Rhonda is an author, editor, journalist, filmmaker, thrifter extraordinaire, and our friend. We were so happy when she agreed to sit in the hot seat, I mean, be our guest for this episode. We think you'll really enjoy it, and if you're lucky, you might bump into her at a local watch event near you.
Rhonda's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealrhondariche/
Rhonda's work on Watchonista: https://www.watchonista.com/rhonda-riche/home
Covet Garden Home: https://www.amazon.com/Covet-Garden-Home-Inspiration-Telling/dp/1927958113
The Wonderful World of Women's Watches: https://www.amazon.ca/Wonderful-World-Womens-Watches-Beauty/dp/3961716056
Watch Spotting: https://www.amazon.ca/Watch-Spotting-Collectors-Rhonda-Riche/dp/1788843398
Rhonda's appearance on TGN: https://thegreynato.buzzsprout.com/2049759/episodes/17244127-the-grey-nato-331-adventurous-women-their-watches-with-rhonda-riche
Rhonda's watch: https://sunrexwatches.com/products/banana-reef
Brent's watch: https://www.omegawatches.com/fr-ca/watch-omega-speedmaster-first-omega-in-space-co-axial-master-chronometer-chronograph-39-7-mm-31030405006001
Bob's watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGf_bvRhci8
Marc's watch: https://www.tudorwatch.com/en/watches/pelagos/m25600tn-0001
00:14 – Introduction
00:48 – Wrist checks
02:54 – Rhonda’s brief bio
04:35 – Writer, storyteller, curator, or all the above?
05:09 – What was the genesis of her career path?
06:40 – How her curiosity evolved
08:14 – About bringing the community together
11:38 – What’s piquing her interest right now
14:32 – What does the editor-at-large do?
19:24 – What watches say about the wearers
23:20 – Standout thrifting scores
26:19 – Are there still thrifting deals to be found?
30:39 – What makes a watch artistic?
37:40 – Designs that have caught Rhonda’s attention
39:10 – The watch that captures Rhonda’s personality
44:01 – Rhonda’s grail quest
47:05 – About Covet Garden Home (book)
50:47 – About The Wonderful World of Women’s Watches (book)
55:54 – Standout stories from The Wonderful World of Women’s Watches
1:01:04 – About Watch Spotting (book)
1:12:57 – Chicken or the egg (Reporting or the Ticking)
1:18:18 – Do you talk to strangers?
1:20:37 – Rhonda’s short films?
1:24:48 – Rhonda’s creative process
1:28:49 – How the media has changed over the years
1:31:48 – Rhonda’s thoughts on AI (we are all doomed)
1:38:27 – The Canadian journalist’s perspective
1:41:45 – Correcting a misconception
1:43:41 – Advice for emerging writers and creators
1:47:27 – What’s next for Rhonda?
1:48:27 – Thank yous and goodbyes
1:50:09 – T2C OUT!
We are all doomed: https://youtu.be/EtNagNezo8w?si=vCcNNbxpbw2W63V_
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Episode 34: Andrew McUtchen - Not here to eff spiders!
Our guest this episode needs no introduction. Still, we'll give him one anyway. Journalist, entrepreneur, podcast host, studio founder, and the most buff man in the watch business. He is none other than Andrew McUtchen from Time+Tide. We are very excited that he spent almost 2 hours with us, and we believe you will enjoy every moment.
Time+Tide website: https://timeandtidewatches.com/
Andrew's watch: https://straum.co/products/jan-mayen-green?variant=50757128225079
Marc's watch: https://isotopewatches.com/products/isotope-flyway-guilloche
Bob's watch: https://www.micromilspec.com/products/milgraph-watch
Brent's watch: https://thecalibratedwrist.com/2022/02/19/the-breitling-aerospace-titanium/
T2C Community Discord: https://discord.gg/3pfhUFPYFD
00:13 – Introduction
02:24 – Wrist check
09:17 – Storytelling on Time+Tide
12:37 – Inspiration for Time+Tide
18:30 – How Andrew’s background as a journalist influences influence
22:47 – Launching Time+Tide at Baselworld with a print newspaper
25:26 – From words to walls and how to navigate them
30:02 – Maintaining authenticity and credibility while scaling up
34:00 – What does Time+Tide do differently
35:46 – Pivotal moments in Time+Tide’s journey
38:48 – How to make a gimlet
40:48 – Pinch me moment
44:04 – Effing concept behind About Effing Time
48:51 – Creating Effing engaging conversations
51:17 – Scripting podcasts and being prepared
54:13 – All about A Matter if Effing Time, I mean Matter of Time
1:00:11 – Balancing all his roles
1:01:19 – Balancing retail & journalism
1:05:20 – Is it the object or the emotion
1:15:07 – Preserving the creativity, curiosity, and fun
1:20:04 – Looking back 10 years from now
1:24:31 – Microbrands vs. Legacy brands and the future
1:24:57 – Which are more fun to work with?
1:33:47 – Social media = Yay or Nay
1:34:13 – Advice for young Andrew
1:34:39 – Andrew’s journey watch
1:37:26 – The one that got away
1:39:41 – the Time+Tide song
1:41:19 – Listener questions for Andrew
1:53:51 – Thank yous and goodbyes
1:54:15 – T2C OUT!
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Episode 33: Our 1st retailer, Sam Messiha from gem Bijou
Bob's ex-employer drops by to sit in the hot seat. In all seriousness, we had a great conversation with one of Canada's leading watch retailers. We've spoken with media personalities, collectors, brand representatives, brand owners, and designers, but never with a retailer before. It was about time we had someone on the other side of the watch counter. You'll really enjoy this conversation.
Gem Bijou website: https://gembijou.com/
Sam's watch: https://monochrome-watches.com/tudor-black-bay-black-bezel-red-triangle-79220n-exclusive-review-live-photos-specs-price/
Brent's right wrist: https://www.rzewatches.com/collections/utd/products/utd-8000-gr
Brent's left wrist: https://www.omegawatches.com/fr-ca/watch-omega-seamaster-diver-300m-co-axial-master-chronometer-42-mm-21030422001010
Marc's watch: https://sherpawatches.com/ultradive-moon_and_sun/
Bob's watch: https://www.casio.com/ca-en/watches/gshock/product.DW-5600BCE-1/
Our Discord Community: https://discord.gg/3pfhUFPYFD
00:14 – Introduction
01:04 – Wrist Checks
05:41 – Sam’s all-time favorite employee
11:16 – How it all began
13:45 – Carrying the watches collectors want
15:45 – How Sam’s heritage shaped his perspective
17:21 – Sam’s destiny in the watch/jewelry business
19:27 – Going the extra mile, events, shows, etc.
20:56 – Travels in the watch business
22:47 – Gem Bijou’s competitive advantage
26:32 – Building relationships with brands
28:52 – Gem Bijou’s newest brand, Montblanc
30:59 – Cool customer stories
38:00 – What are people buying right now?
41:42 – Keeping the right products in stock
44:31 – Balancing bloops & beeps vs. brick & mortar
45:53 – Online marketing and social media
48:04 – How Sean came into the picture (the retail version of Marc)
50:30 – New brands Sam is working with
53:31 – Dream brand to bring into Gem Bijou (apart from Isotope)
57:32 – Proudest decision or pivot that helped his business
59:57 – Gem Bijou pre-owned watches
1:02:07 – All about Sam’s 1959 Omega Speedmaster
1:04:43 – Advice for new retailers
1:08:12 – What would Sam be doing instead of retailing
1:08:52 – How Sam measures success
1:12:52 – How Sam deals with PIA customers like Marc
1:15:49 – Thank yous and goodbyes
1:16:55 – T2C OUT!
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Episode 32: Toronto Weekend Recap (They're such a good person!)
This is our annual recap of the Toronto Timepiece Show, which this year also included the Timepiece World Awards and the TGN/Marathon party. We had a wonderful time. Although we are tired, if asked, we would gladly do it all over again next weekend.
Brent's Hanhart 215 ES: https://www.hanhart.com/en/product/415-es-reverse-panda-39-mm/
Bob's Isotope Mercury Shadow: https://isotopewatches.com/products/isotope-mercury-shadow
Marc's Isotope Moonshot Chrono: https://isotopewatches.com/products/chronograph-moonshot-terra-maris
Timepiece Show website: https://www.timepieceshow.com/
Timepiece World Journal website: https://www.timepieceworld.com/
Our community discord: https://discord.gg/3pfhUFPYFD
00:14 – Intro
00:52 – Wrist checks
03:36 – Favorite moments at the Toronto Timepiece Show
09:50 – Top picks at the show
20:42 – The feeling after the show
27:36 – Stories about the watchfam
36:02 – Standout peeps we met
43:25 – About the Timepiece World Awards
52:23 – Surprise winners
59:12 – The famous TGN/Marathon party
1:09:30 – What we’d like to see next
1:15:50 – Cool watches on collectors’ wrists
1:20:25 – Thank yous & goodbyes
1:21:07 – T2C OUT!
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Episode 31: Jason Hutton returns... for the forth time!
Jason is back once again, making him our very first four-time guest and our only repeat guest overall! Today, we're discussing the upcoming Toronto Timepiece Show and the inaugural Timepiece World Awards, of which he is the producer. Jason also has a special announcement to make, so be sure to listen until the end to catch it. We always enjoy having Jason on the show and look forward to welcoming him back again soon!
Timepiece Show: https://www.timepieceshow.com/
Timepiece World: https://www.timepieceworld.com/
T2C Discord Community: https://discord.gg/3pfhUFPYFD
00:12 – Introduction
01:04 – Wrist checks
04:59 – How doesn’t it feel being our first 4-peat guest?
06:43 – About the new venue at this year’s Toronto Timepiece Show
09:34 – More shows = more easy?
11:11 – Handling the unexpected
14:21 – What’s new for the shows?
16:49 – Visiting other shows/networking
19:09 – Getting the most out of the shows
23:26 – Capping the number of brands
25:12 – Jason’s thoughts on concurrent events
27:02 – Concurrent shows are not pirates
30:48 – What has Jason learned so far
34:44 – What could have been done differently this year
36:27 – All about the awards show & where to watch
41:46 – Looking forward to the 2026 Awards Show
45:36 – Es-tu Mr. Timepiece?
46:56 – The big announcement!
49:43 – Any brand commitments for the new Show?
50:43 – Local retailers participation
42:09 – Watch releases timed with the events
53:29 – What’s next? Anything left in the tank?
57:24 – Most rewarding element of doing all these shows
59:27 – Thank yous and goodbyes
1:00:11 – T2C OUT!
Robin Williams on Who's line is it anyway: https://dai.ly/x5sbwhf
Time 2 Calibrate Podcast is a about watch WISdom. The Oxford dictionary defines wisdom as the ability to make sensible decisions and give good advice because of experience and acquired knowledge. Unfortunately, it’s too late for sensible decisions; however, we’re not lacking in experience. As seasoned Canadian Watch Idiot Savants, we invite you to join us semi-weekly as we discuss the world of watches and the insensible decisions we make, so you don’t have to.
Ireland