Get the FREE WatchSmarts Beginner Buyer's Guide

David Newman sits down with Steve Cohen, the "Millionaire's Magician," to explore the surprising historical intersection where watchmaking and magic coexist. Steve shares his transition from wearing stone-faced teenage relics to owning a curated dozen of high-end pieces, including Patek Philippe World Times and the legendary A. Lange & Söhne. He pulls back the curtain on the technical mechanics of the watch steal, explaining why your leather band is a pickpocket's dream and how he uses psychological misdirection to "remove" luxury timepieces in plain sight. From the mystery of why million-dollar watches say "Email" on the dial to the personal significance of wearing a Rolex Batman to the top of Mount Fuji, Steve reveals why true horological joy is found in the thrill of the hunt and the understated elegance of stealth wealth.

00:02 – The Lineage of Magic and Horology

• How legendary magicians like Robert-Houdin began their careers as master watchmakers.

• The historical connection between gear systems in clocks and mechanical magic tricks.

01:41 – First Impressions and the Sharper Image

• Steve's early attraction to a stone-faced watch worn by a magician he admired.

• Discovering minimalism through a black-and-white Danish timepiece from The Sharper Image.

03:21 – Secrets of the Watch Steal

• Why Steve had to learn the mechanics of every luxury clasp to perform his signature magic trick.

• The reason he eventually stopped stealing watches to protect his professional reputation.

06:03 – The Vulnerability of the Leather Band

• Why a pin-and-buckle system is the easiest target for a professional pickpocket.

• How simple misdirection and physical pressure can remove a watch in seconds.

08:17 – Defeating the Deployment Clasp

• The technical challenge of removing a bracelet watch while navigating the human thumb.

• Using coins and matchbooks as "theatrical devices" to manipulate a subject's grip.

10:47 – The David Blaine Influence

• How wearing David Blaine's Zenith Rolex Daytona for a day sparked a serious obsession.

• Buying his first major piece from a "sketchy" shop in the New York Diamond District.

13:22 – Patek Philippe and the Magician's Connection

• Using personal relationships to secure an A. Lange & Söhne in three weeks instead of four years.

• The versatility of the World Time ratchet system for a performer constantly on the road.

17:40 – The Psychology of the Hunt

• Why the peak of dopamine occurs at the moment of the purchase rather than the acquisition.

• Steve's philosophy on buying only what you love rather than treating watches as pure investments.

25:02 – The Legend of Max Malini

• The incredible story of a magician who turned a borrowed watch into a "minute repeater" using magic.

• Why modern smartwatches are making classical horological magic much harder to perform.

34:14 – Batman, Mount Fuji, and the Dark Knight

• Why Steve identifies with the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso worn by Bruce Wayne in the films.

• Climbing to the top of Mount Fuji while wearing a Rolex GMT Master II to honor the Batman lore.

38:28 – The Mystery of the "Email" Dial

• Why a $1.5 million Patek Philippe has the word "email" written at the bottom.

• Learning the distinction between modern technology and the Swiss-French term for enamel.

41:25 – Lightning Round: One Great Watch

• Why Steve prefers one high-end masterpiece over a collection of five entry-level pieces.

• The case for stealth wealth and why understated design beats "bling" every time.

A great watch is the ultimate sleight of hand: it tells a story of success while keeping its deepest secrets hidden in plain sight.

==========

FREE GUIDE: Buy Your First Great Watch Without Getting Burned

Download the WatchSmarts Beginner Buyer's Guide »

• Know exactly what matters (and what doesn't) before you spend a dollar

• Avoid the 10 common mistakes that cost beginners thousands

• Find a great watch that fits your life, your style, and your budget

• Skip the jargon, the snobbery, and the "collector nonsense"

• Get a simple decision framework that makes buying easy and obvious