Fratello Talks: Swatch Group Novelties From The Watch Valley Event

Today, Nacho, Daan, and Lex are coming to you from the Watch Valley event in Utrecht, where Swatch Group novelties for the first half of 2024 were unveiled. They'll run through some of their favorites and give opinions on the different brand's new watches and directions, with a sprinkle of the usual banter. You'll have to excuse the difference in audio quality; it comes with the territory of recording outside the Fratello studio. What doesn't change is that we kick things off with a wrist check!

[@henryzwartz5171]

Great work guys! Good to see the beard is back. That Certina is cool!

[@hubsistupsi4868]

PRX 37 or 38mm confirmed!!! 😮 thx guys 😉😆

[@MrKanjidude]

Glad to see Certina get some love. I've tried their DS Diver 38, and I loved how solid and well built it felt.

[@Number_006]

Thanks gentlemen...Your conversations are always well informed and appreciated.

[@WestCoastAce27]

Lex ‘hotter than the sun’ Stolk! 🤣 Certina looks very nice. Hamilton proves ‘ain’t broke don’t fix it’ works.

[@StefanoMaggio]

the embargo was lifted on Vinales having the best weekend of his career ahaha, go Pecco! love this podcast btw

[@TOPE64]

Any hints on a Hamilton Expedition GMT?

[@rccrawlersmid-wales645]

Vinales has made a comeback since... here's hoping it continues at Jerez! Oh and nice watches. 😁

[@zegervanaschvanwijck7749]

Are there only “low end” swatch brands at the valley? Not very interesting for me.

[@FratelloMagazine]

Yes, only the brands discussed.

[@Joe-xo3xy]

Guys!!!! I heard nothing about swatch group releases.

[@FratelloMagazine]

Strange.. it's in there.

[@HeonApple]

❤

[@andhenny]

I need to look deeper into the “lesser known” Swatch brands. As Omega jacks prices to the moon, these other brands may be much more attractive purchases.

[@chowda4u]

Nothing from Longines?

[@FratelloMagazine]

They had a separate event to show their novelties.

[@brianmsahin]

Are Swatch killing it? Well for some people they've killed Omega, that's for sure. 😂

[@Chrissepisje]

Since when is the cost-cutting powermatic 80, without any regulation options, with plastic parts, with a modular build and a built-for-swap-outs type of economic model behind it, such a good movement? They even dropped the BPH to 21600 to get the power reserve rather than doing something about the spring or number of barrels. It's cheap and cheerful, for sure, but I'll take a sellita or ETA 2824-2 over these cost cutting movements any day of the week. The lack of any meaningful critique here is staggering. How much are you guys paid by Swatch for this infomercial, guys? Lex started saying something halfway honest when he mentioned the thickness of that Tissot chronograph, but swallowed it mid sentence. Also those DS semi-dress watches.... They are too large for what they are at 40mm, and the movements are too small. That has been the case since the dawn of time. And then.... All these Hamiltons have had disgustingly bad legibility because their sapphires are un-coated mirrors. I've had one of those pilot day-dates and got rid of it because it was more reflective than the London shard. Nothing on that? I'm disappointed. For sure, some of these watches are cool, but I really would like to see a slightly more critical look. Like why it's acceptable that Powermatic-driven GMT's are 14mm thick, when my Soprod driven Baltic is 12, and even Miyota nowadays produces thinner GMT movements. In short: If you guys work for Swatch, great job! If you are independent journalists.... well, not so much.

[@FratelloMagazine]

Certainly not paid by Swatch, but by us ;-) Anyway, this is a first look at the new collection as presented to us on that day. It’s not a review (those will follow later, on our website).

[@WilsonCQB1911]

I'll be the counterpoint on the powermatic 80. I have a Mido with the Mido 80 GMT (highest level powermatic) and it's incredible. Amazing accuracy and precision. I have no complaints about it. I even like the slightly slower beat rate. Reminds me of vintage watches. A reliable movement that offers a long power reserve and incredible accuracy doesn't leave me with anything to complain about.

[@Chrissepisje]

@@WilsonCQB1911 That they are well regulated from the factory is a given. But let's also be honest.... If it ever breaks it goes the way of a 7S26 in that it will be replaced, or the entire balance module will simply be replaced. I have severe doubts about the long time servicability of these, which might be fine as long as Swatch keeps making them. I guess I just don't like throwaway stuff, ultimately. I've had a powermatic 80 myself, two, in fact, in two separate Hamiltons. Loved the watches, but the sapphire crystals were unbearably reflective. Then I had an ETA 2893 in a Hamilton Pioneer... That ran just as well, but overall it's just a better movement with longgevity in mind. However, I got rid of the pioneer because although it is a beautiful watch (the white, small seconds one), it does suffer from the fact that the case is too large for the movement, so you had a date window sitting in the middle of the dial, inside of the 3 numeral, for heaven's sake.

[@Chrissepisje]

@@FratelloMagazine Well, I look forward to the frank and somewhat critical reviews. I truly love Hamilton, to name one, but never, ever are these pieces reviewed with some information on the AR coating of the crystal, the legibility and so on. If this feedback doesn't reach us, we can't make informed decisions, and if that feedback doesn't reach Hamilton, they will never, ever feel an impetus to improve their AR coating. And Swatch will never develop smaller cases or movements that are large enough to allow for decent date placement. These folks are close to making a whole bunch of really cracking watches, but seem to be asleep at the wheel in some respects. I had to say goodbye to three Hamiltons I dearly loved, but the irritations were too grave to keep them in the long run. I would love to own a Hamilton I'd be happy with one day, and I'm willing to pay extra to get rid of these cost cutting design choices.

[@mea7356]

This looked and sounded like a forced hostage video. I’m a big fan but unsurprisingly not one of your best.