Episodes
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Brett & David are back again talking about the New Monta Release the “Noble Voyager”, their first Noble GMT! We bring up the good, the bad, the ugly of the release including discussion from the Monta and Micro Brand Communities.
We discuss the evolving aftermarket watch landscape including the Rolex CPO, or Certified Pre-Owned programs. With markets shifting it’s a great time for buyers, and we discuss some Breitling and Omega deals we’ve seen lately.
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We're back! After a short hiatus, David and Brett return with the 32nd episode of Strap and Link. We cover a wide range of topics including how we decide what watches to travel with, and how a watch gets chosen above the rest. We discussed a new Breitling SuperOcean that we've obtained too!
We also covered celebrity watch collectors and discussed who we believe has the classiest and most influential collections. We touch on Tom Brady's one-of-one Audemars Piquet, comedians Kevin Hart and Aziz Ansari's taste, and other collectors such as Mark Wahlberg, Kevin O'Leary, and John Mayer.
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DOUBLE BUBBLE! Welcome to a BONUS episode of Strap and Link! Today we're thrilled to bring you a recap of Watches and Wonders 2024, as this showcase brings together the biggest names in luxury timepieces, and we've got the lowdown on all the most noteworthy releases.
Whether you're a seasoned collector or just starting your watch journey, there's something for everyone in this episode. We'll be discussing a diverse range of new models, from the elegance of Cartier, to the cutting-edge technology of Grand Seiko, and the 1980s-inspired gold models from Rolex.
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Today we discuss the following watches:
Tudor: Black Bay GMT "Coke" configuration Rolex: Yellow Gold Deep-Sea, "Bruce Wayne" GMT-Master, and how Rolex and Tudor are defining their brands for the long run Vacheron Constantin: Rose Gold and Green Overseas Grand Seiko: Two Grand Seiko releases – the White Birch Manual Wind Hi-Beat and the SBGC275 Sports GMT Cartier: Santos De Cartier Dual Time TAG Heuer: Carrera Chronograph "Glassbox" with a new grey dial and bracelet Patek Philippe: Aquanaut Travel Time in White Gold -
This brand needs no introduction, as part of the "Holy Trinity," Vacheron Constantin are part of a three-headed high-horology beast offering models like the Overseas to compete with Patek Phillipe and Audemars Piguet.
Today we intro the brand's history, and dive into some unique models including their flagship Overseas, and the more attainable Fiftysix collection, in addition to their American 1921 iconic "sideways" model.
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Show Notes:
(0:20) - What’s Coming Next
(11:30) - History
(18:40) - Overseas
(25:50) - Historiques American 1921
(34:32) - FiftySix Complete Calendar
(37:32) - Fiftysix Self-Winding
(45:01) - Lourve Collection
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Today we do a fantasy sports-style draft of some of our favorite pilot watches to build a three-watch collection. We put 11 distinct models into a selection pool and chose six to discuss at length throughout the episode, including a brief introduction and historical background on each watch.
The watches available for selection included the Orient Pilot RA, Hamilton Khaki Aviation Day Date Auto, Longines Spirit 37mm, Longines Spirit Zulu Time 39, Bell & Ross BR-03 Gyrocompass, Breitling Classic Avi Chrono P-51 Mustang, Cartier Santos-Dumont, Zenith Pilot Big Date Flyback, IWC Chronograph Top Gun, Christopher Ward C8 UTC Worldtimer, Breitling Navitimer B01, Tudor Black Bay GMT, and the Bulova Lunar Pilot.
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Show Notes:
(1:51) - Episode Outline
(5:17) - Pilot’s Watches to Choose
(9:50) - Pilot’s Watch Draft
(17:38) - Bulova Lunar Pilot
(22:07) - Christopher Ward C8 UTC Worldtimer
(26:36) - Tudor Black Bay GMT
(34:10) - Longines Spirit Zulu Time 39
(40:14) - Breitling Navitimer B01
(49:09) - IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Top Gun
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Today's episode is a format change up where we'll be reviewing iconic Rolex GMT-Master references from the original "Pepsi" in 1954 to the modern "Guinness", and several in between.
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Show Notes:
(6:44) - GMT Landscape in the 1950s
(9:22) - “Pan-Am Pepsi” 6542
(19:02) - “Coke” 16760
(27:30) - “Batman” 116710 BLNR
(37:18) - “Guinness” 126713GRNR
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On this episode, we dive into the world of Christopher Ward, a brand that has made its mark lately on the luxury watch industry. We explore four standout watches, starting with "The Twelve," the latest craze in the integrated steel sports watch category.
We also discuss the C1 Moonphase, a stunning watch featuring a mesmerizing moonphase complication and aventurine dial. We also discuss the C60 Trident Pro 300, a dive watch that blends functionality with style, ideal for both underwater adventures and everyday wear.
Lastly, we talk about the Sealander GMT, a versatile travelers watch with a familiar design. We compare these timepieces to similar models in the market, discussing their unique features, craftsmanship, and value proposition in the world of horology.
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Show Notes:
(10:08) - History
(17:16) - The Twelve
(27:00) - C60 Trident Pro 300
(35:55) - Sealander GMT
(43:03) - C1 Moonphase
(48:23) - NWA Rolex Air-King
(52:21) - Watch Collection Mistakes
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We're looking at some of Agent 007's most iconic watches over the years. From Sean Connery's Gruen Precision in Dr. No to Pierce Brosnan's GoldenEye Seamaster Professional, and Daniel Craig's No Time To Die SMP, we picked a range of watches from different decades and design languages.
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Show Notes:
(5:55) - James Bond's First Watch (Gruen Precision)
(6:50) - "From Russia With Love", "Dr. No", "Thunderball" (Rolex Submariner)
(8:22) - "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" (Rolex "Pre-Daytona" Chronograph)
(9:06) - "License To Kill" (Rolex Submariner - 16610)
(9:48) - "GoldenEye" (Seamaster Professional 300 - 2541.80)
(15:45) - "Casino Royale" (Seamaster Professional Planet Ocean - 2900.50.91)
(19:00) - "Skyfall" & "Quantum of Solace" (Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M (232.30.42.21.01.001)
(22:28) - "No Time To Die" (Seamaster Diver 300M “007” Edition)
(29:09) - Special Edition Pricing
(31:08) - Building Watch Collections
(44:23) - The Next Watch
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In this episode, we look at the International Watch Company, better known as IWC. We're mainly discussing two modern dress watches from the Portofino and Portugieser lines, as well as the Mark XX and Ingenieur.
IWC has a unique history relative to many other brands in that they were passed around under ownership, and got into things quite later than most.
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Show Notes:
(0:00) - Intro and small watches
(5:04) - An update on the podcast
(15:01) - History of IWC
(29:04) - Portofino Complete Calendar
(32:31) - Portugieser Perpetual Calendar
(42:02) - Pilots Watch Mark XX
(47:26) - IWC Ingenieur
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Audemars Piguet... Holy Trinity... Grail... A few things come to mind when you hear the name Audemars Piguet, or sometimes just "AP." Namely, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, is most certainly a "grail" watch for most collectors.
In this episode, we dive into the history of AP and the complex mechanisms and complications they built on workbenches in the Vallée de Joux. We also discuss the Royal Oak, designed by Gerald Genta, and its many iterations. We'll take a close look at two current models, the "Jumbo" Ultra-Thin and a Flying Tourbillon, in addition to some Code 11.59 pieces.
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Show Notes:
(0:00) - Welcome, Watch Battles, AP Research
(8:04) - History of Audemars Piguet
(13:18) - History of the AP Royal Oak
(22:01) - Overview of a Tourbillon Movement
(24:26) - Royal Oak Self-Winding Flying Tourbillon
(32:04) - Royal Oak “Jumbo” Ultra Thin
(43:20) - Code 11.59 Perpetual Calendar
(58:31) - Code 11.59 Self-Winding Chronograph
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On the 23rd episode of Strap and Link we are honored to welcome esteemed guest, Joe Kirk, to the show. Joe is the Brand Curator for Grand Seiko, a true watch fanatic, and an all-around fantastic person. Check out the Show Notes below for a detailed overview of our discussion.
As is tradition in part two episodes we cover four additional watches, but since our guest is so knowledgeable, we added two or three extra watches. We also discussed the meaning and purpose behind the Evolution 9 collection, Zaratsu polishing techniques, and new materials Grand Seiko are working with.
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Show Notes:
(14:55) Mailbag
(20:54) “Shosho” GMT - SBGJ249
(25:22) Elegance GMT - SBGM221
(27:47) “Shunbun”, “Cherry Blossom” - SBGA413
(29:18) Spring Drive
(36:47) “White Birch” - SLGH005
(41:31) “Night Birch” - SLGH017
(43:57) Grand Seiko Dial Processes
(47:11) “Lake Suwa” - SLGA021
(48:18) Evolution 9 Design
(52:38) Bracelet Design and Materials
(58:44) Limited Editions
(1:04:47) 8-Day Spring Drive
(1:10:35) NYC Boutique Opening
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We're back with another exciting episode on the storied Longines brand, and some of their new releases from 2023 including the new HydroConquest GMT and Legend Divers. In this episode we look at the brand and what's changed since we last covered them in April, 2023.
New models like the HydroConquest GMT have taken the watch world by storm, so we're diving into specs on watch this and the Legend Diver, Mini Dolce Vita, and Longines Master Collection dress watch. We'll give our take on the watches themselves, and how they play into a watch collection, but more specifically we focus today on the value proposition from Longines, and ask the question "Are you getting a good deal with a Longines watch?"
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Show Notes:
(1:11) - Longines Recap
(5:46) - New Watch Alert: Rolex Yacht-Master Rhodium
(18:47) - Mailbag
(26:21) - Legend Diver
(36:49) - HydroConquest GMT
(43:09) - Mini Dolce Vita
(54:24) - Master Collection
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On today's episode we discuss Rado, the "Master of Materials" against-the-grain Swatch Group company.
Rado was founded in Switzerland by brothers Fritz, Ernst, and Werner in 1917. The brand quickly rose to international prominence and was synonymous with Swiss quality by the end of WWII.
We discuss a slew of watches including the DiaStar, True Square, and Captain Cook. We also give our take on the brand's design language, clearing standing apart from anything offered in the mainstream today.
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Show Notes:
(9:50) - News and Notes
(19:43) - History
(27:00) - True Square Open Heart
(35:50) - Captain Cook
(43:12) - Integral
(50:20) - DiaStar
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Founded in 1992, the French brand Bell & Ross was a university project between two students, and the watches were originally produced by the German company Sinn. However, the "Bell & Ross by Sinn" is still a point of debate in the watch world.
Bell & Ross began by tailoring watches to military specifications, enabling them to stand out amongst peers. With innovative watches such as the Space 1 and Hydro Challenger, Bell & Ross have always played in a league of their own.
Today, Bell & Ross largely make sports watches designed to imitate the instruments inside an airplane cockpit, and this is what the brand has become known for. Aside from the BR 03, they also make stylish GMT, Chronographs, and offer an integrated bracelet design on many of their standard models.
Still, Bell & Ross are a contentious brand for using off-the-shelf movements and charging such a premium, especially considering the brand's short history - they were founded in 1992.
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Show Notes:
(13:25) - Bell & Ross History
(28:58) - BR 03-94 “Blacktrack”
(36:28) - BR V2-94 Steel Heritage
(44:05) - BR-X5
(50:37) - BR 03
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TAG Heuer are synonymous with motorsport, and has accomplished some things you may not yet know. On the 19th episode of Strap and Link, we dive into their storied history including the invention of the winding crown and stop/reset pushers on the chronograph case.
Of course, we can't talk about TAG without mentioning their placement on the wrist of Hollywood star Steve McQueen, the King of Cool, in the movie Le Mans which features prominent branding from Heuer. We also look at their history in F1 from timing races in the mid 20th century to being main sponsors for the Red Bull Racing team and Max Verstappen, who have won 3 titles in a row.
We wrap up by discussing some of their iconic pieces and collections including the Monaco, Carrera, Aquaracer and Autavia, and how these watches fit into a collection including their price compared to similar models and other collections from TAG themselves.
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Show Notes:
(5:54) - History of TAG Heuer
(26:18) - Aquaracer
(34:15) - Monaco
(47:45) - Autavia
(55:55) - Carrera
(1:04:07) - AD Relationships
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On our 18th episode we look at the captivating Jaeger-LeCoultre brand (better known in the United States as JLC) and some of their modern watches. We look back at its founding as a shop that made steel watch pinions in the mid-nineteenth century, and forward to their elegant and dressy options at an upper-end luxury market placement. Of course, we touch on the most important pieces of their history including making watch movement components for the likes of Patek Phillipe, and their invention of the Reverso for polo players suffering from cracked watch crystals.
We specifically look at the JLC Reverso, Polaris, Polaris Memovox, and Duometre collections. We'll discuss each of their specs, price points, and how we perceive them fitting into the modern watch market.
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Show Notes:
News and Notes: 8:54
JLC History: 14:44
Reverso: 33:08
Polaris: 42:29
Duometre: 52:32
Polaris Mariner Memovox: 58:34
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Welcome back to the Strap and Link Podcast - today we're retaking a look at Tudor to focus on their new watches of 2023 including the new five-link bracelet "Heritage" Black Bay, Pelagos FXD, and Black Bay 54. We're talking about the history of these watches, why they were re-released now, or why these models were selected as ones to be re-released.
We'll also give our own opinion on these watches of course, and provide a complete rundown of the specs for each including sizing, cost, and so on.
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Show Notes:
10:50 - Tudor Black Bay 54
22:30 - Tudor Pelagos FXD
36:20 - Tudor Royal
50:32 - Tudor “Heritage” Black Bay
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The Hamilton Watch Company was founded in Lancaster, PA, USA in 1892 and started making watches for local railways and operators. As we moved closer to World War II, Hamilton got involved with the US Military and began providing watches to troops, so much so that they even ceased production of civilian models. They continued to innovate, releasing the world's first electronic watch, the Ventura in 1957.
Today, we associate Hamilton watches with a few things: Movies in which they are placed, sometimes becoming a plot point, and field watches, which they execute nearly to perfection. From Hawaii Blue to Men In Black, and most recently Interstellar and Oppenheimer, Hamilton watches continue playing a crucial role in outfitting characters across many genres.
In this episode we cover all this and more, including a vintage mechanical Hamilton 1936, the predecessor to the Boulton/Indiana Jones watch. We also cover several movies like Men In Black, Interstellar, and The Martian, where Hamilton watches are featured.
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Show Notes:
6:40 - History of Hamilton Watches
29:40 - "Lawrence" 1936 / Hamilton Boulton
38:44 - Khaki Field "Murph"
49:07 - Jazzmaster Collection
56:15 - Intra-Matic Chronograph Collection
1:07:10 - Mailbag
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We're back at it with Episode 15 and a very special brand, none other than fan-favorite Seiko. Today we're looking at the history including their founding in 1881 in Tokyo, and many Japanese and World's first achievements from the Seiko Watch Company including the world's first Titanium Dive Watch and Spring Drive technology.
We're also covering current collections including the Presage, Prospex, Seiko 5 Sport, and Essentials. Specifically, we talk about the Presage Cocktail Time, multiple Prospex divers, and Seiko 5 Sport GMTs and Divers.
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Show Notes:
5:34 - Mailbag
10:16 - News & Notes
17:35 - Seiko History
37:44 - Seiko Elegance Collection
49:49 - Seiko Prospex Collection (SRPF03)
1:03:32 - Seiko Presage Cocktail Time
1:11:05 - Seiko 5 Sport SRPD59
1:26:14 - Mailbag and Wrap-Up
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It's finally time. We're sitting down to discuss the most popular, most recognizable, and arguably most controversial watch brand in the world: Rolex.
Rolex is synonymous with wealth, status, and well... luxury wristwatches. We tackle Part 2 by discussing the Rolex Day-Date, GMT Master II, Explorer I and II, and the Sky-Dweller as well as answering a listener question about the Rolex/AD waitlist dilemma.
If you haven't listened to Part 1 be sure to check it out! We covered the founding and history of Rolex including their charitable organization status, and discussed the Rolex Submariner and DateJust.
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Show Notes:
4:50 - Rolex Day-Date
18:24 - Rolex Sky-Dweller
30:58 - Rolex Explorer I & II
47:13 - Rolex GMT Master II
1:00:12 - Rolex Aftermarket Pricing
1:04:27 - Mailbag
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