Superlative

This week on the Superlative Podcast, Ariel Adams is joined by Nate Borgelt, Head of Watches at Joopiter, to discuss the evolving world of watch auctions and how a new generation of collectors is changing the market. Nate shares his path through Christie’s, Patrizzi & Co., Antiquorum, and Sotheby’s, along with the experiences and mentors that shaped his perspective on watches and the auction business. He also explains what drew him to Joopiter and how the auction house is approaching curation, accessibility, and collectibility differently from more traditional players in the space.

Ariel and Nate explore how the growth of online marketplaces, social media, collecting communities, and private sales has transformed the way watches are discovered, bought, and sold. They discuss the challenge of bringing attention to great watches that fall outside the usual Rolex and Patek Philippe conversation, the importance of giving collectors context around what makes a watch interesting, and the opportunities created by curating watches alongside other areas of culture and collecting. Nate also discusses Joopiter’s connection to founder Pharrell Williams, its efforts to make auctions more approachable, and why provenance and personal connections can make private consignments especially compelling.

Learn more about Nate and Joopiter:

Joopiter Website - https://www.joopiter.com/

Nate on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanielborgelt/

SUPERLATIVE IS NOW ON YOUTUBE!
To check out Superlative on Youtube as well as other ABTW content:

- YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@ablogtowatch

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/

- Twitter/X - https://twitter.com/ABLOGTOWATCH

- Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/

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

Key Chapters:
[00:34] Introduction to Nate Borgelt and Joopiter
[03:52] What Makes Joopiter Different?
[08:50] Nate’s Career in Watch Auctions
[16:06] Osvaldo Patrizzi and the Evolution of Watch Auctions
[25:33] The Importance of Curation and Storytelling
[32:19] Finding Value Beyond the Usual Collectible Watches
[37:22] How Collectors Decide What to Buy
[40:49] Bringing Attention to Overlooked Watches
[45:16] Mixing Watches With Other Collectible Categories
[49:20] Pharrell Williams and Joopiter
[53:41] Making Watch Auctions More Accessible
[56:00] The Joopiter Marketplace
[58:08] How Watches Make It to Auction
[59:41] Dealers, Private Sellers, and Provenance
[1:03:56] Where to Learn More About Joopiter

This week on the Superlative Podcast, host and aBlogtoWatch Founder Ariel Adams is joined by Ahmad Shahriar, a longtime watch industry executive who currently works alongside Samir Shah representing Arnold & Son, Angelus, and Favre Leuba in North America. Ahmad reflects on his career with brands including Ulysse Nardin, Blancpain, and Breguet and explains why having passionate, accessible people behind a watch brand is so important. They discuss how relationships influence collectors, why independent brands are connecting with enthusiasts, and how Ahmad’s current role has allowed him to return to a more personal and hands-on approach to the watch business.

Ariel and Ahmad also explore the differences between working for independent brands and large corporate groups, including the challenges that can arise when decisions are made far from the markets they affect. Ahmad shares his experiences with corporate micromanagement, the importance of giving local teams the autonomy to make decisions, and why focusing too heavily on numbers can come at the expense of passion. They also discuss changing collector expectations, the importance of celebrating both products and people, and why strong relationships may ultimately be one of the watch industry's most valuable assets.

Learn more about Ahmad Shahriar and the brands he represents, including Arnold & Son, Angelus, and Favre Leuba:

- https://www.arnoldandson.com/

- https://angelus-watches.com/

- https://www.favreleuba.com/

Ahmad on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahmad-shahriar-6709774/

SUPERLATIVE IS NOW ON YOUTUBE!
To check out Superlative on Youtube as well as other ABTW content:

- YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@ablogtowatch

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/

- Twitter/X - https://twitter.com/ABLOGTOWATCH

- Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/

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

Key Chapters:
[00:36] Introduction to Ahmad Shahriar
[01:39] Representing Arnold & Son, Angelus, and Favre Leuba
[02:46] Why Watch Brands Need People on the Ground
[07:56] Why Relationships Sell Watches
[11:21] The Rise of Independent Brands and Changing Collectors
[14:35] Independent Brands vs. Corporate Watch Groups
[21:06] Why Swiss Headquarters Struggle With North America
[26:44] Inside the Swatch Group and Its Management Structure
[28:29] The Reality of Leading Breguet North America
[33:29] Why Great Watch Brands Get Stuck
[36:44] What Happens When Corporations Buy Watch Brands
[40:08] When the Watch Industry Stopped Being Fun
[44:24] Watches, Celebration, and the Culture of Luxury
[47:57] Bringing Passion Back to the Watch Industry
[50:02] When Micromanagement Goes Too Far
[55:03] Swiss Watches Face More Global Competition
[58:22] What Makes Arnold & Son, Angelus, and Favre Leuba Exciting
[1:00:24] How Watch Collectors Have Changed

This week on the Superlative Podcast, Ariel Adams is joined by Oscar Chabrat, founder of Praesidus Watches and Chief Marketing Officer of the Montrichard Group. Oscar takes Ariel behind the scenes of the watch industry to explain how Montrichard evolved from a traditional B2B manufacturer into a global operation involved in manufacturing, marketing, and a growing portfolio of watch brands. They discuss the realities of watch production, why so many brands rely on outside manufacturing partners, the challenges of inventory and movement lead times, and how a more flexible approach to production can help brands respond to a rapidly changing market.

The conversation also explores the changing economics of the watch industry, from the decline of traditional fashion watches to the rise of microbrands and increasingly aggressive luxury watch pricing. Oscar and Ariel discuss why brand recognition can command a premium, how informed enthusiasts evaluate value differently, and whether AI could change the way consumers discover and compare watches. Oscar also shares the story behind Praesidus, from its roots in recreating a WWII veteran’s lost A11 watch to the role storytelling continues to play in the brand today. He also looks ahead to the next stage of Praesidus as it moves beyond familiar WWII inspired designs and into a new generation of more modern watches, offering a glimpse at how the brand plans to evolve while staying true to what made it successful.

Learn more about Oscar, Praesidus Watches, and the Montrichard Group:

- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/praesidus.watch/

- https://www.instagram.com/oscarchabrat/

- Websites - https://montrichardwatch.com/

- https://praesidus.com/

SUPERLATIVE IS NOW ON YOUTUBE!
To check out Superlative on Youtube as well as other ABTW content:

- YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@ablogtowatch

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/

- Twitter/X - https://twitter.com/ABLOGTOWATCH

- Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/

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

Key Timestamps:
[0:36] Introduction to Oscar Chabrat
[1:12] Inside the Montrichard Group
[5:09] A Global Approach to Watch Manufacturing
[8:05] Just in Time Manufacturing and Watch Production
[12:39] Why Watch Brands Need Manufacturing Partners
[20:15] The Decline of Fashion Watches and Rise of Microbrands
[22:53] Building Better Watch Brand Partnerships
[27:07] Can the Montrichard Model Scale?
[29:59] Watch Pricing and What Brands Can Really Charge
[33:19] Why Luxury Watch Prices Keep Rising
[37:27] How AI Could Change Watch Buying
[39:58] GEO and Optimizing Watch Brands for AI
[47:30] Why Storytelling Sells Watches
[50:49] The Future of Praesidus Manufacturing
[56:27] The Story Behind Praesidus and the A11
[58:20] Moving Praesidus Beyond WWII Watches
[1:01:09] Closing Thoughts

This week on Superlative, aBlogtoWatch founder Ariel Adams is joined by author and journalist Gabe Oppenheim to discuss his book Borrowed Time and the complicated history behind the modern watch industry. Gabe explains how his research into intellectual property led him deep into the history of Swiss watchmaking, including the relationship between watch companies and the Swiss government, the decline of American watch manufacturing, and the origins of what consumers understand as “Swiss Made.” He and Ariel explore how politics, competition, and industry cooperation helped shape the watch world we know today.

The conversation also turns to Chinese watchmaking and counterfeiting, the importance of independent watchmakers, and the information gap between luxury brands and consumers. Gabe argues that understanding where watches come from, how they are made, and who actually contributed to their creation can make collectors more informed without taking away from their appreciation of watches. Together Ariel and Gabe discuss looking beyond marketing, celebrity ambassadors, and prestige to better understand the history, mechanics, and people behind the products collectors love.

Learn more about Gabe and his newest book:

- Website - https://www.gabeoppenheim.com/

- Check out his book: Borrowed Time - https://a.co/d/02tvLSO0

SUPERLATIVE IS NOW ON YOUTUBE!
To check out Superlative on Youtube as well as other ABTW content:

- YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@ablogtowatch

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/

- Twitter/X - https://twitter.com/ABLOGTOWATCH

- Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/

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

Key Timestamps:
[00:35] Introduction & Gabe Oppenheim’s Borrowed Time
[02:31] Why We Justify Buying Watches
[05:03] Watches, Happiness & The Watch Community
[11:52] Borrowed Time, IP Theft & Swiss Watchmaking
[13:52] Creators, Credit & Consumer Advocacy
[24:14] How The Swiss Industry Gutted American Watchmaking
[31:20] Rolex, Regulation & Swiss Protectionism
[38:48] The Real Origins Of “Swiss Made”
[41:42] The Quartz Crisis, USSR & Chinese Watchmaking
[45:00] Is “Swiss Made” Worth The Premium?
[46:11] Looking Beyond Luxury Watch Marketing
[48:32] Why Independent Watchmakers Matter
[56:11] Counterfeit Watches & Chinese Clone Movements
[58:23] Longines, Anarchism & The Hidden Side Of Watch History
[1:03:34] Where To Find Gabe Oppenheim & Borrowed Time

This week on the SUPERLATIVE Podcast, host and aBlogtoWatch Founder Ariel Adams is joined by Gabe Reilly, Co-Founder of Collective Horology. Ariel and Gabe discuss the growing appeal of independent watchmaking and why collectors are increasingly drawn to brands with a strong creative identity, personality, and sense of purpose. Gabe explains how Collective approaches independent watch retail, why community and in person experiences have become so important, and how the resurgence of analog culture is helping mechanical watches find new relevance with consumers.

The conversation also explores the challenges facing the traditional Swiss watch industry, from changing retail dynamics and consolidation to the difficulty some established brands have adapting to the American market. Gabe shares his perspective on what truly makes a watch brand independent, why collectors often view buying independent watches as a form of patronage, and how Collective has evolved from creating limited collaborations into a retailer dedicated to discovering and supporting independent watchmakers. Ariel and Gabe also discuss the changing media landscape and why watch brands need to become more comfortable with honest commentary, experimentation, and engaging directly with their communities. Tune in for a thoughtful look at why independent watchmaking continues to resonate with collectors and what its growing influence could mean for the future of the watch industry.

Learn more about Gabe and Collective Horology:

- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/collectivehorology

- Website - https://collectivehorology.com/

SUPERLATIVE IS NOW ON YOUTUBE!
To check out Superlative on Youtube as well as other ABTW content:

- YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@ablogtowatch

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/

- Twitter/X - https://twitter.com/ABLOGTOWATCH

- Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/

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

Key Chapters:
[0:36] Intro & Collective Horology Open House
[2:18] Independent Watches & The Analog Boom
[7:42] What Works In The U.S. Watch Market
[14:27] Swiss Watchmaking & Global Competition
[20:45] Retail Consolidation & Swiss Business Culture
[27:07] Doing Business With Swiss Brands
[34:23] Holding Companies Vs. Independent Watchmakers
[42:00] What Does “Independent” Really Mean?
[49:04] Watch Media, Transparency & Industry Commentary
[54:29] Why Luxury Brands Struggle With Modern Media
[1:00:46] The Evolution & Future Of Collective Horology
[1:06:10] Closing & Contact Info