EPISODE 156: Neha Bajpai (Wristcheck) on Moser, Cartier and the watch scene in India
Neha Bajpai is a veteran of the watch journalism biz who’s currently looking after Wristcheck’s editorial. Neha shares her experience in watches including learning about the sort of stories that Neha loves to write, and why commerce-based sites are writing (arguably) better watch stories than watch news sites. We also get a crash course on the Indian watch scene.
EPISODE 155: Nicolas Bos, CEO of Van Cleef & Arpels on storytelling in time — plus, are watches boring?
This week we talk about two extremes in watchmaking. First, Andy and Felix ponder the theory that 2022 might actually be one of the most unexciting years on record when it comes to watch releases. Secondly, Felix speaks to a man who directly contradicts this claim — CEO and Creative Director of Van Cleef & Arpels, Mr Nicolas Bos. Van Cleef & Arpel’s watchmaking is less concerned with the passing of minutes and seconds and more about creating emotion.
EPISODE 154: Jacek Kozubek (Tropical Watch) on vintage watches, life lessons and the cheesiest Rolex out there
Our conversation with veteran vintage watch dealer Jacek starts off strong, as we dive into the finer point of the perfect Hawaiian shirt. From that point on, we get a little more on-topic and find out what it takes to become a vintage watch dealer and, more importantly, what it takes to sustain it for 14 years. Jacek talks about the realities of dealing, as well as imparting some hard-earned watch-collecting wisdom. Plus, he tells us about some of the weirdest areas of Rolex collecting, like fast-food Airkings and the tridor watches — for when three tones are better than two.
EPISODE 153: Christian-Louis Col from Ikepod on Kanye West and reviving an icon
One of the late 20th century’s most distinctive watch designs comes from the design-led brand Ikepod, founded by Marc Newson. Today we speak with the current owner and custodian of this cult brand, Christian-Louis Col about Ikepod's history, and significance as a concept watch, as well as how it became of the first ‘it’ watches of the silicon valley set.
EPISODE 152: Gordon Dundas (Glengoyne) on whisky, watches and what links the two
Time for a taste of something a little different. No watches this week, only whisky. We speak to Gordon Dundas, a whisky industry veteran who is International Brand Ambassador for Ian Macleod Distillers, responsible for well-known (and well-aged) Glengoyne.
EPISODE 151: Roman (Fifth Wrist Radio) on the importance of independent watchmaking and why he’s not on a Rolex waitlist
Today’s guest is fellow Melbourne-based watch podcaster Roman, host of Independent Thinking on Fifth Wrist. Roman and Felix talk about the appeal and importance of independent, artisanal watchmaking, especially when compared to the mainstream Swiss offering.
EPISODE 150: Stephen J Pulvirent on his love for simple watches and life after Hodinkee
Today we speak to one of the nicest people in watches, the one-and-only Stephen J Pulvirent. The former Hodinkee mainstay talks to us about watches, watch-related regret and the importance of art.
EPISODE 149: Nicholas Biebuyck, TAG Heuer’s Heritage Director, on the brand’s history of dive watches and finding gems in the archives
If you’re a fan of vintage Heuer and TAG Heuer’s history, today’s guest has the dream job, the Heritage Director at TAG Heuer. It’s not a role you step into without living, breathing (and most likely dreaming), Carreras, Autavias and … divers.
EPISODE 148: Yoni Ben-Yehuda (Material Good) on selling watches in 2022 and how to get your dream watch
If you’re in New York and in the market for an Audemars Piguet, this week’s guest is a good guy to know. Yoni Ben-Yehuda is the Head of Watches at Material Good and Audemars Piguet x Material Good, one of America’s premier watch retailers.
EPISODE 147: Josh Bozin on milestones, travel, and falling in love with watches
This week we speak to Josh Bozin, a freelance luxury and watch writer who’s a key part of the Australian lifestyle journalism landscape, and a regular at GQ, Harper’s Bazaar and more. We chat about Cartier, travel, pirate gold, Barbie and more.
EPISODE 146: What if ... Elon Musk bought Patek, Subs went out of style and other hypotheticals
This week we dusted off the (sapphire) crystal ball and gazed into the multiverse of madness, and played out some hypothetical watch scenarios. What if Rolex doubled production in a few years? Could Apple make a mechanical watch? Will sports watches ever go out of style, and what would it take for Andy to buy a Seahawk. Tune in and find out.
EPISODE 145: David Concannon on exploration, the law and finding Apollo 11’s engines
We joke about National Treasure a lot on OT: But this week, we get as close as we’re ever likely to get to the real deal with explorer, lawyer and exploration consultant David Concannon. His CV covers off multiple dives to the Titanic, the discovery of the world’s deepest wooden shipwreck and helping Jeff Bezos find Apollo 11’s engines, and that’s just the top line.
EPISODE 144: Gerry Nelson (Gezzaseyes), Sweater Guru, watch collector
Today we speak to Gerry Nelson, one of Melbourne’s best dressed and a master of the knit fit. Naturally, we get some top tips on shawl collars and sweaters, but we also find out why Gerry suddenly got back into watches and why, after years of wear, he decided Rolex wasn’t for him. In a period of a few short months, Gerry has a stacked watch box, full of key pieces that aren’t the usual suspects.
EPISODE 143: June News – Top Guns, Royal Oaks, watches and more
Strap into the cockpit with Andy ‘Flex’ Green and his RIO Felix ‘Meathook’ Scholz as they take it to the limit one more time in this high-intensity, adrenaline-fuelled episode. From debating the correct pronunciation of ‘mach’ and analysing the IWC Pilot’s Watches that made a big-screen appearance, it’s fair to say Top Gun Maverick lives up to the hype. There’s also a new AP collab, curveball chronometry from Zenith and more.
BONUS EPISODE: The Hilltop Hoods on their G-Shock collab, touring and clowns
The Hilltop Hoods have more than earned their place as Hip Hop royalty in Australia. The pioneering trio has racked up massive numbers of streams and awards aplenty, as well as supporting up and coming artists. So it was only a matter of time before they teamed up with another legend in the hip hop scene, G-Shock. OT: caught up with Mat and Dan (AKA Suffa and Pressure) to talk about their limited edition collab, what they want in a watch and more.
EPISODE 142: Dr Lorenz Brunner, IWC’s head of Research and Innovation on ceramic, Ceratanium and more
Today we speak to Dr Lorenz Brunner, the Father of Ceratanium, about materials technology at Schaffhausen. And IWC is a leader in the field of ceramics. The brand uses ceramic in cases, of course, but is also the only maker to serially produce ceramic movement components. We also find out about the difficulty and nuance involved in getting coloured ceramic, and more.
EPISODE 141: Christian Knoop, IWC’s Creative Director on design, colour and pilot’s watches
Since he became Creative Director back in 2008, Christian Knoop has been responsible for the subtle and sophisticated task of shepherding IWC’s design direction into a new era. We spoke to Knoop during Watches & Wonders about the challenges of updating iconic designs, the need to stay relevant while resisting trends.
EPISODE 140: Randy Lai (@styleternity) on evolving tastes and expensive Royal Oaks
Today we chat to Randy Lai, a writer who straddles the worlds of watches and style and is a firm convert to the cool that is Cartier. Randy writes for A Collected Man, Wristcheck, Bosshunting and more, but his opinions are all his own, and he’s not afraid to share them.
EPISODE 139: Ross Povey (Tudor Collector) on Tudor, Rolex and the rise of gem-set watches
You can’t venture too deep into the waters of vintage Tudor without coming across Ross Povey. We talk about the rapid renaissance of the once-forgotten brand, and what they got right at Watches & Wonders 2022, as well as the exploding popularity of gem-set Rolex.
EPISODE 138: R.T. Custer (Vortic Watches) on making old new again, plus new Panerai and Rolex
In this week’s episode, Andy chats to R.T. Custer, the man behind one of the most interesting American watch brands, Vortic. We find out how a college project into American-made turned into a viable business which almost didn’t make it because of a prolonged legal battle with one of the Swiss industry giants. In 2020, Vortic walked away from the five-year legal battle as the victor, and has wasted no time getting down to business, upcycling old pocketwatches into new wrist-friendly watches.