Collectability Podcast

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Matthew Bain, veteran watch expert and dealer May 23, 2024

Show notes

In this candid interview, veteran watch dealer Matthew Bain discusses how the watch industry and collecting has changed over the past 40 years. Matt shares many fascinating stories including the entrepreneurial way in which he started his career while at college in the 1980s, when he would enlist his friends to buy Swatch watches (purchases of which were limited per person at the time), that he would then sell to the Italians. Also inspired by his father who was a collector, Matt continued his passion buying and selling watches after college until one day someone offered him a Patek Philippe World Time ref. 2523 which he and his father purchased and the next day he left his job at a bank — and the rest is a fascinating history! Over the decades, Matt has brought and sold many important Patek Philippe watches, several of which can now be seen in the Patek Philippe Museum. Find out which vintage Patek Philippe watches Matt believes are undervalued and worth searching for by listening to this wide-ranging discussion with John Reardon.

Follow Collectability: Learn more about Collectability on our website: https://collectability.com Follow us on Instagram for regular updates: https://www.instagram.com/collectabilityllc Listen, like and subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platform: https://linktr.ee/Collectability

James Lamdin, Founder Analog:Shift Part 2 Apr 04, 2024

Show notes

In part 2 of this podcast, James Lamdin and John Reardon dive deep into Patek Philippe watches. If you missed part 1, please listen – you won’t regret it! This candid and fun conversation starts with James answering the cliff-hangar question from part 1: “What is the most overlooked category for vintage Patek Philippe collecting?” James’s unexpected answer leads to an engaged and enlightening discussion about which Patek Philippe watches will become collector-darlings in the future. James reveals that his passion for Patek Philippe was ignited after visiting the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva when he became fascinated with pocket watches. This opened the world of Patek Philippe and from there he became entranced with watches from the 1970s, 1950s and then the whole catalog over the company’s 185-year-old history. As an interesting exercise, John shows James a Patek Philippe Catalog from 1985 and thumbing through, he realizes he is attracted to almost every piece!

To watch the video about the exhibition of the world’s largest collection of Patek Philippe Electronic Clocks that is referred to in this podcast please go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUCy-zvccdM

James Lamdin, Founder of Analog:Shift and vintage watch expert Part 1 Mar 28, 2024

Show notes

Buckle up for an exciting ride as John Reardon and James Lamdin, founder of Analog:Shift discuss vintage watches, the future of auction houses and the watch industry. In Part 1, James shares how he started his horological journey and launched Analog:Shift in 2012. His goal was to change the way vintage watches were sold and his success led to Watches of Switzerland purchasing the company in 2020 leading to 25 in-store locations. Fearless in sharing his opinion, it’s always fun to listen to James Lamdin talk about the industry he loves.

Nicholas Manousos, Executive Director of the Horological Society of New York Part 2 Feb 29, 2024

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In part two of this podcast, Nick Manousos answers the question, "Will there ever be a thriving American watch industry again?" Nick addresses this question within the context of the history of American watch making, and looks to a very exciting future for USA watchmakers. As Executive Director of the Horological Society of New York (HSNY), Nick is leading one of the oldest watch associations in the world to fulfill its mission of advancing the art and science of horology through education. Because interest in watches has exploded over the last few years, HSNY offers a wonderful resource for people at all levels of enthusiasm. In this conversation with Tania Edwards, we take a fascinating journey from the beginning of watchmaking in the USA to today, and learn why supporting HSNY is important.

Nicholas Manousos, watchmaker and Executive Director of the Horological Society of New York Part 1 Feb 22, 2024

Show notes

Nicholas Manousos has had a fascinating journey from Silicon Valley to making silicon parts for watch movements, and now leads the Horological Society of New York. In this two-part conversation with Tania Edwards, we learn how Nick's passion for watchmaking has led him along a diverse path. After watchmaking school, he experimented with 3D printing for the watch industry and in this podcast he brought along his Tourbillion 1000% -- a perfect teaching tool for a complicated movement. Nick also believes in the resurgence of the American watch industry, so much so that he started making the most difficult part of a movement in the hope of getting attention for American watchmaking. He started Fireshouse Horology which manufactured silicon balance springs, an extremely specialist skill that only a few companies, mostly in Europe and Japan excel at. At the end of this podcast, Tania asks Nick a question that many people would like the answer to: "Will there ever be a thriving American watch industry again?"

Dr. Peter Friess, Director of the Patek Philippe Museum Part 2 Feb 02, 2024

Show notes

In part two of this incredible conversation, Dr. Peter Friess shares some secrets of the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva and explains why it represents such an important part of the company's DNA. Plus, we learn more about the strict criteria which must be met if a new piece is to be acquired for the museum. As someone who regularly studies and attends watch auctions, Dr. Friess reveals his vision for the ideal watch auction catalog. He also explains his view on the value proposition of pocket watches. Follow Collectability: Learn more about Collectability on our website: https://collectability.com Follow us on Instagram for regular updates: https://www.instagram.com/collectabilityllc Listen, like and subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platform: https://linktr.ee/Collectability

Dr. Peter Friess, Director of the Patek Philippe Museum Jan 26, 2024

Show notes

For anyone obsessed with Patek Philippe, Dr. Peter Friess has the dream job. As Director of the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva, each working day he goes to one of the greatest horological museums ever assembled and has the privilege to examine and hold some of the most important timepieces ever made. In this fascinating conversation with John Reardon, Peter Friess explains what it is like to be the curator of such an incredible collection and how, together with the owners, Philippe and Thierry Stern, they decide which additional timepieces to acquire for the collection. Dr. Friess also takes us on a virtual tour of the museum, stopping at each floor to identify some of the timepieces that must not be missed. We also hear some fun, anecdotal stories such as how it’s easy to identify which are the most popular watches to view by the wear of the carpet in front of the showcase. The Patek Philippe Museum provides two important functions: first, it offers visitors an unparalleled opportunity to see the history of portable timekeeping and secondly, it offers Patek Philippe watchmakers, engineers, and designers the opportunity to learn from history and build watches for the future. For any visitor fortunate to visit the Patek Philippe Museum the experience is unforgettable. In this podcast, listeners can come close to visiting with the personal guidance of the museum’s curator.

Learn more about Collectability on our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://collectability.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen, like and subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platform: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/Collectability⁠⁠⁠

Watch on Collectability YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGYJ6hDYlPU

William Andrewes gives his definition of time and explains sundials Part 2 Dec 15, 2023

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In part 2 of this fascinating and personal conversation, the concept of ‘what is time’ is discussed and William Andrewes shares his own profound definition. William also explains how he develops, designs, and makes his much sought-after sundials. Each sundial is a labor of love, individually designed for each client be they a family or an institution. Because of this, each sundial is a unique object, in part because each is made specifically for the location in which the sundial will be kept. William gives his recommendations for the best books to learn about Longitude and his favorite horological books which make great gifts to give this Holiday season, or any time of the year.

Learn more about Collectability on our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://collectability.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen, like and subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platform: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/Collectability⁠⁠

Watch on Collectability YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BC9noCRKLAU

William Andrewes shares anecdotes from his extraordinary horological career Part 1 Dec 07, 2023

Show notes

In this fascinating podcast John Reardon speaks with his great friend, William Andrewes who is one of the world's leading horologists, a historian, clockmaker, inventor, artist, and sundial maker. Will's career in the watch world has been extraordinary. In this part 1 of a two-part podcast, Andrewes explains how he started as an apprentice with the legendary watchmaker George Daniels, first completing an unfinished clock by John Harrison who solved the problem of finding longitude at sea. Andrewes shares several anecdotes of his time with George Daniels giving us a rare insight to one of the world's greatest watchmakers. After teaching at Eton College and working at the Old Royal Observatory in Greenwich, Will Andrewes's career moved across the pond when Seth Atwood asked him to be curator of the then most important horological museum, the Time Museum in Rockford, IL. Andrewes shares charming stories about the Time Museum including how Seth Atwood managed to buy the most important Patek Philippe watch ever made, the Graves Supercomplication directly from Henry Graves's grandson. In part 2, Will Andrewes shares his own explanation as to 'What is time?' and why he has devoted the current chapter of his career to making sundials.

Learn more about Collectability on our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://collectability.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen, like and subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platform: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/Collectability⁠⁠

Watch this podcast on Collectability YouTube:

Rebecca Ross explains how watch auctions are created Part 2 Nov 10, 2023

Show notes

In Part 2 of our conversation with Rebecca Ross, V.P., Head of Sale at Christie's Watch Department, Rebecca gives a specialist's explanation as to how auctions are assembled, curated and sold. We often take auctions for granted, yet a huge amount of work behind the scenes goes in to making an on-line, live or private sale. Since the rise in the number of online sales and new auction houses over the past few years, watch specialists are hunting for watches all year round. Rebecca shares some of her fascinating treasure hunt stories which have taken her around the world, including how finding a previously unknown Patek Philippe watch can be a life-changing experience for the owner. Rebecca also gives advice on how to become a watch specialist and her thoughts on future trends in watch collecting.

Learn more about Collectability on our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://collectability.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen, like and subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platform: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/Collectability⁠⁠

Watch this podcast on Collectability YouTube:

Learn more about Christie's watch auctions: https://www.christies.com/departments/watches-and-wristwatches-60-1.aspx

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