Watches, Stories, and Gear: Restoring a Vintage Seiko, the End of Brooks Brothers, and Chasing a Solar Eclipse

“Watches, Stories, and Gear” is a roundup of some of our favorite watch content on Worn & Wound, great stories from around the web, and cool gear that we’ve got our eye on.

This installment of “Watches, Stories, and Gear” is brought to you by the Windup Watch Shop.

Worn & Wound
The Lazarus Watch: Restoring a “Franken-Seiko” 6139 Chronograph

In this story from 2018, Mark McArthur-Christie takes us through the restoration of a vintage Seiko 6139 chrono that needed some serious attention. Not all watches that we buy second hand are going to be in immaculate condition, but as Mark’s experience proves, that doesn’t mean that something less than perfect is a lost cause. This is a great step-by-step account of everything that went into getting this 6139 into working order, and looking nice on the wrist.

Read it here

A Continuous Lean
What is the Measure of a Good Company? 

In this recent post on A Continuous Lean, Michael Williams reflects on the recent news that Brooks Brothers, a menswear institution since 1818, has filed for bankruptcy. With stores closing and the future of the brand uncertain, Williams writes not only about what Brooks Brothers means to him, but the fairly obvious signs that their desire to compete with the likes of the Gap and J. Crew led to their downfall, while they’d have benefitted from creating a more focused, boutique experience. While the global pandemic may have been the final nail in the coffin for Brooks Brothers, it could be argued that this bankruptcy filing represents a trend, and that the writing has been on the wall for Brooks for some time.

Read it here

The New York Times
How to Buy Tech That Lasts 

For those of us who enjoy being part of the connected world, it seems like buying new gadgets on an annual basis is a must. Phones, cameras, tablets, laptops, and a universe of accessories that all work together means that when one of these things gets an upgrade, you might need to upgrade them all. In this New York Times article, Brian Chen outlines some practical ways you can avoid the need to replace all of your tech so frequently – a worthwhile read for anyone who has been frustrated by the exceedingly common practice of “planned obsolescence.”

Read it here

Outside Online 
My Crazy Bid to See a Solar Eclipse at 20,000 Feet

In this long and engaging read, writer Mark Jenkins tells the tale of his attempt with a friend to be the first humans to witness a total solar eclipse from a peak of above 20,000 feet. His story combines outdoor adventure, astronomy, and plenty of good humor and excitement. It’s a great tale about trying to meet a goal, however strange, at any cost, and is a reminder of the age old axiom that the journey is more important than the destination.

Read it here

Acquire
Ford Previews the All New Bronco Family 

The Ford Bronco exists somewhere between “cult classic” and simply “classic” in the world of off-road vehicles, and it’s status has been bolstered in recent years, making the vehicle surprisingly collectable. So it’s no wonder that plenty of people are very excited about Ford’s relaunch of the Bronco, with new models being revealed publicly on July 13. If you’re not already looking forward to seeing the new Bronco, this recently released teaser video might do the trick. The fact that it’s voiced by Walter White himself certainly doesn’t hurt. 

Read it here

Wired
Review: Garmin Instinct Solar

When it comes to smart watches, the conversation usually centers around the Apple Watch, and for good reason. It’s a massive success as a product, and has been widely adopted and accepted, becoming as ubiquitous as the iPod and iPhone before it. But, just as those products had competitors worth discussing, so does the Apple Watch, and Garmin has emerged as a significant rival. This review of Garmin’s new Instinct Solar breaks down the company’s newest connected watch, which, as you may have guessed based on the name, can charge via sunlight. It’s a great feature for an outdoor focused watch, and seems to offer some genuinely useful functionality that the Apple Watch simply can’t.

Read it here