Time To Unwind by WatchGecko is a relaxed chatty podcast where watch enthusiasts from the industry get together to talk about everything watches and horology. From thoughts on current happenings in the industry, to new watch releases, our thoughts on watches based on hands on experience and of course general banter and chatter about why we love watches so much. Think of this as your weekly visit to the pub to talk to your friends about everything watches. Grab yourself a drink, sit back and enjoy.
Grail watches you can't buy even if you had the money... - Ep #56
If you could have one watch, no matter if it's real or not, which one would it be? Richard, Anthony, George and Martin came together for a round table chat to discuss their fantasy watches.
Follow us for more watch-related content and if you want to support our work, visit WatchGecko.com and buy your next watch strap from us!
9/28/2023 • 20 minutes, 44 seconds
What do you want from the watch industry? - Ep #55
In this episode, Richard, Anthony, George and Martin discuss what they would like to see from the watch industry.
Follow us for more watch-related content and if you want to support our work, visit WatchGecko.com and buy your next watch strap from us!
9/21/2023 • 28 minutes, 23 seconds
How did you get into watches? - Ep #54
Some of the WatchGecko authors came together in person to chat about horology and how they got into watches. Meet Richard, Anthony, Martin and George in this audio podcast.
Follow us for more watch-related content and if you want to support our work, visit WatchGecko.com and buy your next watch strap from us!
9/14/2023 • 16 minutes, 27 seconds
The Rise of Nomadic Watches in Northern Ireland - Ep #53
In this video, we talk to Peter McAuley, the founder of Nomadic Watches, a Northern Irish watch brand that's putting Belfast on the global map of watchmaking
The brand is only a few years old but we wanted to talk to Peter about his experience and what drives him to create the best watches possible. In this interview, Peter shares his story and details about Nomadic Watches, including the unique design process and what we can expect in the future from his team.
0:00 Brief introduction to Nomadic Watches
1:11 Background of the company
2:49 How did you get into watchmaking?
5:40 The Marai 401 dive watch
7:12 How the RNLI saved my family
9:45 Unique details about the Marai watch
13:08 What new watches can we expect in the future?
16:59 The lost Tag Heuer
18:07 What makes the Marai 401 stand out?
18:54 How big is Nomadic?
20:42 How do you grow the brand?
22:27 Proud to be Northern Irish
24:11 Running a watch company
27:56 Watch shows and future developments
29:00 What is your favourite watch story?
30:28 Cold water swimming
33:09 A watch is meant to be worn not tucked away
9/7/2023 • 35 minutes, 11 seconds
The Most Divisive Oris Watches? - ProPilot X Kermit vs Aquis Hölstein Edition - Ep #52
Two muppets talk about watches...
We were able to borrow the new ProPilot X Kermit as well as the new Aquis Hölstein Edition and discuss why these watches have divided watch enthusiasts. Oris is making some really good timepieces but they love making fun watches and these two examples capture that perfectly.
8/31/2023 • 19 minutes, 54 seconds
The History of Vertex Watches and The Dirty Dozen Story - Ep #51
We had the privilege of interviewing Don Cochrane about Vertex and the Dirty Dozen watches. Don is the great-grandson of Claude Lyons, who started Vertex Watches all the way back in 1912. Don wanted to restart the family business and continue the watchmaking legacy left by his great-grandfather.
0:00 The history of Vertex
5:16 The Only British Dirty Dozen Watchmaker
9:45 Vertex watches and World War 2
12:30 What happened after the war?
16:13 Designing the M100 and re-starting the brand
21:13 The coolest Peli case
23:24 MP45 - mono-pusher chronograph
24:16 M60 - diving watch
27:31 Two lug pin positions
28:17 Brand identity
8/24/2023 • 32 minutes, 24 seconds
The Remarkable Revival of Fortis Watches with Jupp Philipp - Ep #50
We had the privilege to spend an hour with Jupp Philipp, the new owner of Fortis watches, where he shared some exciting things about the heritage of the company but also how Fortis is changing and what can fans of the brand expect in the next 20 years. Jupp has a great vision for Fortis and his passion for space watches is reflected in some of the newly redesigned iconic watches.
0:00 Intro
01:56 Who is Fortis?
05:21 Reissue of Golden Age Watches – just a trend?
08:32 Jupp’s journey to the watch industry
12:45 “Can I buy Fortis?”
15:20 Fortis was in chaos!
17:20 First five objectives and Arnold Schwarzenegger's philosophy
20:25 In-house manufacturing & major refurb
26:20 The current portfolio – 3 families of watches
26:30 New Fliegers
34:30 Marine Master
38:55 We love scratches!
42:15 Stratoliner
48:50 The missing Cosmonaut
51:20 Future missions to the Moon and Mars
56:14 The next 3-5 years for Fortis
8/17/2023 • 58 minutes, 42 seconds
The Secret World of Pre-Owned Rolex Watches with Avanti Jewellers - Ep #49
Richard went on location to meet his local pre-owned Rolex dealer to learn as much as possible about what is going on behind the scenes.
00:00 Intro
01:56 Avanti as a business
03:50 Sourcing and watches in stock
08:59 PX and servicing
10:10 Depreciation of watches
12:47 Benefits of buying in a shop
24:06 Independent watch retailers
25:45 The pre-owned market
29:40 What are the most sought after models
35:30 Who is buying?
39:30 Current prices
44.30 Availability
47:30 How to avoid buying a bad watch
51:20 Our choice of five beautiful watches in stock
1:09:30 The future of Avanti
8/15/2023 • 1 hour, 14 minutes
The Casio G-Shock 40th Year Anniversary watches left us disappointed.... - Ep #48
Richard and George, resident G-shock aficionados, discuss the new 40th-year anniversary G-Shock watches. Could this be the most anticipated but disappointing watch release since Omega dropped the gold Apollo 11 50th anniversary Speedmaster on us? Quite possibly!
5/31/2023 • 24 minutes, 57 seconds
How to Keep Your Watch Running for Decades? (Dr Rebecca Struthers) - Ep #47
As a watchmaker, historian and watch restorer, Dr Rebecca Struthers knows a lot about watch history and how to keep your watch running for years. In this video, she shares her journey into watchmaking, including advice on how to maintain your watch and keep it running for decades!
0:00 Meet Rebecca Struthers
2:57 From a high school dropout to a PhD in Horology
4:57 Passion for watchmaking
7:16 Crystal case back vs solid case back
8:16 British watchmaking
10:00 Becoming a Horology Expert
13:59 Stella
15:36 Watch portfolio
17:24 Crafting bespoke watches
18:41 Project 248
19:47 Watch movements
23:06 The importance of watch servicing
26:27 Hands of Time book
32:56 WatchMakersCafe.org
37:07 What's next for Struthers Watchmakers?
5/10/2023 • 38 minutes, 41 seconds
Discussing Rolex, Tudor and Omega with Andrew Morgan from Watchfinder UK - Ep #46
We enjoyed chatting about all things watches and sci-fi with Andrew Morgan from Watchfinder. Andrew is a very knowledgeable guy with a real passion for watches and writing and he has a lot of insights into what watch enthusiasts talk about and what they buy.
5/4/2023 • 48 minutes, 48 seconds
What is Bond's next watch going to be? - Ep #45
Anthony and Richard discuss what watch should agent 007 wear in the next Bond film.
4/5/2023 • 40 minutes, 3 seconds
Nicky Grist Reveals How He Got A Rolex Explorer For £800! - Ep #44
Nicky Grist is a former British rally co-driver who enjoyed a successful career in the World Rally Championship during the 1990s, especially with his partnership with Colin McRae. Apart from his passion for rallying, Grist is an enthusiastic watch collector with a particular fondness for Rolex. He shares some incredible stories about his journey as a full-time rally co-driver and part-time watch collector and showcases some of his favorite watches.
2/24/2023 • 25 minutes, 29 seconds
What sets ORIS apart from the rest of the Swiss Watchmakers? - Ep #43
We sat down with Rolf Studer, Co-CEO of Oris, and we talked about the past, the present, and the future of Oris. In this interview, you can hear about what makes Oris tick and the real impact this independent watchmaking company has on the planet.
If you want to read more about Oris you can click here: https://www.watchgecko.com/blogs/magazine/everything-you-never-knew-about-oris
2/13/2023 • 40 minutes, 39 seconds
What Makes Vintage Heuer Watches So Collectable? & The 'Top Gun' Watch - Ep #42
Previously we spoke with Ian and Dan from Watches of Lancashire about some of their coolest vintage watches. This is the second part of our conversation where we delved deeper into the desirability of Heuer and TAG Heuer watches as well as discussed the watch that Tom Cruise would have worn in both Top Gun films.
Products Featured: Heuer Autavia, Heuer Autavia GMT, Heuer Carrera Dato 45 and Porsche Design Orfina
2/6/2023 • 11 minutes, 2 seconds
Some Of Our Favourite Rare Vintage Watches (Tudor, Omega, Breitling...) - Ep #41
We sat down with Ian and Dan from Watches of Lancashire and talked in-depth about some of their coolest vintage watches. This is part one of our conversation, in the next video we will look at more unique vintage watches.
Products Featured: 1966 Omega Speedmaster Ed White ST 105 003-65, 1971 Tudor Submariner 7021/0, 1969 Omega Speedmaster Pre Moon, 1980’s TAG Heuer Diver 980.032, and 1970 Breitling Cosmonaute 0819
1/30/2023 • 24 minutes, 22 seconds
Christopher Ward x WatchGecko Limited Edition Watch (Full Interview) - Ep #40
We are very excited about our collaboration with Christopher Ward, so we sat down with Mike France and we asked him to share the story behind the company. You can hear how the company started, Mike's watch inspirations, and why Christopher Ward adopted a new logo.
Later in the conversation, Mike goes in-depth about the military watch collection of the company and especially the 3 post-war watches that were the inspiration behind the C60, C63, and C65 models.
Mike France also discusses the impact of the Bel Canto watch and how it gave everyday people the chance to own an incredibly unique and complicated timepiece. The success of the C1 Bel Canto and the people's reactions had a profound effect on the CEO of Christopher Ward.
The main thing we wanted to discuss with Mike France was our first exclusive collaboration with Christopher Ward – The WatchGecko C65 Aquitaine. Limited to 50 pieces, each individually numbered for our first production batch. Every aspect of this watch has been carefully considered. The 120-click bezel uses a polished sapphire insert that’s impressively scratch-resistant, complementing the refined blue and white design of the dial.
The dial is inspired by the history of regatta races such as the America’s Cup, giving the watch a distinctly nautical feel while remaining reminiscent of the box crystals seen on the classic dive watches of the 50s and 60s.
Follow us for more interviews with watch CEO and watch professionals, as we go more in-depth about everything watch related.
1/10/2023 • 56 minutes, 35 seconds
Tool Watches (Part Two) - Jungles, ugly sticks and hammers – oh, and the best tool watches under £5k! - Ep #37
In the follow-on to Part One of our tool watch special, we ask ‘what makes a modern tool watch?’ and discuss how it differs to the tool watches of the past.
The guys also give their top choices for tool watches under £5000 and pick a wild card ‘no holds barred’ option for those with an unlimited budget’.
Richard reveals the watch that has been his trusty companion in some truly unforgiving environments, from the desserts of the Kalahari to the jungles of Trindad and Tobago. Plus he selects the watch that he’d choose to cross the dessert with now. We think you’ll be surprised by his choices!
Antony throws down the gauntlet to his co-hosts as he sets them a challenge to find him a G-shock he actually likes and can take with him when he secures a job at the North Pole.
Meanwhile Tim argues the case for true tool watches to be affordable and maybe not even mechanical at all; in fact, maybe something more akin to a hammer!
Discussion also widens into the realms of Faraday cages vs non-ferrous materials to achieve anti-magnetic watches, and we’re left wondering why more watch brands don’t harness the power of the sun to keep their tool watches ticking.
Finally, can you guess whose heart was in his mouth as he feared for his Rolex at the Science Museum of all places?