Fratello On Air returns on its non-normal day because your co-hosts have been under the weather. We're both on the mend, though, and happy to be on the airwaves. In this episode, we cover several topics, but our main discussion centers on the recent TAG Heuer Formula 1 × Kith releases. We try to bring some level of sense to these watches.

In this episode, we discuss the nearly universal outcry against the TAG Heuer Formula 1 × Kith releases. What should have been a joyous reminder of many of our childhoods took a decidedly negative turn in the comments section. We're critical too, but we also try to find the silver linings.

Other topics and the Handgelenkskontrolle

For everyone's benefit, we reach our main topic around the TAG Heuer × Kith watches roughly 27 minutes into the recording. Before this, we discuss the most recent Jordan 4 Retro sneakers in Industrial Blue that Mike ordered. Then, we discuss two recent TV shows, Reacher and Man In Full. Oddly, our Handgelenkskontrolle comes at the end, but it makes sense to mention them here. Mike is wearing his appropriate TAG Heuer WA1211 that he received in the late '80s. Balazs has a Rolex Datejust 16030 on loan from a friend. He's thinking about buying it!

The TAG Heuer Formula 1 × Kith

Mike wrote up the press release for last week's TAG Heuer × Kith lineup and the comments were incredible. Other watch content sites fared no better with their critics. Surely, the collaboration was a surprising one. However, the watches still brought more than a partial smile to Mike's face. These watches bring back a lot of memories from a very different time. We also think and hope that these pieces will result in other new releases from TAG Heuer. To cap things off, Balazs discusses similar criticisms laid upon the newly revived Amida Digitrend.

Hello, and welcome to this week's episode of Fratello Talks. Today, we wrap up our Watches And Wonders 2024 with a debrief episode featuring Nacho, Thomas, and Lex. The guys take some time to go over a number of brands (and their corresponding releases) that we missed in episode one. They also discuss the general mood of the show and how it reflects on the overall state of the watch industry today. And despite promises made several weeks ago, we recorded this one on a Friday afternoon, so you'll get your fair share of banter and jokes throughout. 

Fratello On Air returns to its normally scheduled slot with a look at some Haute Horlogerie that can be bought at a fair price. To be clear, we're focusing more on high-end complications that usually cost an arm and a leg. This is the second half of an episode we recorded a week ago and we hope you enjoy!

Big-time complications often come with a nasty price tag. However, we've identified some examples of Haute Horlogerie that may not break the bank. Come with us while we run through some specific references. Enjoy the show!

Opening thoughts

We covered the Handgelenkskontrolle on our last episode, so we jump into the topic of affordable Haute Horlogerie. We do mention the crocheted watch rolls now in the Fratello Shop as Mike's mother-in-law created them. This inspires small talk about grandmothers and their focus on food and handicrafts. Also, just to be clear, Mike ends the show with a public service announcement. Everyone who owns a car should own a battery booster!

 Haute Horlogerie on a budget

New watch prices may be escalating beyond control, but there are great deals on the used market. Specifically, when we discuss Haute Horlogerie, we have found some epic watches that bring incredible complications or features for less than the price of a steel Submariner. Some of the watches we discuss are:

• IWC Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar reference 3750
• TAG Heuer 02T Tourbillon
• Omega Speedmaster Rattrapante reference 3540.50
• IWC Portuguese Minute Repeater 524202 (this one isn't inexpensive, but it is compared to other minute repeaters!)
• Atelier Wen Perception, with its handmade guilloché dial
• Horage Lensman 1 Tourbillon
• Oris Depth Gauge, which brought back a depth meter similar to the vintage Nivada Depthomatic

We hope you enjoyed today's eclectic mix of watches. Feel free to add your suggestions in the comments section. If you have future show ideas, please let us know. Thanks for listening!

Welcome back to Fratello On Air! This week, we're coming back late due to our busy schedules. We've decided to cut this recording in half and will come back on our regularly scheduled day next week. For this episode, we talk about the new Amida Digitrend and a vintage Tissot Antimagnetique.

Sorry, folks; we're late again! Work is having its way with our schedules, but we were able to come together and record a lengthy discussion that we have separated into two distinct parts. Today's episode does have a lot of non-watch-related content for the first half. We discuss running shoes, tennis shoes, and new shoe releases. Then, we discuss our Handgelenkskontrolle, including the new Amiga Digitrend and a vintage Tissot Antimagnetique.

Banter

We've received some feedback that our shoe talk has ebbed dramatically. Some of you asked for a return, so we're responding. Before discussing the Amida and the Tissot, we start with functional shoe talk related to running and tennis. Mike ponders why sneaker brands can't use a classic form, such as a Stan Smith, and pair it with modern technology underneath. This would make it useable on the tennis courts. We bemoan the lack of recent compelling releases on the Nike SNKRS app and hope the situation improves.

Handgelenkskontrolle

The Handgelenkskontrolle is our main section today. Balazs kicks it off with the new Amiga Digitrend, a passion project that resurrects a wild watch from the '70s. The periscopic "heads-up" display is back! This heavy steel watch has moved upmarket with a much better movement and a larger price tag. Balazs will return in a few weeks with a full review, but you can check out more on the official Amida website. Meanwhile, Mike is wearing a very different type of watch. It's an early '50s Tissot Anitmagnetique with a 37.5mm chrome case. Since Balazs published an article on his back in 2018, Mike has been on a quiet hunt. Finally, he located a lovely example at a nice price. The two discuss the watches in detail and how they offer great value.

We hope you appreciated today's brief episode, and stay tuned for the second part next Tuesday.

Welcome to this week's episode of Fratello Talks. In this special long-form episode, Nacho, RJ, and Morgan discuss Watches and Wonders 2024. There's much to unpack from this year's fair, so prepare for an extended episode. The trio tackles topics including the general atmosphere of the fair, noticeable trends from brands and the industry overall, and finishes by going through many of the show's notable releases. This year's show was slightly slower than what we've seen in the past, but there were no fewer releases from the 54 participating brands. Do you want to get an idea of what it was like to walk the halls and touch (and feel) the watches? Then tune in to this episode of Fratello Talks!

Fratello On Air returns after a three-week break. Half of us traveled to Geneva while the other went to Florida. Both of us saw fancy cars, but only one of us saw impressive watches. The question of who might have a surprising answer! Watches and Wonders 2024 has come and gone and, frankly, it was a bit of a stinker.

Watches and Wonders 2024 certainly delivered on the first half of its name. The second part? Not so much in our opinion. There were several nice releases, but we'll go on record to say there wasn't a shocking piece that set the watch world on edge. We discuss why it was such a dull event. Of course, we mention our favorites and bring up some of the questionable releases. We hope you enjoy the show!

Handgelenkskontrolle

Before heading to our main topic of Watches and Wonders 2024, we spend some time talking about movies and television. Long flights and travel have allowed us to catch up on recent films and shows. As far as the Handgelenkskontrolle, Balazs is sporting a pre-production watch from TUUL watches. This is a military-style watch from the makers of B&R Bands from Brooklyn. Mike is wearing his L-Series Rolex Explorer 1016, a watch that came on his trip to Florida.

Watches and Wonders 2024

We move on to our main topic of Watches and Wonders 2024. Balazs was on the ground in Geneva while Mike covered some of the releases from South Florida. Overall, we felt this was one of the sleepiest years in recent memory. The color variants were more common than actual new watches. The new watches that did arrive weren't landmark pieces. As far as our favorites, we liked the Nivada F77, L.U. Chopard sector dial pieces, TAG Heuer Skipper in 18K, Zenith Triple Calendar Boutique Edition, and Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight GMT. We discuss the odd gold Rolex Deepsea, Cartier Rewind, Bremont revision, and Patek "Canadian Tuxedo" models.

What were your thoughts on Watches and Wonders 2024? Did you enjoy it? We hope you at least enjoyed this episode and we look forward to coming back to you next week! If you have any thoughts for future shows, please let us know.

Hello there! Welcome to a new episode of Fratello Talks. This week, we have decided to discuss a topic we often get asked about: gifting watches. Nacho, RJ, and Daan explore the topic, from whom you should gift a watch, to when it's appropriate to gift someone a watch. Of course, they also provide some examples from their own experience and share some stories of times when they themselves have gifted and received watches as gifts. The former being the more common occurrence. Finally, they also provide some recommendations on the kinds of watches you should consider if looking to give someone this special gift. After all, a watch is an exceptional gift that could potentially last someone a lifetime. So, tune in for some solid Fratello advice on gifting watches. 

Welcome to a fresh new episode of Fratello Talks. Today, Nacho is joined by RJ and Lex for a varied chat centered around the topic of things that make a watch worthwhile. From waitlists to limited editions and even watches for special occasions, added value is not really a matter of price. Does a reasonable wait add to the experience of eventually owning a watch? And does too long a wait spoil the desire? This is one of the topics tackled today. As is the matter of limited editions. These days, everything seems to be limited and exclusive; but does this spoil it for everyone? It seems that, on the other hand, a total lack of LEs from certain brands is also no fun. So, where's the sweet spot? And what makes a watch worthwhile?

Hello, and welcome to a rather rowdy episode of Fratello Talks. It's a Friday afternoon at Fratello HQ, and Nacho, Lex, and Thomas gather around the mics to list some of the best watches of 2024 so far. Each of them has picked three of their favorites released during this first quarter and three additional honorable mentions. But, despite their best efforts, it doesn't take long until the structure crumbles and their chat diverges into a discussion on some of their favorite (and not-so-favorite) new releases of the year so far.