“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.

Small Luxuries: Watches, by David Von Bader 

Veteran watch writer and Worn & Wound contributor, David Von Bader, has just released his new title Small Luxuries: Watches. Within its 128 pages, Von Bader takes the approach of accessibility and education versus any sort of pretense in watch collecting, giving readers insight into top watch brands, the historical context for various types of watches, and a starting point just starting out in their horological journey. Of course, for any enthusiast, it’s equally valuable to reignite and reaffirm the passion behind this shared little hobby of ours, too. 

Todd Snyder x Timex Collaborate Once More

The beauty of Todd Snyder is that it toes the line between being a fashion fashion brand and being an everyman fashion brand. Sure, they have runway shows and sponsored events at Pitti Uomo and play the high fashion game well; but they’re equally happy selling a sub-$200 Timex collab and making it their own. Released last week, the Todd Snyder x Timex 1976 Lexington has already sold out, due in part to the brand’s keen ability to tap into various zeitgeisty pockets of social media. This is, of course, very much to the disappointment of anyone looking for an unobtrusive, tank-style watch that won’t break the bank – yours truly included.

The Filson Trapper Creek 28L Backpack

It’s not a word I use often, but it’s one that sums up the feeling of wearing a backpack as an adult: I feel like a dweeb. Thumbs tucked into the shoulder straps, a bagged sandwich in the front pocket, loose leaves of paper crumbled at the bottom – I might as well be 13 again. But, perhaps my aversion to backpackery is due more to the fact that I haven’t purchased the right (read: grownup) one.

Filson’s Trapper Creek 28L Backpack could be the antidote to my problem. The waxed cotton exterior already feels a bit more rugged than the nylon varieties that have populated my closet over the years, but the real charm of this particular bag is the efficiency in its design and trim size. With one main compartment and two expandable side pockets, the silhouette doesn’t suffer in the pocket-mad world we live in. Couple that with the daisy-chain nylon loops in the front to attach additional gear and, brother, I think we’ve found a winner. 

J.J. Astor’s Watch from the Titanic Nets $1,024,000 at Auction

I distinctly remember my mother taking my sister to see Titanic in theatres and I wasn’t invited. It was 1997, I was six, we were living in Kentucky, and I was furious. So while I might have a small chip on my shoulder regarding that particular subject matter, I can’t fault J.J. Astor, nor Freeman’s, for netting over a million dollars for the sale of Astor’s Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co. pocket watch. Manufactured in 1904, this 18-karat gold watch is engraved with JJA. This is certainly an interesting artefact, and one that I can confidently say isn’t being replicated and sold at this random Pigeon Forge, Tennessee Titanic-themed museum. 

From the Archives: Anoma A1 Review 

With the release of two new Anoma references as part of their core collection, we thought it’d be an apt time to look back at our 2024 review of the Anoma A1. Here, Worn & Wound Co-Founder and Executive Editor, Zach Weiss, introduces the soft-angled Anoma, giving an in-depth look at the nascent watch brand that has, undoubtedly, left an impression on the market (don’t ask me – ask the 11,000 followers the brand has amassed in two short years).