Very few brands can claim that it’s worthwhile to fly to other side of the world for a pair of the brand’s loafers. At least this is what journalists wrote back during the golden era of Gucci. I have been. A fan of the brand for a long time. Almost as long as I have been into the fashion business as a whole. The hand made quality mixed with conspicuous elements like the bold interlocking G’s and horsebit details make the brand unique and I would argue desirable among the design enthusiasts.

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Few days ago Railcar Fine Goods announced that they would soon release a must have product. Not a shirt, nor jeans but something special. The product indeed proved to be special. A special denim apron made of 12oz dark indigo blue line Selvedge denim accompanied by 6oz leather straps and adjustable hardware. The apron is pretty impressive. Based on classic Type 3 jean jacket, it has a unique look but still does not steer away from the practicality, making it a perfect companion for wood work, metal work, cooking or cleaning. The way I see it, this would make a great apron for the summer barbecue season. The apron is available in limited numbers from Railcar Fine Goods for a very reasonable price of 128 USD. Get yours!

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We’ve been relatively quiet in the past months. The main reason for our silence is adjustment of priorities. 1.5 months ago we welcomed a baby girl in the family and naturally the new life stage with two kids takes time to get used to. And that’s exactly what I am planning to do, give some time for myself to adjust to the situation. We’re still in the game but the hours I have to find a new way to manage the hours I put to different projects because family is always the number one priority.

It’s funny how your priorities change. 3 years ago it was all in the business, crazy drive and passion to pursue all of those life’s goals. Then my son was born, he added more fuel to the drive and inspired awesome projects like the Northern Denim Co. but little by little you realize that things are changing. You just want your kids to be happy and that makes you happy. Suddenly you just wait to go home not to come up with blog posts and marketing plans but instead read story books and play with action figures. Suddenly awards, achievements at work and academic field felt secondary.
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One of the main reason why I love mechanical watches is the attention to detail in every aspect of the time piece. Omega has been pushing the boundaries of watchmaking since the 19th century and continues to impress the horology fans with its products. One of their latest achievements is the new 18k rose gold called Sedna. “Sedna gold is the name OMEGA has given to a new alloy that stunningly blends three elements: gold, copper and palladium. It takes its name from a trans-Neptunian object which astronomers called Sedna – the same name as an Inuit goddess who is said to live at the bottom of the Arctic Ocean. ” (Omega)

Image courtesy of Omega.
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In this video by Hodinkee, the former owner and CEO of TAG Heuer Jack Heuer explains the design and history of the Heuer Carrera. The Carrera is an important watch in the history of chronograph watches and Heuer brand itself and among the few watches I plan to get in the near future. Even though I am not a huge fan of sport watches, the Carrera has a certain historic appeal and detail that make it a must have. Check out the video for more info on the Carrera brand and a look at the new 50th anniversary Carrera.

Jack Heuer Explains The Heuer Carrera from HODINKEE on Vimeo.

Via Hodinkee.
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Denim is never going old. I mean there was a time when some folks argued denim was out of fashion. Perhaps because of some ridiculous denim outfits, but the fabric is pretty much eternal. Something that only gets better with time… like a watch. Speaking of which, it’s rather rare to see a premium watch brand use denim as watch (band) material. Luxury watch brand Hublot has however taken a fresh approach to watch business with the self proclaimed first luxury watch line made with denim materials. I kind of like it. Hublot worked with an Italian denim producer for the fabric that’s sewn onto black rubber with beige contrast stitching and a steel buckle. Not to mention the stainless steel casing hosting Hublot’s automatic movement. Impressive watches, this time with denim straps.

Via Hypebeast.
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Bamford Watch Department is what most would probably refer to as THE watch customizer. Their signature black coated customized luxury watches have gotten attention from watch enthusiasts ever since their start. Their latest work is one of last year’s more interesting watch releases. That is Rolex Sky-Dweller.

The solid gold watch that features impressive Saros system that not only shows two continent’s time on the same watch face also features date and month. The Saros system also recognizes the month so the watch can differentiate between 30 and 31 day months. But functionality aside, let’s talk about the custom look.

I have to admit I am a fan of the black rolex designs by Bamford Watch Department, but I am not sure what to think about the Sky-Dweller custom? Although I admire the stealth look of the watch but at the same time I am not huge fan of coating the precious metal. Coating stainless steel is one thing, but gold? Although it practically does not harm the metal, it makes you wonder why would someone coat gold? I guess some watch purists would cringe at such a bold move, but then again I don’t think these folks are huge fans of the custom watches in the first place.

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A fine watch is an investment that will last from one generation to another but just like any fine piece of machinery a watch needs maintenance to ensure the timepiece remains the same. Naturally accidents happen and although modern watches are made to last, there are precaution one should take to keep the watches ticking. The latest episode of IWC’s “The Man’s Guide to Buying a Watch” features some very good tips on how to maintain one’s watch and ensure your timepiece lasts so that your kids can wear it.

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It was exactly a year ago that I wrote about a newly found appreciation for and newly acquired vintage timepieces. I simply like watches. Hand crafted watches have a lot in common with premium denim. Like the fact that watches only get better with time, or so they say. Last year I acquired a 1970′s Omega Genéve and early this year my goal was to get one of my dream watches. That is a stainless steel & gold Rolex Datejust. A decent objective, something I should be able to achieve.

It took until December and plenty of discussion with Jeci Chao but I finally got the Christmas present I wanted, a 1990′s stainless steel, 18k gold Rolex Datejust with a champagne face.

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It took a while (thanks to Malaysian post) but I finally got the new strap for my Omega Gèneve. My trusted watch from the 70′s that just recently got fixed back to its prime. Now fixed, the watch needed a new strap that would befit the classic timepiece. So I got in touch with our friends at Obbi Good Label to get myself an extra long custom leather strap that fits my wrist, and the watch.

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