Superlative

Sébastien Chaulmontet of Albishorn on Chronographs, Speculation, and the Business of Watches

In this episode of Superlative, Ariel Adams sits down with Sébastien Chaulmontet, founder and owner of Albishorn Watches and Director of Innovation and Marketing at Sellita, for a wide ranging and candid discussion on the realities of modern watchmaking. Drawing on decades of experience across design, movement development, and independent brands, Sébastien shares insights into chronograph history, the intent behind his book Chronograph for Collectors, and why true mastery in watchmaking requires time, engineering discipline, and long term thinking rather than early hype. Their conversation expands into a deeper critique of speculation culture, investment driven buying, and the pressures placed on independent watchmakers to sell themselves rather than simply make watches. Ariel and Sébastien unpack how pricing, desirability, distribution, and media narratives have reshaped the industry, why most watches are not investments, and why buying a watch you genuinely want to wear remains the only answer that actually holds up over time. Check out: Albishorn Watches - https://albishorn-watches.ch/ [https://albishorn-watches.ch/] Albishorn on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/albishorn_watches [https://www.instagram.com/albishorn_watches] SUPERLATIVE IS NOW ON YOUTUBE! To check out Superlative on Youtube as well as other ABTW content: - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@ablogtowatch [https://www.youtube.com/@ablogtowatch] To check out the ABTW Shop where you can see our products inspired by our love of Horology: - Shop ABTW - https://store.ablogtowatch.com/ [https://store.ablogtowatch.com/] To keep updated with everything Superlative, aBlogtoWatch Weekly, and aBlogtoWatch, check us out on: - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/ [https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/] - Twitter - https://twitter.com/ABLOGTOWATCH [https://twitter.com/ABLOGTOWATCH] - Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/ [https://www.ablogtowatch.com/] If you enjoy the show please Subscribe, Rate, and Review!

Inside the FHH: Pascal Ravessoud on Education, Culture, and the Watch Industry’s Long Game

In this episode of Superlative, host Ariel Adams speaks with Pascal Ravessoud, Vice President and President of the Cultural Council at the Fondation Haute Horlogerie, about why education and cultural understanding have become central to the future of mechanical watchmaking. Pascal explains the original mission of the FHH, its evolution alongside SIHH, and the decision to separate from Watches and Wonders in order to refocus on independent cultural education rather than commercial exhibition. The conversation explores how the FHH Academy and its certification programs help professionals and enthusiasts develop credible watchmaking knowledge, why passion must be taught rather than assumed in a post digital world, and how exhibitions and global events help translate craftsmanship into experience. Ariel and Pascal also discuss debate, transparency, and long term thinking in an industry shaped by tradition, discretion, and rapid growth, as well as why sustained cultural investment matters as watchmaking continues to expand beyond its original audience. Check out: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/fhh.fondation.haute.horlogerie/ [https://www.instagram.com/fhh.fondation.haute.horlogerie/] - https://www.instagram.com/pascal.rvsd/ [https://www.instagram.com/pascal.rvsd/] Website - https://www.hautehorlogerie.org/ [https://www.hautehorlogerie.org/] SUPERLATIVE IS NOW ON YOUTUBE! To check out Superlative on Youtube as well as other ABTW content: - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@ablogtowatch [https://www.youtube.com/@ablogtowatch] To check out the ABTW Shop where you can see our products inspired by our love of Horology: - Shop ABTW - https://store.ablogtowatch.com/ [https://store.ablogtowatch.com/] To keep updated with everything Superlative, aBlogtoWatch Weekly, and aBlogtoWatch, check us out on: - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/ [https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/] - Twitter - https://twitter.com/ABLOGTOWATCH [https://twitter.com/ABLOGTOWATCH] - Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/ [https://www.ablogtowatch.com/] If you enjoy the show please Subscribe, Rate, and Review!

John Isaac On Artisans de Genève And The Business Of Watch Personalization

In this episode of the Superlative Podcast, host Ariel Adams speaks with John Isaac, founder, CEO, and creative director of Artisans de Genève, about what it truly means to personalize a watch at the highest level. John traces his journey from early restoration work in Paris to building one of the world’s most respected bespoke watch ateliers in Geneva, shaped by his grandfather’s philosophy of dedicating one’s life to serving individual clients. The conversation explores why Artisans de Genève is not a watch brand but a complementary workshop, how legal and cultural realities shape the customization space, and why modifying iconic watches like Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Audemars Piguet requires deep respect for the original DNA. Ariel and John unpack the psychology behind skeletonization, the courage required for first-time customization, why pricing can’t exist without a design process, and how true luxury shifts from transactional ownership to emotional experience. The episode also examines why customization is rarely a collector’s first step, how personalization mirrors the car world more than traditional watchmaking, and why knowing the client, not the product, is the atelier’s most valuable asset. Check out Artisans de Genève: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/artisansdegeneve/ [https://www.instagram.com/artisansdegeneve/] Website - https://www.artisansdegeneve.com/ [https://www.artisansdegeneve.com/] SUPERLATIVE IS NOW ON YOUTUBE! To check out Superlative on Youtube as well as other ABTW content: - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@ablogtowatch [https://www.youtube.com/@ablogtowatch] To check out the ABTW Shop where you can see our products inspired by our love of Horology: - Shop ABTW - https://store.ablogtowatch.com/ [https://store.ablogtowatch.com/] To keep updated with everything Superlative, aBlogtoWatch Weekly, and aBlogtoWatch, check us out on: - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/ [https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/] - Twitter - https://twitter.com/ABLOGTOWATCH [https://twitter.com/ABLOGTOWATCH] - Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/ [https://www.ablogtowatch.com/] If you enjoy the show please Subscribe, Rate, and Review!

Andrew Herman On Building Panzera Watches Outside Of The Traditional Luxury Model

In this episode of Superlative, host and aBlogtoWatch founder Ariel Adams sits down with Andrew Herman, co-founder of Panzera Watches, to explore what it really means to build a modern watch brand outside the traditional Swiss playbook. Andrew shares the unlikely path from importing affordable European watches into Australia to launching a globally focused direct-to-consumer brand built on value, quality, and accessibility rather than prestige markups. The conversation dives deep into supply-chain inefficiencies, pricing psychology, repeat customers, and why cutting out traditional retail fundamentally changes how watches are designed, marketed, and sold. Andrew also discusses Panzera’s distinctly bold design identity, the challenges and advantages of operating from Australia, the importance of founder-led storytelling, and how military squadron collaborations emerged organically from pilots who were already customers. Along the way, Ariel and Andrew unpack the realities of e-commerce watch sales, showroom-style retail experiences, brand loyalty, and the long-term risks of chasing luxury pricing for its own sake. Listen and join in on their conversation as they offer a candid look at what sustainable watchmaking looks like in today’s enthusiast-driven market. Check out Panzera Watches: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/panzera.watches/ [https://www.instagram.com/panzera.watches/] Website - https://panzerawatches.com/ [https://panzerawatches.com/] Check out this week’s sponsor - Movado Watches: - https://www.movado.com/ [https://www.movado.com/] SUPERLATIVE IS NOW ON YOUTUBE! To check out Superlative on Youtube as well as other ABTW content: - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@ablogtowatch [https://www.youtube.com/@ablogtowatch] To check out the ABTW Shop where you can see our products inspired by our love of Horology: - Shop ABTW - https://store.ablogtowatch.com/ [https://store.ablogtowatch.com/] To keep updated with everything Superlative, aBlogtoWatch Weekly, and aBlogtoWatch, check us out on: - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/ [https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/] - Twitter - https://twitter.com/ABLOGTOWATCH [https://twitter.com/ABLOGTOWATCH] - Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/ [https://www.ablogtowatch.com/] If you enjoy the show please Subscribe, Rate, and Review!

When Nature Sets the Clock: Surfing, Survival, and Timepieces with Kai Lenny

In this episode of Superlative, host and aBlogtoWatch founder Ariel Adams sits down with professional big wave surfer and TAG Heuer brand ambassador Kai Lenny for an in depth conversation about risk, preparation, and what timing really means when nature is in full control. Growing up in Hawaii with some of the most powerful surf breaks in the world just minutes from his home, Kai explains how learning to read the ocean from land shaped his approach long before he ever paddled into massive waves, and why wave selection is as much a mental calculation as it is physical commitment. The discussion explores the realities of big wave surfing, from the physics of underwater pressure and the danger of impact over drowning, to the evolving role of safety equipment, communication systems, and training that allow surfers to operate at the edge of survivability. Ariel and Kai also unpack why surfing is fundamentally a time based sport, how tides, wave sets, and forecasting dictate every decision, and why a reliable dive watch remains a critical tool even in a world of advanced analytics. Along the way, Kai shares how working closely with TAG Heuer goes far beyond sponsorship, offering insight into testing watches in conditions that cannot be simulated on land, providing real world feedback on durability and ergonomics, and drawing inspiration from Swiss watchmaking craftsmanship to refine his own approach to equipment, performance, and constant improvement. The conversation closes with a thoughtful reflection on parenthood, legacy, and how confronting nature’s power reshapes perspective, revealing why for those who live at the extremes, timepieces are not just accessories but quiet companions that measure moments most people will never experience. Follow Kai and check out TAG Heuer Watches: Kai - https://www.instagram.com/kai_lenny/ [https://www.instagram.com/kai_lenny/] TAG Heuer - https://www.tagheuer.com/ [https://www.tagheuer.com/] SUPERLATIVE IS NOW ON YOUTUBE! To check out Superlative on Youtube as well as other ABTW content: - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@ablogtowatch [https://www.youtube.com/@ablogtowatch] To check out the ABTW Shop where you can see our products inspired by our love of Horology: - Shop ABTW - https://store.ablogtowatch.com/ [https://store.ablogtowatch.com/] To keep updated with everything Superlative, aBlogtoWatch Weekly, and aBlogtoWatch, check us out on: - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/ [https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/] - Twitter - https://twitter.com/ABLOGTOWATCH [https://twitter.com/ABLOGTOWATCH] - Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/ [https://www.ablogtowatch.com/] If you enjoy the show please Subscribe, Rate, and Review!