Ep #52: Vintage Watches, Reviving Brands & Collecting Navitimers With Mike Stockton From Fratello
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Welcome back to your favourite watch-related podcast!
Sit back and chill out as we talk to the man with the most soothing voice in watch-related podcasting, Mike Stockton from Fratello On Air. A good friend of ours and a man who definitely knows his watches (and a thing or two about collecting sneakers!).
Find out how persistence got him, an American living in Europe, his big break in the industry and why you should never give up chasing your passion. He has a strong family background in collecting, which led to his love for vintage watches, although he does also have a respect for the modern pieces of today. Discover which pieces triggered his addiction to watches, especially vintage, and why the chase is what drives most collectors to chop and change so much, leading to the question, are we ever really happy?
Hear all about why he loves Fratello, his love for London and the UK, and why he's looking forward to this year's Watches and Wonders 2025 so much above the others.
There are also the regular CP7 broad conversations, including brands that need to be brought back, which ones need to up their game and why the Breitling Navitimer is such a collectible watch for both vintage and modern enthusiasts.
So it's time to talk, vintage and modern Rolex, Vacheron Constantin, TAG Heuer, Breitling, and of course, much much more. So buckle up and enjoy the ride for another dose of fun and watch talk with the CP7 Boys and the man with the velvet voice.
Check out Mike on Fratello On Air here.
First up, the wristwatch checks: Mike is wearing his Rolex Explorer 1016 from 1989, followed by Parm with his Rolex Explorer 214270. We finish with Andy, who has the Oak & Oscar Atwood panda in for review.
Next, we take a look at the Omega Speedmaster Tintin, which played a key role in Mike’s journey with Fratello Watches, as well as the Seiko vintage Tuna from 1975, a piece he picked up in Japan. Both watches were subjects of Mike’s early writing for Fratello, helping to lay the foundation for his journalistic path.
Make sure to check out Fratello On Air!
Here are some vintage watch styles that have recently caught Mike’s attention—coincidentally, Andy has owned or still owns a few of them. Among them are his grandfather’s 9k gold inscribed Vertex, one of the classic 9k gold watch styles Mike mentioned, and the Rolex 1573 pre-Bubbleback, a smaller form factor that Mike would now consider. Mike even saw the latter at last year’s Geneva Watch Days.
Here we have the infamous 100-year-old Zenith Monopusher, which lost its chronograph second hand during Geneva Watch Days 2023.
Are you a fan of hunting for vintage bargains? Take a look at the Credor example Andy was considering and Mike’s sterling silver Tank with an 8-day power reserve, both pieces come in under 300 pounds! Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
Here are some of the Breitling Navitimers mentioned, the Twin Jet 806, Mike’s all-black 1959 model, and the Sinn 903. Should Parm go for a vintage Navitimer or a modern one?
Now, onto some watches the guys are considering picking up. As mentioned, the Navitimer is on Parm’s list, though he’s also looking at the Breguet Type 20. Andy has been thinking about revisiting Cartier, possibly with the Ronde, a less common choice. The vintage Heuer Calculator is still on his radar, but perhaps the most fitting piece for him would be the Panerai Submersible. Finally, Mike has recently been drawn to the A. Lange & Söhne Little Lange 1.
Does size matter? Mike recently tried the smaller-sized Cartier Tank Normale from the ’70s, while Andy passed on a 29mm Eterna with a gilt dial.
Would you like to see a true return of the TAG Heuer Formula 1, and what do you think of the latest Chronographs?
That wraps up the show notes, share your thoughts in the comments, and we’ll catch you on the next one!
