you are trapped in here with us
I found myself in a deep state of thought when wearing my Nivada Grenchen Antarctic Spider recently. The Antarctic Spider is without a doubt a watch with some serious history. The triangulation/spider dial wasn't on the first watch to go down into the Antarctic, but it is one of the rarer configurations of an already… Continue reading Am I good enough to carry the torch?
I know I have a type (30mm 1940s sub-second 15J mechanical Swiss jobber), but that wasn't always the case. For a long period of time around 10-12 years ago I was obsessed with vintage "divers and drivers" as I used to call them. I had a mad Orient phase, I bought a rare Scuba Amfibia… Continue reading Talismanic
This ongoing investigation was born out of my procrastination. It's exam season and it's one of those seasons that comes with fists and arms. Naturally, my mind saw this as an opportunity to catch up on all sorts of things, chief among which was the origin of my Nivada Grenchen Antarctic Spider. Now one may… Continue reading The Paper Trail
It's about that time of year. Mariah Carey is about to get a massive paycheck from all the royalties and my ears are already preparing to bleed. 'Tis the season for giving... which is something I don't feel that we need a season for. Giving should happen perpetually and at any given time. This is… Continue reading A second chance at life
The bug of mechanical watches has likely bitten everyone reading this, but I'll say what I have to say anyways. I am a hopeless romantic. I have tried doing many things the old-fashioned way, which is nine times out of ten harder, more expensive, requires more effort, or a combination of these. I have largely… Continue reading A word of warning
I’m tired… another week, another round of tepid “hot” takes. Tudor is a homage of Rolex? Fuuuuuuck where to begin… I mean how can the sister company of one homage the other, and anyway, look at the history. Anyway, that’s not why we are here. I found myself in yet another rant, this time defending… Continue reading Practice what you preach
When I was about fifteen, God got up abruptly, and left by the back door. As the door shut quietly, he said, “I’ll be back soon enough, carry on for now.” It certainly took something away from Christmas and Easter in the short term. Rituals became shallow and lost meaning. The direction and purpose that… Continue reading Leave the seat down: a search for a vintage watch collecting philosophy
When you pop the back of a mechanical watch and see the intricate springs and gears in motion making incremental measures of time on the dial side, one can’t help but be amazed. If you have no watchmaking skills, you may also be confused. There are layers of complexity in even a simple three hander.… Continue reading Did Swatch choose wisely?
Greg: Are there any burning issues that need to be addressed? Here is my late night thought: Not all “vintage inspired” pieces are the same. What makes one work and one not? I am thinking of a Timex/Todd Snyder collab up on our favorite forum. It looks like any number of mid-century watches, but this… Continue reading Duologue No. 1: Reimagining Vintage for Modern Tastes
Trial is stylized combat. Rather than being decided with feats of strength or marksmanship it is a contest of words and persuasion. Facts matter too. We blame the inconvenient facts when we lose and give our golden tongues the credit when we win. Next week I will be in a small rural county seated next… Continue reading A vain man justifies his preconceptions…
The Escapement Room 