Introducing: Unpolished – A Newsletter for Watch Collectors

Independent, honest, and sharp coverage of what matters in watches.

Meet Unpolished. After 12 free preview newsletters since leaving Hodinkee in November, the official relaunch is here.

Unpolished is an independent newsletter that delivers honesty and transparency. No brand ads or outside influence – only what matters to collectors.

Founding Members receive a custom valet tray from Chicago-based Veblenist, a maker of leather goods and straps. I’m a longtime customer, and they have a production site just down the road.

Unpolished is launching as a 2x/week newsletter with two membership tiers:

• Standard: $99/year or $10/month

• Founding Member: $290/year

Founding Members perks:

• Custom Alcantara suede valet tray from Veblenist (MSRP: $120).

• Join a monthly Zoom for a real behind-the-scenes look at building this newsletter, industry secrets, and the occasional surprise guest.

A few more subscriber benefits:

• All paid subscribers can access the comments section and regular Q&As (first one this week!).

• All annual subscribers will get a thank-you gift in the mail.

• Private community channel launching this spring (think Slack or WhatsApp).

For the cost of a decent leather strap, you’ll receive and support the best of independent watch media.¹

Thank you to those who previously pledged support. Those automatically converted to paid subscriptions at your chosen amount. You can also upgrade to become a Founding Member.

For independent watch coverage with real edge, subscribe now:

The Founding Member valet tray, made of sexy Alcantara suede and calfskin exterior. More info here (dimensions: 24x24cm).

What you’ll get every week

Unpolished will be sent on Tuesdays and Fridays.²

• The Roundup. Your weekly insider’s look at vintage watches, new releases, auctions, and everything in between. Full of scoops, original reporting, analysis, and industry insights that matter to collectors. Not PR fluff, but what enthusiasts really need to know.

• The Watchlist. A curated weekly list of hidden vintage deals from small auctions, eBay, and other corners of the internet. Mostly under $20k, highlighting bargains and “buyer bewares” – not dealers or retailers. Since relaunching in 2024, subscribers have scored deals on vintage Cartier watches, LeCoultre, TAG Heuer, and more.

• Weekly Feature. The Weekly Feature delivers rotating in-depth content: Collector's guides, original stories, reviews,³ interviews, collector profiles, and more. Select features sent to free subscribers.

The Roundup and Watchlist will typically arrive together, with the Weekly Feature delivered separately.

Why should you pay for Unpolished?

Unpolished is built on a simple idea: Great media is worth paying for. Media has drastically changed over the past decade. Subscriptions mean we answer only to you –not advertisers, brands, or PR firms.

Most media relies on ads or retail partners, which can create conflicts of interest – I’ve seen it happen. As an independent voice who’s seen how the industry works, I’ll focus on the stories that actually matter to collectors.

To maintain this focus, Unpolished makes a few commitments:

• Subscription-first

• No advertising from watch brands

• No press trips

It’s currently a solo effort, but we’ll grow. Starting next week, you'll hear new voices, beginning with a Watchlist contributor. My goal is to expand Unpolished through partnerships, whether writing, podcasts, videos, or events.

Rebuilding in 2024: What I’ve Learned About Watches and Media

What’s coming soon:

• 2025 predictions and rumors (tomorrow)

• Q&A (Thursday)

• Inside the “Press Trip”

• What’s actually happening at Bezel?

• Reports from the Miami Beach Antique Show and one of the longest-running vintage get-togethers in the U.S., with plenty of collector features.

Join Unpolished to get real stories for watch collectors:

Who are you?

I’m told holding a mic gives you instant credibility.

I’m Tony Traina. Former editor at Hodinkee and, before that, an attorney. I started this very newsletter as a passion project focused on vintage watches in 2020. It was called "one of the best single-operator newsletters on the internet.” I’ve also contributed to GQ, Sotheby’s, High Snobiety, and A Collected Man.

I was an editor at Hodinkee for over two years, writing hundreds of articles and hosting a weekly podcast before leaving in October 2024. More about me here, including past podcast appearances.

Also find me on Instagram.

Finally, about that name. Unpolished – it’s a word used and overused by dealers to sell watches. More importantly, it sets the tone for this newsletter. Sharp, honest, and straight to the point – more like a conversation between collectors than a glossy magazine.

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Any questions? Email tony@unpolishedwatches.com or drop a comment on this post.

Thank you for your support. I’m excited to build a new kind of collector-first watch media.

-Tony

Subscribe now to Unpolished, a newsletter for watch collectors:

1. Founding Members receive a different annual gift every year. Not sure about future gifts? You can downgrade or cancel after 12 months.

2. The Weekend Edition, launching this spring, will dive deep into a specific topic each week.

3. I’m excited to launch Pitchfork-style reviews soon, rating each watch from 1 to 10. For the first reviews, I’d love to have a 1 and a 10 – send me your candidates!