Excuse Me, But Do You Have the Time?

Getting away from the BIG Ticket items, like planes, trains, and automobiles for a moment, but not necessarily the big ticket prices, I'd like to talk a little bit on an important fashion item that both men and women can appreciate - watches.

Specifically, more often than not, handmade watches. A lot can be said about wearing the right watch for the right event. So, that means you're going to need bunches and bunches of them just to ensure you're never without the right time piece! Doesn't that sound like fun!!

(Editor's note: I apologize for my over zealousness on this subject. If I had the money, the one thing you'd see me buying over and over again, would be watches. Call me crazy, I know. Women have shoes and handbags, men have cars and watches ... and a few other things, I guess)

So, where to begin? I would bet that most of you would immediately think - Rolex! Well, no. There is so much more out there to appreciate than a regular old Rolex - which is mass produced, by the way NOT handmade as many people are lead to believe. (I'm sure I just offended a lot of people who own and love Rolexes, but for me they're quite passé.)

But then again, it's all a matter of taste, isn't it? Watches that appeal to me might not necessarily appeal to others and vice-versa. I absolutely love crisp, clean lines on watches and don't really love overly crowded watch faces (there always are exceptions though!). I steer clear from those watches that are bedazzled with diamonds over their faces, etc.

So, since this is my blog ... you'll just have to put up with my Top 5 Men's Watch manufacturers:

1. Patek Phillipe - Extremely well known for its elegance and cleanliness of design, Patek Phillipe was originally founded in 1839 as Patek, Czapek & Cie and assumed it's present name in 1932. A family owned business since that time, Patek Phillipe produces some of the finest watches around. The 10-Day Tourbillion (pictured right) is a great example of their quality. This watch will cost you $270,000 USD.

2. Bregeut - Established in 1775, Breguet had many admirers - King Louis XVI and his Queen, Marie-Antoinette. When the French Revolution started, Breguet took refuge in Switerland, when the company resides to this day. A great example of a watch being clean, but having a bit more happening in the face, is their Marine watch pictured to the left. This watch, although not as expensive as most of their watches (up to $300,000 USD), will still set you back (approx) $40,000 USD.

3. Audemars Piguet - AP was formed in 1873, when 23-year old Audemars met 21-year old Piguet in Switzerland. Both men went to Vallée de Joux, considered to be the cradle of prestige watch-making and the birthplace of Swiss horology. AP's Edward Piguet Perpetual Calendar (pictured left) with an 18-carat pink gold case and transparent sapphire caseback is an exquisite example of what they offer. Again, not their most expensive watch, but it retails for $45,000 USD.

4. A. Lange & Söhne - Are the premier watchmaking firm in Germany. Founded in 1845, but ceased to exist between 1948-1990 thanks to the expropriation of their company's property by post-WWII Russia. A. Lange & Söhne produces a very high quality collection of handmade time pieces. Their platinum (yummy!) Lange 31 (pictured to the left) is the world’s first mechanical wristwatch with a power reserve of 31 days. I hope you won the big lottery, because this puppy will set you back $300,000 USD!

5. Vacheron Constantin - Established in 1755, Vacheron Constantin is the oldest watch company, with an uninterrupted operational history, in the world. Previous owners of these watches have been Napoleon Bonaparte, Pope Pius XI, the Duke of Windsor, and Harry S. Truman. They've produced some one-of-a-kind watches, such as the Kallista. Built in 1979 and sold for $5m USD (now valued at $11m USD), it has 118 emerald-cut diamonds and took about 6,000 hours for the watch masters to make this watch and about 20 months for the best jewelers in the world to enrich the watch. My pick would be the Malte Tonneau Chronograph (pictured to the right). It retails for a very respectable $25,000 USD!

So, styling with the right accessories for me is ...

Living the Dream Rating: $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ (10/10)