The Doctor Who Cracked the Luxury Watch Market with Dr. Talha Kaner (Ep. 120)
What does it really mean to be financially free, and can a high income alone get you there?
In this episode, Iván Watanabe and Evan Wohl sit down with Dr. Talha Kaner, physician and watch dealer, whose company generated $5 million in sales in its second year. Dr. Kaner shares how his lifelong passion for timepieces evolved into a thriving business built alongside his medical career.
They cover the hidden mechanics of the luxury watch market, from authorized dealer games to gray market strategies, the value of building a business rooted in genuine passion, and how forming an LLC opened his eyes to financial opportunities that W2 earners often miss.
Dr. Kaner discusses:
- How his entrepreneurial mindset started in his teens and led him through multiple ventures before landing on the watch business two and a half years ago
- The realities of the luxury watch market, including how supply and demand manipulation by brands like Rolex inflates secondary market prices well beyond retail MSRP
- How operating a watch dealership as an LLC created financial freedom and tax advantages that his physician salary alone could not provide
- The authorized dealer system and why buyers often need to purchase watches at a loss before earning the right to acquire a coveted piece like the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak
- Why finding a trusted dealer matters more than chasing Instagram-famous sellers, and how the industry saying “buy the dealer, not the watch” holds true for serious collectors
- And more!
Connect with Iván Watanabe:
- Opus Private Client, LLC
- iwatanabe@opus-pc.com
- LinkedIn: Iván Watanabe
- YouTube: OPUS Private Client, LLC
Connect with Evan Wohl:
Connect with Our Guest:
About Our Guest:
Talha Kaner, MD is a full-time physician, entrepreneur, and father of two. Originally from Turkey, he moved to the United States in 2014 following medical school to pursue advanced medical training. He completed his residency in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation in Detroit, Michigan and New York City, followed by a fellowship in Spinal Cord Injury Medicine in Texas.
Since 2021, Dr. Kaner has served as the Medical Director of Acute Rehabilitation Services in Norfolk, Nebraska, where he leads multidisciplinary teams focused on restoring function and improving quality of life for patients.
Alongside his medical career, Dr. Kaner is the founder of Aslan Watches, a luxury watch trading company built from pure passion for horology. Through Aslan Watches, he helps like-minded collectors curate meaningful timepiece collections by leveraging deep market knowledge, trusted sourcing, and a commitment to transparency. His unique position as a physician and business owner fosters a high level of trust, offering clients peace of mind in every transaction.
Operating across multiple platforms—including aslanwatches.com, Instagram (@aslanwatches), Chrono24, and eBay—Aslan Watches has grown into a respected name among collectors seeking authenticity, value, and long-term relationships.
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