WatchDNA | Where Time Connects Us All

WatchDNA

Welcome to the WatchDNA podcast, where time connects us all. This podcast takes you beyond the dial to explore the people, stories, and innovations shaping the world of horology. Join us as we sit down with watchmakers, brand founders, collectors, retailers, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and passionate enthusiasts from around the globe. From the latest watch releases and industry trends to personal journeys, business insights, and the craftsmanship behind some of the world’s most fascinating timepieces, every episode offers a unique perspective on the watch community. Whether you’re a seasoned collector, a newcomer to the hobby, or simply curious about the stories behind the brands and people that make this industry so special, the WatchDNA Podcast is your destination for education, inspiration, and connection. Subscribe and join us as we discover the stories behind the watches—and the people who wear them. WatchDNA — Where Time Connects Us All.

  1. 6d ago

    The 100-Year-Old Swiss Watch Brand You Need to Buy Right Now! (Nivada Grenchen)

    The 100-Year-Old Swiss Watch Brand You Need to Buy Right Now! (Nivada Grenchen) Are you looking to start your watch collecting journey with a true mechanical powerhouse that won't break the bank? Live from the Couture Show in Las Vegas, WatchDNA host Thomas sits down with Tristan from Nivada Grenchen to explore the massive 100th-anniversary celebration of this iconic heritage brand.  Founded in 1926, Nivada Grenchen has spent a century crafting high-quality, vintage-inspired, affordable Swiss watches. After dominating the 1960s and 70s tool watch markets, the brand went bankrupt during the quartz crisis, only to be spectacularly resurrected in 2020.  We take an exclusive hands-on look at the core pillars driving Nivada Grenchen's modern success: • The Chronomaster: Relaunched from the original 1963 design, this 38mm multi-tool chronograph features 200 meters of water resistance, a premium Sellita Swiss movement, and a unique interchangeable bezel system allowing for easy custom styling. • The Antarctic Collection: Originally launched in 1953, this line accounts for 25% of the brand's business. We reveal their special 100-year anniversary edition featuring a highly playful, mechanical penguin animation complication powered by a Soprod movement. • The F77 Integrated Bracelet Watch: A stunning 1977 reissue brought back to life after the team literally found a vintage model on an organic Instagram post, bought it back from a client, and put it into production.  Tristan drops major insider teasers for the remainder of the anniversary year, including high-end La Joux-Perret movement upgrades coming to the F77 and Super Antarctic lines, exotic stone dials for the 38mm Chronomaster, and an elegant vintage women's reissue from the 1960s priced under $1,000! Learn how their streamlined supply chain keeps Swiss-made luxury accessible between $500 and $2,500. Discover the complete history of Nivada Grenchen and locate an authorized luxury watch retailer near you at: https://watchdna.com Don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more luxury watch event vlogs, independent brand spotlights, and hands-on watch reviews! Timestamps 0:00 - Inside the Couture Show Las Vegas with Nivada Grenchen 1:06 - The 100-Year History: From 1926 Foundation to the Quartz Crisis Bankruptcy 1:42 - Hands-On: The 1963 Chronomaster Reissue & Custom Bezel System 2:42 - The Antarctic Collection: 1953 Heritage Meets Modern Everyday Luxury 3:04 - First Look: The 100th Anniversary Mechanical "Penguin" Complication 3:45 - The F77 Integrated Bracelet: How an Instagram Post Resurrected a Legend 4:24 - Insider Teasers: La Joux-Perret Movement Upgrades & Exotic Stone Dials 5:05 - Upcoming 1960s Vintage Ladies Watch Relaunch (Under $1,000) 5:26 - The Pricing Strategy: How Nivada Keeps Genuine Swiss Made Affordable 5:54 - Outro: Finding Authorized Nivada Grenchen Showcases in Canada & the US #NivadaGrenchen #WatchDNA #Chronomaster #AffordableLuxury #SwissMade #F77 #AntarcticWatch #VintageReissue #WatchCollector #Horology #CoutureVegas #ToolWatch #Chronograph #LaJouxPerret Send us Fan Mail

    The 100-Year-Old Swiss Watch Brand You Need to Buy Right Now! (Nivada Grenchen)
  2. Jul 4

    The Cult French Watch Brand for People Who Care About Style! (March LA.B Hands-On)

    The Cult French Watch Brand for People Who Care About Style! (March LA.B Hands-On) Website: WatchDNA.com IG: ‪@watchdna‬  TikTok: WatchDNA Email: info@WatchDNA.com Forget the standard luxury watch clones this brand is building a community for the cool side of the watch world. Live from the Geneva showroom, WatchDNA host Thomas sits down with Alain Marhic, the visionary co-founder of March LA.B, to explore the incredible surf-and-style-driven history behind this ultra-refined French watch brand.  Launched 14 years ago in 2011, March LA.B blends the laid-back West Coast vibe of Los Angeles with the historic, coastal surf culture of Biarritz, France (the "French California"). Fun fact: the brand's co-founding designer is none other than Jerome Mage, the legendary mastermind behind the global luxury eyewear empire Jacques Marie Mage! Alain shares his personal "Eureka" moment, transitioning from designing extreme action sports watches at Quicksilver to building a high-character, affordable luxury horology brand. We get an exclusive hands-on look at three signature March LA.B timepieces: • The Mansart Mon Segond: A striking 1970s-inspired architectural dress watch featuring an octagonal case, matching octagonal sub-dials, an offset small seconds hand at 7:00, and March LA.B's unmistakable signature green see-through case back. • The Lady Mansart: The highly successful, scaled-down feminine counterpart that offers genuine high-end French design and luxury wrist presence without the inflated price tags of legacy maisons. • The 2026 Manual-Wind Slim Dress Watch: A brand-new mechanical release featuring an incredibly ultra-thin, aggressive angular case, a manual hand-winding Swiss movement assembled in France, and a mesmerising engraved honeycomb texture dial. Discover why top global retailers who stock Rolex are now bringing March LA.B into their showcases. If you want a timepiece that guarantees you won't see it on anyone else's wrist, this is a brand you need to know. Read our complete independent brand profiles and explore world watch guides at: https://watchdna.com/marchlab Don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more luxury watch event coverage, independent microbrand spotlights, and hands-on watch reviews! Timestamps 0:00 - Inside the March LA.B Community: The "Cool Side" of Watches 1:04 - 1970s Vibe & French Refinement: The Core DNA Explained 1:27 - From Biarritz to Los Angeles: The Jacques Marie Mage Connection 2:05 - The History of Biarritz & Coco Chanel's Early Influence 2:31 - Alain's Watch Virus: Transitioning from Quicksilver to Baselworld 4:15 - Hands-On: The Octagonal Mansart Mon Segond & Signature Green Caseback 4:54 - A Family Affair: Thomas's March LA.B Connection in France 5:14 - Hands-On: The Elegant Lady Mansart Collection 6:19 - Relaunch First Look: The Ultra-Thin Honeycomb Mechanical Manual-Wind 7:02 - The Ultimate Pitch: Why Wear a Watch Nobody Else Has? 7:40 - Global Expansion: From Paris Boutiques to International Retailers #MarchLAB #WatchDNA #JacquesMarieMage #FrenchWatches #MicrobrandWatches #Mansart #BiarritzStyle #LuxuryWatches #WatchCollector #Horology #ManualWind #DressWatch #IndependentWatchmaking Send us Fan Mail

    The Cult French Watch Brand for People Who Care About Style! (March LA.B Hands-On)
  3. Jun 3 ·  Video

    The Military’s Best Kept Secret? MicroMilspec’s Henrik Rye on Custom Watches & Erling Haaland

    The Military’s Best Kept Secret?  MicroMilspec’s Henrik Rye on Custom Watches & Erling Haaland Discover the brand | Read the article | Explore the collection 👉 WatchDNA.com/Micromilspec For more brands, access all links in one place: 👉 Link in bio → WatchDNA.com/Discover How did a brand-new watch company sell 400 watches in just two weeks to a military unit based only on a drawing? We sit down with Henrik Rye, the CEO and Co-Founder of MicroMilspec, to uncover the incredible origin story of this modern professional watch brand. From being unemployed and sitting in a watchmaker's store to designing custom timepieces for performance athletes like Erling Haaland and elite corporate directors, Henrik shares the vision behind their utility-first aesthetic. In this video, you’ll discover: ✔️The secret behind their Grade 5 Titanium construction and 200m water resistance. ✔️ The mystery of the stolen prototype and why collectors are desperate to get their hands on one. ✔️ Why the US market has become their biggest fan base. ✔️ A close look at their tactical data displays and 24-city time zone bezels. MicroMilspec is quickly becoming the reference point for modern professional watches. Watch until the end to see which prototype is turning heads!  Timestamps: 00:00 – The Mystery of the Stolen Prototype  00:26 – The Vision: Modern Professional Utility Watches  00:57 – How We Sold 400 Watches to the Military in 2 Weeks  01:35 – From Unemployed to Global Watch Brand  01:45 – Top Markets: Why the US is 40% of Business  02:05 – Custom Watches for Erling Haaland & Athletes  02:54 – Prototype Showcase: Grade 5 Titanium & Specs  03:33 – Tactical Features: 24 Time Zones & City Bezels  03:47 – Giveaway Contest & Viewer Poll  #MicroMilspec #HenrikRye #MilitaryWatch #LuxuryWatches #WatchCollecting #ErlingHaaland #Horology #ProfessionalWatches #TitaniumWatch #ToolWatch #WatchReview #CustomWatches #WatchDNA #EDC #TacticalGear Send us Fan Mail

    The Military’s Best Kept Secret? MicroMilspec’s Henrik Rye on Custom Watches & Erling Haaland
  4. May 26 ·  Video

    The Secret Watch Show Next to Watches & Wonders You Need to Know (Time To Watches)

    The Secret Watch Show Next to Watches & Wonders You Need to Know (Time To Watches) Explore the event at: WatchDNA.com/TimeToWatches Website: WatchDNA.com IG: ‪@watchdna‬  TikTok: WatchDNA Email: info@WatchDNA.com What happens to independent watch microbrands when massive events like Baselworld cancel and the industry shifts entirely to Geneva? In this exclusive interview, WatchDNA host Thomas sits down with Christian Wipfli, the Founder and Director of Time To Watches. Christian explains how he launched this human-centric, highly collaborative watch exhibition to give smaller, independent watchmakers a premium, accessible platform in Geneva located just one minute away from Palexpo (home of Watches & Wonders) at the stunning Villa Sarasin. We discuss the rapid growth of the exhibition, the incredible human connections made within the watch community, and a massive new announcement: Time To Watches is expanding internationally with a new edition in Las Vegas in partnership with the prestigious Couture show! Christian breaks down the strategic B2B vs. B2C opportunities this opens up for watch brands aiming to break into the US luxury market. Finally, we get an exclusive look at the brand-new Alexander Award—the first-ever horology award dedicated entirely to the art of watch storytelling, marketing campaigns, photography, and social media communication. Explore the unique DNA of hundreds of independent watch brands in our directory at WatchDNA.com Don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more insider watch event coverage, independent brand spotlights, and luxury horology news Video Timestamps 0:00 - Introduction & The History of Time To Watches 1:02 - Why Independent Brands Needed an Alternative to Baselworld 1:30 - Finding the Perfect Location: From HEAD University to Villa Sarasin 2:22 - The Human Connections of Independent Watch Shows 3:13 - Huge Announcement: Time To Watches Launching in Las Vegas! 3:37 - Strategic Partnership with Couture for the US Watch Market 4:14 - The Alexander Award: Honouring the Best in Watch Storytelling 5:23 - Award Ceremony Details & Wrap Up #TimeToWatches #WatchDNA #IndependentWatches #WatchesAndWonders #Microbrands #WatchCollector #GenevaWatchWeek #Horology #WatchShow #LuxuryWatches #WatchMarketing #AlexanderAward Send us Fan Mail

    The Secret Watch Show Next to Watches & Wonders You Need to Know (Time To Watches)
  5. May 22 ·  Video

    Watches & Wonders at Geneva | Vlog Ft. La Maison Monaco

    Inside Watches & Wonders: Testing the Craziest New Luxury Releases! (TAG Heuer, Hublot & Zenith) Explore the collection at: WatchDNA.com/MaisonMonaco Website: WatchDNA.com IG: ‪@watchdna‬  TikTok: WatchDNA Email: info@WatchDNA.com Live from the showroom floor in Geneva. Join WatchDNA host Thomas and Leon from La Maison Monaco as they take you inside day one and two of Watches & Wonders to experience the most anticipated luxury watch releases of the year. First, we head over to TAG Heuer to look at their latest technical innovations. We dive into the groundbreaking TAG Heuer Monaco Evergraph, a skeletonised marvel that re-engineers the iconic square chronograph to reduce internal movement friction from four points down to just one—massively extending service intervals. We also get a look at the history of the Monaco, vintage Heuer dials, and discuss the upcoming Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix activation happening at the Royalmount boutique in Montreal! Next, we explore the new direction of Hublot under CEO Julien Tornare. We examine the stunning Big Bang Reloaded collection in blue ceramic, green ceramic, and titanium, spotlighting the visible column-wheel at 6:00. Plus, we get a hands-on look at the ultra-exclusive, 200-piece limited editions designed for superstar athletes Kylian Mbappé and Usain Bolt (featuring a frosted carbon bezel and rose gold casing). Finally, we stop by Zenith to check out the Chronomaster Sport Skeleton, featuring an integrated micro-adjustment clasp system, alongside the breathtaking Zenith Chronomaster Original Triple Calendar (GFJ), crafted with an exotic green bloodstone dial and a yellow-gold case to mark the brand's 161st anniversary. Discover where to find these incredible novelties across Canada (Montreal, Quebec City, Ottawa) at WatchDNA.com/MaisonMonaco Don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for exclusive luxury watch reviews, lifestyle vlogs, and front-row coverage of global watch weeks Video Timestamps 0:00 - The Watches & Wonders Experience: Returning to Geneva 0:46 - TAG Heuer Chronograph Innovations & Vintage History 1:52 - Deep Dive: TAG Heuer Monaco Evergraph Frictionless Movement 2:42 - Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix & Montreal Boutique Activation 3:22 - Hublot's New Vision: True Watchmaking Credibility 4:25 - Hands-On: Hublot Big Bang Reloaded Ceramic Collection 5:10 - Limited Editions: The Kylian Mbappé & Usain Bolt Big Bangs 7:26 - Zenith New Releases: Quality Over Quantity Strategy 8:08 - Zenith Chronomaster Sport Skeleton & Patented Micro-Adjust Clasp 9:21 - Zenith Chronomaster Original Triple Calendar (GFJ) Green Bloodstone 10:20 - Final Takeaway: Why Less Releases Mean Better Watches #WatchesAndWonders #WatchDNA #MaisonMonaco #TAGHeuerMonaco #HublotBigBang #ZenithWatches #LuxuryWatches #WatchCollector #Chronograph #Horology #WatchVlog #SwissWatches #F1Montreal Send us Fan Mail

    Watches & Wonders at Geneva | Vlog Ft. La Maison Monaco

About

Welcome to the WatchDNA podcast, where time connects us all. This podcast takes you beyond the dial to explore the people, stories, and innovations shaping the world of horology. Join us as we sit down with watchmakers, brand founders, collectors, retailers, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and passionate enthusiasts from around the globe. From the latest watch releases and industry trends to personal journeys, business insights, and the craftsmanship behind some of the world’s most fascinating timepieces, every episode offers a unique perspective on the watch community. Whether you’re a seasoned collector, a newcomer to the hobby, or simply curious about the stories behind the brands and people that make this industry so special, the WatchDNA Podcast is your destination for education, inspiration, and connection. Subscribe and join us as we discover the stories behind the watches—and the people who wear them. WatchDNA — Where Time Connects Us All.