Fratello Talks: The Tales Of Former Watch Retailers
Most of us have some level of experience with watch retailers and ADs from a customer perspective. However, few watch enthusiasts can claim to have worked behind the counter, let alone owned a watch shop. Today, Nacho and Thomas are joined by Gerard, a long-time Fratello team member and former owner of Horloge Platform Nederland, a watch boutique based in The Hague. The boutique has long since shut its doors, but Gerard still has plenty of stories to share. He gives his perspective on how he first got into the retail side of watches, what it was like to deal with customers and brands alike, how online retail worked in the early days, and more. But first, it’s time for a wrist check.
Wrist check
We start with our seldom-seen colleague, Gerard, who has opted for a Rolex Air-King ref. 116900. This is the previous-generation model, featuring a case that resembles the also-discontinued Milgauss. It’s the brand’s take on a sporty and relatively uncomplicated pilot’s watch. You can read more about this equally seldom-seen Rolex model here.
Thomas, on the other hand, is wearing something slightly more recent. It’s the 2024 version of the Omega Speedmaster First Omega in Space (or FOiS). While he has some mixed feelings about the watch, he has still enjoyed having it on his wrist for the day. Keep an eye on the site for a more in-depth hands-on revisiting of the new FOiS.
Nacho is wearing his latest watch, the Nomos Club Sport Neomatik Worldtimer Jungle. It’s one of the limited-edition colorways introduced earlier this year during Watches and Wonders. As soon as he saw it, he knew he had to have it. And though there were no new watches on his 2025 bingo card, it ended up on his wrist as a wedding gift from his wife (with a special engraving on the case back) just a few weeks ago. He’s been honeymooning with both ever since!
Fratello Talks: The Tales Of Former Watch Retailers
What’s life like on the other side of the watch boutique counter? Today, we talk to two veterans of the watch retail industry to learn more about their perspectives. Both Gerard and Thomas have spent time behind the counter, and today, they share some of their stories. We mainly focus on Gerard, as he went from importer to retailer in the 1990s and owned a boutique in The Hague until around 2013. So, if you’ve ever wanted to learn more about the perspective of watch retailers, this episode is for you.
Do you have any experience as a watch retailer? If so, share your stories in the comments section below. Tune in next week for a new episode of Fratello Talks!
