Studio Underd0g x Fears - The Gimlet
I bought my first "nice" watch in college. It was "Swiss Made." As in, I think that was the brand name. And no, it probably wasn't made in Switzerland.
At the time, I had (have?) a thing for chronographs with three subdials. This one checked all the boxes, and I'm sure I paid too much for it. But I knew next to nothing about watches. It was oversized for my smallish wrists, had a quartz movement (which is fine--just not what most watch nerds are looking for), and came with an awful fake leather strap.
Over the years, I've learned more about watches--enough to realize how bad a purchase the Swiss Made was. But you live and learn. (Check out my current style to see what I'm wearing on my wrist these days). For my birthday this year, my wife scored me a Studio Underd0g Pink Lem0nade, and I'm loving it. I also ended up on their mailing list, which is proving to be very dangerous.
Case in point: Studio Underd0g's upcoming release, The Gimlet. A true Window Shopping situation for me--I'm trying to go at least a few months without buying another watch. The Gimlet is a collaboration between Studio Underd0g and Fears, two boutique British watch brands. Fears, it turns out, has a seriously cool backstory: the great-great-great-grandson of the founder recently revived the company (really?!). But if you're trying not to buy watches, avoid learning facts like this. It's a surefire way to end up needing to add it to your collection.
The watch is named, presumably, for its lime green dial, which matches the lime in your Gimlet at the bar. I'm a sucker for bright colors. Not to wear myself (I'm a neutral color guy) but this one pops off the screen. A few details stand out to me. The font is playful, with a great little curlicue on the 6. The skeletonized hands feel modern and cool, casting a great shadow on the face. The branding is more subtle than my Pink Lem0nade, a nice touch. And then there are the Frankenstein bolts. Officially called "slotted head pins" (boring), these little screws hold the dial together and make the face look like it's floating. They're weird, they're in your face, and for some reason, I dig them (you'll probably hate them). At $1,200, The Gimlet is either a fun, bold addition to your collection or just another expensive toy collecting dust on the shelf. If you can pull off a lime green daily driver, power to you. If not, well, you can join me in Window Shopping.
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