Flashback to 2016: A Nostalgic Journey Through Watch History
Welcome to another engaging episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we take a nostalgic journey back to 2016—ten years ago! While some aspects feel like just yesterday, others remind us how much has changed. Join us as we dive into the highlights of that year and reminisce about the good old days in watchmaking.
It feels like a blink of an eye since Mike drove from Frankfurt, picking up Balazs in Karlsruhe on his way to Baselworld. The watch community was buzzing with excitement back then, although social media was still finding its footing. The Swatch Group held a prominent space at Baselworld with its impressive array of brands. In this episode, we’ll revisit some standout releases from 2016 and share additional reflections from the past decade.
Handgelenkskontrolle: What’s on Our Wrists?
It’s been a while since our last record, largely due to Mike’s travels across Germany. Unfortunately, he experienced a travel mishap reminiscent of Balazs’s own stories—possibly a day he’d rather forget! We’ll also touch on an upcoming Sotheby’s auction showcasing a pair of Michael Jordan’s shoes from the iconic 1992 Dream Team Olympics. In addition, Balazs shares his excitement about the return of The Night Manager, which reappeared after its first season in 2016! For our Handgelenkskontrolle segment, Balazs is sporting the upcoming Nivada Grenchen F77 MKII, while Mike showcases his classic Rolex Sea-Dweller 1665 “Great White”, which he’s still wearing proudly.
Seiko PADI, soap and a Ducati
Blast from the Past: Notable Releases from 2016
It’s hard to fathom that 2016 was a decade ago! In this episode, we reflect on a year filled with remarkable watch releases and trends. Vintage watches were experiencing a renaissance, evidenced by a Patek Philippe 1518 that fetched over CHF 11 million at a Phillips auction. It’s astounding to think how far we’ve come in the watch market over the years!
Speaking of releases, many models from that year still feel remarkably contemporary. For instance, the Blancpain Bathyscaphe Blue and Ceramic remain in the catalog today, showcasing the enduring popularity of larger cases. Meanwhile, Robert-Jan’s review of the Sinn U212 highlights its timeless design. And let’s not forget, Tudor was already embracing non-ETA movements by that point, while Omega launched the blue and white CK2998, a model that has aged beautifully.
Our time machine continues its journey to one of the most adventurous releases of the year: the Hublot Big Bang Berluti. With options in gold or steel, it featured a striking leather dial. Seiko, always at the forefront of innovation, announced a collaboration with PADI that caught the attention of many collectors, leading to several team members adding new models to their collections. Meanwhile, TAG Heuer revealed the Monza PVD, a retro-styled chronograph, and Rolex shocked the industry by introducing ceramic bezels on the Daytona 116500LN, a move that created waves at Baselworld.
We hope you enjoy this stroll down memory lane in today’s episode! Feel free to share your favorite watch memories from 2016 in the comments below. Did we miss any significant pieces that defined the year?