Sophie's Watch World: Microbrands, Grails & Goofy Vibes

Now that 2025 is all but over, it's time to look back on the highlights of the year, including what we think are the most significant releases, the ones we liked the most, and the ones we'd actually be tempted to buy. We also dive into the well of speculation for rumours we expect to thrive next year, as well as trends that we want to end. We also chat about the first-ever IRL OTXMAS, and then Felix, for the second time in six months, chats with Franck Muller CEO Nicholas Rudaz.   1. The biggest release of 2025 (01:07:20) 2. Personal highlights of 2025 (01:09:50) 3. Watches from 2025 we'd buy (01:13:00) 4. The time we chatted to Raphaël Granito from Formex (01:14:00) 5. Watch rumours for 2026 (01:16:22) 6. Trends we want to end in 2026 (01:18:40) 7. Felix chats to Franck Muller CEO Nicholas Rudaz (01:22:20)   Show Notes: https://www.otpodcast.com.au/show-notes OT: Discord - https://discord.com/invite/X3Vvc9z7aV How to follow us: https://www.instagram.com/ot.podcast https://www.facebook.com/otpodcastau https://instagram.com/andygreenlive https://instagram.com/fkscholz   Send us an email: [email protected] If you liked our podcast - please remember to like/share and subscribe. https://www.otpodcast.com.au/show-notes

Now that the OT: team is back in one timezone, it's time to catch up on some spicy new releases Felix Saw at Dubai Watch Week, including the Ressence x Marc Newson collaboration, the third instalment of TAG Heuer's partnership with streetwear brand fragment and a surprising pocket watch. We also talk about the one new release so nice that it ended up on Andy's wrist #nospoilers.  Then Felix talks to the one and only Carlos Rosillo, co-founder and CEO of Bell & Ross. It's one of the best kinds of watch discussions, one where there's hardly any discussion of new releases or limited editions — instead it's a reflective conversation about the brand's history, legacy and 20 years of square watches.   Andy's new watch (01:00:24) The latest TAG Heuer x fragment (01:05:10) Ressence x Marc Newson (01:07:26) Temporal Works (01:10:23) Chris Ward x Studio Underdog (01:12:47) Vera Clocks (01:16:00) Interview with Carlos Rosillo (01:16:50)   Show Notes: https://www.otpodcast.com.au/show-notes   OT: Discord - https://discord.com/invite/X3Vvc9z7aV   How to follow us: https://www.instagram.com/ot.podcast https://www.facebook.com/otpodcastau https://instagram.com/andygreenlive https://instagram.com/fkscholz   Send us an email: [email protected]   If you liked our podcast - please remember to like/share and subscribe.

This episode is a live, energetic dispatch from Dubai Watch Week 2025, where Felix is immersed in the new, vastly expanded, and culturally electric atmosphere of the Middle East's premier horological event. Felix reports on the show's massive scale at the Burj Park location, the wave of incredible new novelties released (like the Chopard Grands Sonnerie and new Louis Vuitton Escale stone dials), and the unprecedented level of CEO cooperation. Discover why DWW is quickly becoming the most engaging watch event for the global enthusiast and what the new trends, like colored stone dials and a community-first approach mean for the future of the watch industry. 1. Dubai Watch Week: Bigger, Better, and More Open (01:00:24) Live Dispatch from Dubai: Felix is reporting live from the event (DWW), held every two years. The Scale: DWW has moved to a new, larger location at Burj Park next to the Burj Khalifa, boasting 90 exhibiting brands and massive, multi-level booths from brands like Audemars Piguet and Rolex. The Vibe: The event is non-commercial, free to register, and fosters a "school camp vibes" vibe and genuine community.  2. Unprecedented CEO Access & Industry Talks (01:04:52) The Rolex Keynote: A highly rare, hour-long public discussion with Rolex CEO Jean-Frédéric Dufour (moderated by Wei Koh) and Ahmed Seddiqi. This historic event focused on industry challenges, the importance of attracting young talent, and Rolex's enduring retail partnerships. (Watch the discussion on the official Dubai Watch Week YouTube channel!) The CEO Roundtable: An even more unusual event featuring four competing CEOs on the same stage: Julien Tornare (Hublot), Georges Kern (Breitling), François-Henry Bennahmias (AP), and Karl-Friedrich Scheufele (Chopard).  Chronomania Panel: A packed event featuring unexpected watch figures like investor Kevin O'Leary ("Mr Wonderful"), independent watchmaker Rexhep Rexhepi (Akrivia), and cricketer Kane Williamson. 3. Hot Novelties & Emerging Watch Trends (01:10:00) Chopard L.U.C Grand Strike: The major, high-end release everyone is talking about, which combines a Grande Sonnerie, Petite Sonnerie, and Minute Repeater using Chopard's innovative sapphire crystal gongs (a culmination of 11,000 hours of R&D). Louis Vuitton Escale Ornamental Stones: Louis Vuitton debuts new, highly artistic versions of the Escale with turquoise and malachite used not just for the dial, but for the entire monolithic caseband (limited to 30 pieces). Independent & Enthusiast Watches: The Tudor Ranger with a sandy dial is noted for its regional connection. Trilobe impresses with high-quality, non-prohibitive watches. Oris ProPilot Date: A new, refined, and more wearable take on the ProPilot line. Key Trends: The proliferation of colored stone dials (Obsidian, Lavender Jade, Quartzite) and a noticeable wave of sandy dials influenced by the desert environment. George Kern's "House of Brands": Discussion on the formation of Kern's new group, which includes Breitling and the re-launch of Universal Genève.  Show Notes: https://www.otpodcast.com.au/show-notes OT: Discord - https://discord.com/invite/X3Vvc9z7aV   How to follow us: https://www.instagram.com/ot.podcast https://www.facebook.com/otpodcastau https://instagram.com/andygreenlive https://instagram.com/fkscholz   Send us an email: [email protected] If you liked our podcast - please remember to like/share and subscribe

This week, we're really locked in on watches that you can actually afford without taking out a small personal loan or a non-essential organ. Andy and Felix start off by chatting about some recent bangers from Timex, Bulova and Seiko, before jumping into the main chat with co-founder of Earthen, Johnathan Chan. Earthen is a fresh face from Hong Kong, but its accessibly priced ceramic pilot's watches drew a lot of attention when they launched earlier this year. We chat to Chan about the story behind the brand, the finer details of ceramic watches and why accessible pricing matters.  The Timex Atelier (2:24) The Caravelle by Bulova Sea Hunter (6:43) The Seiko Rotocall (9:15) Main interview (11:30) Earthen Watches Earthen on Instagram Physical 100 on Netflix (43:30) K-foodie meets J-foodie (44:26) Show Notes: https://www.otpodcast.com.au/show-notes OT: Discord - https://discord.com/invite/X3Vvc9z7aV   How to follow us: https://www.instagram.com/ot.podcast https://www.facebook.com/otpodcastau https://instagram.com/andygreenlive https://instagram.com/fkscholz Send us an email: [email protected] If you liked our podcast - please remember to like/share and subscribe.

This week, we catch up with Andrea Casalegno, better known on the internet as I Am Casa. Casa is a watch journalist and content creator who burst onto the scene with his exceptional taste and love of the organic Melting Watch from Exaequo. We chat about why this Dali-esque design is so significant for Casa, why Italians have such a reputation for being tastemakers when it comes to vintage watches, and why watch burnout is a real thing.  Dennison Dual Time Capsule Collection (2:57) Ming Polymesh bracelet (4:35) Main Interview (9:41) Iamcasa on Instagram The Exaequo Melting Watch (12:49) Like watches? Join our Discord. How to follow us: Instagram: @ot.podcast Facebook: @OTPODCASTAU Follow hosts: @fkscholz + @andygreenlive on Instagram. Send us an email: [email protected] If you liked our podcast - please remember to like/share and subscribe.

Today, we chat to Raphaël Granito, the man behind Formex — a brand which offers tremendous bang-for-buck, thanks to its relationships with Swiss case and dial companies. Watch, in real-time, as Andy and Felix become converted into fans of these sporty, stylish watches. Before that, we discuss the new RD5 and ask the big question: Is AP still cool? The New AP RD#5 (2:00) Main interview (12:20) Formex Watches Formex on Instagram Slow Horses Season 5 (57:30) Show Notes: https://www.otpodcast.com.au/show-notes OT: Discord - https://discord.com/invite/X3Vvc9z7aV   How to follow us: https://www.instagram.com/ot.podcast https://www.facebook.com/otpodcastau https://instagram.com/andygreenlive https://instagram.com/fkscholz   Send us an email: [email protected] If you liked our podcast - please remember to like/share and subscribe.

This week's guest is Sophie Cassaro, the unstoppable force behind Sophie's Watch World, a lighthearted and charming take on the often stuffy world of horology. Felix and Andy chat to Sophie about the importance of good watch design, inclusive advertising, the perfect holiday watch, and Sophie drops the hottest of hot takes. Before that, Kpopped, Bremont's new MB Altitude and a future Cartier VIP.  The Bremont Altitude MB Meteor Stealth Grey (5:20) Kpopped (8:30) Main interview with Sophie (11:30) Sophie's Watch World on Instagram and YouTube The Lima GMT (36:00) Sophie's hottest of hot takes (55:00) Uncanny Podcast (59:00) Show Notes: https://www.otpodcast.com.au/show-notes  OT: Discord - https://discord.com/invite/X3Vvc9z7aV  How to follow us: https://www.instagram.com/ot.podcast  https://www.facebook.com/otpodcastau  https://instagram.com/andygreenlive  https://instagram.com/fkscholz  Send us an email: [email protected] If you liked our podcast - please remember to like/share and subscribe.

This week's guest is Quaid Walker, co-founder and CEO of Bezel, a watch marketplace that is, amongst other things, surprisingly popular with Gen Z. We chat to Quaid about how he got started, what's changed in the marketplace in the last few years, and just how the whole Bezel process works. Before that, Andy tells us of some quality time he spent with two Cartier models, and which one he'd pick if he absolutely had to.  Andy on the Cartier Panthere Large model  (2:48) Andy on the Cartier Santos de Cartier Small model (9:00) Keith Richards in a Cartier Panthere (14:50) Interview with Quaid Walker (16:20) Bezel Bezel on Instagram Show Notes: https://www.otpodcast.com.au/show-notes OT: Discord - https://discord.com/invite/X3Vvc9z7aV How to follow us: https://www.instagram.com/ot.podcast https://www.facebook.com/otpodcastau https://instagram.com/andygreenlive https://instagram.com/fkscholz   Send us an email: [email protected] If you liked our podcast - please remember to like/share and subscribe.

This week, we have a fascinating chat with Adrian Buchmann, a veteran watch designer who's spent the last few years playing a key role in Christopher Ward's design department. We chat with Buchmann about how the famously accessible brand's design is evolving, why the Bel Canto and Loco mark a pivotal change, and what the challenges were in creating the new, super-slim The Twelve 660. Before that, we chat about Paulin's first dive watch, why Roger Dubuis might be the next big thing and Taylor Swift's Cartier Panthère. Fun fact, we recorded this before her engagement became public — so … maybe we made it happen? Jaime Lee Curtis and her Patek Philippe 24 (1:52) Taylor Swift and her (now famous) Cartier (3:49) That time we predicted Taylor Swift's engagement (5:15) OT: on Worn and Wound (5:51) The Paulin Mara (6:30) Roger Dubuis is on a roll (12:30) Adrian Buchmann interview (18:43) The Twelve 660 (42:00) Go to Galicia in north-western Spain (1:07:41) Show Notes: https://www.otpodcast.com.au/show-notes OT: Discord - https://discord.com/invite/X3Vvc9z7aV   How to follow us: https://www.instagram.com/ot.podcast https://www.facebook.com/otpodcastau https://instagram.com/andygreenlive https://instagram.com/fkscholz   Send us an email: [email protected] If you liked our podcast, please remember to like/share and subscribe.

When it comes to Zach's in watch media, you could say we've saved the best till last. Zach Weiss is one of the co-founders of Worn & Wound, a watch news site that has been championing accessible watch enthusiasm since 2011. Andy chats to Zach about how the term 'microbrand' continues to be challenging to define, how much media has evolved over the years, and how Worn & Wound is staying true to its roots while adding more to its offering. Before that, Felix and Andy ask at what point a value proposition ceases to be a good value as prices continue to rise. Plus, watches in Happy Gilmore and more Jay-Z Franck drama.  Tony Traina updates us on Jay-Z's "Franck Muller" (13:00) Interview with Zach Weiss from Worn & Wound  (19:50) Farr & Swit Retro Digital (36:00) Discommon's technical totes (56:00) Show Notes: https://www.otpodcast.com.au/show-notes OT: Discord - https://discord.com/invite/X3Vvc9z7aV How to follow us: https://www.instagram.com/ot.podcast https://www.facebook.com/otpodcastau https://instagram.com/andygreenlive https://instagram.com/fkscholz   Send us an email: [email protected] If you liked our podcast - please remember to like/share and subscribe.