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Worn & Wound · Page 40

3,185 articles  ·  Page 40 of 107
Hands-On: the Zenith Defy Skyline Chronograph Skeleton Worn & Wound
Zenith Defy Skyline Chronograph Skeleton Feb 13, 2025

Hands-On: the Zenith Defy Skyline Chronograph Skeleton

There’s no sports watch that I have a stronger connection to than the Zenith Defy. I’ve long told anyone who would listen that the Defy is, bar none, my favorite sports watch collection. From its inception, the Defy has been a watch associated with pushing both design and watchmaking boundaries, through the use of uncommon materials, avant-garde designs, and over-the-top specs. For whatever sports watch from a major Swiss brand you can name, I could probably think of a Defy that matches it in terms of what it can do, and eclipses it in terms of the always hard to quantify cool factor. Yes, of course this is subjective. But, I mean, is it really?  Now that we’ve established that I love the Defy potentially all out of proportion, we can consider the latest entry in the growing collection, the Defy Skyline Chronograph Skeleton. This is a combination of words that were always meant to meet in the form of a Defy – the writing has been on the wall since the intro of the first Defy Skyline, or least since the introduction of the Skyline Chronograph. One of the nice things about the Defy, as a collection, is that it truly offers a different flavor of the core watch for every taste, with dials that are skeletonized, or not, cases that are made from steel, or ceramic, and now chronographs offering some of those same decision points.  My feelings on the Defy Skyline collection oscillate quite a bit. Whenever I put one on, I can’t help but compare it in my mind to the Defy...

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Defining a New Era of French Watchmaking Worn & Wound
Feb 12, 2025

Defining a New Era of French Watchmaking

Today, if you ask nearly anyone, “What’s the epicenter of watchmaking?” the answer will resoundingly be, “Switzerland,” but you might be surprised to learn its neighbor to the west is largely responsible for the birth of modern watchmaking as we know it. In France, the earliest clocks date back to the Middle Ages, primarily used by clergymen. Fast forward a few hundred years, you’ll find the first “wearable clocks” emerging in France by the end of the 1400s.  Over the next couple hundred years, watchmaking became an increasingly thriving industry in France. However, the horological community experienced its first disruption in 1685. That year, King Louis XIV revoked of the Edict of Nantes, which had granted the minority Calvinist Protestants of France, also known as Huguenots, substantial rights in the nation, which was predominantly Catholic at the time. As a result of the revocation, there was a mass exodus of Huguenots from France across the border to Switzerland, many of whom were-you guessed it-watchmakers.  King Louis XIV Still, the real golden age of French watchmaking came in the 1700s in conjunction with another major moment for the country: the Age of Enlightenment. During this time, Paris became the heart of the watchmaking industry. Here, in the Île de la Cité (one of two natural islands in the Seine River right in the center of the City of Light), is the Place Dauphone, a public square on the western end of the island opposite the ico...

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Some Of The Best Colorful Watch Dials Worn & Wound
Casio ns when nothing else Feb 12, 2025

Some Of The Best Colorful Watch Dials

Many of us are guilty of it: in an entire collection, every last dial will be monochrome. White here, black there, and a dash of silver or grey mixed in. If one is particularly daring, there may even be a dark blue dial added in. But versatility isn’t everything - sometimes, a bright, in-your-face dial is the perfect antidote to a grey day. Watch dials have historically been places of decoration. Painted enamel dials were popular in the nineteenth century, with such vivid imagery as landscapes, battles, and hunting scenes adorning them. Though neglected through the early twentieth century, the colorful dial - now in more vibrant bursts of color - saw a vivid return in the mid-twentieth century when companies were scrambling to produce new timekeepers for the burgeoning underwater sport of SCUBA diving. A colorful dial can signal the change in seasons. For many, a bright dial immediately conjures images of sunny vacations, warm water, and worn paperbacks, while a muted dial can be the perfect companion during bleak midwinters, perfectly accenting the changed environment. A well-chosen dial can also inject color into both your collection and wardrobe, providing the right accent piece and adding the missing link in an otherwise perfect outfit. In this week’s Chronicle, we’re looking at some of our favorite colorful dials for those occasions when nothing else will do. As always, the Windup Watch Team is available via consultation to answer any questions you have. I...

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The Rose Gold SBGH368 Enters Grand Seiko’s Permanent Collection Worn & Wound
Grand Seiko s Permanent Collection Perhaps Feb 12, 2025

The Rose Gold SBGH368 Enters Grand Seiko’s Permanent Collection

Perhaps the crown jewel of Grand Seiko’s automatic watches, the 62GS was the brand’s first to feature an automatic movement. Vintage 62GS pieces championed subtlety with small crowns, “bezel-less” crystals, and smooth, polished edges. The 62GS has lived on through many contemporary iterations, and most hold on to that understated elegance as a key design feature. The current lineup of Heritage Collection pieces reflects almost all the hallmarks of the 62GS that it’s based on, albeit with dials themed for the 24 solar terms of the Japanese sekki.  Grand Seiko’s newest 62GS piece continues the seasonal motif of the Heritage Collection lineup but adds even more color by enveloping it in 18-karat rose gold. This rose gold reference, SBGH368 in the Grand Seiko catalog, is meant to symbolize cherry blossoms covered in snow, featuring a textured copper pink dial encased in a dual curve sapphire crystal. The indices, dauphine hands, date window frame, and screw-down crown match the case material, as does Grand Seiko’s logo positioned just above the brand’s name, below the double-thick 12 marker. An exhibition case back showcases the Hi-Beat 9S85 automatic movement, which features 37 jewels and a 55-hour power reserve, as well as 100-meter water resistance.  In terms of sizing, the SBGH368’s case measures 38mm in diameter and 12.9mm in thickness, maintaining the standard specs of the 62GS line. The 20mm lug width promises easy strap-swapping, though the included...

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Apiar Pushes the Limits of Additive Manufacturing with the Gen1.B for British Watchmaker’s Day Worn & Wound
Feb 11, 2025

Apiar Pushes the Limits of Additive Manufacturing with the Gen1.B for British Watchmaker’s Day

A concept that we’re always coming back to at Worn & Wound is the thrill of discovering something new. This is fundamentally what the Windup Watch Fairs are all about, this idea that anyone can walk into a show and happen across something that is completely new and exciting, whether you’re a seasoned veteran of the hobby or brand new to it. While I certainly admit to a bit of a bias toward the unusual having worked in the space long enough to become a bit tired of the generic, for me this has always been key to my enthusiasm, and I’m just a lot more likely to stop and read a press release or pick up and try on a watch if it looks, sounds, or feels unfamiliar to me. That’s the feeling I had when I came across the press release for the new release Apiar, a British brand who will sell five examples of the new Gen1.B at the upcoming British Watchmaker’s Day event in March. Apiar is a brand I had only a passing familiarity with – they are a relatively new brand on the affordable indie scene – and I found the images of the Gen1.B to be quite striking and the concept behind the brand interesting in its own right.  Apiar was founded by Matt Oosthuizen and Sam White, a designer and engineer, respectively. They bring a contemporary, tech forward approach to watchmaking, and are building the brand on a trio of core principles: Build Impossible, Build Sustainable, and Build British. The idea is to create watches that take on shapes and forms that in their design that ha...

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Dr. Martens vs. Blundstone: Who is the Chelsea Boot Champion? Worn & Wound
Rado Feb 11, 2025

Dr. Martens vs. Blundstone: Who is the Chelsea Boot Champion?

Author A.A. Milne wrote in Winnie the Pooh, “When you see someone putting on his big boots, you can be pretty sure that an adventure is going to happen.” I’m of the opinion that one should always be prepared for a little adventure, and thereby a believer in a good pair of boots, just in case.  I can definitively say that shoes are not one of my many vices. If I’m leaving the house, there are two options I will wear 90% of the time: white Nike Air Force Ones, or a pair of leather Chelsea boots. I opt for the latter during the seven-month-long snow season we get in Colorado. Chelsea boots have been my staple since I can remember, as they’re versatile and easy to slip on as I’m running out the door. When I find something I like, I stick with it, only replacing something when necessary and never straying too far from what I know. It was a big deal then, when I swapped my Embury Leather Casual Dr. Martens Chelsea boots for a pair of Blundstone Classic 587s last March.  Dr. Martens were my brand of choice for six years. The same pair of Chelsea boots guided me through the streets of Paris in 2018 and a solo trip to Ireland four years later. My Blundstones are coming up on their first birthday this March, and have traipsed through dirt and debris along Route 66 as well as seven states and a handful of National Parks. Both brands have a lot to offer in terms of heritage, specs, and fit, and both deserve consideration in one’s quest for the perfect Chelsea boot. Bra...

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Bulgari and MB&F; Collaborate on a Completely New Take on the Serpenti Worn & Wound
Bulgari Feb 10, 2025

Bulgari and MB&F; Collaborate on a Completely New Take on the Serpenti

Whenever Bulgari introduces a new Serpenti, we see a familiar chorus of articles and reactions, often but not always from male members of the watch media, opining on the possibility of a “Serpenti for men”. We don’t like to gender watches around here and firmly believe that anyone can wear anything they’d like, but there’s also no point in denying that the Serpenti, for its entire history, has been aimed squarely at the ladies market, and that the watch itself, insofar as it resembles a piece of fine jewelry, possesses a certain inherent femininity. So the thought experiment of what a Serpenti that is truly gender neutral or even designed for a male wrist has persisted (even though it’s perfectly fine for some watches to just be what they are). Today, through a collaboration with MB&F;, we get an answer, kind of.  The Bulgari x MB&F; Serpenti is an audacious reimagining of the core Serpenti idea, which is to interpret the body of a snake as a time telling device. MB&F;, of course, is the perfect collaborator for an endeavor like this. They’re no strangers to taking the essence of a living thing and turning it into a horological work of art. After frogs and bulldogs, the snake seems like a comfortable next step in populating  the MB&F; zoo.  The new creation, unlike a Serpenti Tubogas that is meant to wrap around a wrist, is worn like a traditional watch, at least in the sense that it consists of a case with a strap mounted to either end of it. That case though...

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Hands-On: the TUUL Filthy 13 Worn & Wound
Hamilton Khaki Field Bulova A-11 Feb 10, 2025

Hands-On: the TUUL Filthy 13

It’s hard to deny the outward appeal of a field watch. Tactical but not overly macho, mature but not boring-the traditional field watch “style” is eminently wearable for combatants, explorers, mountaineers, and the regular old civilian crowd. Classics like the Hamilton Khaki Field, Bulova A-11 “Hack”, Seiko Alpinist, Rolex Explorer, and many, many more, are icons of the category, and it’s hard to feel like there’s much more to be innovated or improved upon.  The TUUL Filthy 13 is keenly aware of the history of the field watch. Its very name is a derivation of the “Dirty Dozen”-both the 1967 war movie about a squad of delinquent soldiers, and the twelve Swiss watchmakers commissioned to build a watch to help win World War II for the Allied forces in 1945. The Filthy 13 is a reference to Private Jake McNiece, the thirteenth member of the real-life military unit, left out of the film based on the squad’s feats-a cheeky signal of the Brooklyn-based company’s dedication to preserving the history and resilience of the field watch, while carving their own convention-breaking niche.  I was given the opportunity to test out the Filthy 13, and was immediately drawn in by the well-laid out history and inspiration behind the watch. My first field watch was a Timex Weekender Indiglo given to me by my grandfather-a watch I still have and wear frequently-and I regularly pine after the Hamilton and Seiko 5 lineups. At first glance, the Filthy 13 is a well...

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Zenith and Revolution Team Up for a Third Limited Edition “Cover Girl” in Carbon Fiber Worn & Wound
Zenith Feb 10, 2025

Zenith and Revolution Team Up for a Third Limited Edition “Cover Girl” in Carbon Fiber

The period between LVMH Watch Week and Watches & Wonders is usually pretty quiet on the watch release front, but Zenith teamed up with Revolution to drop a new edition of their ongoing series of “Cover Girl” reissues that is almost certainly the most radical rethinking of the concept yet. We’ve covered both of the previous Zenith x Revolution collaborations that sought to resurface one of the most famous references in Zenith’s vast archive. The first, introduced in 2020, was a fairly straightforward recreation of the vintage reference. The second was a titanium version, and just a little more esoteric. The third, though, is a real departure, crafted from carbon fiber for a dramatically different look and wearing experience.  The headline here is the weight. On a hook and loop strap, the Cover Girl Carbon weighs just 55 grams, significantly lighter than even the titanium version released a few years ago. It’s a little more if you opt for the full carbon fiber bracelet, but more on that in a minute. The case is in the classic A384, tonneau shape, which measures 37mm in diameter and 12.5mm tall. According to Zenith and Revolution, the carbon fiber used here is of the high modulus variety, similar to what’s seen in high end bicycles and sports cars.  The dial is also made from carbon fiber, which creates a coherent and aggressive look for the entire piece. It’s matte black and features the same “shark tooth” outer register that is common to the other Cover ...

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Watches, Stories, & Gear: Cheap Caribbean Getaways, Cozy Gaming, and the Fantastic Four Trailer Worn & Wound
Feb 8, 2025

Watches, Stories, & Gear: Cheap Caribbean Getaways, Cozy Gaming, and the Fantastic Four Trailer

“Watches, Stories, and Gear” is a roundup of our favorite content, watch or otherwise, from around the internet. Here, we support other creators, explore interesting content that inspires us, and put a spotlight on causes we believe in. Oh, and any gear we happen to be digging on this week. We love gear. Share your story ideas or interesting finds with us by emailing info@wornandwound.com. The Rise of Cozy Gaming  Reuters has a fun and interactive story on their website about the strange appeal of the “cozy” game. Modern video games aren’t all violence and destruction – there’s a rising tide of so-called “cozy games” that exist purely to help you relax. Research even suggests that playing these games can help relieve stress and anxiety. Who couldn’t benefit from that in these cold winter months? There’s a growing community being built around these games, and in an industry that has grown exponentially in recent years, and small segment catches fire is a very big deal.  Canon’s Next Compact Camera  The photography rumor mills have been buzzing about Canon’s possible return to the world of compact cameras, a segment that has seen a lot of activity from some big players in recent years as amateur photographers look beyond their smart phones for devices that are still pocketable but offer improved image quality. According to reports, Canon is gearing up for the release of a new PowerShot camera later this year, which would be their first compact ca...

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The Journey of Thomas Schnelle Worn & Wound
Cartier Tank watches Feb 7, 2025

The Journey of Thomas Schnelle

Thomas Schnelle’s journey began in northern Germany, where he pursued studies in toolmaking. After completing his technical college education, Schnelle found himself at a crossroads. While he contemplated studying design, a lack of confidence initially held him back. It was at this juncture that fate intervened, leading him to Chronoswiss, then owned and operated by Gerd-Rüdiger Lang in Munich.  Chronowiss and Lang could be a long story in itself since Lang had mentored and influenced a lot of the next generation of watchmakers and brands. In 1991, 21-year-old Schnelle approached Lang, and it paid off when Lang entrusted the young newcomer with a significant project – creating a series of 99 escapement models. Schnelle officially started his career in the watchmaking industry as a supplier to Chronoswiss, later becoming a freelancer for the Bavarian brand.  In 1995, Schnelle completed his watchmaking studies in Würzburg, and had the honor to be recognized as Germany’s best young watchmaker in competition. He continued to work as a freelancer for Chronoswiss until 2012, when Lang sold the company to the Ebstein family in Switzerland. Schnelle also repaired Cartier Tank watches for nearly 20 years for the Richemont group. He even took on side projects like milling air stream chambers for Infineon, and offering his technical design services.  In August 2024, I visited Schnelle at his home atelier in Munich, and his workshop was filled with photographs, technical de...

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The Porsche Design Chronograph 1 is the Latest Sports Watch to Get the Lume Dial Treatment Worn & Wound
Porsche Design Chronograph 1 Feb 7, 2025

The Porsche Design Chronograph 1 is the Latest Sports Watch to Get the Lume Dial Treatment

Though I’m still confused on the pronunciation of Porsche (is it porsch or porsh-uh?), there is no mistaking the impact the brand has had on the automotive and design worlds. And, what the hell, let’s throw the watch world in, too, for good measure. Since 1972, with the release of the first all-black chronograph, Porsche Design has been producing watches that might take the sting out of not being able to afford a brand-new 911. Now, with their latest iteration, the Chronograph 1–F.A.T. 2025 Edition, we see both the evolution of Porsche Design’s timepieces while also a nod to their own heritage. Taking the design principles of Ferdinand Porsche, the design team built almost an inversion of the original Chronograph 1 from the 70’s. While they have maintained 40.8mm black titanium carbide case, they’ve inverted the design with a white dial. Not only is this a first for Porsche Design’s watches, but it also serves a functional purpose: the dial is completely coated in white Super-LumiNova, making it readable in total darkness. This is one example of how the Chronograph 1 – F.A.T. sits right at the meeting point between form and functionality. It’s the hidden Easter eggs of this watch that show how proud Porsche is of their heritage. Take, for instance, a Porsche 962 silhouette on the hour counter and a subtle “962” on the 6 o’clock subdial. One of my favorites is the F.A.T. International logo appears under the date, while the English day display replace...

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Omega Starts the Countdown to Cortina 2026 with an Omega Seamaster in Moonshine Gold Worn & Wound
Omega Starts Feb 6, 2025

Omega Starts the Countdown to Cortina 2026 with an Omega Seamaster in Moonshine Gold

Omega’s Olympic legacy spans decades and continents; the brand has served as Official Timekeeper at the Olympic Games an impressive 31 times since 1932, and is set to do so once again at the 2026 Winter Games in Milano Cortina, Italy. To celebrate that golden history, Omega has created a new Seamaster heritage model-the Seamaster 37mm Moonshine Gold Milano Cortina 2026. While the name is as exhausting as an Olympic biathlon, the Milano Cortina’s design and specs will be familiar. The titular Moonshine Gold is an 18-karat yellow gold alloy created by Omega in 2019, and boasts a paler color than similar gold alloys, and a high resistance to fading. Composed of silver, copper, and palladium, it lends an elegant opulence to the otherwise understated Seamster design. The Grand Feu enamel dial wears diamond-polished dauphine hands and Moonshine Gold hour markers and Omega logo, as well as a minute track in grey Petit Feu enamel. The simplicity of this design will likely please longtime Seamaster enthusiasts-the gold case and hands alongside muted minute markers brings to mind classic Seamaster De Ville timepieces from the 1960s, and the white dial looks as crisp and inviting as a freshly-polished ice rink.  The symmetrical Moonshine Gold case and hexagonal crown harken back to Omega’s original Seamaster Olympic watches, appearing most similar to the 1956 Melbourne edition. That watch also featured 18-karat gold, though the Milano Cortina is larger at 37mm in diameter ...

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[VIDEO] The Bozeman: Yeti Innovation Upon Mystery Ranch Lineage Worn & Wound
Feb 6, 2025

[VIDEO] The Bozeman: Yeti Innovation Upon Mystery Ranch Lineage

When it was announced that Yeti, a company best known for its ice-cold coolers and drinkware, had acquired Mystery Ranch in early 2024, it raised a ton of questions among the brand’s fans. Almost a year later, Yeti, working alongside designers from Mystery Ranch, has released its first “collaborative” backpack: The Bozeman. While many questions remain about Yeti’s plans for Mystery Ranch, I’d like to think that we might have some answers with this first release. Who is Mystery Ranch? Before we dive into this pack, and what makes it special, we need to take a brief look at Dana Gleason and Mystery Ranch. While working in an outdoor store in the 70’s, Dana Gleason began offering backpack repairs, which led him to begin creating his own designs. Over the next twenty-five-ish years, Dana would make a name for himself through founding Kletterworks (1975), Dana Designs (1985), and developing pack features that have become a staple across the industry. A year after leaving Dana Designs in 1999, Dana co-founded Mystery Ranch with one purpose in mind, “to minimize the burden on your back.” Mystery Ranch would develop and patent industry changing features like the Futura Harness system, the 3-Zip, and modular frame systems, just to name a few. To put it simply, Mystery Ranch has created some of the toughest, purpose-built packs for the Military, Outdoor, Travel, and Fire industries ever released. While it would take 20 something years for me to discover the brand, it...

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H. Moser Introduces a New Pioneer Tourbillon with a Burgundy Dial Worn & Wound
H. Moser Introduces Feb 6, 2025

H. Moser Introduces a New Pioneer Tourbillon with a Burgundy Dial

For H. Moser’s first release of 2025, they’ve added a new reference to the Pioneer collection in the still somewhat new 40mm case. I’ve been a fan of the Pioneer for what it represents in the Moser catalog for some time. Moser is a very high end indie that is responsible for a lot of truly interesting and innovative watchmaking, but the Pioneer has existed as a (somewhat) accessible access point to the brand that gives you a lot of Moser style, and, frankly, a good chunk of the watchmaking that makes the brand special. I reviewed the “Mega-Cool” Pioneer all the way back in 2021, and came away impressed with the aesthetic even if I felt like the case perhaps a tad too big. The new, smaller, 40mm case is Moser’s answer to many of their clients who were asking for this watch in a smaller size, and while there is indeed a 40mm Pioneer on the accessible side, here Moser is using the platform for a watchmaking flex. The Pioneer Tourbillon Burgundy is a new 40mm Pioneer running on Moser’s HMC 805 automatic caliber with a deep burgundy dial and a red gold case. Red gold and burgundy certainly feel like a natural combination, and the watch seems to exude a warmth that makes it particularly appealing in these dark winter months (although, to be fair, this watch has a place on the beach as well).  If you only know the Pioneer in its 43mm guise, you really owe it to yourself to get the 40mm version on your wrist. It wears completely differently and changes the impact of...

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Bamford Introduces their First Dive Watch, the D-300 Worn & Wound
Rolex sports watches So Feb 5, 2025

Bamford Introduces their First Dive Watch, the D-300

There was a time not too long ago when hearing the name “Bamford” conjured images of customized luxury watches of all stripes, sometimes with a level of taste that would make many enthusiasts sneer. That’s the nature of custom watches, though. The designs come from the mind of the owner as much as the customizer, and hardcore enthusiasts have really never been too keen on modifying, for example, stainless steel Rolex sports watches. So the fact that Bamford is now synonymous not with custom tweaked watches (although they still do this, primarily with LVMH brands) but affordable and accessible watches geared directly toward the enthusiast market is a turn that few would have predicted a decade or so ago. But it seems to be a reflection of where Bamford Watch Department’s founder George Bamford’s interests really lie.  Their latest is perhaps the brand’s most ambitious creation to date. After gaining steam over the past few years with a series of well received character watches (including a number of whimsical GMTs), Bamford has pivoted to a new dive watch concept featuring a ceramic case and a bunch of little design details that make it stand out. The new D-300 diver is available in a total of four colors: white, black, navy and green. The ceramic bit here is actually an outer shell around a titanium core, a method of case construction widely used in the watch industry that helps strengthen the case and also control costs (these watches come in at $1,950). The ...

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A Travel Watch Inspired by Travelers: the J.M. LeBoy Bedouin Worn & Wound
TAG Heuer Feb 5, 2025

A Travel Watch Inspired by Travelers: the J.M. LeBoy Bedouin

It’s hard to understand Budapest without being there. On its surface, it seems like any other major European capital, but in practice, Budapest is a singular experience. I was lucky enough to visit Budapest when I was 14, and what I encountered was a city replete with contradictions, one that wears its history on its sleeve, and which evokes a unique perspective. In other words, it’s exactly the sort of city where you would expect to find someone like Jake LeBoy. “I went there for vacation a few years ago and I thought, you know, I’m just going to get an apartment here,” he told me. “It’s pretty nice. And I’ve been enjoying it ever since.” Jake LeBoy, the founder and designer behind the newly launched watch brand J.M. LeBoy, expresses a similar sort of contradiction. Talking to Jake, it would be hard to guess that the remarkably chipper native Californian had served as an enlisted Marine, or that he has spent much of the time since working as a military contractor all around the world. What wasn’t hard to see was his love of watches. Soft spoken and warm, Jake is a passionate watch enthusiast, driven by detail and with a strong sense of what it means to do right by the collectors whose attention he’s looking to grab. “I’ve always been a huge watch nerd,” he explained. “Even from the time I was a little kid, I saw Goldfinger and the famous Submariner, and then I saw Jason Bourne, the first one with the TAG Heuer… that for me, dude - I final...

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Owner’s Review: the Sinn EZM 7 Worn & Wound
Sinn EZM 7 Here’s Feb 4, 2025

Owner’s Review: the Sinn EZM 7

Here’s the scenario: you’re on the third floor of a burning building, kitted out in all your firefighter gear, battling the blaze and smoke as you search for survivors. As you fight your way from room to room, the wood floors are buckling beneath your boots, and desperate sirens are blaring outside. In the intense heat, you have no way of knowing how long your equipment will last. Unless that is, you’ve added a Sinn EZM “Mission Timer” 7 to your loadout.  Okay, I digress-I have never been in a burning building (knock on wood) and I hope I’ll never have to monitor the degradation of my “gear”, whatever that may mean. But I do have an EZM 7, and it has, surprisingly, come in handy in much more mundane situations than it was meant to be used in.  To start at the beginning of my journey with the EZM (acronym derived from the German Einsatzeitmesser, or “operation time meter”), you may need a brief overview of the person writing this. Most of my friends and family would admit to having asked me to fix something on their car or in their home at some point, and to say that I’m into tool-style watches would be a devastating understatement. The more information that can be gleaned from (or tortured out of) a watch, the more likely I am to wear it. The EZM 7, then, is an easy win for me, and clearly my dad thought the same when he gifted me a used model upon the completion of my Master’s degree in Creative Writing in May 2024.  Since then, the EZM 7 has ...

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MKII Updates the Classic Fulcrum with a Smaller Case and Thoughtful Details Worn & Wound
Feb 4, 2025

MKII Updates the Classic Fulcrum with a Smaller Case and Thoughtful Details

Imagination is at the heart of any good spy story or thriller, and MKII seems to know that well; with their latest release, the Fulcrum 39, they’ve crafted a watch fit for a speculative undercover mission in the 1970s. A diver-style piece that favors practicality and class over more visually militarized counterparts, the Fulcrum 39 is designed to convey MKII’s “vision of the perfect tool watch”. The Fulcrum 39 is a revised and sized-down successor to MKII’s Fulcrum, originally released in 2013. Aptly named for its discreet 39.50mm case size, the Fulcrum 39 is a watch that could have been made for military and covert ops; MKII has crafted a sort of horological fiction with the watch’s design and heritage. While mainly inspired by timepieces issued to the United States Military in the Vietnam War era, the Fulcrum 39 also tags in elements of more civilian-oriented designs, hence the smaller case size and understated appearance. The idea of a watch with a grounded yet fictional background is unique and lends an air of hushed intrigue to the Fulcrum 39 that helps elevate it from just another dive watch to a very functional gear piece for a theoretical (or real) adventure.  With all these stylistic features in mind, the Fulcrum 39 is unmistakably a tool watch. It totes a 120-click unidirectional bezel, available in either 12-hour or 60-minute diver configurations, maximizing its utility as a dive watch-particularly when paired with its 200m water resistance. The b...

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A New Mt. Iwate Dial Arrives in the Grand Seiko SLGH027 Worn & Wound
Grand Seiko SLGH027 We reached Feb 3, 2025

A New Mt. Iwate Dial Arrives in the Grand Seiko SLGH027

We reached the point long ago where even the most dedicated Grand Seiko fans and collectors could be expected to keep up with the many, many different dial textures. Intricate textured dials are, at least as much as their famous Zaratsu polishing technique and fantastic family of movements, the thing that Grand Seiko has become most well known for during these last several years that have seen the brand grow at an extraordinary pace. I know for me personally, it’s all a little overwhelming, and while I love seeing all of the new textures and colors pop in watches as the collection grows, I remain biased toward one in particular that caught my eye at the beginning of my own interest in the brand. The first Grand Seiko I ever owned had a black “Mt. Iwate” textured dial, and for me it’s still the standard by which I judge all of the others against. That Mt. Iwate texture, to me, is just the right balance of eye catching and incredibly subtle – it can’t be detected at every angle, which is one of my favorite things about it. It’s also historically taken something of a backseat to the “Snowflake” and “Birch” textures, so it appeals to my natural tendency to root for the underdog.  Given my longstanding appreciation for the Mt. Iwate dial, I was happy to see news of the latest Grand Seiko release, the SLGH027, which brings a tweaked version of the Mt. Iwate texture to the Evolution 9 series of watches. The new texture, which appears to have thicker “ridg...

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A Unique Military Inspired Watch For Under $300 - Prevail Onward Future Worn & Wound
Feb 3, 2025

A Unique Military Inspired Watch For Under $300 - Prevail Onward Future

Veteran-owned Prevail strives to redefine what a military-inspired watch can be. With a unique contemporary design language and capable specifications, the young brand is unafraid to chart its own path. The Tampa Bay-based brand donates a portion of its profits to the Heart and Armor Foundation, a charity supporting scientific research and community programs for veterans’ health. The Onward, Prevail’s freshman offering, is the brand’s contemporary update of the classic field watch formula. Housed in a uniquely shaped 42mm matte stainless steel case with 200m of water resistance, it takes the century-old formula and modernizes it for the 21st Century. Underneath the recessed sapphire crystal are three dial colors - standard black, compass green, and shovelhead - with a 12-3-6-9 “Explorer” version and a broad skeleton marker variant called the “Tactical.” With its fixed strap bars, the Onward Future is purpose-built to hold up to any adventure. Inside the Onward is the Ronda Calibre 513, a Swiss-made quartz caliber. It features three hands, one jewel, and hacking with an expected accuracy of -10/+20 seconds per month and a battery life of approximately 45 months. Veteran-owned Prevail strives to redefine what a military-inspired watch can be. With a unique contemporary design language and capable specifications, the young brand is unafraid to chart its own path. The Tampa Bay-based brand donates a portion of its profits to the Heart and Armor Foundation, a ...

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Hands-On: the New BOLDR Odyssey Worn & Wound
Boldr Odyssey It isn’t Feb 3, 2025

Hands-On: the New BOLDR Odyssey

It isn’t a hot take to say that tool watches tend to be formulaic. Afterall, there are only so many combinations of bezel formats, dial colors and hand styles out there. With new brands borrowing familiar cues and old brands iterating on their own designs, it’s easy to feel underwhelmed by the steady stream of near-identical releases. Oftentimes, I look at a new watch and wish the brand would do something, anything, to put their own spin on even a single component to stand out from the crowd. Well, BOLDR heard my pleas with the newest iteration of their popular Odyssey diver ($799).  And they didn’t just put their own spin on one component… they spun them all. After I unboxed the sky-blue “Horizon” variant, I spent a solid 10 minutes rolling it around in my hands, taking in all the unexpected details. I noticed the funky gear-shaped crown, the translucent dial that reveals the entire date wheel, the unique dual-stripe hands, a shaped date window, and the seemingly never ending cascading angles that make up the aggressive case shape. Just when I thought I’d taken it all in, I turned the watch over to be surprised by an embossed whale on a display caseback. We will get to all those details (including the whale) soon, but first, let’s cover the basics of this far-from-formulaic GMT. The Watch The bold watch with blue accents that kept surprising me is part of BOLDR’s expanded Odyssey collection. Differentiating itself from their more subdued offerings, the ...

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Worn & Wound
Timex Ming Autodromo Feb 2, 2025

A Week in Watches Ep. 98: Timex, Ming, Autodromo, and More!

Episode 98 of A Week in Watches is full of nostalgia but has a few watches, too. We get things started by looking at the new Giorgio Galli S2Ti, the grand finale for Galli’s S-series. We follow that up with a look at Ming’s follow-up to their award-winning dive watch from last year. The last two stories are where we take a trip down memory lane, first with Autodromo. 13 years after its release, the motorsport-inspired brand has brought back the Monoposto automatic, their first mechanical watch. Finally, we look at the new MKII Fulcrum, a remake of another watch from over a decade ago. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the first Windup Watch Fair, and we are excited to announce that we’ve added a fourth show to the roster taking place for the first time in Dallas, Texas. Happening March 15th and 16th, the fair will host around 40 brands and be held at the Hickory Street Annex in the Deep Ellum neighborhood. Texas-based fans, mark your calendars and head to windupwatchfair.com for more details as they emerge. The post A Week in Watches Ep. 98: Timex, Ming, Autodromo, and More! appeared first on Worn & Wound.

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Watches, Stories, & Gear: Baz Luhrmann’s New Bar, a New Safdie Brothers Project, and the LVMH Olympic Medals are Falling Apart Worn & Wound
Feb 1, 2025

Watches, Stories, & Gear: Baz Luhrmann’s New Bar, a New Safdie Brothers Project, and the LVMH Olympic Medals are Falling Apart

“Watches, Stories, and Gear” is a roundup of our favorite content, watch or otherwise, from around the internet. Here, we support other creators, explore interesting content that inspires us, and put a spotlight on causes we believe in. Oh, and any gear we happen to be digging on this week. We love gear. Share your story ideas or interesting finds with us by emailing info@wornandwound.com. The Latest From Tactile Turn  You know we’re pretty big fans of Tactile Turn’s pens around here, so we definitely wanted to highlight their latest seasonal release. The “Groove” is inspired by a love of music and vinyl record culture. The inky black pen (sorry for the pun) is meant to conjure the grooves of a vinyl record, and it’s paired with an “LP” edition that is a bit bolder and colorful, recalling colored viny and 1970s design cues. Both are available in Tactile Turn’s side click configuration in three sizes. The standard black is priced at $149, while the LP is priced at $179. Find more information at Tactile Turn’s website right here. The Timepiece Gentleman Saga Comes to an End  We don’t always cover legal news here in Watches, Stories, & Gear, but when we do, it usually involves the most infamous watch related Ponzi scheme any of us can recall (and perhaps the only one)? Anthony Farrer, otherwise known as the Timepiece Gentleman, became a YouTube sensation during the pandemic, giving viewers a behind the scenes look at the life of a high flying watch d...

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eBay Finds: An Incredibly Cool JLC Memovox, a Vintage Elgin in Great Condition, and a Hamilton Thin-O-Matic with the Full Kit Worn & Wound
Hamilton Thin-O-Matic Jan 31, 2025

eBay Finds: An Incredibly Cool JLC Memovox, a Vintage Elgin in Great Condition, and a Hamilton Thin-O-Matic with the Full Kit

eBay Finds is back! This bi-monthly installment will feature a selection of watches currently listed on eBay that have caught the eye of editor Christoph McNeil (@vintagediver). If you come across any hidden gems on the ‘Bay drop us a note at info@wornandwound.com for potential inclusion! Vintage Bulova LCD  Starting off this week with a neat space-age looking vintage 1977 Bulova quartz LCD. Yellow gold plated squarish case with a big crystal that covers a narrow LCD window. Around the window is a raised Bulova logo and a Quartz logo giving it a sweet 3D look. The watch comes with its original integrated bracelet with the buckle signed with the Bulova tuning fork logo. This was a 25 year service gift and is engraved as such on the back from the L.S. Starrett Co in 1977. The watch is in fantastic condition and works per the seller. Super cool retro LCD that is sure to garner attention. View auction here Vintage Hamilton Thin-O-Matic  Next up is a really sleek vintage Hamilton Thin-O-Matic with box and papers. The 10k yellow gold filled case comes in at 34mm, and is in nice shape, unpolished with sharp edges. The silver dial is clean with applied gold Arabic hour markers. The original Hamilton signed crown is here as well. This is another 25 year service award watch, this time from the Lufkin Company in 1962. The watch comes with the original signed band and buckle, original box and original guarantee booklet. Great looking complete set that runs well per the seller.  V...

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[VIDEO] Actually, Maybe it is the Camera: How the Leica Q2 Finally Got Me Excited About Photography Worn & Wound
Jan 31, 2025

[VIDEO] Actually, Maybe it is the Camera: How the Leica Q2 Finally Got Me Excited About Photography

If you’re an aspiring photographer looking for advice on equipment, technique, or anything else related to producing the best photos possible, you’ll almost certainly come across YouTube videos, blog posts, and forum discussions relating different versions of the same broad maxim: It’s Not About the Camera. This line, and its cousin, “the best camera is the one you have on you,” is repeated so often in photography circles I’m surprised I haven’t seen it emblazoned on novelty t-shirts and hats. It’s not bad advice, necessarily, but it’s about as generic as the old watch enthusiast credo, “Buy What You Love.” OK, easier said than done if what you love is, I don’t know, complicated vintage Pateks, or if you’re new to the hobby and what you “love” isn’t so readily identifiable. For years, with an understanding that the camera didn’t matter, I thought that my own photography was just incredibly bad. Whether my photos were taken on an iPhone (I’ve had so many iPhones), or any number of point and shoot, digital SLR, or mirrorless cameras, the shots produced never quite looked very good to me at all. Sure, I could grab a decent iPhone wrist shot if the light was helping me out, but my little experiments in photography over the years never took. I never developed a feel or a taste for it, stuck in a loop of equipment that I felt like I was fighting against and images that I didn’t like the look of enough to even consider that they could be impr...

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