Fratello.com

Fratello On Air is back with another episode and this time we talk about whether it's worth consolidating to one great watch versus having two (or more) really good watches. Of course, your definition of a great and good may vary, but we think you get the gist. Is it worth owning one great watch or is variety the spice of life if it occurs at a slightly lesser level? That's our question...

It's not every day we run into someone wearing an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Watch from 2002. But when you meet Jerrel Manbodh, of Manbodh Watches, chances are likely you will see him wearing that special Royal Oak watch made of Alcrite. For this Fratello Talks podcast, RJ and Nacho went on location with Manbodh at his watch boutique. We talk about the watch business, the development i...

Fratello On Air returns with a look at six divers for under €1,000. We could do this episode any time, but Summer is the perfect time due to casual wear and loads of water-related activities. We've picked a fairly wide range of pieces from a wide array of countries. If rotating bezels are your thing, sit back and listen! So, you don't dive? Well, neither of us do either, but we do spend...

Welcome one and all to this week’s episode of Fratello On Air. As Mike is out of town, Balazs invites Nacho — who happened to be in Germany — to join him for a chat. Today’s installment brings you a loosely structured discussion. The guys talk about their current comings and goings before steering into the topics of watch news and case back engravings. They then wrap things up by running through s...

Fratello On Air returns with a rip-roaring episode where we ask you, dear listeners, to step away from the hype. There's a lot of it around these days and it can be overwhelming. We're here to talk about it and have a little fun along the way. Don't believe the hype! No, this isn't a discussion about Public Enemy, but a discussion about watches and some of the brands that have...

Welcome to this week's episode of Fratello Talks. This time, Nacho, Lex, and Thomas light a candle, dim the lights, and get nice and cozy as they touch on the topic of MoonSwatch. After a stunning debut, the Omega × Swatch Speedmaster MoonSwatch has struggled to follow up on its initial hype. We have been following along with the latest developments and have been left a little bit baffled. So...

Fratello On Air returns with more listener questions. This time we take on selling practices from brands and attempt to respond to yet another Speedmaster question. Enjoy the ride! Yes, we are back with more listener questions and this time we take on a two-part question that revolves around selling practices by brands. There's also some more talk about the cherished Omega Speedmaster and its...

Welcome to this week's episode of Fratello Talks. Today, we are rolling with the punches and discussing buying watches on impulse. Sinara, Lex, and Nacho gather around the Fratello podcast table to share their stories, have a laugh, and misquote Mike Tyson. Because there's nothing quite like having a plan for purchasing a specific watch to just getting caught off guard by an impulse buy.

Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air. This week, we discuss a recent visit to the Swatch Group in the Frankfurt area. We also respond to a listener's question about the beloved Omega Speedmaster. Enjoy! Yes, Balazs and I were on the move and managed to visit the Swatch Group in their offices near Frankfurt. We've also received a number of reader questions that we'll at...

For this episode, the topic is hype and hype watches. Lex, Daan, and Nacho discuss their own experiences with hype and how they've navigated this tricky topic. Daan shares his unique view as a RedBar Amsterdam member, who surrounds himself with people and watches every month — a precarious position for those partial to falling for the hype. Overall, the discussion leads them back to Watches A...

Fratello On Air returns with an episode that focuses on vintage watches that are great for everyday wear.  We all love our pieces from yesteryear, so why not choose some that can handle the rigors of daily life? Settle in and listen while we talk for a while. The problem with most vintage watches is that they're fragile and can be hard to fix once broken. Parts are rare and the watches are of...

Fratello On Air returns after a bit of a layoff and we discuss a number of things including the new IWC Ingenieur. We're glad to be back with you and we hope you enjoy today's candid show! Folks, we're sorry that we've been away for so long, but vacation, travel, and visitors have gotten in the way. Now, though, we're here and ready to discuss all sorts of topics. The new...

Lex, Daan, and RJ discuss the watches that impressed them the most at Watches And Wonders, but also those who failed to make them enthusiastic. The Rolex Yacht-Master 42 in titanium is being discussed in detail, because it is very cool on the one hand (according to Lex), but also very far away from previous Yacht-Masters (according to RJ).   Here's the hits and misses from the Watches And Won...

The Fratello boys are back in town! And as the fog of war begins to settle, we've sat together and gathered our thoughts on last week's watch fair. This is the Watches and Wonders 2023 debrief episode. In keeping with the short-form format of Fratello Talks, we don't get to cover every single one of the novelties. Instead, we discuss some of our highlights from the show. From the no...

This episode of Fratello On Air was recorded on the eve of Watches & Wonders. We talk about a couple of the newest releases before turning to our main topic. We choose an accessory, an article of clothing, and a watch for each other. After so many years and countless episodes, can we get it right for each other? Yep, we're picking watches for each other along with an accessory and a piece...

Fratello On Air is back again this week, and although we are late, we are here! This episode features several topics, including a new Vulcain chronograph, the Speedmaster bracelet, TrueDome crystals, and small watches. It's a conversation you won't want to miss! We struggled with German Wi-Fi this week and are coming to you a few days later than normal. Thankfully, this episode was large...

It's only a few days before Watches & Wonders '23 in Geneva, and we're getting in the right mood! Exhibiting brands have been sending over their news under embargo, with the exception of the obvious. In this podcast, Lex, Nacho, and RJ are talking about the expectations we have, and what we're looking forward to!

Daan, Dave, and RJ sit together for this podcast and talk about their most recent watch purchases. We talk about the whats, the whys, and the hows when it comes to our new watches. All three of us bought through different channels: a boutique, a colleague, and via Chrono24. Sit back, relax, and have a drink of your choice, while you listen to the soothing voices of our editorial team.

Fratello On Air is here with loads of new watches in this episode. No, it's not Watches & Wonders, but it's busy nonetheless! There's a new Fratello Collaboration and even a MoonSwatch! New watches season is definitely here! Balazs and I take some time to discuss some of the latest pieces to ensure they get coverage before the Watches & Wonders onslaught begins! Settle in an...

The anger surrounding the new Swatch MoonSwatch Mission to Moonshine Gold was very visible in the comments section on our website. It was less noticeable during the Swatch "pop-up" sales event in Zurich on March 7th. We did a report here, but we also want to discuss the watch itself a bit more in-depth. How does the story sit with us, do we like the watch as such? Listen to our Fratello...

Fratello On Air is back with another rollicking episode. This time, we cover dress watches and ask, in the face of all the hoopla, if dress watches are making a comeback. We think not, but there are a few caveats. Stick around — we recorded this one on a Friday night after a long week, so it's bound to be good! Dress watches are all over the media landscape these days and we decide to take on...

Daan, Ignacio, and RJ talk about traveling with their watches in this podcast. Being watch journalists, we travel a lot, and often want to bring more than one watch. But with Switzerland as the main destination, it's not as easy as you think. You need to be mindful of Customs and the fact that they can stop you to ask if you're "importing" any valuable goods. In this podcast, w...

We've been away for a few weeks, but Fratello On Air is back again! We're talking about the newly announced Sinn T50 lineup and then dipping into some travel talk. Balazs attended the recent NBA All-Star Game in Salt Lake City, Utah, and we talk about the festivities. Yes, we've been on the road for quite some time now. England, Switzerland, Austria, and America — we're beginni...

Lex, Nacho, and RJ talk about Swatch and its upcoming 40th birthday! One of the coolest brands of the 1980s celebrates 4 decades of amazing and colorful watches. Last year put this brand back on the horological map with the MoonSwatch, but there's so much more to the brand that saved the entire Swiss watch industry in the 1980s.  In this episode, Lex, Nacho, and RJ show the plastic watch a lo...

In this episode of Fratello Talks, Daan, Timo, and RJ talk about the fanatic fans of watch brands. The comments on articles where we discuss Rolex, Tudor, or Omega, are sometimes quite unforgiving towards one of the brands. But often also entertaining (and educational). We discuss why fans are so important for brands, why fans feel the need to defend their favorite brand with all they got, and why...