The Waiting List Podcast
Hosted by three watch geeks—Jaclyn Li, Daniel Sum, and Lung Lung Thun—The Waiting List Podcast explores the watch world with passion rather than expertise. Each episode covers trending industry topics, interviews collectors, and aims to grow the watch community with a positive, relaxed tone. The hosts invite listeners to connect via email or Instagram.
Episodes
#233- Casual musings - Jac
#232-Watches and Wonders 2025 - Jac, Dan, Lung
Watches and Wonders 2025!
#231- Ep 2 The Waiting Room- Anxiety
In this episode, we talk about one of the most common mental disorders- anxiety.
#230-"I tend to go to auctions because that is the place with the most rare watches" - Karen Hung, Watch Enthusiast/Writer
On this episode, we speak to Karen @watch_garden_kh about how she got into watches, how she became a writer, and how she learned about FP Journe before Rolex.
#229-Ep 1 of The Waiting Room- "Uncle"
On the first episode of our mini series on mental health, we introduce you to our resident co host "Uncle".
#228-"There is nobody more snobbish than Parisians"- Gautier Massonneau, Founder of Trilobe watches
On this episode we interview Gautier on the history of the brand, his inspiration, and his vision for the Company and why it is important to stick to the brand's core principles.
#227-Happy CNY! - Dan, Jac, Lung Lung
We're back! Happy CNY, Gong Xi Fa Cai everyone!
#226- Merry Xmas and Happy NY!
In our final episode of 2024, we reflect on how we feel and just life in general.
#225-"In the watch world I equally have things...as important as getting a No.1 album" -James McVey, Singer/Member of The Vamps
On this episode we speak to James about his grails, watches with significance in his collection, getting cancelled on Reddit and why he was lucky to get introduced to watches not through Rolex or AP.
#224-"We actually supply the movement for 17 brands" - Swei, GM for Speake Marin Greater China
On this episode we speak to Swei about how he went from Nike, to Apple, to managing the Greater China market for Speake Marin. We talk about the Ripple collection, why the longevity of a brand is important to collectors, and how the brand has evolved to more modern designs.
#223-"If it was a Shanghai (watch), you could marry any girl" - Chris, Collector
On this episode we speak to Chris who started collecting watches in the early 90s. Originally French, he moved to China and started discovering a watch landscape that was very different from what he knew in Europe. He teaches us about Chinese watch brands and shares the story of receiving a very special piece from his father in law.
#222-Reverse Interview with - Ryan Goddu, Collector
In this new concept episode, Ryan interviews the 3 of us instead!
#221-3 of us Part 3 - Dan, Jac, Lung
#220-3 of us Part 2 - Dan, Jac, Lung
The title says it all, just the three of us catching up.
#219- "Were making watches, not units"- Nicholas Bowman-Scargill, Managing Director of FEARS watches
In this episode we speak to Nicholas @fearswatches about how he came to revive the brand, the success and growth of FEARS watches, why he left Rolex and more.
#218-"I know that I dont want to do things that are too obvious or too easy"- Matteo Violet-Vianello, Founder of ANOMA Watches
In this episode we speak to Matteo @anomawatch about how the inspiration for the ANOMA A1 came about and why interesting case shapes are making a comeback.
#217-Catch up - Dan, Jac, Lung
Another quick catch up before the summer comes to an end!
#216-"You present it as the greatest story that you can tell in that moment"- Arthur Touchot, Digital Director at Phillips Watches
In this episode we speak to Arthur @arthur_touchot about his journey from being a war correspondent reporter to working at Hodinkee and now Phillips Watches, the story of his steel panda, and more.
#215-"I've touched vintage pieces before but I've been burnt"- John, Collector
In this episode we speak to John @watch.academics about working with lab rats, why he chose Panerai as his first luxury watch and "interesting" shopping experiences.
#214-"I'm so much happier now than I was in the bubble COVID yeras because things make sense"- Eric Gustafson, Founder of Hairspring
In this episode we speak to Eric, founder of Hairspring @hairspringwatches about the differences between collectors from the US, Europe, and Asia, using his platform as a medium to bridge together the watch community through his great "Finds" and how we can all maintain our passion for this hobby when you feel like you've seen everything.
#213- GPHG 2024 - Dan, Jac, Lung
It's that time of the year again! Join us as we vote for 2024's GPHG nominees.
#212- The Quiet Club Part 2- Norifumi Seki, Watchmaker
Norifumi Seki (@aysopos_jal) won the Young Talent Competition hosted by F.P. Journe and the AHCI in 2020. He has since joined founders HK Ueda and Johnny Ting to launch Quiet Club's first watch called Fading Hours. Please go back and listen to Part 1 to hear their whole journey.
#211- "I'd love to get my art into the hands of ppl who inspired me in all the seasons of my life"- LABEG (Gabe Lau), Artist
On this episode we speak to Gabe @LABEG on living his dream of becoming an artist, why he chose to work with cardboard, his dream collab, and his watches.
#210- "I literally brought coins...i would listen to the quality of the sound"- H.K. & Johnny, Founders of Quiet Club
The Quiet Club (@quietclub_watches) is a watch brand designed and handcrafted in Tokyo. On this episode we speak to the brand's founders about their first model- 'Fading Hours' and it's alarm function operated by a mechanical gong.
#209- "I have this weird theory about the datograph"- Rich @watchbiao, Collector
On this episode we speak to Rich @watchbiao about the Alange Datograph, his collecting journey and his thoughts about living in the US versus living in China.
#208- AITAH - Dan, Jac, Lung
On this episode we discuss growing up in a Chinese family and more.
#207- Random musings - Dan, Jac, Lung
We've been having a lot of random thoughts lately and just thought we would share them all with you guys.
#206- "I hate watches that under utilize the case real estate"-Charles, Collector
In this episode we speak to Charles about his watch collecting philosophy, why he has shifted to visiting dealers and auction houses over ADs, and why Patek salons operate very differently from other retailers.
#205- "Hunting the ads...it almost replaces the need to have the watches"-Nick, Founder of Ad Patina
In this episode we speak to Nick about his vintage watch ad business Ad Patina @adpatina , how he turned a passion into a business, the similarities between his work and those of watch dealers, and the golden age of advertisements.
#204- Auction Insights- Dan, Jac, Lung
On this episode we discuss the art of auctioneering, auction results and insights.
#203- "I just love gifting it puts a smile on my face"-Cameron Steiner, Collector and Host of Collectors Gene Radio
In this episode we welcome back Cameron @cameronrosssteiner , host of Collectors Gene Radio. We discuss the importance of gifting, what the guests on his podcast are collecting and what watches he will be wearing the most in the near future.
#202- Watches and Wonders 2024 -Dan, Jac, Lung
The title explains it all. Enjoy!
#Bonus Episode- ONLY WATCH 2024 -Dan, Jac, Lung
Heres an extra episode just in time for Only Watch. Which pieces did you guys like the most?
#200- Episode 200! -Dan, Jac, Lung
Episode 200!! Thank you all for coming along with us on this journey. We are grateful for all the great connections we've made and all the interesting people we get to speak to. It still blows our mind that you guys tune in and support us. Thank you!
#199- "OMG for that price I can have 5 people walking around telling me the time"- Gaurav R, Collector
On this episode we speak to Gaurav (@highendtime) about all things Daniel Roth and whether the brand will ever be a Patek contender. We discuss Gaurav's own collecting journey and why he still appreciates unique and rare Roth pieces.
#198- "Its faster for me to go from Geneva to Dubai than to reach his workshop"- Shahz Khan, Founder of Salon Des Horlogers/K2 Luxury
On this episode we speak to Shahz (@salondeshorlogers) about creating Salon Des Horlogers after establishing a reputable name for himself in the watch world after building up K2 Luxury. We discuss the independents and why it is necessary to have a platform dedicated to this growing niche market.
#197- "We identified 250 features that affect the price of a watch"- Giovanni Prigigallo, Founder of EveryWatch
On this episode we speak to Giovanni (@everywatch_official) about creating a platform that tracks over 30 years of watch data, the correlation between case sizes and value, and how the platform will change watch collectors’ experiences.
#196- "When I design a watch...I design the relationship you will have with that watch"- Benoit Mintiens, Founder of Ressence Watches
On this episode we speak to Benoit (@ressence_watches) about his industrial design background and how it has shaped the way he has created watches. We also discuss how the idea of using oil came about, why a Ressence watch has no hands and how the E Crown came about.
#195- "Hong Kong used to be the centre of watchmaking, theres just no record of that"- Quinn Lai, Founder of DIY Watch Club and EONIQ Watches
On this episode we speak to Quinn about how he came up with the concepts for both his ventures (@diywatchclub and @eoniqdesign) , the value of "made in Hong Kong", how he balances business with passion and the struggles of running a microbrand.
#194-"I don't think they had in mind that people would be collecting these pieces"- Luis, Collector
In this episode, we speak to Luis @movado_archive about the four different significant periods in Movado's history, the most collectible Movado pieces and the 331 movement.
#193- "I think the best collections were built in the last 20 years"- John Goldberger, Collector and Author
In this episode we speak to John @goldberger about the three most important people you need in your watch journey, how he collects, what he thinks about his own collection, and his favorite modern Cartier.
#192- "A real negotiation...me scoring big...those are the videos I like best"- Mike Nouveau, Vintage Watch Specialist
In this episode we speak to Mike about the success hes had on TikTok and Instagram, what the dealer code is, what collectors are asking for, and his ultimate 3 watch collection.
#191- "A lot of retailers, after the pandemic, emphasized on "the journey" " -Luo Yong Wen, Collector
In this episode we speak to Yong Wen about his first watch, the Omega Seamaster, going on Patek's factory tour and why the brand remains the most special to him.
#190- A message from all of us
HAPPY CNY! Woohoo!
#189- Watch talk - Dan, Jac
On this episode Dan and Jac talk all things watches, watch fairs, and what they have seen lately.
#188- "The lowest of the hierarchy...the cataloger"- Gertrude Wong, Phillips Auction Watches Cohead of Sales
On this episode we speak to Gertrude @g.wwh about her perspective on the auction world, what she has learned, and what she enjoys the most about her job.
#187- ”I wanted something that had character, something completely different”- Jackie Ho, Collector
On this episode we speak to Jackie about his Irish background, what he learned from collecting vintage Rolex, his interest in independents and why he decided to start a watch group- Watchhoandco.
#186- ”a lot of AD sales were super cool about it, ”its cool youre a dealer” ” – Alex Lau, Founder of The Horologist
On this episode we speak to Alex about how he transitioned from being a collector to becoming a dealer. What it has been like dealing in Hong Kong, running his business The Horologist @thehorologisthk, the dangers and safety in this industry.
#185 Merry Xmas and Happy New Year ! - Dan, Jac, Lung
Just 3 more days till the end of 2023. We love you all for tuning in and giving us all the support and motivation to keep doing this. We are grateful to be able to interview so many special guests and we can't wait to see you guys in 2024. Happy holidays !
#184- ”The kind of collector that intrigues me are the ones that focus on their own niche” – Helbert Tsang, Cofounder of The Horology Club
On this episode we speak to Helbert about his most memorable gathering, collectors that interest him, the watch community in Hong Kong and his love for independents.
#183- ”We felt it was important to have plurality in terms of news” – Allen Farmelo & William Massena, Founders of The Watch Space
On this episode we speak to Allen and William about their new app The Watch Space, why we need to take a broader approach to watch journalism and what they hope to achieve with this app. Click to download the app here https://www.thewatchspace.net/
#182- ”I had to be extremely stubborn to make this happen...every supplier was trying to gently advise me not to do it” – Sylvain Berneron, Founder of Berneron watches
On this episode we speak to Sylvain about the launch of Berneron watches, how he juggles both being a watch brand founder and being a full time creative director at Breitling. We also discuss the challenges he faced designing his first piece-the Mirage.
#181- ”You don’t want to look back on a book full of regrets” – Todd Searle, Author, Creative Director, Collector
On this episode we speak to Todd about his book 32 Regrets, how to discover the creativity in you and how to live a life without regrets. Todd has kindly offered our listeners a free compact version of the book that you guys can access immediately at https://creativity.ftscreates.com . Click the link to start your creative journey!
#180- ”We wanted to provide that safe protected environment for ladies to come in” – Deborah Wong & Stephanie Soh, Collectors and Founders of Ticktockbelles
On this episode we talk to Deb and Steph about the similarities between fashion and watches, building a female community, and their watch collecting philosophy.
#179- Poop talk – Dan, Jac, Lung
Jac shares big news this episode and we exchange stories about poop.
#178- “I want to create something...that feeling of cretaing is how it all started” – Amrita Katara, Editor of Tatler GMT Hong Kong
In this episode we speak to Amrita on how Harry Potter inspired her to write, the influence Bollywood has on the watch industry, and the power of social media in modern journalism.
#177- “A product doesn’t define a business” – Ken Kuan, Founder of Delugs
In this episode we speak to Ken on how he turned a side hustle into a full blown business, why he enjoys studying other entrepreneurs' journeys and the possibility of running his own watch club.
#176- “You couldn’t differentiate the man from the artist” – Evelyne and Alexia Genta, Wife & Daughter of Gerald Genta
In this episode we speak to Evelyne and Alexia about how Gerald saw the world as an artist, his love for nature and architecture, what he would be designing had he been based in Italy or France, and of course- the Royal Oak and Nautilus.
#175- “The most difficult thing I find from a design perspective are the entry level pieces...” – Ming Thein, Cofounder of MING Watches
In this episode we speak to Ming about how thinking out of the box keeps him creative, how he built MING, novelties, and his vision for the brand.
#174- “Two years ago I had better things to do than look at pieces of metal” – Johnathan Chan, Cofounder of The Horology Club
In this episode, we speak to Johnathan about his vision for The Horology Club, how he intends to provide an educational angle and continue to make this hobby more inclusive.
#173- “Librarians like to say cataloging is an art, not a science” – Dr Miranda Marraccini, Librarian
In this episode, we speak to Miranda about what it is like to run the library at the Horological Society of New York and why we should all go down for a visit.
#172- REAL TALK – Dan, Jac, Lung
Time for a much needed catch up!
#171- “The market cap is extremely important in preserving the brands in this industry” – Samuel Naldi, Pen collector and more
In this episode, we speak to Samuel about the pen industry’s landscape and the resemblance it has to the quartz crisis, whether pens are investment worthy, and what makes a good pen.
#170- “They wont readily admit this came from the Americans” – Joshua Shapiro, Founder of J.N.Shapiro watches
In this episode, we speak to Josh about the impact of American watch making, similiarities between iPhones and pocket watches and the inspiration behind the basket weave design.
#169- “Launching in China was an absolutely shitty idea” – Robin Tallendier, Co-founder of Atelier Wen
In this episode, we speak to Robin about the concept behind Atelier Wen, the meaning of its name, the difficulties of launching the brand and breaking the news to his father.
#168- “The worst watches I worked on came from the 2000s” – Gael & Florian, Founders of Petermann Bedat
In this episode, we speak to Gael Petermann and Florian Bedat about the birth of their brand, who is rational one amongst the two, and the collaboration with Auffret for Only Watch 2023.
#167- “My passion, you can see it on my face” – Kevin O’Dell, Collector
In this episode, we speak to Kevin (@theydid) about how his dad's decision to get him a job at a pawnshop led to the passion he has for watches today.
#166- “You really have to turn over stock to make it work” – Ben, Founder of Watch Brothers London
In this episode, we speak to Ben @watchbrotherslondon about growing his business in the competitive secondary market, underrated brands we should look out for and more.
#165-“We probably have the highest rate of people who are loyal to the brand”– Jean Marc Pontroue, CEO of Panerai
In this episode we speak to Jean Marc about Panerai’s success at building a community, their collaboration with Prada, and the future of the brand.
#164-“You can’t have a sharp profile in your design language and please everybody”–Wilhelm Schmid, A Lange & Sohne’s CEO
In this episode we speak to Wilhelm about leadership, the shortage of watches in the industry, his own holy grail and more.
#163-“In the two months I stopped working… I developed this watch”–Simon Brette , Watchmaker
In this episode we speak to Simon, a French independent watchmaker about his first release, his time at MB&F, and what’s next for the brand.
#162– “These timepieces were the source of my memories with my dad”–Paul Boutros , Head of Americas for Phillips Watches
In this episode we speak to Paul about how he started off at Lockheed Martin and ended up at Phillips auction house and all the things he has experienced there.
#161– “I wish heritage departments had their own budgets”–Part 2 Cameron Steiner , Host of Collectors Gene Radio
In part 2 of our interview with Cameron, we discuss the difference between hoarding and collecting, watch trends, and his own podcast.
#160 - Team catchup !
It's been a while since the three of us caught up with each other. In this episode we talk about the Puyi sale, the Patek exhibition and more.
#159- ”We’re not curing cancer here...we’re having fun”- Stephen Pulvirent, Founder of Rime & Reason
In this episode we speak to Stephen @sjpulvirent about being part of the original Hodinkee team, Hodinkee radio, and meeting friends through watches.
#158- ”Red nail polish...I wonder who brought it along” - Martin Frei, Co-Founder of URWERK
In this episode we speak to Martin about how he grew URWERK and where the brand is heading next.
#157 - ”I dont mean to boast...but i think most of them got their first Cartier because of me”- Alvin Chong, Collector
In this episode, we speak to Alvin (@watchrology) about Cartier and the community he has built in Singapore surrounding the brand.
#156- ” ”He’s almost handsome” that has stuck with me...”- Andrew Morgan, Content Creator
Andrew is the man behind the camera on the Watchfinder videos. In this episode we speak to him about how these videos are created.
#155– “My pebble ...one of those pristine safe queens” – Nick @cartierwatchnerd, Collector
In this episode we speak to Nick about all things Cartier.
#154– “Their sports watches all look like Rolex knock off” – Servo, Collector, Part 2
In this episode we speak to Servo about his watch collection and how he managed to get two Patek aquanauts on the same day.
