On the show this week, we’ve got Rob Caplan, the the co-owner of a family-run watch and jewelry store out in Burlingame California called Topper Fine Jewelers, and Chad Tsagris, the head of Laco USA. This week’s episode of The Worn & Wound Podcast is brought to you by the Windup Watch Shop.

First, a little bit of backstory on the episode. Late last year, our Managing Editor Ilya Ryvin flew out to Burlingame for a launch event for a watch that many of you are probably already familiar with if you read the site on a regular basis — the Laco Flieger Limited Topper Edition. This was Topper’s big end-of-year release, and we had known about the project for some time as Rob worked with Laco through its many stages of development in 2019. When the watch was finally ready, Rob invited some media and influencers out to his store in Burlingame to be among the first people to see the watch in the metal. To learn more about the watch, you can read Ilya's coverage here.

We wanted to get Rob — and Chad — on the podcast to talk about the watch and what it took to get it made. But we also wanted to get Rob on the show to talk a little bit about what it’s like to be a retailer today, and how he’s found success at a time when traditional retail continues to struggle.

Show Notes

Rob's wrist check - Zodiac Sea Wolf Topper Limited Edition Rally Blue Ref. ZO9273

Chad's wrist check - Rolex Milgauss Ref 6541 from 1958

Ilya's wrist check - Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight

Topper Fine Jewelers

Bremont MBII Topper Edition

Nomos Glashütte Tangente 38 Topper Edition

Laco

Laco Auxiliary Observer RAD-AUX

The Worn & Wound Podcast Ep. 70: Growing the WatchFam with OT

Some of Topper's past limited editions covered on Worn & Wound

Hands On: Zodiac x Topper Jewelers Sea Wolf Limited Editions 

First Look: Topper x Seiko Prospex Diver Ref. SPB107 Limited Edition, Nicknamed the “Topper Ninja”

Hands-On with the Oris Divers 65 Topper Limited Edition

Review: Nomos Zürich Weltzeit/Worldtimer Topper Edition