Burlingame & Park
Burlingame & Park is a podcast from Topper Fine Jewelers, a third-generation family-owned watch and jewelry store in downtown Burlingame, California. Hosted by Zachary Piña with Russ and Rob Caplan, it explores the world of watch collecting, its stories, personalities, and notable timepieces. The show draws on the store's connections within the watch community. It offers conversations for enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
Episodes
EP86: There's a New "Watchmaker's Watchmaker" in Town
Rob and Zach's Switzerland adventures continue with a report from the Vaucher Manufacture, home of Parmigiani Fleurier, and as we would soon learn, many other very interesting high-end brands as well, confirming all suspicions that the *real* "watchmaker's watchmaker" crown might no longer reside in its traditional home of Le Sentier, but right here in the sleepy Swiss town of Fl
EP85: Live from the Attic of Charles Vermot
No one's ever recorded a podcast from the fabled Zenith attic – you know the one, where watchmaker Charles Vermot once hid away the tooling and materials used to make the El Primero movement, a rebellious decision that would ultimately save the company and cement his name in watchmaking lore. Today, Rob and Zach finally had a chance to climb the steps into the attic and record a very special e
EP84: Five Things You Should Definitely Know About Ressence feat. Alexis Sarkissian
Ressence is one of those brands that we've always loved from afar, but now that the Belgian indie has finally come to Burlingame, it's time for us to learn everything there is to know – and there is a lot. But these are the first five things that we think every collector should know about Ressence – and just to make sure we got the details right, for this week's episode, we tapped our
EP83: No, We Still Haven't Seen 'The Odyssey'
The boys are back in front of the mic after a week off, as we dive headlong into the dog days of summer with a full plate of watches to still reconnect on. And no, we still haven't seen 'The Odyssey' yet. As always, you can reach us for questions and comments at podcast@topperjewelers.com. Thanks for your support, and thanks for listening!Follow the boys on Instagram: • Russ:
EP82: The Fastest Man in the WatchFam, with David Verburg
As we kick off #SharkWeek in Burlingame with the launch of our newest DOXA 'Great White' Topper Edition, we're sitting down with Olympic gold medalist and DOXA collector David Verburg to talk track & field, Dutch tableware, and what makes these Great White editions just so cool. As always, you can reach the boys for questions and comments at podcast@topperjewelers.com. Thanks for y
EP81: Our Two Newest Brand Obsessions, with Pascal Béchu
Summer in Burlingame is in full swing, and while the watch industry tends to breathe a collective sigh of relief, the team has been hard at work bringing in a hat trick of new indies to the store. And this week on the pod, we’ve had a chance to sit down with the man behind two of them: Pascal Béchu, CEO of both Angelus, and Arnold & Son. In this special interview, we learn more about why we’re
EP80: When Mikaela Shiffrin Came to Burlingame
We're still buzzing from having Mikaela Shiffrin in the store – so this week, the boys reflect on what it was like having the actual GOAT of alpine skiing in our midst, while Rob joins remotely to share exactly why he's been exploring the French port city of Marseille with our friends at Jacques Bianchi. As always, you can reach the boys for questions and comments at podcast@topperjewelers
EP79: Why Was Lou Gehrig 'The Luckiest Man?' feat. VJ Geronimo
It's sure looking like Oris has one of the summer's hottest watches, with the launch of the new Pointer Date Lou Gehrig Edition earlier this week, so we tapped our longtime pal and official three-time Friend of the Pod® Oris CEO of The Americas, VJ Geronimo for a little insight into this special edition, which sheds some light on the life and legacy of the Iron Horse himself. As always, you can re
EP78: How to Be a 'Friend of the Pod' at First Look 2026
What do you do when all your friends are in town for First Look? Get 'em all on the pod, one at a time in the biergarten – that's what. This week on Burlingame & Park, we've got not one, not two, not three, but four very official Friends of the Pod™️ each joining the boys for a lightning round to chat about their respective 2026 novelties, Monterey aquarium inspiration, the soba sw
EP77: The Updated Three Watch Collection with Kat Shoulders
Longtime listener, first time caller – today on Burlingame & Park, the boys sit down with watch industry insider, podcaster, collector, and Worn & Wound Media Director Kat Shoulders to talk Watches & Wonders hangovers and update her very first story on W&W (from back in 2022) with a fresh three-watch collection. As always, you can reach the boys for questions and comments at podcas
EP76: Why This Watch is Going to the Moon
...Because why not?The boys are all back in Burlingame, and resting up for a busy few weeks of the WindUP and First Look show events. And this week, we have not one, but two very special guests in the studio, each making their debut on the pod. First up, we have none other than Rob and Russ' mother Shelly sharing a very special Mother's Day message, followed by our pal (and new Friend of t
EP75: Best in Show, Watches and Wonders 2026 Edition
This week on the pod, the boys are live from Watches & Wonders 2026 and running on fumes (ok, that's Zach, mostly), but sharing all of their first impressions from going hands-on with all of the coolest watches of the year. Don't miss our full shop curation of all the newest pre-orders from Geneva now live on the site. As always, you can reach the boys for questions and comments at pod
EP74: Crowning a New Value Champion from Longines
"Always the bridesmaid, never the bride" as the saying could go for Longines, but in 2026, the refreshed 3-hand Hydroconquest is the hottest ticket in town, and the boys are here to break it all down while sharing thoughts on a few new releases from Seiko and Omega, while Russ does his best to not get in trouble while offering a sneak peek of a new brand coming to Topper later this year.
EP73: Another Mystery Omega
For the first time in more than a few weeks, the boys are all back under one roof on a sunny day in Burlingame to chat about all the latest watch news, a few new arrivals (including an NWA for Zach), and to speculate on the all-important Omega 'teaser' on the wrist of Delroy Lindo at the Oscar's ceremony. As always, you can reach the boys for questions and comments at podcast@topperjew
EP72: All Our Deepest Tracks with Blake Buettner
Russ has just returned from his adventures in East Asia, so while he sleeps off the jetlag, we tapped our pal Blake Buettner, founder of The Deep Track to sound off on all his favorite hidden gems and deep cuts in modern (though not-quite-nü-vintage) watchmaking. Call it the "pre-Instagram" era, and dive right in. As always, you can reach the boys for questions and comments at podcast@to
EP71: The British Watchmaking Invasion
It's a rainy week in both Bristol and Burlingame, and while our fearless leader Russ is off on a rumspringa in far East Asia, sitting in for Russ is our longtime pal, sixth generation Managing Director of Fears, Nicholas Bowman Scargill to talk about the latest generation of exciting British brands (including Fears' own ten-year anniversary) who are collectively bringing watchmaking back t
EP70: Breitling's Big Year
With its NFL and newly announced F1 partnerships, as well as planned revivals for legacy makers Gallet and Universal Geneve, it's shaping up to be a big year indeed for the Breitling House of Brands. This week on Burlingame & Park, the boys are sharing their thoughts on what we can expect from the House, as well as impressions of a slew of new arrivals to Burlingame. As always, you can rea
EP69: Put it in Reverse
Burlingame & Park is back for 2026! And in this week's episode, the boys reflect on Omega's traditional hot start with the new Speedmaster Moonwatch 'Reverse Panda,' while checking in with a few other recent arrivals and speculating on what we might be seeing from LVMH Watch Week. As always, you can reach the boys for questions and comments at podcast@topperjewelers.com. Thanks
EP68: The First Annual 'Parky' Awards
"...And the Parky goes to..."Yes indeed, Burlingame & Park finally has its own prestigious award, and this week on the pod, the boys are doling out a series of freshly minted Parkys while breaking down their top picks and biggest surprises of the year. Oh, and be sure to stick around after the awards for some personalized holiday gift picks, as well as one final 'By the Way'
EP67: How Zenith Brought Our 'Biolume' Dreams to Life, feat. Romain Marietta
The Zenith Defy Extreme Diver 'Biolume' Topper Edition is quite possibly the most complicated, high-concept collaborative edition that Topper has ever made, and today on the pod, we're taking a deep dive into its concept and development with Chief Products Officer Romain Marietta. As always, you can reach the boys for questions and comments at podcast@topperjewelers.com. Thanks for you
EP66: Back in Shark-Infested Waters with the DOXA SUB 250T GMT 'Great White'
"Ebel Gisele Brasilia" – say that five times fast! This week, the boys go so far off the beaten path you'd think they were on a completely different podcast. But this is indeed Burlingame & Park, and once the ship is finally brought back around (after a lengthy deleted tangent on the Concord Watch Company and a heavily edited tangent on the Ebel Brasilia), the boys are sharing th
EP65: What We Got Right (And Wrong) About the New Planet Ocean
The pod we've all been waiting to make is finally here. Back in February of 2025 (Episode 46), we predicted that we would get a new Planet Ocean collection to celebrate the line's 20th anniversary – and today, we finally have a chance to go hands-on with the new collection and see just what we got right in that predictions episode, and what we got wrong. Oh, and be sure to stick around for
EP64: A Special Grand Seiko AMA with Joe Kirk
You know him – you love him, and now Joe Kirk is back on the pod for a third time, but for this episode, we thought we'd shift the questions over to the #watchfam – and took as many of your questions for Joe as we could in the short time we had him. As always, you can reach the boys for questions and comments at podcast@topperjewelers.com. Thanks for your support, and thanks for listening!
EP63: The Most Important Watch Measurement is Not What You Think
Ever wondered how a 38mm watch could wear large? Or how a 46mm watch could feel more like a 42? This week, the boys are packing a pair of digital calipers to unpack an optical illusion and solve an age-old mystery on why size certainly matters, but perhaps not using the traditional watch measurements we're accustomed to seeing. We're also tapping in with new store arrivals, spooky movie pi
EP62: Returning to the Dark Side
Are you "team Vader" or "team Grey Side?" This week, the boys are venturing back to the dark side for some hands-on impressions straight from the Scottsdale launch of the new Omega Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon collection. As always, you can reach the boys for questions and comments at podcast@topperjewelers.com. Thanks for your support, and thanks for listening! Topper&
EP61: 180 Years of Watchmaking in Glashütte feat. Stephen Kounas
Prost! Fall is in the air, Oktoberfest is right around the corner, and certified Friend of the Pod® Stephen Kounas (President of Glashütte Original, North America) is back to drop even more knowledge – this time, he's schooling us on the sleepy Saxony town of Glashütte, as well as the brand's new dial manufactory which is now up and running. Catch yourself up from Stephen's last appear
EP60: Eyes on the Stars, a Globemaster Deep Dive
It’s been ten years since Omega launched the Globemaster, and without an anniversary edition or celebration in sight, we thought we’d hold our own, with a special deep dive on one of the most wildly underrated, and story-rich references in the maker’s archive. As always, you can reach the boys for questions and comments at podcast@topperjewelers.com. Thanks for your support, and thanks for listeni
EP59: C'mon, What's In the Box?
After a short breather for the long Labor Day weekend, the boys are back on the mic as we look to Geneva Watch Days for a flurry of exciting new releases, including a surprising and epic new collaboration between our favorite Le Locle maker and a famed Swiss furniture maker – both of whom, soared to new heights in the late 1960s. As always, you can reach the boys for questions and comments at podc
EP58: A Deep Dive on the Ultimate GADA
It's no secret that the Burlingame & Park crew has a soft spot for Omega, and ever since our "Twenty Years of the Planet Ocean" episode back in February of this year, the boys have been looking for an excuse to do a similar deep dive on the Seamaster Aqua Terra – the ultimate GADA (Go-Anywhere-Do-Anything) watch, and a watch that has a whole lot more collectability and range than
EP57: The Boys Get it in One Take
This week, the boys unintentionally get their first "oner" while going over all of the newest arrivals to the store from Glashütte Original, Omega, Blancpain, and lots more. There's also another impromptu UPS delivery and unboxing of a very coveted Seiko, that you're not going to want to miss. As always, you can reach the crew for questions and comments at podcast@topperjewelers.
EP56: A Rare Look Inside "The Farm"
Fan-favorite guest Jay (@shespeakswatch) is back in the hot seat to share her latest watchmaking adventure: a journey to Switzerland's famed Vallée de Joux for a peek inside "the farm," the haute horology arm of the Blancpain manufacture. But this wasn't just any production visit, and there was nary a Fifty Fathoms to be seen, because as Jay explains, this was a rare, exclusive l
EP55: Nine Perfect Summer Watches
What is the perfect summer watch? Is it a colorful, affordable Seiko? Or a burly dive watch bristling with all the latest technology? Or perhaps a hybrid combination of both? This week on the pod, the guys each pick three of their favorite summer watches in a spirited roundtable style draft where only one trio will emerge victorious. With "Summer Vibes," "Under $1,000" and &quo
EP54: How the Superocean Made Waves in 1957 feat. Breitling Global Head of Heritage Gianfranco Gentile
Fresh off the heels of Breitling's summer blockbuster release of the Superocean Heritage, the boys had a chance to sit down with Breitling's Global Head of Heritage Gianfranco Gentile to talk about the origins of this unique dive watch, and how it made such a lasting impact since its launch in 1957 – an impact that still persists, now with the launch of the newest Heritage line nearly 70 y
EP53: What a Manufacture Visit Teaches Us About Life
This week on Burlingame & Park, Russ is in Las Vegas for the Couture show, so we tapped Topper's very own Jay Liu, who just returned from a life-changing visit to the Parmigiani manufacture in Fleurier. Rob is also freshly returned from a visit to the Omega manufacture in Bienne, and together, these two visits formed very distinctly different, but opposing sides of the same watchmaking coi
EP52: Our Spiciest Subway Takes with Worn & Wound Co-Founder Zach Weiss
Does micro-adjust actually matter? Should watch dials really have all that extra writing on them? Does the next Gerald Genta already walk among us? This week the boys are looking to ruffle some feathers around the #watchfam with our own spiciest subway takes, and who better to tap in for this one than our longtime pal and resident New Yorker, Worn&Wound co-founder Zach Weiss. As always, you ca
EP51: Unboxing Something We've Never Seen Before
Lots to unpack in this week's jam-packed episode, where the boys take you through a few highlights on the ground at Topper's third annual First Look, before settling down in the Biergarten to chat about Rob's shopping adventures in Tokyo, and unbox an Omega watch that none of us had ever seen before. Spoiler alert: it's not a Speedmaster. As always, you can reach the boys for quest
EP50: What to Expect at First Look (The Watches & Wonders Comedown)
How do you beat jetlag? This week on Burlingame & Park, Zach shares the ultimate travel hack, Russ tries to find his voice in the bottom of a cup of Earl Grey, and Rob shares the latest on his beloved Washington Wizards. Of course we're also coming down from Watches & Wonders, and have a chance to unpack a few more thoughts – and one very special pair of watches that went undiscussed on ou
EP49: The Very Best of Watches & Wonders 2025
This is it – Christmas in April, the global #watchfam's Super Bowl: Watches & Wonders is here, and Russ and Zach are chiming in live from the banks of the Rhone River on the famous QDB in Geneva (with Rob joining remotely) with all their picks, favorites, and show surprises. As always, you can reach the boys for questions and comments at podcast@topperjewelers.com. Thanks for your support, and
EP48: In the Hot Seat for Your Most Burning Questions
This week, the Topper Dunk Tank®️ makes its official debut on Burlingame & Park as we bring in a few members of the Topper family into the studio hot seat to answer a few of the most common questions they routinely get from the #watchfam. Of course that means our very own Jay (@shespeakswatch) makes a long-awaited return, and this time she's joined by fellow team members Sandy (@sandygmt), Joe
EP47: Popping Some Confetti with Nicholas Bowman-Scargill
Longtime listeners know that we love Fears Watches, and folks close to the Caplan family know of the challenging journey that Rob and his son John have been on for the last four years, which is why this particular episode is all about a story that's been percolating for a very long time – one that's about more than just watches, and it's one that's truly a reason to celebrate. And
EP46: Twenty Years with the Planet Ocean
When it was introduced in 2005, many of us might not have realized at the time, but we were privy to a front-row seat of the launch of what would soon become a proper modern dive watch icon. Flash-forward twenty years, the boys are here to embark on their first big deep dive into two decades of the Planet Ocean, calling out subtle differences in Co-Axial movement tech, aesthetic and design changes
EP45: In Defense of the "Upside-Down" Wrist Shot
The boys have braved the first big winter storm of 2025 and paddled their way to Burlingame to check out some of the coolest and newest arrivals to the store, wax nostalgic on their favorite casebacks of all time, and debate whether or not a pocket wrist shot is 'correct' when it's positioned upside-down to the camera (but 'correct' to the wearer). And listener take note: Zach
EP44: Our 2025 Predictions, and the Story of Oris' "Little Hero"
2025 wasted no time in gifting us with plenty of exciting new watches, and for our first pod of the new year, the boys are tapping in with the Oris Diver 65 60th Anniversary Edition, a lovely tribute edition to an Oris original (the brand's 'little hero,' in CEO Rolf Studer's own words), and the not-so-distant-cousin of a Topper Edition we ourselves did, some 9 years ago.
The boys
EP43: What Does 'Flight Qualified' Mean Anyway?
Our final pod of 2024 is here, and we're tying one off with a few of our favorite watches of the year, including a breakdown of Omega's epic new Speedmaster Pilot – a reference illustrating the Bienne maker was really saving the best for last.
All of our picks from this episode are pulled from our Top Ten roundup here on the site, so click through to see the full breakdown. Oh, and don't forget t
EP42: Unboxing Our New DOXA Sub 300 'Great White' Topper Edition
It's our biggest NWA of the year as the boys unbox #001 of the DOXA Sub 300 'Great White' – our 15th collaborative edition, this time with a beloved and legendary dive watch maker.
In this Episode, the boys share the inspiration for this special collaboration (the shark-infested waters surrounding the Farallon Islands), and go deep on the watch's unique design signatures to reveal the concepts be
EP41: It's Always Sunny in Burlingame
The boys can't seem to get enough of the Topper Biergarten while the weather is still great (make hay while the sun shines, right?), and are back recording outside talking about Burlingame Blue, some new fall arrivals, including an all-important fit check with the incredible new Parmigiani Toric. And be sure to stick around to the end for an exclusive inside scoop on Topper's next collaborative ed
EP40: Everything You Were Afraid to Ask About Spring Drive feat. Joe Kirk
The boys are back in the Biergarten watching our new mural come to life, and going deep on the complexity and technology powering the Grand Seiko Spring Drive movement. Once again, we're joined by our good pal Joe Kirk, Grand Seiko's Brand Curator who's got plenty of amazing insider insight on just what makes these movements so revolutionary.
As always, you can reach the boys for questions and co
EP39: An Easter Egg Inside an Easter Egg feat. Stephen Kounas
Listen closely, and you might catch the faint whistle of the 3:58 Caltrain arriving at Burlingame Station – that's because this week, we're coming at you from our usual Burlingame home, but under the Northern California sunshine in Topper's brand new Biergarten, courtesy of our friends at Glashütte Original. And speaking of this amazing German maker, we're sitting down with Glashütte Original Nort
EP38: Watchmaking Runs Through His Veins, feat. Romain Marietta
Many months in the making, our good friend Romain Marietta, Head of Product Design at Zenith finally made the long journey to Burlingame, and naturally, we're thrilled to have him back on the podcast (our first repeating guest) to chat about Zenith's not-so-distant past, its present, and some very exciting hints at its future. And per usual, Romain is not one to stay completely buttoned-up on bran
EP37: We Finally Set the Record Straight
Not to name names, but we *might* have gotten a little out over our skis earlier this summer when discussing the feature set of a certain soon-to-be-launched dive watch, and now that said watch has been released, we're here to set the record straight on a few details of its specifications that we didn't get quite right. (And Rob regrets the error.)
As always, you can reach the boys for que
EP36: No, *You're* Terrific
Long time listener, first time caller – this week on B&P, the boys are checking in with our good pal Evan (owner & host of the delightful You're Terrific YouTube channel) to talk about watch collecting and making YouTube watch reviews, along with his penchant for playing bad music (and curating great music), salsa dancing, and a whole lot more. Rob also tries to get to the bottom of &q
EP35: Come Sail Away (How *Does* a Regatta Timer Work?)
We're not sailors, but the boys are all back in California, recording remotely and happy to pretend for a day that we know how a regatta timer works, with the start of the America's Cup about to kick off in Spain. We're also checking in with all of the newest releases from Geneva Watch Days, the formal introduction of the fall launch calendar from all our favorite brands in Switzerland
EP34: What is a “Secret Handshake Watch?" with Wesley Smith of Standard H
It's a special one in Burlingame this week, with Rob briefly joining us via telephone from his Olympic sojourn (moments after the historic men's basket ball final, no less), but sitting in his stead is none other than Wesley Smith, our good friend from Standard H who's here to do a live unboxing of his latest watch buy, and talk community building, watch collecting, and a bit about tho
EP33: How Omega Doesn't Make Just Watches
With the 2024 Olympic Games going full speed ahead in Paris this week, the boys are tapping in with the world of Omega and the Bienne maker's longstanding relationship with timekeeping the games since 1932. Did you know that Omega isn't just the official timekeeper, but also the manufacturer of virtually all of the instruments used in timing the games? This includes the starter pistols, th
EP32: The Secret Sauce at Oris, with Engineer Richard 'Ipy' Siegrist
For the better part of the last decade or so, Oris has quietly carved out a reputation of being a leading independent with a heavy focus on watchmaking innovations driven by science and a startup mentality. Watches like the Aquis Depth Gauge and the ProPilot Altimeter immediately spring to mind, but newer innovations in carbon fiber casemaking and wild dial design are also being pioneered – all sp
EP31: The Final Word on Helium Release Valves According to Jason Heaton
What makes a great dive watch? How much water resistance do you really need? How exactly does a helium release valve work and do I really need one? We all love dive watches, but these are the questions that we hear regularly, and who better to answer them than *actual* friend of the pod, none other than author, adventurer, and diver Jason Heaton?
Indeed – grab your mask and fins, and settle in, t
EP30: Breitling and the Amazing Technicolor Diver
So what's the deal with rainbow watches? This week, on the heels of a very cool new Breitling Superocean Rainbow launch, the boys peel back all the layers on this techinicolor trend, before checking in with all the newest arrivals to topperjewelers.com.
You'll also not want to miss our June 29th event with author and diver Jason Heaton – this event will fill up, so RSVP here to get yoursel
EP29: It's Christmas in June with All This Summer Newness
We couldn't have called it, but after a relatively quiet start to the summer, all it took was one #SpeedyTuesday to set things abuzz. This week on Burlingame & Park, the boys are reflecting on what's turned into the busiest product launch week since Watches & Wonders, with new releases from Omega, Singer, Breitling, King Seiko, Oris, G-Shock, and more — and best of all, many of the
EP28: Inside Omega's Incredible Robo-Powered Manufactory
After a one-week hiatus, the boys are all back under one roof – Zach is back from Copenhagen, Russ is back from jort-skiing Palisades on the second-to-last weekend of the season, and Rob has returned from a journey through Omega's epic new manufactory – y'know, the solar-powered campus designed by renowned Japanese architect Shigeru Ban, wherein a state-of-the-art robot tirelessly sorts ov
EP27: Painting Behind the Radiator
Two guests in one show? You better believe it – buckle up for a very special episode of Burlingame & Park, where we rescue our very good friend Joe Kirk from the Topper First Look mob to talk about his role as Brand Curator, and the most complicated dial Grand Seiko has ever made. Then a few short days later, we welcome our pal and Fears Managing Director Nicholas Bowman-Scargill back into Bur
EP26: A Mostly Live, Mostly Serious Awards Show from Geneva
You win some, you lose some. And somewhere between splitting the boys between time zones we ran into some technical difficulties in getting all of our Watches & Wonders thoughts transcribed, but fret not — all was not lost, and we are here with a very special episode that was recorded partially in Geneva, and partially back in Burlingame, with the boys sharing their initial reactions, and doli
EP25: No, This is *Not* a Predictions Episode
Wait, why not? Tap in and let the boys explain. Instead of dusting off the crystal ball, Rob, Russ, and Zach are taking a closer look at a few recent arrivals to the store, including one of the hottest modern Speedmasters ever: the Apollo 8, and the many differences that comprise its recent update, the über-cool Mark II. That's not the only cool new Omega in the store though, so listen on for
EP24: The Fifty Fathoms and the Story of Three Millimeters
Burlingame and Park officially turns one year old this week, and for this special birthday episode, the boys are embarking upon a deep dive on the legendary Blancpain Fifty Fathoms to go hands-on with the new, hotly anticipated 42.3mm 5010 Fifty Fathoms, taking all its crucial measurements, sharing on-wrist impressions, and speculating on the future of this mighty dive watch. We also explore the m
EP23: It Came From Outer Space
How does a chunk of iron that once hurtled through space over a million years ago end up as a tiny sliver in the dial of a modern Omega Constellation watch?
This week, the boys of Burlingame are taking a deep dive into meteorite dials – where they come from, how they're made, and just what we love about them. However, along the way, we gladly digress with a conversation on subtleties in case
EP22: Have You Ever Lost a Watch?
Spoiler alert: we have.
The boys are back in Burlingame, and this week, we partake in a spot of Wikipedia vandalism, and each tell a story that we might once have been too ashamed to share. We also share the origins behind our obsession with the "California dial" – a timely conversation with our Fears Topper Editions, and the Bremont x Bamford collaborative sequel which both just droppe
EP21: LVMH Watch Week with Zenith's Real-Life Encyclopedia
The boys are back, and this week they're split between three towns, led by Russ on the ground in Miami at LVMH Watch Week with Romain Marietta, Chief Product Officer for Zenith. Romain has been with Zenith for 16 years and counting – it's where his career began, so there are few people that know this brand quite like he does. We go over all of the Le Locle maker's newest launches, incl
EP20: Our Top Secret “Project Shovel” with Nicholas Bowman-Scargill
The boys are back! We're kicking off our inaugural 2024 recording with a very special guest, and an equally special Topper Edition: the launch of our Fears Series II Capsule, codename "Project Shovel" by our good friend Nicholas Bowman-Scargill.
Nicholas will be joining on this episode to take us through the inspiration and development of each of the four watches in the capsule, whi
EP19: A DOXA Deep Dive and Our 2024 Predictions
Rather than rehash all our favorite watches of 2023 (we recommend Episode 2 for our W&W picks, or Episode 18 for our holiday picks for these highlights), the boys are dusting off the old Topper crystal ball and looking into the future to make predictions and share hopes for what should be another very exciting year in watch releases. We also do a big deep dive into DOXA Watches – the latest br
EP18: The High/Low Holiday Gift Guide
We're just a few short days from Christmas, so in this episode, we get a surprise mystery guest dropping by the store to pick up a very special watch, then the boys tap in with their favorite gift picks – one practical choice, and one proper grail. Maybe these are gifts for loved ones, or we're just projecting and we're really just shopping for ourselves this year. And on that note, wh
EP17: Interview with the Godfather
We're back! After an extra week pause for the Thanksgiving holiday, the boys are back on the mics for a very special interview with none other than Kikuo Ibe, the inventor and godfather of the G-Shock. Word on the street is that while Mr. Ibe has given plenty of interviews in his native Japan, this is the first time he's been on a podcast in the United States, and we're very lucky to h
EP16: 40 Epic Years with the World's Toughest Watch
As we get ready for an epic in-store event with G-Shock and its inventor Kikuo Ibe, the boys survey the G-Shock ownership experience as it spans the simple square-cased DW references favored the brand's godfather, and goes all the way up to the epic MR-G watches that you've just got to see IRL to fully appreciate.
As always, thanks for listening! And don't forget to RSVP to our upcomi
EP15: How Is This Brand Not Bigger? (Or Is It?)
Fresh off the heels of a very successful event with our friends at Longines, we thought we'd take a birds-eye view of this wildly underrated Swiss maker to explore how a brand with incredible history, unbeatable value propositions, and exceptional quality still manages to fly under the radar in 2023.
...Or does it?
As always, thanks for listening! And don't forget to RSVP to our upcoming
EP14: Tales From the Attic
We have a very special guest this week – a member of the Topper band, our very own @shespeakswatch (Jay Liu) is joining us in the studio to talk community, kung-fu legend Bruce Lee, and revisit her time in the hallowed halls of the Zenith attic where she re-tells the story of Charles Vermot, the guardian of the El Primero who helped make Zenith the powerhouse maker that it is today.
Don't for
EP13: Who Wears the Lederhosen at Topper?
Spoiler alert: it's Russ.
This week, the boys are kicking off Oktoberfest with a very special episode rounding up our top picks from the sleepy German watchmaking town of Glashütte, as we prepare for our 'Watchtoberfest' in-store event with Glashütte Original here at Topper. And don't forget to RSVP for that event right here once you're done with this week's listen.
Oh, an
EP12: What the Swatch x Blancpain Will Do for the Fifty Fathoms
Feels a little bit like deja-vu, doesn't it? For Episode 12, the boys are reflecting on the last 18 months of the MoonSwatch while checking in with thoughts and impressions of the new Swatch x Blancpain collaboration. These are, of course not watches that are available at Topper, but how do they leave their mark in our space?
Oh, and we now have an official email! Shoot us a note: podcast@topp
EP11: How Rob Broke His Foot
Don't worry, he's fine. Just a bruised ego and a cool scooter to get around the store for the time being.
For the rest of Episode 11, the boys are sharing their final impressions of the 'Summer Blue' Seamasters, fresh off a visit to La Jolla to see the whole collection in the metal. We also revisit a brief segment with Joe Kirk from Episode 6 (now that we can talk about that US-Ex
EP10: The Best Modern Seiko Diver ...Ever? Unboxing the 2023 62MAS Re-issue with Erik Strickland
Rob has made no attempt to hide his love for the new Seiko Prospex 62MAS re-issue ref. SJE093 but to be absolutely certain that he hadn't just drank a little too much Kool-Aid, we enlisted the help of our good friend and renowned Seiko expert & collector Erik Strickland to unbox the watch and get his unfiltered reactions, and learn just what makes this landmark re-issue so special for Seik
EP9: Singing the Summer Blues with Omega's Epic New Seamasters
Omega's epic 75th Anniversary Seamaster watches are finally landing in-store, and the boys are here to sing the many shades of "Summer Blue" found in the collection. We also discuss in greater depth the new Oris Hank Aaron Limited Edition, as Russ reminisces on seeing Aaron play at Candlestick, and his little league baseball career that never was.
As always, thanks for listening!
EP8: Our Top Ten Favorite New Summer Watches
How is July nearly done already? For Episode 8, the boys are checking in from the epicenter of the WIS empire with nine of their favorite new summer watch arrivals in every color under the sun, each with the specific goal of bringing as much fun to the wrist as possible.
As always, thank you for the comments and reviews – it helps us immensely as our neat little pod is starting to land on recomme
EP7: How a Topper Edition Comes to Life, @watch_diversion Collector Profile
How exactly does a super-collectable collaborative Topper Edition come to life? In this week's episode, Rob, Russ, and Zach chat with a longtime friend and beloved member of the Topper collecting community @watch_diversion to go inside a few of his favorite watches (see below for notes on the specific references pulled from his collection), his collecting philosophy, and how a special one-off
