Watchonista Staff Picks: Our Favorite Elements of Watchonista: Volume 02

When we decided to make Watchonista Magazine, our first wish was to create a qualitative object with evergreen content that watch enthusiasts would want to not only get, but keep. And after Watchonista: Volume 01 came out, I think our initial goal was understood. The time we spent on Volume 01 and its subsequent success gave Watchonista’s team the skill and confidence to take more risks in order to make Volume 02 even better.

So, what I appreciate the most about Volume 02 cannot be found in the magazine. For me, it is first and foremost about the extraordinary teamwork that went into the project to make it even more qualitative. With Volume 01, we gave life to a vision, but the road was not easy. With Volume 02, we incorporated the lessons we learned from Volume 01 and adapted, rethinking the way to best work as a transatlantic team. And I’m extremely proud of how we worked together and faced the challenges of Volume 02, and I can’t wait for everyone to see what our team does for Volume 03! Merci et bravo, Team Watchonista.
 

Watchonista: Volume 2 is proof that you CAN judge a book by its cover. I’m a long-time fan of all things print, but in the past couple of years, most magazines have gotten flimsier, and I can’t blame them – you gotta do what you gotta do to stay afloat. So, you can imagine how happy I was to hold Volume 02 in my hands.

Before I even opened the book up, I ran my fingers along the surface of the cover page. The mix of matte and glossy surfaces is as much fun to feel as it is to look at. Two issues in, Watchonista Magazine is already developing a signature cover look, not unlike Interview and I-D in their heydays. The combination of finishes helps the oversized IWC image really pop! And the weight of the cover stock paper is so substantial! It’s what’s inside that counts, but these surface details promise that the content is going to be just as great!
 

With Watchonista: Volume 02, I like the fact that we haven’t just pressed “rinse and repeat” on Watchonista: Volume 01, despite the latter’s success. Rather, we’ve looked at how we can improve our print offering, made tweaks, and dug even deeper to put the best storytelling and most eye-catching visuals on the page.

Once I got my copy, I found myself returning to two articles in particular, each packing a transportive power. The first is Rhonda Riche’s “The Unlikely Watch Collector” piece about James Dean’s believed-lost yellow-gold LeCoultre. Rhonda not only takes us back to the period leading up to Dean’s untimely death in 1955, but also brings us on her own pilgrimage to the town where Dean grew up – Fairmount, Indiana – weaving in an interview with the iconic actor’s cousin. It’s a fascinating read.
 

The other article is “A Step Back into the 1970s” featuring Glashütte Original’s Seventies Chronograph Panorama Date. Thanks to Mike Espindle’s nostalgic description, plus retro-soaked visuals created by Watchonista’s Liam O’Donnell with Chris Coe, I felt like reaching for my David Soul leather jacket and turtle-neck combo. That each of Mike’s subheads refer to classic music releases from that decade appeals to my inner nerd. What’s more, it was a hoot spotting my colleagues – barely recognizable in seventies garb – modeling for our photoshoot.
 

In my opinion, the best part of my job is coming up with a “never-seen-before” concept that will, despite its novelty, integrate logically and seamlessly into an existing model or process. And in a very humble way, I am proud to say that Watchonista Magazine found the right approach in terms of its distribution.

As many already know, our magazine is “the watch magazine you can’t buy” (nor download). And to the best of my knowledge, it is the only watch and luxury lifestyle magazine that can claim that. Instead, the only way to get a copy is to go to the nearest participating retailer and personally grab your magazine at no cost.

Why distribute our magazine this way? Well, you’ve probably already guessed it, but we aim to raise awareness of your local retailers. Plus, we wanted to give you an opportunity to take a moment just for you, yourself, and your wrist and try out some cool stuff!
 

My favorite aspect of Volume 02 is the diversity. At Watchonista we set out to showcase our love of not just watches, but a genuine passion and enthusiasm for life. Volume 02 is a testament of that: the extended section of The Lounge appeals to those who love cars, travel, cigars, and food.
 

Picking up Volume 02 one is instantly excited to read it, and that's all thanks to the electricity of content. Having received glowing feedback from my friends who are not yet interested in watches also makes me so proud, as hopefully, the magazine begins their journey in a hobby all of us love so much.