about this topic that Mike decided to touch it once more. Furthermore, Mike and RJ answer the question of a listener of the first episode, about the watches that mean the most to them.

Mike's Instagram account is @mikeinfrankfurt. RJ's Instagram account is @rjbroer.

Welcome to our first episode of Fratello on Air. A bi-weekly podcast on watches, the watch industry, collecting watches and random watch talk by the editors of Fratello Watches (online watch magazine since 2004). In this episode, we cover the new Omega Speedmaster Apollo XI 50th anniversary watches, the watches on our wrists during the podcast recording and which watches we'd buy when there would be no financial limit.

We refer to a number of watches and articles:

- Speedmaster Apollo XI in stainless steel
- Speedmaster Apollo XI in Moonshine gold
- Rolex GMT-Master in gold
- A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1
- This Week in Watches June 16th

Mike's Instagram account is @mikeinfrankfurt. RJ's Instagram account is @rjbroer.