and I write about watches. Let’s keep up-to-date on the outdated!
Hi, I’m Chris,
Photo by Sherlin Beckham
Find out what’s Poppin!
The Everyday Hardcore: The New Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, 42mm of Polished Steel
I’m Not a Watch Journalist, I Just Write Loudly: Plus a Special Update
My favorite New watches.
Breitling - Top Time Fausto Coppi
This new Top Time is named after an Italian cyclist. While I give zero shits about cycling, I give all the shits about the Top Time. It has long been my favorite line of watches from the brand, and just look at these excellent colors!
Farer - Lissom Arber
This new series of dress watches from Farer continues their history of breaking conventions. Each colorway is named after a British botanist, with my favorite being this pink beauty named after Agnes Arber.
Awake - Jurassic T-Rex Edition
You ever wanted to get a Jurassic Park themed watch? What? Am I the only one that’s dreamt of it? Welp, now you can get one! Gotta go for the T-Rex edition!
Enthusiast of the Month
Enthusiast of the Month
Matt Smith-Johnson - @teenage.grandpa
I started life as a small duck, limited by the boundaries of your reality. But this alluring creature granted me interdimensional existence, and now I’m everybody’s problem.
What makes them awesome?
Most Recent Watch Acquired - This is tricky because most of my new arrivals are projects I have worked on, haha. It kind of quells the beast.
My last purchase was 3 years ago, and it was a Mares Tectron Diver designed by Giulia Moselli. Not a common piece. But I just love how the bracelet and bezel echo one another.
There is some mystery about this watch and why it was made, so that appeals to me. Plus, I feel like G. Moselli was a cool female designer who doesn’t get enough credit.
Favorite Watch to Recommend to a Newb - Well, it’s not a specific watch, but I’ll say this: What makes you smile? Forget resale or illustrious provenance, just find what makes you feel something. Once you find that piece, educate yourself on it. Find out what makes a good example of that piece, and get one. Or maybe you discover that it’s a copy of something—well, follow the trail and find the original incantation of the idea. Maybe you’ll discover something the majority hasn’t.
Twisting my arm for specifics, I guess a fun place to start is to look at the non-professional Speedmasters. The Mk4.5, Teutonic,
Favorite Independent/Micro Brand - For micro-indies, I’d have to say Isotope, because they are doing some weird and wonderful things. The Moonshot Chronograph was my favourite watch of last year, I’m a fan of the Hydrium, and I love that UFO jumping hour you might see at the shows.
Also, they are still rather accessible, and I like that.
Here are some of Matt’s current faves:
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