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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!

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    Fratello On Air: Our Favorite Seiko Watches Ever

    Merry Christmas and welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air! We're back with an episode on Christmas Eve, and we're talking about our favorite Seiko watches of all time. That's a tough mission, but like Santa's job of delivering toys to all the children, we're up to the task! Grab some mulled wine, settle in by the fireplace, and enjoy the banter. Folks, we've been on the road for the last few weeks. America, Japan, and Germany are just some of the places we've been. However, we're back just in time for Christmas, and we're excited to talk about one of our favorite brands. Seiko has an impressive history and has made significant contributions to watchmaking. In this episode, we discuss our six favorite Seiko references. It wasn't easy, but we've somehow whittled it down to a handful and a thumb! Handgelenkskontrolle To kick things off, we return to sneakers. We've been a little disappointed in the Nike and New Balance releases leading up to the holiday season. Balazs brings up a set of Chicago Bulls championship rings that sold at Sotheby's on December 12th for over $400,000. Mike then discusses the Imperial Fabergé Winter Egg that recently sold for $30.2 million at Christie's. It was on preview at Christie's in London before going under the hammer earlier this month. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Balazs is wearing his lovely Rolex GMT-Master reference 1675. Mike is still addicted to his Ming 37.11 Odyssey on the Polymesh bracelet. Our favorite Seiko watches If you haven't figured it out, Seiko is one of our favorite brands. When reviewing its back catalog, the number of significant references is mind-boggling. There are an incredible number of amazing watches in so many genres. Somehow, we've boiled our list down to six favorites. Some are surprises, and some are not. Still, all are fun and worth mentioning. Our picks are: The 6139-7070, a fantastic reference showcasing Japan's first automatic chronographThe Grand Seiko 44GS, 4420-9000, is one of the most significant designs from the brandA King Seiko 5626-7000, a Hi-Beat legend still available at an amazing priceSeiko's Champion Alpinist J13043, an incredibly distinct model with a stunning dialGrand Seiko's modern collection, one of the most gratifying and well-designed lineups on the market todayThe Seiko 6215-7000, a watch that broke boundaries for the brand and set a design standard that persists to this dayWe hope you enjoy today's episode, and while we expect some controversy from our discussion, we'd love it if you would contribute to the comments section with your favorite Seiko references. Most of all, we wish you a safe and joyous holiday period and thank you for your endless support. We look forward to our next episode!

    1h 20m
  2. 2 DEC

    Fratello On Air: Giving Thanks To The Watch Hobby

    Welcome to another episode of Fratello On Air! With Thanksgiving barely in our rearview mirrors, we decide to spend time giving thanks to the watch hobby. In this installment, you'll hear what we love so much about this addiction and why. Settle in for this candid chat. In honor of Thanksgiving, we figure that giving thanks is well overdue. Today, you'll hear a lovable Balazs talk about all the things he enjoys about collecting watches and the industry. Mike chimes in with a few of his thoughts. If you were expecting another list, don't worry; we'll be back soon with more controversy. For now, we're feeling festive, and we hope you enjoy it! Handgelenkskontrolle We kick off the episode with a chat about television shows. Mike has finally started the legendary British series Foyle's War and is enjoying it immensely. Balazs brings up another long-running classic, Endeavour. There's something special about these types of productions that feels very different from American programs. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Mike is wearing the Panerai he bought in 2002, the 40mm automatic PAM00048 Luminor Marina. Once again, Balazs is sporting his fantastic Rolex Submariner 5513. Yes, folks, larger watches are slowly making their way to our wrists! Giving thanks We kick off our main topic about giving thanks in a natural spot. The community is where we begin, and while we mention it frequently, both of us feel more grateful than ever before. Wherever we travel, we seem to bump into listeners, watch fans, and genuinely friendly folks who are happy to grab a beer or a bite. You've made us feel welcome everywhere, including online, and it's part of what keeps us so excited about the hobby. Next, we talk about a rather childlike feeling that still drives us to stay involved. Frankly, we love the connection we have with brands and the ability to see models before they're released. It's probably not a surprise, but seeing watches before and after they've gone on sale is still a thrill. Another reason to be thankful is for the general creativity behind watches. Sure, some are better than others, but as vintage collectors, we constantly marvel at the aesthetic solutions found on our little marvels. In particular, our love of chronographs is mainly driven by their designs. The next reason for giving thanks may induce a groan, but we are deeply thankful for Rolex and Seiko. In many ways, these brands couldn't be more different, yet they're oddly very similar too. Most of all, each company deserves a lot of credit for keeping people interested in watches. Our final dose of appreciation relates to our love of microbrands and independents. We rarely talk about micros, but these companies are driving enthusiasm, innovation, value, and showing agility. Indies, on the other hand, are pushing boundaries technically and aesthetically. Plus, most are incredibly friendly, which is a lovely attribute. As always, thank you for listening! If you have any thoughts on future show topics, please feel free to let us know!

    1h 7m
  3. 25 NOV

    Fratello On Air: The Greatest Dive Watches Of All Time

    Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we enter the depths and declare the greatest dive watches of all time. Yes, there are some expected entries, but we also offer a surprise or two. Enjoy the listen! While neither Balazs nor I dive, we've realized that the style of watch used for this activity has probably become the most popular genre. Not so long ago, a dive watch was relegated to casual and sporty environments. Now, these capable pieces, for better or worse, are worn everywhere. So, what made us want to take on a topic like the greatest dive watches? Well, we like to get people talking, so feel free to tell us why you agree or, more likely, disagree with our choices. Handgelenkskontrolle With increasingly dreary and wet days, we've been enjoying a bit of television. Some interesting shows are on right now, including The Beast In Me, Pluribus, The Task, and The Outsider. We also briefly discuss sneaker news, a topic we haven't mentioned in a while. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, Mike is on topic with the new Ollech & Wajs OW C-1000 Y, a release inspired by the original '60s Caribbean. Balazs is wearing his Fratello × Nivada Grenchen Racing Chronograph. Before moving on to our main topic, we take some time to discuss last week's long-awaited release, the new Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean. The greatest dive watches of all time For certain, "the greatest dive watches of all time" isn't an easy subject to tackle. There are so many great candidates. From the innovative pieces in the '60s that were actually attempting to solve real-world issues to the wild movement and material updates that came in the later decades, it's a tough topic. Like many of our episodes, we didn't share our picks before recording, so, interestingly, we came up with some common thoughts. We challenged ourselves to choose three models per person, but gave ourselves some leeway due to shared picks. Get your pitchforks, or tridents, ready! It's impossible not to start a list of the greatest dive watches of all time with anything other than the Rolex Submariner. For us, it is the absolute king, bar none. In terms of quality, reliability, and reputation, it's impossible to beat. But there are plenty of other legends. The Seiko Tuna, particularly the original Grandfather Tuna 6159-7010 and the first Golden Tuna 7549-7000, brought innovation and an entirely new design language to the dive watch. Rolex, Omega, Seiko, and more! Omega enters the conversation with one of the most focused, purpose-built divers ever: the mighty PloProf. Yes, this watch is audacious, but it's an incredible piece of equipment that deserves its place on the Mount Olympus of dive watches. Seiko returns to the show with a watch that became a legend for its looks and approachable pricing, the 6309 Turtle. For our last two picks, we chose watches from smaller brands, but you'll have to listen to the episode to find out what they are! As always, thank you for listening to Fratello On Air! If you have any ideas for future show topics, please feel free to let us know.

    1h 17m

About

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!

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