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As we come to the end of the year, we’ll be looking back at some of the best watches of 2024. Nacho is joined by RJ and Lex, who have come prepared with a list of favorites under six pre-determined categories. And though they’ll discuss some of what they consider to be the best watches of the year, you can decide which of said timepieces will earn the title of Fratello reader’s choice for best wat...

Welcome back to Fratello Talks.  Everyone knows Switzerland is home to some of the world's greatest and most renowned watch brands. But plenty of brands outside the Alpine region—and even outside Europe—produce high-end mechanical timepieces that can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with their Swiss contemporaries. Some of these non-Swiss brands have even garnered the fervent interest of collectors...

Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air . In this episode, we stray from our original topic and discuss questionable vintage watches. Lately, too many questionable watches have received universal praise from "noted experts." We get on topic after approximately 15 minutes. Sorry for the aberration. We both love watches from brands that are non-mainstream. This means that shady...

Hi there, and welcome to Fratello Talks . Would you rather buy a watch from a microbrand or an entry-level legacy brand? That's the question Nacho, Thomas, and Lex ask themselves today. As we've begun to see microbrands develop and offer better quality and undeniable value while entry-level big-name brands stand relatively still, this has certainly become a valid thing to ponder. But do...

Welcome to another edition of Fratello On Air ! This week, we're back with a lengthy episode to see you through holiday travels or unruly guests. We received a listener suggestion to discuss our favorite watches from the '90s and '00s. We've added the '10s to the mix as a bonus. Wait 20 minutes for the watch content! One of our favorite listeners, Richard, suggested today&...

This week on Fratello Talks , we're talking all things Breitling with author, collector, and brand historian Fred Mandelbaum. Nacho and RJ join Herr Mandelbaum in a conversation that starts in the early 20th century with some of Breitling's earliest wrist-worn chronographs and spans the brand's development to the present day. We touch upon the evolution that led to some of the brand...

Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air ! This week, we discuss Japanese watches. That's a wide subject, so we attack it in different ways. Stick around to find out how we tackle one of our favorite watch genres. For our listeners, the watch content begins after approximately 17 minutes. Japanese watches rate highly in the minds of both hosts. Mike owns a large collection of pieces from...

Hello, and welcome to Fratello Talks ! Today, we are celebrating our 100th-episode milestone with a special Q&A. We asked you to send us your questions, and you delivered. We've gathered, sorted, and selected said questions over the past few weeks, and in today's episode, Nacho, RJ, and Thomas come together to answer them. We cover topics ranging from the usual hypotheticals to journ...

Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air ! We're a little later this week than usual because we decided to record this episode in person in London. We discuss several topics, but we end with a brief holiday gift guide. Our watch content starts after approximately 20 minutes. It's holiday gift guide season but also the last Time4APint of the year in London. Balazs has made the journe...

Hello, and welcome, folks, to Fratello Talks . Germany's most prestigious watch brand has turned thirty this year! So today, in honor of their third decade of watchmaking from their seat in Glashütte, we're talking all about A. Lange & Söhne. Now, some of you may be thinking: "Wait, Lange has only been around since the 90s?" And you'd be right to question the fact, as...

After a two-week hiatus, Fratello On Air returns with an episode about how we research watches before buying. This is a listener suggestion that likely comes from the South in the USA. We know this because the message contained the word, "ya'll." Well, giddyup because it's time to discuss our top tips. For our listeners, the watch content starts after 20 minutes. Specifically,...

Could this be the next new Rolex? In today’s episode, we put ourselves in the shoes of the brand’s product developers and exchanged some pitches about what kind of watch we’d love to see Rolex release next. We fully acknowledge it’s practically impossible to guess The Crown’s next move. Still, it was a fun thought experiment to see which direction it could take. We discuss far-fetched wishful thin...

Today, we're bringing back the fan-favorite topic of affordable watches. Nacho, Lex, and Daan picked one favorite under €1000 from their personal collections. In this second time diving into the topic, we have a more varied lineup than last time. On our first time highlighting affordable favorites, we ended up with three divers: two from Seiko and one from Citizen. Today's selection is a...

Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air . This week, we take on another listener topic and discuss passing down our watch collections or what might happen to our watches as we age. We're hopefully not near that time, but it's a subject worth discussing. For our listeners, the watch talk begins at approximately 17 minutes. The thought of passing down a watch collection to a family m...

This week on Fratello Talks , we examine the Patek Philippe Cubitus. Nacho, Lex, and Daan join forces to discuss this hotly debated release from one of the world's most prestigious watch brands. Initially leaked via a magazine ad, the watch did not receive the warmest welcome from watch enthusiasts. And despite journalists at the launch event providing some positive silver lining to Patek bre...

Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air . This week, we tackle a listener question about pairing watches and straps with our clothing. Do we care or put a lot of thought into what we wear with our garb? Stick around to find out more. Watch content begins after approximately 20 minutes. Halloween is upon us, which means starting the show off with another great joke to hear Balazs groan....

Hello, and welcome to Fratello Talks! Today, Nacho, RJ, and Thomas discuss some of the best watch bracelets, looking at every element that goes into one, from end link to clasp. There’s nothing worse than a bracelet that feels cheap or like an afterthought. The way you fasten it to your wrist is truly an important part of any great watch. And, as opposed to straps, which are ultimately “disposable...

We're back with another episode of Fratello On Air. Balazs has just stepped off a plane from New York and is ready to record. In this episode, we kick off with a healthy dose of banter, touch on some news, and review the two watch shows that just concluded. Watch content starts after roughly 25 minutes. WatchTime New York and Windup just finished and Balazs was on site. You'll hear about...

Watches are many different things: functional objects, fashion accessories, charming anachronistic timekeeping companions... The list goes on. But one thing they aren't is funny. In the world of watches, the only thing more serious than the timepieces themselves is their prices. But does that mean there's no room for humor and levity in the watch world? That's the question Nacho, RJ...

Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air ! This week, your hosts discuss the vintage watches currently tickling their collective fancies. Before that, though, there's plenty of banter about sneakers and watches. For your convenience, watch content starts after 20 minutes. Vintage watches are some of our favorite watches. We're always looking and thinking about what to buy next....

Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air ! This week, we discuss military watches new and old. We're not here to discuss our favorite models, but we hit upon some major themes with these pieces. Some of these pieces come from disgraced regimes while newer models are similar to high fashion collabs. Stick around and see what we think! Military watches are a deep subject. Books have been w...

Hey there, welcome to this week's episode of "Fratello Talks." What are some of the most underrated watch brands out there? That's the question that Nacho, RJ, and Daan have chosen for today's discussion. And though there are indeed many brands out there that could be seen as not receiving the praise and recognition that they deserve, they have chosen to focus only on a ha...

Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air ! This week, we discuss the increasing number of movement production claims and wonder whether it all really matters. In-house, in-house designed, and third-party are only some explanations we hear about movements and their origin. It's gotten a bit nutty! For our listeners, there's horology content interspersed initially, but fast-forward to...

Welcome to this latest installment of "Fratello Talks," where we speak with a special guest. Today, we are happy to be joined by Benoît Mintiens, founder and CEO of the avant-garde Belgian watch brand Ressence. In this long-form episode, we learn about Benoît's origins as an industrial design consultant, how he transitioned into the watch world, and the philosophy that informed the...