QUALITY TIME

Wilmette’s CHASE FANCHER is the visionary behind Oak & Oscar, a distinguished watchmaking company established in 2015. Named for his fondness for oak barrel-aged bourbon and his beloved canine, Oscar, the company melds Fancher’s lifelong passion for timepieces with his expertise in branding and storytelling. Collaborating with renowned entities such as Wilson Sporting Goods, FEW Spirits, and the U.S. Olympic gold medal-winning men’s curling team, Oak & Oscar produces exclusive, limited-edition timepieces that stand apart in the watch market and are found on the wrists of folks like Ben Napier from HGTV’s Home Town and the North Shore’s own Fred Savage. The entrepreneurial Fancher took time out of his busy schedule to share how he stays current in a world where every minute counts.

ON HIS NIGHTSTAND

“I am really enjoying The Optimist by David Coggins. The author does a great job of casually telling stories that involve travel, exploration, love of family, and culture, all connected with the general theme of fly fishing. Another great read is Headwaters by Dylan Tomine. A favorite magazine and one you’ll always find on my coffee table is the Adventure Journal. When I need inspiration, I pick up The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt’s New World by Andrea Wulf. One of our signature watch models is named after Humboldt—a legend amongst legends and considered by Darwin himself to be one of the ‘greatest scientific travelers’ of all time. This book does a great job of exploring how Humboldt changed the way we understand the natural world.”

ON HIS MOBILE

“First thing in the morning I scope out three things: bbc.com, how the Swiss Franc is doing compared to the U.S. Dollar, and The Morning Brew. During the day, I check in with friends and followers on social media. There’s a great community of watch folks on Instagram, and we’re always sharing photos and chatting about what’s going on in the industry. There are the standard accounts that every watch lover should follow: @wornandwound, @hodinkee, and @fratellowatches. But the most fun accounts to follow are the ones run by individuals with a creative eye. Two of my favorites are @wh1chw4tch and @lydiaswatches. An unrelated favorite is @Discommon—Neil Ferrier is one of a kind.”

IN HIS EARBUDS

“My Spotify account probably thinks I’m stuck in the ‘90s with Dave Matthews Band, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and the like on repeat. Sprinkle in some Duke Ellington, Muse, and whatever my kids are listening to, and you’ve got my number. I do love to throw in some new music from Drew Holcomb, a fellow Tennessean and owner of an Oak & Oscar. He’s got a deep, genuinely soulful voice that is just fantastic. And it’s not always music in my ear. I love listening to podcasts on my drive to work or any road trip. You’ll find me listening to a fly fishing (surprise!) podcast called Troutbitten and a watch industry podcast by friends of mine called Openwork: Inside the Watch Industry.”