Times Ticking Watch Talk

A train wreck. A stopped watch. And a four-minute mistake that changed the future of American railroads forever. In 1891, a single pocket watch failure led to tragedy—and quietly reshaped the world of timekeeping. This podcast explores the Kipton, Ohio train collision, the risks of early precision time, and how one overlooked detail transformed watchmaking, safety, and history.

In 1941, something big happened. The first TV commercial aired, and it ran for exactly 10 seconds. This 10-second commercial was for Bulova (formerly the Bulova Watch Company). It ran during a baseball game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Brooklyn Dodgers. The commercial was simple. Picture this: Viewers saw a black background with the shape of America in white. In the middle of the Amer...

Before quartz. Before smartwatches. Before marketing turned every timepiece into a lifestyle accessory, there was Léon Hatot—a man who believed that watches could do more than tell time. They could speak it. Shape it. Electrify it. Born in 1883 in Châtillon-sur-Seine, Hatot quickly outgrew the confines of his provincial roots. He studied at the prestigious École d’Horlogerie in Besançon, but it wa...

Over the past decade, a new wave of independent watchmakers—often solopreneurs or two-person teams—has been rewriting the rules. They’re building serious mechanical watches with real character, often from home studios or small workshops. No celebrity endorsements. No velvet-rope showrooms. Just passionate craftsmanship and a direct line to the people who wear their creations. This is the rise of t...

Imagine this—you’re browsing through a collection of vintage timepieces and stumble upon a Wittnauer watch. Sleek, precise, and unmistakably Swiss, but something catches your eye on the case back: “Longines-Wittnauer Watch Co.” Confused? You’re not alone. Many collectors today are unaware of the decades-long partnership that brought these two names together, shaping the watch industry in ways few...

When someone drops the name Montblanc, you might picture a fancy pen tucked into the pocket of a guy who says “synergy” in meetings with a straight face. But these days, Montblanc is just as likely to be found on the wrists—even (and especially) those of discerning professional watch repair experts.

Waltham wasn’t just another watchmaker—it was one of the most influential American companies of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Known for precision, innovation, and its role in shaping modern timekeeping, Waltham helped define how the world kept time. From railroads and wartime missions to polar expeditions and aviation firsts, here are 10 meaningful things you might not know about the Waltham...

Imagine a world in 1791 where the craft of watchmaking was as much art as it was science. For reference, this was also the year Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart premiered his opera The Magic Flute, a masterpiece that showcased the brilliance of the time. Just as Mozart was redefining music, Jean-François Bautte emerged, crafting exquisite ultra-thin timepieces that whispered elegance and ingenuity. From th...

The story of the Ingersoll Watch Company is more than just about gears and dials. It’s a story about making time available to everyone. Whether you’ve worn one, inherited one, or spotted one at a flea market or antique shop, an Ingersoll isn’t just a timepiece. It’s a pocket-sized history lesson. And the best part? You don’t need a trust fund or a monocle to appreciate it.

John Cameron Swayze may have started his career as a pioneering newscaster, but his true legacy lies in a phrase so iconic it still echoes today: “It takes a licking and keeps on ticking.” If you recognize those words, you’ve already glimpsed the magic that Swayze brought to television screens across America—not as a news anchor, but as the unforgettable face of Timex watches.

Most watches follow the rules—flat, familiar, obedient to tradition. But there’s a quiet corner of horology where the rules tilt. Literally.

What if the most groundbreaking watchmaker of the 20th century wasn’t Swiss—but German? In a sleepy Black Forest town, Junghans rose to become the world’s largest clockmaker… then nearly disappeared. But just when it seemed over, they came back with atomic precision and Bauhaus elegance. Stay tuned—the twist in their story might just change how you see time itself.

What if the affordable chronograph your grandfather bought at the mall shared the same DNA as a Heuer Autavia worn by professional racers? Beneath the surface of the Baylor name lies a forgotten alliance between American retail ambition and elite Swiss craftsmanship. From the hidden hands of Lemania and Heuer to the showcases of Zales, Baylor watches hold secrets few collectors know—until now.

It started as an American dream in a tiny New York shop. Today, it’s a name recognized around the world. But is Bulova still truly American… or has it become something more?

Long before glowing dials and digital screens, there was a secret hidden in the pockets of the elite—a watch that told time not by sight, but by sound. The minute repeater was more than a marvel… it was a whisper of genius in a world of darkness. But how did this invention survive centuries, and why are collectors paying six figures for its song today?

He wasn’t just a watchmaker—he was a perfectionist in a world racing toward mass production. In the shadows of America’s industrial rise, Edward Howard built something rare: timepieces not made for the many, but crafted for the few who valued mastery. This is the story of E. Howard & Co.—and the man who believed time deserved more than precision. It deserved beauty.

You’ve seen the clocks… but do you know the story behind the name? From wooden gears to Grand Central’s iconic masterpiece, the rise of the Seth Thomas Clock Company changed American timekeeping forever. One detail in the company’s legacy might just change how you see every clock.

When Bulova introduced the Accuquartz in 1970, it wasn’t just an evolution in timekeeping; it was a masterclass in mechanical ingenuity and technological foresight. The Accuquartz wasn’t a mere quartz watch, nor was it a traditional tuning fork watch. It was something entirely unique: the first hybrid of its kind, merging the precision of quartz technology with the smooth vibrational consistency o...

You’ve heard this story before—at least, you think you have: a defunct heritage brand gets dragged out of retirement, dusted off, and slapped onto some generic quartz movement. A name without a soul. But that’s not what happened here. The Hampden Watch Company wasn’t just revived—it was rebuilt by the same family that’s quietly kept American watchmaking alive for over a century. And it all started...

What does it take for a town to rename itself after a single man? In the case of Thomaston, Connecticut, it wasn’t conquest, expansion, or calamity that sparked change—it was the steady tick of a clock and the quiet persistence of legacy.

Before it was a military icon, Marathon was a promise—one born from a family’s quiet devotion to precision, trust, and time that endures. Forged in the fires of war and refined in the hands of soldiers, pilots, and rescue teams, Marathon didn’t follow trends—it followed purpose. This is the story of a watchmaker that chose duty over luxury, and built its name on endurance, one mission at a time.

Times Ticking was featured on Entrepreneur’s Problem Solvers podcast! The episode is out now, and the hosts called it “one of the most tactical and actionable interviews in a long time.” We had a great time sharing our story and breaking down the strategy behind how we bring timepieces to life. Hope you enjoy the episode! Entrepreneur’s Problem Solvers podcasthttps://open.spotify.com/show/5ZT6XUnc...

When Aryna Sabalenka hoisted her second U.S. Open trophy under a sky of fireworks, something else stole the spotlight. It wasn’t just her power or her poise—but what shimmered on her wrist. A rare, six-figure rainbow creation from Audemars Piguet. And once you hear the story behind it, you’ll never look at tennis—or watches—the same way again.

The story begins in 2011, in the vibrant heart of Hong Kong. A group of watchmakers dared to challenge the norms of luxury horology. Why should tourbillons, the pinnacle of mechanical craftsmanship, remain the domain of the ultra-rich and the Swiss? They believed in something revolutionary—that beauty and precision could be crafted in unexpected places.

They believed time shouldn’t belong to the few... so they built a legacy for everyone. This is the rise—and the quiet fall—of Helbros. And the reason for their fall might just surprise you. Stay with me, because the story behind their legacy is one every watch lover—and dreamer—needs to hear.