During the quarantine / stay-at-home period, watch collectors have been deluged by podcasts / interviews / live stories / Zoom meetings. All the usual suspects are having conversations with all the usual suspects, and anyone with a phone is now able to broadcast to enthusiasts all around the world. Some days, we could spend well over 24 hours, just keeping up with the day’s new watch collecting content. And out of that 24 hours of content, you may be pressed to find 24 minutes of interesting ideas or information.

With this recent deluge of audio and video content, let me recommend this conversation with Aurel Bacs, head of Phillips Watches, conducted by Wei Koh, of Revolution Watch -- https://www.instagram.com/tv/B_DPy9dgIPn/

This is the single best thing that I have listened to during the current confinement (although I will admit that I listened during a drive to the office, lawyers being considered essential in the State of Georgia).

Aurel Bacs offers some very interesting observations on a wide range of topics:

• the state of the vintage watch market, in the COVID-19 era [as expected, he is optimistic about current conditions, as well as a strong recovery]
• the role of the “bricks and mortar” auction houses, when enthusiasts are unable to get together to see the watches in the metal or place their bids, and how the very ancient business model of the auction houses might change
• general advice for collectors – buy the best piece that you can possibly afford
• the stories behind some interesting limited edition watches, produced for Phillips and others

Jeff