Episodes

Get the FREE WatchSmarts Beginner Buyer's Guide . Steve Bollar joins David to discuss how a childhood admiration for his father's professional attire cemented the idea that success is signaled by the watch on your wrist. From a Kmart triathlon watch funded by a paper route to a high-end collection featuring a Tudor Root Beer and the iconic square TAG Heuer Monaco, Steve shares his journey as a "secret watch looker." He reveals his unique strategy for spotting timepieces on airplanes and explains...

Get the FREE WatchSmarts Beginner Buyer's Guide . Kevin Halbert joins David to dive deep into the world of functional timepieces where a watch is a tool, not a status symbol. Drawing from his background as a rescue diver in the Florida Keys, Kevin explains why he prioritizes readability and reliability over the "bling" of luxury brands. From his early days using G-Shocks in the trenches to his custom-hacked Citizen "Orca," Kevin shares his obsession with watches that actually work underwater. He...

Get the FREE WatchSmarts Beginner Buyer's Guide . John Cote grew up eye-level with the display cases of New York pawn shops, learning the art of the deal from his mathematician father via pure osmosis. In this episode, he shares how a lifetime of "collecting people" through the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors shaped his philosophy that a true collection must tell a story rather than just be a pile of random objects. John shares his unique "twins" collecting strategy, where he ...

Get the FREE WatchSmarts Beginner Buyer's Guide . What happens when you grow up in a community where wearing a wristwatch is strictly forbidden? In this episode, David sits down with Dave Kauffman, a professional speaker and DISC personality expert, to explore a collection born out of early childhood deprivation. Dave shares the fascinating story of his Mennonite upbringing where watches had to be modified into pocket watches, leading to a lifelong obsession with "loud" timepieces that make a bo...

Get the FREE WatchSmarts Beginner Buyer's Guide . Johnny Francis joins David to discuss a collection built on memories, milestones, and "signals". From $10 Soviet-era relics found in 1990s Moscow flea markets to a 50th-anniversary Rolex Kermit, Johnny explores how timepieces communicate personal style, achievement, and even power plays. He shares the touching story of his father’s gold Rolex Presidential, a milestone trophy that effectively ended his father's search for any other watch, and expl...

Get the FREE WatchSmarts Beginner Buyer's Guide . Thomas Sandrin is building something the watch world quietly needs: a place to learn before you buy. With WatchDNA, he’s removing bias, commissions, and hype and helping people make smarter decisions in a very noisy market. This episode isn’t about choosing watches. It’s about how people choose. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – From hustle to watches Door-to-door sales → Hamilton at Swatch Group Built retail relationships from scratch 02:30 – The pivot COVI...

Get the FREE WatchSmarts Beginner Buyer's Guide . Stephen Shapiro collects watches the way most people choose art: by feel, color, and personality. He matches watches to outfits… and even to different wedding rings. This isn’t about status or specs. It’s about expression, creativity, and actually enjoying what’s on your wrist. If watches have ever felt intimidating, this episode resets the whole game. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – How it started Not a childhood hobby Got pulled in by friends with expens...

Get the FREE WatchSmarts Beginner Buyer's Guide . What happens when a full-time physician and a serial entrepreneur turn a childhood friendship and a "watch addiction" into a high-stakes trading empire? In this episode, David sits down with Ibrahim Satiner and Talha Kaner of Aslan Watches to pull back the curtain on the secondary market. From the "Frankenstein" movement risks in the Rolex market to finding 40% discounts on underrated brands like Parmigiani and Piaget, this conversation is a mast...

Paul Cipriano went from casual interest… to nearly 200 watches… to hitting the brakes hard. This is the episode most collectors won’t say out loud. The buying rush, the financial creep, the stress, and then the reset. If you’re getting deeper into watches, this one might save you. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Early influence Watching his father shaped his taste Watches = identity from day one 02:50 – First watches Starting with Timex and digital pieces Learning analog the hard way 06:50 – The turning p...

Get our FREE Beginner Buyer's Guide . Before watches got so serious… they were fun.In this episode, David sits down with industry titan Tim Hale, the first designer and long-time Executive Design Manager for the Fossil Group. Tim pulls back the curtain on how a small North Texas startup used "retail entertainment" and whimsical design to build a global empire that includes Diesel, Skagen, and Zodiac. And it all started with a beat-up tin from a Texas flea market. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Creative b...

Get our FREE WatchSmarts Beginner Buyer's Guide . Jeffrey Thomas is the antidote to everything loud, expensive, and hype-driven in watches. He’s proof that you don’t need five figures—or even four—to build a collection you actually enjoy. From $50 vintage finds to a pink-dial daily wearer, his approach is simple: variety, personality, and wearability beat status every time. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re “doing watches wrong”… you’re probably doing it exactly right. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 –...

Get our FREE WatchSmarts Beginner Buyer's Guide . Before resale was cool, Thomas Pozsgay was building it for Tourneau as the head of the certified pre-owned department for 27 years. In this episode, David sits down with Thomas, a true insider whose career spans the retail floor, vintage collecting, pre-owned innovation, and luxury resale at scale. Thomas was there when the watch world shifted from discounted display cases… to waitlists, hype, collector culture, and a booming secondary market. If...

Get our FREE WatchSmarts Beginner Buyer's Guide . Good things CAN happen after a jeweler breaks your wife’s diamond. In this episode, David sits down with Bryce Austin, a cybersecurity expert, weekend auto racer, and "patriarch" of a family watch lineage. Bryce shares the wild story of how he "jumped the line" for a stainless steel Daytona, explains why a 1923 Elgin pocket watch is his most valuable family artifact, and offers a cybersecurity pro’s perspective on why the analog mechanical watch ...

Get our FREE WatchSmarts Beginner Buyer's Guide . What if your first watch wasn’t just a purchase… but a declaration of identity? In this episode, David talks with international watch enthusiast and former trader Christian Riander, whose journey into watches started with a childhood Casio and took a wild turn through casinos, trading deals, and a life-changing moment that forced him out of the watch business entirely. This episode pulls back the curtain on how watches actually move: money, risk,...