The Roundup is the Windup Watch Shop's weekly rundown of the latest and greatest watches, accessories, EDC, and more. Top billing belongs to the Treat Yourself category, which spotlights special watches worth their price tag, while the Value-Packed Pick celebrates a timepiece that provides great bang for buck. Upgrade Your Kit highlights indispensable everyday carry gadgets. When You Have Too Many Watches is all about accessories and peripherals for your watch collection. Last but not least, the Deal of the Week is a limited time bargain that you will not want to miss. Don’t forget to join the Windup Watch Shop Rewards Program to save and earn points with every purchase. The Windup Team is also available to schedule a consultation or demo with you to answer any questions you may have.
This week we go heavy on the watches by highlighting the hot Formex Essence Sector made in partnership with Worn & Wound. For the retro-inclined, we appreciate the timelessness of a mid-century Rolex Oyster Perpetual date and the whimsy of the new Timex Ironman collab with The James Brand. Pioneer Carry and Seiko round things out with special gear and new stopwatches. Let’s get right into it!
Treat Yourself: Formex x Worn & Wound Essence Sector 39
The Essence Sector 39 presents as a watch informed by the past but pointed firmly to the future. Its approachable size and uniquely designed case makes it a unique value proposition. Formex, a darling of the new watch guard, has endowed the Essence Sector 39 with a special spring-mounted chassis that protects the watch head from shocks while improving ergonomics. Designed in collaboration with Worn & Wound, this watch comes in three color configurations and is at its core an interesting and capable everyday tool watch.
Value-Packed Pick: Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date
Value and vintage Rolex don’t quite go hand in hand like they used to, but that doesn’t mean there still aren’t treasures left to be discovered. The Oyster Perpetual Date is one such example. Virtually identical to its slightly bigger brother, the Datejust, the reference 1501 remains a charmingly discreet watch with all the hallmarks that make vintage Rolex special: a comfortable tapered Oyster bracelet, engine-turned bezel, and patinated dial. It’s the kind of watch you can still wear every day.
Upgrade Your Kit: Altitude Billfold Wallet
The Altitude Billfold Wallet from Pioneer Carry is a no-frills, 3-ply nylon companion that you love to keep at your side (or in this case, in your pocket). The wallet can hold 4-8 cards and also includes a full-length cash slot for bills. It weighs an airy 48 grams and is even washing machine safe. Upgrading Your Kit is all about incremental improvements to things we use every day, and this is a perfect example.
When You Have Too Many Watches: Seiko QHE190 Stopwatch
I bet you didn’t expect your most useful kitchen appliance to be a Seiko. Let your SKX dive watch take a break from cooking timing duty and leave it to the Seiko QHE190-series of stopwatches. With presets for common countdowns and built-in alarm functionality, the QHE was created to be helpful. It is legible, compact, and elegant in the way a well-designed appliance is, and it even features a smooth sweep seconds hand to boot.
Fun Watch of the Week: Timex Ironman x The James Brand
Few digital watches have the cultural cachet of a Timex Ironman, so it’s no surprise that Timex and The James Brand have chosen this model as the foundation for a colorful and playful collaboration. The pop of orange and yellow on the case contrast beautifully with the blue strap, which is made of recycled ocean plastic. Underneath the hood, it’s still an Ironman, which means you get all the stopwatch and alarms you’ve come to expect in a package that is as durable as it is fun.
