Running Late, Dressing Faster

It was one of those mornings when time had already left without me. I had a meeting with a potential client, the kind who pronounces Jaeger-LeCoultre correctly and on their first attempt. I was late, unshaven, and staring at a pile of laundry that had matured for so long it could file taxes as an independent.

My wardrobe options? A semi-clean sweater and a pair of jeans that were “technically wearable.” No time to overthink it. I needed something on my wrist that said functioning adult; something nice enough to impress a watch guy, but low-effort enough for a guy currently losing a fight with his closet.

Enter the Vertex M100A: the “goes with anything” watch (not to be confused with a Go Anywhere, Do Anything watch).

What Makes a Good “Goes with Anything” Watch?

So, what makes a true “goes-with-anything” watch? Start simple: time-only, stainless steel, and 40 millimeters or under. A clean black or white dial, matte if you can swing it, because reflection belongs in philosophy, not on your wrist in these instances. Add strong, versatile lugs that allow you to swap from bracelet to leather to NATO without protest, preferably 20 millimeters in width. Keep the numerals legible, the lume honest, and the case tough enough to survive your bad decisions. No gimmicks, no complications you’ll forget to set, no bling, it’s your time to shine, after all. Just a watch that’s good company when you’re late, wrinkled, and pretending you’ve got your life together.

Too Many Watches, Not Enough Bandwidth

When you’ve got twenty-plus watches, picking one in the morning shouldn’t feel like emotional calculus, and yet, it does. Every color, every strap, every case material comes with its own internal debate.

Do I want to feel adventurous? Serious? Like a man who definitely doesn’t need another field watch?

My collection resembles the aftermath of placing a stick of dynamite in Elton John’s wardrobe, teal pilot’s watches, bronze divers, a tiger’s eye and marble dial that felt like self-expression at the time. Each watch has a vibe. Each vibe comes with responsibility. And some mornings, I don’t have the bandwidth for responsibility.

Grab-and-Go vs. Goes-with-Anything

Watch people love to talk about the “grab-and-go” watch, typically a quartz piece that’s always running and ready. But that’s not what this is about. This is about the goes-with-anything watch; the piece that doesn’t care what you’re wearing, what mood you’re in, or how many watches are silently judging it from the box.

That’s the Vertex M100A.

A White T-Shirt for the Wrist

It’s time-only, stainless steel, black dial, no drama, because I bring enough drama all on my own, thank you very much. The M100A is a perfectly fitted white T-shirt; it works with everything, elevates nothing unless I want it to, and somehow always makes me look f*cking cool.

Those lume block numerals? They glow with confidence. The matte black dial just exists, unbothered, while I’m falling apart trying to match socks, but who friggin cares, I’ll just wear my Red Wings so you can’t see them anyway. On its bracelet, the Vertex is tough. On single-pass fabric, it’s casual. On a leather strap, it’s classy. Inside, I’m a goddamn mess, but my watch says otherwise.

It’s not a “statement watch.” It’s the opposite; it’s a stability watch. If I had one watch that encapsulates the essence of my therapist, it is THIS!

Looking “On Purpose”

I’ve always said you can wear whatever watch you want with whatever outfit you want. But I also think there’s something quietly powerful about looking on purpose. The more on purpose you look, the better impression you make, the more convincingly responsible you seem.

Neutral, steady, and diplomatic; it may be British-owned, but that’s Swiss-made for damn sure. It forgives your chaos and makes me look intentional. It’s quietly saying, “Relax, I’ll handle this,” while I look at the Post-It note on the inside of my front door reminding me to bring my keys and wallet.

People trust you faster when you look like you thought things through, even if you didn’t. But after that, it’s up to you to prove it.

When the Watch Carries the Moment

I made it to the client meeting. The sweater was fine. The jeans were…on. The Vertex was perfect. The client noticed it, of course, and we ended up discussing the Dirty Dozen watches and why this is my favorite modern version. The meeting went great.

And later, while driving home, I caught my reflection in the rear-view and realized something: the M100A hadn’t just gone with my outfit, it had gone with the moment.

The Rarest Thing in a Big Collection

We all chase watches that evoke a sense of emotion: the thrill, the nostalgia, the flex. However, sometimes the best watch in your collection is the one that always works. It’s ready when you’re not. It’s the watch you don’t have to think about.

And in a collection this size, and a life this chaotic, that might be the rarest thing of all.

The Watch You Don’t Have to Think About – Vertex M100A

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The Watch You Don’t Have to Think About – Vertex M100A

A Night with the C1 Bel Canto Lumière

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