Through my “prestigious” position at The Matick Blog, I was able to secure a review model of the new Dietrich Skin Diver SD-1 for me. A proper review will be coming at some point in the future. For now though, here’s a tale of my adventures with the with the new Dietrich SD-1.
Had this been a standard skin diver, I would be tempted to get the watch wet; maybe do some snorkeling in warm water while looking at pretty fish. I would talk about how the depth of the dial was mesmerizing underwater because of the way light bends. I would have raved about how easy the bezel was to grip because of the cleverly placed flat sections in the ever present polygonal shapes. But, wouldn’t that be too standard and obvious for a watch that is anything BUT standard and obvious? Instead I decided to take the Dietrich SD-1 to where the earth kisses the sky: the alpine.
Quandary Peak
Quandary Peak 14,265′
Residing in Colorado, I am surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery and mountains one could ever experience. This time of year in particular is my favorite to trek up them. Snow has just started to fall and creates incredible contrast against the dark rocks beneath. The crowds and lines of human slugs attempting to summit in the summertime are gone by now. Most people are in their homes eagerly waiting for the beginning of ski season to venture back out. All of those things together means it is the PERFECT time to plan a summit attempt. Before we go any farther, I would like to provide some resources should the following write up and images urge you to try your hand at some alpine adventuring.
Packing List for 14er
Our gear wall.
For those that may not know, a 14er is a mountain with a summit of greater than 14,000′ of elevation. There are thousands of people that attempt summiting one every year, flocking to the trailhead to test their metal. There are different “Classes” of these mountains depending on the difficulty, ranging from 1 to 4. Class 1 implies there is a very low risk of rock slide, little to no “scrambling” required, and a well marked and trodden trail. Class 4 implies high risk of rock slide, a lot of “scrambling” or in extreme cases straight alpine climbing, and very little markings. A peak that is categorized as a Class 1 by no means implies “easy”, as the mountain at any given time can choose to let you know that you are nothing short of an insignificant speck that nature is allowing to exist here. Weather can shift in an instant, and being unprepared can be result in injury or death. Here is a link to a great starting point when making your gear list.
Hiking a 14er during this specific time of year brings some different challenges that you may not realize as well. Speaking from experience, you are not tougher than the sun. At this elevation there is roughly 20% more harmful UV rays than normal, because the snow-covered ground and surroundings reflects almost 90% of the light back at you and your eyeballs.
Quandary Peak trail just above the tree line.
Last summer (early season) we had not considered this and Kenzie went blind for 36 hours. Snow blindness is a common problem, especially for those not equipped with the correct eyewear. Regular sunglasses blocks approximately 5% visible light and protect your eyes during daily life, mountaineering glasses with the appropriate grade will block 95% of visible light and protect you in the alpine. These glasses will also come with side covers to prevent light from leaking in from the sides due to snow reflection. Do not be like us on our first snow-laden summit, and wear proper eye protection!
The Arrival
We arrived at Quandary Peak around 7.30am, a few minutes after sunrise. The hike has just over 3,200ft of elevation gain over 3.5 miles to the summit. The beginning of the trail takes you through what could have been a fairy forest belonging to the winter court (iykyk). The strong smell of evergreen and brisk cold filled my nose with every heavy breath I took. Small animal tracks on the fresh snow from the previous night were abundant around us. I used the SD-1 to time “moving time” and breaks. Focusing on distance or elevation gain has never been the most useful mentally for me; instead, I opt for tracking time and set small goals.
During the beginning of a hike like this, shooting for 30 minute intervals at a steady pace is my go to, refueling with water and food after each interval even if you do not feel like you need it. As we climb higher and higher the time goals get smaller and smaller. After roughly 1.5 hours, we cleared the tree line, with the remainder of the hike being completely exposed until the summit. The day was absolutely perfect, a clear “Blue Bird” CO day with not a cloud in sight. The weather forecast called for a high of 30 and low of 12, but exposed against the harsh sun we may as well have been in Florida. Slowly, I stripped layers off until only a long sleeved shirt remained, and my Dietrich. I wore the SD-1 on a leather NATO style strap from Nomad Watch Works. The thought of the cold stainless steel case against my skin during the hike was enough for me to opt for leather. Leather NATOs are fantastic because they look great, and you get all the benefits of a bund (no metal against skin) without any of the negatives. The negatives of course being that it is hideous and implies that you carry deep seeded self loathing. Also, as you climb higher your appendages swell tremendously: by the time we reached the summit, I had loosened my strap by four holes.
Last Stretch
The last stretch to the summit was a slushy mess of steep incline over large rocks. Our micro-spikes crunched at every step.
The SD-1 notified me that we summitted at approximately 1pm. Atop Quandary, we had the full view to ourselves, save a few Pikas. We took our time and enjoyed the summit while snacking and lazily taking a few images of the Skin Diver. I couldn’t help but giggle thinking of what a preposterous trip this watch has now taken, and just how at home it seemed in these conditions. Additionally, the SD-1 proved far more useful than my typical alpine watch, the Rolex Explorer II. With the dive bezel of the skin diver, timing your breaks and hiking stints are way more useful than a GMT function, no matter what ads Switzerland shows me. The thinness, as opposed to the chunkiness of a traditional diver, due to the the reduced water resistance of the skin diver is also perfect for the alpine.
After our time soaking in as much of the view as possible, we began our trip down back to reality. About 2 hours later and we were back at the car, legs sore, out of breath, hungry, and eternally grateful. Also, sad; Happy that when I look down at the Skin Diver, I will never be able to detach my incredible memories staring off the top of a mountain, but sadness that I will have to mail this watch back.
Thank you to the folks over at Dietrich for sending the SD-1 to me to check out, and thank you @xkenzie for tagging along on this awesome adventure.
BASELWORLD 2014 should have been a warning for collectors such as myself. Though Omega released their beautiful vintage-inspired Seamaster 300 Master Co-Axial Chronometer resulting in me rushing out to put my name down on one, many other brands such as Tudor, JLC, and others did the same. Seven years later, there has not been a major release from such brands introducing an entirely new design language for the entry-level luxury watch market. Omega continues to mainly reiterate designs from decades past. Tudor continues to roll out new versions of their Black Bay. Rolex continues to release the same model lines with technical improvements seeing only minor changes to their dimensions. Oris continues to evolve their Aquis and Pro-Diver lines with their bespoke lug design language.
The entire market seems rather stale as a result. Microbrands continue to issue their takes on historic timepieces with Autodromo, Brew, and Dietrich being the exceptions. Hold on to the thought about Dietrich for a minute as we shall return to them soon. However, some of us are not only collecting watches because of their design or new technical improvements; we purchase a watch, new or used, for its history and continue to enjoy sharing life experiences with it as we wear it. This last point offers a glimmer of hope as a collector, for it is not only the watch that we could be collecting, but their inherent history and all that it brings.
After taking the Nodus “AvaMatick” Avalon on its first dives in Bonaire, I gained a new appreciation of and direction for my collection moving forward. The Avalon resulted from two years of hard work by the two founders of Nodus Watches with whom I had become friends. The AvaMatick was a collaboration between Nodus and the The Matick blog. In the last year, I have shifted my focus to watches that have a history with my friends.
First was the Tudor Ranger owned by my good friend @jwit94. This watch and its smile dial mirror the youthful energy and strength he brings to every room he enters. As a paramedic and a Renaissance man, Jake is the kind of person that one would like one’s children to emulate. As a result, to this day I wear his Tudor proudly reminded of the standard he sets and aim to do the same.
Second was the Marathon Chronograph Search and Rescue which was owned by designer Matthew Smith-Johnson. Those of you who frequent The Matick are already familiar with Mr. Johnson. From his appearance on the KC and JonJon Show podcast, everyone got the sense of exuberance and joy with which he approaches everything. In person, he does the same with a pure heart and uncontaminated intentions that are a breath of fresh air in the days of misinformation and shrewd decision-making permeating every facet of one’s life. Matthew wore this Marathon on a couple of charity endurance bike races in years past, and when he mentioned that he was letting go of it, I sprung into action and took it off his hands. Today I wear this decidedly rugged tool watch on very hectic days for recording elapsed time for invoicing, and when my sense of humour has run dry. It is during these times that I not only look down at this watch for time-telling purposes, but to be reminded of what a kind heart, an appreciation for details and how those details have relevance in the past and in the future, all bring to the table. As a result, hectic days when I wear this watch are enriched with a level of sentience that would otherwise be unavailable to me.
A couple of days ago, I placed a pre-order for the Dietrich Skin Diver. Dietrich has his own design language, and I fell in love with it after reviewing his Pure Time – Time Companion Series designed in collaboration with Matthew Smith-Johnson. Due to its not having a chronograph or a dive bezel, I passed on the opportunity to pick one up. Little did I know that our very own Marshall of Team Matick was working on this Skin Diver with Emmanuel Dietrich. After hearing about how they came to design this timepiece, I had to have one. I mentioned on the first episode of The KC and JonJon Show podcast that I had appeared on why I choose to write for The Matick. Unlike other blogs and sites, it is headed by working professionals who time and again exhibit an admirable sense of morality and duty. I imagine myself looking down at the carefully executed dial of my incoming blue Skin Diver and being reminded of the exemplary humans behind this watch.
This is how I have lately started to derive joy from watch collecting. The humans behind the timepieces, and carrying a piece of them and what we admire about them, is what gets me excited about watches now. To be honest, I have never enjoyed this hobby as much as I do now that there is deeper meaning to me.
(Since the time of writing this article, I have bought two more watches from close friends and my passion for this new manner of collecting continues to grow)
In the spirit of Father’s Day this year, we here at Team Matick thought we share with you some of our intimate and personal watch-related stories with the one of the most important men in our lives.
Do you have a story you would like to share?
Feel free to reach out to us and we may just feature them on here.
Marshall
As a young boy, my father didn’t grow up with much to his name. He was born in Penang Island, Malaysia, to a family that was poor, and he was the first son to receive a scholarship to pursue his studies in the United States, which was something unheard of at the time in the family.
He wasn’t a man who celebrated much of these milestones in life, his focus has always been on survival more than anything else. He left for the US as a young boy who knew little about the world outside of Penang Island, with quite literally nothing to his name. He had no choice but to resort to working multiple part time jobs during his studies to keep himself afloat. This thrifty and frugal lifestyle pretty much influenced his outlook on life throughout his youth, and eventually his adulthood. He never asked for much, and could easily get by with bare minimum; that was the kind of man my father was – and still is to this day.
When I was finishing up law school in 2016, I decided to get my father a watch to signify my appreciation. After several months of rigorously saving every penny I could, I managed to save up for a Seiko SNZF17 “Sea Urchin”.
It wasn’t exactly a fancy watch by any standards, but it was a versatile one. When the watch first arrived, I swapped out the rattly bracelet for an aftermarket one with straight end links; I’d say it gives the watch a pretty nice look. I passed this Seiko to him when I got home from the UK couple months later, he didn’t say much about it (apart from complaining about the price I paid for it at the time), but one day he sent me a wrist shot of the watch on his wrist, and the rest is just history. Just by looking at the watch, you can tell that he wears it every single day and on every occasion. All the scratches, dings, and dents, they are all the spirit of my father embedded into this watch, and that is the beauty of it.
This Seiko would eventually also give me something to hold on to, a memory of my father for me to keep and cherish when he is no longer with me, and hopefully one day, pass it down to my children.
KC
The story of my watch journey first began with my father’s 1952 Omega Seamaster. It’s a story I’ve mentioned a couple of times on the KC & JonJon podcast already, but the short version is that my old quartz watch died and I searched the house for any watch that I could wear to work. I stumbled on this old Seamaster, which my father said wasn’t working right. But I shook it a little and the watch immediately started ticking away, and I wore it to work the next day.
This old Omega Seamaster is a fairly basic, stainless steel, time-only watch with a central seconds hand, and has the bumper-wound Omega Caliber 352 beating within. Patinated beyond all recognition under the heat and humidity of tropical Malaysia, the dial is now a splotchy brown, with some marring of the hands and markers as well. Having finally been serviced in 2016, the watch is now worn sparingly, but keeps good time and has a decent power reserve despite the inefficient bumper mechanism.
The watch itself, however, has some nebulous origins. The serial number dates it to 1952, but my father first got hold of it sometime in the 1980s when it was gifted to him by my uncle. My uncle picked it up from a watch store selling second watches, and it came without box, papers, or service history, as is par for the course with most watches of this vintage. My father then wore the Seamaster for the next 20 years or so without ever sending it for a service, before the power reserve gradually worsened and he gave up on it and kept it in a drawer.
My father, like many others of his generation, learned the need for financial prudency from a young age. Having come from a blue-collar family with 7 other siblings, life was never easy and a dollar saved was more than a dollar earned. The Omega Seamaster was a watch that he appreciated, but also seemed too expensive to send for a service. Why spend so much on this old watch when you can spend less on a brand new one that could tell time just as well, if not better? It is only now in his retirement that he has started to indulge in some of his hobbies, including golf and horology. And that included sending this Seamaster in for a much-needed service.
So this Father’s Day, I’d like to celebrate the spark that lit our joint fascination with mechanical watches: this water-damaged, six decade old watch that simply refused to die. And I hope to keep it alive for many decades to come.
Vincent
I have two watches passed down from the men in my family.
I inherited the first one from my dad in 2017 when I came back to Malaysia during summer break. I was given the option to choose between a Victorinox Maverick Chronograph and this, a Tag Heuer Formula 1. I chose the Tag of course, because of both the brand and its 40mm case size. As you can see clearly, the watch is full of “character”, as enthusiasts might call it, but really it was just beaten up as my dad works in the furniture manufacturing industry.
The second one came in the form of a 26th birthday present. A little background on my late grandfather: he grew up in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan and worked as a truck driver at the age of 18, before moving over to soy sauce manufacturing. By the time my dad was around, he had a company with a business partner manufacturing and selling soy sauce to the local grocery stores and restaurants. Sadly, his then business partner pulled some strings behind his back and ultimately gobbled up the entire business, which resulted in my grandfather being ousted from the company.
With that, and also the early passing of my grandmother, it resulted in my grandfather feeling defeated. I still remember my aunt telling me this: “After seeing the state that your grandfather was in, we as his children swore to work hard so we can all provide him a better life.” A year after I was born in 1995, his children, including my dad, bought him a watch to signify the success that each of them had achieved for him, and it was this very watch, the Omega Constellation 1512.30.
Jon
You might have heard me talk about the story of how I got into watches on the KC and JonJon podcast multiple times, but since it’s Father’s Day, I’m quite happy to put it all into writing.
As far back as I can remember, I’ve always had a watch on my wrist. Whether it was a funky Swatch, or some McDonald’s Happy Meal freebie, that small piece of real estate on my right arm was taken up. As I got older, I enjoyed pretty interesting fashion watches; watches that told time in quirkier ways than your regular three-hander.
My interest in mechanical watches started when my dad decided he had outgrown three of his watches and gave them to me. These were a Panerai Radiomir, a Gerald Genta Arena Biretro, and a Alain Silberstein Pikto. These mini machines fascincated me, from the sweeping seconds hand, to the spinning thing at the back. That got me doing more research and led me down the incredibly deep rabbit hole of this hobby of watch collecting. So, as much as he complains that I am spending way too much money on watches, I have to give him a friendly reminder that it is actually all his fault.
I’d have to say that my dad’s tastes in watches are similar to mine. He appreciates the finer details, like the enamel dial on his Breguet Classique 7147, but he also admires eccentric pieces, such as the Pikto that he gave me. He’s also given me advice in watch collecting, such as not to buy a certain brand’s products because they don’t contain in-house movements, or to save my money to buy watches from brands with watchmaking pedigree. Sometimes I listen, most of the time I don’t. My dad and I don’t really have much in common, but I’m glad watch collecting is something that we can share.
“…watch collecting is a journey, you want to be in it for the long run.”
Woody (@watchaddictwt)
So what made you buy the last watch in your collection? Was it it’s aesthetics? Was it about how it wears on your wrist? Perhaps the features? Brand reputation? Maybe you have concerns about how you’d be perceived by your peers? Or heaven forbid, was it about value retention?
By some slim chance, could it be its historical significance, heritage or its design?
I, for one, am a believer of learning and understanding a watch’s provenance. And today, I will give you a real-life example of this based on a watch I own. The watch does not scream attention but is one that tends to catch viewers by surprise when they opt to take a closer look, regardless of whether they are watch enthusiasts or not: the Zenith El Primero.
I remember having this conversation with a friend and fellow watch enthusiast. Just by happenstance, he was (still is) a hardcore Rolex fan. He argued that Rolex reached where it is today by building strong stories around its watches, and so Zenith had nothing on the Daytona. The challenge thrown to me: to name ONE story behind the Zenith that makes it better than a Daytona. Little did he know that he had just stepped into the hornet’s nest.
I did not give him one story, I gave him THREE. They are, in chronological order as follows:
1) The El Primero was the first fully integrated automatic chronograph that is still in production today; 50 years later after its initial introduction in 1969, its two other competing rivals in 1969 have since ceased production just a few years after their respective launches.
2) In the mid-70s, Zenith’s then short-sighted owners asked for its mechanical watch division to be dissolved in the face of the Quartz crisis. One engineer named Charles Vermot defied the instruction and proceeded to catalogue and store the El Primero’s parts and machinery with the belief that the brand’s owners would one day be proven wrong. His prediction came true, and it was this particular act of defiance by Mr Vermot that enabled the El Primero to be built again once the Quartz crisis subsided.
3) The El Primero was recognized for its legendary Caliber 4030. It was subsequently chosen by Rolex to be used as the base for its first automatic Daytona. For several years, the Daytona ran on a Zenith El Primero movement whilst Rolex figured out how to build its own similar movement.
I silenced the Rolex fan that day. Thankfully, we remain friends. One thing we have in common is that our love for horology extends beyond any brand’s marketing spiel. This one conversation has since enabled us to jointly discover other watches and gain a further appreciation of each other’s unique tastes and love for timepieces with lineage.
To me, a watch’s provenance is just one part of the appeal of mechanical watchmaking. Some watches have immensely interesting histories. Others have very evident design philosophies in their inception. At times, you can almost feel the passion some independent designers have for the timepieces they have created. The Internet is a rich resource pool for these things and I highly encourage you to search them up.
But what if the watch you fell in love with has no known or marketed history? Does that make it inferior? My answer: Absolutely not. You get to create your own story; to take the time to understand why it tugs at your heartstrings. There is virtue in patience and this journey of discovery. Like what Marshall said, watch collecting is a journey, you want to be in it for the long run.
Once you have that somewhat figured out, I’d then recommend you take another step: Find a meaningful occasion to procure it. It might be a momentous point in your life. Perhaps a promotion. Perhaps it was the watch your better half chose with you. It is this moment in time that will create a bond between you and the timepiece – a connection that no one other than you will value. That will be what makes that watch truly YOURS.
As for me, my reason to acquire the Zenith was simple. I had achieved a career landmark at that point in time and was accorded one of the firm’s top performers. The Zenith was a celebration of that occasion and serves as a poignant reminder to me until this very day. As per the name El Primero, it signified ‘the first’, and the hope of many more to come.
On some days when I have some lingering self-doubt on attaining a pivotal decision from a key stakeholder, I consciously wear it as a good luck charm to remind myself that I’m capable of more than what I think I can do. Silly I know, but hey, it’s my story.
“I never thought I’d ever be so excited to see a grown man cry.”
– Wes of @noduswatches
Marshall
Today we thought we tell you a little story – a detailed account of what transpired over the past 2 months. Prior to publishing this, I’ve read the draft over and over, and all I can say is that what we’re about to tell you pretty much sums up in a nutshell, what watch collecting means to us at Team Matick – the camaraderie, friendships you forged over sharing the same passion over these beautiful little objects that ultimately outlast us at the end of the day.
I’ll never forget the warmth of this wonderful community, nor will I ever take it for granted.
So before you jump into this #FieldNotes entry, here’s a little bit of a background to give you a bit of context. Sometime around Christmas of 2018, our mate KC unfortunately lost his beloved Nodus Contrail, which was the trigger for this ‘expedition’, our friends from all over the globe (mind you, humans from several continents were involved. Absolutely amazing.) decided to give our dear buddy a little push and to present him with something even better.
So without any further ado, the story goes a little bit like this …
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“A Christmas Tragedy: How Friends from Across the Globe All Came Together to Help Their Friend KC”
Written by: Furry Wrist Abroad (@furrywristabroad) & KC (@the.watchdoc)
Disclaimer: real names and locations of participants and events will be left anonymous and/or will use their Instagram handles.
Prologue:
(by Furry Wrist Abroad in Canada)
It was a pleasant Christmas Eve for many of us. Some were finalizing their plans for family dinner parties. Some had just gotten back from a long scuba diving trip and were furiously getting ready for Christmas parties. Some were sobering up from one Christmas party as they gathered up the strength necessary to go to another party. Some had finally gotten the chance to sit back and relax for the first time in what seemed like months. However, all our collective attentions were immediately drawn to our phones when we read the following in our group chat. For it was not all quiet that Christmas Eve. A little mouse was certainly stirring, and his name was KC.
Act 1: “The Band of GDMFE”
(by Furry Wrist Abroad in Canada)
“Worst Christmas Eve Ever,” wrote the ever-lovable yet always dramatic KC.
We were used to such statements from KC before, but this time it very well may have been his worst Christmas ever.
“It was in a watch pouch in my bag. I don’t know if somehow I dropped it, misplaced it, forgot it, or if someone nicked it, but it’s gone,” KC explained to us as he had either lost his beloved Nodus Contrail, or had it stolen.
KC’s long lost Contrail.
Even though we all held out hope that the watch would be found and returned to KC, within minutes we started a separate chat that did not include the victim in this tale. The chat included thirteen members who all had come together through their love for watches. We all had gotten to know each other through Instagram and all resided in different countries, states, provinces, and cities globally. Even though watches are what brought us together, we only talked about watches some of the time. Matters such as work, family, nutrition, and many other topics were openly discussed thus creating a safe haven for a group of people who quickly became good friends.
One member even offered KC his own Avalon after offering his condolences.
“Sigh, it’s fine,” replied KC. “Worst case, time to buy an Avalon?”
“Do you want my Avalon?”
“Lmao no man. It’s very generous of you, but no thanks.”
Without hesitation, all members agreed to chip in and buy KC a new Nodus Avalon to help fill the void left by his missing Contrail. When you get to talk with someone for over a year on a daily basis, you get to innately know when someone has been wounded by an experience, and we all knew it. This would later be confirmed by KC speaking with one of the founders of Nodus, Wes Kwok, a full month later about how devastated he still was about the loss of the watch.
@Jwit94, a member of the group who is close to Wes, brought him into the fold and very quickly we got to work choosing the right colour of the watch. Some of us within the main chat went along and did some digging and some investigative work into discovering his preference. Unfortunately, whenever the topic of a Nodus came up, KC stopped making any sense and said that he would love to have any colour variant. When asked about his chance to get a new one in the future in case Nodus ever re-released the Contrail, he again would fall into a panicked emotional state.
“It’ll never be THAT Contrail though,” KC wrote followed by a long and desperate silence.
The other chat in the meantime was anything but silent.
“You guys are a bunch of dirt bags,” typed @ralphman5000.
“No, YOU’RE crying!”
“Nobody did anything like this when I lost or got my Speedmaster Alaska Project stolen. (It’s not too late to do the right thing),” typed the man known as the “Future Cat Laser Man” because of his hilarious Instagram profile photo.
One of his closest friends (or rivals depending on the day), @thechronotrooper chimed in as well. “As horrible as he is to me, I’m in.” Little did he know that this venture from all of us would be dramatically transformed because of his close relationship with KC.
Act 2: “The Hunt for the Finishing Touch”
(by Furry Wrist Abroad in Canada)
When asked whether we could get a custom engraving on the watch for KC, Wes surprised all of us by springing into action by resolutely saying yes, and that he would cover the costs for the engraving. At this point, all of us were extremely involved emotionally, so when it came time to decide what the engraving should be, the suggestions came raining in.
Our not-so-gentle giant of the group @ea8 first chimed in. “Lose this one and we send @camronlaz for your hand. Love yah.”
“Don’t bloody lose this one,” offered @tritiumballs.
Future Cat Laser Man himself @ralphman5000 offered his suggestion which resulted in a roar of laughter. “If you can read this, you run the risk of losing it! Put it the heck back on your wrist, son!”
As the laughter died down, we were then treated to comic gold from KC’s close friend @thechronotrooper. “Lose your virginity, not your watch.”
It was perfect. After about twenty minutes of causing twelve other grown men to be reduced into tears laughing across the globe, we all agreed that this should be the engraving on the back of the watch.
Wes quickly leaped into action getting the watch engraved and sent out to @wiswc, KC’s other close friend who lives nearby. The watch surprisingly arrived on KC’s birthday. However, after a vote we decided to wait until more of his friends could be there when he received the watch, and to give him and his lovely lady some privacy on that special evening.
As the days went on, many of us kept the chat open and talked about how excited we were about our KC receiving the watch.
“He is going to lose his poop when he receives the watch by the way,” I said. “He kind of has a negative outlook towards humanity which is why this watch would mean so much to him.”
“I never thought I’d ever be so excited to see a grown man cry,” said Wes, resulting in instant laughter.
There was never any pressure added by any members of the group for others to contribute funds. Many actually contributed too much which resulted in us adding a couple of straps as well.
There has been a lot of talk about smaller watch companies and their place within the horological world. This experience would not have been possible without the help and enthusiasm from Wes Kwok and Cullen Chen of Nodus. Much has been made of the status of “micro-brands” but this is proof that categorizing these companies under such a title is not doing them the justice they deserve. With a level of care and passion for their consumer base that larger and established companies usually feign through marketing campaigns, Nodus has shown us the true value of their company. Not only are their watches on par, or as their new release the Avalon has shown, superior to its established competition, the people behind the company truly care about their work. More importantly Cullen and Wes care deeply about the people who wear their hard work daily in the real world.
In a discussion surrounding the engraving, Wes went on to tell us, “Also, I just want to say that I know you guys are doing something nice for KC, but it was a reminder of why I started this crazy venture with Cullen in the first place. Crazy how these little objects can bring people together.” Needless to say, all of us are indebted to Cullen and Wes and are eternally grateful.
To many outside this hobby, such an effort from more than a dozen people globally would seem awfully strange. They do not know that even though the watches are what brought us together in the first place, we became friends because of who we are outside of our shared hobby. All of us come from vastly different backgrounds, hold different jobs, are in our early twenties, or are so old that others continually make fun of us, some have large families, and some of us are single. Yes, we all love watches. More importantly though, we all are people who put others and their concerns ahead of our own without hesitation.
On the day of the hand-off of the Nodus Avalon to KC, we received a picture from @thechronotrooper of himself and KC on their way to meet @wiswc. Some of us grabbed an alcoholic beverage to celebrate. Then we waited.
Act 3: “Through the Lens of the Victim”
(by KC in Malaysia)
I am, for better or worse, a rather sentimental person. Perhaps that’s why I haven’t sold a single watch, although I have gifted several pieces to friends and family. Perhaps I subconsciously attach memories and meanings to my watches. Or maybe I’m just a hoarder.
The Nodus Contrail, however, really was something special to me. It was the first micro-brand watch I had ever purchased. It was also the first watch that I bought purely based on the recommendation and testimony of my friends. Friends I’d never actually met in person, but whose opinions and tastes I trusted. It also helped that we, as a group, talked about way more than just watches, and we were always on the same wavelength even when our opinions differed.
Buying the Contrail was also my first contact with Wesley Kwok, one of the co-founders of Nodus Watches. I think I harassed the poor man for days before making my purchase, but he did an excellent job of tolerating my persistent harrying. And when he told me that the Laguna Sand was close to selling out, I bit the bullet and made the purchase.
My experience with the Nodus Contrail was no secret; I made my love affair with that watch rather public to the watchfam on Instagram. I fawned over the thoughtful design, unique aesthetics and excellent ergonomics. And when I’d gotten over the honeymoon period, I found that I was still in love with it. I had already expressed my opinion on the piece in several short posts on social media, but I figured it was about time for me to write a full review.
Alas, it was this full review that led to my downfall. On Christmas Eve, I spent my day at a café in a shopping mall to work on my review, while I waited for my better half to get off work. I had my camera bag with my Olympus E-M10 Mk III, the Nodus Contrail in its canvas pouch, and my iPad + keyboard cover with me. As I sat in the café, I put my thoughts to electronic paper and took several pictures of the Contrail.
Shortly after, two close friends gave me a call and said they were nearby and asked if I’d join them. Agreeing to do so, I packed up my things and made my way over. It is at this point that I believe my memory must be failing me. I have a distinct recollection of placing the Contrail back into the pouch, and the pouch back into my camera bag. But several hours later, when I wanted to show off my new camera to my friends, I realised the pouch was missing.
I was immediately crestfallen. My friends often call me needlessly pessimistic, but I had a feeling that I would never see the Contrail again. Nonetheless, I went through the motions; I retraced my steps and dropped by all the local lost & founds, as well as all the cafes and stores that I had visited. No luck. The Contrail was gone.
Heartbroken, I sought out my support group on WhatsApp: the GDMFE. Of course, they offered me the support I needed. And helped confirm that I wasn’t crazy for losing my mind over losing “just a watch.” Or at the very least, that I wasn’t the only crazy one. As for the conversation going on behind my back, I hadn’t the slightest inkling.
Fast forward a couple of weeks and a couple of whiny reminiscing posts later, and the Avalon was weighing heavily on my mind. Yes, I did want another Nodus, and the reviews were universally positive. But no, I couldn’t make up my mind: the blue and green both looked stunning and I couldn’t decide between them. I decided that was a sign that I simply wasn’t ready to purchase one just yet. I was still talking to Wes, and he mysteriously dropped hints about future models that I might like (as is his wont to do), so I decided to bide my time. I knew I would get another Nodus, I just didn’t know what or when. I figured time would tell, but maybe in a few months. Definitely by the end of the year. I had no idea just how wrong I was.
With @thechronotrooper back in the motherland, he invited me and @wiswc out for drinks. But with some complications with the timing, we ended up settling for a quick lunch. I picked up @thechronotrooper from his place and we headed to the agreed location a little earlier than planned. Once we were there, we engaged in our usual banter. After about an hour, @wiswc strode in and took his place.
The scene was set. A small, brightly lit café. I sat with my back to the counter, with the two of them in front of me. As I got up to turn around and place an order, @wiswc took out a package wrapped in green wrapping paper and thrust it towards me.
“Open it,” he said. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted @thechronotrooper pointing his phone towards me.
“The hell is this?” I asked.
“Just open it la,” said the both of them.
As I held the box in my hands, a thought flashed through my mind. The size of the box, the weight of it, it all felt familiar. Something I’d felt just a few short months ago.
“Guys, no way-”
“Just open it la, damn it!” cried the two of them in unison.
I whipped out my Swiss Army Knife (much to the approval of @jwit94) and opened up one side of the packaging. Pulling on it slowly, a familiar looking black box presented itself to me, shortly followed by the Nodus logo with one simple word below it: AVALON.
LOL KC
After several minutes of me being speechless, jaw agape and generally making a fool of myself, I composed myself sufficiently to take a look at the gorgeous Clover Green Avalon before my eyes. But while I was busy looking at the dial, @thechronotrooper suggested I take a look at the back.
Flanking the vine-wrapped Excalibur in relief on the caseback were the words:
Specially addressed to KC. Someone tell ’em!
If that doesn’t sum up the relationship that we GDMFEs have, I don’t know what does. Words utterly fail me in expressing my gratitude to this family that I’ve never met. I am touched, thankful, and utterly humbled by this gesture. It has become one of the most precious watches in my collection, and I can’t wait to build more memories with it on the wrist.
I will be buried with this Nodus Avalon. Partially because I truly do love this gorgeous watch. Partially also because I’ll never hear the end of it if I meet these guys in the afterlife without it.
Epilogue:
(by Furry Wrist Abroad in Canada)
Addressing the vibration on my wrist I looked at my Garmin and saw a message from KC. Because of his insane work hours he would often be conversing with us on the other side of the planet during our work hours.
Upon unlocking my phone I read the full message from the adorable Good Doctor. “Hey, can you keep a secret?”
Intrigued I responded as quickly as I could. From experience some of the conversations that I had in the past that started out this way turned into something serious down the line. “Of course, what’s up?”
“Well, it’s regarding the Avalon,” KC instantly replied.
“Is something wrong with it?”
As with most instant messaging applications, I could see that KC was furiously typing away. After a couple of minutes I got the response.
“KC, are you serious?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“Does this look like what I think it looks like?”
“Yes it does unfortunately. But, no one could have seen this coming,” KC replied in his attempt to relieve my newly found concern.
As KC went on to explain what the issue was and that it had nothing to do with the Nodus Avalon that we gifted him, and that he was totally in love with it, I grew silent.
I finally gave in and asked.
“Oh no! KC, what have you done?”
– To be continued
P.S.
Special thanks to everyone collectively involved in making this happen.
*Note: Before we begin, I highly recommend you tap play on the embedded YouTube link below before you start reading this entry – for a more ‘immersive experience’. Thanks guys.
Marshall
It has been a while since I last did an entry for Field Notes. For the most part of 2018, I had been taking some time off the blog and watches, I was busy focusing on my career and just trying to get better as a person every single day. I’m not sure about you guys, but for me 2018 was a year of countless trials and tribulations, it left scars on me, I lost count of the number of times I burnt out, and I’d be lying if i told you here and now that I’ve completely gotten over 2018.
But on the bright side, 2018 was a huge year for me in terms of my pursuit for wisdom, inner peace, and personal growth.
I’ve always been the guy who hides under his shell when it comes to things that I don’t necessarily feel comfortable with, I mean – Don’t get me wrong, I love adventures, but for a person like myself to actually put in the extra effort i.e travel 3 hours to a location (Gopeng, Perak) I have literally never heard of to participate in an activity I had zero experience with i.e whitewater rafting.. Let’s just say I had my doubts, and here’s my story.
28.12.2018 – Gopeng, Perak
I was recently invited by a friend named SQ to whitewater rafting and we both travelled to a little faraway town 182 kilometres up north of Kuala Lumpur. Whitewater rafting has always been at the back of my mind for months now but I never really thought too seriously in giving it a try. So this time, I thought I take that step when the opportunity came around. I literally just jumped on it, it was indeed a huge step out of my comfort zone.
For a long time now, I guess I grew tired of being stagnant and idle for the most part of the year and feeling inadequate about where I’m at with my life. But when this opportunity came around, I felt like it was the perfect springboard to get myself back out there, in search of my purpose and to regain control over where my life was heading, my mental and emotional state. For once, I wanted to do something for myself different for a change, so I figured a little spontaneous adventure like this one could very well sooth and recharge my weary mind, body and soul.
As usual, I started off the day with my daily routine of having my self-made cup of coffee.
I have this habit of sitting in this particular corner of my house and slowly sipping on my usual cup of Capp.
We embarked on the 3 hour drive to Gopeng, Perak and arrived sometime around 2pm in the afternoon. For the most part, the ride was peaceful, relaxing and it was filled with laughter, and an engaging conversation between ourselves about the most random things we could think of at the time.
I remembered feeling the scorching heat on my skin, the blazing hot sun hanging above our heads, we didn’t think much, we got off the car, and we were immediately briefed by our rafting instructors. After equipping ourselves with rafting gear, we were transported over to the rafting site via a 4×4 truck in the most rugged fashion possible – 8 of us were jam-packed from shoulder-to-shoulder, hip-to-hip like a can of sardines at the back of the said 4×4, with the rafts stacked and hanging above our heads from the top of the 4×4 – that was somewhat of a icebreaker for all of us.
So its all good.
Starting point of the rafting site.Here’s SQ!
Our rafting journey started off pretty slow, as we being instructed to familiarize ourselves with the strength of the rapids and the flow of water current, as well as the different ways to approach oncoming impact on the rocks, how respond to different commands and how to adapt to different situations.
Throughout the journey, I believed our raft capcized at least 4 times. It’s all good though, ‘cuz your boy knows how to swim. I survived (Y) (so did SQ).
SQ holding it down while our instructor takes a short break (lol)
There was a fleeting moment during the journey where I felt everything coming to a complete standstill, the current was smooth and there was a momentary absence of turbulence in the water, and it was then I felt that I was completely immersed in the particular moment. I surrendered myself entirely to the calming sounds of the river flowing, birds chirping, the gentle breeze on my face and the smell of fresh air filling my lungs.
Yes, this was that moment.
At that point in time, my troubled mind and heart was at ease. It felt like a big hug by mother nature, and I, without hesitation, embraced it entirely.
My trusty SRP773 Turtle was my companion on this adventure – For those who don’t know, I got this when I got called to the Bar back in March ’18.Turtle in action.
I think, yes, that was the highlight of the trip for me.
We spent a total of 4 hours on the river, it was such a liberating experience.
Our journey eventually came to an end, at around 6pm the skies started to dim gradually and rumbling thunder was being heard as well. We packed up the raft and the equipment, and was subsequently transported back to base camp once again.
Overall, I couldn’t think of a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon. The entire journey wore my entire body to its core, but it was well worth it. That night, I swore that I haven’t had a sleep that good in years.
It was indeed an extremely rewarding adventure. I guess what they say is true, you meet different people in different phases of your life for different reasons.
So a big warm thank you to SQ, for inviting me on this spontaneous adventure, which helped me renew my perspective on life and myself and for your contagious positivity. SQ was indeed a very special and warm human being, at least in my eyes.
Squad for the day!
For once in 2 years, I felt different and rejuvenated, but most importantly, I felt focused and refreshed, and its safe to say, I feel like I’m now ready to take on any challenge, personally, career wise, and for Team Matick.
2019 is going to be a huge year for Team Matick – you’ll see.
On that note, I’d like to end this entry with a recommendation –
“One OK Rock – Wasted Nights”
This is one hell of a song, the lyrics are very inspiring, and ultimately, I completed this entry with this track on repeat.
I have been collecting for 3 years now and I guess I have arrived at the stage where I have been confronted with the fact that watches are absolutely obsolete objects of this day and age.
‘Well, if you have to wind a watch just so that it could work, it pretty much defeats the purpose, right?’
That question / statement was made 2 years ago, by my ‘learned friend’ Audrey who was my course-mate in law school and who occasionally helps out with the photography at CHRMTK. That being said, there is no doubt in my mind that statement was entirely accurate and true.
I guess the truth and reality of that statement would require no further elaboration on that note, as I am very sure that it is a reality that many (especially watch enthusiasts) are too familiar with. However, one thing we can all be sure of is the fact that watch lovers like us couldn’t care less about such a reality.
Anyway, my previous #FieldNotes was about my trip to Lake District, Windermere. And this time, I visited Dublin, Ireland, specifically the Cliffs of Moher.
My 3 companions for this trip – Audrey, Jun and Sandra.
Well, I think at least to me, a watch is like a lifetime companion. I can guarantee you that you will never find anything else like it – anything that can be as timeless and long-lasting like a good watch.
For this trip, once again I brought my Dietrich OT2 along with me. There just something about the Dietrich’s unconventional case construction, the extremely odd design of the dial, and its close organic ties to nature. For that reason alone, it felt like it was the most appropriate watch to wear during my trips into the mountains etc. Here are a few snippets from my most recent trip to Dublin.
Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean from the Cliffs of Moher.
From my perspective, it is just amazing how a watch can trigger vivid memories of a certain time, place or an event.
My ‘learned’ travel companions.
A 200 metre drop.
Looking at my Dietrich OT2 reminds me of my time spent in close proximity with nature while at the Cliffs, that blissful, euphoric feeling in my head, and the very moment where my breath entirely expels from my chest while overlooking the vast and endless view of the Atlantic Ocean.
What a feeling, definitely one that is hard to forget.
Irish cows grazing nearby the Cliffs.
Doolin Town, County Clare.
On our way to the Cliffs we stopped by a neighbouring town called Doolin, which was apparently the traditional music capital of Ireland and the gateway to Burren. It was as if a small and peaceful town in the middle of nowhere, busking in the arms of tranquility.
The gentle breeze and the fresh air, cleared my cluttered mind and puts my troubled heart at ease. Yes, it has been a long year for me, and Audrey as well. Life ain’t easy as a barrister in training.
Hearty lunch.
As you know, Ireland is the home of the Guinness stout and I learned that it was also used as an ingredient in many Irish dishes. We had lunch at a local pub in the town and I opted for the seafood chowder and Guinness pork sandwich, it was an absolute delight. The sauce had a gentle hint of the stout and overall the flavours really came together really well.
On the other hand, the seafood chowder was wonderful, each spoonful was packed with a rich and flavourful character that it was impossible to forget.
This is the famous Branaunmore sea stack which was located right beneath the Cliffs. We had no choice but to hop on a boat to see in up close and personal. It turned out to be a horrible decision, the boat was accelerating so quickly and it was also rocking literally 45 degrees to each side.
People were puking on board! I was – this – close…. to losing my lunch (my lunch depicted in the above).
Stunning view either way.
Was just sitting on top of the Cliffs and overlooking the Atlantic Ocean while listening to James Bay’s Let It Go was definitely the best part of the journey – ‘..Everything that’s wrong, leave it to the breeze..’
I understand many might argue the irrelevance of this article to Dietrich watches. But then again, I accept any form of scrutiny in regards to this composition of mine. It was just a moment in time where I decided to express my thoughts about my journey thus far in the world of watches, as well as this big adventure called life, in a very unorthodoxical way.
Every single time whenever I look at the OT2, my mind would stray just by looking at the dial. Sometimes I find myself unconsciously trying to understand what went on in Emmanuel’s mind as he was designing this watch (aside from the inspiration he had in creating this organic ID), I mean I do understand why the watch was designed like this, but most times I just feel like there is certainly more to it. I guess I could say that my thoughts were just merely scratching the surface.
Nevertheless, I still look forward to many more experiences with the Dietrich OT2.
Once again, thank you, Emmanuel – your generosity has triggered an experience / journey I never thought I would be able to embark on. I guess in some ways, the abstraction and conceptualisation of Dietrich made me a more adventurous individual.
Lastly, a big warm thank you to my 3 companions for this trip: Audrey, Jun and Sandra.
To me, Holden has always been a supportive friend ever since the beginning as we go way back – before the birth of CHRMTK. Holden has a very distinctive composition language which resonated with me and the rest of the team here at CHRMTK, it is clearly a calibre of writing we would love to see here on CHRMTK as Holden provides a very refreshing and nostalgic perspective to the watch-collecting scene and timepiece photography. We featured Holden a couple of times already as you can see here and here. Without further ado, this is an introductory article dedicated to our newest guest columnist – Mr. Holden Brant.
Holden:
My name is Holden Leo Brant; I’m 19 years old and I first got into watches a little over three years ago. Ask anyone who has the patience to listen to me ramble on, and they’ll tell you my favorite brands; Patek, Heuer (pre TAG), Seiko, Steinhart, and above all else, Omega.
I’m currently at the Hallmark Institute of Photography and come graduation in June of this year, I’ll be heading to Boston to work as an event and executive portrait photographer. The end goal for me is editorial photography, documenting watches and the people behind them, much like HODINKEE, WornandWound, and others.
I’m an avid writer, photographer, and lover of vintage cars. I’m a huge history buff and literature geek as well, finding solace in the words of Poe, Frost, and my studies of the Third Reich, Napoleon’s rise to and ultimate fall from power, and the entirety of the Roman Empire. History fascinates me.
That being said, I honestly had no idea where to begin this article. Marshall and I spoke on the phone about anew entry to the #fieldnotes column, where I would have a bit of creative freedom, which in turn inspired me to write about my vintage Omega Seamaster; a gift from my grandfather when I graduated high school. So without further ado:
What can I say about this crazy, seemingly over-materialistic passion we all share for horology? Frankly, it’s something I never thought I’d be as obsessed with as I am today: but that statement comes with a slight hint of second guessing. I’ve always had an appreciation for mechanical things, especially early in my childhood when I spent hours taking things apart in order to see how they worked, then inevitably failing after numerous attempts to piece them back together.
Horology isn’t much different than that in my eyes. At our (watch lovers) core, we all love the tactile feel of winding a crown and listening to those miniscule gears turn and click; it’s a physical connection on an emotional level.
My love for vintage timepieces stems from a deeply rooted desire to live in a simpler time. I suppose that, in a way, we all live vicariously through the small things that so majorly impact our lives; whether we ever care to admit that to the general public or not. But, I digress.
From the industrialized feel of the case, to the black vortex of the dial; the perfect proportions on the wrist, or the allure of a tool watch with a dressed up aesthetic, my Seamaster is a wondrous thing to behold for any avid lover of vintage timepieces. It’s a one-of-a-kind vintage piece, as despite my best efforts, I’ve failed to find another exactly like it; and I could not possibly love that fact anymore than I already do. It’s a piece I’ll always have and love; something my children’s children will pass down when I’m long dead and gone; I love that.
As a photographer, I have a trained eye to find beauty in the world around me; that’s never been a challenge to me as I believe all things are beautiful in their own way: a philosophical view the world should learn to adopt. When I started collecting watches, I only bought what spoke to me: not for the value, not for the brand prestige or for recognition; for me it was (and still is) about the things I find beautiful. Since the start, however, I’ve narrowed down my collection and brought my focus more to pieces with history behind them, so as you can well imagine, I’m always knees deep in the vintage forums and the dreaded eBay searches. I still buy what speaks to me, but there’s a criteria now (if for no other reason than to cover my ass from bad buys and help keep my bank account at a relatively safe level.)
Continuing on about my Seamaster, I would have to say it is by far the most aesthetically pleasing watch I own; the lugs hug the wrist in a way that make you forget the watch is even on your wrist, but when you’re driving down the freeway on a Sunday afternoon and the flawless gilt dial catches those evening sunrays, a feeling of nostalgia washes over and your whole outlook on the journey ahead simply takes a turn back to the 50’s. You slow down, look out the window, and appreciate the countryside, and for a brief moment of time, the heart flutters. Whether in the studio snapping portraits, in the kitchen prepping chicken alfredo, or a night on the town in a blazer and khakis, my Seamaster has been on my wrist during it all. From the beach to the boardroom, it’s versatile enough to make the transition with impeccable style.
Ticking away behind a solid case back emblazoned with the familiar Omega hippocampus logo, is the robust cal. 285 manual movement, which after its first servicing in 62 years, is still keeping ultimately perfect time.
There isn’t much more I can say, seeing as how I’ve already written about it once before for CHRMTK in the very first #fieldnotes article, but I do hope you’ve enjoyed this look into my own opinions as a collector and nostalgic writer. Stay tuned for more to come from both myself and the CHRMTK team!
Hello and welcome to another edition of #FieldNotes on Chonomatick. I am Max from the Chronomatick Team and as a movie buff, I would love to share with all of you my love for movies and the watches that appeared in them.
When we talk about films here on Chronomatick, we talk about what watches the actors or actresses are wearing. Sometimes we watch enthusiasts, tend to be more interested in the watches featured in them rather than the actual story. Occasionally, watch companies cleverly feature their watches in films, and we at Chronomatick, are not oblivious to them. Instead, we welcome them!
As a person who loves films, I could actually name a few of these movies from the top of my head where actors sort of “advertise” (if you will) or endorse these watches. The most famous or should I say, the most obvious one would be the James Bond Series.
Sean Connery had worn the Rolex Submariner Ref. 6538 in a number of Bond movies he starred in, including Dr. No, From Russia with Love, and Thunderball.
Sean Connery as James Bond and the Rolex Submariner Ref. 6538
A closer look at the Rolex Submariner Ref. 6538
A clearer shot of the Ref. 6538
In 2006’s Casino Royale starring Daniel Craig, the film had a scene where Eva Green asks him whether the watch he was wearing was a Rolex, and Craig smoothly answered, “Omega”, which was referring to the Omega Seamaster 300M Co-Axial .
Daniel Craig and the Omega Seamaster 300M Co-Axial
A better view of the Omega Seamaster 300M Co-Axial
In Transporter 2, Jason Statham checks the time with his Panerai Luminor Chrono Daylight before he kicks some bad-guy ass.
The Panerai Luminor Chrono Daylight worn by Jason Statham.
A better view of the Pam.
Finally, in a more recent film Interstellar (2014), Matthew McConaughey wore the Hamilton Khaki Pilot Day-Date in a scene where he hugs his character’s daughter before leaving on a space mission. I could go on and on.
The Hamilton Khaki Pilot Day-Date can be seen in this scene in the film, Interstellar (2014).
A close-up shot of the Hamilton Pilot Khaki Day-Date.
The infamous Rolex Paul Newman Daytona Ref. 6239 was worn by the late Paul Newman himself and was priced at $75,000 at a public auction in Chirstie’s, New York. To some watch collectors, it is their holy grail to own one of these.
The Rolex Paul Newman Daytona Ref. 6239
But today, we are going to talk about the late Paul Newman’s long time friend, Robert Redford and the Seiko SKX009 he wore in “All is Lost (2013)”. Newman and Redford starred in a number of movies side-by-side during their acting careers. I’ve been fortunate enough to catch them in The Sting (1976) and one of my all-time favourites, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969). If you haven’t watched any of these films, please do so! It is one of those must-watch movies in your lifetime.
Paul Newman and Robert Redford in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
Paul Newman and Robert Redford in The Sting (1973).
A more recent photo of the late Paul Newman and Robert Redford.
Coming back to Redford and “All is Lost (2013)”. This film is an interesting and a lesser known one. Redford is the only cast member in this film and very few words were spoken by him in this film.
A scene of the film where he attempts to remove the cargo that punch a hole in his yacht.
The film talks about a lone voyager at sea. His yacht collided with a cargo container causing water to flow into the yacht. Redford’s character manages to fix it. His vital tools for communication and navigation were destroyed.
It is interesting to see how he braves his way through to find his way home. I also find it interesting where he managed to make seawater into drinking water through evaporation. Do give this movie a watch if you have the chance, I highly recommend it!
A wrist shot of my Seiko SKX009 “Pepsi”
This film did not come to my attention until I actually did some extensive research about the SKX009 online, and stumbled upon an article explaining Redford wearing it. The SKX009 was worn with a blue Nato strap, and had plenty of on-screen time. The watch was shown to be a tough one where it braced through the storm alongside Redford. It is my intention to get this film out there to our readers and to make known that the SKX009 was worn by Redford, which makes me proud to own one. Who knows, one day it could be a valuable or collectible piece in the future.
16th December 2015 – Bowness-on-Windermere, Lake District, United Kingdom.
‘Organic Time’ – is it really, a pure literal conformity in that sense?
The Dietrich OT is more than just what meets the eye. When you look at the watch, just look at its highly unusual case construction as well as the inner structure of the dial, which is seemingly complicated.
‘Hideous’ – exactly what people thought of the design as a general first impression, I am not ashamed to say that I was part of that group of skeptical individuals when I first came across the Dietrich brand – that is, until I held one in my palms for the very first time back in Salon QP 2015.
I felt that the watch was alive, ticking away on your wrist. The ergonomics of the case bridges the sensuality of comfort in a very organic way that it almost seems that the watch is a part of you, a part of your identity – to an extremely ‘natural’ extent.
Dietrich has taken and twisted the traditional design of conventional wristwatches, such as the shape of the case, the sapphire crystal, the strap, it all feels alien, unorthodoxical but it feels unique and alive at the same time. In other words, it is a conception of an exceptional concept of design in the contemporary realm of modern wristwatches.
Now I think the Dietrich OT series encompasses the dreams, the desire to recreate, the passion, and an intimate look into Emmanuel Dietrich’s brilliant designer mind from a very personal and intimate perspective.
If I were to ask you at this point of time, if you could feel a hand at the very beginning – a man with his bare hands, just making objects? I certainly do see it now.
After all, we should never forget, that everything in this world starts and moves with passion – as said by the man himself.
Emmanuel Dietrich – merci Monsieur Dietrich.
More to come, do stick around for my subsequent logs.
