Every May since 1929, car lovers, collectors, and enthusiasts have motored over to the the glamorous Villa d’Este, tucked on the shores of Lake Como. They come for the annual Concorso d'Eleganza, where about 50 world-class automobiles dating from the 1920s to the 1970s are judged on their beauty, design, and rarity. This was my first Concorso, and as a classic car fan I could not have been happier.

There's been a bit of a frenzy in the watch world lately, all surrounding the Rolex Daytona and the recent auction of Paul Newman’s, by Phillips. The Daytona has been around—and in demand—since the 1960s, staying true to its original design with only a few tweaks here and there over the years. This sale, however, set auction records, with the hammer finally coming down at $17.75 million (and becoming the talk of watch followers worldwide).

To say I've been feeling nostalgic wearing this handsome, small-second Omega Seamaster 1948 and walking it around town this week would be an understatement. The watch is a tribute to the classic Omegas of 1948, delivered to British airmen and sailors after WWII, and the new 70th anniversary edition is so true to the original it almost takes you back there on its own.

I was invited to Norway recently to experience its divine landscape through the eyes of one of the country's most iconic brands, Devold. They've been making the classic rugged Norwegian sweater since 1853, when it was designed for the fishermen bracing for harsh winds along the country's coast.

When I’m on the road, I try to run every day. It's a great way to explore a new city and clear your head, and it also helps battle jet lag (and the bulge from hotel room service). I also like to time my runs, which requires a stopwatch—but I hate running with a phone. It's just cumbersome and distracting. And I really don't like smart watches, because it means one more cord and one more device to worry about charging, which I already forget to do enough.

Twenty or so years ago, Vacheron Constantin debuted its Overseas watch, a model geared toward travel and escapism. On my last trip to the Bay Area, I brought the current version along with me. It has a black panda dial (when a black and white chronograph resembles two panda eyes looking back at you) with a stainless steel case and bracelet.