Watches, Stories, and Gear: Some Good News with John Krasinski, a MINI Pickup, and All the NYC Restaurants Selling Merch

“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
Five Great Seiko 5 Watches for Under $200 

We’ve been thinking a lot about the Seiko 5 recently, with Ed Jelley’s recent review of three key models in the new Seiko 5 Sports line, and a thorough discussion of said review and the watches in general in our most recent podcast. So, we thought we’d point you toward this piece that ran a little over a year ago, where Ilya Ryvin takes us through five Seiko 5 watches that can be had for not a lot of money, and offer a ton of character, sometimes giving you a hint of the look and feel of a watch that might be orders of magnitude more expensive.

Read it here

SomeGoodNews
Some Good News with John Krasinski

If you’re brave enough to flip on the television news in this current period of social isolation and the spread of serious illness all over the world, you’ll inevitably be greeted with information that may be useful, but isn’t likely to make you feel great. John Krasinski, best known for playing Jim Halpert on The Office, has taken it upon himself to create some counterprogramming in the form of a homemade news channel (on YouTube) that highlights only the very best good news. In his first video, he highlights a selection of feelgood stories, and sits down (via video conference, of course), with Steve Carell, his former TV boss. This is definitely worth a watch if you’re a fan of The Office, or if you just need 15 solid minutes of positivity. 

Eater
All the Hit NYC Restaurants Selling Merchandise Online Right Now

The Coronavirus pandemic has been especially tough on the restaurant industry, and unfortunately many of our favorite gathering places are having a difficult time staying afloat under a take-out and delivery only model. But, even during the most trying circumstances, entrepreneurship and resourcefulness is in full bloom among many. This list put together by Eater highlights a selection of NYC restaurants that are actively selling merchandise to bolster revenue during this tricky time. You can order anything from a Nom Wah hoodie to an egg-cream scented candle from Katz’s Deli. This is a great opportunity to support a favorite restaurant, whether or not you’re local to New York (and if you’re not, and you have a local restaurant in your area selling merch, please feel free to highlight them in the comments below).

Read it here

AMMO NYC
Million Dollar Barn Find: First Wash in 32 Years!

Watch collectors reading this know that sharing our collections is part of the fun of this hobby, but lots of collectors of watches, cars, and other objects prefer to keep their collections to themselves. That’s totally fine in my book – it makes discoveries like this private car collection, featuring many rare cars not seen for decades, all the more exciting. In this video from AMMO NYC, you get a great look at some extremely rare vehicles, and can watch a million dollar Bizzarrini P538 get its first wash in over 30 years. It’s a fascinating window into collecting, and a great look at the process behind a serious detailing of a rare car.

Design Boom
This MINI Pickup Truck From 1972 Recalls a Forgotten Part of the Brand’s History

MINI is well known among car enthusiasts for their compact vehicles with real racing heritage, but some might not be aware that they produced a small pick-up truck through the 60s and 70s. That’s right, a MINI pick-up. Years before the automaker courted controversy with some purist fans by introducing a 4-door model, they made a small pick-up that, we think, is perfectly MINI. The example highlighted here is going to auction at Sotheby’s in May, and while it might not be the most practical truck for doing typical truck-like things, it has an undeniable charm. Check out the photos and the details on the vehicle over at Design Boom.

Read it here

Uncrate
Kodak World’s Largest Puzzle

Last week in this column, we told you about a pretty cool jigsaw puzzle that could be customized with any front page of the New York Times. The perfect way to wile away your time under a quarantine or “stay at home” order, right? Well, if you need an even bigger challenge, and are anticipating even more time for puzzling over the coming weeks and months, Kodak has you covered. This massive puzzle, containing images of 27 of the world’s most impressive sites, measures 28.5 by 6.25 feet and contains a staggering 51,300 pieces. The gauntlet has been thrown. 

Shop Kodak here