Each of Cameron Weiss' watches are meticulously assembled by hand over the course of more than 60 hours. This U.S. and Swiss trained watchmaker produces his own pieces out of his Los Angeles studio...paying homage to the old methods by exclusively offering manual wind-up watches. You'll find no batteries or digital components here.
What stands out in his work is the extreme attention Cameron pays to the smallest of details, right down to the hands' polished center cap and large-window exhibition caseback. You can also get your watch custom engraved if you choose.
But there's more to these pieces than their look. I mean, you could certainly add them to a collection on your shelf, but their reserved style and outright dependability make them ideal wristwatches for daily use.
Now I'll ask you to take another look at these watches from a different perspective. Don't they look like your grandfather's watch? Don't they have that enduring classic appearance? In fact, aren't these exactly the types of watches that get passed down from fathers to sons? Let that sink in.
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There's a big difference between a pocketknife and a utility blade (boxcutter). Each has its place and should stay in its own lane. With that being said...this is one heck of a utility blade.
The "Palmer" blade has got a patented loading design that allows you to switch razors in just a few seconds and has an ultra secure locking mechanism for both the open and closed positions. In addition, its form is designed to easily fit in your pocket or on a lanyard.
Now the thing I always hated about those standard old boxcutters from the last ice age was their "dainty" feel. When I'm slicing something up, I want a tool with some heft to it. With a width of 0.4 inches, a weight of 2.5 ounces, and a handle length of 3.5 inches, the Palmer is very comparable to the feel of a standard pocketknife...and that makes all the difference to me.
And while you're checking out this utility blade, be sure to take a look at the rest of their lineup of pocketknives. They've come up with a style that bounces between classic and modern...at times combining the two together.
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Shinola is a company that's hugely proud of their home town of Detroit. Each watch is assembled in-house and bears the city's name on its face right under the company's title, as well as the Shinola lightning bolt...and another bolt on the crown for good measure.
Their designers are definitely fans of subdials and date windows, and include them in nearly every model, along with the name of the motor powering the dial painted on its face. Some of you would say that these features add up to a look that's too busy for your taste. For others though, it'll be just right. Judge for yourself.
What I like the most is their use of thick wire lugs throughout nearly their entire lineup, which add a degree of masculinity to their designs. These are actually the more modern version of true wire lugs, as these attach to the band via hidden spring bars. I prefer these to the classic style, as it makes swapping out bands a cinch.
Side note...How many watch companies do you know of who've got their own hotel?
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Everything these guys offer is made of carbon fiber...and they've got a lot of stuff. What stands out to me the most though are their wallets and money clips.
For you soft wallet fans, they have a couple of bifold options constructed from a combination of flexible carbon fiber and alcantara textile.
If you're into slim case wallets, you'll find a pair of them with different exterior designs, but the same capacity to hold up to 7 cards inside and 20 bills with the built-in money clip.
And if you like keeping your cabbage in a thick money clip, their "Big Baller" holds up to 150 folded bills. So that's somewhere between $150 and $15,000...depending on exactly how big baller you are. (Or stick a large bill on the outside, wrapped around a bunch of ones.)
In addition, they've got sunglasses, phone cases, license plate frames, and a bunch of accessories. I really dig their key organizer...but I'm just not sure what I'd do with a carbon fiber mask. Your mileage may vary.
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Weak flashlights are ineffective tools with their plastic cases and undersized bulbs/LEDS. Throw that garbage out and arm yourself with some strong torches.
My personal rule is to always keep a bunch of flashlights around the house in different rooms. That way, I'll always have one nearby if the power goes out, or if I just need to go outside and check the perimeter. I also keep one in my truck and another at work.
The last thing I want is to find myself stuck in the dark somewhere, wondering why I didn't take the time to prepare for this eventuality.
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Your tools only do you good when they're at the ready, and your tool box isn't always nearby. Tim Leatherman (the founder) knew this. He also knew that it pays to be prepared for all the little things that break down from time to time and need our immediate attention, so he created the first Leatherman multi-tool, which has spawned generations of versions since then.
Our dad worked as a handyman and carried one of these for the longest time, both on and off the job. It turned out to be as useful in his trade as any of the other equipment in his tool belt.
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To keep your journal/notebook safe when you're out in the wild, and to keep your writing tools at the ready...you'll want to take a look at LOCHBY's lineup. Their go-to material for their products is waxed canvas (in multiple colors), to stave off moisture, and each item has a series of pockets for organization.
Their large journal is equipped with a semi-rigid core and underside hand strap. These features work to keep things steady, allowing you to effectively use one hand as a "table" and the other to write. It also has an elastic pen holder, a single-handed clip, and dual page markers. Your paper refill options are dot, plain, and ruled, but if you're partial to another brand's style, you can substitute that instead.
Don't stop there though. Do yourself a favor and check out their smaller "pocket" journal, pouches, and tool/instrument rolls as well.
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These little beasts top out at over 1,000 lumens, which puts them within the range of flashlights that are typically used in law enforcement and similar lines of work. You could find yourself a more powerful flashlight, but honestly...how bright do you need it to go? These will certainly perform for just about any job you could throw at them.
Just as important though, is the heavy duty construction (on which Pelican has built their reputation). The weatherproof thick metal case is designed to hold up under rough use. Combine that with features like a battery level indicator, brightness settings, an LED color selector, and multiple power options...and you've got yourself a prime tool.
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This 17-inch chain is made up of two-by-two links and comes in either silver or brass with your choice of a Buffalo Nickel or Flying Eagle Quarter punched into the leather belt loop. And if you've got Celtic roots, there's an assortment of other conchos available for you to choose from. As for the leather, you can get it in antique brown, mahogany, or black.
Also keep in mind that Andy (the artist) creates each piece himself, so if you're interested in further customizing this piece or any other that he offers, just reach out to him for more information.
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These guys take original antique American pocketwatches and transform them into wristwatches, remaining faithful to both the style and the reliable inner workings of each original piece. In other words, they retain the guts of each pocketwatch, and then fashion the outer portion in a manner so as to allow it to fit into the design of a wristwatch.
The result is a line of collector's items, as no two are exactly alike. And if you supply them with your own pocketwatch, they can convert that for you as well. Take a look at their "watches of the day" on their main page to get an overall feel for the extremely high quality work that they consistently churn out.
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These guys have a couple different carabiner styles in different colors. They're mainly designed for your keys, but there's no law against using them for something else.
And if you're after a more minimal style, then take a look at their one-piece key hooks, made from either stainless steel or titanium.
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According to Andy (the sole leather worker behind this business) you need a way to keep your stuff from rolling all over the place...no matter where you go. That's why he designed this tray with snaps you can undo, so it'll pack flat for travel. Send him your initials and he'll personalize it as well.
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Steven Lee is the sole designer behind this brand, and he offers watches in four different styles...pilot, dive, dress, and GMT. (The GMT watches are analog, yet able to track two different time zones.)
It's a clean, uncluttered style that Steven is partial to, and which runs through many of his watch designs. The discreet hour markers, minimal or absent numbers, sleek bezels, narrow hands, and wide open faces are what allow color to play a more prominent role in the look of each piece. In some watches, it's just a hint of color in the hands...and in others, it's a bold wash of color across the face.
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Get all that stuff you're carrying around out of your pockets and get it organized on your belt. These leather holsters come with different numbers of pouches, loops, sleeves, and clips for items of all types. Whether you're carrying loads of gear or just a few things, they've got a size that'll fit your needs.
And just as importantly, the makers pay particular attention to the shape of each holster, so it'll fit comfortably on your hip whether your standing or sitting. They're good for handyman work...but also for fishing, hunting, and general shenanigans.
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This is the pen John Hancock would have used to sign the Declaration of Independence had the option been available to him, but aluminum alloy, carbon fiber, stainless steel, and titanium casings weren't around during our founders' time. Also, the bolt action rifle didn't come on the scene until the 1800s, so John went with the quill pen instead.
Like the modern pen, I guess that quills are technically "refillable" (you need to refill them about every few words or so) but they don't measure up against Bastion's offerings. Choose between the wide or narrow barrel to fit your hand type, select a metal, and you're ready to put your John Hancock wherever you please.
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This keychain is small in size with a slim profile, but it's built with the strength of titanium. That may be overkill for a keychain...but what heck. Why not make it from high-grade material if you have the means? My a personal rule of mine is when it comes to stuff like this is the following.
The more often I intend to use a particular piece of gear, the higher quality gear I should invest in.
Thankfully, this keychain won't cost you an arm and a leg, as is true with the rest of WESN's lineup of tools and knives.
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Blackthorn offers a few different styles of wallets, from the traditional bifold to a minimal two pocket model, backed by a steel money clip. And yes...that's a bottle opener you see cut into the money clip.
You can even opt for a "sidecar" pocket that's perfectly sized for a Fischer Space Pen. This may seem like an odd pairing of space technology with old-world leatherwork, but that Fischer pen has got just the right size and shape to fit as comfortably in your pocket as possible.
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Compact those keys in your pocket. Then whip them out when you need them. These wranglers come in two sizes...the 8-key capacity and the "Shorty" 5-key capacity with the option of a blade or multi-tool addition. If you're already carrying a small pocketknife anyway, you might do well to replace it with one of these...and let it pull double duty.
I particularly like the clip alongside the case which gives you the option of carrying it deep in the pocket or along the brim.
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These hard-case wallets come in two categories...refined and rugged.
The refined variety includes vibrant colors, wood, and leather in their build and are made to look good. That's not say that they're weak though, as they feature materials such as military grade steel screws, aerospace grade aluminum, and carbon fiber back plates.
The rugged series features solid metal construction with additional tool inserts for cutting, tightening, and prying. And both categories offer a boat load of options such as money clips/bands, pens, and notepads. Whichever way you go, they've got over 50 different wallets to choose from.
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These watches are top notch, constructed to military specifications with attention to the smallest of details. Because each is hand-built in the USA, you can customize your watch's casing, face, size, and band.
Most watch brands choose one general price level for most of their pieces. (Rolex is known for their high-end watches and Swatch is on the lower end.) However, MTM went another route.
They offer a range of watches from several hundred dollars up to the ten grand stratosphere, so you can pick up an all-around watch for yourself as well as a more exclusive piece for certain occasions.
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Award winning military spec drop rated cases to protect your tech from all sorts of disasters. And you know exactly what disasters I mean, because it's inevitable that something is going to happen to your phone, your earbuds, your tablet, your computer, your whatever.
To give you an idea of what SUPCASE is capable of, here are some of the things they've been proven to protect gear from.
Dragged in an ammo can by a speeding motorcycle, beaten with a rock, stabbed with a knife, stomped on by cattle, run over by a car, dropped from 150 feet onto concrete, fell off a bike and onto the highway at 70 mph, grinded across a ledge with a scooter, attacked with lawnmower clades, hit with battery explosions, and they've even stopped a bullet.
Yep. All of these things have been done to these cases, and they survived...keeping their cargo safe in the process with 360 degree protection. And aside from the safety aspect, these cases are loaded with options like kickstands, leather exteriors, color choices, carabiner styles, ring holders, belt clip holsters, and more.
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Watch the video to see how this tripod unfolds from the size of a credit card to a full-on tripod. It's able to hold almost any phone (vertically or horizontally) at a wide range of angles (from "straight ahead" to "sharply tilted" up from the floor).
You'll easily be able to come up with a list of ways you could put this to use for your own situation, but I want to point out a few ideas to help get you going.
Stick it on your desk for a virtual meeting. Keep it in your workout bag to record a training session. Place it off to the side to record a performance (so you can keep your hands free and be present in the moment). Grab a hero shot of yourself after a long solo hike/ride/trip. Get a quality photo of yourself with your gal out on a secluded date...without having to hold the phone with one outstretched arm.
And finally, consider taking one of these on your next vacation. It slips right into your wallet so it won't take up much space, and you'll have it available to document your trip along the way. Honestly, you only need two or so shots to memorialize an entire trip, so think about making those couple shots as good as they can be. Then put that phone away and just enjoy the rest of the trip with your family/friends.
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Hang it from your belt, backpack, or duffel. Shoot...hang it wherever you want. The one-inch wide strap is made from Wickett & Craig Bridle leather and comes in your choice of colors, along with burnished edges. The biting end has a rustic look to it as well.
You can opt for the minimal version if that's your style, or you can instead go for the accent of a reproduced Buffalo Nickel, Indian Head Nickel, Standing Liberty Quarter, or Flying Eagle Dollar.
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Who said you've got to keep using that stock band your watch came with? This is a simple way to update a favorite old watch, or to just change things up once in a while.
I prefer a standard black silicone band most of the time due to its utility (comfort and ruggedness) and because it never shows any signs of wear. However, if I'm headed out for some special function, I can go for something a little nicer to put some color on my wrist. A quick switch of the bands and I'm good to go.
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It's the fastest way to store/access your cash. You've got to see the video to understand how it works though. It flips open one way and flips closed the other way, using the same principle as those old "Jacob's Ladder" click-clack toys...with three bands built into the interior of the wallet, and made of the same handcrafted leather.
You'll find typical pockets as well (for your ID, credit cards, and such) with integrated RFID protection, and they're designed to fold flatter than traditional bifolds. I appreciate how slim these are made, and their material is soft enough to sit comfortably in my hip pocket.
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Citizen is known for making watches that keep time extremely well (unlike some of the cheaper brands out there), so you can depend on them to work day in and day out. Not only that, but their solid build makes them suitable for everyday use.
Personally, I wear their Promaster Dive watch. It's got a highly visible non-cluttered face, luminescent hands and indices, and an offset crown for a comfortable fit. I also features their Eco-Drive technology, which uses solar power to charge the watch during normal wear throughout the day, and keeps it working for months at a time on a single charge...even in the dark.
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