Lonely Wrist: All Things Watches & Horology

Hosted by Lonely Wrist

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Latest episode

Sep 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Lonely Wrist is a podcast that goes inside the movement, bringing you inside the world of watches through candid conversations with the people who drive it forward. Each episode features in-depth interviews with industry insiders including Executives, master watchmakers, designers, collectors, content creators, and historians offering rare insights into the passion, precision, and business behind every timepiece. From legacy brands to innovative microbrands, from movement architecture to marketing strategy, we explore the many layers of horology through the voices of those shaping its past, present, and future. Whether you're a seasoned collector or just beginning your journey into watches, Lonely Wrist offers a unique perspective on the artistry, culture, and the industry of watches, one episode, and one insider, at a time. Tune in bi-weekly and hear the stories ticking behind every Lonely Wrist .

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60 recent

September 15, 2026Episode 811 hr 5 min

Gabe Oppenheim on How America Lost The Mechanical Time Race

Swiss watchmaking didn’t “naturally” become the gold standard. It got engineered. We sit down with journalist and author Gabe Oppenheim (Borrowed Time) to follow the paper trail behind the Swiss watch industry’s rise and the American collapse most collectors barely hear about. Once you see the mechanics of power behind the marketing, the words on the dial start to mean something different. We start with the forgotten high point of American watchmaking, when Waltham and Elgin showcase industrial precision that shocks Switzerland at the 1876 Philadelphia Exposition. Then Gabe walks us into the Swiss National Archives, where government involvement shows up again and again in brand-level problems, export strategy, counterfeiting pressure, and even geopolitical moments like Olympic timing. The story is less “heritage” and more industrial policy, trade leverage, and coordination across an entire ecosystem. From there, we unpack how parts dependence becomes a trap for U.S. companies, why tariffs arrive too late to matter, and what gets permanently lost when factory knowledge and quality control vanish within a generation. We also dig into what “Swiss Made” actually means as a legal definition, why it changed, and how modern supply chains complicate authenticity. Finally, we connect the history to today’s reality of high precision clone movements from China, including Dandong, Hong Kong counterfeiting, Shenzhen’s tech rise, and intentional knowledge transfer. If you care about horology, watch movements, and the real forces shaping the watches you buy, this conversation will sharpen your eye. Subscribe for more, share this with a watch friend, and leave a review with the biggest assumption this episode challenged for you. Get your Copy Here: https://link.amazon/B02vHAvh4 Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2237102/support Visit our Blog: https://lonelywrist.com Watch our Youtube: http://youtube.lonelywrist.com 100% Viewer Funded: Donate Here

September 1, 2026Episode 8057 min

Benoît Mintiens: How Ressence Is Rethinking the Wristwatch

A mechanical watch that reads like a screen sounds like a contradiction until you hear how Ressence pulls it off. I’m joined by Benoît Mintiens, the founder and CEO of Ressence, a brand famous for doing the things most watch companies won’t touch: no hands, no crown, rotating disc displays, and oil-filled dials that seem to float on the crystal. Benoît explains how an industrial design background (trains, aircraft cabins, medical devices) reshaped his view of watchmaking. We talk about the “mechanical screen” philosophy, why flat 2D information is easier for the human eye, and how the ROCS module keeps familiar time-reading patterns while rebuilding the mechanics underneath. Then we get technical on the Type 3: splitting the watch into air and oil sections, using magnetic transmission to avoid leaks, and why an oil temperature gauge and bellows system are essential engineering, not decoration. We also go behind the scenes on what it takes to stay independent: building a high-complexity Belgian watch brand without Swiss infrastructure, fighting for supplier capacity against mega-groups, protecting long-term service and resale value, and why cash flow can be the biggest design constraint of all. If you love independent watchmaking, modern horology, and product design thinking applied to timekeeping, this one goes deep. If you enjoyed the conversation, subscribe, share it with a fellow watch nerd, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What’s the most user-friendly watch you’ve ever worn? Checkout Ressence online: https://ressencewatches.com/ Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2237102/support Visit our Blog: https://lonelywrist.com Watch our Youtube: http://youtube.lonelywrist.com 100% Viewer Funded: Donate Here

August 18, 2026Episode 791 hr 14 min

How Luxury Watch Videos Get Made with Nolan Shi

Your watch looks incredible in hand, so why does it fall flat on camera? That gap is where luxury watch photographer and videographer Nolan Shi lives. Nolan is based in New York and has quietly become the person behind the kind of watch imagery you’ve probably double tapped without knowing who shot it. We talk about how he went from acting and commercial production to filming vintage watches, then quickly leveling up to some of the most expensive, unforgiving pieces you can put under lights. We get nerdy and practical about luxury watch videography: why dust is a full-time enemy when you’re working with thousands of frames, how reflections behave on polished cases and domed crystals, and what actually helps (big diffusion, circular polarizers, even cross-polarization). Nolan also shares the small decisions that make a watch feel alive, like letting a chronograph run, embracing controlled shadows, and keeping the crystal looking real instead of “perfect.” Then we zoom out to the watch content marketing side. Clients often bring AI or 3D render references that create impossible expectations, and Nolan explains how he protects his style, prices his time, and turns down briefs that don’t fit a brand’s identity. We also talk gear without the hype: why 4K is enough, what lenses he actually relies on, the motion tools he can’t live without, and whether a robot arm is worth it. Plus, he hints at what’s next: a microbrand and a beginner-friendly masterclass for creators. Subscribe for more insider conversations, share this with a friend who shoots watches, and leave a review if you want more deep dives like this. What’s the hardest part of filming a watch for you: dust, reflections, or getting smooth motion? Follow Nolan here: https://www.instagram.com/nolanshi.himself/ Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2237102/support Visit our Blog: https://lonelywrist.com Watch our Youtube: http://youtube.lonelywrist.com 100% Viewer Funded: Donate Here

August 5, 2026Episode 7848 min

How Oris Supports the Watch Community with VJ Geronimo

Luxury watch talk gets weird fast: more hype, more ego, higher prices, and somehow less clarity. We wanted the opposite, so we sat down with VJ, CEO of Oris Americas, to hear what it actually feels like to lead one of the last truly independent Swiss watch brands while still chasing real growth in the United States. His story starts far from the usual “born a collector” path, moving from accounting to the watch world, then market research, and eventually into running Oris across the Americas. That mix of numbers and real-world experience shapes the way he leads: data helps, but relationships and trust decide everything. We dig into what independence unlocks, from the freedom to think long term to the “luxury of common sense” in everyday decisions. VJ explains why Oris can build everything from playful collaborations to serious mechanical tool watches without asking permission from a parent group. We also get the backstory behind Oris staying mechanical only, and why that commitment is more than a slogan. If you care about Swiss mechanical watches, brand identity, and product strategy that doesn’t feel copy-pasted, you’ll hear a lot to chew on. Then we go deeper on what collectors actually feel: community and value. VJ talks about Oris Social Club energy, the Wandering Watch project, and why listening matters more than buzzwords. We also unpack responsible pricing, why Oris avoids celebrity ambassador costs, and how initiatives like Change for Better and the Aquis Upcycle fit into a conservation-first approach with real partners. If this conversation helps you see the watch industry more clearly, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review. What’s the one thing a watch brand could do to earn your trust? Checkout Oris Http://oris.ch Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2237102/support Visit our Blog: https://lonelywrist.com Watch our Youtube: http://youtube.lonelywrist.com 100% Viewer Funded: Donate Here

July 21, 2026Episode 771 hr 19 min

A Trademark Fight With Pirelli Forced A Brand Reinvention with Brent of Serket Watch Co.

A global tire company nearly ends a watch brand before it even begins, and somehow that becomes the origin story. I’m joined by Brent Fedrizzi, founder of Serket Watch Company, to talk about what it actually looks like to build an independent watch brand from scratch, stay small on purpose, and still put genuinely compelling watches on wrists. We get into the early days of direct-to-consumer microbrand watches before social media, the first Scorpion-branded run, and the jaw-dropping moment Brent receives legal pressure tied to Pirelli’s “Scorpion” trademark. From there, we unpack the pivot to Serket, the Egyptian mythology connection, and how brand identity can survive a forced reset if the product and the values are real. Then we go behind the curtain on watchmaking realities: supply chain delays, minimum order quantities, the constant trade-offs between “Swiss made” and practical value, and why movement choice matters for long-term serviceability. We talk ETA 2824, Sellita SW200, and everyday workhorses like the NH35, plus what after-sales support looks like when the “company” is one person who still gets excited to ship watches from the post office. If you care about independent watch brands, microbrand pricing, design process, and building trust without hype, you’ll get a lot out of this one. Subscribe for more, share it with a watch friend, and leave a review telling us your favorite under-the-radar brand. Checkout Serket Watch Company: https://serketwatch.com/ Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2237102/support Visit our Blog: https://lonelywrist.com Watch our Youtube: http://youtube.lonelywrist.com 100% Viewer Funded: Donate Here

July 8, 2026Episode 762 hr 15 min

How Emerton Scott Builds Big Value Watches with Scott Lancaster

Rolex waitlists, microbrand value, and what “great design” actually looks like when you live with a watch every day. That’s where this conversation goes with Scott Lancaster, the founder of Emerton Scott, an independent brand that started years ago, detoured through branding and marketing work, and came roaring back with a clear mission: build watches that punch above their weight and celebrate the human spirit behind the grind. We get practical about the stuff enthusiasts care about but brands rarely explain well: why seeing a watch in person beats spec sheets, how events like Wind Up can make or break a launch, and what changes a watch from “nice online” to “invisible on wrist” in the best way. Scott breaks down the unglamorous work too, from years of prototyping to supplier drama that forced him to fly out and handle packaging and shipping himself. We also talk details that quietly separate a serious everyday watch from a shiny toy, like finishing choices that age well and bracelet engineering that makes comfort the default. Then we zoom out into the business side: the marketing funnel, why organic content builds trust, how paid ads can inflate prices, and why Kickstarter fees can wreck already-thin margins for microbrands. Finally, we dig into the Rolex ecosystem, how scarcity and AD behavior shape customer experience, and why more enthusiasts are saying “no thanks” even when they can afford the watch. If you’re into independent watch brands, watch design, microbrand marketing, and the real economics behind “value,” you’ll want to hear this one. Subscribe, share it with a watch friend, and leave a review if the conversation hits home. What brand has earned your trust lately, and why? Checkout Emerton Scott and Scott's Social Media: https://emertonscott.com/ https://www.instagram.com/thescottlancaster/ Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2237102/support Visit our Blog: https://lonelywrist.com Watch our Youtube: http://youtube.lonelywrist.com 100% Viewer Funded: Donate Here

June 25, 2026Episode 751 hr 13 min

How Ikepod & Klokers Returned From Bankruptcy With Christian-Louis Col

He fell in love with Ikepod in 1990s Paris. Years later, he didn’t just buy a watch, he bought the brand. Christian-Louis Col joins us to tell the unfiltered story of reviving Ikepod after bankruptcy: what you actually get when you acquire a “dead” Swiss watch brand, what’s missing when there are no archives, and why rebuilding trust means more than a new logo and a press release. We get into the real mechanics behind the comeback, from service challenges and sourcing parts to the controversial decision to bring Ikepod back with accessible quartz watches that still respect the original design language. Christian-Louis explains how he thinks about Ikepod as a design brand, why the integrated strap and ergonomic UFO case shape are non-negotiable, and how he works with designers without turning icons into copies. If you care about independent watchmaking, concept watches, and what makes collectors obsess, this conversation is packed with practical insight. Then we pivot to his second rescue mission: Klokers. We talk about buying the brand out of liquidation, why the rotating disk display and clip system are such compelling IP, and what it takes to re-engineer a design watch so it can survive real life. We close on legacy, pressure, and what “winning” looks like over the next 5 to 10 years when your goal is to save ideas worth keeping. If you enjoyed this, subscribe, share it with a watch friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show. Check out Ikepod and Klokers: https://ikepod.com/en/ https://www.klokers.com/ Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2237102/support Visit our Blog: https://lonelywrist.com Watch our Youtube: http://youtube.lonelywrist.com 100% Viewer Funded: Donate Here

June 10, 2026Episode 741 hr 4 min

Perri Dash on How Taste And Craft Turn Objects Into Culture

A watch can be a flex, a tool, or a tiny machine that marks time, but that’s not why it stays with us. Perry Dash joins me to get under the surface of modern watch culture and enthusiast life, where a piece of steel can turn into a memory, a personal ritual, and a signal of who you are. We talk about the path that starts with aesthetics and quickly becomes storytelling: who made the thing, what it meant in its era, and why that meaning still lands today. We also challenge the lazy definition of luxury as “high price.” Perry lays out a more useful frame: luxury as elevation, backed by culture, craft, and tradition. That takes us from vintage watches and the romance of heritage to how products become cultural icons. Think Air Jordan 1s as ephemera, not sneakers, and the way horology, design, and history can multiply an object’s usefulness into something bigger than function. Then we get into the modern problem: algorithms, hype culture, fast trends, and the pressure to want what everyone else wants. Perry shares how he protects his taste by experimenting, learning what actually resonates, and remembering you don’t have to own everything to love it. We also talk about what brands still miss: community, hospitality, and the stewardship that makes newcomers feel like they belong. If you care about watch collecting, vintage watches, craftsmanship, niche media, and building real community around shared passions, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s deep in the hobby, and leave a review with the one object that holds the most meaning for you. Checkout Perri on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perridash Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2237102/support Visit our Blog: https://lonelywrist.com Watch our Youtube: http://youtube.lonelywrist.com 100% Viewer Funded: Donate Here

May 26, 2026Episode 731 hr 16 min

Arsène Lippens and the New Era of Swiss Watchmaking

A great watch doesn’t just tell time, it tells on you. The choices you make, the memories you keep, and the people you want close. I sit down with Dreis, co-founder of Arsène Lippens, to talk about how an independent Swiss watch brand can feel like family, not just a product drop. Our conversation starts with a chance meeting at Chronopolis during Watches and Wonders and quickly turns into the deeper stuff: belonging, heritage, and why some pieces connect emotionally while others never do. We trace the brand’s origin back to Dreis’s grandfather’s collection and the tradition of engraving watches with friends’ names. From there, we get practical about modern watch collecting and neo vintage watch design: why Arsen Leppens avoids chasing hype, how proportions like lug to lug length and a double step bezel change wearability, and why they chose a pulsimeter scale over the usual tachymeter on a chronograph. We also talk entry luxury pricing, movement choices like La Joux Perret, and the real startup hurdles most founders never post about. Then we go deep on the textile dial story: how it’s made durable with resin backing, tooling, UV protection and humidity testing, plus what “textile patina” could mean over time. Dreis also teases what’s next, including new textile directions, personalization and upcoming surprises. If you care about independent watchmaking, Swiss microbrands, and watches built to last with meaning, you’ll want this one. Subscribe, share it with a watch friend, and leave a review so more collectors can find the show. Show Arsène Lippens some love: https://www.arsenelippens.com/ https://www.instagram.com/arsenelippens/ Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2237102/support Visit our Blog: https://lonelywrist.com Watch our Youtube: http://youtube.lonelywrist.com 100% Viewer Funded: Donate Here

May 12, 2026Episode 721 hr 29 min

How A Mailman & Veteran Became A Watch Community Connector with WristtimePapi

A watch can be steel and sapphire, sure, but it can also be a receipt for a life moment. Sitting down with Leon, better known as WristtimePapi, turns into a wide-ranging story about how watch collecting really works when you strip away the flex. We talk Wind Up Watch Fair overwhelm, why it’s hard to buy anything when everything is “good,” and how the pieces that stick aren’t always the ones with the biggest price tag, they’re the ones tied to real people. Leon shares his path from growing up around cheap digital watches to buying a Breitling Navitimer during a deployment, then losing it in combat, and still coming home with the story. From there we get into the practical side of building a collection: setting a guilt-free budget, trading up instead of hoarding, and consolidating into fewer watches with more meaning. If you’ve ever searched for Tudor Black Bay 58, Cartier Tank, Glashütte Original, microbrands, or independent watchmakers, you’ll hear how those choices look when they’re driven by values, not hype. We also go deeper than watches. Leon opens up about PTSD and how being around watch people makes him feel safe enough to drop his guard, and we dig into the best and worst parts of watch community culture, including transactional relationships and creator pressure around follower counts. If you care about watches as a hobby, a community, and a way to meet people you’d never share a table with otherwise, this one will land. Subscribe for more conversations like this, share the episode with a friend who loves watches, and leave a review if you want us to keep bringing in guests who tell the truth. Go follow Leon: https://www.instagram.com/wristtimepapi/ Send us Fan Mail Support the show Support the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2237102/support Visit our Blog: https://lonelywrist.com Watch our Youtube: http://youtube.lonelywrist.com 100% Viewer Funded: Donate Here

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