DOUBLE BUBBLE! Welcome to a BONUS episode of Strap and Link! Today we're thrilled to bring you a recap of Watches and Wonders 2024, as this showcase brings together the biggest names in luxury timepieces, and we've got the lowdown on all the most noteworthy releases.   Whether you're a seasoned collector or just starting your watch journey, there's something for everyone in this episode. We'll be discussing a diverse range of new models, from the elegance of Cartier, to the cutting-edge...

This brand needs no introduction, as part of the "Holy Trinity," Vacheron Constantin are part of a three-headed high-horology beast offering models like the Overseas to compete with Patek Phillipe and Audemars Piguet.   Today we intro the brand's history, and dive into some unique models including their flagship Overseas, and the more attainable Fiftysix collection, in addition to their American 1921 iconic "sideways" model.   Subscribe to get new episode notifications (Spotify, Apple...

Today we do a fantasy sports-style draft of some of our favorite pilot watches to build a three-watch collection. We put 11 distinct models into a selection pool and chose six to discuss at length throughout the episode, including a brief introduction and historical background on each watch.   The watches available for selection included the Orient Pilot RA, Hamilton Khaki Aviation Day Date Auto, Longines Spirit 37mm, Longines Spirit Zulu Time 39, Bell & Ross BR-03 Gyrocompass,...

Today's episode is a format change up where we'll be reviewing iconic Rolex GMT-Master references from the original "Pepsi" in 1954 to the modern "Guinness", and several in between.   Subscribe to get new episode notifications (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all other directories) and follow us on Social Media @strapandlink!   Show Notes: (6:44) - GMT Landscape in the 1950s (9:22) - “Pan-Am Pepsi” 6542 (19:02) - “Coke” 16760 (27:30) - “Batman” 116710 BLNR (37:18) - “Guinness”...

  On this episode, we dive into the world of Christopher Ward, a brand that has made its mark lately on the luxury watch industry. We explore four standout watches, starting with "The Twelve," the latest craze in the integrated steel sports watch category.   We also discuss the C1 Moonphase, a stunning watch featuring a mesmerizing moonphase complication and aventurine dial. We also discuss the C60 Trident Pro 300, a dive watch that blends functionality with style, ideal for both...

We're looking at some of Agent 007's most iconic watches over the years. From Sean Connery's Gruen Precision in Dr. No to Pierce Brosnan's GoldenEye Seamaster Professional, and Daniel Craig's No Time To Die SMP, we picked a range of watches from different decades and design languages.   Subscribe to get new episode notifications (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all other directories) and follow us on Social Media @strapandlink!     Show Notes: (5:55) - James Bond's First Watch (Gruen...

In this episode, we look at the International Watch Company, better known as IWC. We're mainly discussing two modern dress watches from the Portofino and Portugieser lines, as well as the Mark XX and Ingenieur.   IWC has a unique history relative to many other brands in that they were passed around under ownership, and got into things quite later than most.   Subscribe to get new episode notifications (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all other directories) and follow us on Social...

Audemars Piguet... Holy Trinity... Grail... A few things come to mind when you hear the name Audemars Piguet, or sometimes just "AP." Namely, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, is most certainly a "grail" watch for most collectors.   In this episode, we dive into the history of AP and the complex mechanisms and complications they built on workbenches in the Vallée de Joux. We also discuss the Royal Oak, designed by Gerald Genta, and its many iterations. We'll take a close look at two current...

On the 23rd episode of Strap and Link we are honored to welcome esteemed guest, Joe Kirk, to the show. Joe is the Brand Curator for Grand Seiko, a true watch fanatic, and an all-around fantastic person. Check out the Show Notes below for a detailed overview of our discussion.   As is tradition in part two episodes we cover four additional watches, but since our guest is so knowledgeable, we added two or three extra watches. We also discussed the meaning and purpose behind the Evolution 9...

We're back with another exciting episode on the storied Longines brand, and some of their new releases from 2023 including the new HydroConquest GMT and Legend Divers. In this episode we look at the brand and what's changed since we last covered them in April, 2023.   New models like the HydroConquest GMT have taken the watch world by storm, so we're diving into specs on watch this and the Legend Diver, Mini Dolce Vita, and Longines Master Collection dress watch. We'll give our take on the...

On today's episode we discuss Rado, the "Master of Materials" against-the-grain Swatch Group company.    Rado was founded in Switzerland by brothers Fritz, Ernst, and Werner in 1917. The brand quickly rose to international prominence and was synonymous with Swiss quality by the end of WWII.   We discuss a slew of watches including the DiaStar, True Square, and Captain Cook. We also give our take on the brand's design language, clearing standing apart from anything offered in the...

Founded in 1992, the French brand Bell & Ross was a university project between two students, and the watches were originally produced by the German company Sinn. However, the "Bell & Ross by Sinn" is still a point of debate in the watch world.   Bell & Ross began by tailoring watches to military specifications, enabling them to stand out amongst peers. With innovative watches such as the Space 1 and Hydro Challenger, Bell & Ross have always played in a league of their own. ...

TAG Heuer are synonymous with motorsport, and has accomplished some things you may not yet know. On the 19th episode of Strap and Link, we dive into their storied history including the invention of the winding crown and stop/reset pushers on the chronograph case.   Of course, we can't talk about TAG without mentioning their placement on the wrist of Hollywood star Steve McQueen, the King of Cool, in the movie Le Mans which features prominent branding from Heuer. We also look at their...

On our 18th episode we look at the captivating Jaeger-LeCoultre brand (better known in the United States as JLC) and some of their modern watches. We look back at its founding as a shop that made steel watch pinions in the mid-nineteenth century, and forward to their elegant and dressy options at an upper-end luxury market placement. Of course, we touch on the most important pieces of their history including making watch movement components for the likes of Patek Phillipe, and their invention...

Welcome back to the Strap and Link Podcast - today we're retaking a look at Tudor to focus on their new watches of 2023 including the new five-link bracelet "Heritage" Black Bay, Pelagos FXD, and Black Bay 54. We're talking about the history of these watches, why they were re-released now, or why these models were selected as ones to be re-released.   We'll also give our own opinion on these watches of course, and provide a complete rundown of the specs for each including sizing, cost, and...

The Hamilton Watch Company was founded in Lancaster, PA, USA in 1892 and started making watches for local railways and operators. As we moved closer to World War II, Hamilton got involved with the US Military and began providing watches to troops, so much so that they even ceased production of civilian models. They continued to innovate, releasing the world's first electronic watch, the Ventura in 1957.   Today, we associate Hamilton watches with a few things: Movies in which they are...

We're back at it with Episode 15 and a very special brand, none other than fan-favorite Seiko. Today we're looking at the history including their founding in 1881 in Tokyo, and many Japanese and World's first achievements from the Seiko Watch Company including the world's first Titanium Dive Watch and Spring Drive technology.   We're also covering current collections including the Presage, Prospex, Seiko 5 Sport, and Essentials. Specifically, we talk about the Presage Cocktail Time,...

It's finally time. We're sitting down to discuss the most popular, most recognizable, and arguably most controversial watch brand in the world: Rolex.   Rolex is synonymous with wealth, status, and well... luxury wristwatches. We tackle Part 2 by discussing the Rolex Day-Date, GMT Master II, Explorer I and II, and the Sky-Dweller as well as answering a listener question about the Rolex/AD waitlist dilemma.   If you haven't listened to Part 1 be sure to check it out! We covered the...

It's finally time. We're sitting down to discuss the most popular, most recognizable, and arguably most controversial watch brand in the world: Rolex.   Rolex is synonymous with wealth, status, and well... luxury wrist watches. Today as we always do we're looking at the history of the brand including where and how they were founded, their status as a charitable organization, and of course, all the essential horological achievements they've made throughout the decades.   We wrap up Part 1...

This episode covers the hottest summer releases thus far including the new Oris Diver 65 in stainless steel with "cotton candy" dials and the "Summer Blue" Omega Seamaster collection. We also tackle the controversial new MoonSwatch "Strawberry Moon" and what these monthly releases mean for the Omega brand.   We also discuss some new watches the Strap and Link family have acquired including a Monta Noble swap for the Opalin dial, a new Grand Seiko, and some others we hope to see more of in...

Today we dive deep into the world of high watchmaking and jewelry, specifically, Cartier watches. Cartier has been at the forefront of some quite interesting horological achievements. You can make the case that the Cartier Santos was the world's first pilot's watch.   Whether or not you want to give them that nod, what they have achieved as a jewelry brand making waves in the luxury watch industry cannot be denied. Today they make some of the most recognizable mechanical and quartz watches...

On our tenth episode, we have the honor of being joined by our good friend Miguel from @SoCalWatchReviews - you may know of or already follow him on YouTube or Instagram, but if you don't we highly recommend it!   The three of us casually discuss watches, what's in our collection, and maybe what's to come, and some awkward experiences you will undoubtedly encounter as a watch collector.    If you have any questions, please DM us on Instagram @strapandlink or @socalwatchreviews, or both -...

Founded by Louis Brandt in 1848, OMEGA is seen as one of the most prominent watch brands in the world today. Owned by the Swatch Group, and worn by everyone's favorite British spy, OMEGA is a very significant brand that always plays alongside the likes of Rolex and Breitling.   In this episode we're discussing everything from their founding in Switzerland to the creation of the OMEGA caliber where the brand got its name, the Speedmaster Professional getting a screaming endorsement from...

We're joined by Monta co-owners Justin Kraudel and Michael DiMartini to discuss their small but mighty microbrand founded in St. Louis, MO, USA. We discuss and revisit how they conceived Monta, their journey into the retail space, and many aspects of their design language and current collection including the new mint-colored-dial Monta Noble, the revised Oceanking, and their Skyquest GMT which is a fan-favorite of the podcast.   Join us for a conversation with the US-based watchmaker as we...