PODCAST · arts
Fratello.com
by Fratello Watches
A regular podcast about watches. Hosted by Fratello Magazine. During our podcast shows, we discuss watches, the watch industry, watch collecting, watches events and more. Make sure to subscribe!
Episodes
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Fratello Talks: Picking Watches For James Bond Villains
James Bond has worn some memorable watches over the years, but what about the people standing in his way? A villain's watch needs to do more than tell the time. It can hint at character, signal status, or offer a subtle clue about the wearer. So, which watches would suit the villains of the Bond...
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Fratello On Air: What Will It Take To Turn The Vintage Speedmaster Market Around?
Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we have an open chat about what it might take to turn the vintage Speedmaster market around. Let's face it: it has been quiet for a long time. We'd love nothing more than to see the enthusiasm return and hear your thoughts on what…
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Fratello Talks: The Omega Speedmaster Reduced
For many watch enthusiasts, the Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch is untouchable. But there’s another model that has earned its rightful place in the collection — the Speedmaster Reduced. Smaller, automatic, and often more accessible on the pre-owned market, it offers a different take on…
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Fratello Talks: Sylvain Berneron
Today, in a special episode of Fratello Talks, Nacho and Lex are in Geneva for a chat with independent watch designer and entrepreneur Sylvain Berneron. The conversation kicks off with Berneron’s career in design, his time at major watch companies, and his decision to establish a brand of his…
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Fratello On Air: Are You Safe Online As A Watch Collector?
Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air. We're back from the road with your latest dose of watch talk. Today, we're entertaining a topic from one of our favorite listeners, Roy! No, we're not talking about Speedos by the pool, but we're trying to answer whether it's safe to discuss our…
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Fratello Talks: Can Brand Ambassadors Help Create A New Generation Of Watch Enthusiasts?
Brand ambassadors have long been part of the watch industry. From actors and athletes to musicians and explorers, these familiar faces help bring brands' watches to a wider audience. But can that visibility do more than sell watches? Can it spark interest in horology among people who might never...
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Fratello On Air: Does Watch Financing Help Or Hurt The Hobby?
Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air. We're back after a couple of weeks under the weather and ready to talk watches. But we're not just talking about them; we're also asking whether watch financing has helped or hurt the hobby we all enjoy. Perhaps that's an easy question, but the…
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Fratello Talks: If We Could Only Keep One Watch From Our Collection
What if you had to choose just one watch from your entire collection and let everything else go? No backups, no rotation, and no keeping that one watch you rarely wear “just in case.” In this episode of Fratello Talks, Nacho, RJ, and Daan take on that particularly difficult hypothetical. The...
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Fratello Talks: Our Favorite Vintage Rolex Watches
When it comes to vintage watches, few brands have as much depth as Rolex. Over more than a century, the company has produced an enormous range of models, references, and variations that have become firmly established among collectors. From tool watches built for specific purposes to understated...
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Fratello Talks: The Vintage Watches We'd Buy Under €5,000
Vintage watches can seem intimidating when you first start looking. There are unfamiliar references, decades of production changes, questions about originality, and the ever-present possibility of an expensive service bill. But you don't necessarily need a huge budget to get into vintage watches....
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Fratello On Air: The Trends At Geneva Watch Days 2026
Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we're both back home. Balazs has returned from Geneva, and Mike has come in after three weeks of being on the road. In this episode, we review the overarching trends at Geneva Watch Days 2026 along with the top releases. Enjoy the…
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Fratello Talks: The Best Watches Of 2026 So Far
We're already well into 2026, and the watch industry has given us plenty to talk about. From major releases by established manufacturers to smaller brands introducing watches that caught our attention, there has been no shortage of new things to discover. But which watches actually stand out? In...
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Fratello On Air: The Modern Watches Destined To Become Classics
Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we're both back in our respective homes before traveling again. Our show is about modern watches destined to become classics. Now, before you accuse us of focusing on money, erase those thoughts! We don't care about value. No, we are...
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Fratello Talks: How Microbrands Have Changed The Game
Microbrands have come a long way. What were once largely associated with inexpensive, enthusiast-driven watches have developed into a much broader part of the industry. Today, small brands are experimenting with materials, movements, manufacturing techniques, and design in ways that can make them...
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Fratello On Air: The Watches That Got Away
Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air! We've been away for a couple of weeks, but we're now back (sort of) and have taken the time to record. This week, we're talking about the watches that got away. Yes, this is a sad episode, but not really. The fact is that both of us have been…
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Fratello Talks: Building A Dream Two-Watch Collection
Two watches should be enough — at least in theory. If you had no budget limitations and could own only two watches, which would you choose? The challenge isn't simply to pick two favorites. With only two spots available, both watches need to earn their place. In this episode of Fratello Talks,...
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Fratello Talks: Can A Case Back Make Or Break A Watch
The case back is easy to overlook. After all, it spends most of its time pressed against your wrist, hidden from view. But turn a watch over, and the case back can reveal a completely different side of the design. For some collectors, a beautifully finished movement behind a sapphire crystal is…
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Fratello Talks: The Watches That Won Us Over
First impressions matter, but they aren't always the last word. In the watch world, some of the most enduring designs are also among the most divisive. A watch that initially seems too large, too unconventional, or simply not to your taste can slowly grow on you as your experience develops. In…
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Fratello On Air: Rethinking The Definition Of Entry-Level Watches
Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, Mike is in Florida, and Balazs is in Hungary. But we're here for you! In today's discussion, we tackle a listener suggestion. We're talking about entry-level watches and how brands approach this. Hint: it's very different today, with…
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Fratello Talks: How Our Grail Watches Have Evolved Over Time
Ask any seasoned collector what his or her grail watch was upon first entering the hobby, and chances are the answer will be very different from what it is today. As our knowledge grows and our tastes mature, so too do the watches we aspire to own. Sometimes the grail gets bigger, sometimes it…
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Fratello On Air: Sleeper '90s And '00s Watches Worth Waking Up For
Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we discuss sleeper watches from the '90s and '00s. It was an interesting period for timepieces, representing a transition from smaller, often quartz-powered models to mechanical ones. Let's just say that watchmakers were finding their...
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Fratello Talks: Watches Every Collector Should Own At Least Once
All watch collectors' journeys are different. Some focus on a single brand, while others enjoy exploring as many corners of the hobby as possible. Still, there are certain watches (or even categories of watches) that many enthusiasts seem to encounter sooner or later. They may not become…
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Fratello On Air: Watches, Brands And Styles We Like, But Would Probably Never Buy
Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we discuss watch brands, models, and styles that we like but would probably never buy. To be clear, this episode isn't about picking on anyone or anything. Instead, there are other reasons these pieces aren't on our wrists and may never…
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Fratello Talks: The Ultimate Omega Speedmaster Debate — Which Model Defines The Legend?
Few watches have inspired as many variations, stories, and passionate debates as the Omega Speedmaster. Over nearly seven decades, it has evolved from a racing chronograph into one of the most celebrated watches in horology, with countless references that appeal to a wide range of collectors. Ask...
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Fratello On Air: These Are The Most Misleading Words In Watch Ads
Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air! Apologies for the late publishing time, but a baby and the World Cup have us keeping odd hours. This week, we target a humorous but potentially dangerous subject. Misleading words when describing a watch, especially a vintage one, are rife…
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Fratello Talks: Texture, Color, Stone: Let's Talk Dials
In all four seasons of the Fratello Talks podcast, we never dedicated an episode to watch dials. We thought it was about time to change that. The dial is one of the most important parts of a watch, as it's the "face" that gets the most attention when checking the time. It often draws the most...
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Fratello On Air: What If We Started Collecting Watches Today?
Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we ponder what would be different if we started collecting watches today. We're not allowing ourselves to roll in with all of the wisdom and hard knocks we've encountered. It would be a fresh start. Of course, we start with some other...
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Fratello Talks: Breguet CEO Gregory Kissling On The Latest Tradition 7047, 225 Years Of The Tourbillon, And The Brand's Future
On the 225th anniversary of the tourbillon patent, we sit down with Breguet CEO Gregory Kissling. Before taking the helm at Breguet on October 1st, 2024, Kissling served as Vice President of Product at Omega. Having known him for many years and collaborated on memorable projects such as the...
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Fratello On Air: The Curious Case Of Car Watches
Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we talk about car watches, a curious subgenre within our hobby. Sure, the automobile industry is massive and has an equally huge fan base, but collaborations between watch and car brands often misfire. This draws us into a…
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Fratello Talks: The Watch Retail Experience
For many collectors, buying a watch is about far more than the watch itself. The experience of discovering, trying on, and ultimately purchasing a watch can shape how we feel about it long after it leaves the boutique. Yet not all retail experiences are created equal. Some leave a lasting...
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Fratello On Air: How Hype Can Help Or Hurt A Brand
Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we talk about how hype can help or hurt brands. Naturally, there are plenty of other topics on the docket, including television, German culture, and more! Hype is a funny thing. Nearly everyone or every company wants it, but at some point,...
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Fratello Talks: Watches We Would Never Sell
All watch collectors have one watch that they will never part with. It might not be the most expensive piece in the collection, the rarest, or even the one that gets the most wrist time. Sometimes, a watch becomes irreplaceable for reasons that have very little to do with specifications, market...
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Fratello On Air: The Summer Watch Is Back!
Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air! As promised, we've returned after a week with more banter and plenty of watch talk. This time around, we discuss the oft-mentioned summer watch and how we feel about it in 2026. Of course, we cover plenty of other subjects. Enjoy the show! Ah…
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Fratello Talks: Could A Desire For Disconnection Spell A Bright Future For Mechanical Watches?
For years, the assumption was that the world would only become more digital — more connected, more automated, more dependent on screens. And yet, in recent years, there seems to have been a subtle shift in the opposite direction. Vinyl records are thriving, physical books remain popular, wired...
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Fratello On Air: Catching Up, Accutrons, And Family Additions
Welcome to a long-awaited episode of Fratello On Air! Well, at least we're excited to be back. It's been a while, meaning we'll cover some recent news from the watch industry, sneaker landscape, television, and even our personal lives. We look forward to catching up with you! It's been nearly two...
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Fratello Talks: Fratello Talks: The Watches We'd Buy If We Started Collecting Today
Every watch collector has wondered about this at some point. If you could go back to the beginning, armed with everything you know now, what would you do differently? Would you buy fewer watches, take bigger risks, or even skip certain phases altogether? In this episode of Fratello Talks, Nacho…
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Fratello Talks: Vintage Watches — Wear It Or Spare It?
Most of us here at Fratello love vintage watches, but not all of us are comfortable buying and wearing them. Do you wear it, or do you spare it? Damaging a vintage watch can be expensive, but it might also just feel wrong to wear it daily. Can it withstand today's abuse? Is it still water…
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Fratello Talks: There Are No Tool Watches Above €500
Mechanical watches were once essential tools for pilots, divers, scientists, race car drivers, etc. You’ve probably seen the advertisements in old National Geographic magazines, showing spelunkers proudly wearing their Rolex Explorers or a pilot checking his Breitling Navitimer, using it to...
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Fratello Talks: The Great Watch Price-Shift Dilemma
Watch prices have been creeping upward for years, but recently, it feels like something more fundamental is happening. It’s no longer just about incremental increases, as entire segments seem to be shifting. Brands are moving into price territory once occupied by others, microbrands are pushing...
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Fratello Talks: A Big Year For Skeletonized And Openworked Watches
Skeletonized watches and openworked dials seem to be everywhere this year. From subtle cutouts that reveal just a hint of mechanics to fully open displays that showcase the entire movement, brands across price segments are leaning into transparency. Whether driven by aesthetics, technical…
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Fratello Talks: Watches And Wonders 2026 Debrief
Another Watches and Wonders is in the books, and as always, it takes a moment to process everything. Between the main fair at Palexpo, meetings across Geneva, and visits to the various satellite events around the city, the week becomes a blur of watches, conversations, and quick (yet lasting)...
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Fratello Talks: How Much Does Chronometer Certification Matter?
"Chronometer" is one term that frequently comes up in watchmaking. We see it stamped on dials, highlighted in marketing materials, and often used as a synonym for "high quality." But how much does chronometer certification actually matter to us as collectors? In this episode of Fratello Talks,...
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Fratello Talks: Watches We Personally Love But Would Not Recommend
We all have watches we absolutely love but would hesitate to recommend to someone else. That might sound contradictory at first, but spend enough time in this hobby, and it starts to make sense. Not every great watch is universally great. Some require a certain mindset, a specific wrist, or…
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Fratello On Air: Vintage Brands Worth Checking Out
Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we discuss underrated vintage brands that are worth a long look. We've had these types of chats before, but it's always nice to see what we've missed. You'll hear some familiar names today, as well as about some smaller companies that...
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Fratello Talks: The Talking Points That Define Horology
Spend enough time around watches, whether at events, in boutiques, or just talking to fellow enthusiasts, and you start to notice the same talking points coming up again and again. Certain topics seem to define how we think about watches today. In this episode of Fratello Talks, Nacho is joined…
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Fratello Talks: Does Resale Value Affect How Much You Enjoy a Watch?
It’s a question that comes up from time to time in today’s watch world: Does resale value affect how much you enjoy a watch? With secondary market prices discussed almost as frequently as specifications, it’s hard to ignore the financial side of collecting. In this episode of Fratello Talks, RJ,...
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Fratello On Air: Does Price Transparency In The Vintage Watch Market Exist?
Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we address a listener's question about price transparency in the vintage market. Does it exist, and if not, how should a new collector navigate these murky waters? Listen in as we take a long look at this interesting topic. After last…
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Fratello Talks: The Microbrands To Watch In 2026
The microbrand segment of the watch industry has evolved dramatically over the last decade. What once felt like a niche corner of the horology world has grown into a thriving ecosystem of small companies producing thoughtful, design-driven watches. Some focus on value, others on originality, and…
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