Watches, Stories, & Gear: New Gear Acquisition (NGA) with the Nocs Provision Zoom Tube 32mm, Flying Land Rovers, the Quiet Carry Waypoint, & More.

“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 our Managing Editor at [email protected].

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This week’s WSG is brought to you by Bell & Ross and the new BR-X5. The BR-X5 is a full-representation of Bell & Ross’ rich aeronautical heritage, directly linking the past and present. Through its design and technical characteristics, the BR-X5, powered by their manufacture movement, is positioned as a superlative BR-05 and writes a new chapter in the history of Bell & Ross. The letter “X” in its namesake is a symbol of secrecy, experimentation and the future, perfectly complimenting its design and aesthetics that reflect a desire to innovate, to dare and to stand out.

The 41mm multi-layer case, made entirely of steel, is built around a watertight container, a kind of central core that protects the manufacture movement. The square bezel with its round sapphire crystal on the dial side and the open caseback on the movement side are fixed to the two steel plates that form the top and bottom of the case, all of which are kept in a watertight assembly by 4 screws that pass through the thickness of the case via 4 columns which reinforce the solidity of the construction. This multi-layer assembly is discreet from the front but features a distinct hollowed-out mid-case architecture, revealing a technical construction that optimizes lightness without compromising on resistance.

Equipped with a personalized oscillating weight and a variable-inertia balance wheel, the BR CAL 323 boasts a 70 hour power and a COSC certification, a first for Bell & Ross. True to any legitimate pilot’s watch, the BR-X5 sports a dial design optimized for legibility through its long applique metal indices with rhodium-plated surrounds, filled with grade X1 Super-LumiNova®. The steel BR-X5 comes in two dial variations; Black and Ice Blue, both of which will either come on an openworked rubber strap or an integrated steel bracelet.

The BR-X5 by Bell & Ross

New Gear Acquisition – The Noc Provisions Zoom Tube 32mm – Kyle Snarr

Sometimes gear that’s on our radar happens to turn into an actual purchase, joining the growing quiver of tools, accessories and essentials. As mentioned above, we love gear, so we thought, why not put together a brief post about our New Gear Acquisition (NGA). This space is dedicated to giving you guys our thoughts and opinions about the gear we recently spent our hard earned dollars on. 

A recent trip to Iceland left me in search of a light weight, but durable optics solution. I took my classic pair of Bushnells, but they were heavy and I was constantly worrying about them. I’d heard of Nocs Provisions and their colorful, waterproof binoculars, but didn’t realize until recently that they have a monocular solution as well. As soon as I laid eyes (or in this case ‘eye’) on the green colorway of their Zoom Tube 32mm, I knew it was precisely the piece of kit I was seeking. Its textured, rubberized housing is grippy in hand and the overall sizing makes it insanely stashable. Not to mention it features a tripod mounting point, which makes it infinitely compatible with all sorts of carry and stabilization solutions. There’s no case needed, no eye cup protectors included—it’s no fuss magnification in a stylish, yet rugged package.

Lomography Celebrates 30 Years 

The history of the Lomo camera is one filled with interesting twists and turns. The Lomo LC-A can trace its roots all the way back to 1982, when the idea for the camera was conceived. It was only a couple of years after that when mass-production of the Lomo LC-A began, solely for the Russian market. However, popularity of the camera soon spread to countries like Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Cuba. It wasn’t until a group of Viennese students serendipitously stumbled upon the Lomo LC-A in a hole-in-the-wall camera shop in Prague, that the whole Lomography movement started, which led to the inception of the Lomographic International Society and the 10 Golden Rules of Lomography in 1992.

Fast forward to today, the Lomo camera and Lomography as whole celebrate 30 years of existence with the release of three special edition film cameras; the LC-A+ (35mm), LC-Wide (35mm), and the LC-A 120 (120 film). Each camera has a mid-body wrapped in leather and a badge opposite centered on the backside that’s dedicated to the 30 year anniversary. On the frontside, is an inscription of the tenth Golden Rule of Lomography, “don’t think, just shoot”. All three cameras are available for purchase directly through lomography.com. More info the the 30th anniversary cameras here.

1972 Land Rover Lightweight Adventure 88

There aren’t a lot of locations that a Land Rover can’t go. Whether it’s up a mountain, through a jungle or across a fast-moving river, typically it’s a piece of cake for the British automotive icon. The one thing a Land Rover can’t do is fly, right? The Land Rover Lightweight 88 ‘Adventure’ was made to do so. Well, sort of.

In the early 1960’s the Royal Marines and British Army required a new type of vehicle that could easily be transported via air and met the weight requirements for the newly delivered Westland Essex helicopter. A Land Rover was the obvious choice, but the smallest model in their fleet at the time was a short wheelbase Series IIA. Land Rover would begin to work on a lighter version of the Series IIA and hence, the Land Rover Half-Ton, or more commonly known as the “Lightweight” was born. Several parts of the vehicle were modified including the upper portion of the body, doors, and windscreen so that it can be removed during flight, and then refitted later when the vehicle was transported into a combat zone. Check out this wildly cool and historically significant 1972 Land Rover Lightweight 88 ‘Adventure’ that recently crossed the Bonham’s auction block.

Quite Carry Waypoint 

There are several tell-tale signs that an object has a great design and is well made. For one, it’s got to pass the eye test. You’ve got to see it and automatically think, “This thing is beautiful, and I’ve got to get my hands on it.” And once you’ve got your paws on said object, it’s qualities like the weight, texture and types of materials used that take the experience to another level. This is exactly how we felt when we got to hold onto the Quiet Carry Waypoint for the first time.

The blade housing body is furnished out of 6AL 4V Titanium and is designed with stonewashed finish and a fine textured feel. The action is buttery smooth and unleashes a Vanax Steel blade. The Quiet Carry Waypoint is the perfect intersection of minimal and modern design mixed in with reliable functionality you would want in an everyday carry knife. And get this, the Waypoint is finally back in stock. Check out the Quiet Carry Waypoint and their other offerings within their EDC catalog here.

Bremont x Private White V.C. Flight Jacket 

This past week Bremont announced a new collaborative piece that falls directly in line with their passion for aviation and British design spirit. However, it’s not a watch. Bremont’s recent collaborative project with fellow British luxury apparel brand, Private White V.C., comes in the form of a co-designed limited edition flight jacket. The garment takes inspiration from the iconic G1 flight jackets used in WWII and is made from a durable 6oz waxed cotton. The flight jacket comes with a shearling collar, two external front pockets and is fitted with military-grade copper hardware from RIRI of Switzerland. The Bremont x Private White V.C.flight jacket is currently available for purchase exclusively through Private White V.C