Hairspring

Talking Geopolitics

Hairspring's founder Erik Gustafson and enthusiast Max Braun bring you a meandering weekly-ish roundtable on watches and many other things.
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Rezime epizode

This is the story of two watchmakers, Daniels & Smith, who kept British independent watchmaking alive prior to the phrase independent existing. This chronicle encompasses Daniel’s story from Army service until pocket watches, fascination with Breguet, the Clutton & automotive connection, selling the Co-Axial, his pocket watches, wristwatches, the story of his first meeting with Smith, Smith’s near-decade attempt to become his pupil, Smith’s history, and a complete catalogue of Smith’s wristwatches so far. Of course, this includes many meandering and many offshoots, as you’ve grown to expect. We hope you enjoy. Links Mentioned: Pocket Watch Two: https://www.phillips.com/detail/roger-smith/185574 G W Daniels Chronometer: https://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2017/watches-sale-l17054/lot.119.html 1924 Bentley 3-Litre: https://rmsothebys.com/auctions/pa26/lots/r0059-1924-bentley-3litre-speed-model-tourer-by-vanden-plas/ Cecil Clutton:…

Epizode

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Episode 104: George Daniels & Roger W Smith (The Story of British Watchmaking’s Bastions)

This is the story of two watchmakers, Daniels & Smith, who kept British independent watchmaking alive prior to the phrase independent existing. This chronicle encompasses Daniel’s story from Army service until pocket watches, fascination with Breguet, the Clutton & automotive connection, selling the Co-Axial, his pocket watches, wristwatches, the story of his first meeting with Smith, Smith’s near-decade attempt to become his pupil, Smith’s history, and a complete catalogue of Smith’s wristwatches so far. Of course, this includes many meandering and many offshoots, as you’ve grown to expect. We hope you enjoy. Links Mentioned: Pocket Watch Two: https://www.phillips.com/detail/roger-smith/185574 G W Daniels Chronometer: https://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2017/watches-sale-l17054/lot.119.html 1924 Bentley 3-Litre: https://rmsothebys.com/auctions/pa26/lots/r0059-1924-bentley-3litre-speed-model-tourer-by-vanden-plas/ Cecil Clutton:…

09 окт. 2026
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Episode 103: Your Opinions, Collecting, and Stories

This week, the tables have turned. Erik & Max polled you, the audience, for your opinions. Together, we find out what future classics you believe are being made today, how your views and actions in collecting have evolved over the last decade, independents that are your capturing interest, how you track or record your collection, how you’d theoretically build a 300k collection, and your deepest regrets around giving into hype or missing it entirely. This was a fascinating insight into our little group’s deep, sometimes controversial views on collecting. Links Mentioned: Ludacris: https://www.movado.com/us/en/ludacris-x-bold-quest Your Future Classics: https://hairspring.com/collections/exclusives/products/chronometre-artisans-rose-gold https://hairspring.com/collections/exclusives/products/mirage-34-lapis-lazuli-white-gold-1 https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/the-rolex-daytona-le-mans-126529ln-review https://hairspring.com/products/414-028-1815-chronograph-white-gold-1…

25 сеп. 2026
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Episode 102: Jason Fried

This week Erik & Max are honored to be joined by founder of 37signals, thoughtful collector, and original thinker Jason Fried. While this episode briefly touches on Jason’s path as a collector, it’s spends more time on the philosophy of a meaningful business, knowing what doesn’t matter in design, what mades watches special to love, what defines craft, which watches were the least impressive in the metal, how the ability to sell permanence is linked to looking after your product, and so much more. Links Mentioned: The MIH: https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/found-elusive-mih-watch-up-for-grabs https://www.ablogtowatch.com/mih-watch-review/ https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/the-mih-gaia-watch 105.012: https://hairspring.com/blogs/finds/105-012-65-omega-speedmaster Steel Lange 1: https://langepedia.com/stainless-steel-a-lange-sohne/ https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/lange-one-101026-steel (We were wrong around this timestamp Lange are at about 7,000 watches annually) Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar:…

09 сеп. 2026
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Episode 101: Urban Jürgensen (From Jørgen to Rosenfield, but Mostly Pratt-Baumberger)

This is the story of Danish watchmaking’s most storied name, a deep-dive chronicle to help collectors understand the very nuanced and convoluted history of Urban Jürgensen. This includes relevant backstory on Urban himself, a deep dive on Baumberger, Pratt, and the watches they made together—plus a look at what’s happening today under the Rosenfields and Venla with Kari Voutilainen. This episode focuses on wristwatches with particular attention given to the rise of the Pratt-Baumberger era, noting each reference in detail with points for collectors to come away from having learned something new: like how to take over Iceland. Links Mentioned: Some Guides Worth Reading: https://revolutionwatch.com/a-retrospective-the-legacy-of-urban-jurgensen/ https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/urban-jurgensen-then-and-now 19th-Century Pocket Watch: https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/urban-jurgensen-lot-299-87 Jules Jürgensen Pocket Watch Deconstruction: https://www.thenakedwatchmaker.com/deconstruction-jules-jurgensen…

22 авг. 2026
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Episode 100: Lessons Learned & Q&A (Pt. 9)

Now 100 episodes in, this episode covers some reflections and lessons learned. This is all ahead of a full-sized Q&A with questions ranging from a two-watch 100k collection, time traveling to give yourself advice, market direction, non-indie brands carrying the torch for watchmaking, and many other topics. Plus, a fantastic Only Wrist for a linebacker. Links Mentioned: Total Unbiased FP Journe Market Update: https://www.phillips.com/article/what-now-for-f-p-journe-at-auction-phillips-new-york-june-2026 Rolex + Tudor: https://hairspring.com/products/9401-0-marine-nationale-submariner-steel https://hairspring.com/products/7928-eagle-beak-gilt-dial-submariner-steel https://hairspring.com/products/8171-padellone-yellow-gold_43285 https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2023/important-watches-part-i/daytona-john-player-special-reference-6241-a JDN: https://hairspring.com/blogs/finds/jean-daniel-nicolas-two-minute-tourbillon…

07 авг. 2026