"Made in America" is a label that is much rarer to find on products now than it was 100 years ago, and that is especially true when it comes to watches. Once a bustling industry in the U.S.A., watchmaking largely migrated away from its traditional American hubs in the early 20th Century to countries like Switzerland and Japan, which still import oodles of watches to the States every year. However, American watchmaking has been seeing a slow, somewhat quiet renaissance over the past couple decades as a new generation of trailblazing entrepreneurs, from all across the U.S., strive to bring the horological trade back to these shores.

I’ve always had a thing for watches that go beyond just telling time. I’m drawn to brands that tell a story, that have some soul behind the steel. That’s exactly what caught my eye with Waldan. I first came across their watches in WRUW threads and on my Instagram feed, thanks to collectors who spotlight affordable microbrands. They looked sharp, and I figured they’d be solid pieces. And they absolutely are – but more on that later. What I didn’t expect was the story behind the brand. Waldan isn’t just another microbrand; it’s connected to an unsung hero of 20th-century watchmaking – a name you’ve probably never heard, and someone who, as it turns out, shares my roots: Poland.

There was a time when wearing some form of tailoring to work—a full suit, dress shirt, and tie, or a business casual look—was standard. While those rules still apply certain places, the shift toward more relaxed dressing has transformed our regular style decisions. The smart casual dress code sits front and center in that conversation.