This week on the Superlative Podcast, host and aBlogtoWatch Founder Ariel Adams is joined by Steven Rostovsky, the Founder of Rostovsky Watches. To start the show, the two connect on both being residents of Los Angeles while having to travel the world in the watch community. Ariel has Steven talk about his start in watch trading, and they dive into the increase of modern retail pricing compared to years before. The two go back and forth on the impact that the cost of production has on brands setting retail prices today and how the watch industry seems to always compare itself to the car industry. The two discuss why they both believe it’s not always a good comparison, and they talk about different practices that may work in one industry but not the other. Ariel and Steven bring up the idea that consumers enjoy trading for things they actually want, rather than renting or selling for something that they are unsure about. Steven talks about the impact that “word of mouth” marketing has had on his business, as well as the unique buyback clause he implemented for the first 10 – 15 years of his career that gave his customers a great sense of trust when working with him. Ariel brings up the “Rostovsky List,” which was a list that Steven would put together of the watches that he had, and why he decided to hold out on having a website for so long in favor of this exclusive list. Ariel asks Steven about when he was asked to invest in De Bethune and his relationship with brands like Greubel Forsey. As the show comes to an end, Ariel asks Steven about the website, being an authorized retailer, and his plan for the next few years. Listen below or on the player of your choice.

Photos by Rick Szczechowski

Keep up with Steven and Rostovksy Watches!
Instagram: @RostovskyWatches
Steven’s Instagram: @Srostovsky
Website: www.rostovskywatches.com