Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fratello’s December 19, 2024 episode of Fratello Talks is a personal conversation about non-Swiss watch brands, spanning entry-level options to high-end mechanical watchmaking. It is a survey of the hosts’ favorites—not a definitive ranking—and the available show notes do not name every brand discussed in the main audio.
What the episode is about
Fratello frames the discussion around watchmakers based outside Switzerland and the Alpine region. The hosts’ stated scope runs from accessible value propositions to high-end mechanical timepieces they consider comparable to Swiss contemporaries. That comparison is their characterization, not the result of a published, criteria-based test. Fratello’s episode article was published on December 19, 2024; Apple Podcasts displays December 18, apparently reflecting a local listing date. The YouTube listing also corroborates the episode’s broad subject.
Which watches are named in the show notes?
Fratello’s article identifies three watches in its wrist check. These are examples worn or borrowed for that feature, not a confirmed roster of brands from the main conversation.
- Daan borrows RJ’s Bvlgari Diagono Aluminium chronograph.
- Thomas wears the VPC Type 37HW Forest Green.
- Nacho wears a 1993 Seiko 7002 diver, which Fratello describes as an example of the more affordable Japanese watches that have become collector staples.
Is this a definitive list of the best non-Swiss brands?
No. Fratello presents the episode as a selection of brands the hosts love and explicitly acknowledges that it may have missed others: “And though we did our best to cover the spectrum, there are likely plenty that we missed.” The line is from Fratello’s show notes, and it captures the episode’s open-ended, subjective premise.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
#1 Best Overall
- Case Size: 40.00 mm, Band Width: 21 mm, Case Thickness: 11.50 mm
- Swiss automatic movement, 316L stainless steel case, Index dial type, Date
- 23 mm strap/bracelet, butterfly clasp with push-buttons closure
- Water-resistant up to a pressure of 10 bar (100 m / 330 ft): suitable for short periods of recreational swimming and showering, but no diving or snorkeling.
What the available notes do—and do not—establish
The episode listings confirm the topic and broad range, while Fratello’s article supplies the wrist-check examples and the selection caveat. The available notes do not identify each brand named in the main audio. Accordingly, the three wrist-check watches above should not be treated as the episode’s complete brand list, and a definitive roster cannot be established from those notes alone.
How to use the episode as a starting point
The conversation can help you explore watchmaking beyond Switzerland, but it does not provide a shared head-to-head comparison of individual watches. When researching a brand or model that catches your interest, compare the details that matter to your use:
Rank #2
- Swiss Made Watch for Men and Women
- Movement: Automatic Mido Caliber - Power reserve 80 hours
- Case Type: Stainless Steel TV-shaped case with see-through case back|screw-down crown
- Case Size: 40mm - Case Thickness: 11.48mm - Crystal: Sapphire crystal with double sided anti-reflection treatment
- Strap: Stainless Steel Bracelet with Folding Clasp Closure - Lug Width: 22mm
- Price tier and whether you are considering a new or pre-owned watch.
- Country of origin and the watchmaking tradition the brand draws on.
- Movement type, intended use, case dimensions, and how the watch is likely to fit.
- Service access and support in your region.
Those are practical buying criteria, not a scorecard or ranking supplied by the episode.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- As bold as the open road. The rebellious spirit of the 60’s auto culture inspired this retro watch’s design; where the pavement meets the California Sky and the style nods to the look and feel of the most daring of muscle car dashboards.
- This unique watch features an oversized chronograph, double-domed glass, dual sub-dials and slick polished metals.
- Durable and Water Resistant -Water Resistant up to 5 ATM/50 Meters. Perfect for carefree everyday use and can withstand a brief submersion under water, but should not be taken swimming or bathing. Glass case made of hardened mineral crystal for enhanced durability.
- Designed in the USA - Premium on-trend Watches and accessories, designed at our headquarters in Los Angeles.
- Caring for Your Timepiece: Your MVMT watch has been crafted with meticulous attention to quality, function, and detail. We recommend a maintenance interval of every 3 to 5 years, along with any necessary battery replacements. Please do not attempt to open the watch yourself.
Rank #4
- Movement: COSC-Certified Automatic Mido Caliber 80 Chronometer SI with silicon balance spring. In addition to its non-magnetic properties, it offers greater precision and improved shock resistance. This caliber ensures exceptional autonomy of up to 80 hours.
- This Swiss-made MIDO timepiece, designed to withstand the extreme pressures of the deep sea, is exceptionally water-resistant to 60 bar (600 m/1968 ft). Equipped with a helium valve, it guarantees safe decompression during extended dives.
- Case Type: Stainless steel with ceramic bezel and Sapphire crystal with double sided anti-reflection treatment - Screw-down crown.
- Case Size: 43.5mm - Band Width: 22mm (Tapered) - Case Thickness: 14.55mm
- Strap: Tapered Stainless steel bracelet - Folding clasp with diving extension
Rank #3
- Stainless steel case 40mm diameter x 14.1mm thick; Exhibition case back; Black dial; Luminous hands.Band Length: 205mm
- NH35A Japanese Automatic movement, 24 jewel; Assembled in Malaysia; Watch weight 155 grams
- Includes gift box, instructions and 3 year limited manufacturer warranty; Invicta Customer Service can be reached at 1-800-327-7682 for questions (re: Additional links, band replacement, band adjustment, warranty questions, etc.)
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Recommended Free Tools
