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Have you ever ever wished to know what it’s prefer to enter the house the place watches are made? These very actual locations stay an summary thought to most individuals, as passionate as they could be in regards to the time-telling objects on their wrists. You may examine them, see photographs and video, and listen to all about them, however that solely offers a two-dimensional view. As media voices on this area, we now have usually been fortunate to get the immersive expertise of visiting a Swiss watch manufacture. Right this moment, Nacho, Lex, and Thomas come collectively to reminisce and share their experiences and impressions of visiting these locations. In addition they discuss how manufacturers’ amenities differ, contact upon non-Swiss manufactures, and provides some recommendation on easy methods to make the pilgrimage to Switzerland to expertise this for your self. However first, it’s time for a wrist verify.
Wrist verify
We start with Thomas, who’s again to his previous tips. As founder, CEO, president, and official wrist mannequin of VPC, it ought to come as no shock that he’s carrying the model’s solely manufacturing mannequin (for now). The Sort 37HW solely makes room on his wrist when he’s engaged on a hands-on overview of one other watch, and as there’s nothing else on the chopping block this week, there it stays.
Lex is again on the town, visiting from his newly adopted Genevan postcode. We thought it will solely be correct to have him on the podcast. As you possibly can see, he got here ready together with his Omega Speedmaster ’57 Broad Arrow “Duplicate” (ref. 3594.50.00), which stays paired with the sage-green Serica Sport strap. Lex isn’t a routine strap swapper, so as soon as he finds a mix that works this effectively (and matches his trousers), he’s not precisely in a rush to alter it.
Lastly, Nacho has pulled up with a little bit of a shock. You’ve heard all about this one on a variety of previous episodes. Most just lately, it was talked about as one in every of Nacho’s picks for favourite chronographs of 2025. It’s the Aquastar Airstar chronograph — particularly, the variant with the naked chrome steel case. It is a reissue of the eponymous mid-century skin-diver chronograph by Aquastar, and it’s one which undoubtedly does the unique justice.
Fratello Talks: The Expertise of Visiting A Swiss Watch Manufacture
If you’ve been a long-time reader of Fratello, you’re doubtless accustomed to our area reviews on visits to Swiss watch manufactures. You’ve most likely even seen our articles on greater than a handful of non-Swiss manufacturing amenities. However studying what we write and seeing the photographs we share provides a restricted impression of what it’s prefer to tour one. Right this moment on the podcast, we’re discussing some impressions from visiting these fascinating locations. We contact on the measures to forestall cross-contamination or mud getting into watchmakers’ areas, the sudden scale of operations, and the ever-present scent of oil and lubricants within the workshops.
Lastly, we encourage you to go to! We spend plenty of time desirous about and discussing watches and simply as a lot cash on the watches themselves, however what could possibly be a greater expertise than investing in touring a Swiss manufacture? It’s possible to take action for lower than the worth of your subsequent huge watch buy. And although we all know that lots of you reside removed from Europe, it’s nonetheless one thing we’d advocate you find time for must you ever go to. A number of manufacturers, reminiscent of Zenith, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Panerai, and Audemars Piguet, provide guided visits. Others, like Omega, IWC, and Patek Philippe, have museums that additionally open their doorways to the general public.
Have you ever ever been fortunate sufficient to go to a watch manufacture? If that’s the case, what have been your impressions? Tell us within the feedback under, and you should definitely tune in subsequent week for a brand new episode of Fratello Talks.
