Victoria

Another interesting piece, this time, which I found on a blog which describes its purpose as, "Sociology, Criminology, Self-indulgery*". Heh.

"When i give a lecture, i accept that people look at their watches...

... but what I do not tolerate is when they look at it and raise it to their ear to find out if it stopped. - marcel archard

characteristically, the sunday times dug up a book attributing the rise of the $8,000 handbag to modern female psychology: "overworked, emotionally starved and unlucky in love, they seek the “security blanket” of the perfect leather sidekick." uh, no. the phenomenon looks like classic veblenian economic sociology to me. as for gender, dudes have done the same thing for years.

(-ed Vbarret: Ugh, don't get me started on Veblen and his "Theory on the Leisure Class")

flipping through a men's magazine (no, not that kind of men's magazine), i couldn't believe all the advertisements for high-end watches. it would appear that wealthy men are just as overworked, emotionally starved, and unlucky in love as wealthy women. tiger woods, uma thurman, and all manner of celebrities and sports figures were trying to sell me $5,000 timepieces.

my current watch, purchased for $15 at target a few years ago, is shown above.*

(-ed Vbarrett: Actually, like many objects at Target, a chain store which "targets" working middle-class people in the US, it looks good and is decently priced. I wouldn't wear it, but it's not odious)

even if i could afford it, it seems really silly to spend more than a few dollars on a watch today. a generation ago, an expensive watch would have delivered vastly superior functionality and accuracy relative to a cheap watch. today, the cheap ones function quite well and the kids tell time via cell phone rather than wristwatch anyway. rolexes are flashier, i suppose, but some very flashy cheap watches are available at any dollar store if one is so inclined. some of the shady ones even say rolex right on the dial.

they look sort of like those cartoonishly masculine super bowl rings to me, shouting "behold my power! my thick and muscular bejeweled accessories are not girly at all!"

(-ed. Remember Joe Montana and his "Panerai"? Here he is with his Super Bowl haul)

i've learned that i'm not personally cut out for a rolex, since i once drew laughs by pronouncing their submariner model as submareener rather than sub-mariner. this one is more my style.

(-ed. VBarrett: )

but i shouldn't be too picky. if you just have to get me something for the holidays, i'm more partial to patek philippe for dress and bell & ross for knockin' around. who knows? someday i might need to blog from 11,000 meters.

From: hxxp://chrisuggen.blogspot.com/2006/11/when-i-give-lecture-i-accept-that.html (change xx to tt)

--

So, what do you think, RWG males?

Are you really "overworked, emotionally starved, and unlucky in love", and hence your interest in high-end watches?

Or do you do so to assert your natural superiority amongst the great unwashed who blissfully just wear Timexes?

By the way, one of the best ripostes to Veblen's theories was by none other than maverick American journalist, H.L. Mencken. He said this about our consumer motivations:

"Do I enjoy a decent bath because I know that John Smith cannot afford one - or because I delight in being clean?"

Bruce, I'd kill for your wife's tan! Tell her from me, she looks amazing with that Base on. It may be the most flattering black-faced PAM out there, for BOTH sexes.

@Defacto: Ooh, ooh. Charvet ties. You are my kinda man! Every man should own one, even if they cost the earth. And as you know, high-powered individuals adore daring people, who stand out from the mundane crowd. This is my only explanation for why I wear Roberto Cavalli skirts in leopard prints. Seriously, got no other reason.

I know a girl that can wear an AP T3!

Me too!

My nickname for her is Bigfoot. She likes girls.

Hey! I never knew you called me Bigfoot.

Beats my other forum nickname -- Chupacabra.

My girl steals my gen 112F way, way, way too often.

See? There you go. No worries on the PAM 112, since I'll be the first to admit we ladies look wonderful with a pink strap on PAMs.

This strap is just so wrong on this particular watch though.

She always puts a BOB orange or red croc strap on it though. Suits her personality

Other than my Bob Vanilla, which I ADORE so much I bought two, this is my first "Ladies"-coloured strap, though I wouldn't call the Vanilla ladies-only. Look at b12a6.

The seller was holding a baby blue croc for me, in case I liked the pink croc.

Regrettably, I had to inform him I wasn't interested. He's such a nice guy, too...

it actually looks not too bad...

Well, I wore it all day today.

not a color i would wear but the pink looks good on the PAM.

I won't say the seller's name (ladies or daring gents can PM me, should they want the website addy), but my heart broke for him when I opened his package. My instant reaction was O M F G.

You know how much I revere history -- and the history of the Panerai marque means a lot to me, as I hope it does to any Panerista. It should be honoured.

So when I put on this ladies' sized pink croc strap on the PAM 217, I thought of all those maiale submariners...underwater...doing what they did...and I honestly went, "ugh".

Fine, okay, wear the pink on the PAM 112, ladies, or the PAM 113. But come on, not on the Fiddy or the Diddy.

Im sure im gunna get flamed for this.. haha

Mwaha. I can't even get my boyfriend to wear a nice pink Banana Republic shirt.

Thoughts:

Oops, somehow my post was erased and replaced by this update!

I was talking of having watched Swedish film, "Nina Frisk", and the watches I spied. More below.

Well.. if you killed two people and EVERYONE knew you killed them, yet you were still allowed to walk around in polite society.. I guess you might be a bit "off". I have no sympathy for OJ.

Even if he's innocent (and I don't believe that for a second), he's still a creep.

http://www.mylovehewitt.com/mylovenews/outcast.htm

...where do you start? A boast, a bully, a sexist, an user, and already thinks of his daughter Sydney as a "German" beeatch. Yipes.

P.S.: I've been to that Wild Oats supermarket. Wow. Thank God, I live far away from it!

After all of that madness, the best way he could describe the subdial was to call it a "delight"? What happened? Did the computerized thesaurus overload or something??

I absolutely love the intro:

"Power, steel, and color express the identity of man and machine."

You're thinking at this point, wow this is, oh I don't know, a Rolex Explorer worn by Ed Hillary his-self! A Bentley for Breitling! A new tourbillon, two-tone Vache AT LEAST!

And then, whammo. Right in the kisser. /Peter Griffin

Shiver me timbers!

Q: Why did the pirate become a rapper?

A: Yarrrr, so he could get more booty!

http://www.piratejokes.net/

A woman on another (not a rep watch) forum mentioned that she had met him socially - and that "there was something about the man which totally creeped (her) out."

I can believe it.

Yes, he's got a strange demeanour. Part of it is wanting to be taken seriously again, but he acts in a goofy way to do so (I'm sure you've seen the newsclips). But part of it is just plain oddness -- something is not right there.

How come I never noticed that in Capricorn One?

Nice story about your Mom as well: it would appear that brains and good looks runs in the family....

Oh thanks, Ryyannon.

But my mother is truly gorgeous. The most beautiful "normal" (non-celeb, non-runway model) woman I've ever seen. She's a cross between Catherine Deneuve and Elizabeth Montgomery.

I'm just okay.

My feelings exactly.

Does anyone know offhand where to source these buckles (screw-in) for a 26x26mm strap?

Drew has them at Europelli, Ryyannon.

http://www.europelli.com/Accessories.html

Under Contemporary -- the closest to the "thumbnail" one you want in 26mm. Non-branded, brushed/polished, but dead cheap at $15 per.

EDIT: Oh dear. Sorry. Springbar only. I will hunt around for screw-ins. Thought Don had them, but can't find the page.

EDIT #2: Waccex/Markus/Christian have 26mm tang, non Pre-V screw-ins.

I was going to post on OJ earlier, but decided to give the name-dropping a rest.

Well, tough noogies! I'm mentioning my OJ meetings for your amusement, anyway.

Once, at the Crandon Park golf course, I saw a rare sight -- a black chap playing golf. Tiger notwithstanding, there is nothing "wrong" or unusual with that generally, but the island of Key Biscayne is one of the most exclusive in all of Miami, and was until the early 1960s, restricted. As with Miami Beach, consequently, there are few 'just folk' black people who live there or who have the habit of going there. I mean, you can still see Richard Nixon's beach house there, for Chrissakes.

Well, he was playing with one other guy, but dawdled on the hole, so he waved my foursome on. As I approached in my cart, waving my thanks, to my horror, it was OJ Simpson.

Second sighting. His daughter, with the slain Nicole Brown Simpson, went to Gulliver Prep School (I believe the same school which Jeb Bush's children went to), one of the most elite private schools in Miami, located in toney Pinecrest.

EDIT: Confirmed! I'm not sure that's right about Julio Iglesias kids, though.

I took a photo of the school, with him picking up his daughter once, and I was going to post it when the story broke of his recent Vegas arrest -- but I can't find it.

Third sighting. This time my parents at the Forge restaurant in Miami Beach. A wonderful place. My mother tells it like no one can -- something about turning around to find a man grinning at her with a goofy, aroused look (she's a stunning blonde...).

She quickly turned around, horrified.

When I asked her she said, "It was that murderer, OT Simpson." "You mean OJ Simpson, mum". "Yes, yes. A head as big as a bowling ball. What did Anna Nicole ever see in him?".

OJ has yet to anty up any of the 33.5 mil. .. but his income from the NFL Pension is large.. but untouchable (legally) .. so he was captured on video wearing a rolex ...

He's untouchable in the State of Florida, baby, woo! We have the most protective bankruptcy laws in the 50 States!!

Read this.

"Power, steel, and color express the identity of man and machine. This brilliant XXX's black-edged red leather strap joins sets off the massive brushed steel case framing an intricate dial. The tachymeter scale on black and gray surrounds the white centre with concentric metal rings beneath reflective hour markers and the Arabic numeral 12. A date window at hour 8 and three counters offer an intricate play of indices; the red split-second subdial is a delight. Squelette red hour and black minute hands with Superlite highlights and thin black seconds hand mark time."

Based on reading this watch description, have you got a good mental image of it?

I just read the description in Google, after inputting a search string with "intricate indices". I thought, wow, that sounds like an interesting watch. So I clicked.

http://www.squiggly.com/swatch/p/product/i.../Red%20Storming

Even I couldn't do justice to that description in the Capers.

One thing ! notice is that the bezel of the gen has two notches between each rider tab whilst your rep seems to have three. Is that just a reflection?

Andy, your watch is AMAZING. Wow. The only Breitling I would ever consider buying.

I'm guessing the angle is playing a role, but with my VERY untrained eye, I see these other differences (not mentioning the pearl):

- The diamond-shaped marker above the 12, and the below the pearl has greater greeny-blue luminescence.

- The gen minute markers, even on an angle, pop out more and are more consistent, colourwise (this may be a function of the AR mentioned?)

- The bezel marker printing seems crisper on the gen

- And what Andrew above mentions, which I didn't know the name of.

Also, it seems to me the rider markers in yours look darker, than his polished finished ones. The gen ones look recessed, in consequence.

The crown on the gen also looks a bit chunkier, but that is surely nitpicking. It's identical full-on, I am assuming.

Again, I have to use the caveat of angle playing a role, because the SFSO rep seems the closest out of the box to gen, I've ever seen here.

BEAUTIFUL ANDY!

That's great news about your dad No problem at all, and thanks again for such a generous offer

Thanks, TeeJay.

I knew we were out of the woods, in terms of his dizziness and heart irregularity, when he asked the nurse to put on the Korea-Sweden match.

I hope you approve of the choice of strap, it was the closest to the strap on my dad's Aqua Terra, and, the right length, as I think some of the 130mm straps would come round the wrist too far. I don't mind my Planet Ocean strap coming round, but for some reason, don't like it when leather straps do that

I approve! But please check your PM. It's out of stock.

And actually, I like a bit of tail on mine. Strange that the girl should like tail, and the boy, not.

I have 2 watches going back to China and neither dealer has received them. One I put his english name and the post office wont let him pick it up, so thats comming back, and the other watch has yet to make it

Anyone else have problems shipping back to china? I just hope I dont lose my watches

Hey MrC.

Until this very last night, I couldn't reply to your distress post. Today, having been informed by Andrew and Davidsen that both the watches I sent them, have arrived safely, I feel I can give you some idea what to expect.

First, you don't mention if your dealer gave you specific instructions on how to send the items. Because both Andrew and Davidsen did -- to the letter. I won't say what those were, but Andrew even had me fill out a form!

And obviously, full name, address, instructions on Customs description, the works.

(It would seem not, since you mentioned you used their English name, which was incorrect)

They both asked that it be sent registered airmail, instead of Priority -- thus costing me around U$20.25 each (I added a $2 received confirmation receipt to the order, just in case), instead of the usual $40-60.

Being careful, I even choose from which Post Office to send my international packages: there is one many miles from my home which I use, which has NEVER failed me (the one near my home in Miami Beach has...). So I went there.

I sent them out Friday, 7 September. I immediately emailed them with the tracking info, and the Customs form number.

Andrew emailed me last night, Wednesday, 19 September his time. Davidsen didn't email me, but confirmed last night that he had received the watch too, so I'm not sure how long his took exactly.

Either way, that's a great turnaround for regular airmail -- less than 2 weeks, including non-working Sundays, for BOTH packages.

I would say that it all depends on your dealer, and Andrew and Davidsen are amongst THE BEST, so I never had any worries in shipping back to them (they confirmed that if the watch didn't arrive, it wouldn't be my fault; they would still honour the exchange, etc.).

For example, I would NEVER send any watch back to Paul. You already read what L-Dizzle said. That's why. I knew that even before he posted his situation -- because you know how a dealer REALLY is when stuff goes wrong. And I smelt a rat.

To answer Luisik, it took me 3 watchmakers in the metropolitan area of South Florida (circa 5.4 million people), before I got one who would fix my rep watches. One guy gave me attitude, the other said he didn't want to mess with a movement he couldn't guarantee, and the third was a bit judgemental, but fixed it. I'll return to him. Sometimes it's not easy.

I hope this info has helped, MrC. Send back watches to China/HK only if the collector is serious. When in doubt, ask first. Good luck!

I fell very unique now, because i think i am the only one who likes it. Very much in fact.

(should I visit my psychoanalyst?)

Liking the Yuckmeister II is not cause for psychoanalysis, Luisik. Says the girl who loves L'Egiziano.

But since you are, shall we say, in the minority of 1, can you at least give us some IDEA what appeals to you about it?

Because, as Mexicans say, esta de lo mas chulo.

:wub: PM Sent :wub:

Good show.

Just got home, will eat, and rest for a while -- dad is thankfully better and should come home tomorrow. Thanks for the PM, TeeJay!

Will get you the shipping details from TWP by tomorrow.

I believe 'girth' is the correct term

And just so we're clear, when I want an double entendre, I'll give you one...

Kama Sutra calls it "Two Lotus stalk entering Jade", but your point stands, nice and pointy-like.

EDIT: You know the best part of how this thread has turned out? That Pugwash won't know what hit him. HAHA. You schnooze, you lose, Pugs! Me and my speakers are off, ciao lads!

Sorry are we talking about the original anatomical/computer parts analogy?

Or confusing matters with your new (daily?) Mickey Mouse avatar?

Not Mickey! Please. Have you no mercy! He's a virgin.

Aside from the obvious 'size matters' innuendo of course

Why, Mr. Docblackrock. I have never been a Size Queen.

Thick Queen, yes, mind.

victoria is always the best.

I don't use Victoria, I use Geico.

P.S.: MWAH! Berlin has nothing on RWG about the Love Parade. Although I guess it would be nice if I showed you my [censored]. And yes, I knew that would be censored.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Golem.

Der Golem! Der Golem!

Does whatever a Golem can.

Knocks man down, any size,

Catches herpes just like Sly!

Hey there!

Look out! Here comes Der Golem!

What does that 'not' make your mouse then?

Nonono. Those are my speakers. I have enormous speakers. Rather a small mouse though.