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Today's Newsletter

• It's Complicated...

• Argos Watches

• Wind It Up

The Main Thing

It’s Complicated…

The more complicated the better. That's what I always say!

Nope. I've never said that. If you know anything about me by now, you know I'm a simple person. Today, we're actually going to make complications, un-complicated. Or is it un-complicated complications...

Either way, listen to one of my favorite songs by clicking the gif, and let's talk about watch complications.

Date

The date complication. Back in prehistoric times before phones, people relied on watches to keep track of time. As watches gained popularity, watchmakers began adding features like the date complication. This complication was one of the first. (We’re sticking to a simple “date window” for simplicity)

How it works. It's pretty simple. Inside your watch, there's a tiny wheel with numbers on it that rotates slowly. This wheel is connected to the date display you see on the dial. As the wheel turns, it changes the date.

Why you need it. Imagine you're in a meeting and need to quickly check the date without pulling out your phone. After all, pulling out your phone at a meeting is rude. Or maybe you're signing documents and need to write the date. It's just handy and convenient.

I'm almost always forgetting the date, so this complication is on most of my watches.

Chronograph

The chronograph complication. Picture this: you're timing your morning run, trying to beat yesterday's record. Smartwatches suck and its battery is dead. So you grab your watch with a chronograph. In basic terms, a chronograph is a stopwatch.

Originally, chronographs were used for scientific experiments and in the military for timing artillery fire. Then, for racing. But today, they're more like your personal stopwatch right on your wrist.

How it works. A chronograph has additional sub-dials that measure elapsed time. When you start the chronograph, the second hand kicks into action, and you can track how long something takes. Stop it, and it freezes in place. Hit reset, and it goes back to zero.

Why you need it. Think about timing your cooking, tracking laps at the track, or even timing a presentation. Are there other, more convenient ways to do this? Sure. But keep the phone and smartwatch in the other room and enjoy some analog.

This is a complication that isn't for me. I get the purpose, I think it's cool, but I'd never use it. This is a popular complication so I wanted to make sure it was on the list.

GMT

The GMT complication. This is the traveling watch enthusiast's best friend. Imagine you're hopping on a plane to Paris, but you also need to know the time back home in New York. That's where the GMT comes in handy.

It was originally developed for pilots and frequent travelers. The GMT complication allows you to track up to three time zones, simultaneously. It stands for Greenwich Mean Time, the standard against which all other time zones are based.

How it works. The GMT watch has an additional hand, usually pointing to a 24-hour scale on the bezel or dial. This hand can be set independently from the regular hour hand. This allows you to keep track of a second time zone while still knowing the local time.

Why you need it. Perhaps you have to coordinate meetings across different time zones. Maybe you have family or loved ones in far-off places. The GMT complication allows you to stay on top of your travel schedule without losing track of home time.

This is one of my favorite complications. I travel for work and have family living across the US, so it's handy. The last thing I want to do is wake up someone in the middle of the night with a phone call. The GMT function is like having two watches in one.

Help Me Buy My Dream Watch

I wrote a book about watches. It teaches you everything you need to know.

Every book sale gets me closer to my dream watch.

Help Ian get his Explorer II today.

Buy the book!

Shoutout Of the Week

Argos Watches

I love simple watches. I need a simple, sleek dial to tell me what I need to know. Time. And maybe the date. Combine that with a love of ancient history, (The Odyssey) I'm excited to introduce you to Argos.

Argos is a Philippines-based watchmaking company. They're on a mission to revolutionize the craft of watchmaking in the country. Their goal is to lead the local market in creating timepieces renowned for their durability and craftsmanship.

To achieve this, Argos Watches focuses on harnessing the talent of Filipino watch technicians. Additionally, they seek to use top-notch tools and materials. Argos believes in the potential of local artisans. Argos aims to provide them with the support and resources they need to hone their skills.

Argos is invested in the development of Filipino watchmakers. Argos aims to raise the quality of locally-made timepieces and also to contribute to the country's economy. They envision a future where the Philippines becomes a prominent player in the global watchmaking industry.

Don’t Just Take My Word For it

• Time+Tide Watches

• Oracle Time

• Metroscene

Through their commitment to nurturing local talent and producing high-quality timepieces, Argos strives to redefine watchmaking in the Philippines.

With Argos leading the charge, the future of Philippine watchmaking looks bright.

Watch-Worthy Finds

Wind It Up

Look, it's a display box! So why do I need to plug it in? While it can showcase your watch, it does so much more.

This is a watch winder.

Are you tired of your watches falling out of time if you don't wear them for a few days? Then you need a watch winder.

Most of the watches we discuss in this newsletter are powered by your movement. Watch winders keep the movement powered when you're not wearing them. As your collection grows, it can be difficult to keep all of your watches powered.

The winder in the picture is easy to use and does the job.

For a larger collection, there are winders that hold several watches.

• Two watches

• Four watches

• Six watches

• Eight watches

Keep your watches ready to wear. Get a winder today.

Looking To Buy A Watch?
You’re in luck

I spend almost all my free time researching watches. So let me help you.

For only $20, I’ll be your personal watch concierge. We chat and you tell me your criteria. I do the research and email you what I find. Three watches that you'll love, guaranteed.

Out Of Time

Signing Off

Any time I can start the newsletter with an Avril Lavigne reference is a win. I hope you learned a few things today.

This newsletter is for watch enthusiasts, at every point along the collecting journey. So the main thing may have been a bit basic.

It was great meeting and speaking with the team at Argos. It’s so cool seeing small companies create beautiful products and whenever brands reach out to me, I always love to write about them.

Thanks again for your support. I have a big ask of you…

Maybe not too big.

Forward this newsletter to a friend.

I’m trying to grow this brand and need your help. As the newsletter grows, I will eventually offer a referral program. You’re awesome.

Take care and see you next week!

Wear it well and wear it often,

—

Ian

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