The Material Review

The Material Review

The Material Review

Issue 172: Barnes & Noble, Tropical Dials, NYC's Textile World, Meme Buildings, Wired Headphones, Good Jeans and Spotlight On: Vanson Leather Bags.

Michael Williams and The Material Review
Mar 21, 2026
∙ Paid

Stories worth reading. Stop indexing the internet.

How America Learned to Love Barnes & Noble Again

“Anti-chain animus is receding.” [The Atlantic]

A normal Rolex with a black dial pictured next to one with a tropical dial

Watchword: Tropical Dials

“Why does a watch that is effectively defective command such a premium with collectors and aficionados?” [InsideHook]

Unravelling New York: a guide to the city’s textile world

[FT]

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