Scottish Watches Podcast #752: The Latest and Greatest New Watches From Around the World

Date: February 12, 2026
Hosts: Ricky (A) and Dave (B)

Overview

This episode focuses on the latest watch releases with a strong emphasis on independent brands, unique collaborations, and under-the-radar gems. The hosts, Ricky and Dave, dive into new models from Watch Ho & Co/Seltan, Breitling, Hermès, Orient Star, Studio Underdog, and others. They discuss details, design stories, and their brutally honest opinions, while sharing plenty of watch-world banter and community updates.

Key Discussion Points & Segments

1. Watch Ho & Co x Seltan “Bohynia” Collaboration

[00:44–06:24]

• Brand & Community: Collaboration between Watch Ho & Co (the ‘Co’ stands for community) and Seltan, based in Hong Kong.
• Release: Second-anniversary limited edition, following a successful initial release.
• Design:
  • 39mm case, 9.95mm thickness, 45.5mm lug-to-lug, stainless steel (316L).
  • Dial inspired by the Hong Kong flag’s Bauhinia flower, colors: pink & purple, mother-of-pearl tinted and CNC-engraved with their signature mountain pattern.
  • Heat-treated hands: purple for the pink dial, blue for the purple.
• Movement: Miyota 9039 automatic, 42h power reserve, 50m water resistance.
• Edition & Price: Limited to 200 pieces (100 per color), USD $1,250.
• Hosts’ Views:
  • Dave: “Nice bit of artisanal watchmaking craft going on a relatively low cost watch.” [02:56]
  • Ricky: “It’s the dial that you’re paying for… the CNC guilloché.” [04:32]
• Anticipation: Both excited to see them in real life, predicting a hit at Watches and Wonders 2026.

2. Breitling x Aston Martin F1 “Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43”

[06:24–11:47]

• Collaboration: Breitling is now Aston Martin Formula 1’s watch partner, replacing Girard Perregaux.
• Watch Specifics:
  • Titanium case (first for Navitimer, 43mm, ~14mm thick), carbon fiber dial with Aston Martin green flecks, yellow chrono hand.
  • B01 chronometer-certified movement, 70h power reserve, custom Aston Martin rotor.
  • Embossed leather strap with safety harness texture, interior in AM colors.
  • 30m water resistance, £8,900.
• Hosts’ Take:
  • Dave: “A lot of tropes going on here… just try something different.” [11:00]
  • Ricky: “It just looks like a Navitimer… like ‘quick, we need to do something.’” [09:30]

3. Hermès Slim d’Hermès Squelette Lune

[12:17–16:13]

• Models:
  • New additions in platinum (blue dial) and titanium (grey dial), 39.5mm x 8.8mm.
  • Openworked (skeleton) design with dual moonphase (“lune”).
  • Alligator straps matching dials.
• Movement: Micro-rotor, made by Vaucher, 48h power reserve.
• Pricing: By request (estimated €20,000+ for titanium).
• Host Impressions:
  • Dave: “One of the top ten watches I own… really well wearing.” [12:45]
  • Ricky: “Don’t have a distinct Hermès DNA… they remind me of other things.” [15:41]

4. Watches & Wonders 2026 Preview

[16:13–19:51]

• Expansion: 11 new brands at the main salon (Audemars Piguet most notable).
• City Program: Geneva-wide events including tie-ins with Montreux Jazz Festival; public tickets available.
• Advice:
  • Ricky: Treat it like a car show: “You don’t get to test drive the cars, you get to look at them.” [17:22]
  • Philippe Dufour-style indie shows happen in the city, so explore beyond the main venue.

5. Orient Star 75th Anniversary Limited Editions

[19:51–21:24]

• Releases:
  • First-ever meteorite dials, F8 full skeleton (430 pieces), small seconds (500 pcs), and return of iconic 1964 dive model (M42, 660 pcs).
• Value: Grand Seiko-level finishing cues at much lower prices.
• Host Praise:
  • Ricky: “Probably the only watch in the world with a power reserve that I don’t mind…” [21:24]
  • “Very good quality… not just a rehash.”

6. Wrist Checks – Nubeo x Atari & Arage Molokini

[21:24–31:32]

• Ricky:
  • Nubeo x Atari: Inspired by Atari 2600 “Woody”, with selector switches at 3/9, striated dial, custom rotor, limited to 100 per colorway, £249.
  • “Absolute win… unique and not made of plastic!” [24:48]
• Dave:
  • Arage Molokini (soft launch): Flyer GMT, day/night, power reserve, big date, micro-rotor, 38mm, 200m WR, ~10mm thick, on bracelet and “otan” (NATO) strap; 6,490 CHF.
  • “All singing, dancing, Arage watch.” [27:28]

7. Casio G-Shock MRG B2000KT – $8,000 Titanium Artisanal Edition

[33:29–38:58]

• Details:
  • Titanium case w/ DLC, hand-engraved bezel inspired by Japanese sword tsuba; phoenix motif; screws set with emeralds; dura-soft rubber strap.
  • 54.7mm x 16.9mm, 800 pieces.
• Hosts’ Banter:
  • Dave: “Do I have an MRG that didn’t cost quite this much… yes. Am I an idiot? Absolutely.” [36:16]
  • Ricky: “Could be seen as stealth wealth if you’re worried about having your hands chopped off in London…” [38:58]

8. Secondary Market Boom

[44:40–46:28]

• Stats: $17B in global pre-owned watch sales in 2025; $5.7B from Rolex alone.
• Growth: 36% YoY, now about 1/2 the size of the new watch market ($50B).
• Hosts’ Take: Pre-owned may outpace new sales in next 10 years.

9. Studio Underdog “Doghouse” News & Guava Edition

[47:04–49:28]

• Manufacturing: Studio Underdog bought and renamed a UK assembly workshop (Underdog Manufacture); now 14,000 watches/year.
• Marketing Stunt: Head of assembly built a watch atop a cold hill in Japan.
• Doghouse Location: Opens May 2026, home to new exclusive “Guava” limited edition (lime green & pink accents; in-person only).

10. JLC (Jaeger-LeCoultre) Sale Rumors

[49:37–51:41]

• Rumor: Richemont may sell JLC to its CEO, Jerome Lambert, who’s leading a consortium offering 1B CHF.
• Comparison: Follows Richemont’s earlier sale of Baume & Mercier to Damiani (Jan 2026).
• Analysis:
  • JLC turnover est. 524M CHF in 2024.
  • “JLC might be one of the, well, diamonds in the rough. Never sure whether the brand could do more than it’s doing.” [50:25]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I particularly like the pink tinted dial. I think it's really good. Both colors are warm. I don't think they're masculine or feminine… doing nice things.”
  — Dave, [03:50]
• “Carbon fiber is not the latest and greatest tech. It's been around for donkeys years… The mother of pearl in the previous watch probably cost more.”
  — Ricky, [09:30]
• “If you like what you're looking at, check out the show notes for better pictures. See what you think of it then.”
  — Dave on Hermès Squelette Lune, [14:58]
• “It’s probably the only watch in the world with a power reserve that I don’t mind because it sits at 12:00 clock and looks like a little windscreen wiper.”
  — Ricky on Orient Star, [21:24]
• “As far as collabs go… this is, I think, quite subtly done… blast me back to my childhood.”
  — Dave, Nubeo x Atari, [25:01]
• “Do I have an MRG that didn't cost quite this much but it wasn't that far away? Yes. Am I an idiot? Absolutely.”
  — Dave, [36:16]
• “If somebody looked at a Richard Mille and they didn't know anything about watches and they saw it beside one of those Orient Star skeletons, they wouldn't think the price difference would be $100,000...”
  — Ricky, [37:14]
• “Treat it like a car show… You don’t get to test drive the cars, you get to look at them.”
  — Ricky, on Watches & Wonders, [17:22]

Closing & Additional Notes

• Listener Interaction:
  • Feedback and questions welcome via email, NOT Instagram DMs ([46:28]).
• Rich at Studio Underdog:
  • Brought UK watch assembly in-house; new “Doghouse” venue; playful, creative brand spirit.
• Rumors & Industry Trends:
  • JLC sale could reshape Richemont’s watch group.
  • Secondary/pre-owned market is surging.
• Hosts’ Recaps:
  • Casual talk of movies, retro tech phones, and recent events (launching the Arage Molokini, prepping for Watches & Wonders).
  • Teaser for future episodes and reviews.

For images, tech specs, and links to discussed watches, visit the Scottish Watches website via the episode’s show notes.