Hot Take Time

By Pete and John

A couple of mates chatting about watches (and other stuff as we get more comfortable). Follow us on our instagrams (@pete.mcconvill.watches and @minutes_intime) to check in on what we're doing in our ... more

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FAQs about Hot Take Time:

How many episodes does Hot Take Time have?

The podcast currently has 19 episodes available.

Hot Take Time episodes:

April 29, 2023 Watch Brand Icons (Part 1 - because there are soooo many brands)
Today Pete and John discuss brand icons - the watches that have come to define a brand. Sometimes this is really easy (looking at you Breitling Navitimer) because there's only one, sometimes its hard because a brand is so powerful there are a couple of candidate (Rolex) and sometimes there just isnt a watch that define a brand but perhaps an idea (like Seiko).
So listen to their ideas - feel free to disagree, let us know in the comments and also let us know what brands you'd like us to look at next time.
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1h 4min
April 21, 2023 Moaning about Watches and Wonders 2023 and pining for our early days of watch innocence
Pete and John tackle two questions or topics today.
First, a quick look back at Watches and Wonders 2023. A show that somehow managed to only rise to vague satisfaction in the main with little that really got the heart pumping. The Rolex releases were, for a first time in our watch history genuinely interesting while everyone else appeared to be content painting well inside their well-established lines. That said, perhaps thats enough and after a rollicking 2022, maybe a more predictable 2023 was actually a good thing.
Our second topic was a bit of a retrospective where Pete and John look back at what and how they bought watches in the beginning and contrast that with today. One thing they both agreed was that watch collecting as a newbie is a lot easier and a lot less expensive than as folks with a few years under the belt and knowing too much.
They finish up with an interesting discussion on homages (really knock-offs) and fakes, both agreeing with the controversial hot take that while there may be a legal difference between the two categories, ethically buying a San Martin (etc) and a straight up fake is basically the same thing.
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1h 19min
April 08, 2023 Watch flipping. What is it and why we dont like it much. Also, building relationships (and more on how "flipping" poisons relationships) with ADs.
In our podcasts so far John has mentioned that has tended to buy (and sell) quite a bit in the past. Given that we've both been pretty negative toward dirty filthy flippers (sorry, couldnt help it) doesnt that mean we're being a little hypocritical?
So today we unpack that, what is flipping? Is selling a watch always "flipping"? (btw no) or is flipping a particular kind of sale? (yes, yes it is).
While we are talking flipping, this inevitably brings us to even getting access to the hype watches that are easily flipped and the dreaded question of "building a relationship". Here Jon and Pete discuss what that means, how it can be an incredibly fulfilling part of the hobby BUT it could also be soul destroying if you are trying for a purely transactional relationship, ie I buy stuff I dont really want and you (maybe) give me access to the good stuff.
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1h 8min
March 24, 2023 Living with Watches, bracelets, bands, servicing and expectations
Just what is "a watch"? Is a bracelet a watch part or an accessory? If you've changed a bracelet have you modified the watch? Is a watch with a non OEM band a frankenwatch? And what about servicing and warrantees? What should be expect and what would we like to see. Pete and John today discuss all sorts of issues around the basics of living with a watch.
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1h 20min
March 16, 2023 Transparency in the Watch World: What is it and do we really want it?
Today Pete and John chat about transparency and discover, like always, that nothing is as simple as you imagine.

We talk about transparency in watches including movements, swiss made but then wonder why not cases, or dials or even watch design.
We then talk about transparency in the watch media and get right down to the important question - does the media lie to us to make the brands happy or do they lie to us to make us happy?

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1h 3min
March 11, 2023 Brand Boutiques vs multi brand Authorised Dealers: pros, cons and some likely futures.
The retail experience for watches is changing - fast. Perhaps the biggest change happening right now are the watch brands taking more control (and a bigger slice of the pie) though the ever increasing use of single brand boutiques either operated directly by the brand or on their behalf by a third party.

Is this a good thing? It certainly makes discounts (or at least big discounts) pretty rare. But on the other hand, we've both found boutiques seem to provide a uniquely satisfying - dare I say, luxury - experience. Also what does this mean for the multi-brand AD? All this and more in the podcast, so stop reading and get listening.
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1h 5min
March 02, 2023 Watch Pricing. John and Pete discuss how we decide a "fair" price and conclude we have no clue.
Watch pricing is one of the most contentious aspects of the watch hobby. As enthusiasts we think we all know better than brands what their watches "should" cost and get pretty vocal about it. Today we talk around this issue for an hour or so and find that its not so easy. Oh, its definitely the movement that sets the price, until we are actually asked to pay up then its brand power, or design, or rarity.

What we really find is that like most topics, when you slow down, question your 'easy' thoughts and test yourself against different scenarios watch pricing, what a watch "should" cost and what we are prepared to pay is anything but straightforward.
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1h 3min
February 24, 2023 Omega Speedmaster Super Racing - with added Spirate - and other Hot Takes from Pete and John
Join Pete and John discussing a load of watches released in Jan 2023 including the revolutionary (and baffling) Omega Speedmaster Super Racing Spirate, Zenith Defy Revival, a couple of TAGs and.....whatever else came to mind
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1h 16min
February 10, 2023 Our pilot episode trying to talk about watches - Introductions, an awkward beginning and discovering why we're here
Ok, so be kind - please. We sat down to experiment, see if this would work, how to edit, what was required to create a podcast and figure out just what we are trying to achieve. This episode is babies first steps - we start slow, end up on our arses occasionally but find our feet towards the end.
Today we introduce ourselves (briefly), talk about our entry into the hobby and then give our opinions on where we see the watch hobby today, the good, the bad and the spicey.
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54min

FAQs about Hot Take Time:

How many episodes does Hot Take Time have?

The podcast currently has 19 episodes available.