Back to Work - And a Quick Look Forward at Windup
Back to Work - And a Quick Look Forward at Windup
Okay. Let’s get back to work.
I posted this on Instagram the day before yesterday and it was pretty gratifying to have folks welcoming me back.
I took an extended hiatus away from I&M for health and family reasons. While some things haven’t calmed down as much as I’d like, enough has that I am ready to get back to work. I have a new shooting space that is still very much under construction and will take at least another month to be work-ready, but I’m done using that as an excuse. I miss the watch world.
The timing is… planned, actually. While most of the horology world looks forward to Watches and Wonders and its ilk, we indie and microbrand fans have another event to look forward. Windup Watch Fair, which happens three times a year, starts today and it’s an absolute blast. The first one is in San Francisco and therefore in my back yard - if a bit further this year since I moved from Burlingame to Menlo Park.
A lot of the usual suspects are going to be back, but this time they’re going to be spread out across two floors at Fort Mason.
There’s a lot I’m looking forward to, so here’s a quick look at who and what I’m eager to see.
Christopher Ward
The folks at CW are always fun to talk to and hang out with. I usually end up learning a thing or two with them and they’re all a delightful bunch.
Except this guy.
This is Will Brackfield. Somehow, I always end up with a lighter wallet or a sobbing credit card after talking to this guy. I’ve asked his boss Mike to fire him.
I don’t think Mike is going to do it.
Might have something to do with some big award they won and apparently he helped design the watch that won it for them.
Allegedly.
Anyway, he did do me a solid and sent me a very nice autographed copy of a magazine he was featured in, so I guess he’s all right.
I’m also looking forward to seeing the new Twelve X (Ti). While not anywhere near my budget (it retails for around $5,000), it’s still one I wanna see in the metal.
Fears
This year, the billing on the Windup site reads “Fears presented by Topper” For those who don’t know, Fears is one of my favorite watch brands and are UK-based. They have had multiple tie-ins with one of my local watch shops, Topper Jewelers in Burlingame. I may have moved south about 15 miles further away from Topper than I used to be, but they are still one of my favorite places to visit.
One one occasion, they did an in-store meetup where the owner of Fears, Nicholas Bowman-Scargill came out and told some great stories of how their partnership with him started and some really touching stories of how Fears lived through Covid.
Nicholas (on the left) is always charming, always fun to talk to, and never snooty. Neither, for that matter, is Rob Caplan (on the right), one of the owners of Topper Jewelers.
And that’s what I love about this world. I’m sure there are some truly snooty people out there, but for every one of those people, there are folks like Rob and Nicholas. Topper occupies a huge space on tony Burlingame Ave., with a dedicated in-store Omega boutique and brands like Bremont, Blancpain, Breitling, Moser, and Parmigiani Fleurier. Alongside the $90,000 Mosers are $90 G-Shocks and honestly, I’ve never seen Rob or any of the people at Topper be anything but perfectly gracious with me or any of the customers.
Also, Topper’s pre-owned section is 🔥. New stuff drops every Friday morning at 9am Pacific. Bought my first Christopher Ward there.
Islander Watches
Islander Watches is the house brand of Island Watch, an online retailer based out of Long Island, NY. Owner Marc Frankel started the brand with Seiko homages and while he hasn’t stopped staying true to those roots, he has stepped outside them too. This Swiss-movement-driven Republic GMT is still in my regular rotation.
I bought this one at a past Windup in NYC.
That’s Marc on the right. Can’t miss him - he’s the only person I know who wears two watches.
Straum
“Striking” is the first descriptor that comes to mind with Straum. I have been on the fence with them because these can either be outstanding pieces or they could be utter garbage in the hand. It’s why I haven’t made the leap yet.
So of course I was thrilled to see their name on the roster. Of course, their sub-€1000 line is all sold out, so we’ll see what happens…
Oris
I love my single Oris Aquis Upcycle, but I’ve got my eyes on some nice Artelier pieces too.
Lorier
The husband and wife team of Lorenzo & Lauren Ortega make Lorier one of the most fun brands to follow. Brilliant vintage-inspired pieces with as close to the design and materials as you can get. My Astra is my absolute favorite of the three Loriers I own.
More to come…
There are so many others, but it’s almost 3am and I’m wiped. Good night/morning/whatever it is, wherever you are. More to come from the fair itself when I make it there late afternoon.
Cheers,
Sohail