Burlingame & Park Topper

You win some, you lose some. And somewhere between splitting the boys between time zones we ran into some technical difficulties in getting all of our Watches & Wonders thoughts transcribed, but fret not — all was not lost, and we are here with a very special episode that was recorded partially in Geneva, and partially back in Burlingame, with the boys sharing their initial reactions, and doling out a series of completely official and totally not made-up awards from another epic year at Watches & Wonders. Apologies for any redundant bits where some of the same thoughts are shared in both Geneva and Burlingame, as the boys did cover some of the same salient points twice.

We're also on the eve of our second annual First Look event, where all the latest novelties from Watches & Wonders will be joining us here in Burlingame — you can learn more about this very special event and RSVP right here.

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Follow the boys on Instagram: 

• Russ: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@russcaplan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Rob: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@robcaplan_topper⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Zach: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@zachxryj⁠⁠⁠⁠

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This week's wrist check: 

• Rob: Seiko Prospex SLA017 62MAS Re-Creation

• Zach: Blancpain x Swatch Scuba "Ocean of Storms

• Russ: Omega Speedmaster CK2998

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Wait, why not? Tap in and let the boys explain. Instead of dusting off the crystal ball, Rob, Russ, and Zach are taking a closer look at a few recent arrivals to the store, including one of the hottest modern Speedmasters ever: the Apollo 8, and the many differences that comprise its recent update, the über-cool Mark II. That's not the only cool new Omega in the store though, so listen on for the full rundown before we cast off for Geneva.

As always, thanks for listening – we hugely appreciate your support, and love getting emails with questions or comments – you can reach the boys directly here: podcast@topperjewelers.com

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Follow the boys on Instagram: 

• Russ: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@russcaplan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Rob: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@robcaplan_topper⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Zach: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@zachxryj⁠⁠⁠

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This week's wrist check: 

• Rob: Grand Seiko Kira-Zuri SBGA387

• Zach: Panerai Luminor PAM531

• Russ: Parmigiani Tonda PF Annual Calendar

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Watches discussed in this week's episode:

• Topper's 2024 Watches & Wonders novelty collection page

• Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional White Lacquer

• ⁠Omega Seamaster Diver 300m Paris⁠

• ⁠⁠Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Boutique Exclusive

• Glashütte Original Sixties Chronograph Annual Edition

• the new 39mm DOXA Sub 200T Sea Emerald

• Omega Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon Apollo 8 Mk. II

Burlingame and Park officially turns one year old this week, and for this special birthday episode, the boys are embarking upon a deep dive on the legendary Blancpain Fifty Fathoms to go hands-on with the new, hotly anticipated 42.3mm 5010 Fifty Fathoms, taking all its crucial measurements, sharing on-wrist impressions, and speculating on the future of this mighty dive watch. We also explore the many functions of a good dive watch – many of these features being pioneered by Blancpain itself, with the original Fifty Fathoms of 1953.

As always, thanks for listening – we hugely appreciate your support, and love getting emails with questions or comments: podcast@topperjewelers.com

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Follow the boys on Instagram: 

• Russ: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@russcaplan⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Rob: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@robcaplan_topper⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Zach: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@zachxryj⁠⁠

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This week's wrist check: 

• Rob: Omega Seamaster Diver 300m Diver

• Zach: ⁠Blancpain Bathyscaphe Chronograph Titanium⁠

• Russ: Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Automatic 45mm Titanium

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• Explore Topper's new 5010 Fifty Fathoms Ti23 collection

• Betty Fiechter's tenure at Blancpain setting the stage for the Fifty Fathoms

• The birth of the dive watch in 1953, from Jean-Jacques Fiechter

How does a chunk of iron that once hurtled through space over a million years ago end up as a tiny sliver in the dial of a modern Omega Constellation watch?

This week, the boys of Burlingame are taking a deep dive into meteorite dials – where they come from, how they're made, and just what we love about them. However, along the way, we gladly digress with a conversation on subtleties in case design from Grand Seiko, share first impressions of the Fears Redcliff in the metal, and a whole lot more.

As always, thanks for listening – we hugely appreciate your support, and love getting emails with questions or comments: podcast@topperjewelers.com

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Follow the boys on Instagram: 

• Russ: ⁠⁠⁠@russcaplan⁠⁠⁠

• Rob: ⁠⁠⁠@robcaplan_topper⁠⁠⁠

• Zach: ⁠⁠⁠@zachxryj⁠

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This week's wrist check: 

• Russ: Longines Hydroconquest GMT Diver

• Rob: ⁠Seiko Prospex 62MAS Re-Creation SJE093

• Zach: Blancpain Bathyscaphe Chronograph Titanium

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• 2002 Corum Padlock watch

• The first Omega Constellation with an integrated bracelet

• Episode 10 interview with Erik Strickland on the SJE093

• New 38mm titanium Grand Seiko "Sekki" references (SBGH341 Pink & SBGH343 Green)

• Fears Redcliff Date (Pewter Grey)

• Breitling Superocean Automatic 44 Bronze US-Exclusive

• Omega Constellation with colored meteorite dial

Spoiler alert: we have. 

The boys are back in Burlingame, and this week, we partake in a spot of Wikipedia vandalism, and each tell a story that we might once have been too ashamed to share. We also share the origins behind our obsession with the "California dial" – a timely conversation with our Fears Topper Editions, and the Bremont x Bamford collaborative sequel which both just dropped. 

We also debate the merits of "Caller" vs. "Traveler" GMT functionality as we check out the new Ball Engineer III Outlier, which just landed in-store. 

As always, thanks for listening – we hugely appreciate your support, and love getting emails with questions or comments: podcast@topperjewelers.com

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Follow the boys on Instagram: 

• Russ: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@russcaplan⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Rob: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@robcaplan_topper⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Zach: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@zachxryj⁠⁠

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This week's wrist check: 

• Russ: ⁠⁠Fears Brunswick 40 Topper Edition Series II "Whiteout"⁠⁠

• Rob: ⁠⁠Omega Seamaster Diver 300m⁠⁠

• Zach: ⁠⁠Jaeger-Lecoultre Geophysic True Second Rose Gold⁠⁠

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• ⁠⁠The official Wikipedia page for "California Dial"⁠⁠

• ⁠⁠Worn & Wound's Guide to Modern California Dials⁠⁠

• ⁠⁠Interview with Nicholas about the Topper Edition California Dial⁠⁠

• ⁠⁠Zach's ABTW story about wearing his Geophysic while sheltering at home⁠⁠

• ⁠⁠Classic Hunter S. Thompson quote: "...Too weird to live, too rare to die..."⁠

The boys are back, and this week they're split between three towns, led by Russ on the ground in Miami at LVMH Watch Week with Romain Marietta, Chief Product Officer for Zenith. Romain has been with Zenith for 16 years and counting – it's where his career began, so there are few people that know this brand quite like he does. We go over all of the Le Locle maker's newest launches, including the endlessly charming Chronomaster Original Triple Calendar, and the brand new titanium Chronomaster Sport, while trying to get him to spill a secret or two on what we can expect from this high-flying brand in 2024. Will Zach finally get his titanium Pilot this year?

As always, we love hearing from you – shoot us a note at podcast@topperjewelers.com and maybe we'll read your question on air!

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Follow the boys on Instagram: 

• Russ: ⁠@russcaplan⁠

• Rob: ⁠@robcaplan_topper⁠

• Zach: ⁠@zachxryj

• Romain: @romain.marietta

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Watches & stories discussed on this week's episode:

• Rob's watch: Zenith Chronomaster C.01 for Collective

• Russ' watch: Zenith Pilot Flyback Big Date

• Zach's watch: Vacheron-Constantin Overseas Dual Time 'Everest'

• Romain's watch: vintage Zenith Triple Calendar prototype

• Our episode exploring the Zenith attic, featuring our own Jay Liu