“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].
Header Image Via: Porsche
The prospect of hitting the dunes got a lot more exciting this week with the release of not one, but two rally-inspired supercars from Porsche and Lamborghini. Porsche released their long anticipated 911 Dakar, a modern take on their legendary Safari 911 of the ‘70s. The car gets a 3.0 liter flat 6 making 473 horsepower, and a lifted suspension works with all-wheel drive and all-terrain tires and as capable as it will be off-road, it’ll look like a 911 doing it. Which is to say, pretty good. If that’s not extreme enough for you, Lamborghini took the lid off the Huracan Sterrato, a high-riding V10 supercar with all-wheel drive and roof rack ready rails on top. Just watch out for that roof scoop. Both cars will likely be hot ticket items and might even make for comfy highway cruisers. You can spec your dream 911 Dakar in Porsche’s configurator, and keep an eye out for more of the Sterrato later this month.
If you’re a watch enthusiast with any level of curiosity about the inner workings of these things you should be familiar with the HSNY and their Traveling Education series of classes. These classes offer you the opportunity to go learn how a mechanical movement works from a master watchmaker instructor in a hands-on environment that will have you taking apart and reassembling a movement on your own. It’s an amazing experience that will deepen your appreciation of the hobby and your collection, as well as support the work of the Horological Society to preserve and advance horological education. The next Traveling Education classes will be held December 10th and 11th, hosted by Grand Seiko & Ben Bridge, in the city of Seattle; and January 13th and 14th in Hawaii. Keep an eye out for additional dates as they approach, and if you’re in either of those areas be sure to book your tickets right here (seats are limited). For more information on the traveling education series, check out hs-ny.org.
The Nexus Side Click pen is the latest seasonal release to come from sleek designed and overengineered pen manufacturer, Tactile Turn. The design pays tribute to the cyberpunk genre, a science fiction idea of dealing with urban societies dominated by computer technology. As Tactile Turn puts it, “We worked alongside trusted machines to craft the ultimate in analog devices – converting raw titanium into refined writing tools that last.” The Nexus clearly takes this vision and applies it to their Side Click pen. The Nexus features a white glossy Cerakote body with their signature textured horizontal lines. It also features the deeper carry clip found on their new Slim Side Click pen. A muted gray push button releases the cartridge tip and the fuschia side button retracts it. The main design embodying the Nexus name is the multi-layer Cerakote circuit pattern found on the carry clip. The Nexus is currently available in Tactile Turn’s various pen sizes: Standard, Short, and Mini. The Nexus retails for $149 and is available for purchase until December 31st.
What is a leap second anyway? It’s the same idea as the leap year, except it’s an extra second added at the end of an atomic day due to the fact that Earth’s rotation slows down at such a miniscule level from year to year. We’ll spare you any more explanations here, as we’re no scientists, nor do we play one on the internet. The New York Times article breaks down the science of the leap second and just how impactful a fraction of a millisecond can be across multiple industries. Sit down, grab your thinking cap and check out the entire NYT here.
Estate sales are cool. You just never know what you’re going to find, and more importantly, you never know what bargain you might come across. This next WSG story is not your typical estate sale. The late Joan Didion, a notable American writer known for work about 1960’s counterculture and Hollywood lifestyle, recently had her belongings auctioned through Stair Galleries in New York, The auction entitled An American Icon: Property From The Collection Of Joan Didion saw some of her items reach astronomical numbers, like a pair of Celine tortoiseshell sunglasses that fetched $27,000 and a broken Cartier desk clock that sold for $35,000 (starting price for this one was between $100-$200). Joan Didion was a fearless writer whose work translated far beyond the pages that her words graced. All the proceeds will go to a good cause and will be donated to patient care and research of Parkinson’s and other movement disorders at Columbia University.
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