Forward Momentum

Ever wondered what drives watch collectors and the allure of independent watchmaking? In this episode, I star as our featured guest with special guest host JDR, the CEO of Alex Crown. JDR and I embark on a journey through the intricate realm of watch collecting, specifically focusing on independent watchmakers. My journey into this world began with a simple Swatch watch, and my fascination grew over time. We discuss the uniqueness of independent watchmakers, their commitment to preserving tradition, and their ability to create a deeper connection with collectors through their stories.

We delve into the methodology behind informed purchase decisions for independent watches, highlighting the importance of trying watches on in person, visiting local retailers, attending watch auctions, and exploring forums, books to truly understand what appeals to you as a collector.

Our conversation leads us to the creation of my creative agency,
dedicated to amplifying the voices of intentional creators worldwide. Through projects like "Seeking Perfect," a documentary about Denis Flageollet and De Bethune, I aim to convey the stories behind watchmaking, revealing the humanity, craftsmanship, and history that make this niche so captivating.

Geneva. Imola. Monaco. Hong Kong. Barcelona. New York.

Sounds like a dream vacation, right? Well, that's just where we have been and where we are going in the next few weeks for the watch auction season remixed with the F1 Schedule.

On this week's episode of Forward Momentum we look at the results from the Geneva watch auctions, the downstream effects of missing Imola this week, a look at the upcoming hong Kong auctions, heading to Spain for F1, and then a sneak peak and what's coming in New York. I have auction fatigue from just writing this episode, and I am starting to feel like the market does, too. Time will tell after this week in Hong Kong.

Thanks for tuning in and welcome back to Forward Momentum.

Welcome back to Forward Momentum! This season, we are diving into independent watchmaking, understanding what it is, the makers, collectors, and retailers who make up the ecosystem. But We’ll also have some regular F1 updates and updates from the goings on in the watch world. 

There is a lot to catch up in the Formula 1 world. We are five races into a 23 race season, not even a quarter of the way into the season, and it looks like we already know how this season will shake out. There’s been a bit of drama, a lot of racing, and a lot of learning that has been done in this first five races.

In the watch world, we had some big launches at Watches & Wonders, which I was able to attend this year. I was on a panel, I wrote a few articles, and most importantly, I saw many friends and familiar faces across the industry. You can check out the panel here!

Watch Auction season officially kicks off this weekend with the Geneva auctions. A very good place to start is the Ineichen auction house which is hosting it’s Independent’s watch auction on the 11th of May. On Friday, May 12th, Christie’s is hosting a special F.P. Journe Auction, and then their Rare Watches auction on Saturday, May 13th. Over the weekend Phillips will host the Geneva Watch Auction 17 on Saturday the 13th and Sunday the 14th, and Sotheby’s will have its important watch Auction on Sunday, May 14th.

There's a lot to unpack here! I will be back next week with auction results updates and more updates on upcoming shows and interviews!

What is up race fans?! Forward Momentum is back for Season 2! I am very excited to be back with a new story and a new format.

Last season, I took a deep dive into the world of Formula 1 and watches, two things I am crazy about. Throughout season one of Forward Momentum, I got to tell the story of Heuer, Rolex, and Richard Mille, three brands heavily involved in the history of motorsport. We established that there is a clear connection between watches and motorsport, and while these days it might be commercial, these watches started as useful tools for drivers. In my explorations for these stories, I got to look at the history of Formula 1, the watches that were made famous by drivers and celebrities, and the auctions that take place every year. In many ways, I felt that I had told the story I wanted to and I wasn’t left looking to fill in gaps.

Formula 1's 2022 season is over, the watch auction season for 2022 is officially over, and it's only fitting that Forward Momentum draw to a close for 2022. 

Over the four days of auction, Sotheby’s, Christie's and Phillips all had some incredible lots up for sale. I’ll dive into each auction, and a particularly interesting motorsport story that ties into some of the characters we’ve discussed this season.

With under 80 days until the start of the 2023 Formula 1 season, there has been a lot of movement across the paddock. We spoke about Mattia Binnoto’s departure from Ferrari and speculation as to who would replace him. We’ll get into that and a number of other moves across the paddock that will make 2023 more exciting.

Finally, I’ll wrap up the seasons with a  discussion on the connection between watches and motorsport. Spoiler alert: it’s real and it’s a very important connection. Looking forward to unpacking all of this and more in this, the final episode in 2022 of Forward Momentum.

Thank you all for tuning in. If you liked the show, please reach out. If you would leave a review and a rating on your platform of choice, I would appreciate it and please share the show with friends and family who might enjoy the show this holiday season. Be well and thanks for tuning in!

Welcome back to Forward Momentum. We are back with a special conversation today that I'm incredibly excited about. I have none other than Eric Wind of Wind Vintage with me to talk about the history of motorsport and watches and explore the connection between the two.

Eric Wind founded and owns Wind Vintage, a company he started in 2017 that is dedicated to offering exceptional watches for sale at all price points and providing advisory services to top vintage watch collectors around the world. Eric previously served as Vice President, Senior Specialist for Christie's where he helped lead the sale of a number of important watches at auction around the world and through private sales.

Eric has been featured and quoted in a number of publications including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The New Yorker, Financial Times, The Chicago Tribune, HODINKEE, GQ, Robb Report, Fortune, Men's Health, The Hollywood Reporter, and more. 

Eric cut his teeth writing and researching about watches for Hodinkee. And I was lucky enough to meet Eric and feature him in my book, 32 Regrets. We stayed in touch and share a passion for watches, international politics, and how what's happening in the world broadly  impacts watch markets. He's a great friend, a deeply knowledgeable collector and seller, and just a great guy to converse with. We dive deep into watches and motorsport. Please enjoy the conversation with Eric wind.

You can find Eric at windvintage.com and on Instagram @Ericmwind. You can find my book that features Eric, 32 Regrets: A Guide to Reclaiming Creativity, on Amazon.

We made it to double digits! Episode 10! Thank you all for listening and thank you all for the support and encouragement. Double digit episodes is a big deal! I’ve got a few more episodes lined up for the end of the season.

In this episode we are talking about the final race of the 2022 Formula 1 season in Abu Dhabi, and the Hong Kong watch auctions.

We had some great racing in Abu Dhabi, and while it wasn't the cliff hanger that last season was, there was a lot going on and a lot of good racing to be enjoyed during the weekend.  The Formula 1 rumor mill has also been in full swing and there is a lot of news to report on at the end of the season.

The Hong Kong watch auctions show that there is still tremendous interest in watches and the market remains in a very strong position. I am excited to see what happens from here. The upcoming New York auctions may give us a little more indication as to the state of the market, but there also may be some deals to be had as collectors and dealers may simply be experiencing auction and market fatigue. Time will tell.

Just as the F1 season has drawn to a close. The watch auction season is also drawing to a close as is my first season of Forward Momentum. Thank you so much for the support, encouragement, and kind words to get me to double digit episodes. It would be amazing. And I would truly appreciate it if you would give this show a rating or leave a review on whatever platform you listen on, as it tremendously helps spread the word about the show. You would bring me some holiday cheer. If you would also share this with someone who would enjoy it and share it on your social media.

Formula 1 completed the penultimate race of the 2022 season in São Paulo over the weekend- and with one race left in the season, it’s not the nail-biter last season was. This year with both the drivers and constructors championships wrapped, drivers are just racing to do what they love: race cars. But there are also drivers competing for the overall driver’s standings, and while they may not become the world champion this year, those points matter to drivers and constructors alike.

We saw a few teammate blowups this week, a few collisions and close calls amongst teammates, and racing drivers generally acting like racing drivers. There isn’t much happening on the watch front, but in the lull between auctions and the end of the Formula 1 season, I thought it would be good background to dive into the quartz crisis, and the rise of big group brands to explain at how we have arrived at the watch market that we currently enjoy.

I’ll be taking next week off and will be back to talk about Abu Dhabi, the end of the 2022 season, the relationship between watches and motorsport and their shared history, and I have a few special guests lined up for the last few episodes of 2022.

I’ll see you all next week, enjoy the racing in Abu Dhabi and keep moving forward.

Last weekend and this week were the time to be in Geneva if you are in the watch industry, a watch collector, interested in watches, or a potential buyer. With watch auctions, car auctions, and the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG), the watch industry’s biggest award show, this is one of the biggest weeks in the watch industry.

This week is always fun - it’s fun to look back at another year worth of auctions, another year of innovation, or a lack thereof, across the brands, and see what happens. This is the time of year when the market quiets down after the auctions, and brands take time to recharge and prepare for 2023 launches. The week was also a time for reflection for watch fans and the watch market. There was definitely a feeling of a softer market amidst an auction week packed with all-star watches. Rolex, F.P. Journe, and Richard Mille were big winners this week at auction, as were the auction houses. Independent watchmakers were big winners at the GPHG this week.

It was a hell of a week, capped off by the GPHG. Formula 1 is also racing this weekend in Brazil, we have Sprint Qualifying, and with two races left in the season, drivers are going to be pushing the limits on track. It’s been a great week and can only get better with some great racing in São Paulo. Join me this week to talk about big winners from the Geneva auctions, the GPHG, and the overwhelming sentiments in the watch market following the auctions.

Correction: I made a mistake in discussing the Artistic Craft prize. I said that Kari Voutilainen’s Ji-Ku watch that won had over 10,000 hours of hand work in the dial, I meant to say over 1,000 hours.

The next two weeks are the time to be in Geneva if you are in the watch industry, a watch collector, or a potential buyer. It’s going to be a busy stretch. Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo, Antiquorum, Christie’s, and Sotheby’s will all host auctions over the next week.

The week of auctions will be capped off on November 10th by The Grand Prix d’Horologie Geneve (GPHG), the Oscars of watchmaking, where prizes are awarded for the best watch in a number of categories. It’s going to be a busy week.

This week I focus on the importance of the Legendary and Unique Watches auction at Christie’s, where 111 watches from the collection of former Scuderia Ferrari boss and former FIA President, Jean Todt, will be on the block. Tune in to learn about the upcoming sale of some of the most iconic and pedigreed watches in motorsport.