Your phone is a lot of things. But it shouldn't be your solitary timepiece. When a stranger rushing for the train asks if it's 5 o'clock, or when you're in a dark movie theater wondering how much longer until the lights go up, you shouldn't need to dig into your pocket to find out.
You should have a watch.
I know, it's 2016. The day and age where less is more and everyone is walking around with super-computers at finger's reach. But some things should never die, even in the digital age. And if you ask me, owning a dependable, classy watch is one of them.
You could get an inexpensive Timex or a stupidly expensive Rolex, both of which will work just fine. But nestled comfortably toward the lower end, and without sacrificing on looks (or your bank account), is a local brand called LTHR Supply.
LTHR Supply at one time sourced many of its products in New England and designed and assembled their wares in a Brighton workshop. They first hit the scene about two years ago, launching their inaugural line on Kickstarter. Now they're back and bigger with another timepiece, hoping to raise $30,000 with 20 days to go. And to keep prices low for the consumer, they've gone to sourcing parts from all over the globe.
"Our T1 watch, available in 11 cities worldwide from Paris to Shanghai, has exceeded our expectations and we're looking to push the boundaries of modern watch design again with our T2 model," founder and CEO Jeremy Szechenyi told me.
The T2 is a lot of watch packed into a modest price tag. It comes with two movement options – Swiss Ronda quartz or the pricier ETA automatic – and a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal face. It's water resistant to 10 ATM ("suitable for recreational water sports, showering and day drinking," the site states) and can be had via Kickstarter for around $300 and up, depending on your tastes.
There's another, more subtle detail that makes this watch something special. Thanks to a unique, built-in dial, it tells you the time in two different time zones.
Szechenyi explains:
The T2 does dual time telling a bit differently than a conventional timepiece. Most dual time zone watches feature two separate hour hands (sometimes even a miniature dial) that indicate the time at home and abroad. In order to keep the face as clean and as minimal as possible, the T2 features our patent-pending disc dial. Using the disc dial's triangle indicator (that makes a full rotation in 24 hours) and the 24-hour rotating bezel, you can set your dial to any time zone in the world. And the luminous dials featured on every model means you’ll be able to keep track of your time zones day and night.
What's more, the T2 comes with lots of different strap options, all of which are made of Italian leather and feature a quick-release latch for easy swapping.
Trust me: You look at your phone enough. For something as simple as telling the time – be it in Boston or Bora Bora, Tallahassee or Tunisia – looking at your wrist should be all you need.
Check out photos of the T1, below:
Images provided.
