Is this the "winter of our discontent"? If you're anything like us, you are painfully aware of the general negativity that seems to have been creeping into parts of the watch hobby in recent years. (It doesn't seem to be unique to the watch hobby, either... but we digress.) Lately there's been an onslaught of hype, clout-seeking, and flexing. And that doesn't even include the surreal pricing and availability situation surrounding certain blue chip brands. Watches that were easily acquired- albeit with a bit of saving up- a few years ago are now pretty much unobtainium for the average enthusiast. It can be a bummer, right? In this episode, we offer up suggestions for those among us who want to support brands that won't leave one feeling like a jerk, or that one has compromised in any way. We hit upon the usual suspects (Oris, Omega), as well as various micro brands. We also have suggestions for truly great brands that are credible, attainable alternatives to the crown and The Trinity (Blancpain, Parmigiani, and more). Give it a listen and let us know what you think. Thanks for listening.