Hodinkee’s latest “Talking Watches” episode spotlights chef Jay Kumar — an Indian-born, Oman-raised talent who trained in Basel and now runs the acclaimed Brooklyn restaurant LORE — as he recounts his life’s three-continent arc through the watches he’s collected along the way. Each piece carries a story of hospitality and friendship: a gift-turned-conversation starter Hublot Ice Bang that won him a handwritten warranty from Jean-Claude Biver; a Rolex GMT-Master 1675 accepted as payment after catering a party and mirroring the model his father once wore; a Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Compressor from a late dealer friend; a rare Vogard Chronozoner Formula 1 edition that predates IWC’s Timezoner; an IWC Big Pilot Bronze sent as an apology for an unpaid bill; and a Valjoux 72C-powered Minerva triple-calendar chronograph now worn by his art-curator wife. The lineup, rounded out by a sentimental Breitling SuperOcean and a story-laden Rolex Daytona, shows how Kumar’s deep-rooted instinct to connect with people — diners, watchmakers, and collectors alike — has shaped both his culinary path and a collection that celebrates generosity, chance encounters, and cultural crossover.