The most articulate watch youtuber. Congrats on the 25k!

I don't understand the enjoyment ppl get from Nico. I enjoyed his first 2 tierlists, but at this point, all I can see from him is calculated provocation and teasing to fish for virality and attention of famous ppl on the internet. He saw what works with influencers and "experts" on the internet when it comes to other sectors of lifestyle matters/- commodities and has brought it to the watch world. I mean, I can't say it doesn't work, I'm just stunned ppl don't get tired of him

The Best intellectual and educational Watch channel on KZfaq. Great discussions and viewpoints. Keep up the great work. 👍

I love your videos just the way they are. Frankly, I don't even think you need a B-roll -- I just want to hear you talk about watches and watch brands.

To give an idea of how much I value your work: I never watch your videos on PC, phone or tablet. I sit on my armachair and watch you on my large screen as I do for movies or good series. That's you and TGV only. Let me differ on a minor point. Quartz and other non mechanicals can be nostalgic and reminders of simple times too. I personally am fascinated by electrostatic and electric movements like Accutron ones. If I want to reconnect with my teenage years, all I need is an F91W or similar simple digital watch. Quartz has no planned obsolescence, and can last for a long time like my father's piece that I now treasure as much as his mechanical ones. Congratulations, your channel deserves to grow more and more.

25k QA and it’s almost 30k! Happy to follow your success

Congrats on 25k & may you reach many more. I enjoy that you not only articulate precisely what you think about the intricacies of the hobby, but do it in a way which encourages others to expand their thinking in a similar way. I don’t always remember to click the upvote on every KZfaq video I follow, but for some reason I do with your channel. Remember, read, acknowledge, and heart-favorite. Cheers!

Your last point is the most articulate thing I have heard about why to where a nice watch. It also tells us the one thing we can never get back and to use it wisely. Watching your channel and the insights you share is always time well spent. Thank-you Mike and congratulations on 25k!

I look foward each weekend to sit down & watch your videos . I learn so much & thanks very much

Congrats on the subscriber milestone.❤ I've thoroughly enjoyed your content these past couple years. You played a part in me purchasing the Cartier Santos Large in white. It's been 6 months and I'm still in love with it, like the very first day. Wishing you many years of success and happiness. Cheers! ❤😊

Congratulations! I find you to be articulate and sense your honesty and knowledge.

There is no Monta that is "Chunky". Their Triumph, their field watch is under 12mm. Same with their dressier Noble. Formex Essence is 10mm. I'm not sure youve ever handled those watches

Congratulations!! So well deserved!! This is no surprise to me…..you are head and shoulders above the rest!

Thank you for taking the time to make quality content (that we get for free). The ecomics of being a You Tuber. Most of us have no idea if the time, cost, and mental commitment to content creation. As a recreational artist, creating something “of value” brings me reward. Si thank you for making those sacrifices so folks like me can spend time with you each week. I enjoy your “voice” and being genuine. You being you. I do wish there was a way to thank you but “virtually” buying you a beer or a coffee or dinner… it is nice to thank folks more meaningfully. All the best! Doug

Congrats again, and I really enjoyed all of the questions and answers. You make even what could be an utterly prosaic question into something of interest.

Excellent job with the channel. You are one of my go to channels due to your analytical approach and serious delivery.

I find your video extremely informative while being interesting at the same time. I really appreciate the intellectual level you bring to this topic. Thanks for the good work.

Fantastic video. You are hands down the best we’ve got these days. Thanks for your work making such enjoyable, interesting content! I always look forward to it.

Congrats, Mike! The growth of your channel is no surprise, given the thoughtful and engaging content! ❤😊

Congratulations Mike, thoroughly deserved!

Way to go, Mike! Best watch channel on YT hands down. Thanks for doing this! Mike

Congratulations on the 25k. Your content is always amazing.

Really enjoyed this longer Q&A, thanks Mike!

Congrats - wishing you continued success

Another great video and love the hand motions for the 3/4 plate and rotor. I could totally imagine some standard ETA movement in my head when you did it haha!

All the best Mike-have a great weekend 😎! Congrats 🍾 btw

Congratulations and best wishes for the future! 💐

Congratulations! Here's to 100k. Greetings to you and yours

From day one you have been a breath of fresh air: both eloquent and intelligent. I deeply enjoy what you bring to the world. Thanks you for the time and effort you invest to share your thoughts. It is greatly appreciated.

Congrats on the 25K. This channel is destined to be number 1.

what a fantastic video, my fav watch content on YT. No BS, straight to facts, data and grit

Awesome content as always! Hope to see you in Watches & Wonders in a couple of weeks!

Well worth the subscriber numbers, my favourite watch KZfaqr...keep up the good work!

Congratulations! I've enjoyed your videos sir. Thank you for your efforts.

Baie geluk Mike, you continue to surpass yourself with each consecutive vid. Great stuff. I like a mix of data 80%, entertainment 5%, and the rest insight. I only watch three watch vids per week now. Yours is one of the three. Thank you for your time and effort. Soon, you will hit 30,000. Bis Spater, Chris

I didn’t care about watches when I was using them as tools that were given to me by my Air National Guard unit to use while flying C-130 missions. I used them until I broke them and asked for another. Now that I fly a desk more than an airplane I have fallen into the watch enthusiast rabbit hole. Much like your friend, it is a special event every morning when I put on my mechanical watch. I believe that as the world around us becomes more and more digital and screen based, the mechanical watch’s enchanting charm increases. I don’t need another screen to look at on my wrist.

Congratulations on the number of subscribers milestone.

Congrats on 25k 🎉

Congratulations…a meteoric ascent! Keep up the varied, high quality content.

You just never disappoint, thank you for another interesting video.

You sir, are a joy to watch and listen to. The antithesis to Nico. I enjoyed watching him for a brief period and then became bored and irritated by the showmanship. You have never disappointed and I doubt you ever will. Congratulations on a well deserved milestone.

Mike you are almost at 30,000. I think you are clearly doing something right.

Congrats on the 25K subs. You will hit 50k before you know it. I appreciate your content. In regards to trusting watch topic hosts on KZfaq, I have one piece of advice: Never buy a watch because it's iconic, a classic, historically relevant, the new hot thing, etc. ONLY BUY WHAT YOU LIKE!!!

so dope and congrats on your quarter.

Thought provoking and enjoyable, thank you 👍

The answer to the last question about why we do this… perfection!

congrats on 25k and 30k subs!

Very interesting. Keep up the great work! 👍

You are just freaking AWESOME!! Love your contents!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤

Here we go! Thank you for answering my question Mike! I hope you still get to enjoy your South African heritage from time to time even though you are far away from your home. You changed the picture in the back from a jet to a biplane! It looks great! Seiko is loved because we all had one when we were younger. They have however priced themselves into a higher bracket and they rely heavily on brand heritage. When you see what you get for what you pay most Seiko's are a hard sell for me. Everything that's worth buying is also a limited edition and that sucks. If everything is limited, nothing is. Sorry got off on a tangent there haha! Awesome questions and great answers!

Bumblebee in the back and we've got the best voice on KZfaq doing his thing.

Congrats, Sir!

Thank you for the great effort ✌️

Many thanks for your insight, really enjoyed this video! 🙏

Super video, inspirational and I take your comments into my own professional life. Thanks.

I don’t know how your channel popped up in my feed because my typical channels cover music, books, math, and naturalist topics but what a great addition. Since I subscribed I see vids pushed from the other yt watch channels and I’ve not made it through one. Urban Gentry seems well done but something is off with the pacing. Your videos have a good pace, feel conversational and informative. I’m now looking at watches and why I like them in a different way and considering my motivation and their merits in a different light.

I absolutely love your comment about nobody dictates what should be on your book shelf. Any troll commenting on the background of your video should be ignored, they are sad. The Mondaine clock, multiple flashy belongings in the background is for others, I like your style. Smart, and articulate...

25k well done! You should celebrate with a new watch 😁

Congratulations🎉

Agree on the Biltong and Braai points 100%. May I humbly add that Boerwoors is the greatest ‘sausage’ ever invented.😂 Congrats on 25k!

Congratulations and thank you!!

Fantastic, Professor!!

Congrats on 25k! And 2 videos in a week? I thought it was supposed to be Easter.. not Christmas! 😊

Glad you mentioned sameness of many 'mid tier' brands. My BB58 set a benchmark (value, quality, looks) and I find very little sparks my interest either below or within a reasonable range above. Some watches I like for example the Santos, Aquaterra and could afford it but I don't feel against the BB 58, they represent value for money.

Easily my favorite watch KZfaqr.

I appreciate your "clinical" analysis of watches. The same I love the community that @Trapvision3d has built around watch collecting. There are differences between each channel and they should be (as you stated) looked at in context

I saw the video appear and disappear, then I thought, “Oh, maybe it’s this Apple device not connecting properly, allowing the KZfaq app to refresh its queue.” But take heart, I’m watching your video with a pair of Sony premium ANC headphones because the Apple Air Pods Max that used to do me well have decided to stop connecting. I remember a time when headphones just worked and you didn’t have to worry about software bugs and slowly dying batteries that could one day burn down your house, or companies getting in the middle of what you could watch and hear. Anyway, thank-you for producing so much thoughtful work, answering the questions, and giving me something truly edifying.

Another interesting video. Definitely becoming my go to channel. I am also, a South African living in the UK, so a bit more fortunate than you since I have a local supplier of biltong and Ouma rusks on my doorstep. Keep your videos coming. Best wishes, James

One suggestion i wish you consider seriously which builds on your clear strength which is the ability to articulate your opinions and your ability to create a solid opinion on watch related subjects , my idea is to become the no.1 Q&A channel in that space that will really help watch enthusiasts specifically new comers to the hobby, anyway congratulations on the new milestone.

Well done!

one more subscriber here....I think this is the best watch channel on youtube.

Love the video!! I agree with all your statements.

Howzit boet! One of the things that drew me to you (and ID guy) was the accent from home. I'm living in Cape Town. As you know, we have plenty sunshine but insufficient electricity, so anyone who can is getting solar 😂

this guy knows what he is talking about he is most truthful watch critic youtuber i hope he talk about why nomos not doing something about the lugs of their watches.

You’re welcome, I enjoy the content.

Congratulations. You are my go to watch expert. Insightful, independent and unbiased opinions. Now for 100K

Ms. Vestager was utterly thrilled, I am sure...

The funny thing is that the #1 function of the Apple Watch isn't even telling time, it's the button that lets people locate where they left their iPhone. Why do I wear a mechanical watch? Because every day, I log into my computer, read emails, spend eight hours fiddling around with Excel spreadsheets, then to relax in the evening, I will read on my eBook reader, stream something, or play a game on my PC. I know this is entirely something that exists only in my own head, but I find something comforting in having something analogue, made entirely of gears and springs, on my wrist. It does one thing, and does it well, without an internet connection. It recharges when I wear it, and not when I put it down.

I do love my Seiko. The one I had when I was 12 still works today, and I've bought two more in the last couple years without hesitation. Good price points and honestly, I've never had any problems with them.

Great channel, congrats on the milestone. New to collecting and love your matter of fact delivery - more knowledge sharing vs entertaining. Side question if you see this, do watch brands have a lower tier that they sell at malls/outlets vs an AD? Context, was at an outlet mall and a store had all their Hamilton watches 1/2 off. They also offered Tissot and Rado at deep discounts. Made me think are all these just quartz versions of more popular models with say painted dial vs applied markers so it looks ok but its not the "real" version. Thanks again....next stop 50K!

Oh look you reached 30k subs already...time for another Q&A!

On the part about “can you trust KZfaqrs”. I posted on a video on The Urban Gentry the other day and I said, “I clicked out of a Nico Leonard video to come here to watch TGV because I’m part of the notification gang”. People in the comments were roasting me for watching Nico. And my response is exactly what you said. I watch Nico for entertainment. I watch TGV for watch history. Both channels are great, but they have different purposes.

Great point about the Quartz crisis pushing the Swiss brands upmarket. Never realized that was largely the impetus.

I prefer your conversation to heavy videos. As a migraineur I don’t need the busyiness. You are prepared so the intellectual approach drips with information.

25k richly deserved! Thanks for confirming my identification of your accent. On a pension I cannot indulge in new purchases, and certainly not high-end ones, which is why I look to on-line auctions for affordable odd-balls - my favourite is a mechanical alarm watch of Russian origin commemorating 500 years since Columbus' voyage in 1492!

Mike, you are the best matter of fact channel on KZfaq. I learn something new on every one of your videos. You are probably right when you state that the demand for Rolex outstrips supply by a large factor. You were also right about Rolex micromanaging their supply chain all the way to the AD’s. But you didn’t answer (or avoided) the obvious fact. The supply in the AD’s showcases is barren. At the same time, the inventory on the grey market is well stocked. Some watches even have their factory stickers attached. So how do you explain this observation? A supply shortage I understand. But there is no supply shortage, just look around and you know what I am referring to. Note: if Rolex gives a damn, they could produce more Oyster Perpetuals, an entry level model, to appease more first time buyers. Yet Rolex does nothing.

Kudos.Always interesting and down to earth.My sport/dress option would be Santos de Cartier blue.Prof Sanders is informative and realises what madness some of this hobby can induce.

Sorry for asking you an ‘Impossible Question’ but, Thank you 🙏 for answering it! It’s true, you don’t learn anything from avoiding potential mistakes. Saving for ‘The Big Watch’ comes after years of buying cheaper Watches and gaining knowledge and experience in your journey through the hobby. Unless you’re very wealthy and can afford to make mistakes buying expensive Watches I guess? I guess my issue is I don’t like selling Watches so, I try not to make mistakes (despite making them like us all). I have tried to buy Watches I thought I would stick with but, have some I need to sell because I want to dip my feet into another genre of Watches. I think I’ve matured into the dress Watch genre now so, I’ll have to confront my hatred of selling Watches. Great points Mike and thanks again for answering. Congratulations on the 25k mark brother and it will only be a week or so until you’re at 30k! P.S. Are you going to Watches and Wonders? If so I might see you there. ✊

You always come through with an enjoyable take.

Great take on watch KZfaqrs. Although it does skirt around or miss motive. For some it’s money, either through views or sales. With this in mind do I trust their opinion? No, but I don’t need to as I’m not paying (through superchats or buying or whatever) other than my time.

Intelligent analysis is refreshing compared to much of the rubbish on here. Keep it up, I always leave knowing more and enjoying the journey of discovery. Congratulations on 30k, well deserved.

This was a very interesting talk. Your last point about durability in a world of (sometimes planned) obsolescence makes sense. Even an Orient watch will probably last a lifetime. A decent mechanical watch is thus a remarkable machine.

That last line about something you own, enjoy, and wear says it all. Most of us have scaled back expectations. No house, nice car, or grand retirement Before migraines drove me from work I settled on pens. Easy to store and transport, etc. Now I can barely use them. So encourage watch folks to make beautiful and accessible products. A market exists

25k! 👏 well deserved. Want to comment on many but just going to zero in on 1 - flipping. And agree to disagree. At least Rolex could easily maybe not completely kill it but make it not worth the risk. Select 10 major cities around the world and buy 50 new in box watches listed on grey markets from each; trace those back to the AD; pull the contract for the worst offender in each city. Leak this to the watch press. I guarantee ADs reliant on their Rolex sales would change behavior. as being caught would be disastrous.

I think you generously understated the impact of “influencers” with regards to allowing individuals to retain objectivity. I do think your audience is less susceptible but many people will be influenced by the views, rational or otherwise of an influencer - hence why the marketing spend is so heavily weighted in this area.

Best watch channel on KZfaq, end of :-) .

Thank you! Great video.

Many excellent points, thank you. On the Rolex question, I’ve an alternative answer. China. It hasn’t been that long that China has been a significant market for Western brands. That many Chinese have the money to purchase a Rolex is a relatively recent phenomenon. So, for Rolex to meet this relatively new market, they would have had to increase production years ago. They didn’t, hence the scarcity. As Rolex brings new factories online, scarcity will ease. We are simply a far more prosperous plant, which is a good thing! All the best.

Great Video!

I have a Studio Underd0g. I don’t wear it often. I wear a BB Chrono far more. But, it wasn’t very expensive, and on a hot day in summer, it’s a change of pace.