Watches, Stories, & Gear: Diving in NYC, Steampunk Clocks, and the New David Chase Documentary

“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.

Share your story ideas or interesting finds with us by emailing [email protected].

Diving NYC

The New York Times has a great story this week on the vibrant diving culture in the city. Many might not realize it, but the waters surrounding the city present many opportunities for recreational diving experiences. According to some estimates there are roughly 5,000 shipwrecks to explore, a number that doesn’t seem possible but would keep divers busy for years. The culture has changed over the years, but recently area dive clubs have seen an influx of interest, with new divers donning masks and wetsuits for the first time. This is a good reminder that you don’t need a stereotypically tropical environment to start diving.

A Brooklyn Metal Bar Closes 

Gothamist reports this week that Saint Vitus, the renowned Brooklyn metal bar, has closed for good. This is a major blow to music fans – Saint Vitus has carved out a reputation over the last several years as a key stop for up and coming as well as more established artists as they pass through the area. The Greenpoint venue hosted many legendary shows, including a 2014 gig (successfully kept a secret until the very last minute) featuring the surviving members of Nirvana along with guests including Joan Jett, Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon, and J. Mascis of Dinosaur, Jr. The reasons for the permanent closure are somewhat murky – the club had been shut down before for violations some in the community insist were bogus. You can read more about the apparent end of Saint Vitus here.

The Underground Steampunk Clocks of Paris 

Public clocks are a rabbit hole that many of us fall down at one point or another. Clocks as part of the public square meant for everyone to use used to not only be commonplace, but a focal point of a community. In modern society they’ve largely been replaced by personal timekeeping devices (watches, or maybe your phone) and public clocks that are built for efficiency rather than as beautiful objects (think of the large digital displays outside your bank). Public clocks in Paris around the turn of the 20th century were unique in that they were operated pneumatically, with steam traveling through pipes under the city. A network of clocks were controlled by one central reference clock, which itself was timed to astronomical signals. It’s a fascinating bit of timekeeping history, and Open Culture has a full explainer right here. Worth a read if you’re into horological history.

RGM’s Open House 

Our friends at RGM are holding an open in early October, and it’s sure to be worth the trip to Mt. Joy, PA if you’re a fan of the brand or just interested in a bit of a horological road trip. Brand founder and master watchmaker Roland Murphy will be there giving demonstrations of various engine turning and finishing techniques, and attendees will have a chance to view and purchase both new and pre-owned RGM watches. The open house will be held on October 5. More information here.

HBO’s New David Chase Documentary

Sopranos fans, take note: the long awaited two part documentary focusing on series creator David Chase is coming soon. Wise Guy looks to be a deep dive into Chase’s experience on the show, which became a cultural phenomenon and is still considered among the best television series ever made. Chase was something of a journeyman television writer before developing the Sopranos, so the success story here not conventional and somewhat unpredictable. It appears that the documentary features interviews with many of the show’s key players in front of and behind the camera, so this is not be missed by anyone who is a fan of the series.