In this episode of Watches & Politics, I’m joined by Pierre Biver, co-founder of Biver Watches, to explore legacy, independence, and what it means to create value in a world obsessed with speed.

Pierre represents a rare intersection in modern horology: the continuation of one of the industry’s most influential legacies — and the deliberate choice to chart a new path. Our conversation moves across heritage and reinvention, father and son, power and stewardship, asking what legacy really means when it must be earned, not inherited.

We discuss the philosophy behind Biver Watches, the politics of independence in an era of conglomerates, and why craftsmanship, slowness, and permanence can themselves be acts of resistance. We also reflect on succession, on how watchmaking mirrors political dynasties, and on whether the future of horology will be written by institutions, families, or individuals willing to take risks.

This is a conversation about time — not as a commodity, but as responsibility.

#WatchesAndPolitics #PierreBiver #IndependentWatchmaking #HorologicalLegacy
#BiverWatches #LuxuryAndPower #TimeIsPolitical #ModernHorology #jeanclaudebiver #biver

In this episode of Watches & Politics, I sit down with Gary Getz — author, collector, cultural connector, and founder of The Collectors Room — to explore how collectors shape power, legitimacy, and meaning in the modern watch world.

Our conversation moves beyond watches as objects and into watches as cultural capital. We discuss how collector communities form, how trust and access are built, and how informal spaces — dinners, salons, private rooms — often wield as much influence as auctions or boardrooms.

Gary offers a rare perspective from inside the collector ecosystem: how relationships are formed, how taste is transmitted, and how collectors quietly shape brand narratives, market direction, and cultural relevance. We also explore the rise of social media, the globalization of collecting, and the shifting balance between passion, commerce, and influence.

This episode reveals why the modern watch collector is not just a buyer — but an actor in a broader system of cultural and political power.

Key themes:
• Collectors as cultural and political actors
• Access, trust, and legitimacy in watch culture
• Private communities and informal power structures
• The Collectors Room and modern tastemaking
• Social media, globalization, and influence

In this episode of Watches & Politics, I sit down with Zaf Basha — collector, writer, and author of Military Timepieces and Jaeger-LeCoultre: A Guide for the Collector — to explore how watches move from tools of war to objects of cultural power.

Our conversation travels from the battlefield to the collector’s cabinet. We discuss how military requirements shaped modern watch design, why precision became a matter of survival, and how wartime specifications laid the foundation for some of the most iconic civilian watches ever produced.

But this is not just a conversation about history. We also explore how military watches evolved into symbols of legitimacy, masculinity, and authority; how collectors and institutions decide which references matter; and how brands like Jaeger-LeCoultre navigate heritage, revival, and storytelling today.

Mr. Basha’s unique perspective — blending technical knowledge, historical research, and collector insight — reveals why military watches remain one of the most politically charged categories in horology.

If watches are political artifacts as much as mechanical ones, this episode shows how war, memory, and precision continue to shape what we wear on our wrists.

Key themes:
• Military watches as tools of survival and power
• Wartime specifications and modern design language
• Jaeger-LeCoultre, heritage, and legitimacy
• Collectors, memory, and historical authority
• How war transforms objects into symbols

Giovanni Prigigallo, co-founder of EveryWatch, joins us to explain how data is transforming transparency in the watch market.

We explore:• What really moves watch prices• How auction data shapes the market• What EveryWatch reveals about collectors and demand• How technology is reshaping watch culture

A rare, data-driven look at an industry usually shrouded in secrecy.

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#WatchPrices #EveryWatch #WatchMarket #HorologyData#WatchesAndPolitics

Historian Michael O’Malley explains how mechanical timekeeping shaped politics, society, industrialization, and modern identity.

We discuss:• How mechanical time transformed the modern world• The Industrial Revolution and precision culture• Why watches are political• What the future of mechanical craft reveals about society

An intellectual, historical, and deeply engaging conversation.

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#MechanicalWatches #watches #collecting #art #politics#IndustrialRevolution #Horology #History #WatchesAndPolitics

What makes watch collectors tick? How do communities influence taste, prices, and cultural trends?

James Schaaf, a leader in collector groups and community building, joins us to discuss:• How collector communities shape the market• The psychology of group collecting• What watch “tribes” reveal about identity• Why communities are the future of horology

A must-listen for anyone who collects — or plans to.

👇 Comment:Which collector community are you part of?

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#WatchCollectors #watches #politics #Horology #Collectors #WatchEnthusiasts #WatchesAndPolitics

Dr. Brendan Cunningham joins us to unpack the economic, cultural, and marketing engines that drive the global watch industry.

Topics include:
• How luxury watch brands create desire
• The political economy of watchmaking
• Why marketing shapes value more than scarcity
• The rise of global watch culture
• How the watch industry mirrors geopolitical shifts

This is a masterclass in understanding how the watch world really works.

📚 FOLLOW BRENDAN CUNNINGHAM: Horolonomics — https://horolonomics.com/

📌 Subscribe for deep-dive conversations every week.

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#WatchEconomy #Watches #politics #history #economics #marketing #LuxuryWatches #MarketingStrategy #Horology #WatchesAndPolitics

Brendan Cunningham:

Dive into the world of horological economics and watch industry history with Dr. Brendan Cunningham! In this interview, we explore topics ranging from the economics of Rolex to legendary watch moment stories and foundational horological literature. Below, you’ll find direct links and resources for everything covered—enjoy discovering more about the people, brands, and events shaping horology!

Featured Topics & Resources

1. Dr. Brendan Cunningham’s Website: Horolonomics

2. Selling the Crown: The Secret History of Marketing Rolex (Amazon)

3. WatchLibrary.org

4. Disrupting Time (Amazon)

5. Rolex’s Hans Wilsdorf, Mercedes Gleitze & The Iconic 1927 Swimming Endorsement Ad

6. RedBar Collectors Group

7.  Watches and Wonders Official

8. Barack Obama’s Watches – OnTheDash

9. Omega: “The First Watch to Go to the Moon”—Astronauts & Cosmonauts

In this episode, Edi Shipoli sits down with Eric Wind, one of the most respected voices in the vintage watch world.
We explore:
• How collectors shape taste and market value
• Political provenance
• The hidden stories behind iconic vintage pieces
• How watch culture influences global status symbols
• The future of the vintage market

Eric offers an insider view that few ever get to hear — candid, sharp, and rich with stories.

👋 FOLLOW ERIC WIND:
Wind Vintage — https://windvintage.com/

👍 LIKE & SUBSCRIBE for more expert interviews.

👇 COMMENT:
What vintage watch story should we cover next?

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1. Eric Wind’s Website• https://www.windvintage.com/ 2. Eric Wind’s Hodinkee Article about Watches & US Presidents• https://www.windvintage.com/press/2018/6/15/election-day-rewind-your-complete-guide-to-the-watches-of-united-states-presidents 3. Cambodian Leader’s Watch Collection (Hun Sen)• https://iflwatches.com/blogs/celebrities/cambodian-prime-minister-hun-sen-watch-collection 4. Patriarch of the Orthodox Church and his Breguet• https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/06/world/europe/in-russia-a-watch-vanishes-up-orthodox-leaders-sleeve.html 5. Putin’s Blancpain• https://timeandtidewatches.com/donald-trump-and-vladimir-putin-watch-collections/ 6. John Calvin – influence on watch industry• https://monochrome-watches.com/john-calvins-austerity-and-the-birth-of-the-swiss-watch-industry/ 7. Zenith – Charles Vermot & El Primero• https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/charles-vermot-the-man-who-saved-the-el-primero-and-possibly-zenith 8. J. Press & Eric Wind Collaboration• https://www.windvintage.com/press/gq-jpress-x-wind-vintage-fashion-runway 9. Vintage Capsules• Jaeger LeCoultre: The collectibles https://www.jaeger-lecoultre.com/us-en/watches/collectibles • Vacheron Constantin: Les Collectionneurs https://www.vacheron-constantin.com/us/en/watches/les-collectionneurs.html • IWC: Curated https://www.iwc.com/us-en/specials/iwc-curated-certified-pre-owned-watches 10. Charlie Dunne’s article on Memovox• https://www.windvintage.com/blog/collectors-guide-jaeger-lecoultre-memovox-reference-e-855 11. Wind Podcast• https://open.spotify.com/show/63Mz6nwdQsFk6NRk7dAXCt?si=17bda5355fd3420d 12. Wind’s Book: Modern Guide to Vintage Watches• Will upload the link when the book is published

Welcome to Season 2 of Watches & Politics — a brand-new interview series where the world’s leading experts reveal how watches intersect with power, culture, economics, history, and global politics.

This season features deep conversations with:

Eric Wind — Vintage watch authority and founder of Wind VintageBrendan Cunningham — Economist, historian, luxury marketing specialist

James Schaaf — Collector and community organizerMichael O’Malley — Historian of mechanical timekeepingGiovanni Prigigallo — Founder of EveryWatch & market research expert

If you love watches and the world they reflect — this is your season.

SUBSCRIBE for upcoming episodes on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@WatchesAndPolitics

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👇 COMMENT BELOW:
Who should we interview next?

#WatchesAndPolitics #Horology #WatchTalk #WatchCollectors #VintageWatches#LuxuryWatches

In this closing episode of Watches & Politics, we step back from the history, the geopolitics, and the power struggles to reflect on what this journey has revealed. From cathedral bells to Cold War chronometers, from presidential wristwatches to Instagram collectors, timekeeping has never been neutral. Watches are stories of politics, diplomacy, conflict, and culture—miniature archives of power on the wrist.

This outro isn’t just a summary—it’s a personal reflection on why these stories matter today, and how the politics of time will continue to evolve. Join me, Edi Shipoli, as I close Series 1 with intrigue, reflection, and a call to keep exploring the hidden worlds where horology and power intersect.