The Grey NATO – 263 – Watchmaking's Watchmaker Problem With Rhonda Riche And Jason Gallop

TGN is back from Thanksgiving break, and James is pretending he isn’t still jet-lagged from a week in Dubai. For this extra special and very watch-related episode, the TGN boys are joined by Rhonda Riche, the Editor at Large for Watchonista, and TGN-alum and watchmaker Jason Gallop to talk about a story Rhonda recently published about the impending crisis in watchmaking that stems from a lack of new watchmakers. With more than 4000 extra watchmakers needed to support the Swiss industry alone by 2026, Rhonda and Jason dip into the nitty-gritty of watchmaking as a profession, the duality of sales vs. support, and a whole lot more.

From the entire TGN crew, we want to thank Rhonda and Jason for coming to the show to chat about watchmaking, and we can’t wait for an eventual part 2. Stay in the mix for a Final Notes that will have you scheming for a tall ship adventure and lamenting the fact that your daily driver doesn’t rev to 12,000 RPM.

Click here to play episode 263 from your browser – Thanks so much for listening.

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7:24 Stephen McDonnell’s Watch Talk from Dubai Watch Week
8:15 MB&F Sequential EVO
10:30 Sweetwater 
11:29 Kim Sherwood’s “Double or Nothing”
14:00 Phoenix Natos 
16:40 Jason’s Omega Seamaster 2254
17:55 Seamaster 2230.50 “Non AC” 
25:07 “Watchmaking’s Watchmaker Problem” (Rhonda’s article for Watchonista.com)
40:50 WOSTEP
45:50 Omega Dynamic 
1:02:30 Bulova’s Veterans Watchmaking Initiative
1:02:48 HSNY
1:16:44 AWCI 
1:19:58 Watchonista
1:20:10 Therealrhondariche (Instagram)
1:20:40 Roldorf’s website
1:20:43 Roldorf Instagram
1:23:25 “Friendship 7” by Leng Zai
1:24:44 First Drive GMA T.50 – Top Gear Youtube
1:30:20 “The Voyage” - Bark Europa Sails 10000 Nautical Miles (Youtube)

“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” ― Søren Kierkegaard.