The Royal Oak is more than a watch.It’s a rupture.

In this episode of Watches and Politics — Series 3: WatchBooks, I break down Royal Oak: From Iconoclast to Icon, the official book dedicated to one of the most influential watches of the modern era.

This is not a review.It’s a contextual reading.

We explore:• why the Royal Oak was shocking in 1972• how steel became a symbol of modern luxury• Gérald Genta’s design language and its consequences• how one watch reshaped taste, status, and the idea of “sport luxury”• what the book gets right — and what it avoids• who should read this book — and who can skip it

As an academic and collector, I approach this book not as marketing material, but as a cultural document—one that explains how icons are constructed, not born.

This episode connects directly to:Series 1 — the politics of luxury, taste, and powerSeries 2 — insider voices from the watch industry

Series 3 is the library of Watches and Politics.

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#royaloak #audemarspiguet #watches #books

Auction results are often treated as facts.

But are markets all neutral?

Markets are systems — with incentives, hierarchies, and gatekeepers. Collectors play a pivotal role in them.

Paul Boutros is Head of Watches, Americas at Phillips, one of the most influential auction houses in the global watch market. Over the last decade, Phillips has not only set records, but has actively reshaped which watches are remembered, which collectors are elevated, and which narratives become canonical.

In this episode of Watches & Politics, we examine auctions not as sales events, but as institutions of legitimacy. We discuss how value is constructed, how historical importance is framed, and how pricing power migrates across regions, generations, and tastes.

This conversation explores the mechanics behind authority:

How watches become “important.”

How scarcity is managed.

And how auction houses quietly function as political actors within the luxury ecosystem.

#watches #auctions #phillips #paulboutros #fpjourne #ffc #francisfordcoppola

Watches are not just designed.They are written.

I

n this video, I’m introducing Series 3 of Watches and Politics — a new chapter focused entirely on watch books.

As an academic and lifelong watch collector, I’m constantly asked:• Where should I start reading about watches?• Which books actually matter?• What’s real history — and what’s just beautiful marketing?

This series is my answer.

Each episode in Series 3 is a 10–15 minute, podcast-ready breakdown of a single watch book — not just a review, but context:• who wrote it and why it matters• what the book is really about• what I liked, what I didn’t• who should read it — and who can skip it• how it fits into watch history, culture, and power

This series connects directly to:▶ Series 1 — the political, historical foundations of watches▶ Series 2 — interviews with insiders, collectors, and industry voices

Series 3 is the library.
The long memory of watch culture.

If you collect watches, study design, love history, or simply want to understand why certain watches — and books — become canonical, this series is for you.

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Welcome to Watches and Politics — Series 3: Watch Books.