Our Favorite Watches, Stories, & Gear of 2021

“Watches, Stories, and Gear” is a roundup of our favorite content, watch or otherwise, from around the internet. This particular installment will be a little different, as it happens to fall on December the 25th, aka Christmas, so we’re rounding up our favorite WSG stories of the year for one final and special ‘Watches, Stories, & Gear’ of 2021. 

From all of us here at Worn & Wound, have a splendid holiday and a fabulous New Year.

Now, on to our favorite stories of 2021. Let us know your favorites in the comments below.

The Great Bucatini Shortage of 2021

Zach Weiss: My first choice for favorite WSG stories this year involves pasta. Personally, I’m not that surprised. Regardless of the inclusion of the carby delight, this article is one of the most entertaining reads I’ve come across in some time. A mystery so absurd it can only be real, and naturally happen during the odd days of Covid. And, if you’re like me after reading this, you’ll find yourself wondering if bucatini is really worth it, and go find a box to try. 

Bucatini is a long noodle with a hole in it. Basically it’s spaghetti, but hollow. It’s a wonderful pasta to cook with, because of its ability to absorb sauce on both the inside and outside of the noodle. And, as you’ll discover in this fantastic article in Grub Street, it was nowhere to be found throughout the bulk of 2020. What happened to all the bucatini? Was the shortage pandemic related? A production issue? A widespread conspiracy the likes of which we can barely understand? Rachel Handler, the “the Bernstein of Bucatini,” takes us through the whole crazy ordeal in what has to be one of the top 2 or 3 pieces of investigative journalism devoted to pasta in the history of the internet right here.

Recommended Viewing: Lost Track New Zealand

Thomas Calara: I’ve always gravitated to what surfing and exploration looks like when they are done simultaneously. Chris Burkard has done it with his photos, William Finnegan has done it with his words and in my WSG pick for the year, Lost Track, Torren Martyn and Ishka Folkwell has done it by combining both worlds in a short film filled with jaw dropping landscapes, overhead waves and an endless curiosity for what’s just around the bend. Pull up the film, press play and hopefully the buzz afterwards inspires you to get out there.

Surfer Torren Martyn and filmmaker Ishka Folkwell embark on a journey through New Zealand in search of adventure and more specifically, perfect waves. What makes this trip special is that they use two Royal Enfield motorcycles that were custom built to take as much gear as possible and that includes their surfboards. As with many adventures, it’s not complete until things go a little sideways. Like watches, people tend to find a romance with surfing and exploration, and this film, Lost Track, embodies that allure through and through. If you’re into gear, vast landscapes and getting out into the wild, partnered with a killer soundtrack, this film has all of that wrapped into one.

The Ringer Ranks Every Episode of The Sopranos

Zach Kazan: With a new movie in the extended Sopranos universe (who’d have thought that was a thing?) premiering earlier this year, 2021 was a great time to revisit what is for many still the peak of prestige TV. This extensive ranking of every Sopranos episode courtesy of the Ringer is an essential companion on any rewatch, and just a blast to read for the committed fan. 

This week sees the release of The Many Saints of Newark, a film prequel to The Sopranos, one of the most critically acclaimed and written about TV shows of all time. That means, of course, a lot of Sopranos content all over the internet, and as fans of the show, we’re here for it. Over at The Ringer, writer Justin Sayles has taken on the Herculean task of ranking every episode of The Sopranos from all six seasons. It’s hard to think of a tougher assignment, splitting hairs between “Pine Barrens,” “Made in America,” and “Long Term Parking,” to name just a few of what are generally agreed to be among the show’s finest hours. At around 30,000 words(!) this is one to sink into over the course of the weekend, and perfect second-screen material as you prep for hitting theaters (or HBO Max) to check out the new movie.

Ultimate Renault 5 Turbo Restomod Completed

Blake Buettner: I have a huge soft spot for totally, cartoonishly over the top sports cars from the ‘80s and none better exemplify this period than the Renault 5 Turbo. When this restomod came across my radar I geeked out over the pictures for a week, and may have even made one a wallpaper on a certain digital device.

The R5 Turbo is a bit of a legend for rally fans the world over thanks to its, um, unique appearance, and bonkers performance capabilities meant for Group 3 racing. The car is a bit of a collectors item these days, but LA based Legende Automobiles took a restomod even further with the creation of the Turbo 3 seen here. There is a Singer-esque quality brought to the Renault with a carbon fiber body and a beautifully detailed interior paired with a 400whp powering the rear wheels via manual transmission. It’s a stunning bit of engineering that perfectly captures the ‘80s, along with what’s possible when the vision outweighs the budget.

Recommended Reading: A Guide To Early Daniel Roth

Zach Weiss: Daniel Roth is one of those names and brands that I can’t quite recall when I first became aware of. It was well before Worn & Wound, likely from my days going to NYC watches stores as a kid. The name immediately conjures the distinctive double ellipsis case design that is a signature to their designs. Yet, I knew very little about the eponymous watchmaker, his history, and work. Well, until I read this fantastic piece on A Collected Man. So, pour yourself a tea and dive into this lengthy article about one of the first indies whose work is quickly becoming the talk of collectors. 

Daniel Roth is an independent watchmaker that rose to prominence in the late 20th century alongside the likes of Roger Dubuis and Vianney Halter. His unique case and dial work set him apart from contemporaries and the folks at A Collected Man have put together a guide exploring his early work. It’s well worth a read, even if you aren’t in the market for one of his watches, as seeing his style and craft take shape, from Breguet to independence. Read the excellent guide in full right here.

The James Webb Space Telescope Inches Closer To Launch LAUNCHES

Today, after a series of small delays, the JWST finally launched via ​​European Space Agency’s Ariane 5 rocket from its base in French Guiana. The telescope will take around 6 months to become fully operational but we may get a peak at images even earlier. Here’s hoping the telescope is able to situate itself successfully – here’s how you can watch the launch. 

Most people are familiar with the Hubble Space Telescope, which has been producing incredible renderings of the far reaches of space since 1990. Now, NASA is sending a new telescope to space, dubbed the James Webb Space Telescope, and it’s a staggering 100 times more powerful than the Hubble. If there’s such a thing as “hype” in the space telescope game, the James Webb has reached a “Green Nautilus” level of interest, having originally been scheduled to launch in 2010, and seeing its price tag steadily increase year after year. Now set for deployment in December, the end result is a telescope the size of a tennis court that should be able to see the first stars and galaxies that formed after the big bang, potentially shedding light on the origins of the universe itself. Check out this story in Vox for much more.