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“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.
Gearing up for Blade Show Atlanta
Blade Show Atlanta, the world’s largest knife show and a cornerstone event for the EDC community, kicks off next weekend (June 6-8th). With over 900 exhibitors, including both renowned brands and custom makers, the show offers an unrivaled opportunity to explore the latest in EDC knives, tools, and carry accessories. Show attendees can discover cutting-edge designs and educational seminars, making it a hub for innovation and craftsmanship in the industry. In addition, the event also hosts the prestigious Blade Magazine Knife of the Year Awards, celebrating design, quality, and functionality of blades tools. Beyond its role as a direct to consumer marketplace, Blade Show Atlanta fosters a vibrant community where enthusiasts, collectors, and professionals can connect, share knowledge, and celebrate their passion for quality gear. You can check out a full list of vendors, show details, and purchase tickets, here.
The Garnet Goblin
There’s a real “What will they think of next?” quality to reading about the latest releases from Arcanaut. The independent brand, founded in Denmark in 2015, with the first watches appearing (and selling out) three years later, is one of our favorites for their creativity and willingness to take risks with materials, colors, shapes – basically all the things that make a watch a watch. Their watches with “Fordite” dials (which are made from paint drippings collected from American car factories) are emblematic of the brand’s willingness to push the envelope, but they’re just one example of Arcanaut’s creative dial making.
The brand’s latest release, the Arc II – Garnet Goblin, is technically part of their “Experimental” collection and shows the flipside of the abstract and sometimes challenging Fordite pieces. With this watch, Arcanaut is employing classical craft techniques, with a dial made from hundreds of tiny garnets, held together in a cluster by a binding agent. The dial is then finished and polished to a flat surface before being applied to a gold plated baseplate, which gives the entire dial a warm luster. It’s all housed in a stainless steel case in the familiar Arc II shape, but has the new “skeleton framing” decoration introduced in the last round of Experimental releases.
The new Arc II – Garnet Goblin is a limited edition of just 66 pieces with a retail price of $4,450. More information can be found at Arcanaut’s website here.
Against The Clock: Saving Timex’s Prior HQ
Pardon the pun, but time might be running out for one of the truly iconic buildings in American watchmaking. The Timex headquarters in Middlebury, CT opened to great fanfare in 2001. It’s a bit of an architectural marvel, with expansive glass walls and a large open floor plan meant to accommodate the nearly 300 Timex employees (at the time). Notably, the building itself is also a timekeeper of sorts: it features a hole in the ceiling that allows sunlight to pass through to a meridian line, a poetic extension of the building’s purpose.
As Fast Company reported last month, the Timex HQ is in danger of being demolished. Much of the company has already moved to a new location nearby, and the building’s owners have plans to use the space for a large distribution center (Timex is now majority owned by a hedge fund). There is a movement to stop the demolition, but time is running short.
A Chance to Own a Piece of David Lynch’s Legacy
When David Lynch passed away early this year, he left behind a legacy that’s impacted and inspired both filmmakers and photographers. Months later, Lynch fans have the ability to own a piece of his legacy, thanks to an upcoming auction. Julien’s Auctions in L.A. currently has 443 unique lots listed for online bidding, with the official auction being hosted on Jun 18th. Among the various lots, we spotted movie props, filmmaking supplies, and even a lot that contains Tiffany cuff links, a Men’s Longines Dolce Vita (ref. L5.656.4), and a vintage travel clock. Check out all of the lots, and even place a bid if you’d like, on Julien’s site.
