Collectability Podcast

Buckle up for an exciting ride as John Reardon and James Lamdin, founder of Analog:Shift discuss vintage watches, the future of auction houses and the watch industry. In Part 1, James shares how he started his horological journey and launched Analog:Shift in 2012. His goal was to change the way vintage watches were sold and his success led to Watches of Switzerland purchasing the company in 2020 leading to 25 in-store locations. Fearless in sharing his opinion, it’s always fun to listen to James Lamdin talk about the industry he loves.

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In part two of this podcast, Nick Manousos answers the question, "Will there ever be a thriving American watch industry again?" Nick addresses this question within the context of the history of American watch making, and looks to a very exciting future for USA watchmakers. As Executive Director of the Horological Society of New York (HSNY), Nick is leading one of the oldest watch associations in the world to fulfill its mission of advancing the art and science of horology through education. Because interest in watches has exploded over the last few years, HSNY offers a wonderful resource for people at all levels of enthusiasm. In this conversation with Tania Edwards, we take a fascinating journey from the beginning of watchmaking in the USA to today, and learn why supporting HSNY is important.

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Nicholas Manousos has had a fascinating journey from Silicon Valley to making silicon parts for watch movements, and now leads the Horological Society of New York. In this two-part conversation with Tania Edwards, we learn how Nick's passion for watchmaking has led him along a diverse path. After watchmaking school, he experimented with 3D printing for the watch industry and in this podcast he brought along his Tourbillion 1000% -- a perfect teaching tool for a complicated movement. Nick also believes in the resurgence of the American watch industry, so much so that he started making the most difficult part of a movement in the hope of getting attention for American watchmaking. He started Fireshouse Horology which manufactured silicon balance springs, an extremely specialist skill that only a few companies, mostly in Europe and Japan excel at. At the end of this podcast, Tania asks Nick a question that many people would like the answer to: "Will there ever be a thriving American watch industry again?"

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In part two of this incredible conversation, Dr. Peter Friess shares some secrets of the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva and explains why it represents such an important part of the company's DNA. Plus, we learn more about the strict criteria which must be met if a new piece is to be acquired for the museum. As someone who regularly studies and attends watch auctions, Dr. Friess reveals his vision for the ideal watch auction catalog. He also explains his view on the value proposition of pocket watches. Follow Collectability: Learn more about Collectability on our website: https://collectability.com Follow us on Instagram for regular updates: https://www.instagram.com/collectabilityllc Listen, like and subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platform: https://linktr.ee/Collectability

Mark Cho is a retail entrepreneur having co-founded the cult menswear emporium the The Armoury with boutiques in Hong Kong and New York and is the co-owner of British haberdasher Drake’s. Mark is equally well known for his great love of watches both as a collector and curator of select watch brands and collaborations for his stores. In December 2022, Mark gained a lot of publicity when he sold a large portion of his collection at auction. Mark is not only a man with impeccable taste both in clothing and watches, but he is also a man of the world and in constant travel between his clothing stores in Hong Kong, New York, and London, as well as visiting suppliers in Japan, Spain, Italy and wherever else he can source the finest menswear and accessories. In this lively and engaging talk with Tania Edwards, Mark explains his fascination for independent watch brands, why he sold a large portion of his watch collection, and how "the meat of his collection" remains vintage Patek Philippe.

Learn more about Collectability on our website: https://collectability.com Follow us on Instagram for regular updates: https://www.instagram.com/collectabilityllc Follow Mark on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markchodotcom Follow The Armoury on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thearmouryhk Follow Drake's on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drakesdiary Listen, like and subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platform: https://linktr.ee/Collectability

Brynn Wallner represents a new and important generation of watch influencers who, in a relatively short time has made a big impact. Brynn has opened a fun and exciting world sharing images of celebrities, and particularly women showing how they wear their watches on her Instagram and website @dimepiece.co. Brynn’s introduction to watches started when she was working in Sotheby’s marketing department writing content for the watch department, but the experience was short-lived as the pandemic hit and with it went her job. Fortunately for the watch world, her time at Sotheby’s ignited the realization that watch social media was disproportionately masculine and she set forth to change that. Most importantly, she brought humanity to the watch world meaning that she understood that the person wearing the watch, and how the watch fits into their lifestyle is just as important as the watch itself. Consequently, wrists shots of watches are accompanied by the person wearing the watch. The person wears the watch, not the watch wears the person.

In addition to her social media activities, including her own podcast series “Killing Time’, Brynn has smartly leveraged her watch observations into paid partnerships with, among others, eBay and The RealReal and she curates’ vintage and pre-owned watch collections for sale on her own website with @foundwell.

Brynn speaks candidly with Tania Edwards about her entry into the watch world, what she has learnt so far, and where she sees the industry going, especially for women's watches.

John Reardon talks to Jaclyn Li a collector, intellectual, influencer and someone incredibly knowledgeable about all things Patek Philippe. Still in her early 20s, Jaclyn is the youngest person we have interviewed on the Collectability Podcast, but she is already an accomplished and impressive collector beyond her years. Jaclyn is currently a senior at Harvard College, studying Economics and Psychology, and yet still finds time to be a host on the popular watch podcast series The Waiting List. Her successful Instagram account @a.dose.of.time offers her many followers an intriguing insight into her own collection and passion for the world of mechanical watches, especially vintage. Her first watch was a Rolex 6234 Pre-Daytona, and since then, she’s fallen head-over-heels over the idea of curation with intention – how one should focus less on the finding of watches, but more on the matching of meaning. Jaclyn was born in China and raised in Canada. 

In this lively discussion, John and Jaclyn discuss her love for Patek, her favorite pieces and offers listeners an insight into a brilliant collecting mind.

Follow Jaclyn on: https://www.instagram.com/a.dose.of.time/ and listen to her podcast: https://www.thewaitinglistpodcast.com/

Within the watch auction world, there is no one else who can match Osvaldo’s contribution to and influence on the watch collecting world. In fact, it’s fair to say that Osvaldo Patrizzi really pioneered watch collecting and the auction market, significantly contributing to today’s demand for luxury watches.

In 1974, Osvaldo Patrizzi founded Antiquorum and built it into the world’s leading auction house for fine timepieces and an important source for watch collectors. Antiquorum has achieved countless world records in sales of watches, clocks, and other timekeeping devices at auction. 

He was also an internet pioneer and Antiquorum was the first auction house to take its watch auctions online. Always ahead of the curve, Antiquorum opened an office in Hong Kong in 1979, many years before any other international auction house opened in Asia.

Osvaldo also pioneered the concept of a thematic auction starting in 1989 with one of the most legendary watch auctions, “The Art of Patek Philippe” in which over 300 timepieces were auctioned including a then world record for the most complicated timepiece ever made, the Calibre 89 which sold for $3.2 million, a truly unprecedented sum in the 1980s.

Not only is Osvaldo Patrizzi a great scholar of watchmaking and has authored many books on the subject, but he also gathered and nurtured some of the greatest watch experts.

In 2000, he was named to be among the 20 most influential people in the field of horology in the 20th century.

In this interview with John Reardon, Osvaldo Patrizzi discusses his long career in the watch industry and his many innovations within the auction and collecting world.

John Reardon interviews the three principles of Loupe This, the new online auction platform that has already broken a world record for the sale of a 1967 Cartier Crash ($1.65 million), and is changing the way we buy vintage watches. Eric Ku, Justin Gruenberg and Sam Hines discuss their plans for Loupe This and share their candid opinions on the marketplace during these turbulent times, plus they give their predictions for future trends in watch collecting. 

Recently, in what John Reardon describes as a "nuclear announcement", Sam Hines joined Loupe This responsible for growing the business in Asia as well as globally. The watch world is buzzing with questions about why Sam Hines left the venerable, traditional auction world as global head of watches at Sotheby's to join a technologically-driven online auction. Sam graciously answers all the questions and shares some amazing -- and humorous stories about his past, present and future in the watch world.

Justin Gruenberg rarely gives interviews and his views on collecting and the watch market are both fascinating and insightful. Described as "the man that controls the marketplace", Justin brought his first collectable watch at auction, a Patek Philippe chronograph for $100,000, at the age of fifteen. Today he focuses on building his family business and is constantly praised by all who work with him for his integrity, honesty and intelligence.

Eric Ku is one of the world's leading authorities on vintage Rolex and has been called a Super Dealer by Hodinkee. Referred to as "a mogul of the watch world", Eric owns several important watch businesses including 10 Past Ten, the Vintage Rolex Forum (VRF) and LA Watchworks. He is also on the board of the Horological Society of New York and cares deeply about the future training of watchmakers. His opinions on the watch industry are highly regarded and Collectability is honored that he and his Loupe This partners Justin Gruenberg and Sam Hines gave such a thoughtful and informative interview in this podcast.

World class artist and enameler, Anita Porchet produces some of the most sought-after, decorated timepieces in the world. In this exclusive interview with Carlos Torres, Anita speaks candidly and eloquently about her craft and the future of the art of enameling in the watch world. We learn about the challenge of creating a miniature work of art on the tiny surface of a pocket watch or watch dial. Anita speaks openly about how as an artist she is constantly learning, researching, and creating, and how she deals with the pressure of a mistake that can ruin months of intense work. We also learn about her work for Patek Philippe and why she believes that “this house has the best enamel heritage in the world.” She credits Philippe Stern’s for not thinking only of “short term profitability” and how he continued to support enamelers and their work during many years when there was no demand. She quotes him as saying, “I can’t deny work to these enamelers just because I’m not selling it. One day there might be a comeback and the know-how will be lost." Philippe Stern has also enabled Anita to share her craft with others, helping her expand her workshop to host pupils. Most extraordinarily, he left Anita free to work for other houses so that she could continue to enhance her knowledge and skills, free to express herself and remain independent.

Born in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, Anita was only 12 years old when her godfather introduced her to the century’s old art of miniature enameling. In 1984, she obtained her diploma from the School of Applied arts and then went to study fine arts in Lausanne, requesting to study enameling and engraving in her final year. She was literally learning a trade at the brink of extinction. Today, the epicenter of her world is a jeweler’s work bench at her home atelier, a gift for her 20th birthday.

It is a great honor for Collectability to bring you this interview with Anita Porchet. Anita speaks in French and her voice is translated into English for the purpose of this podcast.

Two of the most popular watches, the Nautilus and the Royal Oak were designed by one man, Gérald Genta. In this fascinating conversation with his wife, Evelyne Genta, John Reardon discovers how their partnership resulted in some of the most important watch designs in modern watchmaking history. Equally impressive is her own distinguished career. Since 2011, Her Excellency Madame Evelyne Genta has held the prestigious position as The Ambassador, Monaco embassy to United Kingdom. Born in Monaco, she was educated in London and has lived there for the past 15 years. 

Between 1983 and 1999, Evelyne and her husband ran the watch brand Gérald Genta. During this exciting and extremely innovative period, Evelyne managed two factories in Switzerland with 250 employees while developing new markets in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

This spring, Sotheby’s is auctioning off a selection of Gérald Genta’s paintings, including his original 1970 painting of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and his 1976 painting of the Patek Philippe Nautilus. In total, 100 pieces, personally selected by Madame Genta and her daughter Alexia from his treasure trove of over 3,200 works will be sold. Importantly, Sotheby’s is selling each painting with an NFT which protects authentication and ownership. The sale is in honor of the 10th anniversary of the death of Gérald Genta and proceeds of the sale will go to the Gérald Genta Heritage Association of which Evelyne Genta is President and Chairperson.

Selecting which artworks to auction was a monumental task. Gérald Genta’s prolific design portfolio includes designs for all the great watchmakers: in addition to his iconic Royal Oak for Audemars Piguet and the Nautilus for Patek Philippe, he designed the SAS Polarouter for Universal Genève at the age of 23, The Constellation for Omega in 1959, The Ingenieur for IWC in 1976 and countless others for watchmakers such as Piaget, Cartier, Corum, Hermès to name but a few. In this Collectability Podcast, we learn how the pieces were selected for auction and hear extraordinary stories about the legend himself and the exciting life Gérald and Evelyne had during their 33 years of marriage.

For more information on Sotheby's auction of Gérald Genta's work please go to https://www.sothebys.com/en/series/gerald-genta-icon-of-time

Ryan Chong's career in the watch industry is relatively short, but he is already making a mark having recently been listed on Watchonista's 30 under 30(ish) as one of the brightest and youngest breaking down barriers and reinventing the industry for the better. Having worked in the watch departments of both Christie's and Sotheby's, Ryan is well placed to launch one of the most exciting new platforms in the watch world: Bezel. John Reardon enjoys an informative and fun conversation with his former colleague at Christie's, and learns how Bezel will change the way we buy watches.

In our most diverse interview yet, Collectability's John Reardon and venture investor Ryan Zurrer explore the intersection of art, NFTs, watch collecting and saving the world. Last year, Ryan Zurrer garnered international media attention when he paid $29 million for Beeple's kinetic video sculpture, Human One. Here he explains why and the future importance of NFTs in every aspect of our lives, as well as the art and watch industries. Ryan Zurrer's captivating career has spanned future technologies from renewable energy to crypto, yet he is also a distinguished collector of vintage Patek Philippe watches, particularly Gondolo pocket watches and early wristwatches. Zurrer explains why he collects from both the past and the future, and his assertion that Patek Philippe vintage watches are a good store of value. He also explains why he believes that mental health is the biggest problem on the planet and why he has invested in psychedelic therapy in a mission to provide a tool that can help many people.

#patekphilippe #vintagepatek #chronometrogondolo #NFT #Technologist #cryptocurrency #ryanzurrer #beeple #humanone #digitalart #psychodelics

Carlos Torres interviews independent Danish watchmaker Christian Lass who spent a decade as Master watchmaker at the Patek Philippe Museum, Geneva. Inspired to become a watchmaker by reading 'Watchmaking' by George Daniels, Lass apprenticed with Søren Anderson after watchmaking school, and then Vianney Halter who taught him how to make a watch from scratch. It was through his friend Philippe Dufour that he heard about a rare opening at the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva. During his time with Patek Philippe, he had the privilege to work on legendary timepieces such as the ref. 2499 and the Graves Supercomplication. After returning to his native Denmark, Christian Lass made his dream come true and started his own watchmaking company.

Discover the inner workings of the watch auction industry with this unedited and unforgettable discussion between John Reardon and Eric Wind who recall the ups and downs of their own experience working at auction houses and offer listeners an inside peek behind the rostrum.

Known within collecting circles as 'The Big Boss', Davide Parmegiani has brought and sold the most important and valuable Patek Philippe watches since he became a dealer in the 1980s. To put this into perspective, each one of the known Patek Philippe steel ref. 1518 watches has been through his hands! In 2019, his career expanded further when he became co-chair of Monaco Legend Auctions. In this candid interview, John Reardon discusses the past, present and future of collecting watches.

Jasem runs the number one Patek Philippe fan page on Instagram which he founded in 2015. Known as brutally honest, fearless and occasionally controversial, Jasem has established himself as a global opinion-shaper, market-predictor and Patek-obsessed collector. In addition to @patekaholic, Jasem has launched @patekonomics and patekaholic.com in his quest to share his passion for all things Patek Philippe, and occasionally other fine watches. In this conversation with John Reardon, Jasem is given free-range to candidly discuss his feelings on the current Patek Philippe market, and where he sees the collectors market developing in the future.

Beyer Chronometrie holds the unique position as Patek Philippe's longest retailer relationship in the world having sold its watches since the 1840s. René Beyer has personally worked with four generations of the Stern family who owns Patek Philippe, and regards the current president, Thierry Stern as a brother. In this interview with Carlos Torres, René discusses his family's unique relationship with Patek Philippe, and how Beyer has developed its own world class museum and restoration and repair center.

Widely recognized as a market maker and one of the most influential leaders in the watch industry, Aurel Bacs is Senior Consultant at Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo. In a candid and engaging conversation with John Reardon, Aurel discusses his acclaimed career at the leading auction houses and his predictions for the future of vintage Patek Philippe watches.

Dubbed ‘The Watch Hunter of Africa’ Roni Madhvani is a collector that sets the bar high for all others. Through his social media channels, Roni is inspiring a new generation of collectors to buy what they love rather than what they are told to buy. In this Collectability Podcast, Roni speaks with Carlos Torres and explains how he started collecting and how his passion for watches, especially Patek Philippe, has developed over the past 30 years.

Over the past ten years, it would be hard to identify another person who has had as much influence over the the digital and social media evolution of the watch industry as Ben Clymer. In this Collectability Podcast, Ben speaks openly with John Reardon about how he created Hodinkee from his desire to learn as much as possible about watches, to his opinions on Patek Philippe and its position in the industry today.

Dr Helmut Crott is one of the few people in the world who can look through the Patek Philippe Museum catalog and point to the pieces he once owned or sold. For over fifty years, he has been a leading figure in the watch world. In the 1970s, he launched one of the first auction houses specializing in timepieces. By the 1990s, he had compiled one of the most important data bases on Patek Philippe, and remains today the expert that auction houses and dealers contact for help and advice. He has also written the definitive book on dials, and owned the historic watchmaker Urban Jürgensen. In this episode, Carlos Torres speaks with Dr Crott about his extraordinary life and important contribution to the watch industry. 

In this inaugural episode of the Collectability Podcast, Collectability founder John Reardon talks with Carlos Torres about his passion for Patek Philippe and how to collect vintage timepieces.