Ep. #290 Our Watches & Wonders Wishlist

In this episode, Mike and Kaz reconnect to discuss the future of the watch community, upcoming Watches & Wonders predictions, and industry trends. They share insights on brand rumors, industry shifts, and their personal wishlist items.

Main Topics:

The state and evolution of Watches & Wonders: predictions, brand presence, and event relevance.

Industry rumors and predictions: Rolex discontinuations, Tudor in-house movements, Grand Seiko updates, and more.

Brand wishlist: Grand Seiko divers, Tudor GMTs, IWC pilots, and other brands' potential releases

Market insights: watch pricing trends, secondary market shifts, and affordability strategies

Community and event logistics: perspectives on trade shows, live releases, and engagement opportunities

Key Insights:

Watches & Wonders is primarily an industry gathering, with mixed opinions on its necessity in today’s digital age

Rolex's potential discontinuation of models like the Pepsi GMT is driven by patent changes and market speculation

Tudor's in-house movement issues are causing hesitation, though some brands have cleaned up their act

Wishlist items include smaller, more accessible watches from brands like Grand Seiko and Tudor, aligning with market demand

The community debates the value of horological novelties versus practical watches, especially considering price inflation

Industry events like JCK and Bremont's townhouse offer alternative engagement avenues outside traditional trade shows

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction and episode overview

01:06 - Personal updates and driver experiences

03:39 - Watches & Wonders predictions and event status

05:34 - Industry rumors: Rolex discontinuation and brand strategies

07:27 - Brand presence and potential off-show leaks

10:16 - Wrist checks: new reviews and personal collections

14:14 - Market trends: price increases and second-hand market

17:54 - Brand specific insights: VARC, Christopher Ward, and Seiko

25:44 - Wishlist for brands: Grand Seiko divers, Tudor GMT, IWC pilots

33:42 - Speculations on discontinuations and model updates

42:16 - Grand Seiko and other brands' innovation plans

46:20 - Deep dive into Tudor, Rolex, and other brands’ future models

51:38 - Focus on vintage-inspired and classic models

55:45 - The value of horological features like the Reverso and land dweller

63:44 - Industry skepticism about physical watch shows vs digital presence

69:37 - Thoughts on alternative events and the future of watch fairs

73:29 - Closing wishlist and predictions for 2023

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