Scottish Watches Podcast #721 : We Throw The Book at Ken Kessler – The Watch Compendium
Description
Welcome to the Scottish Watches Podcast!
Sometimes a watch book lands on your desk and you already know what to expect: brand history, press shots, maybe a little puffery. But this one was different. What started as a Christopher Ward publication evolved into a comprehensive exploration of the entire world of watch enthusiasm, encompassing collecting, community, and the industry’s unique quirks.
In this episode, we welcome back writer Ken Kessler, whose new book Compendium Volume One captures decades of stories, opinions, and lessons. Ken dives into the parallels between watches and hi-fi, how one industry collapsed under its own weight while the other seems to thrive, and what that means for the next generation of collectors.
We talk about the health of British watchmaking, the impact of U.S. tariffs, and why the current flood of new releases could be both a blessing and a curse.
Click here to read along and see the photos in our show notes as you listen – http://www.scottishwatches.co.uk/2025/10/27/scottish-watches-podcast-721-we-throw-the-book-at-ken-kessler-the-watch-compendium/
Ken is wearing his Universal Genève Space Compax.
Rikki is wearing his The C12 Loco
 Breguet Tradition.
Patek Philippe Calatrava Pilot Travel.
https://www.christopherward.com/int/loupe-magazine 
 Compendium 01: The Ultimate Watch Collector’s Book






Scottish Watches Podcast #719: Studio Underd0g and FEARS Talk About The Mim0sa with Rich and Nicholas
Scottish Watches Podcast #432: Watches, Cars, Cameras, and Audio With Ken Kessler
Ken’s Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/kessler.ken/
Watch Writings – www.watch-words.com
And the book itself – https://www.christopherward.com/watch-accessories/compendium-01%3A-the-ultimate-watch-collector%E2%80%99s-book/BOOK01.html?srsltid=AfmBOorFpb03wmUbNHQrXJOV8M7meuLEeQNNhIjERB4dhevbzrmOKJPg
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