Due Time presents: The Watchers

Is Christopher Ward getting too expensive, or is the watch community just not paying attention to what's actually inside the case? In this special in-person episode recorded at the first-ever Jump Hour event in Columbus, Rod Dye and Rio the Watcher sit down with Michael Pearson , Senior Vice President of the Americas for Christopher Ward, to break down the brand's explosive growth, its val...

What does it take to build a Swiss watch brand in a market where nobody knows your name? In this episode, André Niklaus , US Ambassador for the Americas for Maurice Lacroix, joins Rod Dye and Rio the Watcher to break down how a 51-year-old Swiss house is carving out space in the American market through community, authenticity, and a product that punches well above its price point. André shares his...

What's it actually like walking through the doors of Watches and Wonders for the first time? In this episode, Dave The Watch Dude joins Rod Dye and Rio the Watcher , fresh off his first trip to Geneva, to break down everything from booking logistics and insider tips to the watches that blew him away and the exhibitions that fell flat. Dave walks through standout releases from Parmigiani, Barro...

What does it look like when a tech sales leader applies the same discipline he uses in business to building a watch collection? In this episode, Seth Klebe , host of the Watch The Tech podcast , joins Rod Dye and Rio the Watcher for a conversation that covers everything from the AP x Swatch collaboration to the emotional math behind selling a Vacheron Constantin 56 for a Rolex Hulk. Seth traces hi...

What does a $10 million Popeyes empire, a bottle of 2009 Burgess, and a two-tone Datejust from your father have in common? They all tell the story of Ron Jordan. In this episode of The Watchers , Rod Dye and Rio The Watcher sit down with entrepreneur, medical device sales rep, wine sommelier, and watch collector Ron Jordan for a deeply personal conversation about legacy, failure, and what watches...

What happens when a first-generation tech executive from Detroit brings the same hustle that built his career into the watch world? In this episode, Karlos Williams of 10and2media joins Rod Dye and Rio the Watcher to break down everything from Rolex purchase history strategy to why authenticity beats access every time. Karlos shares his journey as a Detroit-raised, first-generation everything and...

Why does Rolex still dominate the watch world, even when collectors constantly debate the brand online? In this episode, Rod Dye and Rio the Watcher break down why Rolex remains the standard in modern watch culture. From resale value and brand control to the psychology of scarcity and the reality of the authorized dealer process, this conversation goes beyond surface-level Rolex hype and gets into...

What happens when watch collecting starts looking more like derivatives trading? In this episode of The Watchers, Rod Dye and Rio the Watcher unpack the new Bezel x Kalshi partnership and what watch futures could mean for collectors, dealers, and the broader industry. They explore whether this creates useful pricing transparency or simply opens the door to more speculation, manipulation, and ‘Draf...

What really sits behind the loud opinions on Rolex, Grand Seiko, and modern watch hype? In this episode, Andy Berg, better known as Andy’s Watches, joins to break down watch culture, collecting, and value without gatekeeping. Andy shares his path from blue-collar work and addiction recovery to becoming one of the fastest-rising voices in watchmaking and collecting, unpacks why some collectors “hat...

What actually separates a meaningful watch micro-brand from one built on hype? In this episode, Rod Dye and Rio sit down with Matt Castilla , founder of Rook & Castle , to unpack the real decisions behind designing tank-style watches like La Promencia / Adagio Marino and Carmine Nocturne —from gradient dials and crown details to ultra-limited production runs. Matt shares his journey as a colle...

What starts as a guilt-free year-end watch purchase turns into a full micro-brand when Shakeem Tomlin refuses to pay resale prices and decides to build his own watch instead. In this episode, Rod and Rio sit down with the founder of Tomlin & Co to trace the real journey behind the Celestial Calendar, from early design sketches and movement selection to launching a full calendar moonphase watch...

What happens when someone looks at your Rolex and calls it a “modest watch”? In this episode, Rod and Rio sit down with collector and mentor CJ Webster to trace how that moment reshaped his entire approach to collecting, value, and watch culture. From buying a Rolex Datejust 16233 on layaway to earning an Omega Speedmaster allocation and ultimately acquiring a De Bethune DB25 Starry Varius, CJ exp...

How does a 26-year-old day trader go from a bust-down Datejust to a single Richard Mille he’s ready to trade for a house? In this conversation, Rod and Rio sit with collector Sire Abram to trace his path from early trading wins in Iowa to building a focused collection rooted in watch value, risk management, and real-world marketplace dynamics. Sire breaks down the jump from bust-downs to Royal Oak...

Most new collectors rush in, chase hype, and fill a watch box without understanding what truly fits their style or long-term goals. In this episode of The Watchers , Rod Dye and Rio break down their 10 keys to watch collecting after a full year of hands-on learning, buying, selling, and refining. They walk you through the 10 keys to becoming a successful watch collector, including how to buy what...