The Real Time Show

Send us Fan Mail

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph.

Can’t get enough of the TRTS team? Follow its Resident Provocateur @davaucher and Chief Editor Chris Horrocks @thatguyonbass.

Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.

Send us Fan Mail

Our first repeat guest takes the hot-seat for a hotly-requested follow-up to our first interview, way back in Episode 20. Giles Ellis of Schofield watch company inspired several members of The Real Time Network to get in touch with praise for his honesty and approach. Today, Rob walks through everything non-watch that Schofield Watch Company has to offer.

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph.

Can’t get enough of the TRTS team? Follow its Resident Provocateur @davaucher and Chief Editor Chris Horrocks @thatguyonbass.

Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.

Send us Fan Mail

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph.

Can’t get enough of the TRTS team? Follow its Resident Provocateur @davaucher and Chief Editor Chris Horrocks @thatguyonbass.

Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.

Send us Fan Mail

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph.

Can’t get enough of the TRTS team? Follow its Resident Provocateur @davaucher and Chief Editor Chris Horrocks @thatguyonbass.

Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.

Send us Fan Mail

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph.

Can’t get enough of the TRTS team? Follow its Resident Provocateur @davaucher and Chief Editor Chris Horrocks @thatguyonbass.

Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.

Send us Fan Mail

Today, Rob is joined by his friend and mentor, Ariel Adams of aBlogtoWatch (formerly aBlogtoRead). Ariel's thousand foot perspective of the watch industry and 16 years at the helm of one of our world's most trusted media platforms shares his experience and opinions on a few choice topics. Enjoy!

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph.

Can’t get enough of the TRTS team? Follow its Resident Provocateur @davaucher and Chief Editor Chris Horrocks @thatguyonbass.

Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.

Send us Fan Mail

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph.

Can’t get enough of the TRTS team? Follow its Resident Provocateur @davaucher and Chief Editor Chris Horrocks @thatguyonbass.

Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.

Send us Fan Mail

One of watchmaking's most beloved "outside-of-the-box thinkers" Pietro Tomajer of The Limited Edition joins us on air, to discuss his intriguing way of doing business...

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph

Can’t get enough of the TRTS team? Follow its Resident Provocateur @davaucher and Chief Editor Chris Horrocks @thatguyonbass

Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.

Send us Fan Mail

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph

Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.

Send us Fan Mail

Happy Star Wars Day.

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph

Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.

Send us Fan Mail

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph

Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.

Send us Fan Mail

We welcome Pascal Ravessoud of the Fondation Haute Horlogerie (the institution behind some of watchmaking's most legendary events) to the virtual studio for a surprisingly illuminating chat on the nature of manufacture movements and more...

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph

Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.

Send us Fan Mail

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph

Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.

Send us Fan Mail

One of the leading lights in British horological academia chats to Rob about her new book, Hands of Time, due to be released on April 27th. And for those of you with good memories, you might recall that Rebecca, along with her husband Craig and their “248” project, is responsible for Rob’s grail watch…

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph

Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.

Send us Fan Mail

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph

Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.

Send us Fan Mail

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph

Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.

Send us Fan Mail

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph

Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.

Send us Fan Mail

The Real Time Show was in Geneva.

We will be releasing several bonus episodes this week (three on Tuesday and three on Thursday) covering news and new releases from the brands exhibiting at Time To Watches, Watches and Wonders, and Geneva Watch Week in general. Normal service will be resumed next week. 

Subscribe to the show on your preferred Podcast platform to get notifications whenever new episodes go live.

You can follow our team members on Instagram @robnudds, @alonbenjoseph, @davaucher, and @thatguyonbass.

Send us Fan Mail

The Real Time Show was in Geneva.

We will be releasing several bonus episodes this week (three on Tuesday and three on Thursday) covering news and new releases from the brands exhibiting at Time To Watches, Watches and Wonders, and Geneva Watch Week in general. Normal service will be resumed next week. 

Subscribe to the show on your preferred Podcast platform to get notifications whenever new episodes go live.

You can follow our team members on Instagram @robnudds, @alonbenjoseph, @davaucher, and @thatguyonbass.

Send us Fan Mail

The Real Time Show was in Geneva.

We will be releasing several bonus episodes this week (three on Tuesday and three on Thursday) covering news and new releases from the brands exhibiting at Time To Watches, Watches and Wonders, and Geneva Watch Week in general. Normal service will be resumed next week. 

Subscribe to the show on your preferred Podcast platform to get notifications whenever new episodes go live.

You can follow our team members on Instagram @robnudds, @alonbenjoseph, @davaucher, and @thatguyonbass.

Send us Fan Mail

The Real Time Show was in Geneva.

We will be releasing several bonus episodes this week (three on Tuesday and three on Thursday) covering news and new releases from the brands exhibiting at Time To Watches, Watches and Wonders, and Geneva Watch Week in general. Normal service will be resumed next week. 

Subscribe to the show on your preferred Podcast platform to get notifications whenever new episodes go live.

You can follow our team members on Instagram @robnudds, @alonbenjoseph, @davaucher, and @thatguyonbass.

Send us Fan Mail

The Real Time Show was in Geneva.

We will be releasing several bonus episodes this week (three on Tuesday and three on Thursday) covering news and new releases from the brands exhibiting at Time To Watches, Watches and Wonders, and Geneva Watch Week in general. Normal service will be resumed next week. 

Subscribe to the show on your preferred Podcast platform to get notifications whenever new episodes go live.

You can follow our team members on Instagram @robnudds, @alonbenjoseph, @davaucher, and @thatguyonbass.

Send us Fan Mail

The Real Time Show was in Geneva.

We will be releasing several bonus episodes this week (three on Tuesday and three on Thursday) covering news and new releases from the brands exhibiting at Time To Watches, Watches and Wonders, and Geneva Watch Week in general. Normal service will be resumed next week. 

Subscribe to the show on your preferred Podcast platform to get notifications whenever new episodes go live.

You can follow our team members on Instagram @robnudds, @alonbenjoseph, @davaucher, and @thatguyonbass.

Send us Fan Mail

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph

Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.

Send us Fan Mail

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph

Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.

Send us Fan Mail

A watch industry first. Before anyone has seen the Czapek Antarctique Révélation Skeleton in real life, we, The Real Time Show, along with the inimitable assistance of Xavier de Roquemaurel, had the chance to describe the watch to artist Ben Li (@Inkdial on Instagram), who was tasked with drawing it from our description alone…

How did he do? You can find out on Monday the 27th of April when the watch is announced to the world. In the meantime, it looks something like this…

This 40mm watch has a titanium case and bracelet (brushed), water-resistance to 120m, a price tag of CHF38,000 before taxes, and an annual production limit of 100 pieces. Orders are being taken from April 1st 2023 at all Czapek retailers and the Czapek boutique, and deliveries will commence early 2025. 

You can follow the participants of this discussion on Instagram @robnudds, @alonbenjoseph, and @davaucher.

Send us Fan Mail

If you’re want fast-talking, no-nonsense, honest-to-goodness advice on how to be a watch sales dynamo, listen to this electrifying interview with one of watchmaking’s most memorable characters. Mike Pearson of Zodiac is here for your ears, and it’s long overdue.

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph

Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.

Send us Fan Mail

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph

Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.

Send us Fan Mail

Alon chats to his good buddy, Niels Eggerding of Frederique Constant. Having worked closely together on a recent project, there is much good news to share…

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph

Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.

Send us Fan Mail

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph

Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.

Send us Fan Mail

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph

Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.

Send us Fan Mail

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph

Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.

Send us Fan Mail

Episode 36 sees Rob and Alon go through the looking glass, into the sometimes weird but always wonderful world of Romaric André, the man behind « Seconde/Seconde ».

(0:35) Who are you and what do you do?
(5:15) How did you develop your creativity?
(10:45) When you started, did you intend to make your own watches? What are your intentions today?(14:10) What is « too many collabs » for Seconde/Seconde?
(18:35) How difficult is it to approach brands?
(21:38) « The finest Instagram channel in existence »
(25:00) Honest answer please: « Do you think you’re easy to work with? »
(28:46) Can you describe the challenges you face in manufacturing your hands?
(32:10) What’s the pipeline of collabs for 2023?
(36:18) The full scoop on Seconde/Seconde x Gray and Patina
(46:30) Do you keep any of your creations?
(49:00) Do you consider yourself an artist?
(51:39) Surely, you must have a favorite collab?
(53:40) Oh come on, surely you have a favorite?

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph

Can’t get enough of the TRTS team? Follow its Resident Provocateur @davaucher and Chief Editor Chris Horrocks @thatguyonbass

Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.

Send us Fan Mail

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph

Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.

Send us Fan Mail

John McGonigle takes us behind the scenes of his new brand, Oiléan (ill-lawn) watches, and walks us through his fascinating backstory that begins in the valleys of Switzerland, accompanied by a supporting cast that beggars belief.

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph

Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.

Send us Fan Mail

Episode 33 is another interactive product review episode, but with a twist: rather than focusing on one watch, Rob and Alon compare two models, the Schofield Signalman GMT and the Schofield Beater B5.

(0:40) Why do Alon and Rob love Schofield so much?
(3:15) Consider checking out the founder’s (Giles Ellis) newsletter
(6:15) Who is Giles Ellis, and what is Schofield?
(10:50) What’s the significance of the number 29 with regards to limited editions?
(13:35) « How does it wear? Looks quite thick »
(19:45) How much is done in-house, and what about the case backs specifically?
(26:40) What’s the case finish on the B5?
(29:55) Whoa, that got weird fast
(31:10) How suitable is the watch for daily wear?
(35:08) What makes the B5 stand out from other Schofield Beater watches?
(43:43) Some dial color option discussions
(49:08) Bottom line: is the Beater B5 better than the Signalman?
(53:35) Would a better spec’d movement be an improvement, or would it take away from the watch?

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph

Can’t get enough of the TRTS team? Follow its Resident Provocateur @davaucher and Chief Editor Chris Horrocks @thatguyonbass  

Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.  

Send us Fan Mail

Episode 32 is a « Zenith » for The Real Time Show, as Rob and Alon interview the company’s CEO Julien Tornare.

(1:24) Julien’s career in the watch industry
(3:38) His contribution to, and strategy for, Zenith following the company’s recent lineage of leadership
(9:58) What motivated Zenith’s decision to modernize its designs?
(14:10) Alon loves the Defy Skyline
(17:22) He also loves the Chronomaster Sport
(20:45) Zenith’s approach to women’s watches  
(26:50) Julien’s advice for working for Zenith as a watchmaker
(29:30) People just can’t get enough of the « new » Zenith; how is the company managing waiting lists
(32:00) Rob asks for some company manufacturing secrets
(33:35) Zenith also makes pilot’s watches!
(36:35) What about the Zenith Elite though?
(39:10) Wrapping up with some career highlights

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph

Can’t get enough of the TRTS team? Follow its Resident Provocateur @davaucher and Chief Editor Chris Horrocks @thatguyonbass

Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.

Send us Fan Mail

Episode 31 of The Real Time Show is « smarter » than usual.  

And that doesn’t even include all the other topics Rob and Alon discuss!

(1:26) Rob makes a super-obscure reference before asking the first question of the episode: what drives the color matching (or not) of date wheels?
(12:35) Bremont is reallllyyy in the money now; what do Rob and Alon think?
(18:38) Collabs: cop or drop?
(22:45) Alon’s itching to talk about the Omega Speedmaster Super Racing
(31:05) Things got weird in the 2020s, but some cool watches still got released
(38:55) Smartwatches: maybe not for the TRTS team, but how are they doing in the market?*
(50:30) How much more niche can watch discussions get online?

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph

Can’t get enough of the TRTS team? Follow its Resident Provocateur @davaucher and Chief Editor Chris Horrocks @thatguyonbass

Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.

*The only smartwatch the RP would buy?

Here it is.  

Send us Fan Mail

Rob enters the lion's den with one of watchmaking's most devastatingly "sexy boys", Guillaume Laidet, the resurrector of Nivada Grenchen, Excelsior Park, and Vulcain. Listen to their bromance blossom further on the airwaves. BSFW (Barely Safe For Work).

Time stamps:
1:46 who is Guillaume Laidet
10:43 What did GL learn from the missteps early on in his career
22:19 Which inactive brands does GL have his eye on resurrecting?
35:02 The Recent Time & Tide collaboration with seconde/seconde
43:13 Thoughts on the Limited Edition question
47:27 The pre-loved market...
53:53 How important are trade fairs and public events for reborn brands?

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph

Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.

Send us Fan Mail

Episode 29 of The Real Time Show gets going quickly after some cheeky bants between the Yin and Yang of the watch podcasting game.

(1:20) Alon goes rogue and submits his own question to the mailbag
(2:00) Rob talks RedBaR
(7:30) Yea, so…about that, « RedBar »…how did a watch group get that name?
(13:10) The 2010´s gave us the classic earworms « Gangnam Style » and « Call Me Maybe »; what watches also burrowed themselves into Alon’s and Rob’s heads?
(24:02) Is this the broadest question ever posed: what are the top 5 brands under and over 15,000 dollars?*
(38:00) Alon goes rogue again and asks for 5 brands under 5,000 dollars
(42:45) He just can’t stop going rogue can he? Alon follows up on Rob’s enthusiasm for An0rdain by asking him what’s so special about enamel dials
(56:32) And lastly… « The Real Alon Show » gets back to the 5 brands under 5,000  

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph

Can’t get enough of the TRTS team? Follow its Resident Provocateur @davaucher and Chief Editor Chris Horrocks @thatguyonbass

Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.

*The only two brands that matter: Omega and Hublot (obviously**)

**How am I doing living up to my title of Resident Provocateur?

Send us Fan Mail

Rob flies solo with Parmigiani Fleurier's glorious leader, Guido Terreni. With two decades at the helm of Bvlgari, Guido has an incredible track record behind him as he looks to position Parmigiani Fleurier as a thought and style leader in the industry.

2:35 The man with a plan
13:03 High complications or the refinement of base mechanics?
15:50 What is a rattrapante?
21:36 True restraint in practice
30:14 Did the pandemic have an equalising effect on the industry?
33:38 Watchmaking as a "safe bet"
37:47 What attracts the next generation to watchmaking?
42:30 Is the retailer experience still important?
44:46 The importance of physical events for the Parmigiani brand?
49:57 A golden era of steel sports watch design

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph

Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.

Send us Fan Mail

 In another jam-packed mailbag episode, The Real Time Show’s hosts Alon and Rob try to see into their crystal balls to predict what we might see from Watches and Wonders (maybe don’t ask them for lottery numbers though), and they tell us how they they fell down the horological rabbit hole.

Oh and if you listen long enough Rob may let you - just you - in on his super-secret plans for a new movement…

Or maybe not; he told me something like you have to send in at least 1,413 different questions to the mailbag before he’ll even think about letting you in on the big idea.

(1:33) What do Alon and Rob expect from Watches and Wonders this year?
(6:20) Alon on the difficulties as a retailer of managing what is now a year-round release schedule
(8:55) Rob on the difficulties of making stand-out content when everything used to launch essentially all at once at BaselWorld
(11:50) Dutch Debate: Van Der Gang or Van Der Klaauw?  
(21:33) Alon’s “funny intermezzo” on IWC’s legendary Kurt Klaus
(26:55) So, why are Rob and Alon so obsessed with watches?
(37:50) Rob’s super-duper-secret watch caliber idea
(42:55) Best designs of the 2000s (this is TRTS so you know Hublot gets a mention!)
(49:20) Bonus question from Alon

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph

Can’t get enough of the TRTS team? Follow its Resident Provocateur @davaucher and Chief Editor Chris Horrocks @thatguyonbass

Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.

Bonus link as a thank you for checking out these show notes and reading them to the end!

Send us Fan Mail

Scotland's jewel anOrdain joins the show. Founder Lewis Heath shares his origin story, almost his mum's Instagram, and an insight into how things are going behind the scenes at one of watchmaking Britain's finest modern successes.

00:00 It's called an-OR-dain!
2:50 When was anOrdain born?
6:01 What is the USP for one of Britain's leading lights?
11:26 Are you looking to expand?
12:39 The benefits of remaining lean and the resulting sales strategy
22:37 The available dial colors and how many Lewis can name
29:58 What do you do when you're not working with watches?
31:47 The good and bad kind of segue
33:37 Medium and large Model Twos (where's the small?)
40:34 The special kind of inks used in dial printing
42:54 Can we expect the catalog to grow any time soon?
44:26 How Lewis's "mum" could ruin our product review episodes
48:37 How important have watch fairs been to the development of the brand?

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph

Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.

Send us Fan Mail

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph

Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.

Send us Fan Mail

Alon and Rob are joined by Charris Yadigaroglu of MB&F fame, who shares tales from his twelve years at the helm of communications for one of the industry's most exciting and forward-thinking brands, Max Büsser & Friends.

Time stamps:
4:32 Where does MB&F go from here?
8:30 What goes on behind the scenes during the design process?
16:40 HOW many calibers???
20:19 M.A.D.1 Red and Blue and...
25:31 The revolution spans to retail...
30:38 Do you ever suffer from "writer's block"? What's next?
40:13 The HM models break boundaries
49:51 Where in the world can you try on an MB&F? And when is the next M.A.D.1 coming?

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph

Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.

Send us Fan Mail

A rollicking episode of The Real Time Show sees Alon and Rob address a gamut of questions from the very current to the very retro. The duo's shared disdain for Roman Numerals is on show, while Rob leans a little too far into the future in his support of the revolutionary SAXEM material by Hublot.

2:46 Which watches from LVMH Watch Week stood out so far
8:34 Why does Hublot get so much criticism? Why is it unjust?
18:16 What is your "10/10 but..." watch?
26:55 What is the best design of the 1990s?
34:51 Automatic winding machines: Yes or no?
40:22 Explaining the success of Rolex
45:08 What is your view on Casio Collaborations?
53:12 Why do people go after vintage watches when they aren't as "good" as modern watches?

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph

Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.

Send us Fan Mail

Alon and Rob are joined by the charming Creative Director of Breitling, to discuss his past, present, and a very exciting future as he prepares to launch his own brand under his own name for the very first time.

2:00 Sylvain's journey before the watch industry called
10:05 The new Chronomat and the use of ethically sourced materials
18:44 Breitling's four logos and what that means for the brand
25:05 The challenge of design and transforming brand perception
32:30 Technical obsessions and challenges
38:45 What Sylvain thinks of the digital world
45:05 Will we see Berneron watches soon?
51:47 With great talent comes great...cantankerousness?
57:07 The karma of the watch industry

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph

Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.

Send us Fan Mail

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph

Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.

Send us Fan Mail

Rob chats to one of his watchmaking heroes (and best friends to boot) about the fascinating world of Schofield Watch Company. Together, they explore the company's origins, its ethos, and why it's a brand that deserves to be on your radar.

00:47 The Schofield Universe's Big Bang
17:33 How do you start a company with basically no budget
30:58 The cost of such incredible standards
36:26 The goal of high-design brands
43:44 The Schofield Kimono
47:39 The most beautiful watch of them all
1:09:28 Texture like no other

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph

And thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.

Send us Fan Mail

Today, Alon and Rob address some questions from The Real Time Show's newest team member, David Vaucher, which were sent in before he joined the podcast's ranks, as well as a smattering of others from dedicated Real Timers.

2:41 Are watches with dates better sellers than those without?
12:23 Has the hype cycle of the past few years been a good thing?
18:53 Will we ever return to a point where all models can be bought immediately or, at least, with a short waiting time?
32:22 Perrelet. What the f*ck?
42:15 What did we think of the H. Moser Genesis watch?
49:16 Is it time for another quartz revolution?

Follow the hosts on Instagram @robnudds and @alonbenjoseph

Thanks to @skillymusic for the theme tune.