A Blog To Watch Weekly

1d ago

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!

Dec 12

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

Dec 5

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!

Nov 28

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

Nov 21

This week on aBlogtoWatch Weekly, Rick, David, and Ripley settle in for a wonderfully chaotic ride through the watch world as they pick apart the GPHG results with the kind of disbelief usually reserved for tax bills and airport delays, wondering aloud how a collection of chronographs that no human can physically read ended up representing the best of the year. After David signs off to begin his travels, Rick and Ripley carry on with a rapid-fire tour of the latest drops, including the Dryden Heartlander Solar, which somehow outperforms the previous MoonSwatch conversation without even trying, and the Benrus Ultra Deep, which weighs in as a certified THICC-BOI. They explore the Todd Snyder and Unimatic GMT collaboration, which proves that the moment David signs off is when the fashion talk suddenly spikes. The two give us a serious analysis of who, exactly, is spending $120,000 on a Harry Potter-themed tourbillon. To close the episode, David sits down in Geneva with famed Bulgari designer Fabrizio Buonamassa for a rare and thoughtful conversation about the evolution of the Octo Finissimo, the creative process behind his iconic sketch editions, the challenges and pride of producing movements in house, the role of human craft in a rapidly changing industry, and why true artistic vision will always outlast trends and technology. If you want the full range of watch talk, from award show absurdities to high-design philosophy, this is the episode to tune into.

Nov 14

This week on aBlogtoWatch Weekly, Ariel, Rick, and Ripley kick off with a philosophical spin on time itself before diving into the irony of Phillips celebrating a watch that resold for less than before, and how auction houses keep fueling inflated prices that manipulate market perception. Ariel revisits his article on the realities of watch auctions, exploring how media hype perpetuates unrealistic valuations. The group then shifts to the retail side as Ariel breaks down why the luxury watch industry’s high pricing strategy has created its own worst enemy, and why consumers are growing weary of inflated retail tags. Their conversation expands to the fate of brands like Timex, Daniel Wellington, and Fossil, with sharp insights into how microbrands are reshaping entry level watch culture. They dive into Nick Jonas’ Fossil endorsement, questioning if anyone has ever actually seen him wear one or if it’s just the most expensive wrist costume in pop history, Trump’s “gold bar” moment, and the absurdity of “tiny window” watches. The team closes with two fiery rants, one from Ripley on why the MoonSwatch is not really affordable and another from Ariel on brands that think tiny illegible watch windows are the next big thing

Nov 7

This week on aBlogtoWatch Weekly, the show kicks off in the best kind of chaos as Rick, Ariel, David, and Ripley dive straight into the bizarre world of Casio’s new AI-powered pet, the Moflin, a furry robot companion that sparks a hilariously unhinged debate about whether Casio has gone too far or stumbled into genius-level diversification. Between jokes about Furbies, USB charging ports, and data-collecting guinea pigs, the crew manages to make sense of it all before officially starting the show and shifting into Ariel’s latest editorial on the evolution of in-person watch events. From Windup to Watches and Wonders, they explore how shows since the beginning of the pandemic have reshaped the way brands connect with collectors, whether there are too many of them, and how smaller gatherings create opportunities for more meaningful conversations. Ripley’s rant of the week follows with a deep dive into a watch that mistakenly called itself an annual calendar when it was actually a complete calendar, prompting a Watchmaking 101 lesson about the differences among complete, annual, and perpetual calendars, delivered with just enough watch-nerdy humor to make it stick. As things wind down, the team debates who is more obsessed with the moon, NASA or Omega, and somehow ends up joking about Bond watches, space marketing, and Panerai’s habit of rewriting its own history. From AI guinea pigs to calendar complications, this episode captures the chaos, curiosity, and wit that make aBlogtoWatch Weekly a must-listen for anyone who loves watches, good stories, and a little bit of absurdity along the way. [00:00] Weekly Banter: The show begins with a discussion about YouTuber Nico Leonard's partnership with CIGA Design. [04:08] Casio's New Product: The hosts talk about the "Casio Moflin," a furry, AI-powered "smart companion." [12:18] The State of Watch Shows: Ariel discusses an article he wrote about the evolution, challenges, and opportunities of consumer-facing watch events post-pandemic. [29:46] Rant: Haim Annum Watch: Ripley Sellers expresses his disappointment with the new Haim Annum watch, which was marketed as an annual calendar but is actually a complete calendar. [37:40] Watches 101: Calendar Types: Following the rant, the hosts explain the differences between various watch calendar complications: [38:12] Perpetual Calendar: Accounts for months and leap years [38:40] Annual Calendar: Accounts for different month lengths but needs to be reset at the end of February . [39:59] Complete/Triple Calendar: Displays the day, date, and month but needs to be manually adjusted for months with fewer than 31 days. [44:30] Brand Discussion: Omega vs. NASA: The hosts debate the question, "Who cares about the moon the most, NASA or Omega?" [57:28] Horror Movies as Watch Brands: The "Watch You Like" segment returns, matching horror films to watch brands: [59:40] The Thing: Bremont [01:01:34] A Nightmare on Elm Street: Tiso PRX (for hair pulling) or Daniel Wellington (for buyer's remorse) [01:05:32] Gremlins: A Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime, due to its complexity and rules (don't get it wet, don't set it after midnight) . [01:05:41] Next Week's Challenge: In honor of Jay Leno's Scottish heritage, the hosts will match watch brands to sweets from the Scottish company Golden Casket. [01:10:20] Hit, Miss, or Maybe (Part 1): The hosts review the Chopard Mille Miglia GTS Power Control. [01:15:22] Hit, Miss, or Maybe (Part 2): The final watch reviewed is the Ball Roadmaster M Model A, a mechanical alarm watch, which receives a "Hit," a "Miss," and a "Maybe" ** YouTube Monetization ID for Copyright Material From PremiumBeat.com: #3826449

Oct 31

This week on aBlogtoWatch Weekly, Rick, Ariel, David, and Ripley tackleanother full slate of watch talk and industry laughs. The crew opens with thelatest missteps in media watch coverage before getting hands-on with thestriking Zenith Defy Zero-G in blue sapphire. From the return of Las Vegas as ahub for luxury watch events to an engaging look at Breguet’s legacy andtechnical mastery, they explore the craftsmanship behind iconic movementsand the enduring influence of historic innovation on modern watchmaking. Thefour also untangle the age-old mix-up between chronographs and chronometers,proving that while one measures time and the other measures accuracy, confusionbetween the two might just be the most consistent complication in watchcollecting. When Rick reads a YouTube comment claiming that watch collectingisn’t a hobby, Ariel fires back with a passionate, red-hot defense that turnswhat started as a casual jab into a full-blown debate about obsession,identity, and why passion for watches is anything but casual. Between specifieddefinitions, rants, and confessions of “it’s not an addiction, it’s aninterest,” the team finds humor in just how seriously enthusiasts take theirso-called pastime. If you enjoy smart banter, watch nerdery, and the kind ofchemistry only this team can deliver, then tune into this week’s episode andjoin the conversation. 0:00 Start [00:01:06] Weekly "Clapage": The team discusses a reader-submitted find from the London Times, which featured an article on the "hottest designs for autumn 2025" but mistakenly used a picture of a vintage Tag Heuer triple calendar moonphase instead of the new Carrera Astronomer. [00:08:43] Las Vegas Watch Scene: Ariel is excited about the revival of Las Vegas (JCK and Couture) as a major destination for watch events in the United States, reminiscing about the days before Baselworld's decline. [00:15:14] Hands-On: Zenith Defy 50G Blue Sapphire: The group discusses Ariel's hands-on with the 46mm blue sapphire Zenith, featuring the unique "ZeroG" gimbal-style mechanism designed to keep the balance wheel horizontal. [00:23:08] Show Within a Show: Rant In response to a YouTube comment ("It's not a hobby"), Ariel delivers a rant defending watch collecting as the very definition of a hobby, citing the time spent learning, socializing, trading, and building. [00:30:50] Show Within a Show: Brand Spotlight Breguet: The team discusses the immense historical importance of Abraham-Louis Breguet, his foundational inventions (tourbillon, overcoil), and the brand's modern struggles and triumphs in living up to that legacy. [00:38:39] Show Within a Show: 101 Corner Chronograph vs. Chronometer: A foundational discussion explaining that a Chronograph is a watch with a stopwatch function, while a Chronometer is a watch certified for its high accuracy (e.G., by COSC). They also discuss good entry-level mechanical chronographs, like those with the Valjoux 7750 movement. [00:50:44] "What You Like" Game: Scottish Cuisine Lorn Sausage (Square Sausage): Compared to the Hublot Square Bang. Rumble Thumps (Potatoes, Cabbage, Cheese): Likened to a G-Shock (a reliable side dish to a collection) or a Rolex Datejust (a comforting classic). Haggis: The consensus lands on the Rolex 1908 "Land Dweller"—a watch with a bad reputation (or name) that is surprisingly good once you experience its high-quality movement. [01:07:02] Next Week's Topic: Classic horror movies (The Thing, Nightmare on Elm Street, Gremlins). [01:08:19] Wrist Checks Ariel: Casio G-Shock 30th Anniversary Neon Genesis Evangelion. Ripley: Casio 2100 series ("CasiOak") with a green dial. David: Bulgari Octo Finissimo with a copper/salmon dial. [01:10:44] Hit, Miss, Maybe Breguet 7225 Urwerk UR10 Space Meter: