For most of Dr. Alec Hochstein’s career, time was measured in surgery schedules, recovery timelines, and operating room precision. As a leading foot surgeon, he was trained to fix, repair, and restore. Precision mattered. Fixing things mattered. And understanding how all the small parts worked together to make something whole again mattered most.

When health issues signaled a need to slow down, the surgeon didn’t stop. The instinct that had him taking things apart as a kid, just to see how they worked, eventually led him to the intricate and fascinating world of watchmaking. He traded the sterile environment of the hospital for a workbench and the anatomy of bone and tendon for the skeletal grace of gears and springs, earning him the nickname “the Tick Tock Doc.”

Today, Hochstein is followed by a growing audience on the live-streaming marketplace WhatNot, where his watchmaking videos translate the same precision and focus into short, engaging clips. Viewers watch careful repairs, delicate assemblies, and quiet moments of concentration. 

In contrast to endless scrolling and instant gratification, his content asks something different of its audience: to pause, observe, and appreciate craftsmanship. 

Watches come from a world where objects were built to last; where craftsmanship and attention were part of the experience. So do magazines. Both invite us to slow down, to engage with something tangible, and to appreciate the care behind what’s been made.

Old Westbury has long valued those ideals: craftsmanship, stewardship, and a deep respect for what came before. A well-made watch fits naturally into that tradition. Like the village itself, it reflects an appreciation for intention over speed, and for quality over convenience.

Understanding where we came from helps shape where we’re going. And sometimes, the most modern thing we can do is slow down and take it all in - moment by moment, tick by tick.

In a world where most of us check the time on our phones, watches have become almost optional. But that, he believes, is exactly why they still matter. A watch doesn’t just tell time; it asks you to be aware of it.