Latest Review
“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].
The MoonSwatch is Finally Available Online
In what is probably the biggest bit of MoonSwatch news since the viral Bioceramic sensation was first unveiled a few years ago, Swatch has finally made some of the popular and colorful watches available through their online store. This was a move that was (kinda) promised by Swatch early on, then essentially forgotten about amid a never ending stream of new variants featuring cartoon dogs, moonphase complications, and even a wholly new collaboration with Blancpain. Still, MoonSwatch availability online will please many who simply don’t have access to a Swatch store or care to purchase on the secondary market. To start, only four variants will be available through the Swatch website: Mission on Earth, Mission to the Moon, Mission to the Sun, and Mission to Mars, and they’ll only be available for customers in the United States and China. At the time of this writing, all four are in stock and ready to ship, so if you’ve been after a MoonSwatch with no lines and minimal waiting, now’s your chance.
Peak Design Gets Outdoors
It’s no secret that we are pretty big fans of Peak Design around here. We’ve sung their praises numerous times, and genuinely love using their well designed and practical packs, pouches, and straps. They’ve just announced, via Kickstarter, a completely new line with a decidedly more outdoor focus. This is a big area of opportunity for the brand, as most of their gear tends to skew a little “everyday” and not so much “mountains.” An outdoor bag, and any piece of outgear really, necessitates some special features and design considerations, and it looks like Peak has thought of everything in the new line, crafting a collection that is perhaps a bit more durable and weather ready, while still maintaining a focus on convenience and versatility. Head over to the Kickstarter link above to learn more (including why they decided on a Kickstarter campaign in the first place) and to take advantage of early bird specials on new stuff.
The New York City Subway and the Literature it Inspired
New York City’s subway system, the largest in the country by far, and one of the most used in the world, turns 120 years old in October. And as this New York Times piece proves, it has been providing inspiration for writers, poets, and photographers for its entire history. The subway (any subway) is something that’s easy to complain about – there will never not be little (and quite large) annoyances when you combine public transit and a city of millions. But as the excerpts in this article from writers like Michael Chabon, Sylvia Plath, and James Baldwin help to illustrate, there’s something undeniable about NYC’s subway system and its ability to contextualize almost anything that happens in the city. Worth a read for anyone who has been jammed onto a crowded subway car at rush hour, or quietly contemplated life on a late night ride.
Barbour’s Beaufort Gets an Update
The Beaufort jacket is one of the iconic jacket designs from legendary British apparel brand Barbour. It’s one of those things that has seemingly existed forever as a perfect piece of clothing – totally timeless. As our friends at Gear Patrol report, it just got an update, and will inevitably inspire debate among the Barbour faithful as to whether or not the changes represent an improvement, or if they should have simply let it be. The new “Modified” Beaufort Jacket has a number of tweaks, including a more technical style of front pocket, and an adjustable hem system (which should allow wearers to achieve a slimmer fit, if desired, on a jacket known in part for its roominess). Let the debate begin. The new Modified Beaufort is available now on the Barbour website.
Is a Leica Q3 with a New Lens in the Works?
Leica Rumors reported recently that a new version of the Q3 with a fixed 43mm f/2 APO lens could be coming, an exciting development for photographers and Leica fans who might have skipped previous versions of the Q because the 28mm focal length lens was just too wide. The potential of a 43mm lens (paired with a 60 megapixel sensor that could conceivably crop to a 105mm equivalent based on current Q specs) could offer quite a bit more versatility for many photographers who don’t need to shoot landscapes or otherwise need a wide angle as a starting point. Whether this hypothetical camera replaces the current Q3 or sits alongside it (or will materialize at all) remains to be seen.
