As I write this, I’m sitting at my gate in Pearson Airport, about to hop on a plane to Austin, Texas, en route to a press event. Scanning the terminal, it’s no surprise I find myself engulfed in a sea of blue shirts, blue hats, blue clothing of any kind, all of which are emblazoned with a striking Blue Jays logo. Tonight, I’ll (politely) slip out of dinner as soon as socially acceptable, dart up to my hotel room, and turn on Game 5 of the World Series, where Toronto currently finds itself in a gripping matchup with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Maybe it’s a bad omen to reflect on a series as it’s taking place, but as someone born in 1997, this is the first time that I’ve experienced Toronto playing World Series baseball, so please, indulge me.
Regardless of how the series shakes out, there is something so compelling about the way in which sports act as a unifying force. Right now, there are those adorned in blue boarding flights heading around the globe, all of whom represent a collective hope. The last time Canada found itself this close to a championship was the Raptors’ 2019 season. The surge of camaraderie throughout that summer felt so palpable. Since then, a lot has shifted in the world, and that unification feels like a lifetime ago.
Does something as fleeting as a late-October playoff run really matter in the grand scheme of life? After all, by the time you read this, the win or loss will be tucked away in the rearview mirror. Nevertheless, at SHARP, we’re in the business of believing that the transient moments and catalysts for connection do matter, after all.
These shared passions — ones that take something ostensibly momentary and, somehow, form a genuine bond — have always fuelled SHARP. We travel across the world to seek out the most intricate watch updates because, scattered across the globe, there are impassioned communities that feel connected with such work. We highlight the auto innovations that move us because, for a discerning few, those same innovations shape how we navigate the world. Our most fervent interests — watches, cars, fashion, film, sports, et cetera — aren’t merely ephemeral moments soon to be forgotten. They’re tangible touchpoints for us to feel true, meaningful connections with each other.
I think there’s no better time to be reminded of that than ahead of the holiday season. To help you find the perfect gift for that highly specialized loved one in your life, we’ve created five categories to guide you to whatever community they might feel most connected to, from the thrill-seeking globetrotters to the diehard sports fans. We’re awarding the best watches of the year for those who glance at the wrists around the room at their holiday parties, finding comfortable conversation with their fellow horologists. From hosting insights to finely tailored menswear to travel guides, our winter issue is one made to celebrate the specialized interests that form true bonds.
Our cover star, Leo Woodall, exemplifies this best in his latest film, Nuremberg. Starring alongside a pair of veteran Oscar-winners in Rami Malek and Russell Crowe, Woodall explains how the cast united to tell a story of foreign powers coming together for a common good. The project, while now the latest addition in a long line of impactful war films, connects Woodall (and all those who see it) to this particular, vital story. Of course, these connections fall on a wide spectrum of significance. But as you prepare for the holiday season, I urge you to embrace any fleeting moment of connection that might present itself, whether that be finding the perfect gift for a loved one, hosting with intention, or sharing a knowing, nervous smile with a fellow fan going their separate way through Terminal 1.
— DAVID STOL, Managing Editor
FEATURE PHOTO BY LUIS MORA. SUIT BY BOSS.
