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In this episode of aBlogtoWatch Weekly, the team jumps between Watches and Wonders prep, industry expectations, and the usual mix of tangents that somehow circle back to watches. There is a lot of discussion around what is about to be released, with David breaking down the key things he wants to see this year, from comfort and pricing to originality and long term design value, while everyone else questions how much of that will actually show up. The idea of “new icons” comes up, along with how often brands change things without actually improving them, and why this time of year so often leads to disappointment.Along the way, the conversation drifts into media chaos, busking, and how the watch industry builds hype ahead of major releases. There is also some early speculation on which brands might stand out, which ones might fall short, and what usually separates the watches people remember from the ones that disappear as quickly as they arrive. They also spend time talking through a few of the watches that came up this week on aBlogtoWatch.com, including the Louis Vuitton Tambour Taiko Arty Automata, which leans fully into being mechanical art rather than anything practical, and the NHL themed Norqain chronograph, which brings up the usual discussion around sports partnerships and how well they actually translate into watches. Along the way, they touch on other recent releases and ideas floating around the industry, using them as examples of both creativity and the kind of designs that start to feel repetitive.To check out the ABTW Shop where you can see our products inspired by our love of Horology:- Shop ABTW - https://store.ablogtowatch.com/To keep updated with everything Superlative, aBlogtoWatch Weekly, and aBlogtoWatch, check us out on:- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/- Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aBlogtoWatch If you enjoy the show please Subscribe, Rate, and Review!YouTube Monetization ID for Copyright Material From PremiumBeat.com: #3826449
This week on aBlogtoWatch Weekly, Rick, Ariel, David, and Ripley kick things off with a tourbillon on a budget that feels equal parts impressive and slightly unhinged, as they try to figure out who exactly this watch is for and how it even came to be. Things only get stranger from there as beverage branding goes completely off the rails, with energy drink inspired watches entering the chat and raising the very real question of whether your wrist and your drink should ever be part of the same product strategy.From there, the debate moves to Longines as a recent release from the brand has ignited significant discussion regarding design inspiration, perceived familiarity in the aesthetic, and the strategic wisdom of adopting a conservative approach in the current watch market. Along the way, there are takes on brand positioning, watch collecting psychology, and the fine line between clever strategy and just copying what already works. As always, expect strong opinions, questionable logic, and the kind of watch talk that somehow makes perfect sense once you are fully locked in, while also not thinking too hard.To check out the ABTW Shop where you can see our products inspired by our love of Horology:- Shop ABTW - https://store.ablogtowatch.com/To keep updated with everything Superlative, aBlogtoWatch Weekly, and aBlogtoWatch, check us out on:- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/- Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aBlogtoWatch If you enjoy the show please Subscribe, Rate, and Review!________________________________________YOUTUBE KEYWORDS:aBlogtoWatch Weekly, watch podcast, tourbillon watch, affordable tourbillon, Longines HydroConquest, watch debate, luxury watches, Swiss watches, watch industry, horology podcast, watch collecting, microbrand watches, Seiko NH35, watch trends, Omega watches discussion, Rolex comparison, watch news, watch design** YouTube Monetization ID for Copyright Material From PremiumBeat.com: #3826449
This week on aBlogtoWatch Weekly, Rick, Ariel, David, and Ripley dig into the growing disconnect between perception and reality in the watch industry, unpacking how watch market noise and misleading data can paint a far more dramatic picture than what is actually happening behind the scenes. Ariel pushes back on the obsession with secondary market pricing and investor-driven narratives, arguing that the health of the industry is far more nuanced than a few headline metrics, while the group debates whether enthusiasts should even care about the business side at all or just focus on the watches themselves. Along the way, the conversation drifts into the quirks of modern watch collecting, media-driven hype cycles, and how easily narratives can spiral when the data is incomplete.Of course, it would not be a proper aBlogtoWatch Weekly episode without things going slightly off the rails, as a “simple Seiko pricing discussion” turns into chaos when Ariel completely breaks the rules of the game, derailing one of the show’s favorite segments in real time. From there, the episode moves through new releases, design observations, and the usual mix of strong opinions and tangents that somehow still circle back to the core question of the episode: Are we over-thinking the watch world, or just over-analyzing the wrong things?For sponsorship, you can go here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/jacqui-atkinson-2?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CLFor suggestions of watches to run the London Marathon in email Podcasts@ablogotowatch.comTo check out the ABTW Shop where you can see our products inspired by our love of Horology:- Shop ABTW - https://store.ablogtowatch.com/To keep updated with everything Superlative, aBlogtoWatch Weekly, and aBlogtoWatch, check us out on:- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/- Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aBlogtoWatch If you enjoy the show please Subscribe, Rate, and Review!** YouTube Monetization ID for Copyright Material From PremiumBeat.com: #3826449
This week on aBlogtoWatch Weekly, Rick, Ripley, and David kick things off with an unexpected deep dive into one of the most overlooked topics in watchmaking: comfort. From clasp design to strap stiffness and why so many high end watches still feel terrible on the wrist, the team breaks down why this basic issue remains unsolved and what brands could be doing better. Along the way, they even propose a very scientific new testing method involving a crushed Red Bull can. (Anybody have a line to Red Bull about podcast sponsorships?)The conversation then shifts into the wider watch world, including Formula 1 sponsorship moves, CEO visibility, and how brand identity is shaped both on and off the track. To wrap things up, the Brand Wheel returns with a new twist, as the crew debates which brands should be kept, changed, or completely eliminated. As always, expect industry insight, strong opinions, and the kind of watch talk that somehow spirals from serious analysis into crushing Red Bull cans for science.For sponsorship, you can go here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/jacqui-atkinson-2?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CLFor suggestions of watches to run the London Marathon in email Podcasts@ablogotowatch.comTo check out the ABTW Shop where you can see our products inspired by our love of Horology:- Shop ABTW - https://store.ablogtowatch.com/To keep updated with everything Superlative, aBlogtoWatch Weekly, and aBlogtoWatch, check us out on:- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/- Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aBlogtoWatch If you enjoy the show please Subscribe, Rate, and Review!
This week on aBlogtoWatch Weekly, it is just Rick and Ariel back behind the microphones for a wide ranging and occasionally chaotic conversation about the state of the watch industry. With Watches & Wonders approaching, the two dive into how the modern release cycle has changed the excitement around major watch events, why embargo driven coverage has made launches feel predictable, and whether the industry has accidentally replaced discovery with information overload.Their discussion then shifts into a deeper look at the watch market itself, sparked by Ariel’s recent article examining how widely circulated industry reports attempt to measure brand health through used watch pricing. Rick and Ariel unpack why those numbers often tell an incomplete story, why secondary market data can be misleading, and how speculation has influenced the way collectors think about buying watches. Along the way, they also touch on microbrands, new watch releases, and a few standout pieces currently on their radar, including collaborations, high-end independents, and some very unusual horological creations. As always, things wander between industry commentary, watch nerd tangents, and a few well-earned rants, which is usually what happens when Rick and Ariel are left alone to talk about watches.To check out the ABTW Shop where you can see our products inspired by our love of Horology:- Shop ABTW - https://store.ablogtowatch.com/To keep updated with everything Superlative, aBlogtoWatch Weekly, and aBlogtoWatch, check us out on:- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/- Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aBlogtoWatch If you enjoy the show please Subscribe, Rate, and Review!
This week on aBlogtoWatch Weekly, Ariel Adams is joined by Rick, David, and Ripley for a lively conversation that begins with a painful toe injury and quickly turns into a discussion about the hazards of working with watches, from dropped cases to the finger stabs that come with changing straps and spring bars. The team then dives into one of the biggest industry stories of the week as Swatch Group publicly pushes back against the latest Morgan Stanley and Luxconsult watch industry report, raising questions about transparency, data quality, and how much anyone outside the brands actually knows about watch sales.Later in the episode, the crew looks at one of the stranger new accessories to hit the watch world: the Smartlet bracelet, a modular system designed to let you wear a traditional watch alongside a smartwatch on the same wrist. From there, the conversation moves into the recent surge of jumping hour watches, including a very high-end Louis Vuitton minute repeater and a new take from MeisterSinger. Naturally, the episode also drifts into the usual mix of watch industry commentary and total nonsense, including the increasingly chaotic Brand Wheel of Death, where brands face the ultimate fate of being kept, killed, or erased from existence entirely.To check out the ABTW Shop where you can see our products inspired by our love of Horology:- Shop ABTW - https://store.ablogtowatch.com/To keep updated with everything Superlative, aBlogtoWatch Weekly, and aBlogtoWatch, check us out on:- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/- Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aBlogtoWatch If you enjoy the show please Subscribe, Rate, and Review!
This week on aBlogtoWatch Weekly, Rick, David, and Ripley kick things off with affordable watch enthusiasm before diving headfirst into industry introspection. The new VAER G2 Meridian GMT proves that a $399 quartz travel watch can still feel thoughtfully designed, well built, and genuinely useful, while David’s latest “Grinding Gears” article tackles a much bigger issue: have major watch brands retreated into tiny echo chambers? From disappearing marketing ambition to confusing corporate growth expectations, the team connects the dots between brand communication, Morgan Stanley reports, and the shifting realities facing names like Omega and Breitling.Things escalate quickly from there. A nearly $2 million Richard Mille soccer watch attempts to track match periods, scores, and stoppage time in the most mechanically complicated way possible, sparking debate about purpose versus spectacle. The Brand Wheel of Death returns to eliminate Baume & Mercier while sparing Laurent Ferrier for a hypothetical fifty year reset, and Moritz Grossmann lives to spin again. It’s the usual combination of market analysis, horological absurdity, and just enough chaos to keep things interesting.To check out the ABTW Shop where you can see our products inspired by our love of Horology:- Shop ABTW - https://store.ablogtowatch.com/To keep updated with everything Superlative, aBlogtoWatch Weekly, and aBlogtoWatch, check us out on:- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/- Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aBlogtoWatch If you enjoy the show please Subscribe, Rate, and Review!
This week on aBlogtoWatch Weekly, Rick is back in the hosting seat and joined by Ariel, Ripley, and David for a typical wide ranging conversation that moves from Japanese watch culture to retail power plays, with only a mild amount of chaos along the way. Ariel shares highlights from his recent trip to Tokyo, including how Seiko, Grand Seiko, Citizen, and Casio are presented at home, why Seiko currently wins the prettiest display contest, and what it feels like to stand in front of an entire rainbow of Mount Iwate dials. The team then dives into a deep discussion about Rolex and the growing pressure placed on authorized dealers, from costly boutique remodels to brand controlled retail experiences, sparking a lively debate about independence, real estate strategy, and who really benefits when luxury retail gets a facelift.From there, the episode rolls straight into Hit Miss Maybe, covering a new pilot inspired release from Oris, a lightweight Zagato concept from Chopard, and a technical deep dive into a high end Ferdinand Berthoud piece, complete with chain drives, constant force mechanisms, and strong opinions about skeletonization. The Brand Wheel of Death makes its long awaited return, putting Tudor and Tissot back in the spotlight, while Czapek quietly exists. Along the way, the crew debates value, design direction, and whether some brands need a 50 year timeout. The episode wraps with plenty of laughs, sharp industry takes, and just enough Brand Wheel energy to remind everyone that no watch company is ever truly safe.To check out the ABTW Shop where you can see our products inspired by our love of Horology:- Shop ABTW - https://store.ablogtowatch.com/To keep updated with everything Superlative, aBlogtoWatch Weekly, and aBlogtoWatch, check us out on:- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/- Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aBlogtoWatch If you enjoy the show please Subscribe, Rate, and Review!
This week on aBlogtoWatch Weekly, Ariel is once again holding down the host chair while Rick continues his mysterious multi week sabbatical (last we heard he was crossing mountains by donkey, so fingers crossed). Joined by Ripley and David, the team digs into Ariel’s latest essay on why luxury watch brands should embrace controlled discounting, unpacking how pricing psychology, gray market realities, and unrealistic investment narratives have distorted modern collecting. The conversation then shifts to Ariel’s recent trip to Tokyo, now arguably the world’s most exciting city for watch enthusiasts, with deep dives into Japan’s booming pre owned scene, Grand Seiko sightings, tax free deals, and how local retailers are reshaping displays to match global demand. From there, things jump wildly upmarket with a breakdown of the Louis Vuitton and De Bethune collaboration and its four million euro Sympathique clock fantasy, before crashing back to earth with tiny G-Shock ring watches, blind box buying culture, and whether gamified collecting is the future or just Pokémon with timekeeping. The episode wraps with thoughts on Breguet’s latest Type 20 chronograph, vintage inspired design choices, and why watches should probably go back to being worn instead of treated like speculative assets, all delivered with the usual mix of industry insight and playful cynicism, plus one conspicuously empty chair while Rick continues his mysterious travels.To check out the ABTW Shop where you can see our products inspired by our love of Horology:- Shop ABTW - https://store.ablogtowatch.com/To keep updated with everything Superlative, aBlogtoWatch Weekly, and aBlogtoWatch, check us out on:- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/- Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aBlogtoWatch If you enjoy the show please Subscribe, Rate, and Review!
With the aBlogtoWatch Weekly crew unavailable this week, we’re doing something a little different. In this special crossover episode, we’re revisiting standout conversations from our Superlative podcast to bring you three perspectives on watch collecting, craft, and the culture that surrounds modern horology. You’ll hear from Jay Leno on his personal relationship with mechanical watches and why tangible objects still matter in a digital world, Fred Savage on how watches create connection, identity, and community, and George Bamford with candid insight into collector psychology, industry risk, and what it really means to navigate trust in the watch space. Each segment comes from a longer Superlative conversation, curated here for aBlogtoWatch Weekly as a look back at classic moments that highlight the human side of timepieces and why this hobby continues to resonate across generations.Check out each episode with our featured guests:Jay Leno - https://youtu.be/y6Lhs0h0S-I Fred Savage - https://youtu.be/-vthxT-uSsM George Bamford - https://youtu.be/SOBwXcXXm3A To check out the ABTW Shop where you can see our products inspired by our love of Horology:- Shop ABTW - https://store.ablogtowatch.com/To keep updated with everything Superlative, aBlogtoWatch Weekly, and aBlogtoWatch, check us out on:- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/- Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aBlogtoWatch If you enjoy the show please Subscribe, Rate, and Review!
This week on aBlogtoWatch Weekly, Ariel is joined by Ripley and Sean, proving that the show can still stay on the rails even without Rick in the room, before cutting straight to the heart of modern watch collecting, originality, and why taste and intention matter more than rigid rules. The discussion kicks off with Sean’s modified 1960s Omega Seamaster and quickly expands into a thoughtful debate about vintage purity versus lived-in character, the difference between collecting as time travel and collecting as personal expression, and why aftermarket changes are not always the sin the internet makes them out to be. From there, the conversation moves through current releases, including Maurice Lacroix’s heavily skeletonized offerings, and Zenith’s Defy Skyline lineup (why it continues to punch above its weight), and the strange appeal of ultra-luxury skeletonized gold watches that are impossible not to smile while wearing. The team also touches on Marathon’s Arctic Edition diver, the ongoing fixation with faux-aged lume, and the widening gap between functional tool watches and fashion-driven design. The conversation also takes a candid turn toward Tudor’s current identity struggles, questioning whether the brand has lost its experimental edge and what it says when Rolex appears more willing to innovate than its so-called adventurous sibling.To check out the ABTW Shop where you can see our products inspired by our love of Horology:- Shop ABTW - https://store.ablogtowatch.com/To keep updated with everything Superlative, aBlogtoWatch Weekly, and aBlogtoWatch, check us out on:- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/- Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aBlogtoWatch If you enjoy the show please Subscribe, Rate, and Review!
In this episode of aBlogtoWatch Weekly, the team dives headfirst into the watch media identity crisis sparked by Ariel’s recent essay on who actually pays for honest coverage and why everyone seems to want it without footing the bill. The conversation then shifts into the uncomfortable reality of independence, sponsored content, and where the line gets drawn in a very small industry. From there, things take a sharp turn into horology with a deep discussion of a very serious watch that also happens to look suspiciously like Mickey Mouse. Ariel breaks down Breguet’s high frequency chronograph history, magnetic escapement technology, and why the brand is simultaneously capable of brilliance and baffling aesthetic decisions.The episode then moves through the not quite LVMH Watch Week releases, including Louis Vuitton’s Escale complications explosion, which quickly devolves into an on air world timer geography quiz no one was prepared for. Along the way, TAG Heuer’s latest Seafarer revival sparks a spirited debate about tide complications and dog walking use cases, raising the question of whether modern watches sometimes try a little too hard. The group also touches on TAG’s ongoing CEO turnover, broader brand direction questions, and why some watch companies appear to be having fun while others absolutely are not.As always, tune into their conversation this week to hear a blend of industry insight, watch nerdery, and exactly the kind of chaos that makes aBlogtoWatch Weekly feel less like a roundtable and more like group therapy with bezels.Check out this week’s sponsor - Movado Watches:- https://www.movado.com/ To check out the ABTW Shop where you can see our products inspired by our love of Horology:- Shop ABTW - https://store.ablogtowatch.com/To keep updated with everything Superlative, aBlogtoWatch Weekly, and aBlogtoWatch, check us out on:- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/- Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aBlogtoWatch If you enjoy the show please Subscribe, Rate, and Review!
With Ariel off on a mysterious, possibly horological, possibly diplomatic mission somewhere in Germany, Rick, David, and Ripley take the wheel. They immediately veer into Hungarian folk heroes, goose-based revenge myths, and the comforting knowledge that Disney will eventually monetize all of it. From there, the clappage gives way to Oris’ Year of the Horse watch and the genuinely baffling decision to celebrate an animal by wearing part of it. That choice sparks a long, ethically curious spiral involving cordovan straps, zodiac logic, pet straps, April Fool’s trauma, and whether anyone thought to ask a horse enthusiast first. From there, the episode turns into an unintentional audit of the modern watch internet. SevenFriday, U-Boat, and Swatch demonstrate that search functions are optional, vowels are negotiable, and websites may simply choose not to work. Along the way, the group revisits the watches they “missed” in 2025, including aggressively plastic divers, kindergarten crayon designs, watches that tick loudly enough to inspire resonance experiments, collabs that feel more like t-shirts than timepieces, and diamond-studded bison fantasies that send at least one host mentally relocating to Texas. The chaos culminates in a brutally honest round of the Picker Wheel of Death. Chronoswiss, Tutima, and Jaeger-LeCoultre face resurrection, mercy, or total erasure from the timeline as the debate somehow becomes philosophical, existential, and deeply online. It ultimately proves, once again, that this is, in fact, a watch podcast, even if it refuses to behave like one.To check out the ABTW Shop where you can see our products inspired by our love of Horology:- Shop ABTW - https://store.ablogtowatch.com/To keep updated with everything Superlative, aBlogtoWatch Weekly, and aBlogtoWatch, check us out on:- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/- Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aBlogtoWatch If you enjoy the show please Subscribe, Rate, and Review!
In this episode of aBlogtoWatch Weekly, the conversation opens exactly where it should for a new year: questioning whether the word “master” needs to be retired from watch naming altogether, before immediately veering into geopolitical hypotheticals, Swiss invasion logistics, and the undeniable truth that Geneva traffic would stop any army dead in its tracks. Once the dust settles, the group dives headfirst into Seiko’s latest releases, kicking off a familiar round of “guess the price” that once again proves Seiko pricing remains as unpredictable as ever, with King Seiko, Prospex Speedtimers, anniversary models, and Astron pieces all seemingly priced by different departments that may or may not be speaking to one another. From there, the discussion broadens into material choices, marketing language, sustainability footnotes, and the growing frustration with watches that feel overexplained yet under-justified. The episode then shifts gears into a full-fledged Omega marketing rant, unpacking celebrity placements, perceived popularity, and whether the brand has stopped explaining why its watches are actually good, before reluctantly admitting that Omega still makes excellent watches despite the noise. Things spiral further into horological absurdity with a deep dive into ultra-high-end independent watchmaking, including Roger Smith’s painstakingly handcrafted Series 6 and the realities of six-figure handmade perfection. The back half of the show fully embraces chaos with the return of the Brand Death Wheel, debates over which brands deserve resurrection or oblivion, and a surprisingly passionate detour into vacuum cleaners, industrial design, and why some machines, much like watches, are built to last while others are just shiny distractions. As always, the episode wraps with sharp opinions, running jokes, and the lingering sense that no matter how much the industry changes, confusion, contradiction, and spirited debate remain the true constants.To check out the ABTW Shop where you can see our products inspired by our love of Horology:- Shop ABTW - https://store.ablogtowatch.com/To keep updated with everything Superlative, aBlogtoWatch Weekly, and aBlogtoWatch, check us out on:- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/- Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aBlogtoWatch If you enjoy the show please Subscribe, Rate, and Review![00:00] Intro: Playing the "Guess the Seiko Price" game[00:48] Banter: Should "Master" be removed from watch names?[05:32] Discussion on new two-tone black and gold Seikos[09:50] Guessing the price: King Seiko KS1969[12:32] Critique of the new "movable lug" Seiko strap[13:51] Rant on "Leather Working Group" and sustainability marketing[17:25] Shock at the actual Seiko prices (Astron & Prospex)[20:10] Ariel's rant: Omega's celebrity-obsessed marketing[22:43] "Omega Corner": Trying to find technical positives for the brand[26:40] Review: Hautlence Sphere Series 3 (The "Muppet Strap")[31:23] Game: "Brand Wheel of Death" (Keep, Kill, Resurrect)[32:52] Brand 1: Brew Watches[33:16] Brand 2: Dornblüth & Sohn[33:43] Brand 3: Romain Jerome (Discussion on resurrecting it)[37:22] The Final Verdict: Resurrect RJ, Keep Brew, Kill Dornblüth[38:18] Tangent: The Kirby vs. Dyson vacuum cleaner debate[41:16] Highlights of the handmade Roger Smith Series 6[46:07] Browsing the Roger Smith configurator[48:20] Review: Atelier Wen Tantalum (Integrated bracelet)[54:45] Industry News: The decline of LVMH Watch Week events[56:14] Teaser: Ripley’s upcoming review involving a tiny Hot Wheels car[57:44] Rating the episode's "Watch Content" vs. "Filler"[58:16] Final Debate: Kirby the vacuum vs. Kirby the Nintendo character[01:00:55] Closing remarks
This week on aBlogtoWatch Weekly, Rick, Ariel, Ripley, and David stumble headfirst into a horological fever dream that begins with their favorite Christmas gifts and quickly escalates into “God complex watches”, starting with Vacheron Constantin’s wildly unsettling Métiers d’Art creations that somehow manage to combine astronomical complications, golden humanoid figures, cult leader aesthetics, and a price tag that suggests you might also receive a henchman with purchase. (Prompting a spirited debate about whether watches are meant to tell time or simply assert dominance over humanity). From there, Ariel dives into the increasingly uncomfortable question of whether there are simply too many watch brands in the modern market. He explains why brand failure does not automatically equal industry collapse and how pricing, distribution, and ego have quietly set the stage for a long overdue reckoning. That discussion naturally inspires Rick to introduce the “Brand Death Wheel”, a highly scientific and extremely responsible method for deciding which brands live, die, or are Thanos snapped out of existence. The process includes eulogies, resale speculation, and the unanimous realization that Tissot is not the brand we deserve but the brand we absolutely need.The conversation then swings through some of the most talked about articles of the year, including why rage drives engagement, why accuracy ranges that resemble guesses are no longer acceptable, and how discounting might actually save the industry’s soul. The group also explores why wealthy collectors complaining about prices may be the loudest warning sign of all. From there, the episode moves into a rapid fire tour of notable releases from Timex, Casio, and TAG Heuer, along with the ongoing identity crisis between flagship models and halo pieces. They ultimately circle back to the most important unresolved question of the episode: if this group truly has the power to decide which brands survive, should they also be trusted to choose a watch for Rick in 2026. Finally, (and appropriately), the episode closes with a solemn and completely earned send off set to the Hungarian national anthem.To check out the ABTW Shop where you can see our products inspired by our love of Horology:- Shop ABTW - https://store.ablogtowatch.com/To keep updated with everything Superlative, aBlogtoWatch Weekly, and aBlogtoWatch, check us out on:- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/- Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aBlogtoWatch If you enjoy the show please Subscribe, Rate, and Review!
This week on aBlogtoWatch Weekly, the team opens the floodgates on Watch Heritage™, questioning whether celebrating anniversaries still means anything when brands seem more excited about dates than doing something new today. As the conversation unfolds, Rolex, Omega, Tudor, and Breguet all get pulled into a spirited debate about when history becomes inspiration and when it turns into a crutch, with discontinued models, hypothetical anniversaries, and imaginary relaunches doing most of the heavy lifting. From there, things take a sharp turn as Ariel breaks down the Porsche Design Chronograph 1 and why car brand watches somehow feel acceptable when Porsche does it, even if the pricing still makes everyone flinch. The episode then ventures into dangerous territory with the watch website you DARE not visit, as the crew attempts to navigate the mysteriously elusive Peacock Watches site while discussing whether a Chinese tourbillon can actually impress seasoned collectors. Along the way, magnetism, innovation, value, and modern watch enthusiasm collide as everything nearly derails completely when Ripley almost drops an F-bomb over cookies, biscuits, wrappers, and the true meaning of holiday snacks. It’s heritage, heresy, horology, and holiday chaos, exactly as intended.To check out the ABTW Shop where you can see our products inspired by our love of Horology:- Shop ABTW - https://store.ablogtowatch.com/To keep updated with everything Superlative, aBlogtoWatch Weekly, and aBlogtoWatch, check us out on:- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/- Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aBlogtoWatch If you enjoy the show please Subscribe, Rate, and Review!
This week on aBlogtoWatch Weekly, the conversation starts with watches, traditions, and how certain design ideas get passed around as fact, even when no one fully agrees on where they came from. From there, things quickly drift into watch etiquette, including whether guilloché is meant to be admired quietly or kept well away from people with curious fingers. The crew dives into Jay Leno’s approach to watch collecting, why curiosity matters more than status, and how a non-Cartier Tank can sometimes be more interesting than chasing the usual icons. As the discussion rolls on, Rick, Ariel, David, and Ripley tackle new releases, retail realities, and brand decisions that feel increasingly hard to defend, eventually landing on the kind of strong watch opinions that might earn you a long conversation with Swiss passport control. (Time for a social media audit before the next trip to Geneva.) By the end, the lines between serious watch talk and end-of-year-chaos completely blur, making getting banned from Switzerland feel less like a risk and more like part of the job.To check out the ABTW Shop where you can see our products inspired by our love of Horology:- Shop ABTW - https://store.ablogtowatch.com/To keep updated with everything Superlative, aBlogtoWatch Weekly, and aBlogtoWatch, check us out on:- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/- Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aBlogtoWatch If you enjoy the show please Subscribe, Rate, and Review!
This week on aBlogtoWatch Weekly, the team asks the only question that matters: “Are we Hublot or are we dancer”? What begins as a discussion of Cloud Dancer color palettes quickly becomes a full identity audit for one of the boldest brands in the industry, complete with Rick’s Big Bang Convergence Theory making yet another appearance. From winter editions shown in Dubai to snowflake rotors and unexpected design choices, the crew explores why Hublot watches are always equal parts fascination and confusion. The conversation then shifts into true science fair territory as Ripley breaks down the newest Breguet experiment. Magnets, floating components, frictionless escapements, and a price tag that inspires Rick to call it a three-hundred-thousand-pound desk toy all take center stage. Ariel and David weigh in on the technology, the servicing challenges, and whether innovation still matters when the dial is nearly impossible to read. Finally, the group dives into one of the most unintentionally funny watches of the week, which sparks the unforgettable “forget my birthday pocket watch” debate. Between confusing apertures, mismatched layouts, and jump hour windows that practically require a translator, the team reflects on what makes a watch thoughtful versus what makes it feel like a last-minute gift. To check out the ABTW Shop, where you can see our products inspired by our love of Horology:- Shop ABTW - https://store.ablogtowatch.com/To keep updated with everything Superlative, aBlogtoWatch Weekly, and aBlogtoWatch, check us out on:- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/- Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aBlogtoWatch If you enjoy the show, please Subscribe, Rate, and Review!** YouTube Monetization ID for Copyright Material From PremiumBeat.com: #3826449
This week’s episode begins with a hearty round of “clappage” for a €1,500 Omega dial book that looks like it was assembled during mandatory arts and crafts time, with hand glued pages, candlelit workshops, and enough fumes to convince someone this was a good idea, sparking what becomes the Watch Chime Anti Climax saga as the guys marvel at how brands keep uninventing printing and romanticizing hand binding as if the entire history of modern machines never happened. That sends everyone straight into “Planet Ocean Blue Gate”, where Omega’s new Planet Ocean looks wildly blue in every promotional image yet is not blue at all, causing David to question reality, Ariel to ask why the images tell lies, Ripley to declare that they blew it themselves, and Rick to desperately try and fail to summon an Omega customer service advisor like he is attempting contact with the spirit realm. From the wide lugs to the disappearing helium escape valve to center links polished so perfectly you can literally watch your own disappointment reflected back at you, the team analyzes every confusing detail before wandering into a discussion about bullying a watch AI, especially once Ariel introduces the completely radioactive looking G Shock that feels like something an AI would choose to wear specifically to unsettle humans. They wrap with praise for Dubai Watch Week and Ariel’s recounting of a brilliant HBO watch cameo featuring a fake Submariner and even faker watch guy dialogue, sealing this episode as a perfect mix of misleading marketing, glossy regret, chime-related frustration, and the ongoing psychological torment of any artificial intelligence unfortunate enough to wade into the world of watches.Check out this week's sponsor: Movado- https://www.movado.com/To check out the ABTW Shop where you can see our products inspired by our love of Horology:- Shop ABTW - https://store.ablogtowatch.com/To keep updated with everything Superlative, aBlogtoWatch Weekly, and aBlogtoWatch, check us out on:- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/- Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aBlogtoWatch If you enjoy the show please Subscribe, Rate, and Review!
This week on aBlogtoWatch Weekly, Rick, Ariel, and Ripley dive straight into the chaos of modern watchmaking and immediately land in the world of Death By Line Extension, a place where brands keep serving new colors and new variations faster than anyone can remember the last thing they released. As Ariel and David just returned from Dubai Watch Week, Ariel explains that someone asked if he was tired of watches, which is hilarious to him because he seems to have a strange superpower that allows him to absorb an endless stream of new releases without losing his mind. The team laughs their way through Omega price increase drama, Rick mourns the loss of the helium escape valve with the seriousness of a national tragedy, and Ripley pitches a country song about no longer being able to afford an Omega. The conversation moves into full Beige Tudor Energy when Ariel admits that a new Tudor release gave him absolutely no emotional response, which is apparently almost impossible. Then comes the Big Bang Convergence Theory, a running joke where Ripley points out that watch design is starting to evolve like crab evolution, but for luxury stainless steel, complete with Hublot-inspired chaos and Zenith pieces that Ariel swears look like artificial intelligence was left unsupervised. The episode continues with stories from Dubai Watch Week, a fantasy about a tractor-themed watch festival on Rick’s farm in Scotland, a moon phase that only a werewolf would truly appreciate, and a one hundred fifty thousand dollar Tag Heuer that looks ready to jump into a Formula One pit lane. Listen in and join the conversation for a full buffet of watch industry humor, confusion, passion, and gentle suffering wrapped in beige energy on this week's episode of aBlogtoWatch Weekly.00:00 – Intro: “Watch Fatigue” & Line Extensions 01:10 – Special Request: Fewer Releases, More DigestibleSpecials 02:00 – Ariel’s Superpower: Infinite Watch Absorption 03:00 – Price Increases & The Industry’s ‘Bad Habits’ 04:20 – Omega Identity Crisis & Price Creep 06:00 – Country Song Pitch: ‘Remember When I Could Afford anOmega’ 07:10 – Bond Watches, Planet Ocean Controversy & TheMissing Helium Valve 09:00 – Rolex CEO Dubai Interview: Overblown Headlines 10:30 – ‘Speedmaster Irrelevant’ April Fool’s Dream 12:00 – Dubai Watch Week vs Watches & Wonders 13:20 – Proposal: ABTW Farm Watch Week (Scotland Edition) 14:50 – Tractor Watches, Farmer Rolexes & LamborghiniTractors 16:40 – Whisky + Watches Tour Pitch 20:00 – Transition Back to Dubai Watch Week (Finally) 20:45 – Golden Diamonds Hall & Weird Influencers 22:20 – Does Watches & Wonders Have a Problem? 23:00 – Plane Movie Reviews 24:00 – Wearing Watches at Shows: Dubai vs Geneva 25:20 – Moser Streamliner Perpetual Moon Concept Meteorite 31:00 – Audemars Piguet “Robot Watch Setter” Device 35:20 – Zenith Defy Extreme Lapis Lazuli 39:00 – New Tudor 36mm Beige Dial Ranger/Explorer Style 41:45 – TAG Heuer Monaco Split Seconds Chronograph ‘Air 1’ 47:40 – Who Gets the 30 TAGs? (F1 Political Discussion) 48:20 – Wrap-Up & Tease for Next Week’s Omega Rant























