Rikki Daman - Behind the Dial
The Man Behind Scottish Watches
Born in Glasgow’s East End in the late 70s, Rikki Daman is now firmly in his prime and the unmistakable voice behind Scottish Watches, the world’s number one watch podcast. Alongside co-host Dave Sharp, he’s built something of a phenomenon, though anyone who knows Rikki will tell you this wasn’t some overnight success story. It was built the old-fashioned way: graft, determination and an inability to sit still for more than five minutes.
Long before watches took over his life, Rikki was already juggling passions and projects at full throttle. Tech was always part of the picture. At school he was deep into computers and programming, convinced that would be his future. After leaving school in the mid-90s, he worked in a local computer shop before moving into what would become a recurring theme throughout his life, creating opportunities rather than waiting for them.
Then came music. Between 1996 and 2008, DJ Rikki became a familiar name behind the decks, sharing stages with the likes of Armin van Buuren, Sash! and Fragma. Somewhere amongst the late nights and dance floors, he also launched his own computer shop which evolved into a web design and media business by the end of 1999. Apparently that still wasn’t enough.
Cars had always been a serious passion, so in 2000 he launched his own car website, followed by a magazine in 2003. Rikki became a regular contributor to publications including Max Power, Japanese Performance and Banzai, while also producing content for Channel 5 and, rather brilliantly, both The Guardian and The Sun. Not many people can claim that particular double act.
By the mid-2000s he’d added wedding videography to the mix, running his own company for several years, before launching the Scottish Car Show in 2010, which quickly became a major event on the calendar. Looking back, the common thread becomes obvious. Rikki doesn’t really do standing still.
Enter Watches. His watch journey began in his thirties. By then, life was ticking along nicely. The house was sorted, the car and bike boxes had been ticked, and he fancied buying himself something special. A conversation with his late father stuck with him. "James Bond wears a Rolex, so that must be pretty good."
Solid logic, to be fair. So 2nd January 2017, Rikki bought a 1999 Rolex GMT-Master. The honeymoon lasted until he noticed it was running fast. Curious rather than annoyed, he did what we’ve all done at some point and Googled the problem. That search changed everything.
Until then, Rikki had no idea watch forums and enthusiast communities even existed. Suddenly, he was tumbling headfirst down the rabbit hole. The original GMT was eventually returned and, a week later, replaced with a Rolex 116710LN. But the story didn’t end there.
By early March 2017, fate, luck, or perhaps the watch gods themselves intervened. Rikki received an unexpected call from an authorised dealer regarding a GMT-Master II Batman. Unknown to him, his name had been placed on a waiting list. The salesperson explained they had already called eighteen people that very morning, all of whom had turned it down. Did he want it? There was only ever going to be one answer.
Dropping everything, Rikki headed straight for the dealer and took full advantage of the opportunity. Looking back, though, the watches themselves had already become secondary. What had truly captured him was the discovery of the wider watch community, the people, the conversations and the shared enthusiasm that surrounded these tiny mechanical obsessions.
Within weeks a curiosity had become an obsession, and like many of us, he was hooked. Four days later, Rikki was on a plane to Baselworld 2017, in one day, sleeping at the airport and back the next. But that first visit would prove pivotal. Walking into the vast exhibition halls, surrounded by giant brand displays and enough watch advertising to wallpaper Glasgow, he knew immediately something had shifted. Goosebumps, hairs standing on the back of his neck, the whole cliché package.
He went from stand to stand collecting magazines like they were rare artefacts, stuffing his backpack until it could barely zip shut. More importantly, he realised he’d found his tribe.
Back home, he registered for his first RedBar event where he met Richard Atkinson. The pair clicked immediately. Like a double act, same energy, same enthusiasm, same slightly dangerous level of enthusiasm for watches. Rikki had already been toying with the idea of launching a podcast. The only problem was finding a name. Eventually, practicality won out and he used the Instagram account he’d already built.
And so, on 13 January 2019, Scottish Watches was born. Two episodes a week from day one. Still two episodes a week now.
That consistency explains how they’ll hit episode 800 this September. Not many podcasts make it that far. Fewer still manage to do it without disappearing into self-indulgent rambling somewhere around episode 40.
Momentum arrived quickly. Adrian Barker reached out ahead of Baselworld 2019 after hearing the show and wanting to meet. That connection evolved into friendship and collaboration, with Rikki later handling video work at a Jaeger-LeCoultre event.
The New York Times soon came calling too, covering Edinburgh’s growing watch scene and giving Scottish Watches another significant push. But Rikki never wanted to simply copy the standard podcast formula.
He recognised something important early on. Many of horology’s greatest characters and storytellers were getting older. If their stories weren’t captured now, they might disappear forever. That became a major driving force. Then came The Tock Show.
Because recording in a nightclub obviously seemed perfectly reasonable. Hosted chat-show style in Glasgow, it stripped away the stiffness often associated with watch interviews. No tweed jackets. No rehearsed corporate lines. Just relaxed conversations about watches, personalities and why these little mechanical objects matter to people. At the time, it felt genuinely fresh, and audiences noticed.
Then 2020 arrived and the world stopped, “Lockdown” changed everything. People suddenly had time on their hands and watches became both distraction and obsession. Buying, selling and speculation went into overdrive while prices climbed into slightly absurd territory. For Scottish Watches, the timing proved transformative.
eBay reached out after hearing repeated mentions on the podcast and a sponsorship deal followed. From there, the floodgates opened. Brands were queuing up and the audience exploded. Scottish Watches moved from respected enthusiast podcast to genuinely global platform.
By 2021, invitations to Watches and Wonders followed, giving the team their first proper taste of large-scale industry coverage. Success, however, came with a price. Producing two episodes weekly while handling editing and production meant Rikki and Richard were regularly sinking 25 to 30 hours a week into the show. Eventually Richard stepped away and Dave Sharp, who had already filled in several times, stepped into the co-host chair. The chemistry worked immediately.
Today the pair feel inseparable and the podcast continues to evolve, now fully embracing video alongside its audio roots.
Then there’s Misael. When Rikki asked the community for help with show notes, he narrowed the field to three candidates. Misael replied: "I already have the last three weeks done." That tends to help during interviews and he was hired immediately. Six months later, Misael apologised in advance in case his notes were late due to upcoming exams. Only then did Rikki discover he was still at school and fifteen. That level of commitment is ridiculous in the best possible way. Today Misael works full-time in the watch industry and still handles the notes twice weekly.
Life has continued moving at typical Daman speed. Rikki married Simona in March 2025, even missing British Watchmakers’ Day in the process. That’s commitment right there. Simona now plays a full-time role within Scottish Watches, helping manage content, schedules and the logistical chaos that naturally follows Rikki around. As he puts it: "She's an integral part of the team."
Gavin now handles much of the audio and visual production and the Scottish Watches operation has grown into a five-person team, supported by contributors spread across the globe. Not bad for an Instagram account and a podcast idea born at RedBar.
Films or cars?
Films
Cars or watches?
Watches
Vintage or modern?
Modern
Strap or bracelet?
Bracelet
One watch for life?
Rolex GMT-Master II Batman
Some dirt on Dave?
"He has more than one set of clothes."
AP x Swatch launch, honest opinion?
"They advertised it heavily, supplied tiny numbers and created massive frustration. They’re selling bars of gold for £100. What did they think would happen?"
Looking back across Rikki’s career, it all starts to make sense. DJ, designer, videographer, publisher, entrepreneur, car show organiser. None of it was random. Every chapter prepared him for the next one.
Today, Scottish Watches sits at the top of the podcast world, producing consistently entertaining and genuinely engaging watch content across audio, video and social media. Rikki has built a monster of his own making. Maybe a Scottish Nessie with microphones and camera gear. More impressively, he’s managed to tame it.
And if Monday and Thursday mornings feel incomplete without your Scottish fix, you’re probably not alone. Hats off to Rikki and the team he’s assembled. They’ve earned it.