Welcome to the Scottish Watches Podcast Episode 741! After wrapping up twenty-twenty-five with a year-in-review, we’re diving straight back in. To start the year off properly, we’re joined once again by writer, historian, and long-time collector Ken Kessler, returning to the show after the success of his latest book: Compendium 01. Ken shares his perspective on why the pace of new releases shows no sign of slowing, and what genuinely stood out over the past year. We dive into vintage versus modern collecting, how experience changes buying habits, and how some brands survive even under our radars. And based on a recent experience, we go into the impact of social media and misinformation on modern watch culture. Plus, it wouldn’t be a Ken Kessler episode without the conversation naturally expanding into high-end audio, home cinema, and reel-to-reel tape. Click here to read along and see the photos in our show notes as you listen – http://www.scottishwatches.co.uk/2026/01/05/scottish-watches-podcast-741-were-back-in-business-for-2026-featuring-ken-kessler/ Scottish Watches Podcast #740: Welcome to 2026 – Our Watch Year In Review Scottish Watches Podcast #721: We Throw The Book at Ken Kessler – The Watch CompendiumCompendium 01: The Ultimate Watch Collector’s Book Rolex Explorer Precision 5500 (left), Rolex Airking 5500 (right).Rolex Explorer 5504.Orient Star M34 F8 Date LimitedBulova Accutron 214 Spaceview M7 (1967).Urban JürgensenBulova SHELBY Racer Chronograph.RGMT (46mm) compared to the Orient Star (40mm).IWC Ingenieur 35 gold Rolex Oyster Perpetual 36 pastel dials.Mahara MHR. https://www.dali-speakers.com/ Davosa https://www.midowatches https://www.laco-watches.com hanhart.com   Salón Internacional Alta Relojería MéxicoHamaticScottish Watches Podcast #739: Festive Chat With Mr Rolex, Xavier from Czapek and Cedric from HautlenceThe Rolex Legacy: The history of Rolex through 120 seminal and rare watches by James Dowling.Scottish Watches Podcast #738: Our Christmas Special – Plus A Special Free Giveaway Treat Inside Blog No. 8: Blue Notes (Tudor story)Rikki’s Loco.Workshop from Ken Kessler at RCM room at Audio Video Show Warsaw about reel to reel tapes. Loupe Magazine: https://www.christopherward.com/int/loupe-magazine Christopher Ward: https://www.christopherward.com/int/home  Hi-fi articles: kenkessler.com Watch articles: watch-words.com  Thank you for listening! Do you have any ideas? Please email us using the contact form. Keep up with us on these platforms: Podcast – https://open.spotify.com/show/2mZNyzyc6zKfKh9gWAQCPp  Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/scottishwatches  YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/ScottishWatches  Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/scottishwatches/ The post Scottish Watches Podcast #741 : We’re Back in Business for 2026! Featuring Ken Kessler appeared first on Scottish Watches.