Victoria

Silix gave me a $20 Rolex that looks fantastic. It was a summer special, but my Air-King from him which I got only because I saw it on Chrgod, was 33 Euro. Oh that pesky dollar.

Is there any other real reason why people wear so many different watches? That describes, oh, 90% of people on this forum, would you say? Including me! You're not far wrong. Mind you, it's all about knowing how to carry it off. The Queen regularly wears a diamond-encrusted Cartier watch even to informal functions. Ditto with the jewelry (have you seen her rings? Mercy!). No one says the least thing about it. On the contrary, all everyone talks about are her funny hats, and that horrible plasticky handbag. She's very wise that woman. She cultivated the image of a frugal frump since she was in her 20s. And though her throne maybe studded in solid gold leaf and rubies, somehow it conveys tradition, not the gaudiness of the Peacock Throne. EDIT: A visual for you. The Queen during her recent US trip, next to the US President and the First Lady. She's wearing a solid gold Cartier, encrusted with diamonds (I'll get a better shot one day, for my "Royalty and The History of Watches" forthcoming post), and a diamond brooch PLUS string of pearls which both belonged to her gran, Queen Mary, who in turn, got it from the Romanovs. They are literally, priceless. She's covering the multi-million dollar ring she wears next to Prince Philip's engagement ring. But all we see is an old lady, wearing clothes which were old-fashioned even in the 1930s, with a clunky handbag which must give Donatella Versace nightmares. Poor Shah. Guy never stood a chance.

Yes. I'm not a cynical person by nature, but I try to root around for reasons in life. IMO, these are amongst the reasons why they do that: 1- They can, same as you and me 2- They have nice bodies and want to show them off, including their wrists 3- They were never rich before and can now afford nice watches 4- They want to show the world they can afford nice watches 5- They have an unspoken t1t-for-tat relationship with marques, whereby they get freebies in exchange for publicity 6- They're competitive with other celebs 7- They like to show they're in the know, and trendsetters 8- Sylvester Stallone

Right now, yes. What I don't understand is why people think that this is the way things are going to be. A decade and a half ago, the Japanese yen was at an all-time high, and the US economy was down in the dumps, after its usual end-of-decade market correction. Then the US economy rebounded, in large part due to globalised markets opening up and the Fourth Wave revolutionising the world, whilst the Yen fell precipitously. What didn't stop was the Japanese car market staying afloat, because they provided competitive prices compared to American makes. Did the Americans take this lying down? No, interests rates went down, American quality control improved, and even Koreans got into the party, because they saw the killing they could make in the USA. Now European goods are prohibitively expensive for Americans, whereas American goods are actually fairly competitive, and since they're of better quality than Chinese goods will be for AT LEAST the next 20 years, the American economy hasn't suffered as it could have been. If you asked me, it's about time Chinese collectors started paying attention to you guys. It's scandalous how mere laws kept them from selling their counterfeit goods to Europeans. Now you know who your friends really are, Tourby.

Hublot's themselves. They apparently held an event in NYC last night, featuring these watches. Lots of guards everywhere!

Hambone, you're not the only one with a Night of the Living Dead hand! You know what's really scary though?

Mine too! Especially since I can spy my HBB Aspen (the White Magic) front-and-centre.

Eyecandy!

Remember this thread? I just saw wristie pics! FRONT BACK Thoughts: SOMEHOW the back isn't gaudy, though I personally think green/yellow shouldn't be seen together outside of baby vomit. But that's because we know the Brazilian flag colours, and it's so intertwined with the late man himself. Certainly, the caseback is much better than the tacky Top Gun one. Overall, eh. I liked the pics Warbody posted better, since they were Photoshopped.

Ditto for me. 80% of the time in short sleeve blouses, dresses, maillots or t-shirts. My watches STAND OUT big time. But I still turn the face 'round when I'm meeting a person, in part, I like to think because I HATE when the watch is hanging limply nearly on the side of the wrist. *shiver* Followup: OH! "The guy" being the Shah of Iran? Yes, I did see that it was slightly larger than your usual Rolex, but since I read he had one of the largest collections in the world of Rolexes, plus I don't think the HBB was around at that time (the photo is from around 1977/8. He was deposed in 1979), I went for Rolex. It could be an AP ROO in gold though, but it just doesn't strike me as one.

If we start talking about the US economy, the dollar being a third world currency (oh my God), and Carter administration inferences (someone shoot me if we're suffering stagflation), this thread is going to the crapper faster than a Dacia to a mechanic. Not to mention Admin will move this to Off-Topic, and should. Tourby asked about rep watches and the like in dollars. Here goes my answer without the political side-swipes. I start with an example. Recently, Tourby, Simona di Stefano (the famous strapmaker) has been suffering tremendous losses in her business, and has drastically had to cut down her strap prices on the Risti Accessories Corner. Straps that went for 220 Euro, are now 150/120 Euro, nearly an 100 Euro markdown. You know why that is? Because the largest portion of her business comes from North America, the largest of that being the United States of America. And if Americans don't buy, she has to do something about it, stat. Clearly some industries cannot survive without Americans buying stuff from them, whether in Euros or Dollars. So, if we're talking Euros, take this as a boon if you're an international seller, and a momentary set-back if you're an US buyer. Since most Americans don't feel this crunch within their own borders, and are more than happy to sell their now competitively priced goods abroad, I think the rep watch business will be just fine. Followup: Another famous (American) strapmaker has cut down his prices, shortly after seeing this markdown. After buying a strap from him, I emailed mentioning the price-drop, and he emailed back saying he's making a KILLING with European orders. Great stuff.

Interesting, Defacto. Kindness, gentlemanliness, honourableness are basically things you are, and project, without a person having to wear one thing to show that. But success, worth, competitiveness all need a lending hand -- that's why people buy pricey bling watches. If clothes make a prince, watches get a second look from a damsel.

Well, you're a little ray of unjudgemental sunshine wherever you go, arentcha, DBR? Sheesh, maybe the guy was giving you the Rep Watch Secret Rattle for all you know! You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you, don't you, don't you" Yes, yes I do.

That would've won any photo contest _I_ were judging, Dluddy -- AWESOME!! LOL. Manny. GO SOX!

Ooh, Jiro, this might prove one of those controversial threads, unintentionally! In my experience, nouveaux riches people are obviously very desirous to show off their wealth to you -- be it cars, bling, or watches. Overly competitive businessmen are too. Old Money (like say old President Bush 41) wear their Pateks on grosgrain straps, and forget they're even wearing it. I've even questioned a few of these types, and they feign -- I think -- not knowing what marque watch they have, strongly suggesting it is in poor taste to mention it...as perhaps it is. WISses are odd. We have orgasms when someone comments on the watch we're wearing, but if they're rep watches, sometimes we'll even cover them up because one thinks the details 99% of the world wouldn't even know about, are an instant tell. Women, in my experience, happily show off their watches, rep or gen. By show off, I mean wear them everywhere, without regard to situation or person they're meeting. Generalisms, you understand, so I'm just speaking of my experience, not ex cathedra.

And if it does, can we rename it "The Happy Hooker"?

HAH! Well, that describes a lot of lawyers I know (specifically, they seem to be the most egregious members of this Show Off Club, in my experience), so this board might be full of attorneys. BTW, whenever I am meeting someone for the first time, I make sure my watch is visible. But then I also make sure my makeup is on perfectly, adjusting the lipstick just before, so I wasn't sure if this was a me-thing, a girl-thing, or a show-off thing. It's a little embarrassing to admit one has this habit, Corgi, especially in Canada.

Look at the Shah of Iran up there. He has a really sweet Rolex on his wrist, and he wants the world to know it. He's actually TWIRLING it around so that the dial shows off to its best advantage, whereas the more military-minded King Hussein has his hands at parade rest. Is there anyone you've ever met, or who you work with who makes damn sure you know he's wearing a pricey watch? Or maybe...you're like him or her?

I answered the first question posed a bit loosely. I'd like to state for the record, I have never paid more than U$250 for a watch -- and those were for my each of my parents. That is, for a non-Davidsen rep. I would ONLY pay DSN up to U$400. And considering I have his top watch, the Fiddy, I don't ever anticipating doing that again. Normally, it's USD85 to USD160 for a new watch. No more.

Fireman_Fred is having a related issue with Silix, Bob. I promise the moment Jay emails back (since I know him better than to swamp him with emails), I will mention your issue, as well as Fred's. I'll use "Fred" and "Bob", but if you want, you can PM another name which I promise to keep in confidence. That might solve things. And though it's easy for "veterans" like myself (in terms of 69 soon to be 70 rep watches bought) to say this, just hang tight. Things will turn out okay, because the guy is not a scammer -- not that you were suggesting that! He's just real slow, these days. ;( Take heed of what Lord Rasta and Carl said, because that's absolutely right.

WOW! Awesome. Somehow I never pictured you with a 24 y.o. son, Carl. You have young hands. Happy Birthday to your lad! I see he's inherited those most important WIS genes from you.

WEDNESDAY If you think you got it bad, just look at this poor schlubb!

Looks good on YOU. In fact, it's molded to your wrist, your complexion, looks sharp with that matching colour. Not too sure I'd use a NATO strap, overall, with this watch though.

OH!

Jay takes about 2 days to reply to emails, on average, even to return customers like me. As for the address, he won't be sending your package out any time soon (another thing with Jay, he's not fast in filling orders), so I reckon you have some wiggle room. However, I always mention my address BEFORE or during my payment (if you get my meaning), so there is no confusion when he doesn't reply to a payment. His operation is basically an one-man set-up, as you may know. It's not going to be super-fast -- except actually when he's shipped his package. They arrive in 4-6 days, tops. But a few situations excepting, you will get your watch. Should he email me back, I'll give him a heads up about your situation, like I did with Aegis'.