?Watches, Stories, and Gear? is a roundup of our favorite content, watch or otherwise, from around the internet. Here, we support other creators, explore interesting content that inspires us, and put a spotlight on causes we believe in. Oh, and any gear we happen to be digging on this week. We love gear.
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This installment of ?Watches, Stories, and Gear? is brought to you by the Windup Watch Shop, which now offers home goods.

Kurono x Hiroshige
If you?re a regular reader of Worn & Wound, you know that we?ve covered Hajime Asaoka?s Kurono brand with great interest since it launched last year. Asaoka is a world class independent watchmaker, and Kurono offers his fans and watch enthusiasts an opportunity to get a taste of his design without a five figure price tag. His watches under the Kurono banner have all sold out quickly and command high prices on the second hand market. Unfortunate for collectors who aspire to own one, but an undeniably good sign for the brand itself.
It?s pretty exciting, then, to hear that Kurono is expanding by way of a sub-brand of sorts: Kurono x Hiroshige. The brand will produce ?artisan-made collector-grade accessories? at price points that open them up to the masses – similar in philosophy to the Kurono watches. The first product to be launched is the Tamenuri Maki-e box, an Urushi lacquer box suitable for a watch, wi...