Talking Watches With John Edelman

Every watch collection is different, shaped by the experiences, interests, and whims of the collector assembling it. Some are hyper-focused on a single make, model, or complication, while others are eclectic and allow the various facets of the collector's personality to shine through. John Edelman's collection is without question the latter.
Edelman is a longtime veteran of the design industry and the CEO of Design Within Reach, a position he's held since 2009. He's a man with serious taste that encompasses the worlds of interiors, vintage cars, photography, watches, and more. But, what makes his connoisseurship so charming is the complete lack of pretension he exhibits when showing off the reference 6239 Daytona that belonged to his father or the Bertoia sculpture in the entryway of his Connecticut home. For him, these aren't things to be coveted - they're tokens for recalling memories and making new ones. John is an extremely friendly guy and, as you can see in this video, a natural-born storyteller. He's the kind of person that makes you want to grab a cup of coffee, lean back in an Eames lounge chair, and just open your ears.
All of this is why I'm so excited to present Talking Watches with John Edelman. For the full story, go to www.hodinkee.c...

[@arthurscargill8010]

Great. The only thing I didn't love about this episode was that I always dreamed that I might be the first guy who turned up with with a bunch of vintage Seikos on Talking Watches.

[@WatchGeek]

Arthur Scargill 😂😂😂😂😂

[@LesterLovesWatches]

You must have a Zenith 'striking' 10th in your collection.

[@gmshadowtraders]

Arthur Scargill What vintage Seikos do you have?

[@Nontacticalboy]

Anyone who owns 3 Daytonas and still buy Seikos, is cool in my book!

[@andivalentinus2912]

arvid gunardi like this comment 👍

[@Debabrata026]

arvid gunardi absolutely

[@beluwuga]

Exactly 🔥🔥🔥

[@johnholtz1205]

That’s a cool dude

[@Greggieboy76]

My favourite episode of TW. Great 'no ego' collection

[@AtilioEscobar]

His collection is my favorite of the series, by far. Such funky watches!

[@adan_wario]

Coolest guy I've ever seen. I downloaded this video a while back, but was afraid to watch it. Am really impressed by his collection, a real passion I see.

[@jonnygifford989]

Best episode in a long while - loved the fact he has a couple Seikos in amongst the luxury pieces! Edelman seems like a decent guy too. Big up!

[@adulttoks]

I love his passion. It's infectious. And I completely agree with taking time to curate the best in our short time here. No pun intended

[@horologyblog8756]

Brilliant yet again. The point about timeless design is very apt in current times. Too many watches are made to cater to the trent of the moment.

[@nabila1327]

By far The best talking watches episode. Why we are all in the game is reflected by Edelman here.

[@AndrewArtajos]

Loved this because John is down to earth and he's not snobby, interesting collection.

[@frankieeisenberg6506]

Love a collection with stories!

[@aviardhansyahsakrie9251]

True collector has their own definition of perfectness.

[@FTube2000]

John's passion about watches, design and history is fascinating! Great episode. Congrats.

[@nichsc]

What a great collection. John Edelman has a clear design point of view and personality and it is communicated in his watch choices.

[@jfrschnell]

At least someone who likes not just luxury watches

[@gearreallydoesntmatter]

This comment is on all the videos..

[@175139]

This and Howie Kendrick are my two favourite episodes. Great stuff 😀👍

[@leonardonery5308]

very cool. I like to see watch collectors that not only dig the watches for their reference numbers or different this or that on the dial, but instead dig the watcher due to their beauty. Its supposed to be about what moves you and nothing better to move people than beauty.

[@bobcortez4427]

Agreed. When I watch these I always get a little anxiety that I can't quote the reference numbers or give detailed history lessons but I can tell a cool story about how I ended up with the watch and why I love it.

[@laerpearce7932]

Maybe your best one yet. That guy understands watches, he doesn’t just know watches.

[@MrWIWARD]

I really liked that episode. He clearly knows about design but he still has his own taste and his own personal appreciation for the watches. He doesn't buy them because it's THE patek X oder THE Rolex Y or because it's a particularly rare or sought after piece. He buys them because they are great designs and thats exactly the point of what he says in the end. You will probably never see this guy wearing an Hublot but he rather goes for a Seiko simply because it is the better design.

[@ArcHeus08]

Loved this - it makes me happy to see passionate collectors talk about their watches.

[@fredso]

What an awesome guy and collection

[@eugeniozanda7230]

This is a nice and unusual watch collection, not the usual roundup of trivial Rolex, Patek, AP, ecc...

[@FLXLife]

John Edelman has great taste in "real" watches. Loved this episode of TW. Best one yet!

[@gman6862]

Same passion for his Rolex Daytona and his Seiko’s! This guy loves these, not for collecting, but for wearing them daily. He wears them all!

[@audemarspiguet4237]

This is a thoroughly enjoyable episode

[@mark10601]

Love these 'talking watches' videos. Always interesting.

[@rar133]

Love this episode... a genuine guy who values even cheaper pieces with sentimental value to him. Always nice to dream of pateks and vacherons, but having a reality check of pieces i will be able to reach one day is refreshing.

[@jolness1]

I love this guy.

[@geoffreygulley7635]

The best yet... honest and open. You cannot fake passion.

[@paulruppert7784]

Great interview...design and business savvy: "Great design has great value." Edelman IS approachable. Gr8 shoot.

[@daintiestquarters3411]

This guy goes places and buys the watches he likes, no matter if it is an Ikepod or a Bulova. He can appreciate the good quality of budget friendly watches, and that means a lot.

[@kennethc]

First time you have addressed boxes. I think that's important for collectors to understand.

[@hogandori]

Good stuff... Love to hear different approaches to understand and appreciate watches.

[@patricknaswell2686]

Awesome video! Edelman is a true enthusiast!

[@kenacycle]

this interview is "perfect"

[@allyjhughes]

Great guy. Excellent episode

[@grale78]

John and his collection are great!

[@super8]

Nice episode. It´s nice to get a look at Seikos and other watches besides the typical Omega / Rolex / Patek collection.

[@Perrini222]

The bulova is beautiful, specially for me, being on a fixed income i saved for months to buy one and i treassure it like if it was rolex 😀

[@MrEcted]

Most of these videos: Them: "Yeah this is the people's watch, it's understated and something everyone can get, I wear it when I don't care if my watch gets destroyed. This is the watch to own and everyone will assume you're a baller, but at the same time it's simple and cheap." Me: "Okay, that looks awesome! This watch can't be more than $1000!" [Looks up price - it's $75,000.00] Me: "WTF! This is a year's salary!" John Edelman: "This is one of my favorite watches and it's a Seiko, I love the design, it's elegant and attainable" Me: "He sings the song of my people!"

[@briancarothers5909]

Totally love the conversation with this. Great talk. Got a love watching some HODINKEE after a long day

[@moisesyeffimo1439]

This is so diferent and quite refreshing

[@lorenzmuller3542]

I love those Porsche Design watches... Simple and easy to read.

[@eddieg849]

Perfect is in the eye of the beholder nothing in this world is perfect.

[@jhoag2577]

Great collection, such cool Seiko's. I was more impressed by the Seiko's then the Daytona's.

[@barreltech8949]

I love this collection, I'm a chronograph guy myself. I find this chronograph useful every day and it ads something else to the watch. What people have to understand is that chronograph are not for everyone. If your not going to use the complication, there's no use of buying one. If you like complications and a chronograph is useful in your daily life, then it's for you

[@tcr02]

Okay, can anyone tell me where Ben is? Is he really this big shot now that he's too busy he cannot shoot these segments anymore? No offense but Talking Watches is just not the same without him.

[@ryanburbridge]

The show is about the watches and the collector not Ben. Thought this one was great

[@gmshadowtraders]

Maybe it will help us to understand you guys who want to make sweet love to Ben, what the heck is so great about him? He's just a friggin guy, is it his demeanor, his snobbery, the way he over-winds million dollar Pateks....

[@Jlijnse2007]

Thankfully John Edelman has something inspiring to say as well ;)

[@TV-ux4gc]

Those vintage Seiko’s are so detailed, vibrant and so much more enjoyable to wear, they make other watches of the same era look fragile and stiff. Vintage Rado is another as equal to that same era with dazzling spunk that can be found from that era with a Swiss twist....

[@Aspra]

This guy is awesome!

[@sparshrastogi2646]

I have the same Autodromo as him, love that watch! Great episode.

[@hades1127]

I see Seiko in someones collection, immediate respect.

[@mrdre1019]

numero 1 episode for me..

[@sureshobhan]

Awesome collection...awesome man...!!!

[@MrWIWARD]

this is 100% my taste. Just lovely design watches

[@shyalbhandari3570]

Does anyone know the model of the Bulova?

[@diego61422]

Coolest watch here: the speed timer!!!

[@briancho8656]

I like this guy

[@markedwards7721]

This is a great great video, fascinating.

[@5thcrx]

I saw Seiko, Instant like.

[@rogerparis]

Great interview!

[@Redpaw000]

"Perfect" Summed it up quite well, i thought.

[@abdelmercifulgaming7890]

seems like a nice guy

[@joebro391]

Anyone know what Reference Panerai that is?

[@UmarHKhan]

Talking watches ain't the same without Ben Clymer. Seriously.

[@dmitrybelyakov]

no, but that's not necessarily a bad thing - enjoyed that one quite a lot

[@MrClitoralShaft]

it's a terrible fucking thing. Don't like the new gay guy

[@dmitrybelyakov]

yeah well that's just like your opinion, man

[@ianmedium]

Your right, its better, this fellow is more like the rest of us average collectors rather than the sports, high tech, or Wall Street but dies Ben has!

[@wildbird5150]

Nobody fucks with the Jesus!

[@joytekb]

The interviewer seems to be oblivious to this common people watches until Panerai came.

[@ricardorobi9247]

I’m in love

[@felipemautner8855]

Oh, so there's where the Apple Watch band comes from...

[@AGL23]

Hey...my watch fetish is starting to take hold of me. Right now, I have a Seiko 5 (from like 10 years ago), and I recently bought a Movado (quartz). I like them.....it's OK. But I want a "REAL" watch. I also want another "weekend" watch. What would you guy suggest. What's a good weekend watch? Thanks.

[@vateriel7]

Sport, classic? Budget? Preferences?

[@JohnSmith-xq6cv]

Orient

[@alisaleh3580]

this guy can sell anything

[@DavySolaris]

Anyone know what table that is?

[@jpl3170]

Amazing table. It’s the Saarinen dining table from Knol

[@tombryan1]

Pretentious, you need red in the pushers, got a find em fast. You dont need em in the rolex though, for some reason, oh yeah cause its modern, no matter when it was made. These watches are worth a fortune, cause i own em. Man, hes cool

[@Jonbombs]

It's so much better when you talk to more "regular" folk. Not CEOs.

[@BabyEater9000]

John Edelman IS a CEO.

[@bigpizzapie]

Nice collection. He's someone that can appreciate all watches.

[@enborodin]

Nothing is Perfect! 😆

[@marctravismba]

This guy is a true collector. He's passionate. His watches have backstories, have meaning. Plus, Seiko!

[@ryanburbridge]

Hands down one of the best ever. So down to earth. And had a real love of the watches not just some brand

[@9time007]

Definition of 'modern' 1. Aesthetically beautiful 2. No superfluous design 3. High functionality 4. No ego in design

[@myoptikx8286]

no patek no AP just loved it..😂

[@Vonstroke]

Exactly.

[@myoptikx8286]

PieterA more important more seiko's.haha

[@dmitrybelyakov]

lovely - very design centric and a very good point that a good design will be relevant forever

[@Norcalw204]

mat yoe i know right

[@indragums]

mat yoe its perfect. No ego. Just seiko. 😂

[@904SupremeDream]

Finally, some Seikos on Talking Watches!!

[@pizzaslovetoppings]

**sighs bitterly while chilling on my yacht**

[@trevbarlow9719]

Bitch, you ain't got no yacht!

[@SumD-EGuy]

pizzaslovetoppings please don’t talk like this. It makes you sound like a 20 year old neckbeard “nice guy”.

[@alurbanski1524]

I love this guy. Though he can afford to buy any watch he wants (and he has some pricey ones), he sticks to great design and what he likes.

[@gmshadowtraders]

"It's a Seiko, that's the best thing about it" DING DING DING WE HAVE A WINNER FOLKS!

[@BrixtonBando]

Probably my favourite interview. He truly believes in what he says, unlike a few other people who bought all Grails because they were told so. I must find out more about this guy! His explanation is Fascinating!

[@jigrodrigues]

5:22 "I usually wear a brown leash when Im carrying a white bone. It's modern. Dogs did it fifty years ago, and will still do it fifty years on. A good bone and a nice leash are just the perfect combination"

[@rlsjunior797]

Haha I wish I could like this twice

[@vicentecanaveras7966]

jigrodrigues i just lost my shit WOW

[@coronetmag]

Shows Daytona: "My dad was a cool guy. And he wore the coolest watch." Wow. Love that!Talking Watches is by far my favorite series among Hodinkee's videos. Stephen did a great job 👍

[@bombpop2461]

9:38 Wow this guy IS an incredible salesman, and he's right!

[@tomsmith4253]

The comments on design were outstanding

[@RobinYoulton]

Really liked his views on 'modern' timeless design.

[@filipecoupe20vt]

Great episode, this guy have the same passion for a Roley or a Seiko, very humble.

[@tyjohn4779]

"Modern can be bought 100 years ago, or bought in 100 years." Great ep.

[@Silverman10]

This guy has taste and he is humble. This video is not for snobs! He appreciate the design not the price.

[@mikehydropneumatic2583]

Aha, a watch enthousiast with big pockets and a soft spot for Seiko, respect!

[@Robert.Dickson]

Superb episode. Breath of fresh air.

[@ripperx444]

I love people's reaction to seiko! Today I had 2 people say my watch is nice and looked at it. When I said it was the SLA017 and GS a seiko o saw kind of shock i their face. People associate seiko with cheap quartz and usually don't give them the time of day. Love Seikos especially diver pieces

[@gmshadowtraders]

Holy shit, you got that SLA017 re-issue!

[@anintatej]

Yes but Seiko gives THEM time of a day

[@bladediver]

I had a customer compliment my SBDX017. He wears a sub and I handed him my watch. He was so impressed with how well it was made when he noticed it said “Seiko” on the dial he had a hard time believing it. We spent the next 30 minutes on his computer in his office looking at JDM seiko models. It was awesome! Seiko is, hands down, my favorite watch company.

[@511dydy]

This man has got personality and great taste

[@kutbisham2738]

So refreshing to see a collector having lower end watches but having same passion.....its not the price it's the DESIGN....awesome...

[@rachmatt5082]

I love what he said at the end, it gave me a new perspective in design. Thank you Hodinkee for always bringing interesting people with their interesting view on their watches.

[@luisalejandro1757]

Now this was good stuff...Not yet another guy up to his ass in Pateks...and finally Siekos...pls keeps these kinds of collections coming

[@amintaslneto]

Lots of character in this collection. Congrats!!

[@joshuanato08]

So refreshing seeing a rich guy enjoying seikos as much as Daytonas

[@tim2468]

It's always good to interview "creative" people as they never are boring. One of your best.