Between The Lugs

Swatch x AP Royal Pop: Genius Move or Complete Disaster?

Thu, 14 May 2026 12:16:54 -0300

Swatch x Audemars Piguet Royal Pop is already one of the most controversial watch releases of 2026, and the watch community is split before the official May 16 announcement even happens. Is this the next MoonSwatch-level moment, a clever way to bring new collectors into watches, or a risky move that cheapens the Royal Oak and Audemars Piguet’s luxury credibility?

In this emergency episode of Between the Lugs, we break down the Swatch x AP rumors, the Royal Pop name, the Royal Oak speculation, the possible pocket watch or modular concept, and why collectors are already arguing about whether this collaboration is genius or a disaster.

We get into:

• Why Swatch x AP feels different from the MoonSwatch

• Whether a plastic Royal Oak would hurt Audemars Piguet

• The rumored Royal Pop concept and mockups

• Price speculation and secondary market chaos

• Why this could bring new people into watches

• Whether AP risks losing serious collectors

• What we hope the collaboration actually turns out to be

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No paid promotion or sponsor was disclosed for this episode.

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 Swatch x AP is breaking the watch internet

0:51 Why a Plastic Royal Oak Feels So Wrong

2:02 Could This Actually Hurt Audemars Piguet?

3:52 The ONLY Way This Collaboration Could Work

4:35 Predicting the Price + Reseller Chaos

5:23 Why This Could Be Bigger Than MoonSwatch

7:23 Are Luxury Brands Destroying Their Own Heritage?

8:39 Could This Push Buyers Toward Patek & Vacheron?

9:36 Final Thoughts on the AP x Swatch Rumors

10:08 Outro

What do you think? Is Swatch x AP Royal Pop a brilliant move, or is Audemars Piguet taking the Royal Oak too far? Drop your take in the comments.

#AudemarsPiguet #Swatch #RoyalPop #RoyalOak #WatchCollecting

Are Microbrands a Ripoff? Watch Hot Takes Get Heated

Thu, 14 May 2026 12:16:50 -0300

The internet has some truly atrocious watch takes… and this episode gets into all of them.

In this episode of Between the Lugs, we react to a few of the hottest collector debates floating around online, break down some major new watch releases, and answer member questions on luxury watches, quartz, lume, Rolex, Omega, and more.

From claims that Longines is making the best watches in the world to the idea that Seiko has fallen off and Tissot is now the true value king, this episode turns into exactly what it should be: strong opinions, disagreement, and a few debates that collectors are definitely going to have thoughts on.

We also dig into some of the biggest talking points in watches right now:

• Are microbrands a ripoff or are collectors misunderstanding them?

• Longines, Seiko, and Tissot value-watch debates

• Breitling’s new Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Tribute to Concorde

• Breitling’s latest perpetual calendar releases

• Christopher Ward’s C63 Sealander True GMT and new CW-002 Calibre

• TAG Heuer’s Carrera Astronomer and the brand’s space-watch history

• Whether luxury watches are actually “better” than quartz

• Whether lume belongs on a full dress watch

• Rolex Daytona bezel rumors and collector confusion

• OMEGA Planet Ocean GMT vs Rolex GMT-Master II

If you’re into new releases, collector debates, and honest watch talk without the fluff, this one’s for you.

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Longines and the “best watches in the world” debate

• Seiko vs Tissot value king debate

• Microbrands and factory catalog criticism

• Breitling Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Tribute to Concorde

• Breitling Navitimer B19 Perpetual Calendar

• Blancpain Villeret Perpetual

• Christopher Ward C63 Sealander True GMT

• Longines Spirit Zulu Time 39mm

• TAG Heuer Carrera Astronomer

• Luxury watches vs quartz watches

• Lume on dress watches

• Rolex Daytona bezel changes

• OMEGA Planet Ocean GMT vs Rolex GMT-Master II

After Hours topics are available at thewatchbros.com

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

JOIN THE WATCH BROS COMMUNITY:

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#podcast #watches #watchcollecting #luxurywatches #microbrands #seiko #tissot #longines #breitling #tagheuer #christopherward #rolex #omega

These Popular Watches Don’t Deserve the Hype

Thu, 14 May 2026 12:16:45 -0300

In this episode of Between The Lugs, we go head-to-head on some of the most polarizing watches in modern collecting — including the Tissot PRX, MoonSwatch, and Cartier Santos — and we don’t try to resolve the debate.

This isn’t a review.

This is a disagreement.

Jason explains why certain hyped watches feel disposable, over-memed, or fundamentally misunderstood.

Felix fires back with historical context, value arguments, and why collectors might be missing the point entirely.

If you own a PRX, MoonSwatch, or Santos — this episode might hit close to home.

And if you’re tired of pretending every popular watch deserves universal praise, you’re in the right place.

We also break down January 2026 industry news, react to new releases from TAG Heuer, Mido, Hublot, Oris, and Serica, and answer member questions on buying new vs pre-owned, pawn shop strategies, and how to properly research a watch before pulling the trigger.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Hot Open: The Watches We Disagree On

01:45 - Welcome Back!

02:30 Wrist Check: Patek & Vintage Seiko

03:12 – MoonSwatch: Gateway Drug or Disposable Cash Grab?

08:34 – Tissot PRX: Overhyped Starter Watch or Best Value Under $1,000?

17:02 – Cartier Santos: Did Size Ruin the Icon?

25:40 – Industry News: January 2026 Releases That Matter

26:15 – Mido Multifort 8 One Crown

29:04 – TAG Heuer Carrera & Seafarer Returns

30:55 – Oris & Serica New Releases

44:10 – Member Q&A: New vs Pre-Owned Watches

48:32 – Pawn Shop Buying Strategy

54:20 – How to Research a Watch Without Paralysis

1:00:12 – After Hours (Members Only): Hublot vs AP, Quartz Hot Takes

🔥 WATCHES DISCUSSED

Tissot PRX Powermatic 80

Omega x Swatch MoonSwatch

Cartier Santos (Medium vs Large)

TAG Heuer Carrera & Seafarer

Mido Multifort 8

Serica 6190 TXD

Oris Big Crown Pointer Date

💬 JOIN THE DEBATE

Is the PRX actually overrated — or just over-talked about?

Is the MoonSwatch good for the hobby… or bad for watch culture?

Did Cartier miss the mark by upsizing the Santos?

Pick a side in the comments 👇

🎙️ ABOUT BETWEEN THE LUGS

Between The Lugs is the long-form podcast from @TheWatchBros, focused on real collector conversations, disagreement, industry context, and zero forced consensus.

👉 Subscribe for unfiltered watch debates, collector insight, and industry commentary

🔔 New episodes weekly

🎧 More from us

Main Channel → https://www.youtube.com/@TheWatchBros

Memberships → https://www.thewatchbros.com

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/TheWatchBros

#tissotprx #watchpodcast #watchdebate #luxurywatches #betweenTheLugs #watchcollecting #tissot #cartiersantos #moonswatch

The Most Overrated Watch Brands (And Why Everyone Hates Hublot)

Thu, 14 May 2026 12:16:40 -0300

Are these legendary watch brands truly iconic... or just overhyped hype machines?

In this episode of Between the Lugs, Felix and Jason play a brutally honest game: rating popular watch brands from Rolex to Richard Mille on a scale from understated legends to full-blown meme status. It’s not just about marketing. We’re breaking down design stagnation, pricing insanity, status-chasing, and community backlash.

Plus, we field spicy questions from our Patreon supporters and showcase our funky wrist check choices, featuring Pauline, Nectere, and Studio Underdog.

Strap in. This one’s gonna ruffle some bezels.

⌚︎ WRIST CHECK

Jason: Nectere Watches https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jameswong324/nectere-shaped-watch-inspired-by-butterfly-effect

Felix: Pauline Watches https://www.paulinwatches.com/collections/watches/products/neo-b-1

👉 Subscribe for unfiltered watch takes, ranking games, and collector insights that don’t pull punches. 🔔

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🕒 TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 – Intro & Rolex Hype Talk

00:45 – Welcome to Between the Lugs

01:17 – Wrist Check: Pauline & Nectard

02:22 – Patreon Q&A: Selling, Microbrands & Watch Fatigue

08:27 – How We Grade "Overhyped"

09:04 – Panerai Breakdown

16:16 – Cartier Breakdown

21:23 – Hublot Breakdown

26:58 – Richard Mille Breakdown

32:06 – Rolex Breakdown

37:04 – Grand Seiko Breakdown

43:02 – Final Verdicts

44:02 – Street Reactions Idea

45:01 – Outro

🎯 DID WE RANK THEM RIGHT?

Was Panerai judged too harshly? Does Grand Seiko deserve more love? Or are we the ones overhyping it all?

Drop your own scores in the comments – 1 to 25 per brand – and tell us who got done dirty.

Let’s settle this in the comments 👇

#Rolex #OverhypedWatches #GrandSeiko

#WatchCollectors #LuxuryWatches #BetweenTheLugs

How a Female PILOT SHOCKED the Watch Industry with Her Bold Designs | Abingdon’s Story

Thu, 14 May 2026 12:16:27 -0300

In this exclusive interview, we sit down with *Abingdon Mullin,* a real-life pilot and the visionary founder of *The Abingdon Co,* www.abingdonco.com, the first watch brand built by and for adventurous women. From the cockpit to the boardroom, Abingdon shares how she shocked the watch industry with bold, functional, and fearless designs tailored to aviators, divers, and explorers.

Whether you're a *watch enthusiast,* a startup founder, or a woman breaking barriers in a male-dominated industry, this conversation delivers deep insights into *entrepreneurship, design innovation,* and building a purpose-driven brand that challenges the status quo.

📌 *Topics Covered:*

- Why traditional watch brands overlook women

- The founding story of The Abingdon Co.

- Watch design for female pilots, divers & professionals

- Building a lifestyle brand for women who don’t play it safe

- What’s next for women in the watch industry

📺 *Timestamps:*

00:00 – Intro: The Christmas Dinner That Sparked a Watch Brand

01:08 – Welcome to the Show: Meet Abingdon Mullin

01:25 – Founding Abingdon Co. as a Flight Student

02:27 – How She Got Into Flying (Hint: Free Food)

04:03 – Early Aviation Career & Flying Across the Pacific

05:23 – Commemorating Flight Training with a Pilot’s Watch

06:00 – What She Needed in a Pilot’s Watch

07:12 – Lack of Options: Everything Was Too Big

08:07 – Flight Functions She Wanted: GMT, Stopwatch, Slide Rule

09:00 – Teaching Others How to Use Flight Functions

09:39 – Struggling to Find a Watch, Then Reaching Out to Brands

10:17 – The Christmas Dinner That Changed Everything

11:09 – Deciding to Build the Brand from Scratch

11:47 – Googling Her Way into Watch Manufacturing

13:13 – The First Watch: “The Jackie” Prototype

14:07 – Quick-Release Straps & User-Centered Design

15:24 – Why She Designed the Chevron Strap

15:56 – Early Reception & First Aviation Conference Booth

17:12 – Going on Shark Tank

18:03 – Shark Tank Reactions: Cuban, O'Leary, and More

20:32 – Entering the Dive Watch Market

21:28 – The Marina & Nadia Dive Watches

22:22 – Expanding into Tactical, Automotive, and Equine

23:55 – Does She Follow Other Watch Brands?

24:44 – Listening to Her Customers, Not Other Brands

25:30 – The Watch as a Symbol of Strength

26:37 – Abingdon Watches During Chemotherapy

27:18 – The Watch That Survived a Helicopter Crash

29:04 – Retirement at the Summit of Kilimanjaro

30:54 – How Watches Create Deep Human Connections

31:09 – Where to Buy Abingdon Watches

32:24 – Downtown Vegas Showroom Launch & Limited Edition Piece

33:11 – Thank You & Wrap-Up

---

🔗 *Connect with Abingdon Co.:*

🌐 Website: https://www.abingdonco.com

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theabingdonco/

▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AbingdonCo

🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@abingdonco

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abingdonco

📌 Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/abingdonco

---

🔔 *Subscribe for more interviews with creators, founders, and disruptors in the watch world and beyond.*

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#WomenInWatches #WatchIndustry #PilotWatches #AbingdonCo #WatchCollectors #FemaleFounders #AviationWatches #Entrepreneurship #WatchDesign

Why NOW Is The Time To Buy Watches...

Thu, 14 May 2026 12:16:23 -0300

In this episode of Between the Lugs, Mike and Felix go deep on why now is actually the best time ever to be a watch collector. From flippers finally leaving the hobby to brands downsizing their flagship models, it’s clear: watch culture in 2025 is evolving — fast.

They talk everything from Apple Watch fatigue to microbrand love, the end of 48mm flexing, overpriced Rolex boutiques, and the surprising shift toward small vintage-inspired pieces. Whether you’re Gen Z, a seasoned collector, or just got your first Seiko, this one’s for you.

👀 In this episode:

🔹 Cartier Santos Debate: Small vs XL

🔹 Microbrands Are Winning Gen Z Over

🔹 Why Rolex ADs Are the Worst

🔹 Death of the Fashion Watch

🔹 Why No One’s Setting Their Watches Anymore

🔹 The Case Against Hype Models

🔹 Timex Is Doing WHAT for $2K?!

🔹 Why Every Watch Guy Has Beef with Boston

🔹 “I Hate 90% of Your Collection” — Felix Gets Roasted

🔹 What Even Is the Value of a Watch Today?

⚠️ The flippers are gone. The screen fatigue is real. And the future is small (watches).

Timstamps-

00:00 – Felix Hates Mike’s Entire Collection

00:35 – "Half My Watches Aren’t Even Set Right"

01:15 – Big Watch Fatigue Is Real

02:00 – Younger Collectors Want Meaning, Not Hype

03:10 – Cartier Santos: Small Gold vs Large Steel Debate

04:45 – The Fashion Shift Toward Vintage Aesthetics

06:20 – Why Microbrands Are Winning in 2025

08:00 – Apple's Out, Analog’s In – And So Are Flip Phones?!

10:10 – The Culture is Shrinking Watch Sizes

12:00 – What Big Brands Are Doing to Keep Up

14:30 – IWC’s Big Problem: Still Too Big

16:00 – Timex's Giorgio Galli S2 – Seriously Underrated

17:45 – The Problem with Rolex ADs (Especially in Boston)

20:00 – The End of the Luxury-Only Collector

21:30 – The Case for Buying What You Love, Not What You Can Flip

23:00 – Is the Secondary Market Finally Normal Again?

24:30 – Final Thoughts: The Watch World Has Never Been Better

26:15 – Patreon Watch Giveaway Announcement

💬 Comment Prompt

What’s the most overrated watch trend in 2025? Big flex? Microbrands? Tell us your hot take.

⸻

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⸻

🧵 Hashtags

#WatchTalk #MicrobrandWatches #LuxuryWatches #WatchCulture2025 #VintageWatches #WatchRoast #BetweenTheLugs #RolexHype #CartierSantos #WatchCollecting

I Was Dead Wrong About Watch Tariffs — Is This the Breaking Point?

Thu, 14 May 2026 12:16:17 -0300

The Trump Tariff Meltdown: How 90 Days Will Transform Swiss Watch Collecting Forever

BREAKING: Trump’s 31% Swiss watch tariffs and 125% Chinese watch tariffs are set to completely reshape the luxury watch market. In this comprehensive analysis, we examine how these unprecedented tariffs will impact Rolex, Omega, Patek Philippe, Tag Heuer, and the entire watch industry—potentially changing watch collecting forever.

------------------------------------

Subscribe to The Watch Bros: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp8ufgFx6QiTg-bPw22GzUg

Unlock Exclusive Perks on Patreon:

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#Watches #NewWatches #UsedWatchess #WristCheck #WatchHunting #WatchCollecting #TheWatchBros

My Watches Vanished in Miami – Did I Just Get Robbed?

Thu, 14 May 2026 12:16:10 -0300

It was supposed to be a chill Miami trip… until we thought $150,000 in watches were stolen.

In this wild new episode of Between the Lugs, we take you through our full Miami experience - from buying a car for a teenager to hanging out with Adam from Menta Watches, spotting Salt Bae’s Nautilus in person, and filming with the legendary Lex Borrero (0260 Lifestyle).

But things took a turn when one of us realized the entire watch roll might have gone missing…

Watch as we relive the chaos, the watches, and the moment we almost called the cops over a “robbery” that wasn’t.

In This Episode:

Visiting Miami’s watch boutiques (VC, IWC, Cartier, Rolex)

Trying on the new Rolex Land-Dweller

Dinner at Salt Bae’s restaurant… and a weird interaction

Meeting Lex Borrero & touring his studio

The “stolen” $150K watch scare (and how it ended)

Advice for collectors, travelers & anyone carrying grails on vacation

Whether you're a seasoned collector or just here for the watch chaos, this one’s a ride.

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 – Salt Bae, Watches & Chaos: Welcome to Miami!

01:10 – Announcing the New Podcast Channel

02:35 – Miami Expectations vs Reality

04:15 – Buying a Car in Miami for a 16-Year-Old

06:04 – Hanging Out with Adam from Menta Watches

08:03 – Dinner at Salt Bae’s Restaurant… and a Nautilus Sighting

11:18 – Design District Watch Hopping (VC, IWC, Cartier, Rolex)

15:04 – Trying on the Land Dweller & Pistachio OP

16:13 – Interviewing Lex Borrero (0260) in His Studio

18:07 – The Morning of the Watch Panic

22:07 – Calling the Police Over 'Stolen' Watches

23:36 – Lessons Learned: Don’t Be This Guy in Miami

24:00 – Outro + After Hours Tease for Patreon

🔗 Follow & Support:

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#Rolex #PatekPhilippe #IWC #CartierSantos #VacheronConstantin #LandDweller #WatchTheft #LuxuryWatches #WatchPodcast #BetweenTheLugs #TheWatchBros #WatchCollectors

Why Are Young People Wearing More Watches?

Thu, 14 May 2026 12:15:51 -0300

Are mechanical watches making a comeback with Gen Z and Millennials? In this episode of Between the Lugs, we talk about the youth-driven mechanical renaissance, surprising real-world encounters with nice watches in public, and our reactions to Apple TV’s shockingly detailed watch coverage in a brand-new show. Plus, we answer two great questions from our Patreon members!

📌 Topics in This Episode:

Are mechanical watches becoming popular again with younger people?

What watches looked amazing online but disappointed in person?

Affordable entry-level precious metal watch recommendations

Reaction to a bizarre Apple TV show packed with real watch specs

Do people still wear nice watches in public? We discuss what we’re actually seeing

Subscribe & Follow Us:

Subscribe to The Watch Bros: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp8ufgFx6QiTg-bPw22GzUg

Unlock Exclusive Perks on Patreon:

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#Watches #NewWatches #UsedWatchess #WristCheck #WatchHunting #WatchCollecting #TheWatchBros