HODINKEE Radio: Episode 80: Phil Toledano And Big Baselworld News

March 02, 2020

Subscribe to the show: (Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, TuneIn). Already heard it once or twice? Please leave a short review, and tell us which guests we should have on! You might remember a certain episode of Talking Watches from way back in 2016 with a bright red BMW M1 parked in the back and a guy talking about all manner of funky '70s and '80s watches. Then again, you might not. Either way, that guy was artist Phil Toledano, and we thought it was about time we brought him back for more. In addition to being a photographer and multimedia artist, Phil is an avid collector. He collects cars, he collects art, he collects memorabilia, and, of course, he collects watches. More importantly though, he's one of those collectors who always wants to go a bit against the grain. He's not interested in collecting the same stuff as everyone else. No, he wants to develop his own aesthetic and look into the shadowy corners that nobody is paying attention to. That's where he finds the most interesting things and learns the most. This also means that his tastes are always shifting and evolving, so one minute he might be all about 1970s Breitling chronographs and the next it's Beta-21 watches from Patek Philippe. What unites them? Phil likes them. It's that simple. Artist Phil Toledano Phil is a super fun guy and someone who isn't afraid to speak his mind. He's not worried about impressing anyone or trying to sound like an expert. He's a true enthusiast, and having him on the show was a blast. Before that though, we've got a rare instance of breaking news on HODINKEE Radio. The end of last week saw Watches & Wonders Geneva (SIHH's replacement) and Baselworld both get canceled, one day after the other. On Friday morning, as the story was still developing, I pulled Jack and Jon into the studio to talk about what is happening, what this means for the global watch industry, and, on a more personal note, what we'll miss with the two biggest shows of the year on ice. We hope you enjoy Episode 80 of HODINKEE Radio. Check out the show notes below, and let us know what you think in the comments. Wrist Check While I typically associate Phil with things that are "ugly-pretty" (Phil, I mean this with nothing but love, I promise), the watch he wore when we recorded is straight-up "pretty-pretty." This Cartier Paris Collection Prive (CPCP) Tortue Monopusher Chronograph is, in my not-so-humble opinion, one of the most underrated watches of the modern era. It's a beautiful white gold Tortue that uses the crown as the lone pusher for the chronograph complication, meaning you get that extra functionality with no buttons interrupting the curvy lines of the case.?And inside is a movement developed by a little-known company called THA bauche, which was started by none other than Denis Flagollet, Vianney Halter, and Fran?ois-Paul Journe. It's a serious bit of independent watchmaking wrapped in a stunning Cartier package.? Show Notes 1:30Talking Watches With Phil Toledano?2:40Baselworld Postponed Until January 20213:15HODINKEE Radio Episode 7813:00Watches & Wonders Geneva Officially Canceled Due To Coronavirus Threat35:00MrToledano.com49:26Beta-21 Watches52:53Talking Watches With Matt Jacobson54:20Wrist Check57:16Talking Watches With Ahmed Rahman1:00:30Make Phil Great Again1:06:00Fighter Pilot Helmet Series1:14:20The Tudor Black Bay P011:19:00Patek Philippe Nautilus 3770