Most Recent Watch Acquired - I most recently purchased the Vario Empire Art Nouveau. I was so taken by the dial design with its intricate hand engraving. It was at a relatively affordable price for that kind of work, so I leapt at the opportunity to get it. I bought it within minutes of the sale going live as I was so scared they would sell out immediately. In person, the dial is even more beautiful, and I can even see where there are slight imperfections, which just reminds me that someone has engraved it with their hands. There is a certain kind of poetry or romance that passes from the artist to the recipient with workmanship like this, and when I wear it I feel connected both to the amazing folks at Vario all the way in Singapore, as well as the small team of hand engraver they partnered with, who are based out of Ukraine. The strap I received with it was lovely, but a touch long for my tiny wrists, so I'm still trying to find the best strap pairing for it. 

Favorite Watch to Recommend to a Newb - Oh my goodness, it would all depend on the person! A watch can be an expression of an emotion, or personality, or taste, all of which is so personal. So usually I start by asking questions and trying to find out more about the person. Are they interested in a watch's design, or it's functionality, or perhaps they'd like to wear it as a piece of jewellery, or maybe they're interested in certain periods of art or history, or mechanics, or they enjoy stories behind watches, or legacy, or the fact that they connect them to someone close to them, or maybe tye want to feel close to a loved one who lives in a different timezone. Are they someone who can be bothered to wind a watch? Does accurate time-keeping matter to them? The answers to all of those things will inform what I end up suggesting. But ultimately, they have to feel it for themselves! 

Favorite Independent/Micro Brand - I'm not sure about a whole brand, but there is a specific watch which I have added and removed from my basket more times than I can count. It's the Serica 5303 dive watch. I am so taken by the design of this watch, it is timeless and classic, but also fresh and modern. Microbrand dive watches are a crowded market, and so many microbrand designs are iterative or reminiscent of something bigger brands have already done. But this Serica feels truly unique. The lyre lugs together with the wide two-ring bezel, small dial with its domed crystal, and big arrow handset come together in a perfectly proportioned package, and it just looks so great on wrist. And to top it off, it's COSC certified, which is super important for me as, controversially, I actually rely on my watch to tell the time a lot. The only thing that's stopped me from taking the leap is that when I add the cost of VAT, as well as the very delicious guilloche end links, and Serica's Sport rubber strap that looks deceptively like leather, and would be perfect for jumping in and out of the pool in the summer, I'm looking at a price that feels like a lot for me right now. And I suppose, I don't think they've yet released a colourway that really has me gagging. But I'm sure they will soon! The recent PLD special edition did come very close!