STANDARD H

Apparel Maintenance

STANDARD H — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 17:38:49 GMT

As one gets older, a uniform typically starts to take shape. Though I don’t necessarily have one for myself, I have noticed I’ve more or less gravitated towards three avenues: Black, Navy, and White. Now, this doesn’t mean I don’t own other colors (such as green and brown and a splash of grey here and there), but keeping things simple, well, simplifies things.

Not my closet, but it sure looks nice.

This is step one of taking care of what you own. Truthfully, wearing your items is a way of taking care of things. Have you ever kept a pair of sneakers in the closet for years, only never to wear them…and then one day you pull them out and the sole has effectively disintegrated? A shoe with no sole is no more useful than a shoe that’s being kept in the box in order to save them and/or keeping them perfect. Additionally, it could be argued that’s a scenario where your thing is owning you as opposed to the other way around.

Once you’ve enjoyed wearing your things, the next step is washing (laundering/dry cleaning, etc), and/or packing them away appropriately. Below are the various ways I take care of my things, and perhaps you do similar things, or you may be introduced to a new way. Regardless, let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Pit Stop 9.1.26

STANDARD H — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 04:53:54 GMT

AUDIO ONLY is above, whereas VIDEO is below!

Hot tubs

Car week

Unpolished Podcast w Tony Traina

9:27 event recap w Trevor

Sampling taking longer than I thought. Really hoping to get things done before October

IWC event I’m excited about

New Office / furniture

CT and Rhode Island - NYC - Back here for event in San Diego

NYC October

Special Episode: Unpolished Podcast with Wesley Smith

STANDARD H — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 11:03:43 GMT

Watch Journalist, Lawyer, Substacker, Podcast Host, and Friend, Tony Traina was gracious to host me on his podcast recently. I thought it would only help exposure to also post it through my channels in the event you may have missed it and/or don’t already subscribe to Tony/Unpolished.

This conversation is a 50/50 chat about fashion & watches. We get into the weeds of product for both subjects, which was a ton of fun. Several people have reached out letting me know they enjoyed the chat when Tony posted it, so I”m excited to share it with you all here!

This is an audio-only podcast. Thanks for listening!

Subscribe now

Ep. 192 - Matt McDonough (Spirit of Time Podcast)

STANDARD H — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 11:04:17 GMT

Matthew McDonough and I were first in contact towards the beginning of the pandemic. Though online-only at first, we quickly connected in person over a group dinner, watch gatherings, and of course when he hosted me on his podcast, Spirit of Time.

Matt and I often text about a wide range of subjects, but usually rooted in watches. Having him as a guest on this show is long overdue, so I’m thrilled to share my conversation we had recently over Zoom.

Full disclosure, we don’t chat much about Matt’s day job for privacy & company policy reasons, but it’s always an insightful conversation with him nonetheless. Matt gravitates towards military watches, and the odd military expression as well, and I thoroughly appreciate his technical approach to watch enthusiasm. I hope you agree.

Subscribe now

LIMITED: Le Mans Pocket Squares!

STANDARD H — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 02:55:56 GMT

As a paid subscriber, you’re hearing about this product first!

While recently in Chicago, I sourced these incredible pocket squares!

Printed on a silk/wool fabric. Hand-rolled. Made in Italy. Approx. 13.5” Square/34.3cm

Limited to only 4 units!

SHOP NOW!

Ep. 191 - James Stacey 2 (The Grey Nato / EIC Hodinkee)

STANDARD H — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 11:00:46 GMT

Those of you who listen to this show regularly, will absolutely welcome back James Stacey for a round two. If you’re new to this show, James cohosts the Grey Nato podcast alongside Jason Heaton, another previous podcast guest on the show. James was somewhat recently promoted to editor in chief of none other than Hodinkee, so I was excited to catch up.

James & I share a lot of enthusiasm for similar subjects, and as a result, he has become a good friend over the years. We shared an unforgettable day together last year at the Goodwood Members meet where we talked racecars, drank beers, and even smoked cigars together. Truly an incredible day in England’s countryside.

Needless to say this episode picks up on a similar note, so it’s a fun one for me. I hope you enjoy it.

Subscribe now

Ep. 190 - Dave Herring (Photographer/YouTube/Content Creator)

STANDARD H — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 11:01:59 GMT

Over the last year, I came across Dave Herring’s YouTube channel while exploring some photography gear. Dave is a Bay Area photographer who shoots a lot of landscapes I enjoy - especially those among the Tetons in Wyoming.

Dave also does a fair share of product reviews on his channel, as well as shares much of his experience and insights as a content creator.

We met briefly at the grand opening of the Camera West store in San Francisco which is where we confirmed this podcast recording. We obviously chat about our favorite gear, his somewhat recent video with a very well-known photographer online, and we also discover we actually didn’t grow up terribly far from one another.

All that and more with Dave Herring.

Subscribe now

Special Episode with Blake Buettner 8.6.26 (AUDIO ONLY)

STANDARD H — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 11:03:28 GMT

This week brings us the latest in-between-isode I recorded with Blake where we catch up, chat about content creation, social media and the mental health of it all, then we chat a little bit about Leica, and of course some Formula 1 chat. I’m really enjoying these conversations that stray from the surface-level chats about products and their specs (which we echo in the recording), so hopefully you do, too. Thanks for listening!

Pit Stop 8.4.26

STANDARD H — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 11:21:02 GMT

Broadcasting Live from my room in Chicago!

Menswear show. Meetup with clients/friends

Golf this morning

Designing a lot of new product at once. A few new outerwear pieces. Small leather goods, and sweaters!

Designing some new hardware - Cost intensive but I think very worth it for branding and value for the better quality output

Cleaning out closet

Organizi…

Haircuts

STANDARD H — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 11:02:13 GMT

My buddy Jimmy brought it up. He and I were recently discussing haircuts as a result of me posting a video of him wearing his Navy Blue Ripstop Willys Shirt Jacket on my IG Stories. Upon review, he told me he really needed a haircut, and I responded saying I’d just had one this past Wednesday, prior to flying to Chicago.

“Always have to do that before you travel,” he said. What’s funny is I normally avoid this kind of thing. Let me explain…

I Documented Everything I Did Today as a WFH Entrepreneur & Dad.

STANDARD H — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 07:06:00 GMT

I’ve seen this kind of thing done in various magazines with celebrities and entrepreneurs alike. This was less about me feeling like I’m on par with those people, and more about me even being able to recall what the hell I even do in a day since they seem to incessantly fly by. So, I decided to document everything I did today.

Every day isn’t identical, of course, but this felt like a fairly “normal” day for me. Here’s what I did and stay tuned for the “Summary” at the end.

Ep. 189 - Robert Spangle (Thousand Yard Style & Observer Collection)

STANDARD H — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 11:03:40 GMT

I think it’s fair to say Robert Spangle is somewhat of an international man of mystery. Our connection began actually a few years ago at an event in Los Angeles, only to be put on pause until last month when I visited him at his studio, which as I learned alsp serves as his residence.

Robert is probably best known for his blog & Instagram presence, Thousand yard style, let alone his documentation of many world conflicts over the years. We’ll get more into this in the show, and we also highlight his brand, Observer, which I can only describe as a lifestyle brand creating quality apparel and accessories, with aesthetics finely toeing the line between fashion and tactical gear in a wonderful way.

All of this alongside a little GTI talk later in the episode.

Join me in welcoming Robert.

Subscribe now

State of the "Collection"

STANDARD H — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 19:36:45 GMT

“Collection” is perpetually in quotation marks, because I’ve never considered myself a Watch Collector. As an eye-roll may ensue, I’ve preferred the term Watch Enthusiast, and that’s really only due to the fact that I’m very enthusiastic about watches while never having had a goal or theme to group of watches I’ve owned. You know, the whole “it’s the journey, not the destination” thing…

My approach is truly an honest “buy what you like” mindset, which if you’re reading this, it’s the advice bestowed on every single one of us when beginning the hobby. I took it to heart, and along the way, added a ton of sentiment to the purchases and experiences as well. The below photo is one I took of the majority, not all, of the watches I owned in 2022. Needless to say, COVID allowed for more free time to devote to deep dives in learning more about specific references and, of course, the growth of the Want category.

State of the (majority of the) “Collection” as of 2022.

Missing above is my Cookie Monster watch which my mom sent to me during COVID as my parents were decluttering their house prior to their ensuing move. Also missing are the two Nixon watches I also still own. When taking taking photos this morning of the group, I completely spaced on a few. The same two Nixons, one you can hear about HERE, and the other is the prototype of a watch Nixon ended up releasing, but in a different dial color as I recall. My friend Brett was a designer there at the time and gifted me the watch.

The other missing links from the larger group photo below are the two IWCs I have as pocket watches - I keep these on my desk, so it was a complete brain fart they were left out. So, here you have it - my entire watch collection in not one, but a few photos. I thought some of you may be interested in taking a peek. Have a great week!

Ep. 188 - Salim Hamman (Deat Beat Seconds & Four Married Men Podcast)

STANDARD H — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 11:03:04 GMT

Today’s another example of a collector I’ve crossed paths with, both online, and in person. Salim Hamman, as you may know, is also one of the Four Married Men, a podcast he co-hosts alongside Jake Ross, Tim Green and Justin Hast.

Salim and I connected in Geneva during watches and wonders only for him to share with me he’s longtime listener of this show, and since I’m also officially a fan of his show, I thought it would be fun to bring him on.

He’s a doctor by trade, but currently works in pharmaceuticals, so the medical chat was particularly interesting for me, but of course we go into cars and watches as well. I think you’ll enjoy it.

Subscribe now

Ep. 187 - Jeff Hilliard 2 (J. Mueser)

STANDARD H — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 11:02:32 GMT

Today, I welcome back Jeff Hilliard. Part 1 hosted Jeff when he was working at Hodinkee as an instrumental part of their Limited Editions department.

Recently, Jeff became the Creative Director of previous podcast guest, Jake Mueser’s company, J. Mueser. We jump right in to his new role, how he got there, and what he was looking forward to most.

We then chat a bit about furniture - something both Jeff and I have passions for and then we wrap things up with his recent adventure to Scotland with his best friend and another previous guest, Jeremy Kirkland.

I never have enough time with Jeff. He’s incredibly intentional and thoughtful with everything he does, which is a way I aspire to be. You don’t necessarily have to listen to Part 1 with Jeff in order to enjoy this discussion, however, I encourage you to listen to it when you’re able.

Please enjoy Part 2 with Jeff Hilliard.

Subscribe now

Pit Stop 7.7.26

STANDARD H — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 01:42:04 GMT

Sale

- 20-40% off

Zenith Daytona

- History, Acquisition, Summer Watch

Philadelphia

Chicago

Substack

Questions

Sale (again) + Chicago event

Ep. 186 - Erik Gustafson (Hairspring)

STANDARD H — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 11:02:50 GMT

The funny thing about getting older is you start to admire people younger than you, and today‘s guest is one of those people. I was first aware of Erik Gustafson as one half of the Hairspring Podcast alongside his cohost, Max. Hairspring, as I learned in this episode, was Erik’s baby entirely.

I recently worked with Erik on a particular acquisition which will be shared at a later date, so I can say I’ve had first hand experience working with him, and the professional, deep knowledge he exudes over the airwaves directly crosses over to what felt like much more than just a transaction.

Erik is someone with whom I share a lot of opinions, while we may disagree on a certain shape hour hands, he is certainly among the small group of pre-owned dealers I now trust.

I welcome you to this episode exploring more about Erik’s background and origin story, all of which was unbeknownst to me, so let’s get into it.

* This episode is audio-only per request of the guest *

Subscribe now

Ep. 185 - Hugh Mo (Artifact New York)

STANDARD H — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 11:04:00 GMT

Hugh Mo is the co-founder of Artifact New York, a fashion business renting historical designer fashion pieces to photo shoots, movies and celebrities, including many musicians. With operations situated in NYC and Los Angeles, they are the go-to house for this kind of service as also featured in their early days in none other than Vogue.

I met Hugh through the watch scene in New York, and he’s someone with whom I’ve exchanged many a DM’s whether it be about watches, travel, and certainly restaurants. I guess this conversation is best summarized as being more along the lines of a peek into our dialogue. A long-form DM that’s on the record, if you will.

Hugh has owned (and owns) some of my favorite watches on the planet, and I’m always stoked to chat fashion with someone who really knows their stuff. Hugh’s knowledge of fashion is funny for me as someone 10+ years his senior since he now knows more about these older pieces than I do, and I was reading about them in GQ & Esquire when he was still in grade school.

A man of taste, and one hell of a growing business, please enjoy my conversation with Hugh Mo.

Subscribe now

Ep. 184 - Christian Knoop 2 (Chief Design Officer IWC Watches)

STANDARD H — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 11:03:44 GMT

Today I welcome back the Chief Design Officer of IWC, Christian Knoop. Though we technically saw one another in Geneva, sadly, we didn’t spend much time together aside from quickly saying hello. This is part of why I wanted to invite him back on the show as well as delve into the how’s and whys behind their 2026 releases. There were a lot of watches from Schaffhausen presented, so I couldn’t wait to speak with Christian.

We begin with some conversation about his home, which is where he was when recording, of course we discuss the watches, and we wrap things up with his Summer plans which include a school for Richemont in Milan that I was completely unaware of. I hope you enjoy it.

Subscribe now

Air|Water 4

STANDARD H — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 11:02:41 GMT

I’m a little behind on my reporting, yet I still feel the need to be somewhat chronological in my posts, and well, there are two ways to start this one. The first is the fact that I can’t believe it’s been four years already that Air|Water has existed. The second is on a slightly more negative wavelength, which alludes to the fact the show feels virtually the same for three years straight. Conversely, Luftgekühlt, its sister show rarely repeats the same venue, making it feel fresh and new each year. Have we reached peak Air|Water in its current iteration?

Air|Water welcomes both air cooled Porsches alongside their younger, water cooled cousins.