In this episode of Watches & Politics, I’m joined by Pierre Biver, co-founder of Biver Watches, to explore legacy, independence, and what it means to create value in a world obsessed with speed.
Pierre represents a rare intersection in modern horology: the continuation of one of the industry’s most influential legacies — and the deliberate choice to chart a new path. Our conversation moves across heritage and reinvention, father and son, power and stewardship, asking what legacy really means when it must be earned, not inherited.
We discuss the philosophy behind Biver Watches, the politics of independence in an era of conglomerates, and why craftsmanship, slowness, and permanence can themselves be acts of resistance. We also reflect on succession, on how watchmaking mirrors political dynasties, and on whether the future of horology will be written by institutions, families, or individuals willing to take risks.
This is a conversation about time — not as a commodity, but as responsibility.
#WatchesAndPolitics #PierreBiver #IndependentWatchmaking #HorologicalLegacy
#BiverWatches #LuxuryAndPower #TimeIsPolitical #ModernHorology #jeanclaudebiver #biver
In this episode of Watches & Politics, I sit down with Gary Getz — author, collector, cultural connector, and founder of The Collectors Room — to explore how collectors shape power, legitimacy, and meaning in the modern watch world.
Our conversation moves beyond watches as objects and into watches as cultural capital. We discuss how collector communities form, how trust and access are built, and how informal spaces — dinners, salons, private rooms — often wield as much influence as auctions or boardrooms.
Gary offers a rare perspective from inside the collector ecosystem: how relationships are formed, how taste is transmitted, and how collectors quietly shape brand narratives, market direction, and cultural relevance. We also explore the rise of social media, the globalization of collecting, and the shifting balance between passion, commerce, and influence.
This episode reveals why the modern watch collector is not just a buyer — but an actor in a broader system of cultural and political power.
Key themes:
• Collectors as cultural and political actors
• Access, trust, and legitimacy in watch culture
• Private communities and informal power structures
• The Collectors Room and modern tastemaking
• Social media, globalization, and influence
In this episode of Watches & Politics, I sit down with Zaf Basha — collector, writer, and author of Military Timepieces and Jaeger-LeCoultre: A Guide for the Collector — to explore how watches move from tools of war to objects of cultural power.
Our conversation travels from the battlefield to the collector’s cabinet. We discuss how military requirements shaped modern watch design, why precision became a matter of survival, and how wartime specifications laid the foundation for some of the most iconic civilian watches ever produced.
But this is not just a conversation about history. We also explore how military watches evolved into symbols of legitimacy, masculinity, and authority; how collectors and institutions decide which references matter; and how brands like Jaeger-LeCoultre navigate heritage, revival, and storytelling today.
Mr. Basha’s unique perspective — blending technical knowledge, historical research, and collector insight — reveals why military watches remain one of the most politically charged categories in horology.
If watches are political artifacts as much as mechanical ones, this episode shows how war, memory, and precision continue to shape what we wear on our wrists.
Key themes:
• Military watches as tools of survival and power
• Wartime specifications and modern design language
• Jaeger-LeCoultre, heritage, and legitimacy
• Collectors, memory, and historical authority
• How war transforms objects into symbols
Giovanni Prigigallo, co-founder of EveryWatch, joins us to explain how data is transforming transparency in the watch market.
We explore:• What really moves watch prices• How auction data shapes the market• What EveryWatch reveals about collectors and demand• How technology is reshaping watch culture
A rare, data-driven look at an industry usually shrouded in secrecy.
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#WatchPrices #EveryWatch #WatchMarket #HorologyData#WatchesAndPolitics
Historian Michael O’Malley explains how mechanical timekeeping shaped politics, society, industrialization, and modern identity.
We discuss:• How mechanical time transformed the modern world• The Industrial Revolution and precision culture• Why watches are political• What the future of mechanical craft reveals about society
An intellectual, historical, and deeply engaging conversation.
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#MechanicalWatches #watches #collecting #art #politics#IndustrialRevolution #Horology #History #WatchesAndPolitics
What makes watch collectors tick? How do communities influence taste, prices, and cultural trends?
James Schaaf, a leader in collector groups and community building, joins us to discuss:• How collector communities shape the market• The psychology of group collecting• What watch “tribes” reveal about identity• Why communities are the future of horology
A must-listen for anyone who collects — or plans to.
👇 Comment:Which collector community are you part of?
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#WatchCollectors #watches #politics #Horology #Collectors #WatchEnthusiasts #WatchesAndPolitics
Dr. Brendan Cunningham joins us to unpack the economic, cultural, and marketing engines that drive the global watch industry.
Topics include:
• How luxury watch brands create desire
• The political economy of watchmaking
• Why marketing shapes value more than scarcity
• The rise of global watch culture
• How the watch industry mirrors geopolitical shifts
This is a masterclass in understanding how the watch world really works.
📚 FOLLOW BRENDAN CUNNINGHAM: Horolonomics — https://horolonomics.com/
📌 Subscribe for deep-dive conversations every week.
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#WatchEconomy #Watches #politics #history #economics #marketing #LuxuryWatches #MarketingStrategy #Horology #WatchesAndPolitics
Brendan Cunningham:
Dive into the world of horological economics and watch industry history with Dr. Brendan Cunningham! In this interview, we explore topics ranging from the economics of Rolex to legendary watch moment stories and foundational horological literature. Below, you’ll find direct links and resources for everything covered—enjoy discovering more about the people, brands, and events shaping horology!
Featured Topics & Resources
1. Dr. Brendan Cunningham’s Website: Horolonomics
2. Selling the Crown: The Secret History of Marketing Rolex (Amazon)
5. Rolex’s Hans Wilsdorf, Mercedes Gleitze & The Iconic 1927 Swimming Endorsement Ad
7. Watches and Wonders Official
8. Barack Obama’s Watches – OnTheDash
9. Omega: “The First Watch to Go to the Moon”—Astronauts & Cosmonauts
In this episode, Edi Shipoli sits down with Eric Wind, one of the most respected voices in the vintage watch world.
We explore:
• How collectors shape taste and market value
• Political provenance
• The hidden stories behind iconic vintage pieces
• How watch culture influences global status symbols
• The future of the vintage market
Eric offers an insider view that few ever get to hear — candid, sharp, and rich with stories.
👋 FOLLOW ERIC WIND:
Wind Vintage — https://windvintage.com/
👍 LIKE & SUBSCRIBE for more expert interviews.
👇 COMMENT:
What vintage watch story should we cover next?
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1. Eric Wind’s Website• https://www.windvintage.com/ 2. Eric Wind’s Hodinkee Article about Watches & US Presidents• https://www.windvintage.com/press/2018/6/15/election-day-rewind-your-complete-guide-to-the-watches-of-united-states-presidents 3. Cambodian Leader’s Watch Collection (Hun Sen)• https://iflwatches.com/blogs/celebrities/cambodian-prime-minister-hun-sen-watch-collection 4. Patriarch of the Orthodox Church and his Breguet• https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/06/world/europe/in-russia-a-watch-vanishes-up-orthodox-leaders-sleeve.html 5. Putin’s Blancpain• https://timeandtidewatches.com/donald-trump-and-vladimir-putin-watch-collections/ 6. John Calvin – influence on watch industry• https://monochrome-watches.com/john-calvins-austerity-and-the-birth-of-the-swiss-watch-industry/ 7. Zenith – Charles Vermot & El Primero• https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/charles-vermot-the-man-who-saved-the-el-primero-and-possibly-zenith 8. J. Press & Eric Wind Collaboration• https://www.windvintage.com/press/gq-jpress-x-wind-vintage-fashion-runway 9. Vintage Capsules• Jaeger LeCoultre: The collectibles https://www.jaeger-lecoultre.com/us-en/watches/collectibles • Vacheron Constantin: Les Collectionneurs https://www.vacheron-constantin.com/us/en/watches/les-collectionneurs.html • IWC: Curated https://www.iwc.com/us-en/specials/iwc-curated-certified-pre-owned-watches 10. Charlie Dunne’s article on Memovox• https://www.windvintage.com/blog/collectors-guide-jaeger-lecoultre-memovox-reference-e-855 11. Wind Podcast• https://open.spotify.com/show/63Mz6nwdQsFk6NRk7dAXCt?si=17bda5355fd3420d 12. Wind’s Book: Modern Guide to Vintage Watches• Will upload the link when the book is published
Welcome to Season 2 of Watches & Politics — a brand-new interview series where the world’s leading experts reveal how watches intersect with power, culture, economics, history, and global politics.
This season features deep conversations with:
Eric Wind — Vintage watch authority and founder of Wind VintageBrendan Cunningham — Economist, historian, luxury marketing specialist
James Schaaf — Collector and community organizerMichael O’Malley — Historian of mechanical timekeepingGiovanni Prigigallo — Founder of EveryWatch & market research expert
If you love watches and the world they reflect — this is your season.
SUBSCRIBE for upcoming episodes on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@WatchesAndPolitics
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shipoli_e/
👇 COMMENT BELOW:
Who should we interview next?
#WatchesAndPolitics #Horology #WatchTalk #WatchCollectors #VintageWatches#LuxuryWatches
In this closing episode of Watches & Politics, we step back from the history, the geopolitics, and the power struggles to reflect on what this journey has revealed. From cathedral bells to Cold War chronometers, from presidential wristwatches to Instagram collectors, timekeeping has never been neutral. Watches are stories of politics, diplomacy, conflict, and culture—miniature archives of power on the wrist.
This outro isn’t just a summary—it’s a personal reflection on why these stories matter today, and how the politics of time will continue to evolve. Join me, Edi Shipoli, as I close Series 1 with intrigue, reflection, and a call to keep exploring the hidden worlds where horology and power intersect.
Watches aren’t relics of the past—they’re still political, right now.
In Episode 10, we explore 10 ways horology intersects with power, money, and influence in today’s world: from sanctions and gray-market luxury, to blockchain authentication, to watch industry lobbying, celebrity diplomacy, and the politics of prestige at auctions.
This is a fast-moving tour through the living, breathing political economy of watches in the 21st century—where timepieces remain tools of identity, strategy, and control.
Time isn’t just measured—it’s controlled.
In Episode 9, we trace how time zones, daylight saving, and atomic clocks have been shaped by politics, empire, and power plays.
From the 1884 International Meridian Conference to China’s single time zone, from colonial “railway time” to the Cold War race for atomic precision—we uncover how controlling the clock has always meant controlling people.
This is the story of time as infrastructure, time as identity, and time as power.
n Episode 8, we step into the world of the collector—not just as a hobbyist, but as a political actor.
We explore how the buying, selling, and showcasing of high-end watches creates networks of power, influence, and cultural capital.
From heads of state whose collections signal national pride, to billionaires shaping auction markets, to elite gatherings where watches double as diplomatic tools—we break down the politics of collecting.
This is where taste meets strategy, and where a single timepiece can tell a story about money, status, and soft power.
In Episode 7, we explore the return of the past—not just in design, but in ideology.
The neo-vintage watch revival is everywhere: from reissued icons to auction-fueled hype, nostalgic aesthetics now dominate the modern wrist.
But what does this backward glance say about the present?
We examine how scarcity, exclusivity, and cultural longing have made vintage watches political symbols—of stability, identity, and rebellion.
From Cold War Rolex tool watches to neo-vintage drops engineered for collectors, we explore the economics, marketing, and memory behind the trend.
In a world of disruption, watches that echo the past have become more than accessories—they’re ideological statements.
In Episode 6, we explore the modern face of watches in a rapidly changing world—where globalization, geopolitics, digital disruption, and sustainability all reshape the industry.
From Swiss brands navigating the rise of China and the Gulf to smartwatches challenging the mechanical legacy, this episode unpacks the politics behind today’s watch world. We explore outsourcing, greenwashing, ethical production, and the battle between tradition and tech.
This is the modern battlefield of horology—where billion-dollar markets are influenced by trade deals, environmental debates, and the smartwatch revolution.
If you’ve ever wondered what keeps Swiss prestige alive in a digital age—or how luxury is being redefined across continents—this is your episode.
Watches don’t just tell time—they tell stories. In Episode 5 of Watches and Politics, we explore how watches have long been used as instruments of diplomacy, status, and soft power. From heads of state gifting horological masterpieces to allies and adversaries, to monarchs commissioning custom watches as symbols of authority, we uncover the hidden language behind horological gifting.
We explore stories of presidential Rolexes, diplomatic Vacherons, and the complex politics of giving and receiving luxury timepieces. What message does a watch send at a summit? Who wears what—and why?
Whether it’s a gesture of gratitude, a tool of flattery, or a subtle act of control, the gifted watch becomes part of the political theatre. Join us for a journey through ticking diplomacy.
The 1970s brought the watch world to its knees. In this episode, we explore how quartz technology—born from Cold War labs and Japanese innovation—shook the Swiss watch industry to its core. But it wasn’t just a tech revolution; it was a political and economic reckoning. We unpack the global fallout, Switzerland’s strategic response, and how this “crisis” reshaped not only watches, but also the global power dynamics of horology.
In this gripping episode, we trace the evolution of the wristwatch from battlefield necessity to cultural staple. From World War I trenches to Cold War espionage, watches became tools of survival, symbols of rank, and drivers of innovation. We explore how global conflict shaped the design, function, and meaning of watches—and how wartime pressures gave rise to some of horology’s most enduring legends. Discover the political life of the wristwatch in the age of war.
In Episode 2 of Watches and Politics, we explore how the Industrial Revolution transformed not only how watches were made—but who could wear them. From handcrafted luxuries to mass-produced tools of personal discipline, watches became democratized and central to the modern age. We trace how Switzerland and America pioneered different paths to global watch dominance, how marketing shaped consumer desire, and how the spread of timekeeping redefined work, class, and politics. This is the story of how time left the towers and entered our pockets—and why that change was anything but neutral.
Long before watches graced our wrists, mechanical timekeeping was a force of political, spiritual, and social transformation. In this premiere episode, we trace the origins of the first public clocks in medieval Europe—often funded by monarchs and the Church, not just to tell time, but to impose order. We explore how time was harnessed as a tool of discipline, from cathedral bells to city towers, and how the control of time itself became a symbol of divine authority and civic pride. This isn’t just a story of gears and bells—it’s about how the measurement of time shaped the foundations of power. Join us as we begin a journey into the earliest intersections of horology and hierarchy.