If you're having a conversation with a group of watch collectors, there's a pretty good chance that at some point someone is going to mention Eric Ku. It could come in the form of "But did you see that crazy Sub that Eric sold last month?" or maybe something like "Oh, this? Yeah, I got it from Eric." He's a staple in the collector and dealer communities – and for good reason. Eric started out as a watch enthusiast in his dorm room at University of California Berkeley and eventually became a collector in his own right — as evidenced by Eric's episode of Talking Watches. He then evolved his personal passion into a career as one of the most reliable watch dealers on the planet, operating under the name 10PastTen. Not bad, right?

What a lot of people don't realize though is that there's a lot more to Eric Ku than rare, killer examples of mid-century Rolex watches. He's a dedicated patron of contemporary, independent watchmakers and it was actually Vianney Halter's Antiqua that first opened his eyes to the wonders of horology. The guy also knows a ton about food and enjoys a great glass of wine. He's someone who really understands the all important idea that watches are best enjoyed as part of a life well-lived, and it was a pleasure sitting down to talk to him for this show.

We hope you enjoy Episode 5 of HODINKEE Radio. Check out the show notes below and let us know what you think in the comments.