If you're the even the slightest bit tapped into watch collecting culture, you're likely already familiar Wrist Check Podcast's three hosts, Perri Dash, Rashawn Smith, and Ben Grullon. Since starting to record their now celebrated show just a few short years ago, the lifelong collectors have truly breathed new life into the scene surrounding watches – offering a fresh perspective, while welcoming all into the conversation.

In Bezel's exclusive interview, we sit down with the trio behind Wrist Check Podcast to explore their introduction to the world of watches, the evolution of their show, plus the most prized watches in their personal collections.

In Conversation with Wrist Check Podcast

Bezel: How did you get into watches? 

PD: It started with a visit to my grandfather's home in Manhattan. I was always curious about him, and he was a collector of many things. A trained jazz pianist, avid fisherman, and military man. He loved cowboy flicks, fishing rods, and listening to records.

I noticed on one occasion, he had a few watches on top of his dresser. I found it odd that someone would own more than one watch, but he explained to me that he had a different watch for different purposes. One for work, one for playing gigs, a watch he wore on weekends, his fishing watch, and one for special occasions. The funny thing is, I don't think he considered himself a watch collector, his approach was purely utility. However, as with many of my varied interests, I believe it was sparked here.

‍RS: My love affair with watches started when I was a kid. My granddad, who was never seen without a watch, heavily influenced me. Because he served in the military, time meant everything. Being early was on time & being on time was late – that always stuck with me.

He gifted me a G-Shock shortly before his passing, and it quickly became one of my most prized possessions. That one watch definitely started the collecting journey for me. I wish I still had the watch today, but my memories of him will live forever through watch collecting.

BG: Simply put, my intro to watches stemmed from a lifelong appreciation for mechanics and how things work. Working for Ralph Lauren on the vintage collections intensified that appreciation, not to mention the many RL watches. 

Bezel: How did WCP come to be? 

PD: I was consuming a ton of watch content during the pandemic and thought something was missing. I wanted to watch something that was a little more casual, a little more off the cuff with a wider appeal, and I thought well, me and my friends could do that. And so I brought up the idea to Rashawn, and then we asked Ben if he would be interested.

RS:  We've been friends for so long that it didn’t take much convincing for us to band together and create something we’re extremely proud of. 

BG: And just like that the journey began. We shot our two first episodes in November of 2021, and we haven’t looked back since. 

Bezel: What was your first watch, and what’s the story behind it? 

PD: My first real watch was a Kenneth Cole Tank watch. It wasn't really mine; it belonged to my dad, but I would borrow it whenever I hung out with friends. I used it so much that it was kind of like it was both of ours. I was not familiar with shaped watches up to that point, and I think that's why I found it so interesting.

After a while, my dad kind of forgot about it and moved on to something else, and it became my everyday watch. There were a few watches I had after, but for a while this was it, and when I look back at photos of when I was younger, it's the only watch I can find that I was ever photographed wearing.

RS: My first watch was a G-shock DW6900-1V. Gifted from my granddad. It was once his, and he gifted it to me off his wrist. The watch had a great deal of sentiment attached to it, and I wore it with pride. I was totally infatuated with digital watches at that point, which led me to eventually collect other models and brands.

BG: My first would probably be my black and lime green Casio G-Shock DW-6900. I got it from the G-Shock store on West Broadway in SoHo when I was 14. I can still remember wearing it every day as a freshman in high school. If you didn’t have one when and where I was growing up, you weren’t fly. In fact, kids were double-wristing in my homeroom.

Bezel: What’s your favorite watch in your collection and why?  

PD: Such a tough question, but I've thought about this really hard as of late. Unfortunately, I couldn’t collect any of my grandfather's belongings, but I did, however, purchase a watch – one of my very first vintage pieces – that reminded me of him around the time of his passing. It's a vintage Omega Seamaster Ref. 14700, with a gold-capped case, gold indexes, a black seconds hand, and a silver sunburst dial. I don't remember which brands my grandfather owned watches from, but I remember one of them resembled this piece. It's very much the style of his “special occasion watch.”

I have it on a pale crocodile strap that's developed a nice patina, and each and every time I wear it just puts a smile on my face. It's circa 1960, and to me, it just embodies the best elements of design from that period. It's a really handsome piece.

RS: That would have to be my Rolex Cellini "Danaos." It was the watch I wore on my wedding day. I acquired it on September 1st, which was the same day we chose to get married ironically. Definitely not planned, but my wife brought it to my attention during our ceremony.

‍BG: The one I’m wearing right now! My Rolex Oysterflex Daytona. It has my initials engraved on the back, and it’s loaded with scratches. It’s a part of my identity at this point. I was able to get it at MSRP after it was also discontinued, which I was super happy about. Picked it up and wore it to the Drake and 21 Savage concert at Barclays Center right after. The next morning, it had its first dip in a pool.

Bezel: All of your favorites really speak to how people, stories, and special moments can elevate watches to heightened territory. Any favorite “watch world” memories since launching the podcast? 

PD: For me it would most definitely have to be connecting with the Watch Dept. at Sotheby’s. Shout out to Richard Lopez, Janet Tham, and Christina Bohn. To have been embraced so early on by such an esteemed institution like Sotheby’s did a lot to encourage us that we were doing something meaningful. Another would have to be the Four Plus One feature I did with Hodinkee. That’s something many watch enthusiasts and collectors dream of, and it was one of those moments I’ll cherish. 

RS: My favorite watch world memory has to be back in 2022 when we hosted our first live episode at Soho house. So many people attended and we had hundreds of RSVP’s. It was a great feeling to meet some of our listeners and get their real time reactions to our content. Definitely a memory I’ll never forget.

BG: Two memories immediately come to mind. Hanging out with Tristan and Renaldo in Atlanta, and putting together our screening for the Nore episode. The Bungalow – our invite only chat – really showed out and took every RSVP in a matter of minutes. It’s fun putting new faces to established names. 

Bezel: Can you share 3 must-have watches listed on Bezel right now?

PD: Patek Philippe World Time Ref. 5110G-001

Vacheron Constantin FiftySix Complete Calendar Rose Gold Ref. 4000E/000R-B065

Rolex Cellini Ref. 5241

RS: Rolex GMT-Master II Ref. 116718LN-0002

Patek Philippe Annual Calendar Ref. 5396R-001

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph Ref. 26715ST.OO.1356ST.01

BG: Audemars Piguet Millenary Frosted Gold Opal Ref. 77244OR.GG.1272OR.01

Patek Philippe Nautilus Moon Phase Ref. 5724R-001

FP Journe Octa Lune Automatique 2 Havana Ref. AL2 G40

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Bezel: Why do you continue to enjoy collecting watches? 

PD: The honest answer is probably that I just can't help myself. I have a thing for vintage, and that's my main focus. I like to collect icons and the obscure, sometimes both in one if achievable. It keeps me studious and engaged because it’s like collecting art to me. I like pieces that look worn to a degree, pieces that look like they lived a life, and I enjoy the hunt. There's also the community it fosters and being able to share your passions with others. I've made more friends and built more relationships through collecting watches than I have at any other point in my life.
RS: I enjoy collecting because I believe there is never enough. I don’t only collect watches, I have an infatuation with things that are esthetically pleasing and complement a true gentleman. That can be the choice of shoes, clothes, the pen I write with, or my home decor. I love to collect things as a whole. What’s most exciting is opening the packaging to a watch and seeing how clean and untouched it is to be later worn and made your own.

BG: There’s always something new to discover. Even if it’s old, it could be new to you. Vintage allows you to carry on a legacy, and modern allows you to create your own. I’m big on complications, and seeing all the different ways brands would put their own spin on complications – especially for vintage references and contemporary dial layouts always excites me. The hunt is always fun, but with the internet and resources available now, I feel like it almost doesn’t exist. That’s a part of collecting I miss. Like when I was a kid looking for sneakers

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