A few years ago, Andrea was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, with an initial prognosis of four months to live. Ryan did what any husband would do and dropped everything, including selling their furniture business, to be with her. That kind of news shifts your perspective fast. For this couple it became carpe diem, a shared mission to seize every day they had. Andrea encouraged Ryan to follow his passion. As a lifelong watch collector with an eye for design he started designing watches, staying home with her, and combined with a bucket list trip to Japan; Makoto Watches was born.

The Bucket List

With what could have been their last big trip together, Ryan, Andrea, and their daughter set off for where they had always wanted to explore: Japan. Ryan, already with a strong eye for design, fell in love with the country, the people, and the culture. Andrea, a teacher, did too, connecting with people everywhere they went. That trip became the creative foundation for everything Makoto Watches has built since.

Shibuya

Makoto is a Canadian brand, designed entirely by Ryan in Canada and manufactured just outside Hong Kong. Every watch name and design takes its inspiration from Japan. The first model was the Shibuya, a bold, graphic dial designed to turn heads at the Shibuya Crossing, the busiest crosswalk in the world. Just like the crossing itself, it was designed to stop people in their tracks. It was never meant to be a mass seller, just a conversation starter, and it worked.

Kodawari — The Pursuit of Perfection

From there came the Kodawari line, which translates to “the pursuit of perfection”, a name Ryan will tell you suits him perfectly. He admits he spends way too many hours “getting the details just right”, as many of us in the #watchfam will understand. The Kodawari watches are dressy stone dial pieces, starting with the Shino, a green malachite dial (39mm) whose name translates to little bamboo, inspired by the bamboo forests of Japan. The line expanded to include lapis, meteorite, red agate, and then two 37mm pieces, a pink mother of pearl and a turquoise, bringing the collection to a size that works beautifully for smaller wrists without compromising on the automatic Miyota movement inside.

Boken — Carpe Adventure

The newest addition is the Boken, which translates roughly to adventure watch…and in Titanium.

Diver Down! | Hamana (left) & Hakusan(right) Diver

The Hamana with a sunburst blue dial and the full lume dial Hakusan. Either one I would have no hesitation taking down on my next dive.

Makoto x Ando x Vinyl: TRACK ONE - Limited Production Run

Track One sold out in two days flat, and now Track Two now available at time of writing.

Ryan and Andrea

Ryan came to watches via a Timex Iron Man his father gave him as a kid, wore it for ten years, and from there worked his way through over 300 watches across his lifetime, Omegas, Rolex, affordable pieces, everything in between. He sold all but four watches in that collection to fund the brand he has created; and has not looked back.

Then there is Andrea. Not a watch collector at all, but rather, a lifelong teacher of 23 years, as well as the social engine of the operation. Forever on her wrist are the words carpe diem, which has its own story in the second half of the episode when in 2022, her oncologist reminded her to go live her life. Her daughter was competing in a Cirque competition in Las Vegas and Andrea was between treatments, nervous to travel to attend. Her oncologist said to her “carpe diem”, and to go. That moment forever left a mark on Andrea, and a mark that she would later put on her wrist to be that constant reminder. Carpe diem is more than a motto for this family. It is a tattoo now shared by her, her sister-in-law, her 75-year-old mother-in-law, and her 16-year-old daughter. A sisterhood of support, bound together by the words that helped Andrea to constantly look and move forward.

At the show, Andrea was wearing the pink mother of pearl Kodawari on her wrist, the 37mm one Ryan designed with cherry blossoms in mind. She knew from the moment he designed it that it was going to be hers. She also made sure her oncologist had one on their wrist. A malachite dial Makoto, because they gave her the gift of time, and she wanted to give them one back.

Find Makoto Watches at makotowatch.com or on Instagram at @MakotoWatchCompany. Links in the show notes. Find the Analog Explorer in your favorite podcast app or support the show on Substack at analogexplorer.com.

Life can be short. Carpe diem. And fac tempus ad explorandum — make the time to explore.

A year on, Gem Parker of Elliot Brown is back on the mic at the 2026 Vancouver Timepiece Show to recount that year, and to tease out where Elliot Brown is going next.

Tarrifs and Trade Wars

Elliot Brown stopped trading into North America for two months. At one point the tariff rate to get into the States hit 160%. Today it sits at a flat 15% across the board, and the brand is up year on year in North America. The strategy throughout, as Gem put it, was simple. Honesty was the best policy. And the community they had been building at shows like Vancouver and WindUp was still there waiting for them when they came back.

Community Connections

One year later the community was there, and it had grown. That sense of connection has been the thread running through everything Elliot Brown has been building in the lead up to the 2026 Vancouver Timepiece Show.

A collaboration with the Royal Armouries produced an Arne field watch with a bronze chapter ring packed with hidden details nodding to the Bren gun, the original weapon having carried a bronze plate stamped with its issue number. Those watches are due in soon. The Sketchy Boys collab, originally planned for last April before tariffs intervened, finally landed at the start of the year with a new blue dial. And most recently, Elliot Brown closed out a collaboration with Graham of Wild Geese, formerly of the Peninsula Kelp Co., a project Gem described as an easy yes. Wild Geese is built around getting people outdoors, and has even incentivized it with a global geocaching treasure hunt, asking a network of adventurers to hide coins for others to find. As Gem alluded to, what gets hidden in one of those caches someday might not just be a coin.

California Dream’n

Coming this summer are the California Dream Arnes, four colorways, 75 pieces each, with real wood dials, a California dial layout, and colors pulled straight from 70s and 80s surf culture. Very un-Elliot Brown in the best possible way. Prices around £400 to £450, a little more with the bracelet option. I wish I had pictures to share, but embargoes prevented me. What I can tell you is that you can hear the reaction and get some of the first details exclusively on this episode.

Updates to the EB lines

And then there is the Canford, the very first watch Elliot Brown ever designed, now 16 years old and getting a proper refresh. The new Canford is getting the “Shrinky-Dink” treatment going to 39mm with shorter lugs, a slightly domed sapphire, a display caseback, and for the first time ever it will be an automatic, running a Miyota 9075. The internal bezel is also being upgraded from the fluid action of the current model to the 121 click lock used on the Beachmaster, giving it more real-world purpose for timing and navigation. Pricing will sit above the automatic Holton but below the GMT Holton.

As Gem put it, the Holton and Beachmaster are not going anywhere. No news of a “Shrinky-Dink” Holton, as many of us OG Holton owners have long hoped for, but this podcaster can dream.

SOTC | Gem Parker

As Gem, just as herself as a friend of ours in the #watchfam, in the last year she picked up a 40 year old Cartier Tank, small and wonderful patina on the case (pic hopefully to follow later).

Follow Elliot Brown at elliotbrownwatches.com or on Instagram at @EBwatches. Links in the show notes. Find the Analog Explorer in your favorite podcast app or support the show on Substack at analogexplorer.com.

Fac tempus ad explorandum — make the time to explore.

Founder Michael Happé started the brand in 2011, initially drawn into aviation watches after people around him started asking if he could make a watch for their squadron. Since then, Gavox has produced nearly 2,000 watch projects for air forces and aviation companies worldwide, across around 60 different models.

But the aviation roots go deeper than that. Michael’s grandfather served with the Flying Tigers as a crew chief, and even was sent to China to train the Chinese to fight the Japanese. And if that backstory wasn’t enough, Michael also has documentation that an ancestor of his, a navigator for the Dutch India Company, reached Australia in 1616, two years before Capt. James Cook. He planted a tin plate that read “we from the Dutch India Company claim this land, land of Holland.” And that story is the soul of Gavox’s watch, the Longitude.

Navigating the world of a new generation of GMT

The Longitude is a GMT built around the very concept that made marine navigation possible, that a reliable timepiece is all you need to know exactly where you are in the world. Starting with the dial, it carries that theme forward with vibes of oceans and exploration. The bracelet, with its pyramid shaped links meeting a polished center link, rolls like a wave when you tilt it in the light. It runs on a Miyota 9075 series GMT movement, features a bi-directional steel bezel, internal rehaut minute markers, a four handed display, date at 6 o’clock, and 200 meters of water resistance. All of that for €1,050.

Michael Happé- Watch Journey

For Michael his watch journey can be traced back to age seven, when his father brought home Chinese watch catalogues and a new and novel quartz watch that could show both time… and date. From there a watch he drowned, several times, then on to Seiko, Casio, Tissot, and eventually a cousin who was the master designer at Longines, who showed him how it was all done and went with him to Hong Kong Watch Fair and Baselworld to figure out the rest to create his own watches.

Outside of his own brand, Michael is a Grand Seiko aficionado. A visit to the Fukushima manufacture after the disaster there, again back in 2011, and a meeting with the director at that Grand Seiko got him hooked. The Snowflake remains his number one watch in his collection that is not one of his own.

Links and Notes

Find Gavox at gavox.com or their Instagram.

Links in the show notes. Find the Analog Explorer in your favorite podcast app or support the show on Substack at analogexplorer.com.

Fac tempus ad explorandum — make the time to explore.

So in an age where the content space feels this wide, where do you go? For these two, the answer was to go deeper not wider.

Jason Hutton pointed me in the direction of his new collaborator, Matt Black, in their new web publication the Timepiece World Journal.

Matt is a communications professional and fellow avid watch enthusiast with a passion for not just watches, but the “human work” of the stories behind them. Together, they are building the Timepiece World Journal as a new editorial platform focused not on specs and reviews, but on the people and stories behind the watches we collect and love.

Right now it is a two man show, but they are working on building out a team of talented writers and enthusiasts. From day one, Matt and Jason have committed to no paid content. No advertorial. No brands buying their way into the feed. For anyone who remembers the advertorial conversations that rocked some of the bigger outlets a few years back, you’ll understand why that matters to many in the #watchfam. They aim to have the Journal’s goal be as simple and honest as possible: feature the brands and watchmakers they are genuinely passionate about, and let the stories speak for themselves.

Links in the show notes. Find the Analog Explorer in your favorite podcast app or support the show on Substack at analogexplorer.com.

Fac tempus ad explorandum — make the time to explore.

Timepiece World Journal | Give Aways!

As part of the Timepiece World Journal launch, they are running two giveaways. A Zanea watch for a lucky follower who signs up to their mailing list at timepieceworld.com, and a Laco watch for a lucky follower who follows them on Instagram at @timepieceworldjournal. Both draws close at the end of May after the Montreal Timepiece Show.

Links of Note | Timepiece World Journal

Follow along, sign up, and keep an eye on what these two are building.

• Timepiece World Journal

  • On Instagram

• The man, the myth, the legend behind Matt Black ink

• Canadian Timepiece Shows

My friend Dan over at the Zulu Time Podcast has said it for years, and the 2026 Vancouver Timepiece Show proved it once again: You show up for the watches, but you stay for the people. And sometimes the people show up for you.

Ken as Arken Watch Co. wasn’t at the show as a brand this year. No table, no speakeasy (this year), just Ken as a fellow lover of watches and the #watchfam checking out the floor as a regular attendee and catching up with friends.

So naturally, we caught up as we went on walk-about on the floor and handed him a mic as we did for a little audio tour, though fair warning, this one was recorded at peak hour on day one, so the audio has a bit more show floor character than usual.

Professionally, Ken’s got a busy year ahead. The Sage Grey Alterum (on wrist at the show) that debuted at British Watchmaker’s Day is on its way.

And the long-awaited Model 3 is finally ready and there may be a few collaborations and smaller projects that may also be in the pipeline.

Regardless of being a brand owner, Ken is just like any one of us in the #watchfam; eager to check out and trying out watches from any of the brands. We got briefly distracted by Baltic’s new Worldtime with a stone dial, which sounds very much worth getting distracted by. More on that when Remi gets on the mic later in the feed…

Links of note | Arken Watches

• Analog Explorer Episode 35 - from last year’s Vancouver Timepiece Show
  

• The Form & Function Podcast

  • Form & Function on Instagram

• Arken on Instagram

• Arken Watches

Links in the show notes. Find the Analog Explorer in your favorite podcast app or support the show on Substack at analogexplorer.com.

Fac tempus ad explorandum — make the time to explore.

Last year, the conversations from the show centered on what I called the shifting sands of global trade, with tariffs, uncertainty, and how brands were navigating constantly moving ground. A year on, by and large our favorite brands are still standing and things seem to have stabilized. So this time around, I wanted to shift the focus to something closer to the heart of the Analog Explorer: community.

In the #watchfam there are so many different ways we share our enthusiasm for horology, and the interviews going into this season with the Vancouver Timepiece Show are going to highlight a few new and different ones.

Jason Hutton and Matt Black are teaming up to launch the all-new Timepiece World Journal, a new editorial platform focused on reviews, specs, and all the things we watch nerds love, but with a genuine commitment to storytelling and the human work behind the hobby.

James Stacey of The Grey NATO and Editor in Chief of Hodinkee joins me as we completely nerd out on all things audio, reminisce about the PNW, but also cut to the heart of watch enthusiasm. “It’s never been cheaper or more fun to learn about watches,” Stacey shared, and then some. “Whether you find your person on YouTube…or a platform like Hodinkee, we’ve never had more peers cranking out incredible content.”

But none of it exists without the watches, the watchmakers, and the brands behind them.

I also met up with Andrea and Ryan of Makato Watches, a couple who turned a cancer diagnosis that had a three-month death sentence, into the inspiration for something new. Three and a half years later, Andrea is thankfully almost cancer-free. But it was their bucket list trip, and a mindset that life is truly to short, to Japan that became the creative foundation for Ryan’s watch designs.

Talking and getting to know them, and their story reminded me that in the end, regardless of the watch we wear or don’t; we are all on borrowed time. When life is that short, your perspective changes. And for them, that change led to building something lasting.

There are also old friends of the Analog Explorer returning with updates, as well as some new voices in the #watchfam.

Stay tuned to the feed. Interviews are rolling out in the months ahead. Find the Analog Explorer in your favorite podcast app of choice, or support the show on Substack at analogexplorer.com.

And Fac tempus ad explorandum — make the time to explore.

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What stood out to both Jason and I was the crowd itself. People weren’t just coming from across Vancouver or even Canada. Saskatoon, Calgary, the UK, Washington, California... the #watchfam are making a full weekend out of it, treating Vancouver as the destination and the show as part of the reason to make the trip to the PNW.

On the brand side, it was great to see familiar friends like Baltic, Christopher Ward, and Elliot Brown back on the floor, just to name a few. For me there were some new standout brands too. 22 Studio, a Taiwanese brand led by an industrial designer working with concrete as a watch material, was unlike anything else at the show. Catching up with Mike Pearson of Christopher Ward is always a treat, and honestly a feat, given the CW booth was easily one of the busiest on the floor. And it was great to see James Stacey, editor-in-chief at Hodinkee and one half of The Grey NATO, in attendance alongside Marathon Watches and Roldorf Watch Co., with TGN hosting an after-show party at Roldorf’s shop. A sign of just how much gravity this show pulls in the #watchfam community.

Looking ahead, the Pipe Shop is already locked in for next year, last full weekend of April in 2027, with Jason starting to think beyond the exhibition floor maybe even toward outdoor activations and experiences that tap into everything that makes Vancouver, and the PNW, such a special backdrop for all of this.

Montreal is joining what people are already naturally calling the “Canadian Timepiece Show Series” at the end of May. Honestly, that title fits with now a trio of shows.

Head over to the Timepiece Show website for more, and especially if you’re eyeing tickets for one of the upcoming shows. A genuine thank you to Jason and the entire Timepiece Show team for continuing to welcome me back as a content creator from the PNW. Full interviews are rolling out on the Analog Explorer podcast feed. Stay tuned.

Wrist Check’n

If you made it out, you already know, that there was always something for everyone on that floor. Whether it was a thoughtful design that stayed with you, a new brand to follow, or a conversation that lingered long after you left the exhibition hall; there is such a strong sense of community around the show.

And if you couldn’t make it in person, stay tuned to the feed. Interviews from the show will be rolling out on the Analog Explorer Podcast in the weeks to come, going deeper with some of our “friends in the watchfam” behind the stories, brands, and timepieces that defined this year’s show.

More to come in your favorite podcast app of choice and thank you for being part of this community.

Off-the-cuff shots from around the show

From the Instagram grid

I’m back at Adobe MAX this year and excited to share “Mic Drop Made Simple: Recording with Adobe Podcast and AI.” This is my second time speaking at MAX, the first time was in 2023 when I was one of the first to talk about generative AI in the classroom with the then‑new Firefly. This year I get to lean into a product of Adobe’s I’ve been a fan of and been using since I was in their beta nearly 3 years ago; Adobe Podcast. Adobe MAX kicked off this morning but my session will be streaming at 2:30pm PST today. I’ll be covering:

• How educators and students can produce studio‑quality audio from almost any device using Adobe Podcast

• Browser‑based recording and editing in Adobe Podcast

• Blending remote interviews, field recordings, and AI‑powered Audio Enhance

• Transcript‑style editing that makes podcasting feel like editing a document

• Project ideas that fit K–20 classrooms and spark cross‑curricular storytelling

Recording to the session now available on Adobe Max

“Intelligent Automation”

As a creative professional, I have several professional concerns about AI as a purely generative creation tool. But where I see its greatest potential is in helping us tackle some of the most time-consuming, redundant, tedious work that comes with using creative software. I’ve spent three decades painstakingly masking layers in Photoshop, applying audio reduction techniques in timelines, scrubbing through thousands of hours of video, and meticulously pixel-peeping shots from photoshoots to ensure my work matches my vision. Now, AI has the potential to help me reclaim much of that processing and technical workflow time back, so I can focus on what truly matters: the content itself. And if I’m being honest, spending more time with my family as opposed to time spent, and energy, editing and producing. In my view, it’s less about “Artificial Intelligence” and more about “Intelligent Automation” (IA). As a creative, I’m the one who brings the intelligence to this symbiotic relationship. When AI can understand that intelligence and automate it towards what I’m working towards, that’s where it becomes truly helpful in the creative space.

Podcasting, Teaching, and Learning

In podcasting, from a teaching perspective, AI in this way can help reduce technology and software barriers, and create avenues for new voices who might otherwise be turned away by the overly complex nature of many creative production tools.

It can be hard for someone completely new to recording to know how to use filters or EQ to get the best tone out of what they capture. Spending unnecessary time going in the wrong direction with technology and taking away quality time with the heart of their content. Instead, something like Adobe Podcast provides a way for anyone to start recording and get their feet wet in the creative process, giving us educators an avenue for students to reflect on this in later work as we integrate more technical tools into their learning. This approach gives students earlier success in the creative process and establishes a foundation of prior learning that we can build upon as we advance their technical skills and knowledge. This, in my opinion, provides opportunities for us educators to teach and reinforce better creative fundamentals, rather than allowing AI to shortcut them.

In my demo today at MAX, I’ll be using a real segment from Analog Explorer recorded on the show floor at the Vancouver Timepiece Show. The venue was a busy, high-ceilinged expo hall, something anybody who has recorded in absolutely hates to work in. But, Adobe’s Enhance Audio saved me hours in filtering and editing and delivered the clearest sound for those episodes. More recently, the Bellingham Podcast has been incorporating Adobe Podcast into its production workflow including for an entire episode. This really brings the nearly 10-year running show back to its roots, being one of the pioneers in the mobile recording space.

Adobe Podcast Improvements

Adobe still has room to improve Adobe Podcast, especially for professionals seeking more advanced editing capabilities. I myself would like to see some more control in the transcript editing interface so I can better edit the in-between moments, or the fraction of seconds, in the words spoken. Or even better, more intelligent, timing of field recordings that have multiple tracks. But for beginners, students, and educators; of any discipline, looking to integrate podcasting into their life or in their curriculum, it’s an amazing starting point for building confidence in creating podcast episodes from scratch.

Adobe Max

Enrolling in my session and Adobe MAX Online is free, and will be streaming at 2:30pm PST today.

Every summer, Andy and I jump into Lake Whatcom at one of its busiest spots; a favorite for boaters, swimmers, and paddle boarders. While most folks are out here to enjoy the water, we show up with a different mission: hunting for the inevitable golf balls, lost fishing gear, and all sorts of debris that settle on the lakebed. But the real prize? Recovering cut away or abandoned anchors.

This year marked our third annual Anchor Rodeo our annual mission to pull up abandoned anchors and clean out the underwater mess that piles up each season. We do this twice a year- once at the start of summer, then again at the end just so we can see just how much stuff accumulates over a single season. It’s hands-on environmental stewardship, and while it keeps Lake Whatcom cleaner, we also hope it gets people thinking about the impact we all have on our waterways.

What many forget, locals and non-locals, is that Lake Whatcom used to be a logging lake. Back in the day, timber operations sent thousands of logs floating across these waters. Over time, a many of them sank and now rest starting around 30 feet down. To us, in some parts of the lake the bottom is littered with these massive, waterlogged logs. Drop an anchor here and odds are, it’ll get hopelessly snagged. When Andy and I find an anchor wedged tight between old timbers, we can almost hear the echo of a boater’s curses as we cut it free.

In just three years, out of the same spot, we have hauled up about a dozen anchors…and we’ll see how many more we bring up at the end of summer.

⌚️ #watchfam: DOXA 300T Cussler the perfect companion for a day spent hunting lost anchors beneath the surface.

🎧 Fireworks by Chillhop Music

Armed with nothing more than paper and pencil, Sinziana creates jaw-dropping portraits of watches that leap off the page with photographic realism. I first encountered one of her pieces tucked into a media bag, it looked like a Fears watch print or promo at first glance. It wasn’t until later that I realized it wasn’t a photo at all, it was pencil. Her work is that good.

Sinziana shared her artistic journey, which began with years of traditional portraiture before watches became her chosen subject. What makes her work so striking is not just the detail, but the depth. Whether it’s a grand complication from Breguet, the complexity of A. Lange & Söhne double split, or the raw textures of a leather strap, she gravitates toward what challenges her most. If it doesn’t intimidate her, she says, it’s probably not going to excite her either.

We also talked about her background in architecture and interior design, and how the technical training for perspective, geometry, light and shadow, forms the backbone of her practice today. While she’s never taken formal fine art courses, her years drafting by hand at architecture school in Romania gave her the tools to turn graphite into dimension and motion.

Some of her works take upwards of 150+ hours to complete. Many are commissions—strictly one-of-one pieces she won’t reproduce, because the connection with the collector is part of the process. “They tell me what they love about the watch, and I try to capture that,” she said. Her personal projects, like her glitch-effect Seamaster (which I highly recommend you check out), push boundaries even further.

When I asked my usual closer—Why watches?—her answer was heartfelt. Watches, she said, are nostalgic and intimate. They’re not just accessories, they’re memory keepers. In a digital world, there’s something deeply human about the mechanical, the tactile, and the handmade; regardless if it’s a watch or a pencil drawing.

You really have to see Sinziana’s work to believe it. Head over to sinzianaiordache.com or follow her on Instagram @sinzianaiordache to see what it looks like when analog art meets horological obsession.

A big thanks, as always, to the Vancouver Timepiece Show. Stay updated on where the show heads next at timepieceshow.com.

For Jérôme, good design isn’t about chasing trends or copying vintage cues, it’s about capturing emotion through form, all while building something that can take a hit and keep ticking. “Why choose between pretty and robust?” he asked. “When you don’t have to choose, it becomes the watch you just reach for every day.”

That philosophy shows up clearly in the 5303 dive watch. Complete with its unique twin-scale bezel (that I adore), combining hour and minute tracking on a split-material ceramic and steel insert, it’s a tool watch that doesn’t shout, but definitely speaks.

We dug into Serica’s design ethos, from sterile dials to intentionally restrained branding. The goal? Make the watch speak for itself. “If I have to slap a big logo on it to be recognized…” Jérôme said, “it’s not good enough.” Instead, Serica puts design through its paces until it’s strong enough to stand alone, whether worn under a suit cuff or strapped over a drysuit cuff.

Serica’s current catalog stretches from robust field/dive watches to the refined yet capable Parade 1174, a watch that Jérôme wears daily as it earns the kind of patina only a year of real-world wear can create. Even with the abundance of polished services, he sees patina “…like wrinkles on a beautiful face,” he said. “Would you rather age with memories, or look like a statue?”

We also looked ahead at what’s next for Serica: more colorful expressions of the Parade, development of a new dive watch (known now as 5303, which I got to see without a camera in hand), and a chronograph project slowly (and thoughtfully) cooking. Jérôme hinted that while Serica will stay true to its aesthetic, now that the brand has established a recognizable design language, there’s room to play.

We closed the conversation with a familiar question: Why watches? For Jérôme, it’s about committing to a craft that blends utility, emotion, and legacy. From bartender to watch journalist to co-founder, he found his calling in creating objects that are functional, mechanical, and beautiful.

To see what Serica is building next, visit serica-watches.com and follow @sericawatches on Instagram.

Huge thanks to the Vancouver Timepiece Show for bringing these conversations to life—keep an eye on timepieceshow.com for their next stop in Toronto.

If you’ve ever asked, “Why so serious?” while doomscrolling past silver-and-black dive watch reels or posts, Studio Underd0g is your antidote. Founded by Richard Benc in 2021, the brand launched with a Kickstarter and a mission: make great watches that don’t take themselves too seriously. And they’ve stuck to it—with colorways like Watermelon, Mint Choc Chip, and the latest duo, Avocado and Guac. They’ve managed to blend horological craftsmanship with joyful whimsy.

George and I talked about how the brand walks the fine line between cheeky design and thoughtful watchmaking. “At a glance, it’s fun and gimmicky,” he said, “but when you dig deeper, there’s a lot of design process under the hood.” From sapphire crystals shaped like soft domes to textures that elevate their vibrant dials, every detail is considered. Their playful aesthetic has become a calling card in the watch world—and a conversation starter across the collecting spectrum.

It’s not just the design that resonates—it’s the vibe. “We’re not weighed down by heritage,” George said. “We’re a new brand, which means we can make our own rules.” That freedom lets them try new things, like limited collaborations (see the Passionfruit collab with Moser) or shows-only releases (see the Gimlet with Fears Watches, which sold out in a single day).

Assembly is done in the UK near Reading, with parts sourced globally—including Seagull ST19 movements customized with a black baseplate exclusive to Studio Underd0g. They’ve weathered the impact of recent global trade shifts and tariffs by holding prices steady and leaning into their strong UK roots. As a proud member of the British Watch Alliance, they’re part of the movement to revive UK-based watchmaking.

The team? Just five people—with a sixth on the way. Yet, they manage to punch way above their weight. George himself joined about six months ago and now handles everything from social video to in-person events, like this one in Vancouver.

When I asked him my signature closer—why watches?—he answered with honest hesitation. He doesn’t have a long family legacy or a watch handed down from his grandfather. What he has is curiosity, an eye for detail, and a love of tactile analog things—like cameras, records, and yes, winding a watch every morning. “I’m a vibes guy,” he admitted. And really, isn’t that what it’s all about?

Explore more of Studio Underd0g’s color-packed lineup at studiounderd0g.com (remember—the “o” is a zero), or follow along on Instagram at @studio.underd0g.

Thanks again to the Vancouver Timepiece Show for making these conversations possible. Find out where they’re headed next at timepieceshow.com.

From his early inspiration with a childhood Timex to creating a brand that fuses form, function, and fearless creativity, José doesn’t just design watches—he reimagines how we tell time altogether. Isotope’s timepieces aren’t based on heritage homages or vintage revival. They’re bold, round, ergonomic expressions rooted in science fiction, 1930s streamlining, and a spirit of playful disruption.

We talked about his newest dials (as of September) made from straw marquetry—yes, actual dyed and pressed straw sourced from a single artisan in Burgundy, France, and hand-assembled under a microscope and apnea by one of only three micro-marquetry artists in the world. Each dial takes up to three weeks to complete and is “100% vegan” (as we jokingly brought up in the episode), making every piece a one-of-one in both material and mood. And while these dials could easily command luxury pricing (José saw a similar piece go for 70,000 CHF at Watches & Wonders), his watches start at just around €4,000.

That balance of innovation and accessibility is core to Isotope. Whether it’s their “donut crystal” chronograph with pusher-perfect ergonomics, a dual-disc GMT, or the upcoming OVNI (where the entire dial jumps), Isotope watches don’t just break molds—they refuse to acknowledge them in the first place.

We also touched on the tough stuff—like how recent U.S. tariffs on Swiss-made watches have created hesitation in the American market, which makes up 70% of Isotope’s customer base. Still, José is committed to honoring pre-orders at the same price and finding ways to soften the impact for his collectors. “We shouldn’t be supporting a 10% tariff,” he says, “It’s absurd.”

So why watches? His answer was simple, “I don’t know how to build cars.” But beneath that joke was a deeper truth. For José, a watch is a wearable expression of mindset, of identity, of the way we see the world. In his world, color, creativity, and comfort are non-negotiable.

To explore more of José’s unconventional and beautiful timepieces, visit isotopewatches.com or follow @isotopewatches on Instagram.

Thanks again to the Vancouver Timepiece Show—check timepieceshow.com to see where it’s heading next.

While some brands build from heritage, Paulin builds from creativity. With a background rooted in typography and graphic design, Paulin’s watches are what I’d call “font-forward”—with dials that are expressive, playful, and purposefully different. That’s no accident. When the brand officially joined forces with AnOrdain a couple years ago, they brought in Imogen, AnOrdain’s dial designer, as creative director. The result? A studio-led approach to watchmaking that puts visual design at the forefront.

During our chat, Katie and I dove into Paulin’s collaborative spirit. From their newest project with Chicago-based artist Crystal Zapata to a previous collab with San Jose’s Ono Type Co., Paulin thrives on cross-disciplinary partnerships that bring new perspectives into watch design. Katie herself wears just one watch—a rare unicorn in the #watchfam—and it’s one of the Crystal Zapata pieces. Designed around celestial timekeeping and planetary rotation, the dial and engraved caseback evoke a deep connection to natural rhythms and the joy of analog time.

We also explored Paulin’s Modal Collection, their core line that comes in quartz, manual, and automatic movements. Modular by name and by nature, the collection is designed to allow case swaps and movement flexibility. And yes—if you’re wondering—they’ve even given one of their quartz models an exhibition caseback. Why? Because it looks cool. And because Paulin’s about having fun with the details, even when it breaks with tradition.

But it’s not just about looks. Paulin is also serious about sustainability. Their packaging is made of cork, sourced and processed in Portugal by 3D Cork. It’s lightweight, renewable, and fully recyclable—even pulped and reused if returned. As Katie put it, “We’re trying to be as transparent as possible in what we make, and where we source it.”

Production happens mostly in Glasgow, but with a new partnership with Roldorf & Co., Paulin now has assembly and distribution in Canada too—making this debut at the Vancouver Timepiece Show not just a showcase, but a milestone.

Want to see what Paulin’s all about? Follow them on Instagram at @paulin_watches or visit their shop at paulinwatches.com.

Special thanks again to the Vancouver Timepiece Show for creating a space where design, community, and horology collide. Check timepieceshow.com to find out where the show is headed next.

Originally founded in the 1980s to supply watches to the French Navy, Jacques Bianchi was resurrected in 2021 with the launch of the JB200. Since then, the brand has stayed true to its roots while finding new ways to tell stories through design.

Case in point: the Pulpro Octopus edition, a dive watch with a near full dial-sized cephalopod front and center—a tribute to Marseille’s cultural symbol and a nod to a real octopus monument sunk in an underwater museum just off the city’s coast.

We talked about what makes these watches different. From the Monnin-style cases and signature left-hand crown (a practical French Navy spec to avoid interference with dive gear), to collaborations that celebrate local art and heritage, every piece carries a deeper meaning. Omer shared how one of their limited editions, created in partnership with the Marégraphe—France’s official sea-level reference point—helps support restoration efforts for the historic monument.

As a diver, Marseille sounds like a dream: warm Mediterranean waters, rich maritime history, and now, an octopus sculpture at 10–15 meters depth waiting to be discovered.

We also talked production. Jacques Bianchi watches are assembled in Marseille, using Swiss movements and parts sourced from both France and Switzerland. With prices ranging from €1,000 to €1,500, many of their pieces are released via pre-order—giving fans early access at lower prices while keeping the model runs limited and intentional.

When I asked my signature closer—why watches?—the answers were rooted in story and connection. For Omer, it was about appreciating beautiful objects with rich heritage. For Benjamin, it began with seeing Rolexes on Instagram, but quickly grew into a passion for vintage-inspired design and the kind of storytelling Jacques Bianchi makes possible.

These aren’t just dive watches. They’re wearable tributes to place, memory, and Marseille itself. Whether you’re drawn by the lume, the legacy, or that perfectly weird octopus brain, Jacques Bianchi is one of those brands that sticks with you—if you know, you know.

To learn more about Jacques Bianchi, visit jacquesbianchi.com or follow them on Instagram at @montresbianchi.

Special thanks to the Vancouver Timepiece Show for bringing us all together—head to timepieceshow.com to see where the next stop will be.

Matt shared the story behind their latest collaboration with street artist Penfold—transforming a familiar Cambridge mural into a burst of pop-art geometry on a limited edition dial. The result? A watch that gets nicknames like the “Miami Vice,” the “Taco Bell cup,” or, what it immediately reminded me of, “Trapper Keeper” for those who see it.

We also talked about Beaucroft’s core lines:

• Signature, the original design, which remains close to Matt’s heart—especially the “Eden Green” version, named after his daughter who was born the week the dial colors were chosen.

• Seeker, a more traditional dress watch.

• Element, a sporty design that hints at where the brand is heading.

That direction includes looking to develop a new GMT, Matt’s first step toward something more functional while still holding true to Beaucroft’s balance of elegance and personality. His approach is all about adding capability while stripping the dial back visually, as he hones his harmony of form and function.

Assembly takes place in Reading with Horologium, a small UK-based partner that gives Beaucroft the flexibility to do small runs and limited editions, including one-offs for collectors. This kind of close-knit, hands-on collaboration is what makes the microbrand space so exciting.

When I asked Matt my signature question—why watches?—his answer was rooted in storytelling. Trained as a product designer, he spent years designing appliances that were made to become obsolete. Watches, he realized, are the opposite: objects of meaning that connect generations, reflect identity, and carry the weight of memory. “There’s nothing quite like that,” he said—and I couldn’t agree more.

You can explore Beaucroft’s full collection or pick up a piece at beaucroftwatches.com, and follow their story on Instagram at @beaucroftwatches.

Special thanks again to the Vancouver Timepiece Show—check out timepieceshow.com to see where the show is headed next.

This past weekend, a small crew of six of us local divers suited up for what has become an unofficial annual underwater cleanup dive tradition at Lake Samish. We’ve been doing these for a few years now. At this point, we’ve come to expect the usual suspects: vapes (doubly disgusting when we bring those back to the surface), bottles, cans, lots and LOTS tangled fishing line, wrappers, and the occasional “how did that even get down here?” surprise sitting on the lakebed. In the past the more exotic things we’ve found under this lake even includes a laptop, a bowling ball, and yes, a gun (yes, the police were notified).

Diving to Make a Difference

What we do hope is that the videos and photos from dives like this get people thinking, and maybe even make folks a little more mindful about their gear and garbage while enjoying the waters here in the PNW and summer sets in.

Cleanup dives like this aren’t your typical pleasure or adventure dive. We’re not chasing fish or taking in the sights. We’re navigating low visibility, silt clouds, and the occasional underwater tangle of old fishing line, cans, and who-knows-what.

It’s not glamorous. But it’s worth it.

There’s something satisfying about surfacing with a full bag, after bag, after lake-stanky bag, and knowing you left the lake just a little better than you found it. I’m proud to be part of a crew that shows up, year after year, to do exactly that. Making a small difference, for the sake of the waters we all love to explore…and get our drinking water from.

Shout out to Andy, my good friend, and the best dive partner a diver could ever ask for, for coordinating these efforts each year….and some awesome hot dogs.

As Father’s Day rolls around, I’ve been thinking about those little moments that shaped me as a kid, and the ones that perhaps will shape my 8-year-old son. It’s never the day-to-day grind, but those vivid flashes where a kid feels like they’re at the helm of something bigger…

Sailing the high seas of parenting

Now, if you ask my 8-year-old son, he’s convinced the real adventure starts when he’s “finally grown up.” My wife and I remind him, like I’m sure our parents did with us, that being a kid is the adventure. You just don’t realize or really appricate it until you’re older.

When I was his age, my VHS player was pretty much on a loop of The Goonies and Indiana Jones. I was all in on the thrill of the unknown. The treasure maps, booby traps, ancient artifacts, and just enough danger to spark the imagination. That love for adventure stories never really left me. Those well-worn VHS tapes, stacks of National Geographic magazines, and the diving tales my own father shared around the dinner table all helped instill in me a deep desire to travel, hike, dive, and adventure, or whichever way I defined exploring at the time. Whether it was getting lost in the plethora of pages of maps I’ve collected over the years, wandering forest trails, or diving headfirst into a new hobby, the urge to discover was always there. Seeing my son step into his own stories of exploring, in whatever way he defines it at his age, feels like a full-circle moment; whether it be up a mountain, stuck in a tree, snorkeling in the shallows of the lake, or more recently, steering a 100 year old schooner.

Setting Sail

We were aboard the historic Zodiac Schooner, on what we thought would be a Gilligan’s Island-style three-hour tour. That was until, the captain and crew invited him to jump in… literally. He was hoisting sails, handling lines, and gripping the helm with both hands. For a few bright moments, he wasn’t just a kid on a boat. In his mind, he was the crew and captain.

Wrist-Check, 8-Year-Old Edition

And yes #watchfam, on his wrist is the beloved, goes-with-him-everywhere, Blok 33. That little plastic watch has been through tree climbs, lake dives, “ancient tombs” (what he calls Fort Casey on Whidbey Island), and plenty of backyard quests.

It’s scuffed, it’s scratched, and it’s still ticking. Much like his dad, he wears it like a badge of adventure, an analog companion on every wild idea he has…including climbing those trees in the back yard he knows he’s not supposed to be up.

Fac Tempus ad Explorandum, or, “make the time to explore.” As the credo of Analog Explorer, I’ve come to believe that being a dad might be the greatest exploration of all. Watching your kid grow, learn, and find their own course… that’s real exploration. We’re navigating it together. Sometimes, he’s steering and we (my wife and I) are the crew helping with the rigging. Other times, the three of us are just along for the ride. But we’re there, side by side, chasing those “phantom sails” of imagination and adventure as a family.

So, here’s to the dads, grandpas, uncles, mentors, and all the quiet navigators helping the next generation find their heading. I hope this Father’s Day you make the time to explore.

Happy Father’s Day from the Analog Explorer.

ARKEN began not in a studio or boardroom, but during lockdown. Then a content director grounded by COVID, Ken found himself diving headfirst into Seiko modding. That tinkering led to deeper questions: what if he could create something original and something the best he can for the #wathfam.

His latest piece, the ARKEN Alterum, is a standout in form and function. Built around a Miyota 9015-series base with a custom GMT-like dual time module and AM/PM apertures, it delivers a level of complexity and usability that punches well above its £600 price tag. Why titanium? Ken wanted something different, something lightweight, durable, and toolish. This formed the design language of his brand. “Once we launched our first watch in titanium,” he said, “it just became part of who we are.”

We also got into the realities of global trade and tariffs. While some brands scramble to adjust, Ken has a calm and measured approach, thanks in part to assembling in the UK.

When I asked him my usual closer, why watches?, Ken kept it real: “Why not?” For him, it’s more about the emotional connection and the joy of creating something that lives on someone’s wrist, beyond his own timeline. “There’s no greater feeling than seeing someone come up to the booth wearing something I made,” he told me.

So, if you haven’t already, meet Our Ken. He is not just building watches, but building relationships, one titanium case at a time.

You can follow Ken on Instagram at @arkenwatchco or explore his creations at arken.uk.

Big thanks again to the Vancouver Timepiece Show—check timepieceshow.com to find out where they’re heading next.