Welcome to Fratello Talks. This week, you join your host Nacho alongside RJ and Lex to discuss the evolution of watch marketing. The idea of marketing watches has been around since selling them became a lucrative endeavor. Since then, we have seen the watch industry s efforts take many different forms, from posters to print ads, television spots to ambassadors, and the many different ways that watch brands are involved in the world of sports. Today, the guys examine many of these aspects and discuss examples that they find memorable, effective, and downright cool. They also list some examples of not-so-effective marketing. Finally, they do some wishful thinking for its future. But all this c...

Besides my passions for music and watches, I also greatly love architecture. It takes a unique talent and ability to create buildings that seem like they have an actual soul. But what if you combine architecture and watch design? Does that work? The answer came in the spring of last year. The Lebond Siza explored the crossroads of architecture and watch design. The result was a watch that showed that architectural design philosophy can indeed cross that border. Now Lebond is back with its second release. The Lebond Souto Moura takes a different approach to design. The watch is an architect s take on the classic driver s watch. The results are once again remarkable and intriguing.As I explain...

I mainly associate Fortis with its different watches created for use in space. But there is more to the brand than just those. The Fortis M-40 is a versatile tool watch for diving or adventures out in the wild. It has appropriate specs to make it a versatile piece that will serve you in various conditions. And knowing that it is a Fortis, you know that the quality is top-notch. So, after reviewing the Novonaut late last year, which impressed me, I welcomed the chance to go hands-on with the Marinemaster M-40.Getting back to the association that I have with Fortis, I love the story of the brand s watches and adventures in space. The Fortis Official Cosmonauts Chronograph has become an industr...

The Baltic Hermetique collection consists of colorful and vintage-inspired field watches. I say colorful because, initially, it was only available in brown, green, beige, and blue. Somehow, I didn t even notice that a black or white option wasn t available. But one of our readers left a comment underneath Thomas s hands-on article expressing his surprise at the lack of a black-dial option at launch. Well, it almost looks like Baltic s founder Etienne Malec saw that comment because now, less than six months after the initial introduction of the Hermetique, he s launching both black and white versions. But be quick because only 400 of this Hermetique Glacier limited edition will be made.The mo...

We seem to be living in a watch era in which people lose their marbles over a faded bezel - something that just happens - while man-made tour de forces like a gyro tourbillon seem to be brushed aside. I blame the retro trend, which gave us watches like the Tudor Black Bay. But its also a trend that overshadowed the traditional, marvelous craftsmanship of boundary-pushing master watchmakers. But its not all bad tidings because, when current complications are out of reach and only to admire, neo-vintage ones might be up for grabs instead. Thats the advantage of shopping for things that are not en vogue. Yes, my dear Fratelli, all of us can make complications great again.When my interest in wat...

In late 2022, I had a chance to check out the ADPT Series 1 watches. It was a fun experience. The collaborative effort between the folks behind Worn & Wound and Boldr resulted in a duo of colorful field watches. For the next step, the team worked on a second pair of watches based on the debut model. For the Series 1 Dual-Time, a GMT function has been thrown into the mix. Something that immediately piques my interest. What has stayed are the funky colors that make these watches stand out immediately. Add an affordable price of under $500, and I am all eyes and ears.As I explained in the article about the first ADPT Series 1, the people behind Worn & Wound started ADPT to offer America...

In this installment of Back to Basics, we ll dive into chronometers. What does this term mean, and why should it be relevant to you? If you are (relatively) new to the watch hobby, the word chronometer may be somewhat confusing. Technically, any object that measures (meter) time (chrono) is a chronometer, right? Then why do brands label some mechanical watches as such but not others?As always with this series, this article is mainly for new watch enthusiasts, so if you are one of them, welcome! If you are a seasoned Fratello reader, this info will probably be familiar. Still, who knows? There may be something new here for you too. Lets get into it!What is a chronometer?Lets start with the co...

We re back with another episode of Fratello On Air,?and this week, we discuss watches from brands that everyone should own at some point on their collecting journey. Our ideas come across as more of a suggestion than an edict, though. We also touch on several other watch-related topics before the main event. Enjoy the show! This podcast player is blocked because you did not accept marketing cookies. Change cookie settings Whether we re talking watches, cars, or any other item, we re not sure that anyone likes being told what they should or shouldn t buy. That s why our main topic today on watch brands is fairly light. We also spend a decent amount of time talking about last week s Cartie...

In this series called Exploring Evergreens, we review watches that have been around for over a decade - or long enough to feel ubiquitous - and ask ourselves whether they have managed to stand the test of time. Well address whether theyre still relevant, how they feel today, and, ultimately, if theyre worth their current prices. In some cases, when the authors own/have owned the specific pieces, theyll dig into how their feelings about them have evolved and whether or not they still deserve a spot in their collections. Well cover anything from truly timeless and budget-friendly classics to vintage and neo-vintage heavy hitters. Today, its Daans turn again with his Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Cl...

Today, we ll take a closer look at a fascinating watch that I recently purchased at auction. As we ll see, the watch brings together several notable details that separate it from other 30T2 models from the period. It was a gamble, but it has turned out to be a rewarding one thus far.I don t often participate in auctions. Today s vintage Omega 30T2 only marks the second time that the word?SOLD!! has been yelled from the rostrum in my direction. Here we are, though, and the seemingly endless number of smaller auction houses residing here in the UK have joined eBay as part of my hunting grounds. The UK, if nothing else, has oodles of history, and that translates to all manner of old watches for...

Today, we bring news of a much-anticipated debut. The Fleming Series 1 is finally here, and we were able to go hands-on with a pre-production Tantalum model. This is a stunner in the truest sense, but I warn you that it isn t an entry-level watch. This watch has an all-star cast behind it. Let s take a look.It was June 2023 when Fleming dropped its first Instagram post. Since then, dribs and drabs have made it to the brand s account, revealing small details of the Fleming Series 1. Now, after a sizable amount of anticipation, we get to see the results. Rose gold and platinum make up two of the offerings. Our hands-on was with the third variant, the Tantalum. This is one of the most impressiv...

What makes a tool watch great? The answer may vary depending on who you ask, but to the folks at RZE and us here at Fratello, a great tool watch is one that inspires you to get out there and make the most of the time you spend with it on your wrist, whether it s a dive watch that gets you in the water, a chronograph that you can hit the track with, or even a field watch that you can rely on when trekking into the woods. Usually, this will be due to it having the right blend of functionality, specs, and quality. Today, we are thrilled to introduce the new RZE Fratello Resolute Pro Contour, a watch inspired by the spirit of adventure and the trusty analog tools that get you there (and back)....

What happens when you leave a Submariner Hulk and a Daytona in a room overnight? You get the Zenith Chronomaster Sport in its very green attire. Did I offend any and/or Zenith fans? It was my initial thought when I saw the press pictures of the Chronomaster Sport on a bracelet (ref. 03.3119.3600/56.M3100) and the one on a matching rubber strap (ref. 03.3119.3600/56.R952). From the very start, the Chronomaster Sport gave off strong Daytona vibes, and by adding a green dial and green ceramic bezel, it also ventured into Sub territory. That sounds like an irreversible bad first impression, but judging a watch by looking at it on a screen should always be temporary. A judgment can only be fina...

At Fratello, we love hypothetical collecting exercises, challenges like What if I could spend 5K or 10K on a three-watch collection? for instance. Today, I want to do one that isnt limited by a specific budget or number of watches. Instead, I would like to simply stray off the beaten path and go for unusual suspects. What if I wanted to build a little watch collection without hitting the expected targets? That means no Submariners, Speedmasters, or Tanks. Lets dive in!These are watches I would choose for myself under the set restrictions. Although I am not setting a specific budget, I will try to stick to the segment in which I tend to buy. It would be too easy to just jump on a bunch of cra...

I rarely get to follow the journey of a watch s creation. From the early renders to a dummy prototype to the finished article, the Behrens 20G has been an exciting journey. That said, I am not a patient person. I m not a fan of waiting for things. I m sure we all know the frustrations of finishing a season of our favorite TV show only to have to wait a year or more for the next. It was like that with the Behrens 20G for me.I first saw the initial renders about a year and a half ago, followed by the non-working samples at Time To Watches in 2023. Finally, I now have a final production watch in hand and on my wrist. This is not the first time I have written about this particular watch, but it ...

Today, we re taking a look at the latest entry from Titoni. The Heritage Bicompax Chronograph is, as you d expect, a vintage-inspired piece that takes its cues from historic 50s and 60s models. It s clean, uses a reliable automatic caliber, and is relatively affordable. Let s take a closer look.As a fan of vintage watches, I must admit that Titoni wasn t a brand that immediately registered on my radar. A quick look at the brand s official history page, though, explained why. Historically, Titoni was known first as Felco, then as Felca, and I had indeed heard of its second name. The company supplied watches to the US military during World War II, which Tomas featured here. As he mentions in...

Doxa s Sub 300 Whitepearl has perhaps one of the most intriguing colorways available to fans of the dive-watch brand. I took this monochromatic iteration of the iconic Doxa model for a dive in the Pacific Ocean to test its underwater legibility. If this experience has proven one thing, it s that Doxa s monochrome watch is far from dull.This is not the first Doxa model I have written about and reviewed for Fratello. Last year, I took the Doxa Army on an ocean adventure to get a truer sense of what owning it would be like, and I came out thoroughly impressed. The Army represented the brand resurrecting a bizarre design from the late 1960s. Doxa provided these watches to members of the Swiss mi...

Welcome to another Sunday Morning Showdown. With sunshine finally appearing after a gray winter, it s time to look forward to spring and summer. This week, we have a very special showdown. It s a battle that we have never seen in our series - the current Omega Seamaster Professional Diver 300M versus the current Submariner Date. It s time to see which of these two iconic divers will come out on top. As always, Fratelli, their fate is in your hands…Robert-Jan and Jorg are going toe to toe in today s battle. Both men have selected famous names from big brands to battle it out. Do either of these really need any introduction? Just as a small reminder, the Submariner Date ref. 126610LN, ...

William Wood announces a new wristwatch as an extension to its firefighter-inspired collection. Instead of firefighting, the Fire Exit watch focuses on global emergency signs in public buildings. These signs comply with the ISO 3864 safety standard to ensure international familiarity. Specifically, the signal-green shade graces the emergency exit signs that William Wood channels in its latest release. Also, the stickman figure within the sign gets to try out new contortions based on the mood of each day via the central disc. While this watch is more playful than the more stoic firefighting collection, there is a genuine respect for the importance of fire exit signs and the lives they protect...

Yuichiro Miura s 1970 expedition to Mt. Everest was the subject of a documentary and press coverage, and it became a legend in the extreme skiing community. His companion on that adventure was the Certina DS-2 Chronolympic. It was a hardy chronograph built for adventure.There is a way of considering the world s tallest peaks that resonates with the adventurer in me. Watching the award-winning 2006 documentary Planet Earth, narrated by the great Sir David Attenborough, is when I first heard it. In one episode, focused on mountains, he described those fearsome and majestic peaks above 20,000 feet high as the roof of the world.It has always stuck with me as a poetic summation of how forbidding ...