Collectability Podcast

In part two of this incredible conversation, Dr. Peter Friess shares some secrets of the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva and explains why it represents such an important part of the company's DNA. Plus, we learn more about the strict criteria which must be met if a new piece is to be acquired for the museum. As someone who regularly studies and attends watch auctions, Dr. Friess reveals his vi...

For anyone obsessed with Patek Philippe, Dr. Peter Friess has the dream job. As Director of the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva, each working day he goes to one of the greatest horological museums ever assembled and has the privilege to examine and hold some of the most important timepieces ever made. In this fascinating conversation with John Reardon, Peter Friess explains what it is like to be t...

In part 2 of this fascinating and personal conversation, the concept of ‘what is time’ is discussed and William Andrewes shares his own profound definition. William also explains how he develops, designs, and makes his much sought-after sundials. Each sundial is a labor of love, individually designed for each client be they a family or an institution. Because of this, each sundial is a unique obje...

In this fascinating podcast John Reardon speaks with his great friend, William Andrewes who is one of the world's leading horologists, a historian, clockmaker, inventor, artist, and sundial maker. Will's career in the watch world has been extraordinary. In this part 1 of a two-part podcast, Andrewes explains how he started as an apprentice with the legendary watchmaker George Daniels, firs...

In Part 2 of our conversation with Rebecca Ross, V.P., Head of Sale at Christie's Watch Department, Rebecca gives a specialist's explanation as to how auctions are assembled, curated and sold. We often take auctions for granted, yet a huge amount of work behind the scenes goes in to making an on-line, live or private sale. Since the rise in the number of online sales and new auction houses...

Rebecca Ross is Head of Sale at Christie's Watch Department in New York. During her ten years at Christie's she has been part of some important watch auctions, including the 175th Anniversary of Patek Philippe and the 40th Anniversary of the Nautilus. In Part 1 of this engaging conversation, Rebecca shares her love of watches, stories behind the important auctions she has worked on, and he...

In Part 2 of this fascinating conversation between Michael Friedman and John Reardon, we hear Michael's predictions for the future of the watch industry and legacy brands such as Patek Philippe. We also learn about Michael's new company, the Pattern Recognition Agency which is taking a new approach to watch design focusing on comfort and aesthetics -- "I want the watch to feel like a...

Michael Friedman has been called "The most interesting man in the horological world". He was even name-dropped in the Kendrick Lamar song 'Rich Spirit' last year. In this two-part podcast, Michael discusses his stellar career in the watch world and how this led to founding his new company the Pattern Recognition Agency. In Part 1, we learn how Michael's career started over 27...

In Part 2 of John Reardon's interview with Kevin O'Leary aka Shark Tank's Mr. Wonderful, we hear Kevin's answer to John's question from Part 1: "Is the modern watch market gamed?". In this frank and revealing discussion, we learn about Kevin O'Leary's approach to watch collecting and he shares a selection of his favorite watches and explains why unusual dials...

Kevin O'Leary aka Mr. Wonderful needs little introduction. As the undisputed star of T.V.'s Shark Tank, Kevin is known for his ability to combine business sense with common sense. Born in Canada, Kevin O'Leary spent his early years traveling the world and even lived in Geneva, which may have inspired his passion for watches at a young age. In this fascinating and lively discussion, Joh...

Mark Cho is a retail entrepreneur having co-founded the cult menswear emporium the The Armoury with boutiques in Hong Kong and New York and is the co-owner of British haberdasher Drake’s. Mark is equally well known for his great love of watches both as a collector and curator of select watch brands and collaborations for his stores. In December 2022, Mark gained a lot of publicity when he sold a l...

Brynn Wallner represents a new and important generation of watch influencers who, in a relatively short time has made a big impact. Brynn has opened a fun and exciting world sharing images of celebrities, and particularly women showing how they wear their watches on her Instagram and website @dimepiece.co. Brynn’s introduction to watches started when she was working in Sotheby’s marketing departme...

In celebration of their second year anniversary of the Collectability Podcast series, Collectability co-founders John Reardon and Tania Edwards discuss their enduring obsession with Patek Philippe and reflect on the evolution and early development of the world of Collectability. In this candid and personal conversation, John and Tania tell stories about their past and present experiences with Pate...

Dr James Nye has had a long and impressive career as a horological expert, historian and author. His personal passion is electrical timekeeping and his knowledge of how man mastered time distribution systems is unmatched. In this lively and informative discussion, James helps us understand how managing time has been the key to many of man's most important inventions, especially over the past centu...

John Reardon talks to Jaclyn Li a collector, intellectual, influencer and someone incredibly knowledgeable about all things Patek Philippe. Still in her early 20s, Jaclyn is the youngest person we have interviewed on the Collectability Podcast, but she is already an accomplished and impressive collector beyond her years. Jaclyn is currently a senior at Harvard College, studying Economics and Psych...

In this lively and personal interview, John Reardon talks with his first boss and mentor in the auction world, Daryn Schnipper. Daryn started her career at Sotheby's in 1980 straight out of college, and today is the chairman of the International Watch Division. For over 40 years, she has built an exceptional career and at one time, every watch department head of the top auction houses trained unde...

For over 14-years, Pamela Cloutier was Patek Philippe's Area Director of the Americas, Asia & Pacific Rim -- in other words she was responsible for a major portion of the world's most important watch markets. In this intimate and fascinating conversation, Pamela describes what it was like to work closely with Philippe Stern during the pivotal 1990s and 2000s. This was an important period when...

Many of us know Nick Foulkes as a horological expert covering all aspects of the watch industry, in particular Patek Philippe. He has been a contributor, editor and special horological correspondent of the Patek Philippe Magazine for over twenty years, and in 2016 wrote the first, official biography of Patek Philippe. But his interests and extensive knowledge spreads far beyond the hallowed walls...

This is one of the most wide-ranging conversations we have ever had on a Collectability Podcast. Topics covered range from Charles Darwin, Alexander Graham Bell, Einstein and Lindbergh to the development of quartz technology and the importance of electronic clocks in horological history. Even elephants get discussed in relation to collecting watches! Carlene E. Stephens is a Curator at the Divisio...

Within the watch auction world, there is no one else who can match Osvaldo’s contribution to and influence on the watch collecting world. In fact, it’s fair to say that Osvaldo Patrizzi really pioneered watch collecting and the auction market, significantly contributing to today’s demand for luxury watches. In 1974, Osvaldo Patrizzi founded Antiquorum and built it into the world’s leading auction...

John Reardon interviews the three principles of Loupe This, the new online auction platform that has already broken a world record for the sale of a 1967 Cartier Crash ($1.65 million), and is changing the way we buy vintage watches. Eric Ku, Justin Gruenberg and Sam Hines discuss their plans for Loupe This and share their candid opinions on the marketplace during these turbulent times, plus they g...

World class artist and enameler, Anita Porchet produces some of the most sought-after, decorated timepieces in the world. In this exclusive interview with Carlos Torres, Anita speaks candidly and eloquently about her craft and the future of the art of enameling in the watch world. We learn about the challenge of creating a miniature work of art on the tiny surface of a pocket watch or watch dial....

Two of the most popular watches, the Nautilus and the Royal Oak were designed by one man, Gérald Genta. In this fascinating conversation with his wife, Evelyne Genta, John Reardon discovers how their partnership resulted in some of the most important watch designs in modern watchmaking history. Equally impressive is her own distinguished career. Since 2011, Her Excellency Madame Evelyne Genta has...

Ryan Chong's career in the watch industry is relatively short, but he is already making a mark having recently been listed on Watchonista's 30 under 30(ish) as one of the brightest and youngest breaking down barriers and reinventing the industry for the better. Having worked in the watch departments of both Christie's and Sotheby's, Ryan is well placed to launch one of the most exciting new platfo...

Nathalie Marielloni has had an extraordinary career in horology. It has taken her to some of the most important watchmaking related museums in the world: the Patek Philippe Museum , Museum of Art and History Geneva and the International Watchmaking Museum (MIH) in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Her career is a clear reflection of where her passion lies as she has mastered the demanding Swiss watchmaking schoo...