Marc’s back in Denver after a work week in Kentucky and some in-person time with the kids—and with Aaron and Teri. Meanwhile, Aaron heads to D.C. for work, delivering a special piece to the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery and squeezing in a few watch stops around town (and yes, he feels perfectly safe).

Aaron also tries on a 40mm Luminor with a surprisingly great fit and a wild metal bracelet, the IWC Mark 20 with an equally impressive bracelet, and a JLC Polaris with an incredibly detailed dial.

Back in Denver, Marc has gone down the fluted bezel two-tone rabbit hole… so much so that there might be a new t-shirt in the merch store soon that simply says, “Put a fluted bezel on it.”

The guys are back after some time away, swapping stories from recent adventures. We love having the flexibility to step away, reconnect with loved ones, and come back with tales to tell.

Marc shares his first-ever kayaking trip off Vancouver Island—complete with a close encounter with seals. Aaron and his family head to New York City, where (luckiest guy ever) he manages to fit in some watch adventures, including a great experience at Grand Seiko that redeems the story from the previous episode. Along the way, Teri discovers a special watch—stay tuned for a future episode on that one.

Aaron also gives a mini review of his new-to-him Grand Seiko, which arrived just before the trip. It proved to be the perfect companion for a week of NYC views, a Broadway show, great food, and reconnecting with friends.

We recorded this episode in person at Aaron’s kitchen table—the very spot where the podcast idea was born! The setup was a little different this time, so you might notice a few audio quirks. But trust us: it’s all about the stories, and we’re thrilled to share them with you.

Marc tries to fast-forward through the formalities, but settles into the usual wrist (and beer) check before getting to the big news: Aaron just landed his dream Grand Seiko—thanks to some impressive maneuvering and a little help from the TGN Slack.

The guys dig into what Seiko means to Aaron, how it’s shaped his collecting journey, and why his watches feel like an extension of his personality. It’s a story of timing, community, and the inevitably Grand outcome.

Marc, Felix, and Rachel head to Rocky Mountain National Park for a weekend of camping, hiking, and unplugging. Meanwhile, Aaron begins installing an art project at Boone Tavern’s Crafted restaurant—a celebration of Student Craft design and tradition.

Back on the watch front, Marc has CWC field watches on the brain, while Aaron brings up a timepiece that sparks a conversation about whether some watches cross into “dress up” or even full-on “cosplay.” In the end, they agree: wear what makes you happy. If that includes a wizard hat, so be it.

It’s summer. It’s hot. And we’ve made it to Episode 10!

Aaron is fully appreciating the quick micro-adjust on his VPC Type 37HW, while Marc and Felix are gearing up for Grateful Dead Night at the Colorado Rapids—expect stories (and maybe tie-dye) in the next episode.

Marc rekindles his love for the Zodiac Super Sea Wolf, thanks to Felix’s clever plan: wear it himself until Marc couldn’t resist. It’s now back on wrist, especially for pulling espresso shots using the “30” mark on the bezel.

In this week’s Tabs Open section, Marc has a strange trio on his radar: a Brew, an Accutron, and a faithful Seiko reissue—coffee, tuning forks, and clean vintage lines. Meanwhile, Aaron comes out of nowhere with Panerai on the brain. Did they finally make a right-sized watch that sheds some of the brand’s baggage?

Plus, a full-circle moment: Aaron’s daughter is traveling through Canada, swimming in the same waters where he once wore his original Tag Heuer Formula 1—now it’s on her wrist, continuing the journey.

In this episode, branding takes center stage—and Marc couldn’t be happier. He even breaks out a chart to rate beloved (and not-so-beloved) brands on a sliding scale of emotional connection vs. design execution. It's nerdy, subjective, and somewhat revealing.

Aaron’s still neck-deep in his college project and flirting with the idea of bead blasting his SARB. Meanwhile, Marc celebrates Father’s Day in the mountains with Felix and his wife—camping, hiking, and soaking it all in.

When it comes to Open Tabs, Aaron might’ve missed the assignment but still delivers two standout watches. Marc, of course, brings it back to logos.

This week, Aaron heads to Michigan to be there for his dad’s surgery—where a nurse sparks an unexpected watch conversation that offers a welcome distraction and a reminder of the surprising, generous community around this hobby.

Marc and Felix take a softroading detour through the Rockies. Meanwhile, Marc’s helping his brother research his first mechanical watch (hello, Seiko 5 GMT).

Back at the mics, neither host planned it, but both show up with Seikos in the “open tab” segment. From Grand Seiko elegance to a new Presage release, we may have accidentally wandered into the Land of Seiko… and we’re not mad about it.

Episode 7: In our first episode with guests, Aaron and Marc welcome Marc’s son Felix and longtime friend Brian for a special conversation about music, memory, and the things that connect us. We kick things off with a wrist check and a t-shirt check, then dive into stories of memorable concerts, favorite songs, and how the Grateful Dead has woven its way into our lives.

Brian shares how the podcast has made him “timepiece curious,” while Felix reflects on what it means to share a love of music with Brian and a love of watches with Aaron — his two honorary uncles.

From cherished setlists to a shared sense of history, we explore how both music and watches create community, mark time, and remind us to stay present.

Episode 6: A surprise sighting of endangered Right Whales off the Gulf Coast sets the tone for a conversation about design, legacy, and the things that surface when we’re paying attention.

In this episode, Marc shares the details of spotting these elusive giants near the Florida-Alabama coastline — a reminder that even in familiar places, surprises can arise when you least expect them. From there, the conversation drifts into watch territory, including a deep dive into Lorier — a modern brand designing watches that feel like new old stock. We talk about what sets them apart from legacy brands, and why their focus on enthusiast-driven design feels refreshingly intentional.

And speaking of surprises, Aaron makes an impulsive watch purchase that sparks a conversation about so-called “boring watches” — understated, versatile pieces that might just be the most wearable of them all.

Episode 5: Marc recaps a quick Vegas trip to see Dead & Co with his old pal, John (not that John). Aaron's been deep in projects and rocking his G-Shock in the shop—plus a sobering visit to tornado-hit Eastern Kentucky. We eventually get to watches: Marc’s on a “one-watch collection” kick again, inspired by John's watch (still not that John), and Aaron’s circling the idea of a perfect field watch. No Mayer talk, surprisingly.