Superlative

Latest Episodes:

SUPERLATIVE: THE REVIVAL OF WELSBRO WATCHES WITH RICH REICHBACH Jan 23, 2023

Show notes

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!

SUPERLATIVE: AN INTERVIEW WITH OUR HOST ARIEL ADAMS WITH RICHARD ATKINSON Jan 16, 2023

Show notes

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!

SUPERLATIVE: WHERE ART MEETS WATCH DESIGN WITH MARTIN FREI Jan 09, 2023

Show notes

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!

SUPERLATIVE: LETTING THE MARKET DISCOVER WITH KARL-FRIEDRICH SCHEUFELE Jan 02, 2023

Show notes

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!

SUPERLATIVE: FROM ABTW TOP COMMENTER TO WRITING THE WRISTWATCH HANDBOOK WITH RYAN SCHMIDT Dec 26, 2022

Show notes

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!

SUPERLATIVE: WHEN DISRUPTION CAN BE BAD FOR BUSINESS WITH SIMON DE BURTON Dec 19, 2022

Show notes

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!

SUPERLATIVE: WHAT IT TAKES TO BE CREATIVELY EFFICIENT WITH SYLVAIN BERNERON Dec 12, 2022

Show notes

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!

WHAT SUCCESS IN A HUMBLING INDUSTRY LOOKS LIKE WITH JORN WERDELIN Dec 05, 2022

Show notes

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 Jorn Werdelin, the Co-Founder of luxury watch company Linde Werdelin. To start the show Ariel and Jorn dive into the genesis of Linde Werdelin and how Jorn got to that point in his life. They talk about the difference of challenges that start-ups previously had than those coming about today, and how the change of manufacturing capacity impacted the ability to start in the industry. Ariel talks about what the perfect world for marketing a watch brand would look like, and how the speed of the watch industry continues to humble those within it. They look into the future battles of the watch industry when it comes to things like materials and finishings, and Jorn is asked to give some advice and guidance to young entrepreneurs in the industry today.

To stay updated with Jorn and Linde Werdelin:

Instagram @Jornwerdelin - https://www.instagram.com/jornwerdelin/

Company Website - https://lindewerdelin.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!

SUPERLATIVE: LOOKING BACK ON THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL OAK WITH BILL PRINCE Nov 28, 2022

Show notes

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 Bill Prince, an award-winning journalist, former deputy editor of British GQ, and Author of “Royal Oak: From Iconoclast to Icon”. Ariel and our guest start the show by talking about humans being fascinated by measuring time, and why the wrist watch became the most fashionable measuring instrument. Bill dives into his most recent book that he authored about the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and its 50th Anniversary, and he elaborates on one of his statements regarding Audemars Piguet being the only brand that could make something like the Royal Oak. Bill talks about the path that Audemars Piguet took in order to secure enthusiasts’ approval before mainstream approval, and what he sees as their greatest strength and weakness in one. The pair end the show on a fun thought experiment regarding a different type of Royal Oak, and comparisons of smart watches and traditional watches, to electric cars and traditional fuel cars.

To stay updated with Bill and to check out his book:

Instagram @Billprinceinc - https://www.instagram.com/billprinceinc/

To Purchase Bill’s Work - https://eu.assouline.com/products/royal-oak-from-iconoclast-icon

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!

SUPERLATIVE: FROM COLLECTOR TO CEO WITH ANDY ZHANG - WATCHBOX CHINA Nov 21, 2022

Show notes

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 the CEO of WatchBox China, Andy Zhang. To start the show Ariel asks Andy what it is like to be on the industry side as opposed to the collector side of the watch industry, and they dive into the concept of new collectors sometimes buying watches just because of the potential investment. Andy talks about what WatchBox is and what his role at the company entails as the CEO of WatchBox China. Ariel brings up the question of whether or not pre-owned watches from specific markets are re-sold into other markets. They also talk about taxes when regarding pre-owned watches as opposed to new watches in China, as well as what the current and future event landscape looks like there.

To stay updated with Andy and WatchBox:

Instagram @Watchbox - https://www.instagram.com/watchbox/

Website - https://www.thewatchbox.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!