In this episode, Mike and Kaz reconnect to discuss the future of the watch community, upcoming Watches & Wonders predictions, and industry trends. They share insights on brand rumors, industry shifts, and their personal wishlist items.

Main Topics:

The state and evolution of Watches & Wonders: predictions, brand presence, and event relevance.

Industry rumors and predictions: Rolex discontinuations, Tudor in-house movements, Grand Seiko updates, and more.

Brand wishlist: Grand Seiko divers, Tudor GMTs, IWC pilots, and other brands' potential releases

Market insights: watch pricing trends, secondary market shifts, and affordability strategies

Community and event logistics: perspectives on trade shows, live releases, and engagement opportunities

Key Insights:

Watches & Wonders is primarily an industry gathering, with mixed opinions on its necessity in today’s digital age

Rolex's potential discontinuation of models like the Pepsi GMT is driven by patent changes and market speculation

Tudor's in-house movement issues are causing hesitation, though some brands have cleaned up their act

Wishlist items include smaller, more accessible watches from brands like Grand Seiko and Tudor, aligning with market demand

The community debates the value of horological novelties versus practical watches, especially considering price inflation

Industry events like JCK and Bremont's townhouse offer alternative engagement avenues outside traditional trade shows

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction and episode overview

01:06 - Personal updates and driver experiences

03:39 - Watches & Wonders predictions and event status

05:34 - Industry rumors: Rolex discontinuation and brand strategies

07:27 - Brand presence and potential off-show leaks

10:16 - Wrist checks: new reviews and personal collections

14:14 - Market trends: price increases and second-hand market

17:54 - Brand specific insights: VARC, Christopher Ward, and Seiko

25:44 - Wishlist for brands: Grand Seiko divers, Tudor GMT, IWC pilots

33:42 - Speculations on discontinuations and model updates

42:16 - Grand Seiko and other brands' innovation plans

46:20 - Deep dive into Tudor, Rolex, and other brands’ future models

51:38 - Focus on vintage-inspired and classic models

55:45 - The value of horological features like the Reverso and land dweller

63:44 - Industry skepticism about physical watch shows vs digital presence

69:37 - Thoughts on alternative events and the future of watch fairs

73:29 - Closing wishlist and predictions for 2023

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In this episode of the Two Broke Watch Snobs podcast, Mike and Kaz link back up after a long hiatus, swap some real-life updates, and then zoom out on how their collecting brains have changed over time. They dig into the stuff that actually sticks with a watch—the story, the moment, the weird personal attachment—versus the hype cycle that tries to tell you what you’re “supposed” to care about.

From there, the conversation gets practical. They talk dress watches and why they hit differently now, how much faith you should put in the words “in-house,” and why the modern market can feel like a maze if you’re not careful. Along the way, they look back on past detours—like messing with Soviet-era pieces—and how financing, payment plans, and “easy” money can quietly warp your collecting logic. The takeaway is classic TBWS: learn more than you buy, stay skeptical, and make sure the watches you keep have a reason to be there—because *you* chose them, not the internet.

00:00 Introduction and Life Updates

02:55 The Evolution of Watch Collecting

05:53 Diving into Watch Reviews

08:59 Personal Watch Experiences

12:04 Housekeeping and Future Plans

28:26 Show Updates and Community Engagement

30:33 Reflecting on Watch Collecting Beginnings

31:39 Navigating the Current Watch Market

39:00 The Importance of Storytelling in Watch Collecting

43:27 Shifting Perspectives on Dress Watches

55:34 The Evolution of Collecting Soviet Watches

58:30 The Fascination with Soviet Watches

01:01:26 Understanding the Frankenwatch Concept

01:08:30 The Evolution of Watch Collecting Experiences

01:12:31 Reflections on Collecting Philosophy

01:18:30 The Dangers of Financing Watches

In this episode of Two Broke Watch Snobs, Mike and Kaz dive into the whole “chronometer” thing—what the label actually means, how different certifications stack up, and why accuracy still matters even if most of us are just timing pasta water. Along the way, they swap stories about their own watches, crack a few jokes at each other’s expense, and try to cut through the noise so collectors and enthusiasts know what’s worth caring about (and what’s just marketing fluff).

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Millennial Pause

02:57 Experimenting with Podcast Format

05:59 Understanding Chronometers

09:00 Wrist Check: Personal Watch Experiences

11:54 Chronometer Certification Explained

14:51 The Value of Chronometer Certification

26:48 Chronometer Certification: Worth the Paper?

35:07 The Evolution of Chronometer Standards

46:44 Technological Marvels in Watch Accuracy

51:54 Final Thoughts on Chronometer Certification

This week, Mike and Kaz take a perilous scroll through the digital back alley of horology: AliExpress.

What begins as innocent curiosity quickly devolves into uncovering horrors like a G-Shock knockoff that might secretly be a spy device, a faceted-case “dress watch” branded with a name so dark and questionable it probably requires a visit from law enforcement, and even a shameless clone of one of the Snobs’ favorite microbrand models. It’s equal parts comedy, tragedy, and public service announcement as the guys ask the eternal question: just because you can buy it for $3.99 with free shipping… should you?