I took some time on The Debbie Nigro Show this week to talk about TIME, not the magazine—though that would be fun—but the concept of time, how we use it, and also about a mind-blowing new invention that’s shaking up the world of luxury watches to display time. This one’s a game-changer!
I was scrolling through Instagram when I spot a post from my friend Rob Weintraub, manager of Manfredi Jewels in Greenwich, CT. Now, if you love watches—or just admire fine craftsmanship—Manfredi is the place to know about.
(I know this first hand because I was so impressed with owner Roberto’s expertise and his entrepreneurial journey, I encouraged him to let me tell his story to the world which we did in an evergreen 8-part series of podcast interviews called ‘The Rare Watch Man’ on his website ManfrediJewels.com. The global stamp of approval for a rare watch brand is to be sold in Manfredi jewels In Greenwich CT. If you love entrepreneur stories, you’ll enjoy this one about how a 30 year business In Greenwich, CT became one of the leading rare watch stores in the world.)
Anyway, what I saw on Instagram wasn’t just any post. It was something I’d never seen before. A watch. On a wall. As a CLOCK. Wait, what?
If you own a stunning luxury watch, (or a have a watch collection) you likely only wear one 2% of the time? That’s the reason the folks at WOW by Keris created an invention that could help you enjoy your watch a lot more of the time.
WOW is a sleek, high-tech display that turns your luxury wristwatch into wall art—and a fully functional wall clock! You simply slide your watch into the side of the device, and voilà! It’s projected onto a beautiful screen, showing off every intricate detail of its craftsmanship.
Rob discovered this genius invention at Watches and Wonders, the biggest watch exhibition in the world, held annually in Geneva, Switzerland. Among all the glitzy timepieces and innovations, WOW was the standout. And guess what? Manfredi Jewels is one of only two places in the entire United States where you can get it!
Why Watch Lovers Might Love This
· Showcase Your Collection – Why let your luxury watches sit in a drawer when you can put them on display?
· Functional + Beautiful – It’s not just a statement piece—it actually tells time!
· A Worthy Investment – High-end watches appreciate n value. Now, you can enjoy them every day.
· Customizable to Your Style – Available in multiple finishes or match it to any Pantone color to blend seamlessly into your home.
How Much Does WOW Cost?
The base model is $5,990, and if you want a custom color or stand, you can upgrade for a bit more. Orders take about 6-8 weeks, but Manfredi has some in stock now if you’re ready to take your watch obsession to the next level.
Want to See It in Action?
Head over to the Manfredi Jewels store on Greenwich Avenue in Greenwich, CT.
Big thanks to Rob Weintraub for joining me —and for always keeping an eye on the latest and greatest in the watch world.
Enjoy this podcast of our live conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show. If you’d rather read than listen the transcript of the audio is below.
AUDIO TRANSCRIPT:
0:00:00
Hey everybody, I’m Debbie Nigro. So good to be back with you guys today. Ah, time is going to be my subject of the day today. It’s Trending Tuesday. And there’s a lot of time in the news. Things about time. There’s a big thing at MoMA going on, which is a whole show called The Clock, which I saw on CBS Sunday morning. It’s the coolest thing you ever heard of. We’re going to talk about that. But I was realizing this morning, you know, time.
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0:00:25
I said, one minute I got it, the next minute I don’t got it. I thought I had plenty of time. I get up about 5.30 and already the thoughts are there. You know, I do a lot of business things and a lot of prepping for the show and a lot of writing and blah, blah, blah. So I was all excited this morning when I was posting my story because I knew I was going
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0:00:46
to have a cool guest in the studio. And because on Tuesdays, I do Trending Tuesday and I love innovation, I was blown away when I spotted an Instagram post by a gentleman who I happen to like very much. His name is Rob Weintraub and he’s the manager of Manfredi Jewels here in Greenwich, Connecticut, where we broadcast the show live from. And what he posted was something I’d never seen before that I’m like, what am I looking at here?
1
0:01:14
It’s so cool. It’s a new invention, really high-end technology that Rob and his cohort spotted in Davos. Big shot. No, not Davos. They spotted it at some big, big rare watch thing that they go to all the time. He’s going to tell you about it in a second.
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0:01:33
Anyway, the point is, if you are a watch person, and there are many who love the great watches and own a luxury watch or watch collectors, what good is it if you wear the watch once in a blue moon and then put it on your counter? What if you could turn that watch into a wall clock while it was just sitting there so you could see it and see all the intricacies and all the gorgeous work that goes on, the insane amount of craftsmanship that goes into every single one of these watches. So there’s a thing called Wow and I was wowed so I invited Rob to join me in the studio
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0:02:08
today from Manfredi Jewels which happens to be one of the only places in the United States of America that you can get this thing.
2
0:02:14
Hello Rob. Good morning Debbie.
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0:02:16
How was that? Not a bad intro right? You’re like where is she going with this? Fantastic.
2
0:02:21
It’s so nice to see you.
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0:02:22
It’s nice to see you too.
1
0:02:23
You know I miss you guys. I did some nice work together with Rob and Roberto who send him my love from Manfredi Jewels He is the rare watch man. And when I found out about that a couple years ago I was like doesn’t anybody else know this this is incredible. This guy is right here in Greenwich, Connecticut So he did a beautiful and I’m very proud of this Series of interviews with Roberto about the backstory of how he became the rare watch man in the world. They’re still on your website. Yeah, that’s so nice
1
0:02:51
Keep those up because once you tell a story the story doesn’t you know unless you got to add to the story I’m sure there’s more I could do for you, but Everybody’s got a story and nobody takes the time to put it down. So he did it so good for him You know what’s new at you? Oh, you know it’s work family
2
0:03:08
busy with my son just celebrated his bar mitzvah So that was super exciting, getting ready to go on a cruise for a winter break, get out of the cold weather here in the Northeast, so happy about that. Yeah. Brings us to the WOW by Harris.
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0:03:23
Let’s talk about WOW.
1
0:03:24
I apologize for saying you went to Davos when you didn’t go to Davos. So where’d you go?
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0:03:28
So I went to Watches and Wonders and that is in Geneva. Okay, in Switzerland.
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0:03:32
I was close. Yes, yes.
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0:03:34
Davos is in Switzerland too. I know.
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0:03:36
At least I had the right basic location.
2
0:03:39
Exactly, but that’s for the politicians.
1
0:03:41
They were at the World Economic Forum, you were down the street.
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0:03:45
Right, exactly, and what we get to do at Watches and Wonders is a lot more fun and interesting than what they do at Davos, as far as I’m concerned.
1
0:03:52
Are the Swiss the real originators of the timepieces? Absolutely. Right, so it’s the best, it’s the creme de la creme who go there and showcase the latest greatest innovations in the watchmaking industry.
2
0:04:05
Yes, this is the largest watch exhibition in the world. It’s an annual event that they hold in Geneva where all the most important brands in the world exhibit their new watches.
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0:04:17
Cool.
2
0:04:17
So it’s at the Pell Expo in Geneva and off the top of my head I can’t tell you how many brands there are but it’s overwhelming actually how many different brands exhibit not only at the Pell Expo but also at different places around Geneva.
1
0:04:32
The security must be insane for this event because that’s a lot of money in merchandise that has to be protected, right?
2
0:04:39
Oh for sure.
1
0:04:40
What’s the most expensive watch you’ve ever seen at one of these things?
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0:04:42
Oh, um…
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0:04:43
We’re talking big moula.
2
0:04:45
Yeah, yeah, many, many millions of dollars. The first thing that comes to mind is that Vacheron Constantin, which is the oldest continuously existing Swiss watch brand. I never can pronounce these watch brands, say it again slow. Vacheron Constantin. There you go, perfect, beautiful. So they started in 1755 and they have never stopped making watches. Time does not stop for Vacheron Constantin. But what they had on display was the most complicated pocket watch ever made.
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0:05:18
Really?
2
0:05:19
They had that on display last year.
1
0:05:20
I was fascinated with pocket watches. At one point in my life I thought I would collect them because I had one that was given to me that was somebody’s, I don’t know, in my family. And I just thought that would be my thing. Never continued. But you continue.
1
0:05:32
It was a nice idea. Is that a good thing to collect, pocket watches?
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0:05:36
Well, if you enjoy them and they bring you joy by collecting them, then absolutely it’s a great thing to collect.
1
0:05:44
What is it about a signature luxury watch that everybody is drawn to? Mostly men, but not necessarily. What is it? Is it a statement? Is it a symbol of who they are? Is it a sign of their success?
1
0:06:00
They are aspiring to success and to be noticed, to be accepted in circles where somebody might notice that watch? I think it’s all of
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0:06:07
that.
1
0:06:07
Okay, so why then would somebody, and this is where we go to wow, want to have their watch, which is their identification, basically, of their life moment, on their wall in their house? I know why. You explain why this new technology is so
2
0:06:24
right on. So when we were in Geneva there’s a part of the show that focuses on things that are not specifically watches but adjacent to watches. Different inventions, things of security, all different watch boxes, all different things. And I was walking by and I saw this machine. All of a sudden, yeah, a watch
2
0:06:48
it looked like it was sliding up and all the sudden there was a this amazing picture of the watch on the screen what is that so I went over I spoke to them it took a look and I thought my god this is an amazing product. So it’s a very simple, well it’s not simple, but it’s a simple concept that you take your watch you put it in there’s a little holder in the side
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0:07:07
of this it’s it’s off the top my head I don’t know the measurements but it’s a pretty large
1
0:07:11
looks like a television screen. Yeah kind of. Like a wall TV. Yeah. All right, a wall TV. And then you put the watch in like a little slide-in side thing, and all of a sudden your watch face, with all its intricacies and beauty, comes up as an actual wall clock in your house. So you are looking and enjoying this timepiece that would otherwise be used 2% of the time you own it. Exactly. So those of us who love watches and who are into this will have many, many watches in their collection. All right, we’ll come back with that because we have to take a little business break here on the Debbie Nigro Show. If you’re just tuning in, I’m talking to Rob Weintraub. He’s the manager of Manfredi Jewels on Greenwich Avenue in Greenwich, Connecticut. They’re known throughout the world for their extraordinary watches and jewelry.
1
0:07:58
But in particular, we’re talking today about a new technology because it’s trending Tuesday. This is a way to put your luxury watch in a machine that projects it on a screen that becomes wall art in your home. How cool is that? The technology that I’m about to tell you about again if you’re just tuning in has to do with transforming your luxury watch into a piece of wall art. I’m like what am I looking at here? So in studio with me today is Rob Weintraub. He’s the manager of Manfredi Jewels in Greenwich, Connecticut, which happens to be one of two places in the whole United States that carries
1
0:08:36
this unique new product that takes your luxury watch and projects it onto a screen so it becomes a wall clock and also a beautiful piece of wall art because you get to see the intricacies of the masterwork that’s behind the watch that you have chosen to buy. So we’re finding more out about it. Welcome back, Rob. Good to have you in the studio today. Thank you.
1
0:08:58
Thank you so much, Debbie. So, the rare watchman, Roberto Edmund Freddy, known around the world. Now he’ll be known around the country for having this new machine. Is it actually called Wow?
2
0:09:08
Yes, that’s what it’s called. They call it Wow by Keres.
1
0:09:12
By Keres?
2
0:09:13
It’s even engraved on the bottom of it.
1
0:09:15
Yeah, because somebody who invented it went, wow, and they all went, wow, and they just kept it up. So, again, brand new, very innovative technology that someone figured out. So you put a watch of your choice, and some people have a lot of watches. How many watches do you have?
2
0:09:29
Oh, my collection is probably around 15 at this point.
1
0:09:32
Do rare watch collectors and luxury watch lovers have more than one watch typically? Yes. Okay, you can’t be a collector if you only have one, but that was stupid Debbie, but people who like a luxury watch will buy it for themselves, somebody buys it as a gift, how does it come into their life?
2
0:09:47
Well, I think people get infatuated with this world of mechanical art that is produced so beautifully and it’s like having a wardrobe and also if it’s something that you love then you want to experience all different aspects of it and so depending on what your mood is in that day also marking milestones in your life there’s no wrong reason to add another watch
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0:10:20
to your collection as far as I’m concerned. And they hold value right?
1
0:10:23
You can sell them. It’s like girls buying a fancy pocketbook, a Birkenbag, and guys would rather invest in a watch and then they have resale value.
2
0:10:30
For sure, some more than others, but we don’t know what that future value is going to be. So I always encourage my clients to buy what they love. Do the research, try on the watches, see them in person, and see what speaks to you about that watch, and then what is it going to commemorate. And then you have something beautiful that you look at in your watch box that can take you back to that time in your life and recreate that great feeling that you had
1
0:10:56
when you made that purchase. You know what I love about this conversation? I see you getting all excited about this, right? Guys don’t really get excited about jewelry. Most guys I know, but they will get excited about a watch. Bobby, engineer, do you agree. Yeah. So, what percentage of men versus women have luxury watches?
1
0:11:19
I know men will give it as a gift to a woman, thinking she’d rather have that than a trip
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0:11:23
to TV.
2
0:11:24
I would like to think that percentage of men that have multiple luxury watches versus women. Women I think will have some, and again, it’s a wardrobe, but it’s more about the look and the jewelry. They don’t really delve into the details as much as the men do. We love details. We love minutia. Yeah, you guys love minutia. And the fact that these are beautiful little mechanical machines
2
0:11:45
I don’t even know how people make these things. That are on your wrist. So it’s just like the infatuation with cars. Why do guys love cars? It goes fast, it looks… but it’s also a mechanical thing. And I think since the beginning of time men have been infatuated
1
0:11:57
with mechanical objects. Are luxury watches made by hand? Yes. Each one? Yes. Well, most of them. Different levels. Yeah, different levels. So this is really incredible. So when you invest in something like this, most people who own a luxury watch will use it 2% of the time, which is why this new invention called Wow by Keras is, I think, going to bring a lot of attention to the industry, number one,
2
0:12:21
but also give a lot of pleasure to people who have invested in these things. So this machine, wow, costs how much money? It’s $5,990 for the the base model. And the base model you can have, it’s like a TV screen and then it’s surrounded by a plate. So there’s a matte black plate, there’s a white plate and for a little bit more money there’s a silver plate. But what I found was really cool is that they will customize that plate to any color that you can find within Pantone, which Pantone has every color under the sun.
1
0:12:50
Absolutely.
2
0:12:51
So, if you have a specific color on your wall where you’re going to mount it and you want to match it to that color, and you can see examples of this on their website, they will do that for you.
1
0:13:00
Okay, so, I’m trying to get this straight. So, it’s called Wow. It’s a way to take a luxury watch and project it on a screen so it becomes a timepiece on your wall that has also artistic value because of all the intricacies of how it was made. The thing you’re talking about that goes on a counter, does this thing, it looks like it goes on a wall, this screen.
2
0:13:20
Well, so it comes with a wall mounting bracket, but they also do have a counter stand that you can purchase as well. But when you, it comes in the box, there’s a wall mount, there’s a bracket, and so you can just mount it on a wall just like a picture, but you can’t recess it into the wall. It’s probably, comes off the wall maybe about a six to eight
1
0:13:40
inches. Because this is, to me, I love things that are new and pushing the envelope. You said you went to Switzerland and this was the standout
2
0:13:48
thing at the show you were at? Well it was definitely something that we, you know, and we have done this over the years. We’ve always been on the cutting edge of finding new products and bringing them to market here in the US.
1
0:14:00
Tell me again the name of the show you went to in Switzerland.
2
0:14:02
It was called Watches and Wonders.
1
0:14:04
People from all over the world in Geneva. And so you went over and how did you guys get the rights for the US? You just went and said, hey, we’ll do this.
2
0:14:12
Well, I saw it. I wanted to learn more about it. I spoke to them and I said, yes, we’re very interested. And then when we got back, I contacted them and we placed an order and about seven or eight months later, it finally arrived.
1
0:14:26
How long does it take to get one of these things?
2
0:14:28
Well, they’re telling me now that production time on new orders is about six to eight weeks.
1
0:14:34
Oh, that’s not bad.
2
0:14:35
No. If you’re going to do a custom plate with a custom color, I imagine that would take a little bit longer, but we do have some stock. So we have the basic black plate version available here at Manfredi in Greenwich.
1
0:14:51
If you have a luxury watch and you are a watch lover or you collect watches, this is something I just wanted everybody to know about. It’s called WOW, W-O-W, WOW. That’s actually the name of the product. It’s made by Caris. People all over the world now who have one of these things. They have points of sale in Switzerland and Kuwait, France, the Netherlands, Lagos, Nigeria,
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0:15:11
let’s see where else Manama the kingdom of Bahrain Milano Italy the UK and in Greenwich Connecticut At Manfredi Jewels on Greenwich Avenue. That’s very cool I give them a lot of credit for coming up with this and you know I always say risk it or regret it no new ideas come from what’s been done before so I love I love the innovation I’m glad you posted it I never would have known about it
1
0:15:31
And I’m hoping that I’m helping you guys get the word out that this is like the next thing I imagine. The next thing. So, anything you want me to tell you? Are you going to put it on your website so people can see it?
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0:15:47
It’s already on our website, actually.
1
0:15:49
Okay, which is ManfrediJewels.com. Okay. Apparently, it’s the essential accessory for watch lovers. Rob Weintraub, thank you so much. Thank you so much. You’re always a gentleman, always fun to see again, and I’m glad we reconnected. So send my regards back to
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0:16:04
Roberto and everybody at the store .
