Fortis × Fratello: Dario Interviews Rob At The John Harwood Street HQ In Grenchen

What a fantastic interview! Thank you, Rob, for peeling back Fratello’s approach to partnerships and maintaining an independent voice. As a watch collector/addict/geek/enthusiast, I want more of this –> the frank discussion you had with Dario about the future of watchmaking and what role organizations like Fratello can play. So much of the luxury market insider information is kept from the community, so it was illuminating to hear this conversation. Side note: I want a job like yours.

A few weeks ago I told a friend my fear for the next 10-15 years is that the current microbrand ecosystem will disappear, in line with what you mentioned. This is not the outcome I want. Maybe some brands will be able to elevate their production to cult luxury brands (still with limited runs, bah), but my guess is that target consumers for the entry-level microbrand price point will have shrunk enough so that the small companies can’t survive. What I’m doing to prevent this: I by watches for friends and family. I try to expose them to these objects that matter so much to me and help us mark our days on the planet. Maybe I’ll infect some youngsters with the obsession and teach them that resale value isn’t the only thing to consider about collecting watches.

Many thanks to you and Dario for putting this together. I appreciate the complexity in keeping allied with the readership and not making us feel monetized.