Here we are, the final weekend of February, and your regular Saturday feature, Watching the Web. We at WWR use this feature to point out some interesting watch related articles and reviews we come across when we check out other blogs, and we take a moment to look back at the more popular posts on our own site over the last week or so. From the wider blog-o-sphere, I wanted to point you to three new takes on smartwatches (and minus this, not a single mention of the Apple Watch). From our own site, you readers made our posts on the Division Furtive Type 50, some EDC storage solutions, a sale at Xetum, and the Squarestreet Aluminium the most read articles.
First up on Watching the Web is the cyber parade is the Victorinox Swiss Army INOX Cybertool, thanks to the folks over at a Blog to Watch. To go with the clunky name, there is a ‘bezel’ that slips around a conventional INOX watch, with the strap threading through the Cybertool to make it secure. The add on offers the standard phone connectivity, along with GPS integration and motion tracking. And when you want to just wear your watch, you take it off.
Next up, Worn and Wound took a look at the Mondaine Helvetica Smart1. If I were going to get a smart watch, this type of connected watch is the way I would go. I just can’t see myself talking into my wristwatch, and my fat fingers can barely handle my phone, I am not typing on a tiny screen. But I can see the utility of having a fitness and sleep tracker on you, and if I can get it in a nice looking watch, that is a bonus.
Last, but not least, the is the Casio WSD-F10, really an outdoor enthusiast’s watch, reviewed by Europa Star. The watch does something interesting in that it layers a digital monochrome display and a digital color display. The standard watch functions and some text features are done in monochrome, while the color gets you a whole host of graphical tracking functions. This means that if you are not near a power outlet, you can run the monochrome display in a low power mode and still have the time of day. There are plenty of functions geared for hikers and other outdoor adventurers, so it is worth a peek.
Heading back to our site, the Division Furtive is a watch brand we have featured before, and this time Patrick had a chance to spend some time with the Type 50. I am a fan of watches that actually do something different, instead of just saying that they are different, and the Type 50 qualifies as different. If you want a watch with unique complications, and can’t spring for a really expensive mechanical watch, this guy might be of interest.
The cross posts we do with Every Day Carry are always popular, and this week’s look at desk organizers and holders was no exception. I have a nice leather box on my bedstand that holds all manor on stuff, so I can attest that they are handy, and they should be good looking too. Our days of Tupperware boxes are gone, right?
We like to promote the brands we like, and for a limited time Xetum is offering some nice discounts on their watches.
Aluminum is not a material we see used for many watches, but this week Ken took a look at the Squarestreet Aluminum. Ken thought it was a very accomplished take on a watch that a non-conformist professional would wear as a business watch. There are a lot of details to the watch, and if you have not done it already, check out Ken’s impression of it.
Did you know that John Biggs’ book, Marie Antionette’s Watch, is free to read with Kindle Unlimited, or you can buy a paperback from Amazon. Oh, and even if you don’t have a Kindle, you can always read via their free apps or their cloud read (check those out here
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Want to be more than just a visitor to our little corner of the internet? How about pledging some support for us over on Patreon. There are some compelling funding levels (including site redesigns and removing ads, and getting a copy of the Marie Antoinette book), but really, we just want to ensure we keep this lean ship running and the lights on. You can check out John’s post (and video) about it right here. This is a fun thing we get to do on the side, and we want to keep bringing you the content that you have come to rely on from us, and work to make it even better.
We have had some support, and as a way to say thank you, and to get more of you to pledge, we have started an extra give-away open only to Paetron supporters. If you do pledge your support, you will be in the running for a Smith & Bradley Springfield field watch.
Since this is leap year, you get an extra day to enter this month’s give away, sponsored by Manchester Watch Works. MWW is giving one of you your choice of a Vergennes or Westminster Trench Watch. Head over to the contest page and follow the instructions for the two-part entry process.
We also want to put the call out for wrist shots of our reader’s favorite (or at least favorite of the moment) watches. Put together an email of your wrist shot and tell us a little about the watch and why you love it. If you happened to be introduced to it through our site (or won it through a give-away), even better. Just make sure the image is a JPEG and at least 800 pixels wide.
With that, I will wrap up this edition of Watching the Web. As always, if there’s something you think we should be covering, feel free to drop us a line. If you bring something up that we end up writing about, we’ll be sure to tip our hats (electronically, if not literally) in your general direction.
