A Blog To Watch Weekly

aBlogtoWatch Weekly is back on the main aBlogtoWatch YouTube channel with new releases every Friday!
- https://www.youtube.com/@ablogtowatch

This week on aBlogtoWatch Weekly, Ariel, Rick, David, and Ripley tackle one of the biggest buzzwords in modern watchmaking: What actually makes a watch brand "independent?" The team debates whether independence is about ownership, creative freedom, or who really gets to make the decisions. Along the way, they put everyone from Audemars Piguet to H. Moser & Cie. under the microscope while questioning whether the industry has stretched the term beyond recognition.
Their conversation also covers Tudor's new Black Bay Chrono 39 "Bumblebee" — does it finally deliver the Daytona alternative enthusiasts have been asking for? The hosts weigh in on Panerai's latest Navy SEALs Submersible, explore A. Lange & Söhne's newest Lumen release, and share why a box full of Swatch watches might be louder than a minute repeater. As always, expect plenty of laughs, spirited debates, and the kind of watch industry tangents only aBlogtoWatch Weekly can deliver.

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, aBlogtoWatch Weekly, and aBlogtoWatch, check us out on:

- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/
- Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/
- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aBlogtoWatch

If you enjoy the show please Subscribe, Rate, and Review!

Key Timestamps:
[00:00] Party banter, World Cup, & Scottish/Seattle weather
[03:48] Titanium Rolex & fake watch comparison
[05:58] Swatch ticking chaos & Casio mods
[12:30] What makes a watch brand independent?
[25:13] Tudor Black Bay Chrono 39 "Bumblebee"
[34:30] Vacheron Twin Beat & Lange Lumen
[47:10] Panerai Navy SEALs Submersible
[52:44] Watch brand WhatsApp chatbots

aBlogtoWatch Weekly is back on the main aBlogtoWatch YouTube channel with new releases every Friday!
- https://www.youtube.com/@ablogtowatch

This week on aBlogtoWatch Weekly, Rick, Ariel, and David tackle everything from Star Wars themed G-Shocks and the overwhelming number of Doxa dive watches to the return of Vacheron Constantin’s Twin Beat Perpetual Calendar. Along the way, they debate whether luxury watch brands make buying watches unnecessarily difficult, question the growing trend of “price on request,” and wonder how many Doxas one collector actually needs.
The conversation also takes a deeper turn as Ariel discusses his recent article examining the relationship between the Swiss watch industry and its most important market: the United States. From Rolex waitlists and retail roadblocks to cultural differences in how luxury is sold and consumed, the team explores why some brands seem determined to make the buying experience more complicated than it needs to be. Plus, the Brand Wheel of Death returns with Nomos, Ferdinand Berthoud, and Voutilainen facing judgment.

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, aBlogtoWatch Weekly, and aBlogtoWatch, check us out on:
- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/
- Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/
- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aBlogtoWatch

If you enjoy the show please Subscribe, Rate, and Review!

Key Timestamps:
[02:02] The Escapement & Fyre Festival Comparisons
[02:58] Philippe Stern & Abu Dhabi Festival
[03:09] Ask Ariel Anything
[04:28] The Hidden QR Code Idea
[05:09] No Wrist Shots Allowed
[06:56] The Punk Watch Challenge
[09:30] The G-Shock Argument
[10:08] The Cheapest Diamond Watch
[11:35] Tissot PRX Debate
[12:11] Mandalorian & Grogu G-Shocks
[14:46] When Co-Branding Is Too Subtle
[18:00] G-Shock Pricing & Disney Licensing
[19:49] Doxa Sub 200 T-Graph Returns
[21:25] Does Doxa Have Too Many Watches?
[23:22] Understanding the Doxa Dial
[25:18] How to Choose a Doxa
[27:31] David on Doxa
[28:01] Why Switzerland Fears America
[31:36] The Transatlantic Luxury Paradox
[33:17] Remembering Philippe Stern
[35:08] Boutique Experiences in Europe
[36:35] Swiss Dirigism vs Capitalism
[38:14] Swiss-American Trust Issues
[47:30] Wheel of Death: Chaykin, Berthoud & Nomos
[52:14] Vacheron Twin Beat Returns
[49:54] How the Twin Beat Works
[56:31] The Price-On-Request Rant
[57:01] Is a 70-Day Power Reserve Useful?
[59:23] Closing & WhatsApp QR Code

aBlogtoWatch Weekly is back on the main aBlogtoWatch YouTube channel with new releases every Friday!
- https://www.youtube.com/@ablogtowatch

This week on aBlogtoWatch Weekly, Rick and Ariel are holding down the fort without David and Ripley, which means the conversation quickly goes off the rails before diving headfirst into the latest watch industry news. The duo discuss the new Raymond Weil ART and ask the big question: is it a genuinely compelling integrated bracelet watch or just another trend follower? They also debate the rise of integrated bracelet sports watches, micro rotors, and why some brands are chasing familiar formulas while others are trying something completely different.

Plus, there are thoughts on Bell & Ross leaning into modern art inspired design with its latest cubist inspired release, the new TAG Heuer Monaco Speed and its unusual jumping hour display, and whether square watches deserve more love or just more confusion. Along the way, Rick and Ariel somehow find time to argue about sleeping with watches on, lume at 3AM, AI frustrations, and why Bell & Ross might just need its big Hollywood moment. It is exactly the kind of wonderfully chaotic watch conversation you expect from an aBlogtoWatch Weekly podcast with just Rick and Ariel. 

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, aBlogtoWatch Weekly, and aBlogtoWatch, check us out on:

- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/
- Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/
- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aBlogtoWatch

If you enjoy the show please Subscribe, Rate, and Review!

Key Timestamps:
[04:07] Sleeping With Watches?
[07:14] Why Ariel & Rick Go Off Track
[11:45] Raymond Weil A.R.T. — Hit or Fad?
[17:10] AI Art, QR Codes & Tech Frustrations
[21:27] Indie Watch Brands & Retail Challenges
[27:29] Bell & Ross Cubism & Micro Rotors
[38:47] TAG Heuer Monaco Speed 12 Debate
[45:29] Swatch “Royal Pop” Queue Chaos
[48:15] Camp Watches & Microbrand Realities
[51:19] What Actually Counts As A Square Watch?
[54:49] ATI ZDM Enigma & Strange Design Choices
[56:49] Forgotten Fashion Watches
[59:49] The Return Of Fashion Watches?
[1:03:04] A Deep Dive Into Versace Watches
[1:05:57] The “Punishment Watch” Game
[1:08:00] eBay Authentication Experiment
[1:09:20] Wrap Up & Next Week’s Challenge

In this episode of aBlogtoWatch Weekly, the gang reunites for another round of semi-organized chaos, fresh off Couture in Las Vegas and ready to unpack what it all means for the watch industry. Rick, Ariel, Ripley, and David dive into the surprising comeback of fashion watch brands like Fossil, Timex, and Movado, and explore how shifting retail strategies and a changing enthusiast market may be creating a whole new lane for affordable watches to thrive again. They also debate whether brands once dismissed as “mall watch” staples are quietly becoming more enthusiast-focused than anyone expected.

The conversation then turns to the new Formex Aria and whether the brand’s leap into a much higher price bracket is a natural evolution or a risky stretch. From micro-rotors and movement value to what really justifies a premium price tag, the team does not hold back. Plus, things get wonderfully weird with meteorite dials, over-engineered space watches, and the growing fascination with watches built for life beyond Earth. Throw in some celebrity ambassador chaos and a Ferrari tangent, and you have another delightfully unpredictable episode of aBlogtoWatch Weekly.

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, aBlogtoWatch Weekly, and aBlogtoWatch, check us out on:

- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/
- Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/
- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aBlogtoWatch

If you enjoy the show please Subscribe, Rate, and Review!

This week on aBlogtoWatch Weekly, the team dives into one of the biggest questions in modern watch collecting: Are luxury watches starting to feel too cheap for their MSRP? Ariel, Rick, David, and Ripley debate long waitlists, inflated pricing, and whether brands like Cartier and Universal Genève are asking collectors to pay too much for too little. There is also plenty of entertaining chaos as the crew gets sidetracked into restaurant wait times, French luxury culture, and Ariel’s refusal to stand in line for just about anything.
Along the way, the team shares thoughts on Favre Leuba’s latest revival watch, why Bremont may finally be finding its footing again, and which luxury brands are still delivering real innovation versus relying too heavily on marketing. Plus, there is a surprisingly passionate debate about Cartier’s baffling product specifications, the strange appeal of overpriced watches, and whether some brands have simply lost touch with reality.

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, aBlogtoWatch Weekly, and aBlogtoWatch, check us out on:

- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/
- Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/
- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aBlogtoWatch

If you enjoy the show please Subscribe, Rate, and Review!