The Culture Collection and a Quartz Movement

At Core Timepieces, we have always hung out on the edge—the volatile, electric seam where art, passion, and rebellion ignite. This is not a comfortable place to be. It’s a place of noise, of movement, of creation. And it is from this place that our most accessible line was born: the CULTURE series.

The current trend in all industry often attempts to sell us heritage, but true culture is not a commodity you buy; it’s a living force you create. The CULTURE collection is our all-access pass to the global underground, a wearable manifesto for the non-conformists and the instigators. It is a defiant tribute to the movements that define us, a permanent link to the spirit of those who refuse to play it safe.

The Soul of the Underground: What Drives CULTURE

Our journey began not with blueprints, but with memories—with the indelible ink and traditions of tattoo culture, the rhythmic crash of the ocean that fuels the beach tribe, the kinetic freedom of skateboarding, and the revolutionary spirit of graffiti that transforms a blank wall into a political stage. Above all, it was driven by the raw, uncompromising energy of the many NYC music scenes—the places where the world was destroyed and remade every single night. No Tell Motel, Brownies, Holiday Cocktail Lounge, Coney Island High, Pink Pony,

You can see this history stamped into every model. The HARDCORE dial is a direct blast from the past, inspired by the early NYHC punk scene where our founder, Stephen, hung out in the dive bars and clubs of the East Village and beyond—CBGB, A7, The Continental. That era was defined by the DIY attitude—a belief that you don’t need permission or polish to make something real. It was an ethos of a raw, unfiltered expression that inspires us to this day.

The challenge in designing the TATTOO dial was rooted entirely in the foundational principles of traditional tattooing—the dedication to creating an image that remains clear, potent, and meaningful for a lifetime…. One that defines a culture.

We translate this conviction onto the dial. The sharpness of the hands and indices mirrors those bold outlines. Most critically, the dial features a reference to a quintessential piece of flash art... the classic black panther head. A potent, simple, and fierce symbol—representing courage, power, and transformation. Its heavy black shading and simple, powerful silhouette are perfect examples of the “Old School” technique designed to hold its shape forever. By incorporating this enduring spirit, the TATTOO dial becomes a piece of wearable, permanent conviction—a watch that is both sharp and defiantly timeless.

Finally, the EASTEND model pulls back from the urban clang to find Peace and Piece of Mind. It is inspired by the serene, meditative natural landscapes of the East end of Long Island, NY, where Kerim, co-owner of Core Timepieces, finds his morning nirvana. Here, contemplating his coming day amid the waves crashing, the sea grass swaying, and the warm breeze blowing, the message is clear: Mother Nature is medicine for the soul. It reminds us that culture is not just conflict; it is also the deep, shared peace and identity found in a state of mind that is ever evolving, never constant. If you meet the Buddha on the Beach ....

The Commodification Crisis

This brings us to the core reason why the CULTURE series is essential in this moment: the Commodification of Culture…. As I write this I ask myself am I part of the problem?... Probably......

Culture—the shared, learned knowledge, beliefs, and values that characterize a social group—is the software of a society. It is our identity and our sense of belonging. It manifests in both intangible ideas (Non-Material Culture) and physical markers (Material Culture), from ceremonies to clothing, icons to mantras, beliefs to art. These elements used to be sacred. Now they’re commodities traded among brands, corporations, and institutions.

We are living in a world where our most cherished intangible ideas and our physical markers of belonging are being ruthlessly commoditized. Powerful organizations, which have no real connection or respect for a community’s heritage, are taking its most sacred elements—traditional designs, unique slang, deeply held beliefs—and stripping them down into simple items or marketing tools. The sole goal is revenue and fodder. Our heritage is being treated as inventory.

This process is insidious. It strips culture of its meaning and depth, reducing powerful symbols of belonging into shallow sources of profit for outsiders. A timepiece inspired by punk rock, or a tattoo tradition, or the serenity of a sacred beach must not fall into this trap. It must be an authentic salute, not an act of corporate extraction. I don’t want to be a member of any club that will have me as a member!

The Engine of Defiance: Why We Chose Quartz

If the Core CULTURE collection is a challenge to the status quo, then its engine must be the same. This is where the decision to power the entire series with a reliable, maintenance-friendly quartz movement becomes one of the most significant statements we could make. Accessible, reliant, easy peasy!!

In the watch world, the mechanical movement is often held up as the gold standard—the mark of artistry, prestige, and luxury. By choosing quartz, we are making a deliberate, three-fold declaration of a DIY attitude of independence:

1. The Power of Accessibility

The mechanical watch market is, for the vast majority, an exercise in exclusionary pricing. It is a system built to signal status and wealth—the very markers of the elite who are often the recipients of commodified culture, not the creators of it.

The CULTURE line is designed for the daily hustle—for the Doers, the Gurus, the Instigators.... and most definitely the wise-ass. These are the people whose time is spent making, not posing. The quartz movement allows us to deliver Core’s signature bold, head-turning aesthetic and style—a true “wearable manifesto”—at an accessible price point. We prove that defiant style doesn’t need to break the bank. “We’d rather have 10,000 people wearing their culture/movement on their wrist than 10 people wearing a high-end status symbol.” This is Kerim’s mantra when we set out this series. Our rebellion is democratic.

2. The DIY Ethos and Reliability

The mechanical movement, while beautiful, is a complicated, often high-maintenance luxury. It requires expensive servicing and constant care. That is not the spirit of DIY.

The quartz movement, by contrast, is the epitome of reliability and practicality. It’s the no-nonsense, get-the-job-done machine. It aligns perfectly with the DIY attitude that fuels the HARDCORE model and the durability that underpins TATTOO. It is robust and maintenance-friendly. It keeps near-perfect time without demanding an artisanal level of technical knowledge or a high monthly budget. In a world full of fussy complications, the quartz is the simple, true, Core engine.

3. A Defiant Choice

In an industry that constantly chases higher price tags and more rarefied complications, choosing quartz is a genuinely defiant act. It is a refusal to play the luxury game by set rules. We are saying that the value of our watch is not in the internal machinery, but in the story, the style, and the commitment it represents. The engine is a tool; the message is the art.

The CULTURE series is a rejection of the idea that passion can be packaged and sold by those who don’t understand it. It is a defiant statement that the style and story of the subcultures that refuse to play it safe deserve to be worn authentically and affordably. We provide the material culture (the bold watch) that links to your non-material culture (your beliefs, your movement). Embrace your passions and rebel against the status quo!