Case in Point Podcast

Felix joins Marc and Aaron for a rare three-person episode as graduation season finally comes into view. What starts with a wrist check quickly turns into a field watch conversation after Felix swaps watches to wear the "neo-vintage" Hamilton field watch Marc gave him.The guys talk Hamilton, Benrus, Evora Watches, and the possibility that Aaron’s field watch journey still isn’t complete despite recently acquiring the Vertex M36.There’s also a deeper dive into the new Tudor Monarch and Royal releases, some reflection on senior year winding down, and the realization that for Felix, high school is basically over. All that’s left is one more track meet.The extended family will all be together soon to celebrate graduation, making this one feel a little more personal than usual.

Aaron’s in Denver for a quick trip, which turns into exactly what you’d expect. A little wandering, a little watch talk, and a chance to catch up in person.They get into the watches that stood out from Watches and Wonders Geneva 2026, including one pick from Aaron that no one saw coming. Marc, unsurprisingly, keeps circling back to Tudor and the feeling that their 100th year can’t possibly end with just what we’ve seen so far.Aaron also brings a new addition to the table, the Vertex M36, and talks through what had to go to make room.Watches, wishful thinking, and a little bit of Denver.

Bonus Episode: Marcos and Aaron sit down with Zach Weiss, cofounder of Worn & Wound and Windup Watch Fair, to talk about his new venture, OraOrea.

This could be the season finale.It’s been one year since Marcos and Aaron started this podcast. They’ve been busy working on another project together, which has made it tough to record, but they found a little time to catch up and reflect on the past year.The conversation starts with a comparison between Aaron’s King Seiko and Grand Seiko. Which one is dressier and which one is arguably the finer watch? Interestingly, those are not the same watch.They also talk about a few watches that have caught their attention lately: a sub-40mm white Orient Mako and the Timor Dirty Dozen for Marc, and a Vertex Dirty Dozen and a Seiko SUS for Aaron. Marc also realizes that in the 90s, he was probably the exact target audience for the Seiko SUS.They wrap up by talking about a new release they both really like, the Baltic Heures du Monde Worldtimer, and reflect a bit on the next season, which will hopefully not include such a long gap between recordings.Not taking a break.

It’s been a long minute since the last recording. Marc and Aaron have both been buried in projects, including the launch of the new Berea College Student Craft website with full e-commerce, designed by Marc for the Student Craft team. The timing worked out perfectly, as Aaron and his team were recognized with the Cooper Hewitt Award for Product Design. Huge congrats all around.On the watch front, Aaron has been obsessively regulating his Seiko 5 and getting it to run within one second a day. Marc is in the middle of a second honeymoon with his Black Bay 58, now fitted with a Steel Reef “Silencer” James Bond bezel insert, and he finally adds a long-admired Seiko “Gene Kranz” reissue to the collection after a patient wait from Australia. The guys talk about why this release hits so well, how faithfully Seiko nailed the original design, and why it feels like an easy enthusiast favorite. Seiko, if you’re listening, more reissues please. Yes, the Pogue.They also get into a new Benrus chronograph and the Bark & Jack collaboration with Christopher Ward. The Adrian Barker designed version is the one they prefer, leading to a broader conversation about design evolution, community reaction, and why Barker does not deserve criticism for standing behind and promoting his own work.Marc closes the episode reflecting on seeing Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy perform Lifes Rich Pageant live. It was moving to hear songs that have meant so much to him played live, with new life breathed into them.The album title comes from Inspector Clouseau’s line, “But it’s all part of life’s rich pageant, you know?” and that idea tracks well with the show, watches, travel and everything else they end up talking about.

January has been busy, and a longer break between recordings turns into a chance to slow down and catch up.Cold weather across the country keeps Aaron home for a few days, which opens the door to reconnect. Marc is braving the Denver cold with Cuban-style coffee and thoughts of Miami, while also reflecting on the passing of Bob Weir. His influence is impossible to overstate. The connection many of us share to Grateful Dead music runs deep, but it is especially personal for Felix and Brian, whose relationship with that music has been a constant thread. This episode centers on timing, service, and why relationships still matter in this hobby. Marc is back in his Oris after a mainspring repair handled by Right Time Watches. The work was done quickly and graciously, with no pressure for a full service. Just the right repair at the right moment.That experience flows directly into Aaron’s latest purchase. A used King Seiko with a gorgeous silver sunburst dial, bought from Right Time during a FaceTime call with Marc. What started as a fun, slightly impulsive moment turned into a masterclass in customer service. A brief concern after the watch arrived, led to thoughtful back-and-forth, reassurance, and a simple fix. No issue at all. Right Time for Seiko, in every sense.The conversation widens to Aaron’s growing Seiko lineup, spanning from Seiko 5 all the way to Grand Seiko. Six Seikos with six different movements, and a reminder that meaningful collections are built through stories. Still, the new year wasted no time. Aaron already has his first Seiko of the year, and Marc somehow beat him by two days with a used Seiko sourced from Australia via Chrono24 (story to come!).The heart of the episode lands with a story from Berea College. Students in Aaron’s Student Craft program, all of whom attend tuition free and work on campus, expressed interest in mechanical watches. Aaron carried that curiosity to the The Grey Nato Slack community.The response was generosity beyond expectation. Members didn’t just offer inexpensive watches tucked away in drawers. They donated them outright.The students were fascinated by mechanical watches, grateful for the kindness, and excited by the idea of something tangible and lasting that wasn’t tied to a phone. In a moment when anger and unkindness feel easy to find, this became a bright spot. A reminder that a shared hobby, a generous community, and the right conduit can create something meaningful that stays with you.Good timing. Good people. Right time.

Aaron and Marc are back from the holiday break after crossing paths in opposite directions. Aaron visits family in Denver while Marc trades winter for Miami and the Florida Keys.They settle back in with travel stories and time away, and how a reset reshapes perspective on life and on watches. Aaron’s Seiko 5 returns from service with new hands and crystal, naturally opening the door to an unplanned state of the collection. Field watches, versatility, and the quiet influence of the Seiko 5 become a thread, especially as Aaron realizes he now owns more field watches than actual fields he plans to explore.Marc checks in from the tropics, where his Black Bays take in beach days, art, sunshine, and an unapologetic amount of seafood, Cuban food, and key lime pie. Time with family includes hands-on moments with his brother’s heirloom Datejust and reflections on travel, family, and reconciling feelings about his hometown, its culture, and the constant presence of creativity.The conversation drifts where it wants to, touching on gifted watches including a Vostok Amphibian with Cold War roots, the evolving shape of Aaron’s collection, and the kind of watch curiosity that shows up when schedules loosen and expectations disappear.Loose, unplanned, and very much back in rhythm for the new year.

Marc and Aaron record after coming off a professional Zoom call with Danny, Marc’s longtime friend and frequent collaborator on Crosshatch projects. The three of them are quietly amused that they managed to resist doing a wrist check during the meeting, only to open another Zoom later to do exactly that. Beer check makes an appearance, and the conversation eases in from work to watches without much resistance.Straps are very much on the mind. Aaron has been rotating watches when he gets home from work and spending time with Veblenist straps, gifting a couple, experimenting with blue leather on a bead-blasted Seiko, and appreciating what an upgrade good leather can be. Marc, still loyal to bracelets, admits a strap has been sitting in his cart longer than he would like to admit.The guys talk about an unexpected trip to Kentucky to hear Felix play guitar publicly for the first time, holiday travel ahead, and the realization that this is likely the final episode of the year. Along the way they cover seeing the new Tudor Ranger 36mm and Omega Planet Ocean in person, a detour into helium escape valves as brand language, Aaron’s 100-meter rule, Jomashop finds including a Seiko 5 Marc helped track down for Adelle, old Seiko 5 logos, watch rules, Blundstones, and the watches that are still quietly lingering in the back of their minds.They wrap up without a formal year-end list or big retrospective, just a moment to pause, reflect, and say thanks for listening and joining the conversation so far.

The guys recap Thanksgiving, a week filled with family time and a rare chance to hang out in person. Months earlier, Anne, Brian’s wife, had asked for help choosing a mechanical watch for him after he began reading Wendell Berry and started looking for a way to step back from screens and reconnect with the natural rhythm of the day.After weeks of talking it through, Marc and Aaron finally landed on the right solution. And because Marc happened to be in Kentucky for the holiday, the timing worked out for him and Aaron to be present as Anne gave the watch to Brian in person. It was a meaningful moment to witness and one that made the choice feel even more fitting.They also talk about letting certain watches move on, including another one from Marc’s own collection, and how pieces sometimes eventually find the right wrist.The episode wraps with a conversation about movements from brands like Tudor and Rolex, and why it's so hard to find clear, unbiased information that explains the production differences behind two high-quality Swiss calibers with very different price points. The lack of real data becomes a point of curiosity for Aaron as he continues learning what actually sets one movement apart from another.

Last week Marc and Aaron were talking about how perfect the Ranger would be if it were 36mm. And what does Tudor announce this week? A 36mm Ranger. Maybe they’re listening.Aaron gives a NA Sierra Nevada a try and decides it is not very drinkable. Marc goes in a different direction with some single barrel Old Forester. Between sips, the guys dig into the new Ranger lineup, including the Dune colorway, which neither of them can quite warm up to. Marc is also convinced that Tudor is mocking him with a 19mm lug width.Next, the guys work through the 2025 GPHG Awards. They find the whole event hard to relate to, but a few pieces stand out, especially the “Challenge” category winner, a $700 Dennison that proves how strong value can be under CHF 3,000.They wrap with a look at the new Planet Ocean by Omega and circle back to the Pelagos, which might be their ultimate (or Ultra) choice for a modern, tough diver.Next week is Thanksgiving and Marc will be back in Kentucky. It may be a while before the next episode but there will be plenty to talk about when they return.

Marc is back from Kentucky, fresh off celebrating Brian’s son’s wedding, a weekend packed with family, stories, and those reminders of why friendships matter. The guys settle in with a fall-appropriate stout and dunkle and pick up where they left off: Vaer.This week, the new Vaer × Worn & Wound × Topo Designs release takes center stage. Marc argues it’s the perfect watch for people who care more about the outdoors than watch forums. Aaron, meanwhile, has been “testing” the accuracy of his A7 with two straight weeks of wear and has discovered it runs six seconds fast. He is now debating whether to regulate it, even though once it goes back into regular rotation that adjustment will never matter. Marc can’t help but poke fun at the level of obsession.That launches a familiar discussion about the dream “do-everything Explorer.” Would we ditch most of our collections for that one perfect field watch? Short answer: no. But the conversation leads Marc to imagine a more compact Tudor Ranger, and Aaron to float the IWC 36mm Pilot, something he hopes to try on during his next trip to Denver.A little family, a little beer, a lot of field watches. The good stuff.

Aaron picked up another Vaer, so we crack open some beers and compare his newest field watch to the one he bought back in Episode 17. How does it stack up in day-to-day wear, and does it justify a second look at the brand? We get into it.Marc also has a new addition. He has been refining his collection and letting pieces go, but he added a second Black Bay 58, this time in navy. The BB58 continues to be a nearly perfect watch in Marc’s world, and owning two just makes sense at this point.The conversation takes a turn thanks to a Blancpain Villeret sighting at Keeneland, sending us down a small, gold, vintage dress-watch rabbit hole. We talk a couple Grand Seiko ref. J14070s and then bring ourselves back to reality by landing on the Seiko Alpinist Champion ref. 85899 as a more practical “wear-once-or-twice-a-year” piece.A new Vaer, a second Black Bay 58, and a little trip through elegant vintage watch territory. Grab a beer and join us.

Felix skips school for a good cause: Berea College’s 150th Mountain Day... and runs into Aaron there, who immediately approves of the decision. Both are, unsurprisingly, wearing Seikos.Meanwhile, Marc’s daughter Olivia and Felix spend the week exploring Colorado: catching the fall colors, touring a college campus, and making it all the way to Great Sand Dunes National Park.On the watch front, Marc is still pining for the perfect “one watch”... the 36mm white-dial Oyster Perpetual (Ref. 116000). The guys also take a detour into watches they wouldn’t necessarily own, out-of-character picks that still have their attention. Marc’s intrigued by the Christopher Ward Loco, a Limited Edition collaboration with Worn & Wound: The Brooklynite in warm gray (naturally, Marc’s always in favor of warm gray). Aaron’s drawn to the Santos de Cartier in titanium, complete with a bead-blasted case and bracelet... probably no surprise, given his current bead-blasting kick.

Marc returns from Texas with stories of barbecue, tacos, indie beers... and even a stop at the Alamo, where Pee Wee’s bike really is on display now. He wraps the week with the full-on spectacle of a Texas A&M football game, complete with endless traditions and an absolutely wild fan base. After all that heat, he’s glad to be back in Denver.With the wrist check and beer check out of the way (seriously, beer sponsors call us), Aaron surprises us yet again with a new pickup from the TGN Slack buy/sell/trade subgroup: the Vaer C3 Tradition Field—36mm, USA Solar. That sparks a long dive into three Explorer-inspired field watches in the 36mm sweet spot, all powered by the robust, reliable, and affordable Miyota 9-series movement: the Vaer, the Traska Summiteer, and the Lorier Falcon.Marc finds himself clearly drawn toward one, and now Aaron owns another... but the real fun is in exploring what separates these three very different brands while they’re making such similar watches.

The guys are catching up after Aaron’s trip to Denver, starting with wrist checks and beverage checks. Marc shares his love for Forstner bracelets on the Black Bay 58, while Aaron preps for DC with his Grand Seiko and talks about missing his SARB, which he shipped out for a new crystal and a full bead-blast. The two dig into mid-range Seiko releases, Lorier’s new quick-adjust clasp, and Hamilton’s latest field watch. They also retell their stops into Topo Designs’ flagship store and Denver’s Right Time watch shop (where Aaron spotted the Doxa 750). Beer, bags, bracelets—and even a music recommendation from Marc (Making Good Time by Ben Bridwell and Sam Beam)—make this a true return to form.

Marc recounts three unforgettable nights of My Morning Jacket in Colorado—outdoor venues that feel almost cosmic in their magic. From the intimacy of Dillon Amphitheater, with lake and mountain views at sunset, to the legendary Red Rocks, these stages were made for the soaring sound of Louisville’s own MMJ, who seem to love Colorado every bit as much as Colorado loves them. Even without traveling, Marc’s mind was out exploring the universe. Along the way, he ran into fellow Kentuckians—including someone from a company he once branded, Copperhead Environmental Consulting. Small world, but somehow Paint Lick feels like the center of it all.Meanwhile, Aaron shocks no one (and everyone) with yet another Seiko pickup—this time a new-old-stock Seiko 5 field watch with the 7S26 movement. It’s simple, rugged, and ready to take whatever he throws at it. Can a $100 watch really hold its own against the Grand Seiko? We’ll see… but for now, his Seiko arc feels complete.The guys also dive into some British watch talk. Marc is intrigued by the new INTEGRA from Farer but finds himself still longing for a Fears Brunswick. Coincidentally, the Brunswick is also sitting open on Aaron’s tab this week. Seems like both are feeling the pull of these finely crafted British pieces.

Marc’s back in Denver after a work week in Kentucky and some in-person time with the kids—and with Aaron and Teri. Meanwhile, Aaron heads to D.C. for work, delivering a special piece to the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery and squeezing in a few watch stops around town (and yes, he feels perfectly safe).Aaron also tries on a 40mm Luminor with a surprisingly great fit and a wild metal bracelet, the IWC Mark 20 with an equally impressive bracelet, and a JLC Polaris with an incredibly detailed dial.Back in Denver, Marc has gone down the fluted bezel two-tone rabbit hole… so much so that there might be a new t-shirt in the merch store soon that simply says, “Put a fluted bezel on it.”

The guys are back after some time away, swapping stories from recent adventures. We love having the flexibility to step away, reconnect with loved ones, and come back with tales to tell.Marc shares his first-ever kayaking trip off Vancouver Island—complete with a close encounter with seals. Aaron and his family head to New York City, where (luckiest guy ever) he manages to fit in some watch adventures, including a great experience at Grand Seiko that redeems the story from the previous episode. Along the way, Teri discovers a special watch—stay tuned for a future episode on that one.Aaron also gives a mini review of his new-to-him Grand Seiko, which arrived just before the trip. It proved to be the perfect companion for a week of NYC views, a Broadway show, great food, and reconnecting with friends.We recorded this episode in person at Aaron’s kitchen table—the very spot where the podcast idea was born! The setup was a little different this time, so you might notice a few audio quirks. But trust us: it’s all about the stories, and we’re thrilled to share them with you.

Marc tries to fast-forward through the formalities, but settles into the usual wrist (and beer) check before getting to the big news: Aaron just landed his dream Grand Seiko—thanks to some impressive maneuvering and a little help from the TGN Slack.The guys dig into what Seiko means to Aaron, how it’s shaped his collecting journey, and why his watches feel like an extension of his personality. It’s a story of timing, community, and the inevitably Grand outcome.

Marc, Felix, and Rachel head to Rocky Mountain National Park for a weekend of camping, hiking, and unplugging. Meanwhile, Aaron begins installing an art project at Boone Tavern’s Crafted restaurant—a celebration of Student Craft design and tradition.Back on the watch front, Marc has CWC field watches on the brain, while Aaron brings up a timepiece that sparks a conversation about whether some watches cross into “dress up” or even full-on “cosplay.” In the end, they agree: wear what makes you happy. If that includes a wizard hat, so be it.

It’s summer. It’s hot. And we’ve made it to Episode 10!Aaron is fully appreciating the quick micro-adjust on his VPC Type 37HW, while Marc and Felix are gearing up for Grateful Dead Night at the Colorado Rapids—expect stories (and maybe tie-dye) in the next episode.Marc rekindles his love for the Zodiac Super Sea Wolf, thanks to Felix’s clever plan: wear it himself until Marc couldn’t resist. It’s now back on wrist, especially for pulling espresso shots using the “30” mark on the bezel.In this week’s Tabs Open section, Marc has a strange trio on his radar: a Brew, an Accutron, and a faithful Seiko reissue—coffee, tuning forks, and clean vintage lines. Meanwhile, Aaron comes out of nowhere with Panerai on the brain. Did they finally make a right-sized watch that sheds some of the brand’s baggage?Plus, a full-circle moment: Aaron’s daughter is traveling through Canada, swimming in the same waters where he once wore his original Tag Heuer Formula 1—now it’s on her wrist, continuing the journey.

In this episode, branding takes center stage—and Marc couldn’t be happier. He even breaks out a chart to rate beloved (and not-so-beloved) brands on a sliding scale of emotional connection vs. design execution. It's nerdy, subjective, and somewhat revealing.Aaron’s still neck-deep in his college project and flirting with the idea of bead blasting his SARB. Meanwhile, Marc celebrates Father’s Day in the mountains with Felix and his wife—camping, hiking, and soaking it all in.When it comes to Open Tabs, Aaron might’ve missed the assignment but still delivers two standout watches. Marc, of course, brings it back to logos.

This week, Aaron heads to Michigan to be there for his dad’s surgery—where a nurse sparks an unexpected watch conversation that offers a welcome distraction and a reminder of the surprising, generous community around this hobby.Marc and Felix take a softroading detour through the Rockies. Meanwhile, Marc’s helping his brother research his first mechanical watch (hello, Seiko 5 GMT).Back at the mics, neither host planned it, but both show up with Seikos in the “open tab” segment. From Grand Seiko elegance to a new Presage release, we may have accidentally wandered into the Land of Seiko… and we’re not mad about it.

Episode 7: In our first episode with guests, Aaron and Marc welcome Marc’s son Felix and longtime friend Brian for a special conversation about music, memory, and the things that connect us. We kick things off with a wrist check and a t-shirt check, then dive into stories of memorable concerts, favorite songs, and how the Grateful Dead has woven its way into our lives.Brian shares how the podcast has made him “timepiece curious,” while Felix reflects on what it means to share a love of music with Brian and a love of watches with Aaron — his two honorary uncles.From cherished setlists to a shared sense of history, we explore how both music and watches create community, mark time, and remind us to stay present.

Episode 6: A surprise sighting of endangered Right Whales off the Gulf Coast sets the tone for a conversation about design, legacy, and the things that surface when we’re paying attention.In this episode, Marc shares the details of spotting these elusive giants near the Florida-Alabama coastline — a reminder that even in familiar places, surprises can arise when you least expect them. From there, the conversation drifts into watch territory, including a deep dive into Lorier — a modern brand designing watches that feel like new old stock. We talk about what sets them apart from legacy brands, and why their focus on enthusiast-driven design feels refreshingly intentional.And speaking of surprises, Aaron makes an impulsive watch purchase that sparks a conversation about so-called “boring watches” — understated, versatile pieces that might just be the most wearable of them all.

Episode 5: Marc recaps a quick Vegas trip to see Dead & Co with his old pal, John (not that John). Aaron's been deep in projects and rocking his G-Shock in the shop—plus a sobering visit to tornado-hit Eastern Kentucky. We eventually get to watches: Marc’s on a “one-watch collection” kick again, inspired by John's watch (still not that John), and Aaron’s circling the idea of a perfect field watch. No Mayer talk, surprisingly.

Episode 4: In this episode, Marc and Aaron explore how their approaches to watch collecting differ—and complement each other. Marc is guided by aesthetics and how a watch makes him feel, while Aaron is captivated by the mechanics and craftsmanship behind the dial. They also dive into recent watches that have caught their attention, including the new Tudor Black Bay Pro, which sparks memories of a day trip to Cincinnati and a close encounter with the Explorer II. It's a conversation about obsession, appreciation, and the joy of discovery—one tick of 31,536,000 at a time.

Episode 3: In this episode, Marc and Aaron explore the meaning behind milestone watches. Aaron recently celebrated his daughter’s graduation with their extended family, marking the moment by gifting her a watch box he made and an heirloom Seiko. The conversation turns to family stories, sentimental pieces—including a watch worn daily for over 60 years—and the idea of owning just one watch (a nice thought, anyway). They also share the watches currently on their minds—and the ones that just might become treasures down the line.

Episode 2: Since Episode 1 dropped, Marc made a work trip to Kentucky and stayed with Aaron — this time with his son Felix along for the ride. Felix had a front-row seat when Aaron started making his very serious case that dive watch depth ratings are basically irrelevant... all while proudly wearing his Seiko Tuna rated for 300 meters. He caught the hypocrisy immediately. Meanwhile, Aaron’s wife is thinking about buying a watch of her own — adding even more fun to the weekend. The guys float a new idea: maybe instead of the usual wrist-check, they start a segment called "The Tabs We Can’t Close" — watches we're obsessing over right now.

Episode 1: In blogging, "Hello World" typically refers to the default blog post that is automatically created during installation, as a placeholder. In this episode we share a bit of our backstory—who we are, how we met, and how this interest in watches started. We talk about our first watches and passing them down to our kids. We're here telling time through stories AND specs. See photos, notes and links on our website, caseinpointpodcast.com.