Superlative

 This is Superlative: A Podcast about watches, the people behind them, and the worlds that inspire them. This week our host and aBlogtoWatch Founder Ariel Adams is joined by serial watch industry entrepreneur Guillaume Laidet. Guillaume is currently the Co "Re"Founder and Chief Brand Officer of Nivada Grenchen, the Co-Founder of Argon Paris, and Co Owner and CEO of Excelsior Park amongst other companies and titles. Ariel and Guillaume start the show by discussing his newest brand and venture, Argon watches, and how his kickstarter campaigns can function as a major tool for brand building. They talk about the risk it may put on the consumer when certain companies can’t deliver, but how it also makes it possible to cut out major costs in the manufacturing and delivering of a product directly to consumers. Guillaume dives into his life background and his incredibly dynamic career that has spanned over many companies such as William L, Zenith, and L'Oreal. Ariel asks Guillaume about his philosophy on pricing when it comes to fair prices all year without the need for discounts and built in margins that increase the everyday price of watches that shouldn't cost what they do. They talk about how that pricing philosophy has helped build a market of smaller independent brands who are doing the same practice and finding success doing so. All due to the quality of the watches they put out at the reasonable and fair price point that they do. Ariel and Guillaume also talk about how the kickstarter campaigns and all of Guillaume’s practices that he does have led to a marriage of manufacturing and brand building that we do not typically see in watch e-commerce today.

To stay connected with Guillaume and all of his companies:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/guillaume-laidet-09144218/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/LaidetGuillaume

Nivada Grenchen -  https://nivadagrenchenofficial.com/

Argon - https://welcome.argonwatches.com/argon-watches/

Excelsior Park- https://excelsiorparkwatches.com/

Vulcain - https://vulcain.ch/

To check out the ABTW Shop where you can see our products inspired by our love of Horology:

- Shop ABTW - https://store.ablogtowatch.com/

To keep updated with everything Superlative and aBlogtoWatch, check us out on:

- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/

- Twitter - https://twitter.com/ABLOGTOWATCH

- Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/

If you enjoy the show please Subscribe, Rate, and Review!

 This is Superlative: A Podcast about watches, the people behind them, and the worlds that inspire them. This week our host and aBlogtoWatch Founder Ariel Adams is sitting down in person with more than one guest. The first part of the episode Ariel is chatting with Dirk Cussler. Dirk is the coauthor with his late father Clive Cussler of nine Dirk Pitt adventures, and he has been an active participant and partner in his father’s NUMA expeditions. The two sit and chat about the book series that his father started involving the infamous character Dirk Pitt, and his fathers private nonprofit group the National Underwater and Marine Agency. They talk about the SUB 300T Clive Cussler DOXA watch, which is a unique timepiece that embodies the adventurous spirit of Clive Cussler's novels, and the art of aging material such as the aged stainless steel found in the SUB 300T. As the episode switches over to our next guest, Ariel sits down with the CEO of DOXA Watches, Jan Edocs. Ariel and Jan dive into the deep felt attachment that DOXA has to Clive and Dirk Cussler’s novels, and the real level of fandom that DOXA has as a brand. Ariel asks about the decision to make the SUB 300T a pre-aged timepiece, if it is something we might see on other watches from the brand, and how DOXA can up their game further to become a “museum brand”.

Websites - https://doxawatches.com/

- https://numa.net/

- https://www.cusslerbooks.com/dirk-pitt-novels.php

To check out the ABTW Shop where you can see our products inspired by our love of Horology:

- Shop ABTW - https://store.ablogtowatch.com/

To keep updated with everything Superlative and aBlogtoWatch, check us out on:

- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/

- Twitter - https://twitter.com/ABLOGTOWATCH

- Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/

If you enjoy the show please Subscribe, Rate, and Review!

 This is Superlative: A Podcast about watches, the people behind them, and the worlds that inspire them. This week our host and aBlogtoWatch Founder Ariel Adams is joined again by Jack Carlson, the Founder of Rowing Blazers. To start the show Ariel asks Jack about his thoughts on how and why they have been able to do so many collaborations with brands in such a short period of time, and how watch enthusiasts are taking notice. They discuss the strategy of collaborations and the relationships that the company has been able to build with different brands. They also go over the latest collaboration with Seiko and their 4 unique colorways that are available. Jack talks a bit about why he was drawn to this industry, and why old-school British and American sportswear influences his passion for design so much. Ariel asks about how the Rowing Blazers customer feels about their watch collaborations as well as how they are able to gain the attention of more hardcore watch enthusiasts also. Ariel and Jack really dive into their love of colors, why that plays such a big part in the Rowing Blazers design process, and some of the challenges that it can bring into manufacturing. They also go over the latest collaboration with Seiko and their 4 unique colorways that are available.

Website - https://rowingblazers.com/

Instagram @RowingBlazers- https://www.instagram.com/rowingblazers/

Instagram @JackCarlson - https://www.instagram.com/jackcarlson/

To check out the ABTW Shop where you can see our products inspired by our love of Horology:

- Shop ABTW - https://store.ablogtowatch.com/

To keep updated with everything Superlative and aBlogtoWatch, check us out on:

- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/

- Twitter - https://twitter.com/ABLOGTOWATCH

- Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/

If you enjoy the show please Subscribe, Rate, and Review!

 This is Superlative: A Podcast about watches, the people behind them, and the worlds that inspire them. This week our host and aBlogtoWatch Founder Ariel Adams is joined by Roger Peeters, the Founder and Master Watchmaker of Hooke and Huygens. To start the show Ariel dives into discussing small independent high end watch brands, and their important role in the watch industry. They talk about the mentality behind the modern watchmaker today, and how important having a true artist’s touch is important when creating a watch brand or new design. Ariel asks why Roger did not go with his own name when creating this brand, and who exactly Robert Hooke and Christiaan Huygens are. They dive into the brands overall strategy with their relationship with their customers, and they go over their patented Hooke and Huygens ring-shaped semi-skeleton ring movement with 12 positions and 41 jewel bearings.

To stay updated with Roger and Hooke and Huygens:

Website - https://www.hookeandhuygens.com/

Instagram @HookeandHuygensWatches - https://www.instagram.com/hookeandhuygenswatches/

To check out the ABTW Shop where you can see our products inspired by our love of Horology:

- Shop ABTW - https://store.ablogtowatch.com/

To keep updated with everything Superlative and aBlogtoWatch, check us out on:

- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/

- Twitter - https://twitter.com/ABLOGTOWATCH

- Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/

If you enjoy the show please Subscribe, Rate, and Review!

 This is Superlative: A Podcast about watches, the people behind them, and the worlds that inspire them. This week our host and aBlogtoWatch Founder Ariel Adams is joined by the 6-time La Mans winner and ambassador for Chopard, Jacky Ickx. To start the show Ariel and Jacky reminisce over his career and the changes that occurred in racing during his career and now. Ariel calls Jacky a professional risk taker as well as a professional driver, and Jacky describes what it is like to overcome the fear of risk in order to compete. Going through his career, Ariel brings up the infamous Le Mans 24 hour race that Jacky won 6 times, and they dive into what makes that race so special in the world of motorsports. They of course talk about Jacky’s ambassadorship with Chopard and what the company has done for him over the years. The two talk about the watches that Chopard developed, which were three limited edition Chopard Mille Miglia Jacky Ickx Men's watches, with a fourth Chopard watch designed with his help. Ariel talks about the influence on racing inspired watches that Jacky and Chopard have had since their inception, and he asks Jacky what Chopard can continue to do that will maintain their connection to classic racing today.

To stay updated with Jacky and Chopard:

Website - https://www.chopard.com/

Instagram @Chopard - https://www.instagram.com/chopard/

Instagram @JackyIckxOfficial - https://www.instagram.com/JackyIckxOfficial/

To check out the ABTW Shop where you can see our products inspired by our love of Horology:

- Shop ABTW - https://store.ablogtowatch.com/

To keep updated with everything Superlative and aBlogtoWatch, check us out on:

- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/

- Twitter - https://twitter.com/ABLOGTOWATCH

- Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/

If you enjoy the show please Subscribe, Rate, and Review!

 This is Superlative: A Podcast about watches, the people behind them, and the worlds that inspire them. This week our host and aBlogtoWatch Founder Ariel Adams is joined by Arnaud Nicolas, the CEO of L'Epee 1839. To start the show Ariel and Arnaud dive into the world of clockmaking and the company's history that spans back over 184 years. As one of the world's premier clockmakers, Arnauld gives us insight on what makes his clocks unique and how the world of clock making is continuing to evolve today, just in a different manner than wristwatch making. Ariel asks about the different collaborations that L’Epee is a part of, such as their collaboration with MB&F. The two discuss how Arnaud marries the worlds of model-making and miniatures with timekeeping as he develops his extraordinary clocks that have a feel of uniqueness and fun. Ariel asks about all the materials that are made in house since there are so many components to any given design that is created by the company, and what some of the challenges are when trying to source or develop these components. They also converse about some of the different unique models that are made by L’Epee, and Ariel has Arnaud explain how their unique sounding striking clocks operate and make the sounds they do. Join us and listen in on the conversation that spills all of the details of the world of clockmaking from one of the world's premier clockmakers.

To stay updated with Arnaud and L’Epee:

Website - https://www.lepee1839.com/

Instagram @Lepee_1839 - https://www.instagram.com/lepee_1839/

To check out the ABTW Shop where you can see our products inspired by our love of Horology:

- Shop ABTW - https://store.ablogtowatch.com/

To keep updated with everything Superlative and aBlogtoWatch, check us out on:

- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/

- Twitter - https://twitter.com/ABLOGTOWATCH

- Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/

If you enjoy the show please Subscribe, Rate, and Review!

 This is Superlative: A Podcast about watches, the people behind them, and the worlds that inspire them. This week our host and aBlogtoWatch Founder Ariel Adams is joined by Ben Gallagher, the Co-Founder of Luxe Collective Fashion. To start the show Ben actually has Ariel give us the rundown on his perception about TikTok, and Ben lays out some of the more unique aspects of the platform and what it can do for companies today. They dive into what benefits utilizing the platform from a business marketing aspect has for companies, and how Ben has used TikTok and content creation in regard to Luxe Collective. The two then give their opinions on what is the true definition of the term “Luxury”, and Ben asks Ariel what he is looking for when he is determining the true value of a watch. They speak on the similarities and differences of the watch industry vs the fashion industry, and what some of the inner working aspects of each industry are. Ariel brings up his opinion on the title of “Influencer” and the integrity of what they are promoting, and Ben gives us his view on how authenticity while being an influencer can result in a massively loyal fan following that brands could learn from. Bouncing between the topic of Luxury, to the marketing effect that content creation can have for brands, this episode is a must listen for anyone interested in the world of luxury during the modern social media age. 

To stay updated with Ben and Luxe Collective:

Website - https://luxecollectivefashion.com/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-gallagher-677352236/

Instagram @LuxeCollective - https://www.instagram.com/luxecollective_/

To check out the ABTW Shop where you can see our products inspired by our love of Horology:

- Shop ABTW - https://store.ablogtowatch.com/

To keep updated with everything Superlative and aBlogtoWatch, check us out on:

- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/

- Twitter - https://twitter.com/ABLOGTOWATCH

- Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/

If you enjoy the show please Subscribe, Rate, and Review!

 This is Superlative: A Podcast about watches, the people behind them, and the worlds that inspire them. This week our host and aBlogtoWatch Founder Ariel Adams is joined by the  Owner and Director of Time Avenue in Mumbai, Viraal Rajan. To start the show Ariel asks about the amount of Rolex authorized dealers in Mumbai, and they jump right into the luxury watch scene in India. Ariel is puzzled hearing about the 110% watch tax that existed around 25 years ago, and Viraal gives us a detailed view of how the watch world in Mumbai and India has evolved since. Ariel asks about Viraal’s inspiration for wanting to own and operate a luxury watch retailer in India. As Viraal is someone who sells their products daily, the two discuss how he feels about Rolex increasing production during its incredible demand, and how he initially dealt with the sudden surge of demand in the community. They continue on to talk about how watch design is truly the meeting point of creativity and engineering, why that speaks to Viraal so deeply, and why he feels watches are just “Art with a heartbeat”. Ariel dives into the correlation between the entertainment industry and the desires of the luxury industry consumer, and how local businesses can truly invest in a community on a personal level that major brands have trouble doing so. 

To stay updated with Viraal and Time Avenue:

Website - https://timeavenue.com/

Instagram @Timeavenueindia - https://www.instagram.com/timeavenueindia/

To check out the ABTW Shop where you can see our products inspired by our love of Horology:

- Shop ABTW - https://store.ablogtowatch.com/

To keep updated with everything Superlative and aBlogtoWatch, check us out on:

- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/

- Twitter - https://twitter.com/ABLOGTOWATCH

- Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/

If you enjoy the show please Subscribe, Rate, and Review!

 This is Superlative: A Podcast about watches, the people behind them, and the worlds that inspire them. This week our host and aBlogtoWatch Founder Ariel Adams is joined by Brendan Cunningham, PhD. Brendan is a Professor of Economics at Eastern Connecticut State University and the author of “Selling the Crown: The Secret History of Marketing Rolex”. Ariel and Brendan dive right into Brendan’s opinion on Rolex as a brand not just in the watch industry, but in all industries. They talk about the earlier days of Rolex and how they still influence the current operations of the company today, and their marketing structure that can be seen as quite unique in the space. The two switch things up and dive into Brendan’s book and what the secret history behind the brand really is when it comes to marketing. Ariel asks about the “modern analogues” of today while the internet is flourishing, and about the details of the financials behind Rolex’s advertising throughout their history. They talk about some of the information that was available to Brendan while writing the book and documenting their history, and Ariel has a curiosity into how the brand's goals and “personality” have changed over the years.

To stay updated with Brendan and to purchase his book:

His Book - https://www.amazon.com/Selling-Crown-Secret-History-Marketing/dp/B0B5KXF578

His Blog - https://www.horolonomics.com/

Instagram @Katimepieces- https://www.instagram.com/katimepieces/

To check out the ABTW Shop where you can see our products inspired by our love of Horology:

- Shop ABTW - https://store.ablogtowatch.com/

To keep updated with everything Superlative and aBlogtoWatch, check us out on:

- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/

- Twitter - https://twitter.com/ABLOGTOWATCH

- Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/

If you enjoy the show please Subscribe, Rate, and Review!