This history of supporting envelope pushers started with themselves as the company introduced innovation after innovation to catapult to the upper echelon of Swiss watchmaking. First came the Oscillating Pinion (whatever the hell that is) in 1886, then quickly followed up with the first automotive/aviation timer in 1911, and 1916 saw a breakthrough in accuracy with the first handheld timer capable of measuring 1/100 of a second .This last development especially paved the way for Heuer’s entry into the worlds of upper-echelon sport and contest.

While the technological firsts kept coming, TAG Heuer quickly gained a reputation for who whore them as much as why. John Glenn wore a Heuer into space during NASAs first manned orbital mission (they were beaten to space by a Russian watch, but no one knows quite which one. So win by default?). Both Obama and Mitt Romney wore one (each, they didn’t trade the same one back and forth or anything) during the ’12 campaign. And of course, they still sell the watch worn by Steve McQueen in his movie Le Mans (they even named it after him after the incredible interest received).

If you’re shopping for your first TAG Heuer and looking to keep your bank account intact, the aforementioned Monaco ($3,900) is a great place to start. But we recomment you venture off the well-beaten and expected path and check out the Aquaracer ($2,600). With echos of Rolex’s classic Submariner, the Aquaracer is a subdued and classy timepiece that will remain in fashion long enough for you to pass on to great-grandchildren. Finally, for a little racing pedigree go with the Formula 1 Calibre 16 ($2,800) and wear it proud like Lewis Hamilton. Granted, two and half grand ain’t cheap for a timepiece, but there’s always vintage finds that can get you into a swiss watch for a discount (although not much of one…). However you get into a Heuer, you’ll be wearing a hard-won pedigree and joining a long list of discerning wearers. We can’t ask much more than that of our watches…

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I’m confident this is the heaviest watch I’ve ever worn. The Breil is so heavy that in just a few days of wearing it I’ve doubled the size of my bicep. In my left arm. Now people I meet aren’t sure what to stare at first, my mismatched arms or my comically garish watch.

Why is this case so thick? It is 44.5mm across, and at least half that in height. Of course the thinner a luxury watch is, the higher the quality it generally is, but I’ve seen watches made of Lego that are thinner than this monster. The strangest thing is that the problem seems to lie in the hands. On the face of the watch, the hands are so spaced apart from each other on the central spindle that it adds several millimeters of height to the watch. They shouldn’t need that much clearance from each other and removing the extra case height required to accommodate this ridiculous spacing would also help reduce the preposterous weight.

You know what, screw it. Let’s weigh this sucker. Time to bring science into how bad this watch is. Wow. 6.78 ounces. Now for the biggest, chunkiest, fattest watch I actually own – a Sottomarino Pilotare. Bam. 2.18 ounces. I could wear three Sottomarino’s and still not equal the weight of the Breil. Pro tip: watches shouldn’t weigh so much that they require special postage to ship. I just invented that rule, but I think it’s a good one I’m going to start living by.

Quality-wise, the Breil seems to be on point. Over the last few days it has suffered no scratches or time loss, and every complication is functioning as designed. Any thinner watches that Breil has I would certainly consider. I like the design, the combination of polished and brushed stainless steel, and the rose gold accents. It’s just too damn thick and heavy for it’s own or anyone’s good. And at $425, you’re paying dearly for this garishness. If you’ve got an Affliction collection, a wrist the size of a tree trunk, and curl abandoned cars on your warmup, you should certainly check the Breil Capital out. Everyone else, stay clear.

The post The Worst Watch I’ve Ever Tried appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Jewelry falls into two categories. The first of these is “sentimental” or “personal”. These pieces include things like wedding rings, heirlooms, religious objects, and so forth. Frankly, if something has meaning to you, and you want to wear it, then do so. Far be it from anyone to tell you not to wear your grandfather’s watch because the band is starting to wear out. The key to all fashion is confidence, so be proud in wearing something that has significance to you.

The second category revolves completely around style, meaning what looks best on you. Obviously we all have differing tastes, but there is something to be said about a baseline that can be built off of. The baseline is as follows. Firstly, your jewelry should really only be gold, silver, or plain metallic in color. I find that niches like rose gold are incredibly difficult to match with other facets of your style, and tend to get lost in most people’s skin tone. The next key is to keep in mind that jewelry exists to show off what you already have, meaning if your ring is so flashy that it draws all the attention, it shouldn’t be on your hand in the first place. Lastly, jewelry should go with what you’re already wearing. Don’t base an outfit off of a bracelet, select jewelry that enhances the aesthetic you’ve already built.

Let’s start from the top, and work our way down. Firstly, ears. Some guys love them; some guys hate them, and just like every other part of fashion, its subjective. What I will say is that that they can be done very well, or extremely poorly. To correctly wear earring(s), the first decision is to decide what part of the ear you want to pierce (and yes, there is more than one). If you decide on the lobe, then pierce both. The middle school stigma about which ear has certain connotations is over, and piercing one just looks juvenile. In my opinion, the best way to pull off this look is to forget studs, and go as soon as possible to thin hoops that hug the bottom of your lobe. Often, these aren’t noticed outright from a distance and really draw attention to your face up close. In addition to this, they suit absolutely everyone. The only other place I can truly say a man should pierce is the cartilage slightly below the point of the ear. If this is your choice, then only pierce one ear, and again use a small hoop in one of our three cardinal colors.

What you wear around your neck says a lot about you, and people pick up on it very quickly. Some basic rules include no dog-tags unless you are in the military or they have very significant meaning to you. No chains that have links large enough to have a pattern. Leather or cord should not be worn with anything remotely formal. No chokers. If you can feel the weight of a pendant or amulet, and it’s significant, don’t wear it. Lastly, if you have a necklace made of twine/hemp with some kind of glass ornament, people will assume you are a stoner. Other than that, do whatever your heart desires, and keep in mind that sometimes it’s best to tuck it under your shirt.

Wrist jewelry is complex because it is broken up into two separate categories, watches and bracelets. As far as watches go, everyone has their own taste (even more so than any other specific piece of jewelry). One remark that I would have is to avoid digital unless you are in the great outdoors. If you want to disregard that for a smart-watch, that’s your prerogative; but for the most part go analog. If you decide to wear a bracelet or bracelets, avoid leather cuffs at all costs. They’re not edgy, just ugly. Leather, if worn, should be thin, or braided. Easily the most versatile look that I’ve seen is the use of plain wooden beads, which can even be stacked and look good. They can be dressed up (to a point), and dressed down with ease; but make sure to keep them on one wrist, and opposite from your watch. If you decide to stack them, keep in mind that one more loop can be the difference between stylish and tacky. Please, unless you are in the wilderness, leave paracord at home with your digital watch.

Last but not least, rings. If you’re not married, these exist solely to show off your hands, and or prove you won a Super Bowl. If you haven’t the latter, stick to bands that are either plain, or have a subtle design etched into the band itself. For the most part, stay away large stones, noticeable mountings, and general gaudiness. That means leave the class rings at home, unless you need to prove you went to high school. Furthermore, if a ring is uncomfortable on your hand, it’s usually a good indicator that it’s too big, or looks out of place.

When buying jewelry, keep these rules in mind, but more importantly, do what feels right. As we know, fashion is subjective. If you don’t feel comfortable in something, don’t wear it, and if you have a piece that isn’t on the list but you love, by all means, wear it. This is a baseline, meaning you should build off it. The goal isn’t to dictate what you should wear, but to help you develop the look that works best for you.

The post The Gentleman’s Guide to Jewelry appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Certainly many men today would still scoff at the idea of jewelry, but watch the video of Philip working below and any pre-conceived notions of femininity are quickly replaced with thoughts of Ron Swanson, who has become the quintessential male in popular culture. Not to mention, Philip was trained as a goldsmith which, for lack of better words, is pretty awesome. For his line for Coach he invoked some nautical imagery with braided leathers and raw brass which coupled with his New York experience gave Philip’s work a more masculine edge than I initially would have expected from coach.

Undoubtedly sold on the look I began incorporating one of the key chains and a couple bracelets into my every day wear and, truthfully, I was nervous how friends would react to me wearing bracelets. While I don’t know if I underestimated my friends’ maturity or my own confidence, the designs have been incredibly well received. However, if you aren’t ready to become a man of bracelets then start slow with a lanyard key chain or a belt from the collection. My guess is that no matter what you pick it will become part of your everyday look and in my case may even have you rethinking your wardrobe to better match Phlip Crangi’s designs.

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