Ep. #290 Our Watches & Wonders Wishlist

<p>In this episode, Mike and Kaz reconnect to discuss the future of the watch community, upcoming Watches &amp; Wonders predictions, and industry trends. They share insights on brand rumors, industry shifts, and their personal wishlist items.</p><p><br></p><p>Main Topics:</p><p>The state and evolution of Watches &amp; Wonders: predictions, brand presence, and event relevance.</p><p>Industry rumors and predictions: Rolex discontinuations, Tudor in-house movements, Grand Seiko updates, and more.</p><p><br></p><p>Brand wishlist: Grand Seiko divers, Tudor GMTs, IWC pilots, and other brands&#39; potential releases</p><p>Market insights: watch pricing trends, secondary market shifts, and affordability strategies</p><p>Community and event logistics: perspectives on trade shows, live releases, and engagement opportunities</p><p>Key Insights:</p><p>Watches &amp; Wonders is primarily an industry gathering, with mixed opinions on its necessity in today’s digital age</p><p>Rolex&#39;s potential discontinuation of models like the Pepsi GMT is driven by patent changes and market speculation</p><p>Tudor&#39;s in-house movement issues are causing hesitation, though some brands have cleaned up their act</p><p>Wishlist items include smaller, more accessible watches from brands like Grand Seiko and Tudor, aligning with market demand</p><p>The community debates the value of horological novelties versus practical watches, especially considering price inflation</p><p>Industry events like JCK and Bremont&#39;s townhouse offer alternative engagement avenues outside traditional trade shows</p><p><br></p><p>Timestamps:</p><p>00:00 - Introduction and episode overview </p><p>01:06 - Personal updates and driver experiences </p><p>03:39 - Watches &amp; Wonders predictions and event status </p><p>05:34 - Industry rumors: Rolex discontinuation and brand strategies </p><p>07:27 - Brand presence and potential off-show leaks </p><p>10:16 - Wrist checks: new reviews and personal collections </p><p>14:14 - Market trends: price increases and second-hand market </p><p>17:54 - Brand specific insights: VARC, Christopher Ward, and Seiko </p><p>25:44 - Wishlist for brands: Grand Seiko divers, Tudor GMT, IWC pilots </p><p>33:42 - Speculations on discontinuations and model updates </p><p>42:16 - Grand Seiko and other brands&#39; innovation plans </p><p>46:20 - Deep dive into Tudor, Rolex, and other brands’ future models </p><p>51:38 - Focus on vintage-inspired and classic models </p><p>55:45 - The value of horological features like the Reverso and land dweller </p><p>63:44 - Industry skepticism about physical watch shows vs digital presence </p><p>69:37 - Thoughts on alternative events and the future of watch fairs </p><p>73:29 - Closing wishlist and predictions for 2023</p><p><br></p><p>Instagram: @twbrokewatchsnobs</p><p>Email: tbws.contact@gmail.com</p>