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David Newman welcomes Nico to discuss a collection that started not with a purchase, but with a total surprise from a deceased neighbor. Mr. Beattie left Nico a jewelry box containing ten vintage timepieces, including a fleet of Hamiltons and a Korean War-era Omega, effectively turning a non-watch wearer into a dedicated enthusiast overnight. Nico shares his journey from that first inherited box to his first intentional purchase of a Seiko Presage Irish Coffee and his more recent acquisition of a Hamilton Jazzmaster to honor his mentor. Throughout the conversation, Nico and David dive into the "entry-level" watch debate, the tactical benefits of National Watch Day, and why a $200 discovery in Paris can sometimes provide more joy than a high-status Rolex.

⏱️ Timestamps
00:02 : The Accidental Collector

• Nico reveals that he did not own a single watch through high school or most of college.
• How a surprise inheritance from a neighbor changed his perspective on horology forever.

00:59 : Mr. Beattie's Jewelry Box

• Opening a legacy gift containing ten Hamilton watches and a Korean War-era Omega Seamaster.
• The challenge of getting vintage mechanical pieces back into working order after decades of storage.

02:01 : The Irish Coffee Seiko

• Nico details his first self-purchased watch, a Seiko Presage with a chocolatey brown dial.
• Why the quality and feel of an affordable piece mattered more than a high-end price tag.

03:15 : Legacy of the Neighbor

• Discovering the hidden watch collection of a man who usually collected seeds and recipes.
• Why Mr. Beattie likely chose Hamilton as his primary brand of choice based on family ties.

05:32 : The Entry-Level Debate

• David discusses a "Watch Crunch" firestorm regarding the definition of entry-level timepieces.
• Why price points are subjective and every level of the hobby deserves respect.

09:37 : National Watch Day

• David reveals a fun fact about recording on June 19th, the official National Watch Day.
• Exploring the cultural impact of watches and their endurance in a digital age.

12:41 : The Paris Discovery

• The story of a spontaneous Louis Pion purchase that caught Nico's eye in a French shop window.
• Why the aesthetics of a watch face and font can often trump the prestige of a brand name.

17:53 : The Rolex Resistance

• Why Nico finds many Rolex models overrated compared to unique independent offerings.
• Avoiding the social signal trap of buying a watch just because you are told you should love it.

30:54 : The Digital Gateway

• How smartwatches are actually helping the traditional industry by reclaiming "wrist real estate."
• The shift from purely utilitarian tools to accessories with deep personal meaning.

33:06 : The Lightning Round

• Nico chooses between vintage and modern, straps and bracelets, and loud versus quiet designs.
• Why he believes in owning one great watch over five good ones to ensure daily wear.

35:16 : Final Thoughts

• Nico shares why the story and personal connection to a watch matter more than the price.
• Encouraging new collectors to wear what they love without worrying about brand prestige.
• The best watch in the world is the one that makes you smile when you look at your wrist, regardless of the logo.

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FREE GUIDE: Buy Your First Great Watch Without Getting Burned
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• Know exactly what matters (and what doesn't) before you spend a dollar
• Avoid the 10 common mistakes that cost beginners thousands
• Find a great watch that fits your life, your style, and your budget
• Skip the jargon, the snobbery, and the "collector nonsense"
• Get a simple decision framework that makes buying easy and obvious

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David Newman welcomes Calvin Smith of Lusso Straps to dive into the often overlooked but essential world of watch straps. Calvin shares how his background in the Peace Corps and travels to over 75 countries fueled a passion for high quality leather that eventually led him to the unique cult of Panerai. They discuss why most mass produced straps are essentially the particle board of the horological world and how a simple strap change can completely transform the mood and functionality of a timepiece. From creating custom fit solutions for small wrists to pulling out subtle dial details with contrasting thread, Calvin explains why a handcrafted strap is the ultimate way to refresh your collection without buying a whole new watch.

00:01 – The World of Straps

• David introduces Calvin Smith, the founder of Lusso Straps and a specialist in the niche world of Panerai customization.

• Setting the stage for a conversation on how straps serve as the unsung heroes of the watch box.

00:41 – Peace Corps and Plywood Leather

• How a background in international consulting and Costa Rican leather crafts sparked the idea for a business.

• Why bonded leather is considered the particle board of the watch world and why quality matters for comfort.

03:41 – The Panerai Connection

• Exploring why the unique tool watch history of the Italian Navy makes Panerai the perfect canvas for leather work.

• Why legibility and size are critical for true diving tools when used in murky underwater conditions.

06:46 – Solving the Small Wrist Struggle

• Calvin discusses the difficulty of finding high-quality straps that fit a six and a half inch wrist properly.

• Why custom measurements are far superior to off-the-rack options that look like a sundial on the arm.

10:46 – Handcrafted in the Midwest

• Meeting the master strapsmith and former saddleryman who brings Calvin's designs to life with movie-quality precision.

• The technical challenge of maintaining a strict tolerance of less than a quarter of a millimeter for a perfect fit.

14:31 – Seasonal Mood Swings

• How a bright yellow strap for summer or black crocodile for luxury can completely change a watch's personality.

• Using contrasting thread to highlight specific dial details, such as a red arrowhead second hand.

18:17 – The Alternative to a New Watch

• Why you do not need to drop ten thousand dollars on a green dial if you can just buy a high-quality green strap.

• How a few hundred dollars on handcrafted leather can scratch the itch for a new timepiece.

21:57 – The Panerai 101

• A breakdown of the three basic categories of the brand, including the Radiomir, Luminor, and Submersible.

• Why the Radiomir wire lugs require a bit more expertise and patience to navigate during a strap change.

28:35 – Motorsport and Memories

• Calvin shares his personal collection including Chopard Superfast models and his first Rolex Day-Date purchase.

• The story behind the Yema Rallygraph and the 1969 Mario Andretti Indianapolis 500 victory.

36:18 – Becoming a Connoisseur

• Why moving from off-the-rack straps to custom leather is like moving from a department store suit to a tailored jacket.

• Final advice on finding the perfect fit that complements both your physiology and your personal style.

Once you experience a strap that was made specifically for your wrist, you will never go back to off-the-shelf leather again.

==========

FREE GUIDE: Buy Your First Great Watch Without Getting Burned

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• Know exactly what matters (and what doesn't) before you spend a dollar

• Avoid the 10 common mistakes that cost beginners thousands

• Find a great watch that fits your life, your style, and your budget

• Skip the jargon, the snobbery, and the "collector nonsense"

• Get a simple decision framework that makes buying easy and obvious

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David Newman welcomes the king of category design, Christopher Lochhead, to discuss why a mechanical watch is the ultimate reminder of what is possible in life. Growing up in a working class environment with a stolen family heirloom, Christopher moved from a "Rolex is for idiots" phase to owning nine high end pieces including his personal grail, the Rolex Deep Sea James Cameron. They explore the visceral feeling of a heavy watch on the wrist, the secret art of "watch porn" on the internet, and the touching story of wearing a Batman GMT to the Super Bowl to honor a family legacy. Whether it is the subtle elegance of a Bruce Wayne on a Jubilee or the rugged history of a Panerai diver, Christopher explains why every watch should be a personal signal of arrival and a celebration of your own success

⏱️ Timestamps
00:03 – The Category King Arrives

• David introduces Christopher as a fellow enthusiast who caught a glimpse of a GMT Pepsi on a previous call.

• Christopher shares his love for watch people and the unique bond they share through their collections.

01:10 – The Tissot Heirloom

• Memories of a father's 1973 blue-face Tissot that was promised as an 18th birthday gift.

• How growing up in a life of struggle shaped Christopher's early appreciation for functional style.

02:49 – The Rolex Resistance

• Why Christopher initially avoided Rolex because he felt every idiot already had one.

• Exploring early purchases like the Cartier Pasha and the heavy heritage of Panerai.

04:15 – Traveling 400k Miles

• A look at the steel Panerai that accompanied Christopher on decades of international business travel.

• Why he prefers to wear his watches a little loose to feel the weight of the mechanism.

05:22 – The Tahoe Downsize

• Selling off most of the collection after moving to Lake Tahoe and leaving the corporate boardroom.

• How the watch disease went dormant for a decade before the internet conspired to bring it back.

07:51 – Hunting the James Cameron

• Discovering the Rolex Deep Sea with its hypnotic blue-to-black dial that emulates the ocean.

• Why Christopher considers this his "one watch" for the rest of his life and his ultimate grail.

11:09 – Digital Watch Porn

• Exploring the community of watch creator capitalists and the joy of sharing wrist shots online.

• Christopher's recommendation for Charlie Walker, the Honest Watch Dealer, and his "infotainment" style.

17:53 – Batman vs. Bruce Wayne

• Decoding the differences between the blue-and-black Batman and the subtle gray-and-black Bruce Wayne.

• Why the combination of Jubilee and Oyster bracelets allows for different levels of flash and utility.

22:16 – The Penis Watch Theory

• A blunt and humorous philosophy on why a watch must provide a sense of masculine pride and arrival.

• How a quality timepiece serves as a reminder of everything you have overcome to achieve success.

26:02 – Imbuing Objects with Life

• The emotional story of wearing a Batman GMT to the Super Bowl to honor his late brother-in-law.

• Why a watch becomes a companion that captures the most critical—and even the most horrible—moments of a lifetime.

A great watch is more than an instrument for tracking time; it is a mechanical record of the risks you took and the stories you lived to tell.

==========

FREE GUIDE: Buy Your First Great Watch Without Getting Burned

Download the WatchSmarts Beginner Buyer's Guide »

• Know exactly what matters (and what doesn't) before you spend a dollar

• Avoid the 10 common mistakes that cost beginners thousands

• Find a great watch that fits your life, your style, and your budget

• Skip the jargon, the snobbery, and the "collector nonsense"

• Get a simple decision framework that makes buying easy and obvious

Get the FREE WatchSmarts Beginner Buyer's Guide

Hellllooooo… and welcome to Just One More Episode… oh, wait… David's guest is the man behind the legendary YouTube channel Just One More Watch and the co-founder of Erebus watches, Jody Musgrove. Jody shares his transition from earning a PhD in Modern History and showing people to their seats at the Sydney Opera House to becoming one of the most influential voices in the affordable watch world. He pulls back the curtain on why he sometimes bashes Seiko out of love, the reality of solo parenting while his wife is on a writers retreat in Italy, and the strategic decision to avoid scarcity marketing with his own brand. Whether you are curious about the theoretical Erebus riots of 2029 or want to know why pistachio is the new purple, Jody's blend of Scottish wit and horological wisdom is exactly what the doctor ordered.

⏱️ Timestamps

01:27 – The Z-Minus Celebrity Lifestyle

• Jody explains his current status as a slightly stressed out solo parent to two small children.

• The glamorous reality of his wife's screenwriting retreat in Italy versus the challenge of holding the fort in Sydney.

04:32 – From Casio to the Urban Gentry

• How a childhood Casio in the 1980s and a hand me down quartz Omega from his father built a lifelong passion.

• The pivotal 2015 recommendation to watch YouTube that turned a hobby into a career with 1,400 videos and counting.

06:22 – Secrets of the Sydney Opera House

• Jody discusses his ten plus years working as an usher and tour guide at one of the world's most iconic venues.

• Why real life human interactions at the Opera House provide a necessary escape from the digital world of social media.

08:50 – The Useless Doctor of Modern History

• The truth about Jody's PhD in Chinese Modern History and why he is the last person you want to see during a mid-flight medical emergency.

• How his academic training helped him eliminate the filler words and ahs from his professional presentation style.

10:47 – Building the Erebus Empire

• Why Jody waited until the market was saturated to launch his own brand alongside business partner Stephen Parker.

• The decision to reject the scarcity marketing model and focus on keeping high quality models in stock and ready to ship.

17:56 – The Philosophy of Seiko Bashing

• Jody defends his reputation for being tough on the new era of Seiko releases and price hikes.

• Why replacing a 200 dollar iconic watch with a 400 dollar version without upgrades is a major disappointment for true collectors.

23:17 – Complications for the Masses

• A look at the trend of bringing high horology features like chiming watches to an affordable price point.

• Why brands like Christopher Ward are the gold standard for innovation and brand cachet in the modern micro-brand space.

41:30 – Horological Parting Words

• Jody's final advice on why you should never go bankrupt for a timepiece when you already have one on your wrist.

• Why the best watch in the world is the one that makes you happy regardless of the logo or price tag.

You don't need a Rolex to have a collection that means something; you just need a watch that makes you smile when you put it on.

==========

FREE GUIDE: Buy Your First Great Watch Without Getting Burned

Download the WatchSmarts Beginner Buyer's Guide »

• Know exactly what matters (and what doesn't) before you spend a dollar

• Avoid the 10 common mistakes that cost beginners thousands

• Find a great watch that fits your life, your style, and your budget

• Skip the jargon, the snobbery, and the "collector nonsense"

• Get a simple decision framework that makes buying easy and obvious

Get the FREE WatchSmarts Beginner Buyer's Guide

What does it take to leave the security of global luxury giants like Omega and TAG Heuer to build an independent watch empire from your own kitchen table? In this episode, David sits down with Susan Galvin, the founder of the Galvin Watch Company and a rare female voice in the world of high end watchmaking. Susan shares her journey from the prestigious Finnish School of Watchmaking to the shores of Australia, where she launched a micro-brand that reached its funding goal on Kickstarter in just six minutes. From the challenges of assembling every single timepiece by hand to her mission of bringing more vibrant colors and "Northern Lights" inspiration to the wrist, Susan proves that the most successful watches are often the ones with the most personal stories behind them.

⏱️ Timestamps

00:46 – From Finland to the Bench

• Susan discusses her training at the renowned Finnish School of Watchmaking, which produced legends like Kare Voutilainen.

• The transition from her home country to working for LVMH in the United Kingdom repairing TAG Heuer watches.

05:17 – The Pandemic Pivot

• How a maternity leave during the global pandemic and a workshop relocation sparked the idea for her own company.

• The role of her husband in encouraging her to move from repairing luxury pieces to designing her own unique collection.

07:05 – The Power of Crowdfunding

• Susan explains the strategy behind her Kickstarter campaign that achieved full funding in only six minutes.

• How a viral press release highlighting her status as a female watchmaker helped gain international brand awareness.

12:15 – The Purest Form of Micro-Brand

• A behind the scenes look at Susan's in-house assembly process where she handles every dial, hand, and case personally.

• The rigorous quality control protocols she brought with her from her years at Swatch Group and Omega to ensure excellence.

18:38 – Inspiration from the Arctic Circle

• How Susan's Finnish heritage and memories of the Northern Lights influence her bold dial colors and "loimo" patterns.

• A shared campaign with David to bring more purple watches into the world of horology to break the mold of traditional colors.

20:15 – Breaking the Gender Barrier

• Susan's philosophy on why watches and watchmaking should not be gender specific but open to everyone.

• How she uses her husband as a test subject to ensure her designs work for both men and women.

Your watch is more than just gears and dials; it is a piece of art assembled with a master watchmaker's personal touch.

==========

FREE GUIDE: Buy Your First Great Watch Without Getting Burned

Download the WatchSmarts Beginner Buyer's Guide »

• Know exactly what matters (and what doesn't) before you spend a dollar

• Avoid the 10 common mistakes that cost beginners thousands

• Find a great watch that fits your life, your style, and your budget

• Skip the jargon, the snobbery, and the "collector nonsense"

• Get a simple decision framework that makes buying easy and obvious