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 Karel Bachand, independent watchmaker and the Founder of Barrelhand. To start the show Ariel and Karel reminisce on their first meeting, and they dive deep into the inspiration behind Karel’s original infatuation with creating replicas. Ariel asks about some of the challenges that Karel faced as he was getting further into his replica projects and approaching brands about them, as well as the feelings he felt when going public in the watch community with his passion for the first time. The two connect the dots on how Karel went from those incredible personal engineering projects to founding his company Barrelhand. As the two start to dive into the company, Karel expands on how Barrelhand Project One started as a research platform to push the limits of what is currently possible with additive manufacturing and what kind of role 3D printing plays in their operation. The two go into the details behind watch creation with a new brand such as time frames, the making of design files for new parts that are needed, manufacturing, and all the production elements that go into it.

To stay updated with Karel and Barrelhand:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/karelbachand/

Instagram @Barrelhand - https://www.instagram.com/barrelhand/

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

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk902DR8MEJxv8Ay3BZTcqg

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 Mike France, the Co-Founder and CEO of Christopher Ward Watches. The two start the show by reminiscing about the early days of ABTW and how Ariel first learned about the brand. Ariel talks about how he saw Christopher Ward totally embracing ecommerce at the time, when other brands were ignoring it. He also compliments the brand on how he has always seen a continuous cycle of growth in the quality of the brand year after year, and Mike shares how the brand is always aiming to improve. The two discuss the difference between a customer's interest in the extrinsic value of watches compared to intrinsic value of them, and how they see the former changing into the latter more recently. Mike talks about their target audience and how Christopher Ward does, or actually doesn't attempt to market to them. Ariel draws parallels betweens someone's profession and their success and the values that they may look for in a watch brand or their desired timepiece. As the conversation comes to an end Ariel asks Mike what it is about Christopher Ward as a company that has provided him with the mindset he has about open and transparent communication with their customers, and Mike elaborates on how they are breaking down the fourth wall for them.

To stay updated with Mike and Christopher Ward:

Instagram @ChrisWardLondon - https://www.instagram.com/chriswardlondon/

Christopher Ward Watches - https://www.christopherward.com/int/home

Twitter @ChrisWardLondon - https://twitter.com/ChrisWardLondon

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 special episode of the Superlative podcast is brought to you by Wrist Aficionado. This week our host and aBlogtoWatch Founder Ariel Adams is joined by Eddie Goziker, the President of Wrist Aficionado. Ariel starts the show by diving into the formation and story of Wrist Aficionado with Eddie, and they discuss the importance of opening brick and mortar stores as well as selling remotely and online. Ariel brings up how the retail experience for purchasing a watch has changed over the years from a jewelry store feel, to a more “exclusive club” type of experience. Eddie elaborates on the inventory that they have in store between their Miami, New York, and soon to be Beverly Hills stores, and why being able to visit a location in person matters so much to a customer who is shopping around for the right timepiece. The two talk about client experience as a whole, and Eddie shares with us where he was first able to become educated and experienced with client, or patient, experience. Ariel and Eddie speak on not only the relationships Wrist Aficionado is able to build with brands, but also the client relationships outside of just buying and selling the watch that have really been a claim to fame for the company as well. Eddie gives us insight on how he makes decisions on inventory, and what he looks for in a watch when trying to predict its future relevance or potential desire to customers. As the conversation starts to come to an end, Ariel asks Eddie to give a preview for what we can expect from Wrist Aficionado, and how customers can best engage with the company as well. 

To stay updated with Eddie and Wrist Aficionado:

Instagram @Wristaficionado - https://www.instagram.com/wristaficionado/

Website - https://wristaficionado.com/

Twitter @Wristaficionado - https://twitter.com/WristAficionado

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 Rich Reichbach, the President and Owner of Time Titans as well as Co-founder of Welsbro. To start the show Ariel and Rich dive into what it was like for Rich growing up as the son of a watchmaker, and how his father came to be one. Rich connects the dots from his self-proclaimed “nerd” interests led to watches in a way, and introduces us to his Time Titans eBay store that has been selling for close to 20 years. Ariel asks about Rich’s ability to curate his inventory, and how big personal relationships that he has developed over the years benefits his business. Rich gives his advice to those potentially looking to do what he does, and they both talk about how big of a part eBay plays in the industry and to what he does. They discuss Rich and his wife Katie purchasing and reviving the brand Welsbro, and some of the history behind the brand before it went quiet in the 1970’s. Ariel asks about Rich’s vision for the future of the company, and its potential trajectory. 

To stay updated with Rich, Welsbro, and Time Titans:

Instagram @Timetitans - https://www.instagram.com/timetitans/

Welsbro - https://welsbro.com/

eBay Store for Time Titans - https://www.ebay.com/str/timetitans

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 Richard Atkinson, who Co-hosts the ABTW Weekly Podcast from ABTW with Ariel. On this special episode Richard and Ariel flip the traditional Superlative script, and Richard interviews Ariel. You get to hear some interesting questions such as Ariel’s first watch purchase, how he managed to end up in Law School, and why he hates classifying anything as his “favorite”. Rick has Ariel dive deeper into the beginning days of ABTW and what the media landscape looked like at that point in the industry. The two talk about the brand's relationship with media as Ariel was starting ABTW, and at what point did Ariel start to grow it into a real company and brand. Rick tackles subjects like which came first, ownership, or the desire to talk about watches, and they look ahead to the future for ABTW and Ariel Adams. 

To stay updated with Richard and the ABTW Weekly Podcast:

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

LinkTree - https://linktr.ee/abtwweeklypodcast

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 again joined in-person by Martin Frei, the Founder and Chief Designer at Urwerk. Even though Ariel and our guest are recording live in person on the floor of an event, over the background noise of the event happening the two manage to have an incredibly in-depth conversation about Martin’s life, Urwerk, and the watch industry as a whole today. Martin begins the show diving into how he “rebelled” a bit in his early life by going to Art School initially, and how hand-drawing is still ingrained into watch design today. Ariel talks about the huge change in the industry and watch development after the availability of CNC Machines and how that affected the production abilities of the industry. Ariel asks Martin about his vision and prediction about a market emerging that would want high-end artistically designed watches, and Martin describes his aesthetic philosophy that ties his work and vision together. The two discuss Martin’s journey to America and back to Switzerland, and how his personal taste aligns or affects the brand today.  

To stay updated with Martin and Urwerk:

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

Instagram @Mfmontrose - https://www.instagram.com/mfmontrose/

Instagram @Urwerkgeneve - https://www.instagram.com/urwerkgeneve/

Twitter @URWERK_Geneve - https://twitter.com/URWERK_Geneve

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 in-person by Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, the Co-President of Chopard. The two are recording this podcast together in the lower floor of the new Chopard boutique on 5th Avenue, and even though you will hear the liveliness of the work day around them as they speak, the two dive into everything Chopard. They start the show talking about what Karl-Friedrich Scheufele learned about Chopard during the pandemic, and he elaborates on the history of his family and the brand. Ariel asks about what Chopard did in order to gain such high levels of competency with internal manufacturing and creating the high level of watches that they currently are creating, and he also inquires into all of the different names that currently fall under the Chopard name. Ariel and Karl-Friedrich Scheufele also get hands-on with multiple pieces such as their Alpine Eagle, and the Jumping Hour. Ariel brings up the ethical side of production within luxury goods, and Karl-Friedrich Scheufele discusses what really goes into the ethical sourcing of such materials.

To stay updated with Chopard:

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

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

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/chopard/

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 Ryan Schmidt, the author of The Wristwatch Handbook. The two start the show talking about how Ryan and Ariel originally met through the ABTW comment section, and how Ryan has literally won an award for being a top commenter on the site. Ariel has Ryan pretend to be a watch lover that is starting their journey in today’s landscape, and Ariel gives us some insight into how he confidently defends his likes and dislikes when it comes to personal favorites. Ariel and Ryan dive into how the general watch conversation in the community seems to mirror the tones of the larger conversation happening in society at the time, and Ryan talks about his book The Wristwatch Handbook.

To stay updated with Ryan and his work:

Website - http://thewristwatchhandbook.com/welcome

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 his good friend and long time colleague in the industry, Simon de Burton. The two friends start the show by talking about the fact that to their surprise, they still have not run out of things to talk about in this industry day to day. Simon shares how he has been writing about car watches since 2005 and has never had a day without something to write. They discuss how pop culture media has put the prices of watches in the spotlight and glorified their status, while Ariel brings up the idea that disruption can sometimes be bad for business. Ariel asks Simon about his time in the auction industry, and Simon tells a crazy story that you will want to hear about stamps. Yes, stamps. Ariel talks about new innovation today sometimes being stifled by certain factors, and our guest gives us an example of innovation that is clearly working today. They answer the question of, “Do you need to spend a lot of money to be a happy watch collector today?”, and two preview the future of Simon’s career and work.

To stay updated with Simon and some of his work:

Current and Previous Articles - https://www.ft.com/stream/6c65aa84-9cf7-4547-9bd0-602940912c19

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 Sylvain Berneron, the Creative Director at Breitling. Ariel and Sylvain begin by letting our listeners in on a small secret about the recording of the episode while diving straight into a conversation that unfolds into the full process of a new watch design. They talk about what it is like for a creative person to work under strain to design with factors like an arbitrarily short timeline made by someone who doesn't understand the process. Which leads into Ariel having Sylvain go step by step through the process of what it's like for a watch design concept to be conceptualized, designed, and approved by the chain of command, and what that chain is. Who gets the final say in the process, and how even effective design teams today still require constant justification when working in large corporate entities. Sylvain gives his advice and thoughts on the importance of choosing who you work for, and the two go ahead and plan the topic of their next episode together. (TBD).

To stay updated with Sylvain and Breitling:

Instagram @Breitling - https://www.instagram.com/breitling/

Twitter @Breitling - https://twitter.com/breitling

Breitling Website - https://www.breitling.com/

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!