Style Strategies
⇾ Quaid Walker,
CEO & Co-Founder of Bezel
The tech-driven watch guy on investing in quality and the joys of secondhand jeans
Quaid Walker likes building things. While still in college, he began coding and launching apps—a skill that eventually landed him a gig at Google. While working as a design lead there, he became one of the founding designers of Google TV and worked on the launch of Chromecast. “I've always been passionate about craft, mechanical objects, and hand-made stuff that lasts forever,” Walker tells me. “I grew up seeing the most interesting people marking milestones in their lives with watches and they always seemed like they uniquely held sentimental value.” On his daily bus commutes between San Francisco and the Mountain View office, Walker would research watches. Needless to say, he eventually dove in head first and got to work building a modern, technologically forward platform that allowed you to shop for authenticated luxury watches. He teamed up with his childhood best friend and a former Google coworker to launch Bezel.
Quickly, the concept took off with the likes of John Legend, Steve Aoki, Kevin Hart and J Balvin all investing in the platform. The marketplace now boasts more than $450 million worth of listings from brands ranging from Rolex and Audemars Piguet to Patek Philippe and Cartier. Second-hand watches are in more demand than ever these days, but countless fakes and sketchy repairs make their way onto the secondary market all the time. Bezel lets you browse with confidence and chat with their watch experts about specific watches on the platform—with the knowledge that every watch has been authenticated by their in-house team of specialists formerly from Sotheby's and Christie's. Walker is someone who appreciates the finer details, so we wanted to know more about his personal style and how he shops.
What’s the first “real” watch that you bought yourself?
Submariner watch,
from $17,430 by Rolex
It was a Rolex Submariner Hulk. I spend a meaningful amount of time in the ocean, so it needed to be a dive watch, and there's something so playful about the green dial and bezel. The watch doesn't take itself seriously in the best way possible. It's never leaving my collection.
How many timepieces are in your personal collection at the moment?
I like to really wear my watches. And I've found that I break that rule if my collection goes above four to five pieces. That's plenty.
Describe your style in five words or less.
Cool, coastal grandpa.
The best thing you’ve bought under $20 recently?
Has to be a new toy for my dog.
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What was the item that you thought about the longest before buying ... as in, what was the hardest item to pull the trigger on?
It was definitely my first “big” watch, which is ultimately why we started Bezel. There was so much apprehension and concern about not getting something that was authentic, given I was so new to the hobby. It took most of the fun out of the transaction, which feels so wrong for something as memorable as a first watch purchase.
World Time watch,
from $39,165 by
Patek Philippe
Is there something you’re looking to buy at the moment?
I don't have a Patek in my collection currently, so I fight the urge to pull the trigger on a rose gold 5230 most days.
Do you shop more online or in person?
I shop online for things I know I want (and only buy my watches on the Bezel app), but I often find the coolest stuff unintentionally and in-person.
What city has the best shopping?
New York. I always assume every city has the same weather as LA, so I've purchased a jacket in many major cities that regularly drop below 55 degrees.
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Lightweight patterned shirt,
$250 by Aimé Leon Dore
Three favorite brands at the moment?
Jacques Marie Mage, Aimé Leon Dore and Rolex.
Necessary extravagance?
A daily cold plunge, sauna and time outside.
The one thing you refuse to spend money on?
I pretty much exclusively buy vintage or thrifted jeans. They happen to be cheaper, but they're also just cooler and more comfortable.
Field-spec heavy cotton T-shirt,
$55 by Buck Mason
Is there something you buy multiples of (either by design or by default)?
Perfect white tees. When I find a good one that I like, I usually buy a couple to have on hand.
What’s one shopping hack that you can let everyone know about?
It's not a hack, but you know when you really want something, right? Just buy it.
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