A Look at the Mashburn Capsule Collection

Recently, we asked our friends Sid and Ann Mashburn, founders and leaders of the namesake brands and stores, to curate a Capsule Collection from Crown & Caliber. They settled on categories for their watches to create a wholistic collection in just four pieces. For them, the collection was an everyday watch, a weekend watch, an evening watch, and a watch that you splurge on. Here is their collection:

EVERYDAY WATCH

Sid Mashburn:  For an everyday watch I love the Rolex Milgauss or even an OMEGA Seamaster Aqua Terra. The Milgauss has a very similar shape to my Explorer 1016. It’s got a practical nature to it & hey! It was designed for scientists – they made it anti-magnetic (for guys in power plants or research labs) so it’s resistant to any time disruptions due to magnetic fields. I love the super cool lightning bolt second hand, a nod to its scientific roots – it adds a nice subtle shot of color in orange along with the number markers.  

The evolution of the design reminds me of the 60s/70s BMW E9, which morphed into the sleek 6-series of the late 70s & 80s. Plus, it doesn’t scream “Rolex.” Rolex is one of the nicer brands in the world, so it shows a little bit of achievement – but understated achievement. It’s not about drawing attention to yourself, but rather an indicator as to where you are going.

And I like the Seamaster Aqua Terra because it’s got a similarly quiet but elegant nature to it. The modern versions are known for being the choice of James Bond, but I always dug the fact that the original Seamaster was modeled after the waterproof wristwatches worn by the British military in WWII – and was known for its durability. We would all like a little bit of that.

Ann Mashburn: I am going classic with a Cartier Tortue or a Cartier Ballon Bleu. For me, the leather band feels dressed but not dressy. I am going into work every day (gratefully, and to a very small staff at the office) – and so it adds a little bit of polish and professionalism. The Cartier Ballon Bleu I love for its bigger round face. A friend of mine has a similar watch which I have always admired – it’s beautiful. Plus, I know myself – I will get a great amount of satisfaction by touching the round face. It’s kind of like my worry beads, or the beads on a rosary – comforting in its smoothness.   

 

WEEKEND WATCH

Sid Mashburn:  This is a bit unusual for me, but I think the color on this Nomos Club is just fantastic. It’s not every day you see a luxury watch with this much color – that’s usually reserved for more casual watches – but in this case I loved that it was a sophisticated watch with a bit of pop. The combination of the color with the very minimalist design of the dial and the case set each other off nicely. The color IS the thesis! And the weekend feels like the right time to wear it.

Ann Mashburn:  I love a Rolex Datejust or a TAG Heuer Aquaracer. For years I wore a first-generation Tag Heuer sport watch with an orange rim (a Formula One in bright orange). It is such a happy memory thinking of myself in a totally different phase of life being at home with our daughters. The watch was tough, and I didn’t have to worry about it when my hands were in the sink or the sandbox. I love the size and the masculinity of it on my own wrist – makes me feel more feminine somehow! The Rolex Datejust looks like  Sid’s Rolex that he wears  nearly every day. I love the size and the masculinity of it on my own wrist – makes me feel more feminine somehow!   

EVENING WATCH

Sid Mashburn: I have always loved this  IWC Portuguese… despite its seeming complexity, there’s a simplicity of design that is fantastic. Whoever designed this face hit an inside the park grand slam. No date, no bezel, easy to navigate, functional, serious but not too… checks all the right boxes. Some might say not so eveningish because of the chrono, but I think it’s elegant as all get-out.

 

Ann Mashburn:  It’s Cartier again for me, looking at the Tank Francaise or Cartier Ballon Bleu. I love the metal for evening and the Ballon Bleu with a mix of silver and gold is great. So, if anyone cares about matching their jewelry to their watch – they don’t have to choose! For me, I don’t care about that so much. So, I would love either of these no matter what. And besides, pearls don’t compete with either metal.

SPLURGE OR INVESTMENT WATCH

Sid Mashburn: Design or lack of is often my first my first draw to anything, so this watch is immediately a head-turner. You don’t wanna stare, but you can’t help it. I love the pops of red, yellow & blue – it’s like a Calder on your wrist. Also, I am a sucker for a great story, and this Hodinkee limited edition Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch has one. This watch is an homage to Benjamin Clymer’s grandfather, and in particular his Speedmaster MK40. It has been said that it inspired the idea behind HODINKEE. This one came out in 2018 (they only made 500), and it has some modern bells and whistles.  The hand-finished leather strap is a great partner for this watch and bonus points for including a grey Nato strap.

Ann Mashburn: For me, it’s this Cartier Tank Americaine. This one would be so sentimental for me, and I would wear it as often as possible. My mother and grandmother wore a similar watch that had a black rope strap. The thin black of these remind me of those, but are more modern and my own style. I can remember playing with my mother’s watch when she would have it on her dresser with her other bits and bobs.

And as for my Grandmother’s watch, she had a small mustard seed charm on it. The seed was enclosed in a small round glass globe. I loved the story behind it and the fact that it was always on her wrist – a touchstone of sentimentality for her, a reminder of her faith. When she passed away my cousin inherited the watch – but my wonderful father remembered that I had loved that little seed and he got it for me. I can now wear the seed on my own small rope next to the watch!

 

For the Mashburns, these four categories represent a wholistic watch collection. Be sure to check out their Capsule Collection videos to get more insight into their choices and the stories behind them.