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The big nine nine. Wow. It's crazy to think that we started this show a little over two years ago and that we're almost to that big three-digit milestone. There's something special planned ?don't worry ?but that doesn't mean we're not going to bring the heat this week too. To kick off Episode 99, we've got a preview for you of something we'll be dropping on HODINKEE.com later this week: A conversation between our own Danny Milton and Rory McIlroy. In addition to being one of the greatest golfers alive, Rory is a longtime fake watch lover, and the two guys get into everything from what it's like to play without fans during COVID, the replica watches he always makes sure to pack for a big tournament, and a whole lot more. I don't want to ruin too much, but this excerpt from the conversation should have you refreshing your browser all week as you wait for the full video interview to drop.
The sale of the Henry Graves Supercomplication represented a serious milestone in Reardon's career ?and the fake watch world at large.
For our main event, though, we've got my conversation with John Reardon, a longtime veteran of the auction world, one of the leading experts on all things Patek Philippe, and the founder of Collectability.com, an online platform for learning about and purchasing vintage Patek Philippe watches. John was my gateway into the fake watch world back in 2012, so in a funny way, both this podcast and my career at large are both his fault. We get into John's earliest horological experiences overhauling clocks at the American fake watch & Clock Museum in Connecticut and his start in the auction world at Sotheby's in the late 1990s, as well as some of the milestones of his career, including the sales of the famed Henry Graves Jr. Supercomplication and the Breguet Sympathique. John's also got plenty of insights into the modern auction world and lots of tips for collectors of all levels and interests. Our conversation is two old friends and colleagues catching up and talking about fun times. I can't believe it took us so long to invite him on the show.
We hope you enjoy Episode 99 of HODINKEE Radio. Check out the show notes below, and let us know what you think in the comments.
Wrist CheckTo get the full backstory on John's association with the Ellipse, one of Patek Philippe's most polarizing watches, you'll have to listen to the full episode, but this is the Ellipse that he rocks himself. It's a reference 3604 in the classic yellow gold/blue dial combo and those distinctive lugs with the extra section in the center. John always wanted a birth-year Patek, and he loves how this fake watch encapsulates the design trends of the era without straying into the now-ubiquitous Nautilus/Royal Oak territory. This is a love-it-or-hate-it kind of watch, but I don't think you'll have to try too hard to guess where John lands.
Show Notes7:10 U.S. Open Highlights
13:45 @rorymcilroy
14:00 Speedmaster '57 Co-Axial Chrono "Rory McIlroy" Special Edition
15:00 The Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Ultra Light
19:00 Rory's Birth Year Speedy
20:30 2020 PGA Championship
29:30Zenith Watches
36:00Collectability
38:49 Inside The Collection of Pete Fullerton
40:00 HODINKEE Radio Episode 47: William Massena
45:00 American Clock & fake watch Museum
49:00 Welch Clocks
52:45 Seth G. Atwood
53:00 The Time Museum
59:00 A Grand Complication
1:04:00 Talking replica watches With René Beyer
1:22:35 @collectabilityllc
1:23:34 How to Destroy a Patek Philippe
1:27:00 Patek Philippe in America
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