197. Operation Baby Fist Heist, Thicc-Boi Watches, And Rick’s Owl of Destiny + Bulgari Interview
A Blog To Watch WeeklyShow Notes
This week on aBlogtoWatch Weekly, Rick, David, and Ripley settle in for a wonderfully chaotic ride through the watch world as they pick apart the GPHG results with the kind of disbelief usually reserved for tax bills and airport delays, wondering aloud how a collection of chronographs that no human can physically read ended up representing the best of the year. After David signs off to begin his travels, Rick and Ripley carry on with a rapid-fire tour of the latest drops, including the Dryden Heartlander Solar, which somehow outperforms the previous MoonSwatch conversation without even trying, and the Benrus Ultra Deep, which weighs in as a certified THICC-BOI. They explore the Todd Snyder and Unimatic GMT collaboration, which proves that the moment David signs off is when the fashion talk suddenly spikes. The two give us a serious analysis of who, exactly, is spending $120,000 on a Harry Potter-themed tourbillon. To close the episode, David sits down in Geneva with famed Bulgari designer Fabrizio Buonamassa for a rare and thoughtful conversation about the evolution of the Octo Finissimo, the creative process behind his iconic sketch editions, the challenges and pride of producing movements in house, the role of human craft in a rapidly changing industry, and why true artistic vision will always outlast trends and technology. If you want the full range of watch talk, from award show absurdities to high-design philosophy, this is the episode to tune into.
More from A Blog To Watch Weekly
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.
This week on aBlogtoWatch Weekly, Rick, Ariel, David, and Ripley are back to tackle watches that dazzle, watches that feel like furniture, and watches that may be listening to everything you say. The crew starts with a look behind the curtain at Dexel and the manufacturing capabilities that help make Formex such an interesting value proposition, including the cases, bracelets, clasps, and technology that often go unnoticed by consumers. Then things get considerably more colorful with the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Dazzle, a watch that leaves absolutely nowhere for your eyes to rest. From there, Hublot takes titanium in an entirely different direction with the rubber coated Big Bang Original Soft Touch, prompting questions about scratches, lint removal, carpeted watches, and whether anyone really needs a softer Big Bang. The Hublot conversation also leads into the latest Nico Leonard and Christopher Ward drama, the internet’s long history of hating Hublot, and whether the Big Bang should simply be reinvented from scratch.