Show Notes
aBlogtoWatch Weekly is back on the main aBlogtoWatch YouTube channel with new releases every Friday! - https://www.youtube.com/@ablogtowatch
With Rick sidelined by a power outage in Scotland, Ariel, David, and Ripley take the reins for another entertaining week of watch talk. The trio begins with the return of the Vacheron Constantin Twin Beat and a lively discussion about whether its remarkable engineering finally lives up to the hype. They also debate the latest Ulysse Nardin Freak X, its eye opening price increase, and whether simplifying one of watchmaking's boldest designs takes away some of what made it so special in the first place. Along the way, there are plenty of detours into Swiss gyms, watch transformers, and the strange world of "price on request."
Also on this week's episode, the team takes a closer look at Casio's latest full metal G-Shock, questions some questionable display design choices, and wonders why the watch's best features still rely on a smartphone app. They also explore new releases from Vostok Europe, Chronoswiss, Arken, and Lorige, discuss what makes a great motorsport inspired watch, and wrap things up with another entertaining mix of watch industry insight, strong opinions, and the kind of conversations that only happen on aBlogtoWatch Weekly.
This week's episode is sponsored by the Movado Heritage Kingmatic collection, learn more at the link below: - https://www.movado.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, 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: 0:04 Rick's Power Outage & Gym Joke 5:21 Vacheron Constantin Twin Beat 9:35 Hidden Watch Complications 11:18 JLC Heliotourbillon 14:22 Watch Transformers 17:25 Ulysse Nardin Freak X 25:03 Casio Full Metal G-Shock 34:25 Vostok Europe South Pole 41:22 Chronoswiss Lunar Chronograph 50:13 ETA Movement Debate 51:45 Arken Alterum GMT 56:19 Lorige & Motorsport Watches 1:01:39 Richard Mille Design DNA 1:03:45 Peacock HAIYI Tourbillon Diver 1:09:01 Manual vs Automatic Tourbillons 1:11:30 Chinese Luxury Watchmaking 1:13:25 Closing Thoughts
More from A Blog To Watch Weekly
This week on aBlogtoWatch Weekly, Rick, David, and Ripley explore a new chapter for Hublot, Audemars Piguet's latest venture into luxury jewelry, the 50th anniversary of the IWC Ingenieur, and much more. With Ariel away, the trio kicks things off with a discussion of Hublot's evolving direction under former Audemars Piguet CEO François-Henry Bennahmias, including the new Classic Fusion Original and Big Bang Original.
This week on aBlogtoWatch Weekly, Ariel Adams is joined by David and Ripley for a conversation covering everything from affordable G-Shocks to luxury smartwatches and some of the most unusual designs coming out of Japan. Ripley kicks things off with highlights from the first Istanbul Watch Festival and a look at Turkey's thriving watch culture. The crew then explores Casio's new $180 G-Shock GW-BX5600, discussing its upgraded MIP display, solar charging, and Bluetooth connectivity before diving into the confusing world of Casio's product lineup. Next up is Garmin's latest MARQ Gen 3 collection, where premium materials, specialized features, and prices reaching $3,100 spark a debate about what makes a luxury smartwatch worth the money.
This week on aBlogtoWatch Weekly, Ariel Adams returns alongside David and Ripley for a packed episode covering military watch history, controversial design decisions, and one of the most expensive G-Shocks ever made. Ariel shares stories from his recent visit to the Navy SEAL Museum in San Diego, including the history of Tudor Submariners issued to Navy SEALs during the Vietnam War and the mysterious disappearance of watches that were reportedly destroyed after being returned to military storage.
This week on aBlogtoWatch Weekly, Ariel is away, which leaves Rick, David, and Ripley to make sense of a watch market where price and positioning seem increasingly difficult to untangle. The crew starts with Zenith and a lengthy debate over pricing, brand identity, and whether a good watch can still be a tough sell at the wrong price. Then things get sweeter with the Donut Watch Company, a new Ming adjacent project that brings familiar design DNA, a Miyota movement, plenty of lume, and an actual donut theme to the roughly $700 price point. The question quickly becomes whether offering a more accessible taste of an expensive brand is clever expansion or simply leaning a little too heavily on the name and design language people already recognize.
This week on aBlogtoWatch Weekly, Rick, David, and Ripley are back with an episode full of watches that are cheaper, pricier, and considerably weirder than expected. The guys start with H. Moser & Cie. going digital before turning to the state of watch marketing and why so many brands seem to have forgotten how to keep the conversation going. They also consider whether Cartier could ever truly challenge Rolex and what it would take for the brand to get there.