Time To Unwind by WatchGecko

With the final Daniel Craig Bond movie, No Time To Die, seemingly delayed for eternity, we thought we’d bring some light relief to those listeners getting withdrawal symptoms from the world’s most loved movie franchise! Yes, in this epic episode we chat about all things Bond. There is a lot of ground to cover here, and just as some of Bond’s quick-witted quips are now slightly dubious, so is Antony’s hosting – so much so that we’ve nicknamed this the X-rated episode! The guys try to reach a conclusion as to which watch is the true Bond watch as they unpick Fleming’s original novels and discuss how the movies have subliminally influenced their choice of watches in later life. We discuss Fleming’s novels and how well (or not as the case may be) they have been interpreted for the silver screen. Can you guess which one of our intrepid wannabe spies describes Moonraker as “One of the most ludicrous films ever made…an amazing novel turned into a monstrosity”? The clock is turned back as they reminisce about what first drew them to Bond movies, and which of the iconic Bond cars and gadgets got them hot under the collar. Somewhat unusually our dysfunctional family is largely in agreement about their favourite Bond film, and it’s probably not the one which you think it is!

If Omega Speedmasters are your thing, whether a lifelong fan, or new to the Speedy world, this podcast is one not to be missed. There are few watches which generate as much interest or passion as the Speedmaster. Its exploits are, quite simply, unmatched in terms of accompanying intrepid human explorers. In an ongoing series of written and audio features celebrating the history of this watch in space and at the race track, we were lucky to spend time chatting to Darren Townend, the founder and expertise behind Vintage Speedmaster (the UKs most respected centre of knowledge and provider of fine examples of this chronological icon). In a relaxed conversation, Darren and Richard delve deep into the world of this amazing watch covering subjects as diverse as NASA qualification, unique sport special editions, Speedmaster auctions and when is a Moonwatch not a Moonwatch? Make yourself a coffee, rehydrate your NASA rations, strap on your favourite Michael Schumacher t-shirt and get ready to embrace all things ‘Speedy’!

In part one of our tool watches two-parter, Anthony, Richard and Tim delve into the backstory of the now ubiquitous tool watch, try to reach some sort of consensus as to what a tool watch is and highlight some of their original practical uses. As well as discussing some of the iconic tool watches of the past such as the Omega Speedmaster Professional and Rolex explorer, Tim questions the validity of the ‘polo’ watch, Richard lets his inner geek free as he unleashes his extensive knowledge of moon watches, and Anthony gets a hard time as the boys try and persuade him to finally take his Rolex into the water! In part-two, coming soon, we will give our top picks for tool watches under £5k!

We were lucky enough to get an interview with Mike France ahead of the launch of the brand new C63 Sealander Collection. Two years in the making, the collection comprises a Sealander GMT, a three-hander with date (dubbed the Sealander Automatic), and a COSC certified Elite model which is made of titanium and features an incredible retractable crown. Trust us, when we say that this is episode you will not want to miss! As well as revealing the inspiration behind the new watch range - said to be the ‘missing link’ for the brand - Mike offers a free watch to anybody who can bring him a watch from another brand that offers the same level of engineering as the new Sealander at the price point! Mike also shares an unexpected amount of detail about pipeline projects and future plans, which include an impressive new dress watch, a collab that will feature an incredible new movement, a new ‘Christopher Ward green’ and even more bracelet tech.  In fact, Mike’s tongue gets so loose during our interview that he now fears returning to Maidenhead for the next design team meeting! Also, in an unexpected turn of events, Mike makes James’ heart beat just a little faster, by inviting talk of a possible collab with our very own WatchGecko design team (James hasn’t slept a wink since!). This is despite James’ best effort to rile Mike beforehand by asking about their controversial logo. Incidentally Mike answers in a typically open fashion, and with an answer that’s sure to please many fans. Finally, wider discussion centres around the resurgence of smaller watch case sizes, the state of British watchmaking generally, and how Mike believes innovation will help return British watchmaking to the glory days. Plus of course audience questions!

In case you’re not following what’s going on in the watch world, last week saw the biggest event in the industry – Watches and Wonders. Starting on 7 April and running for a whole week, the event saw some of the top watch brands in the world launch their new 2021 models. Amongst those brands participating were Rolex, Tudor, Zenith, Tag Heuer, Jaeger LeCoultre, IWC, and Panerai. With the cream of the horological world taking part, there’s plenty of exciting new watches to talk about. So, James, Anthony, and Richard got together to chat about the highs and lows of this year’s releases. In this episode of Time To Unwind they talk about everything from the Rolex Explorer going back down to a 36mm case, to Jaeger LeCoultre’s insane new concept watch! Enjoy the show!

Chris Vail, the larger than life boss of American microbrand NTH watches, is in the spotlight for our latest episode of Time to Unwind. We get to know the man behind the brand, find out what made him start his own business, and turn up the heat as we discuss the contentious issue of homages! Chris founded NTH watches in 2016, specialising in diver watches and the brand quickly gained a loyal following with its popular ‘sub’ models that include the Näcken and the Barracuda. As NTH fans around the world eagerly await dispatch notifications for their shiny new v2 NTH Tropics, we get the low-down from Chris about how the watches have evolved and get him to spill the beans about what else people can expect from his brand 2021. Chris also talks passionately and candidly about the challenges that small brands face when trying to find the right movement to use for a new watch range, having to balance cost and availability with design restrictions. Also expect talk about bezel materials and challenging peoples perceptions about Swiss vs Japanese. Enjoy the show!

In our latest podcast we catch up with man of the moment, Raphael Granito, the 32-year old behind Swiss brand Formex.  Established in 1999, Formex has really come to prominence under the leadership of Raphael, who became CEO in 2016. Their recent releases, the Reef diver and the revised Essence have been flying out the door as quick as they can make them and winning over both new fans and the industry press.  Raphael’s vision and enthusiasm is infectious. Here, he shares some of his design philosophies, and explains how the Reef and Essence will form the foundation upon which to expand their range of watches which will remain distinctly Formex, with ergonomics and engineering taking centre stage.  We’re certainly convinced that this a brand to sit up and take notice of. What about you? 

In our latest podcast episode, Andrea Maggi from legendary dive watch brand Squale joins podcast host Anthony and fellow brand owner Jon, from Geckota. As well as exciting news about forthcoming releases from the brand, Andrea gives a fascinating insight into the history of the brand and what makes it so special, and the connection between the original owners, the Von Buren family and the Maggi family. Andrea also chats about the brand’s strong link to the professional diving community and brand ambassador Vincenzo Ferri’s upcoming free-diving record attempt. He also reveals why the brand recently relocated from Italy to Switzerland, and answers some of the burning questions that you, our audience wanted us to put to him. In what has been a challenging time for many, Andrea and Jon discuss the impact that Brexit and Covid has had on their businesses and what it means to you as customers. They also provide a frank account of where they think Baselworld went wrong and what future watch events could look like following its demise.

Podcast regulars Anthony and Ben chat to the one and only Carl Fogarty – a.k.a. ‘Foggy' – about being brand ambassador for one of the most exciting projects we’ve ever undertaken: a limited-edition watch with motorsport at its heart. Carl talks fondly about the time when the legendary Isle of Man TT race was one of the main fixtures in his racing calendar: a circuit that still holds a special place in his heart.  In 1992, Foggy set the fastest-ever lap there at an incredible average speed of 123.61mph: a record that stood for seven years and was the inspiration behind the Forzo watch we’ve created with him. He describes how time slowed down and he felt at one with his bike, despite the fact that it was falling apart beneath him as he rode a lap that would go down in history. Carl later went on to win the World Superbike Championship several times and remains one of the most prolific motorbike racers the world has ever seen.  We ask Foggy how he first got into watches, and Ben and Carl discuss how the design for the Foggy watch came to fruition. Carl also shares his love of Formula 1 legend Ayrton Senna and tells us how his first-ever bike, with a deeply personal story behind it, has now been brought back to life thanks to the National Motorbike Museum. A truly fascinating insight into the man behind the bike – and now the man behind the new Forzo watch.  Everything you need to know - just click on the links below: Forzo Watches Forzo Facebook Group Carl Fogarty Isle of Man TT

In our first episode of 2021, podcast regulars Tim and James catch up with Joshua Clare-Flagg from Watch It All About (WIAA). They discuss his journey in the watch industry, from writing his first article to being taken seriously as an industry professional. Josh is well known for his blog and reviews with a focus on the affordable end of the market, and more recently his WatchIt! Watch Fair, which was launched with great success in 2019. Josh also talks candidly about the fine balancing act of authenticity vs commercial success for content creators. The trio also chat about how the watch industry and community has had to change and adapt with the growth of social media and the challenge of a Covid climate. We also ask – ‘is the marketplace becoming overcrowded?’, and Tim explains why he thinks it’s important for bigger brands to have a solid documented archive. In watch news, Josh gets very excited about the ground-breaking Accutron DNA, the first electrostatic watch ever. The guys also spill the beans on which brands are currently leading the way at an affordable price point, and what they really think about Hodinkee collab editions! Click on the links below for more info: Watch It All About Accutron DNA Breitling Superocean Heritage ’57 Outerknown Formex  Christopher Ward C65 Super Compressor

Watch brands and charity collab auctions have produced some spectacular results this year. In this podcast, Richard takes a closer look at Time For Art 2024.

It was the month that Sotheby's New York announced that an iconic Heuer Monaco worn by Steve McQueen was to be auctioned, but what else was going on in the opulent world of watch auctioneering? Tune in as our resident auction expert Richard Fox gets us up to speed with the watch auction highlights for August 2024. Follow us for more watch-related content and if you want to support our work, visit ⁠⁠⁠WatchGecko⁠⁠⁠ and buy your next watch strap from us!

It was the month that an exceptionally rare Patek Philippe watch went up for sale, as well as Captain Bob Maloubier’s Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, but what else was going on in the opulent world of watch auctioneering? Tune in as our resident auction expert Richard Fox gets us up to speed with the ⁠⁠watch auction highlights for July 2024⁠⁠. Follow us for more watch-related content and if you want to support our work, visit ⁠⁠WatchGecko⁠⁠ and buy your next watch strap from us!

It was the month that Sylvester Stallone's Patek Philippe collection caused a stir. His Grandmaster Chime alone sold for $5,400,00 alone, but what else was going on in the opulent world of watch auctioneering? Tune in as our resident auction expert Richard Fox gets us up to speed with the watch auction highlights for June 2024. Follow us for more watch-related content and if you want to support our work, visit WatchGecko and buy your next watch strap from us!

In this episode – which comes to you in glorious technicolour – we’re talking about our brand-new watch: the Sierra Zero One Phalanx. We’re delighted with it, and even happier to introduce you to a man who was absolutely instrumental in its creation: Richard Brown. Richard worked for many years with Special Forces units globally, and we’d love to tell you exactly what he did – but then we’d have to kill you, which isn’t exactly going to boost our audience figures. Instead, Richard talks about what the Phalanx was inspired by and how it was created, throughout a process that took nearly two years. It's a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes that tells the full story of how an exciting new watch came into being, from concept to reality. Let us know what you think… Introducing the Phalanx: https://www.watchgecko.com/introducing-the-new-geckota-s-01-phalanx-watch/ The story behind the Phalanx: https://www.watchgecko.com/explore-the-story-behind-the-geckota-s-01-phalanx/ Phalanx goes to Russia: https://www.watchgecko.com/travelling-through-russia-with-the-s-01-phalanx/ Rolex Military Submariner: https://www.watchfinder.co.uk/articles/feature-the-milsub James Bond NATO strap: https://www.watchgecko.com/geckota-vintage-bond-nato-watch-strap Phalanx video with Richard Brown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Emtjoesu6JE Creating the Phalanx: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d8AAg2FohY&t=3s What is a Phalanx? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phalanx A-11 military watch: https://wornandwound.com/military-watches-world-11-watch-won-war/ Dirty Dozen watches: https://www.acollectedman.com/blogs/journal/59621443-the-story-of-the-dirty-dozen-the-first-wristwatches-specially-commissioned-for-the-british-army The story of an incredible Eterna: https://www.watchgecko.com/the-family-history-of-a-1961-eterna/ Waltham A-17 military watch: https://www.craftandtailored.com/products/1940s-waltham-type-a-17-wwii-u-s-military-issued More articles from Richard Brown: https://www.watchgecko.com/author/richardwg484brown/

Here’s the thing. The country’s locking down, people are going to be spending more time at home and so they’re looking for more and better entertainment: watch-related or otherwise. And that’s inspired us to have a bit of a change of direction. As well as just talking into this podcast, we’re now going to start filming it: a bit like our very own, slightly dysfunctional, reality show. Yes, I know we mentioned this already last time. But honestly, we're definitely going to do it. Perhaps as soon as the next episode. Those who just prefer to listen rather than look at us – and that would be an entirely understandable viewpoint – can continue to do so, but isn't it great that we’re also going to be stars of YouTube? So we’d obviously like to apologise to YouTube (and everyone else) in advance. This new format means that we won’t be coming out every week, but instead every couple of weeks. And in a perfect piece of timing, we’ve decided to launch this radical new filming idea in the middle of a lockdown, when we can’t actually film anyone. What could possibly go wrong? For our final fling in the current format, we’ve got Tom Williams as our special guest: rally star and Geckota brand ambassador. If you like getting dirty and sideways, he’s your man. Tom Williams, our home grown rally star: http://www.tomwilliamsrally.com Getting dirty: https://www.dirtgame.com/uk Sir Stirling Moss’s gold watch bracelet, up for auction: https://www.silverstoneauctions.com/events/2020-auctions/the-nec-classic-live-online-auction/the-nec-classic-live-online-auction/the-sir-stirling-moss-obe-collection-saturday/the-solid-gold-twin-bar-watch-band-worn-by-stirling-moss-for-38-years Jaeger LeCoultre alarm watch: http://www.vintage-watches-collection.com/watch/jaeger-lecoultre/jaeger-lecoultre-wrist-alarm-2nd-generation-1956/ Richard Burns’ Peugeot 205 at Goodwood: https://www.wrc.com/en/news/season-2020/wrc/burns----peugeot-stars-at-goodwood/ Fifty years of the TAG Heuer Monaco: https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/fifty-years-of-monaco

Today we’ve got some exciting news! Going forward we’re going to try filming our podcasts and uploading them to YouTube. Hopefully, the thought doesn’t put you all off, and offers a fun new twist on the current format. But until then it’s business as usual, and in this episode we talk about a few bits of news that have caught our eye, including some fantastic news from Oris about their new in-house calibre. We also chat about a couple of cool new vintage watches that Tim & Ben have bought. Tim has picked up an early quartz Cartier Tank, with some killer Breguet numerals. Meanwhile Ben has snagged himself an absolute bargain off eBay – a vintage Aquastar dive watch from the Sixties! Christopher Ward C65 Chronograph https://www.christopherward.com/retro-dive/c65-chronograph/C65-41ACH1-S0BB0-B0.html TAG Heuer Formula 1 Ayrton Senna Edition https://www.tagheuer.com/gb/en/special-edition-heuer02/formula1-senna.html New Oris Aquis Date Calibre 400 https://www.oris.ch/en/watch/oris-aquis-date-calibre-400/01-400-7763-4135-07-8-24-09peb The Richard Mille RM 72-01 'Lifestyle' Flyback Chronograph https://www.richardmille.com/collections/rm-72-01-automatic-flyback-chronograph Tim’s Must De Cartier Tank https://www.watchgecko.com/time-to-unwind-podcast-26 An example of Ben’s Aquastar https://www.shucktheoyster.com/aquastar-geneve-vintage-diver-1701-2/ James’ Accurist https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rare-Vintage-Accurist-600-Automatic-Divers-watch-All-Stainless-Steel-Gents/113726154217?hash=item1a7a9b65e9:g:VagAAOSw~jpZ2nlk Thank you for listening to the Time To Unwind Podcast. If you enjoyed listening, we’d love to hear some feedback, so please leave your ratings of the show through your podcast app, and be sure to reach out on social media, @watchgeckomag, with your thoughts. Adding a rating and a comment really does help the podcast so we’d be grateful for your support. See you soon in the next one!

Our special guest today is James Grant from Martin and Co: authorised Rolex dealers for Cheltenham (among other brands sold there). Joining him is our regular guest Neil Duckworth, and proving that it is indeed a small world, Neil and James know each other of old, when they worked together in the past. Now James is an authorised dealer and he tells us what it’s reallylike to sell some of the most desirable watches in the world. It’s a fascinating chat. As usual, we’ve also got another James on the podcast – our resident James – and when we recorded it happened to be his birthday. So that led to another big question: which watch would you get for your birthday? The answers may surprise you. Christopher Ward Sandhurst: https://www.christopherward.com/military/c65-sandhurst/C65-38A3H2-S00K0-B0.html Bag yourself an Omega Deville: https://www.chrono24.com/omega/de-ville-tree-hands-gold-dial-quartz-cal1332--id13031592.htm Rolex GMT Master, James Grant’s birthday watch: https://www.rolex.com/watches/gmt-master-ii.html Tim wants a Cartier Tank Cintree: https://www.phillips.com/detail/cartier/CH080117/144 Vivienne Westwood Orb swatch: https://www.swatch.com/en_gb/watches/pwz104-orb/ Martin and Co, where James works: https://www.martin-and-co.com

Today we’re talking about our first time… buying a watch! It’s been a long time for all of us since we had our first watch, but we all remember it fondly, though for very different reasons. Anthony’s first experience was on the cheap side, with a watch from a Christmas cracker. Whereas Ben didn’t scrimp and started off with a Tag Heuer. Wherever we started, we’ve all experienced many weird and wonderful watches since then. So sit back, relax, and listen to four men reminisce about popping their watch-owning cherries. Shows Notes;  Tim & Ben’s first day photo Folio Society James Bond Book Cartier ABTW article 2004/2005 Timex Expedition. Ben’s Tag Heuer Casio Panther watch Tim’s t watch Baby Ben with his Grandad’s watch Anthony’s red Casio Casio Calculator Ice Watches Citizen Chronograph Swatch mirror Tartan swatch Swatch skin Ben’s Russian Watch Christopher Ward Sandhurst Tudor Black Bay 58

Using chloroform, rope, and a Transit van we’ve managed to find a new recruit not only to our podcast but to our whole company. Say hello to James (“hello James”) because you’ll be hearing a lot more from him in future. He’s going to become our resident watch (and Star Trek) nerd and he’s got two cats and a snake at home. Other fascinating things we learned this week was that Tim got a Blue Peter badge when he was younger and that Ben’s middle name is James. Luckily we talk a bit about watches too: particularly some of the straps and other accessories that you can get for them. Show Notes; James’s blog (plug, plug): https://www.watchthatsweep.co.uk Accutron is back! https://www.accutronwatch.com TAG Heuer Carrera Sport Chronograph: https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/tag-heuer-carrera-sport-chronograph-44mm-calibre-heuer-02-automatic-introducing The new Montreal: https://www.ablogtowatch.com/tag-heuer-revives-the-montreal-name-for-limited-edition-carrera-chronograph/ Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Day Date Desert: https://www.blancpain.com/en/fifty-fathoms/bathyscaphe-day-date-desert-edition-5052-1146-e52a Devils Hole Pupfish: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devils_Hole_pupfish A very Ben choice for watch of the week: https://www.breguet.com/en/timepieces/new-models-classique-complications/5345pt1s7xu A cool Instagram account to follow: https://instagram.com/horo.my?igshid=geve2xaywyx8 The last wave: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000l9rj Another great Insta to follow: https://www.instagram.com/thespeedyshutter/?igshid=1jwjmxabenub9 How to change a watch strap: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNucRn0IYa4 Check out some of our straps: https://www.watchgecko.com Straps for a Sub: https://www.watchgecko.com/strap-showcase-rolex-submariner-straps/ An alternative look. Thoughts? https://www.instagram.com/p/BzySHtJnN1s/?igshid=l5yfjrlld7cw NATO straps: some history… https://www.gearpatrol.com/watches/a85507/icon-nato-strap/ Louis Vuitton watch case: https://us.louisvuitton.com/eng-us/products/8-watch-case-monogram-canvas-000728 Into watch winders? Fill your boots right here: https://watchwinders.com