Episode 11: Thinking About That First Watch?  - The Beginner’s Episode

Chris and Iman give listeners a general onboarding for new enthusiasts, considering their first watch. If you know someone falling into the hole that is watch collecting, this is a decent enough place to start. Hey, we’re friendly, and we give fair warning to stop and rethink your life decisions before committing.

$350 Windup Watch Shop Giveaway drawing on November 2nd. Check our Instagram at @ataleoftwowristies for details! 

WRISTIES WATCH GLOSSARY & RECOMMENDATIONS

2.15: Catching up:

Rolex mentoring programme

Acquired Podcast - Rolex Episode

9:20 - Wrist Checks:

Chris’s Timex M79 Masked Marvel

Iman’s Omega Seamaster 2262

Erika’s Originals Straps

12:55 - How we got into watches

21:00 - Anatomy of a Watch

• Case, dial, crystal, crown, lugs, hands, strap or bracelet, and movements
• The difference between quartz, automatic and manual wind

32:41 - What to Consider When Buying your First Watch

• Case diameter, lug-to-lug and lug width
• Changing straps
• Chronographs, dive watches and GMT bezels
• Accuracy of mechanical watches and chronometer certification (COSC/METAS)
• Fashion brands vs luxury brands vs regular watch brands
• Do your research!

1:00:20 - Pitfalls to avoid when buying your first watch

• Overthinking it
• Spending too much money too soon
• Being pressured by ADs
• Buying a watch to impress people

1:06:30 - How to Make Watch Friends

• Online communities
• Groups, fairs and events
• Smile :)

Follow us on the 'gram:
You'll find us @ataleoftwowristies
Chris is @poppingcrowns
Iman is @ticktick_taptap
And most importantly, our mascot Phantom is @phantom_of_the_pupra

WINDUP WATCH SHOP GIVEAWAY

We’ve teamed up with our friends at @windupwatchshop to give ONE lucky listener a $350 digital gift card to the Windup Watch Shop! 

Here’s how to enter:
1. Subscribe to A Tale of Two Wristies on your favorite podcast platform (and hey, a rating or review wouldn’t hurt ).
2. Follow @ataleoftwowristies AND @windupwatchshop on Instagram.
3. You will receive additional entries for sharing this post and tagging friends in the comments who need more wrist candy in their lives. No limit on additional entries. 

Giveaway runs from October 2 – November 2. Winner will be chosen by the Windup Watch Shop on November 2nd.

Big thanks to Windup for making this happen, and good luck to everyone who enters—may the odds (and the straps) be ever in your favor. 

**Full rules can be found in the blog post at windupwatchshop.com **

For anyone like Iman, where is Cleveland anyway?

Windup Watch Shop and Worn & Wound

Windup Watch Fair NYC

What is Padel, Pickleball, and Squash?

Chris’s Article - Toronto Timepiece Show

Devin’s Omega Planet Ocean 2200.50

Chris’s Isotope Moonshot 

Iman’s Breitling Colt 

WRIST CANDY

Gerald Genta GENTISSIMA OURSIN 36 Fire Opal

Fears x Studio Underd0g - The Manhattan 

Louie Erard Gravee Main

Awake Son Mai - Frosted Leaf - Green

Follow us on the 'gram:
You'll find us @ataleoftwowristies
Chris is @poppingcrowns
Iman is @ticktick_taptap
And most importantly, our mascot Phantom is @phantom_of_the_pupra

In this episode, the Wristies get all up on your Q’s with their A’s! 

Providing the Q’s: @hour_you_doin , @centralseconds , @sophies.watch.world , @watchmewatch9 , @tom_j_cox_ , @minutemeg , @sophiescottlewisart , @overtime_the_podcast , @shaikhrattlenroll , @linusloveswatches , @JustWatches 

Iman jumps through hoops for a Portofino.

Chris’s Speedmaster Snoopy 

Straphabit Straps

Iman’s Vario Empire Art Nouveau 

Chris’s Collector Conversation 

Iman’s Tudor BB Steel and Gold 

Chris’s Tudor BB58 Bronze

Vacheron Historiques 1921 

Panerai Radiomir 

Iman’s Cartier Ronde 

Patek 3940J

Isotope 

Chris’s Hamilton Pocket Watch Article

Spring Bar Tool 

Screwdriver Set

Follow us on the 'gram:
You'll find us @ataleoftwowristies
Chris is @poppingcrowns
Iman is @ticktick_taptap
And most importantly, our mascot Phantom is @phantom_of_the_pupra

**DISCLAIMER** The Wristies experienced a few issues with sound in this episode and are genuinely sorry for any discomfort to your delicate ears. 

This week The Wristies discuss whether purchasing a watch from an authorized dealer is worth it. Iman is refreshed by her Sprite and obsessed with suitcases. Chris goes crazy over a cartoon dog. One of the Wristies defends an unloved yet useful complication, while the other doesn’t give a flying flapjack that his favorite complication is truly useless.

1:31 - The Wristies Catch Up

@JustWatches1 - Enables Iman w/Spread Sheets

The Suitcase of Iman’s Dreams

Empire podcast

William Dalrymple's Globetrotter

13:15 - Wrist Checks & THE CALL

Iman’s NWA - Timex Sprite

Robert Spangle's photo report 

Chris’s NWA - Omega Speedmaster Silver Snoopy

StrapHabit

22:23 - Main Segment: Authorized Dealer vs. Pre-Owned/Gray Market

@RedBarVirginiaBeach run by Chris and @WatchRolling

REEDS Jewelers 

AnOrdain Watches

Iman’s Tudor

Chris’s Tudor 

Paul Smith (suits)

Rolex OP Beige Dial

Jomashop

Chrono24

1:02:32 - Recurring Segment - It’s Complicated

Iman’s pick - Power Reserve Indicator - Kurono Tokyo Sensu N.O.S.

Chris’s pick - Moonphase - Christopher Ward C1 Moonphase 

Breguet Classique Power Reserve Moonphase

Follow us on the 'gram:
You'll find us @ataleoftwowristies
Chris is @poppingcrowns
Iman is @ticktick_taptap
And most importantly, our mascot Phantom is @phantom_of_the_pupra

It’s not the size that counts; it’s how you convey confidence through your brand. Join the Wristies as they try to define microbrands, talk about their favorite micro/independents, and go slack-jawed and drool over a couple of watches they’d like to add to their collections. 

2:10 - The Wristies Catch Up

Wristtrack App

Form & Function Podcast

Yellowcard - “Ocean Avenue”

Red Hot Chili Peppers - “Californication”

Billy Joel - “52nd Street”

4:25 - Wrist Checks & Abinger Part 2

Cartier Ronde

Abinger Nimrod - Pre-Order

Vario 1918 

@Talkingabouttime

21:10 - Micro/Independent Brands

Christopher Ward

Rebecca Struthers

Roger Smith

Louis Erard 

Traska

Nivada Grenchen 

Vulcain

Fears

Space One

Anoma

49:30 The Wristies Choose Some Micros

Vario

Time Factors

Möels & Co. 

Maen

Isotope 

Serica

Vertex

1:08:50 - Wrist Candy 

Hanhart 417 ES Flyback

Lorier Astra

Follow us on the 'gram:
You'll find us @ataleoftwowristies
Chris is @poppingcrowns
Iman is @ticktick_taptap
And most importantly, our mascot Phantom is @phantom_of_the_pupra

What do the Royal Oak, Grand Seiko Snowflake, Tissot PRX, and full-lume dials  have in common? They're all under attack!

We dive into our first ever brand collab with the charming folks at Abinger Watches, before putting our collections through a mid-year performance review. Which watches pull the most wrist time? And what are our goals going forward?

You’ll learn Iman has strong feelings about “snot watches,” while Chris risks being banned from Genta fan clubs, before we finish off with a listener question.

Notes:

Rolex Kermit 

Breitling Top Time

Top Time Triumph 

Chris’ Collector Conversation

Abinger

Mr. Jones

OnMyWrist App

Iman's Tudor BB31

Iman's Breitling

Iman's Omega Seamaster

Chris’ Movado 

Chris’ Darth Vader watch

Chris’ BB58 Bronze

Chris’ Omega CK859

Chris’ Vertex m100a

Chris’ Tetra and Club

Chris’ Grand Seiko SBGA413

Chris’s Citizen Promaster Dive

Iman’s SKX033 

Iman’s Vario Empire Art Nouveau 

Iman’s Cartier 

Iman’s Oris

Chris’ Pink Lemonade and Watermelon

Signum Watches

Ingenieur history 

Moser Streamliner

Moels 369

Christopher Ward Twelve

Code 11.59 Starwheel

Gerald Genta Watches

Genta Mickey Mouse Jump Hour

Octo Finissimo 

PRX 

Grand Seiko Snowflake

Grand Seiko SBGW231

Follow us on the 'gram:
You'll find us @ataleoftwowristies
Chris is @poppingcrowns
Iman is @ticktick_taptap
And most importantly, our mascot Phantom is @phantom_of_the_pupra

We’re thrilled to welcome our first-ever guest to the pod—Mike Pearson, North American Brand Director for Christopher Ward! Mike brings over years of industry experience and infectious passion to the mic. Having spearheaded CW’s bold North American expansion, he’s been instrumental in shaping the brand’s growing reputation for exceptional quality and innovation. 

In this episode, we dig into the new Superman movie (SPOILERS AHEAD), and have some fun fan-casting watches onto the characters. We wrap things up with a great audience question from @tom_j_cox_ that gives us the feels. 

Cape up, wind your watch, and press play.

And if you want to visit Mike at the Christopher Ward showroom in Dallas, you can make an appointment HERE.

Wrist checks

 - Mike’s Christopher Ward

 - Iman’s Movado / HANDDN

 - Chris’ Citizen Promaster

Eve Teschmacher

Iman: Universal Geneve bracelet watch

Mike: Chopard Happy Sport

Chris: Reverso

Mr Terrific

Chris: HYT Hastroid Silver Limited Edition

Iman: Breitling Navitimer

Mike: Tag Heuer Connected

Perry White

Mike: Speedmaster

Iman: Polerouter

Chris: Bulova dress watch

Jimmy Olsen

Mike: Snoopy moon swatch 

Chris:  G-Shock

Iman: Submariner

Lex Luthor

Chris: Lange Zeitwerk

Iman: Apple Watch

Mike: Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime. 

Lois Lane

Chris: Vintage Pepsi GMT Master

Mike: Universal Geneve Compax

Iman:

Follow us on the 'gram:
You'll find us @ataleoftwowristies
Chris is @poppingcrowns
Iman is @ticktick_taptap
And most importantly, our mascot Phantom is @phantom_of_the_pupra

Join the Wristies as they catch up on all the petite watch news before checking their helium escape valves to dive into the world of dating! Are they wasting oxygen discussing the subtleties of choosing a date watch? Or do normies care about how wound up we get deciding on the perfect ticker for the occasion? Finally, the Wristies take on another audience question from @dogsontime, which serves as the ideal segue to introduce their pups, Phantom and Banner.

Links: 

Book an Appointment at the Christopher Ward Dallas Showroom so that you, too, can be in Mike's capable hands.

NAWCC - National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors

Clocktime Digital Museum

Tickets to Iman's Play in London - The Ministry of Lesbian Affairs

Chris horologically sucks up to Christopher Nolan:

Hamilton Murph 42mm

Hamilton Cooper

Iman summons 80s vibes with Gold Casio Ani-Digi Brown Dial

Omega Aqua Terra 30mm - UPDATE: These don't come with enough links to fit on Chris

Tudor Black Bay 54 in Iman's New Favorite Color...

Blancpain Fifty Fathoms 38mm

Brew Retrograph 30mm

Chris cosplayed as Grimace on Date 1 with Nomos Tetra

Iman's Cartier is Fancy Fancy

Timex New Yorker - Manual Wind and Romantic

Iman's Choice for Phantom - Studio Underd0g Goofy Panda

Chris's Choice for Phantom - Big Bang Pink Sapphire Chrono

Iman's Choice for Banner - Rolex Rainbow Daytona

Chris's Choice for Banner - Omega Ploprof 

Follow us on the 'gram:
You'll find us @ataleoftwowristies
Chris is @poppingcrowns
Iman is @ticktick_taptap
And most importantly, our mascot Phantom is @phantom_of_the_pupra

It’s Pride Month! Join the Wristies as they show off their NWAs, celebrate individuality and talk about the right to be seen exactly as they are. This episode dives into how themes of identity and gender expression show up in the watch community, and how well (or not) the industry reflects the diversity of the world around it. Plus, the Wristies have a little fun with some horological gender-bending before laying down justice with an inaugural round of Watch Crimes! Maybe the most fun recurring segment yet!

Show Notes: 

Iman’s neo-vintage Breitling Colt

Chris’ Omega CK859

@old_country_timepieces - A Reputable pre-owned dealer that Chris bought his watch from

Cockney Rhyming Slang - Now you can tell porky pies too! 

Tudor - Making the right moves, but can still go further.

Black Bay 54 Lagoon Blue - We recorded this literally a day or two before this watch was released. 

Zenith - A brand that has shifted to marketing in a genderless way.

Nomos - A brand that has always marketed in a genderless way.

Oris Aquis with Diamonds

Chris - Norqain Adventure Sport in Purple

Iman - Elliot Brown Arne in Matte Black 

Chris - Panthère De Cartier Two Tone (Chris would like this as his Push Present)

Iman - Frederique Constant Heartbeat Moonphase

Chris - Hermès Cut White Dial

Iman - Zenith Chronomaster Revival Panda Dial 

Chris thinks Zenith Blue It at Watches & Wonders - A link to the article he wrote, where he mentions it. 

Iman doesn’t want any of Norqain’s ice cream! 

Follow us on the 'gram:
You'll find us @ataleoftwowristies
Chris is @poppingcrowns
Iman is @ticktick_taptap
And most importantly, our mascot Phantom is @phantom_of_the_pupra

Ever stuck dithering over a watch purchase? Here are some things we think about when we are deciding whether to buy a watch. Hear us discuss the Omega Speedmaster, a Piaget Polo, and a very angry lady - courtesy of Nomos! We also battle it out, in our very friendly wristy way, over the best pick for under $300 (aka 222 Great British Quid.) Which watch would you go for? And finally, we take our very first listener question and offer some watch recommendations to a small-wristed non-watch collector. 

**Correction and apologies from Chris: the Isotope Moonshot that Chris has house the ETA/Valjoux 7753 which is NOT a modular chronograph as Chris thought. Thank you to North American Brand Director Marc Levesque for pointing this out. You can read about this Caliber HERE.

Links: 

Chris' First Watchgecko Article

PoppingCrowns - Monceau Article

Iman's Hamilton Chronograph 9704A

Chris's Isotope Moonshot

Mainspring Article on Jose Miranda and Isotope Watches

Omega Speedmaster Automatic Yellow Schumacher

Iman's Piaget Polo 8193

Chris's Grand Seiko SBGA413

Iman's Gold Plated Seiko 

Chris's Nomos Tetra - Die Fuchsteufelswilde

PoppingCrowns - Nomos Gender Inclusivity Article

Iman's Hamilton Khaki Quartz

Scurfa Top Side Crew

Prevail Onward Future Field Watch Explorer

Seiko SWR053 

Orient Bambino 38mm

Tissot Seastar

Traska Commuter

Timex MK1

This Watch Life

Time2Calibrate

Form & Function

Follow us on the 'gram:
You'll find us @ataleoftwowristies
Chris is @poppingcrowns
Iman is @ticktick_taptap
And most importantly, our mascot Phantom is @phantom_of_the_pupra