The Incredibly Handsome and Ridiculously Affordable Aquamariner from Hager Watches

There is a certain caliber of automatic tool watch with an expected price tag well within four figures, like those beautiful Rolex Submariners and Omega Seamasters. When Hager Watches introduced its gorgeous line of tool watches in 2009, it put a level of quality and taste usually reserved for luxury spenders into the hands of discerning thousandaires like me. (Read my original article on Hager Watches.)

The Hager Aquamariner with a matte black, matte midnight blue or matte burgundy bezel.
The Hager Aquamariner with a matte black, matte midnight blue or matte burgundy bezel.

The American company has just introduced a new, bouncing baby boy to its family of handsome, well-made, affordable luxury watches: the Aquamariner. With a hint of retro in its design, it’s a new watch that looks like a timeless vintage piece.

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My Dress Shirt Solutions

Until years ago, my dress shirts were almost exclusively from Brooks Brothers. Aside from their long (and now lost) heritage with dress shirts, they had a great fit and wonderful fabric until they went down the no-iron/wrinkle-free rabbit hole. Wrinkle-free is the crystal meth of menswear. Since my distaste for the substandard, formaldehyde-soaked, toxic, no-iron phenomenon is no secret, even earning me a quote in the Wall Street Journal, Brooks Brothers completely lost my business.

My preferred collar and cuff combination for dress shirts is a semi-spread collar with French cuffs. Same with my formal shirts. For handsome, well-made, affordable dress shirts, where to go?

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What’s Going On?

Marvin Gaye’s 1971 masterpiece feels all too appropriate today. Quite frankly, I can’t seem to really hear his lyrics without crying. It’s all there.

“War is not the answer. For only love can conquer hate.”

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Making the American Man

As described by the filmmakers, Making the American Man is “a documentary film about modern American masculinity through the eyes of makers of U.S. based goods for men.”

On the surface, the new documentary Making the American Man almost plays like an 70-minute promotion of niche, made-in-America bro brands – a virtual who’s-who of companies you’ll find at Pop-Up Flea. That’s a superficial assessment that would be grossly unfair. The truth is that we are bludgeoned by advertising and promotion from the huge mega-brands with mega-budgets, and it’s nice to see some of these smaller outfits get some long overdue time in the sun.

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The Best Take-Downs of America’s Gun Problem I’ve Ever Seen

As my readers would know, a post like this is not my usual fare. It may put some off or inspire others to ‘set me straight’ in the comments section or even unsubscribe. But in the wake of the mass shooting of 50 members of the LGBT community in Orlando, and the shooting before that, and the one before that, and the one before that, and the one before that, and the one before that… I kinda don’t care.

Anyone who knows me knows how I personally feel about guns (they’re not my thing, you might say). With respect to the issue on a national level, I am in love with these hilarious and poignant articulations put forth brilliantly by Samantha Bee and Jim Jefferies. I have nothing better to add. They’re the best eviscerations of America’s gun problem I’ve ever seen.

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The Levi’s 501 Jean: The Garment of the Outlaw

I just stumbled on this mini three-part documentary produced by Levi’s about the 501 Jean. Sure, one might see it as a long commercial for a heritage product, but it is extremely well done and very worthwhile. The history of 501 jeans and what they meant to people and our culture is undeniable, something few (if any) other denim brands can claim. This short documentary was released on YouTube in March in its full 18-minute length or as three separate episodes. As someone who’s worn 501s his whole life, I loved the entire thing. But the chapter that personally resonated with me was Episode 3: Rebellion.

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5×5: Intervals on Design

I’ll be part of a five-person panel for a special event this coming Wednesday (June 15th) at Rapha in partnership with Design Within Reach. The evening is titled “5×5: INTERVALS ON DESIGN – A design talk for cyclists by designers obsessed with cycling.”

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