What starts as a guilt-free year-end watch purchase turns into a full micro-brand when Shakeem Tomlin refuses to pay resale prices and decides to build his own watch instead. In this episode, Rod and Rio sit down with the founder of Tomlin & Co to trace the real journey behind the Celestial Calendar, from early design sketches and movement selection to launching a full calendar moonphase watch built for everyday wear.

Shakeem shares how growing up in Philly shaped his approach to collecting and design, why quartz made sense for an entry-level complication piece, how his wife influenced key colorways, and what it’s like navigating watch culture as a Black-owned brand. Along the way, the conversation touches on Rolex Sky-Dweller (mint green), Breitling, Audemars Piguet, integrated bracelets, trade shows, community support, and building value without gatekeeping.

Things You’ll Learn

1. How Tomlin & Co evolved from a personal watch idea into a launched micro-brand.

2. Why the Celestial Calendar uses a full calendar + moonphase quartz movement for everyday collecting.

3. How community, culture, and representation shape modern watch culture and brand building.

Tools/Frameworks in This Episode

- A year-end “guilt-free purchase” ritual as a practical collecting framework.

- Using email lists, existing networks, and in-person events to launch a micro-brand.

- A “Reasonable Doubt” design philosophy: building one watch that doesn’t feel like it’s missing anything.

Key Timestamps

0:00 – Tomlin & Co introduction + wrist check

7:10 – Shakeem’s Philly background and path into watches

11:00 – Designing a do-it-all watch from scratch

14:21 – Launching Tomlin & Co and early reception

16:37 – Celestial Calendar colorways explained

22:23 – Watch inspirations, collecting, and culture

25:50 – Trade show rejection and focusing on community

29:03 – Why Black culture matters in watch culture

31:31 – Future plans: movement house, accessories, collabs

33:20 – Where to support Tomlin & Co

34:59 – What needs to change in watch culture

#watchculture #collecting #brandspotlight #watchnews #watchvalue #community #modernicons

What happens when someone looks at your Rolex and calls it a “modest watch”? In this episode, Rod and Rio sit down with collector and mentor CJ Webster to trace how that moment reshaped his entire approach to collecting, value, and watch culture. From buying a Rolex Datejust 16233 on layaway to earning an Omega Speedmaster allocation and ultimately acquiring a De Bethune DB25 Starry Varius, CJ explains how humility, curiosity, and community accelerate real learning. Along the way, the conversation explores watch culture in Miami and Columbus, why the story behind the watch matters more than hype, and how clubs, books, and local meetups help collectors make better decisions. Watches discussed include the Tissot PRX, Tissot Sideral Powermatic 80, Swatch x Omega Speedmaster, AP Royal Oak, Cartier Santos (including titanium), Omega Seamaster (Planet Ocean and No Time To Die), Hamilton day-date field automatic, Studio Underd0g, Casio, Grand Seiko, Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, IWC, F.P. Journe, Christopher Ward Bell Canto, the Miami Watch Club world-timer, and Rolex references like Pepsi, Batman, Batgirl, Bruce Wayne, and Hulk; all grounded in real collecting experience and community-driven value.Things You’ll Learn

1. How CJ moved from a layaway Rolex Datejust 16233 to an Omega Speedmaster allocation and a De Bethune grail.
2. How watch community, including Miami Watch Club and 614 Watch Club, accelerates knowledge, access, and buying decisions.
3. Why humility and curiosity matter more than price, specs, or hype in long-term collecting.

• Buy-What-You-Want Rule: Why settling leads to regret and unworn watches.
• Community-First Collecting: Using clubs, meetups, and local shops to learn faster and buy smarter.
• Story-Driven Value: Understanding condition, provenance, and personal history to shape meaningful collections.

Tools/FrameworksTimestamps0:00 – Welcome + wrist check7:32 – CJ’s early career and his first Rolex on layaway25:15 – Pride, ego, and emotional connection to watches33:50 – Inside Miami Watch Club and community culture37:17 – The story behind CJ’s Omega Speedmaster46:56 – Going back to Rolex49:36 – Fast cars, watches, cigars, and manhood55:09 – Advice for new collectors: humility and curiosity#watchcollecting #watchculture #watchcommunity #watchvalue #rolexdatejust #omegaspeedmaster #debethune

How does a 26-year-old day trader go from a bust-down Datejust to a single Richard Mille he’s ready to trade for a house? In this conversation, Rod and Rio sit with collector Sire Abram to trace his path from early trading wins in Iowa to building a focused collection rooted in watch value, risk management, and real-world marketplace dynamics. Sire breaks down the jump from bust-downs to Royal Oaks and Daytonas, how he navigates AD vs grey market plays, why some references hold emotional weight, and how he treats watches as both cultural artifacts and strategic assets. Listeners get a grounded look at buying right, collecting with intention, and understanding the psychology behind grails like the John Mayer Daytona and RM 10.

What You’ll Learn

1. How a day-trader mindset translates into watch collecting, value retention, and smart exits.

2. How AD vs grey strategies shape long-term watch value, especially for Rolex, AP, and Patek.

3. Why community, culture, provenance, and shared enthusiasm matter when building a modern collection.

Tools/Frameworks Mentioned

- Buy Right or Don’t Buy Framework

- Experience + Exit Mindset

- Leverage the Watch Strategy

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro & Wrist Check

2:26 From Iowa to Day-Trading “Proof of Concept”

3:24 Who Actually Succeeds at Trading?

4:30 First Big Watch: The Bust-Down Datejust Era

6:42 Turning Down Goldman Sachs for Trading

9:38 From Bust-Down to “Classy”: Datejust to Royal Oak

11:12 Hitting Grails: 5711, Day-Date, John Mayer Daytona

17:32 Do High-End Watches Really Change Your Life?

19:35 Why AP Didn’t Hit & How RM Entered the Chat

23:51 Using an RM as Equity

28:56 Omega Discoveries & Value Traps

30:16 Where to Find Sire + Dream Watch & Price Rules

32:52 Final Advice: Enjoy the Process, Not Just the Grails

#WatchCollecting #RichardMille #RolexCollector #GreyMarketWatches #PatekPhilippe #AudemarsPiguet

Most new collectors rush in, chase hype, and fill a watch box without understanding what truly fits their style or long-term goals.

In this episode of The Watchers, Rod Dye and Rio break down their 10 keys to watch collecting after a full year of hands-on learning, buying, selling, and refining. They walk you through the 10 keys to becoming a successful watch collector, including how to buy what you like, and why research brand heritage and movements matters. Along the way, they debunk investment myths, highlight the power of community, and show how collecting becomes more meaningful when you understand the craft and enjoy the journey.

What You’ll Learn

- Why buying what you like beats chasing hype and how personal style drives a meaningful collection.

- What “investment vs enjoyment” really means in watch collecting and why most pieces aren’t investment grade.

- How brand history, design DNA, and movements shape your preferences and long-term satisfaction.

- Why curation over accumulation leads to a stronger 5–10 watch lineup you actually love wearing.

- How provenance, condition, and “buying the seller” protect you in the marketplace.

Tools/Frameworks Mentioned

- The 10 Keys of Watch Collecting

- Buy the Seller, Not Just the Watch Filter

- Curation Over Accumulation Lens

Chapters

00:00 – Watches are not investments

01:31 – Wrist Check

05:02 – 10 Key to watch collecting

05:24 - Key #1: Buy What You Like

08:57 – Key #2: Know Your Why 

13:31 – Key #3: Do Your Research (Brand & Heritage)

13:54 – Key #4: Master the Movements

15:03 – Key #5: Curation Over Accumulation

18:52 – Key #6: Buy the Seller, Not Just the Watch

20:57 – Key #7: Providence Matters

25:25 - Key #8: Value Over Price

27:51 – Key #9: Wear What You Own

30:00 – Key #10: Enjoy the Journey

⁠#10KeystoCollecting⁠ ⁠#BuyTheSeller⁠ ⁠#CurationOverAccumulation⁠ ⁠#WatchBoxStrategy⁠ ⁠#CollectorMindset⁠ ⁠#KnowYourWhy⁠