(Note: Please feel free to use any site or dealer you prefer as I am not endorsing any retailer here EXCEPT Inga Guen's shop in Washington, D.C.! All of these watches and most of these bags are also available in the Continental US through sead1999.)
Sometimes, to my father's Italian Sephardic Jewish dismay, I enjoy Christmas songs a great deal more than I really should. My mother, an observant Catholic, who plays Christmas or Christmas-themed music from September onward until just past early February, religulously!, has a collection that spans various artists, genres and decades, all of it so very positive that there's no way anyone couldn't enjoy them for the sheer fact that they're all tremendously uplifting. Except my dad. :lol: When my mother was feeling Betty Crocker-ish, she'd listen to some songs on full blast as she made Christmas/Hannakah cookies for various school events for me and my sister and to take to work to give to her patients. As her collection was updated, Wendy & Lisa's The Closing of the Year made it into the rotation (Wendy & Lisa were the two keyboard girls in Prince's band The Revolution back in the 1980s). The song begins very slowly and the lyrics heard during this key up are as follows:
If I cannot bring you comfort,
then at least I bring you hope.
For nothing is more precious,
than the time we haven't sold.
We all must learn from small misfortunes,
count the blessings that are real.
Let the bells ring out for Christmas
at the closing of the year.
I never liked this song because all I could remember was that it took several minutes to get to the musical part I actually wanted to hear. When I got a little older and got up the wherewithal to care about the lyrics of the songs I listened to, I finally understood what the whole thing meant. And now, without fail, I cry uncontrollably every time I hear this song. It's almost as bad as when I listen to Jewel's Hands but not as much. To me, this song laments the end of another year, which I find to be a bittersweet time, while also heralding the spirit of caring for others and the power of giving, expressly the giving of hope to another invidual, something that we have all rediscovered is immensely powerful. While I am quite surprised the song wasn't dug up for use in SOMEBODY'S campaign, I'm definitely glad it was not because I believe it would have then lost some of its effect over me and, frankly, I don't want to relinquish that. And recently I have found myself clinging to every "old-fashioned" value I have left now because it seems like at every juncture, someone's trying to wrestle them away from me! First, it was no MSG, then no high fructose corn syrup and who knows what's next after that. Not Wendy & Lisa, I hope. And, please, can I keep that one after-pilates-class cigarette? :)
Anyhoo, like Tony Bennett, I LOVE the winter weather. I love the beginning of the cold; I love the steely gray overcast sky during the day; I love seeing my breath in the crisp air at night. I just love the fact that it seems like you see more kindness in people's eyes, more joy and it just adds to the splendid holiday magic that's all around us. Everything is possible! How can anyone deny that electric knowing that's all around us? My favorite pastime just about now involves getting bundled up in warm clothes and going out to shop for gifts for others whom I care about deeply. And what could be an even better feeling than that, at least to golddiggerish Posh? The feeling that accompanies being given a gift by someone you care about, a gift they took the time and effort to search for amongst the throngs and lack of parking that will put that person further into debt. While I don't recommend putting yourself in further debt to show another person how much you care, I do have a few gift ideas below that will provide that illusion to those around you not in the know (although it is probably best if you fill the person getting these things in on the big secret).
It must be said that not all people want a watch or a purse. To the fellas, if your wife, girlfriend or mistress asks for a John Deere EZTrak or a Steyr AUG, don't present her with a handbag, thinking you're being terribly clever. Give her the gun or the mower and and then a handbag or watch as an additional bonus gift. Every woman needs a nice handbag to hold her tractor keys and extra clip, whether or not she says so. If you have the type of woman that does not care for such things, your love and admiration should be enough. To the chicas, if your husband, boyfriend or pool boy wants a Playstation 3 or that woman from the strip club with the really bad teeth, do not give him just a watch or new underwear, even though he needs them desperately but he won't admit to it, preferring the single string of cotton held up with what looks like the remnants of a rubber band. Give him the watch on the wrist of the stripper while she wears the new undies you've bought for him. After all three of you have a good time and he thinks it can't possibly get any better, roll in the Playstation 3 which, by this time, he really shouldn't have the energy to play. If you have the type of man that does not care for such scenarios, you have a dead body in your house. ;)
In all seriousness, as far as gifts go, nothing stays in your mind and heart like an honest-to-goodness gift. I really don't think a gift card is a real gift. I think a gift card is one of the most clear cut ways to demonstrate to someone that you just could be bothered with looking for something that commemorates your relationship with that person. And you can't tell me that if you know the person well enough to get them a gift at all that you don't know anything about their likes or dislikes well enough to pick something out. All you have to do is listen to them OR wing it and hope for the best. For those of you "wingin' it," I have assembled a small list of ideas here that I think are some of the better choices; if they are not, they will at least get you thinking critically if you decide you want to go the replica watch or bag route, provided the person is amenable to the whole idea beforehand. These are items that I feel will not require the person receiving them to feign appreciation; they require NO "mods" (modification) in order to look more like genuine and are all externally, if not internally as well, 99.9998% spot-on to original item, unless otherwise noted. They can just be used completely worry-free on the part of the recipient, something that I feel is paramount in any gift but especially ones of this nature.
They also can be easily worn or carried without the wearer appearing ostentatious or gauche, something extremely important due to the economy and mood of people in most countries worldwide; the person who gets one of these items can basically "fly under the radar" a little more without sacrificing style and little luxury. The logos on most are low-key, considering some of the other work done by some of the brands listed, but also familiar to most everyone. And, if anything, they don't shout “NEW WEALTH.” Even though there are going to be people who will NOT change their lifestyles in keeping with the national and international financial climates, nor should they have to, I think that one of the most important factors going into this holiday shopping season is a little discretion. If you need flashier items because the circles in which you travel are mostly unaffected by this financial morass, I have those covered in my Halfway Between The Gutter And The Stars posts. Everything selected here is unique (as always), tasteful and should be enjoyed for many, many years by whomever receives them. Just buy, give and watch them enjoy!
Rolex Air King
This watch is available in the Continental US through sead1999.
A Rolex makes a fantastic gift for most any and all situations between almost any two people. Some companies frequently give them to outstanding employees, like Domino's, the NBA or Prudential. Many important people like United States presidents, celebrities, premiers, prime ministers, heads-of-state, royal and religious officials have been given (and regularly wear) a Rolex gift made to them by either the company or another person or entity.
Simply put, this has got to be one of the most appropriate watches to give to someone regardless of age, gender or social class (real or replica). The shape, style and design is such that it will easily transition from any situation a person may encounter during a given day. You can don it at your place of business and it won't overwhelm your work attire; it can also be easily be worn with something casual like jeans and a polo shirt, enough business for business and enough sport for sport. This is one of those truly versatile watches that everyone should have in their watch collection. As an owner of an Explorer I, a watch that is very similar to this, I chose this over that model for a few reasons, one of which is dial color choices. With an Explorer I, you get ONE dial choice: black, a choice Henry Ford would have loved. If you don't like black, too bad! If you don't like the dial configuration, too bad! The Explorer I, being an instantly recognizable watch and a timeless classic that everyone should own, is a pretty basic watch and for most people that equals boring. The Air King negates this effect by offering not only more dial color choices (salmon, grey, etc.) but also more hour marker possibilities and bezel designs (fluted, smooth, etc.). There also dials without the words 'Air King' present, if you prefer. What this watch lacks in opulence it makes up for with options. The great part about all this is that a genuine Air King is the least expensive Rolex in the lineup and when it is pre-owned, it is even more affordable. This means that for those that the recipient of the watch encounter who know a little about watches, they're less likely to assume it's fake which will stimulate positive comments and discourage backhanded compliments. This makes a far better choice than the DateJust, especially if a date function is not vitally important.
Long distance pilots in Britain had long chosen Rolex as their preferred brand over other watches and every military fighter pilot who had flown during the Battle of Britain was wearing a Rolex. Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of Rolex and staunch supporter of Britain during World War II, was emotionally affected by this and he began christening new, larger watches in the Oyster Royal line in honor of these particular pilots. The watches got names like "Air Giant," "Air Wolf," "Air Lion," "Air Tiger," "Air Falcon" and "Air King." The watches sold but were slow sellers. After Wilsdorf's death in the early 1960s, Rolex whittled down these watches and names to the one they felt was the most heroic, meaningful and marketable: Air King. In the 1960s, this name was actually affixed to Explorer watches that did NOT have the chronometer calibre in them which is why most Air King and Air King Explorer dials say 'Precision' instead of the usual 'Superlative Chronometer.' This helped make the watch more affordable because at that time these particular watches were sold to military personnel at N.A.A.F.I. stores in the Middle East, the United Kingdom's version of the BX. While the Air King has faced the executioner more than a few times since then, Rolex has not only decided to keep the watch in the firmly in the lineup but also re-envision them with new dial designs, even offering a chronometer version. It is interesting to note that Senator John McCain has worn a Rolex Air King since 1985, a gift to him from Oliver North.
Now, I know you're probably saying, "Posh, how in the hell can anything from Hermes, real of fake, even make the cut based on what you said about perceived frugality?" And there's the key right there: perceived; hear me out on this because I've considered it thoroughly. Although Hermes is a luxury goods company whose whole legend revolves around extreme "exclusivity" and extreme cost, their reality, like a lot of luxury good companies, is more proletarian than they are willing to admit. The instantaneous image conjured for most people who hear the name 'Hermes' is that of the “scarce” Birkin. The Birkin is seen by many, both of the upper and middle class, to be more expensive and harder to get for "average" people than anything else made by Hermes, including the Kelly. A new Kelly is, dollar for dollar, as expensive as any Birkin but most people do not know this or simply have forgotten. This means that the you can more readily carry a Kelly, which is similar in design to the Birkin, without people assuming automatically you're either rich or your bag is fake. The Kelly is an elegant, roomy and structured bag, something that many ladies require or need at some point in their lives. The only drawback, if you consider it a drawback at all, to the Kelly is that it CANNOT be carried opened. The one handle is attached to the top which is attached to the back of the purse; carry it opened and all your things will spill out. The plus to this design over the Birkin is that it allows for a long strap to be used. Other than that, the Kelly is beautiful and functional and would make a perfect gift for someone who likes the Birkin, like me, but cannot commit to it because it doesn't go with their overall lifestyle.
The Kelly bag actually began life in 1892 as a VERY large bag for carrying a saddle; Hermes was first a luxury equestrian company in France. In the 1930s, as the company began to redefine itself as an apparel and accessories firm, the bag was made much, much smaller and sold as a purse for everyday. The bag become world famous after the now legendary Grace Kelly used it to obscure her pregnancy from the paparazzi. The photo, which appeared on the cover of Life magazine in 1956, became history. The head of Hermes saw the photo at that time and had the bag named 'Kelly' in her honor and it has been called that ever since. Inga Guen of Once Is Not Enough, Washington, D.C.'s hot vintage and pre-owned luxury apparel store named after a Jacqueline Susann novel, says, "A woman who is going to wear the Kelly is of very erect stature, she comes from money, very good background, is extraordinarily educated, and life to her is one where she will be very inconspicuous." She knows this because she sells them but whoever you give this bag to should be safe from this analysis from everyone else.
The Kelly also comes in as many hides as the Birkin. And as far as colors go, the Kelly, like the Birkin, can be purchased in just about any hue and enjoyed just about all the time. For some reason, that's impossible with just about any other bag. I guess this is a testament to the strong design of both the Kelly and the Birkin. Buy any other purse in blue and you'll see what I mean. Lime green Louis Vuitton Alma? Not so much. Lime green Kelly? Bring it on!
It is truly because of Louis Cartier that men today wear wristwatches at all. The Santos is so named because in 1904, Cartier was approached to design a special watch by his friend and client Alberto Santos-Dumas, an early aviation pioneer from Brazil. He needed something more practical than a pocket watch that he could see and use with ease while he was flying. Louis Cartier then designed a simple square watch in gold on a leather band that he could wear on his wrist. Now, while this seems, and is, perfectly innocuous, it was a watershed moment in horology. Up until that time, wearing a watch on your wrist was strictly limited for women and was rarely socially accepted for men anywhere other than a battlefield; makeshift wristwatches made from pocket watches were used there frequently. Men of the period were quoted saying they'd sooner wear a skirt than a wristwatch. Their practicality and men's stupidity aside, "wristlets," as they were called at this time, were watches on leather, silk or fabric bands worn by women because although women did and could buy pocket watches, they couldn't really keep them anywhere seemly on their person; dresses at this time had few pockets, if any. Men at this time simply preferred pocket watches to anything else and the feminine stigma that was attached to wristwatches certainly didn't help matters.
After Cartier made the first 'Santos' for Dumas in 1904, he officially released it to the general public in 1911. He was the exclusive seller of wristwatches for both men and women and was instrumental in getting the male aristocracy at that time to buy and wear them. As less affluent people began to see their betters wearing them, widespread adoption of wristwatches occurred throughout Europe, Russia and America. While it is generally true that Hans Wilsdorf of Rolex pushed the wristwatch and had been trying to get men to wear them since the late 1800s, it wasn't until Louis Cartier's deft marketing to upper class men, using the fact that the highly-regarded, wealthy and adventurous Santos-Dumas was wearing a wristwatch, that any other man decided to finally try them. However you may feel about it, the rich and famous DO set trends for all us even if they don't actually start any themselves, thanks to clever stylists and designers. It's a double-edged sword, in my opinion.
Cartier was one of the few brands to own their own retail outlets and so they could easily respond to the desires of their clientele, allowing Cartier the distinct luxury of being able to start watch and jewelry fashions instead of merely following them. This included watch shapes that every company now uses like the world renown tank, tortue, octagonal, cushion, oval, tonneau and square, of course, used in every Santos. The genuine Santos grew to 42mm with the release of the 100 model, as does this replica, so the watch should certainly be large enough for just about anyone without going into oversize territory. In addition to being sized right for any wrist, it comes in this stainless model I have selected here AND also in a classy rubber band and bezel model. Another great thing about the Santos is that is is more than appropriate for both genders and all social settings or events; not many watches can look as at home at a debutante ball as they do at a demolition derby. It's versatility for the wearer is what makes it a sound gift choice for most anyone.
I asked and found out that this replica CAN accept aftermarket gold and/or diamond bezels which may be a nice option for the owner of the watch when glitz is in again. And like most replicas, the leather band probably will underwhelm and upgrading it to something of a higher quality will go a long way in giving this watch the commanding presence of the genuine.
A member of the board actually asked me about this bag some time ago and I completely and thoroughly dismissed it--in the Monogram Canvas. I honestly cannot imagine carrying this bag, which is fairly large, with all of that brown, vinyl-coated canvas! As most of you know, I'm far from scared of the much beloved Monogram Canvas but for some reason that logo and canvas mixed with this bag's slightly odd shape and large dimensions makes me rather choose to have salt and lemon juice ground into my eyes. I'm shivering now as we speak. Now, with that said, this bag is clock-stoppingly hideous in Monogram Canvas BUT it is actually very, very cute in Damier Azur and would be an easy gift for someone to use and enjoy, even for non-LV bag people. That's how appealing this bag is to not just me but many other, crueler fashionistas. I can't really say enough good things about it in this particular configuration. It looks less like an brown, evil ink blot and more like a lopsided ball of sunshine. Yes, that's it. A ball of sunshine in a bag. This bag also is spot-on to the genuine, right down to its microfiber interior, codes and hardware. You would be hard pressed to find even an LV employee who could call this bag.
I love the Galliera in Damier Azur; that's now well-established. HOWEVER, my biggest concern with it, and some of you may have already caught this, are the odds of transfer. Transfer, for those of you who are wondering, is what happens when a shoulder bag, which is exactly where this bag is meant to be carried, rubs against your clothing and the dye from your clothes gets on the bag. This is typically only a problem with lighter-colored bags but I have seen the reverse with cheap dark bags rubbing off on light colored blouses or jackets. In regards to this bag, it may be possible to remove any discoloration but I would hate to have to try. Highrep has the bag marked as a special order item, which it was, for the genuine, about two or three months ago. In order to have this bag now, which is a Spring 2009 Cruise Collection piece, you could only order it in certain Louis Vuitton boutiques in Asia and then only if you were one of their better clients, as defined by the associates of that store. At the time of this writing, this bag has only been out for about four days and about the only place you're likely to see a genuine bag right now (besides around LV in Paris) is Singapore.
The Galliera is named after something but that something is actually named after someone. The bag is named after the Musée Galliera, a Parisian fashion and costume museum housed in the former palace of the Duchess Galliera, built for her in the early 19th century. The museum itself is amazing in its scope: it contains 70,000 items spanning THREE centuries of Western dress for men, women and children. If you ever get to Paris, try to stop by.
Rolex Milgauss (Ref. 116400)
This watch is available in the Continental US through sead1999.
My mom was given this watch as Mother's Day gift this year by my dad. My mom called me after she got it and I honestly didn't know what watch she was talking about at first. She called it the Mill-gay-us. I was seriously wondering when Rolex had released this Mill-gay-us and was really upset with myself for not knowing about it before she called. After she spelled it, I quickly realized what watched she'd gotten and thought it was odd choice, even for her. She does work perpetually with magnetic people (either repulsive or attractive), electrifying personalities and shocking scenarios but not enough to require a technical watch of this nature. She said she had seen it some months before at Bromberg's in Birmingham but the price they wanted was too much. I asked her why it even caught her eye in the first place and she said it had to be the little orange lightning bolt hand. If it wasn't for that, she said, she wouldn't have thought anything of it. The black dial version she got really set off the interesting orange marker details nicely and I commended the gift. She, to my knowledge, does not wear it as regularly as her mid-sized DateJust because at 40mm she feels it is too big for her. And right after she scratched the polished center link on the bracelet, another great standout feature of this watch, she switched to a leather band because she wanted the stainless one to remain pristine. The Milgauss is my mother's second Rolex and I think it would make a great first Rolex for anyone else. The whimsical lightning bolt second hand is reason enough to buy this particular watch in real of replica form. My mother said she had gotten compliments on each and every time she wore it, wherever she wore it.
The Milgauss is an interesting watch in the annals of Rolex history. The watch's moniker comes from a portmanteau of the French word mille, meaning 1,000, and Gauss, a unit of measurement for flux density in a magnetic field named for the German physicist and mathematician Carl F. Gauss. A VERY slow seller from its inception in 1954 until its discontinuation in 1988, it never achieved the affection and following of one of its chief rivals, the IWC Ingenieur. Watches from this early period are now worth close to $100,000 and highly sought after by collectors. The discontinuation of the Milgauss is the only time Rolex has ceded a whole category, even a niche one, to ANY BRAND. The Milgauss is memorable for nothing if not that.
Reintroduced in 2007 to much fanfare and price gouging, the genuine watch is and was highly anti-magnetic, thanks to its Faraday cage, and this new model even further so because of its Parachrom Blu hairspring, the very thing that could be considered the heart of a mechanical watch. What Rolex research and development managed to do--something no other brand's R&D department had been able to do--was make a hairspring that would withstand HARD shocks, extreme temperatures and magnetism. As far as tells go, this watch has one that I can see but you have to have this watch up to your eye with a magnifying glass to catch it and even then you'd have to know what to look for. The rehaut 'Rolex' and crown stampings are slightly off, to the right, from the minute markers by maybe a millimeter. The replica is as close as you can get to the genuine watch without ponying up nine grand; and while it is generally a good idea to never take a real Milgauss near an MRI machine, you DEFINITELY should never take this replica near anything stronger than refrigerator magnet or there's going to be trouble! I personally prefer the white dial but the watch is also available in the coveted black-dialed, green sapphire crystal model. With either version, it should provide you with the smile and laugh you're after from the recipient.
Balenciaga Le Dix
Nicolas Ghesquière,creative director for Balenciaga, is an exceptionally talented designer. The clothes he designs for the brand happen to be some of the most beautiful, innovative and exciting garments you could ever hope to see. His work is BEYOND amazing. The attention to the detailing of each piece is so high, that for the longest time nothing made from the brand could be placed on your back for less than $2,000. NOTHING. That was, of course, three years ago at the supposed "start" of the burgeoning financial crisis. Now, most luxury goods companies have sent over-indulged designers like Ghesquière back to the cutting room to trim the fat from their bloated budgets, which for Balenciaga means much less hand work, easier to make designs made primarily with machines and less expensive derivatives of his runway designs, availbale in their "Capsule Collections."
This bag is known to many by the unofficial names 'Lariat' (because of the handle design) and 'Motorcyle' (due to the studding) but its official name is Le Dix, dix being French for ten. The number ten is the "lucky number" for the brand in the way that the number five is synonymous with Chanel; Balenciaga also has a very alluring fragrance called Le Dix. I guess they figured since it worked for Chanel they would be remiss to pass up such an opportunity. The Le Dix is one of those bags that, due to its subtle but significant changes since it debuted in 2001, I couldn't get behind at first even though it was carried by every willowy billboard, er, I mean actress in Hollywood. The bag was considered an IT bag at the time and since all the hoopla over it has died down, it has remained a bestseller for the brand every year, with color and material changes to keep it fresh. The jury is still out about whether or not it will become a classic but by remaining a quick seller it is well on its way to becoming one.
The replica bag I chose here is black but it does come in other colors. Black may seem boring but as far as gifts go, it's SAFE and guaranteed to go with just about whatever the person decides to wear. I love the corner buckles and the intricate handle lacing which go GREAT with the semi-distressed look and feel of the leather. It's young, urban and, best of all, it's very, very subtle. It has no jarring logos or obtrusive hang tags, the design alone being mute testimony to the gifted maker, something that someone you may give this to will like. The genuine comes in a LOT of sizes and this replica is sized nicely at just a bit smaller than a Mahina and shaped far more conventionally. It must be said that from year to year there were variations of details on this bag and this particular one replicates the season before lasts edition, still perfectly acceptable.
Breitling Chronomat Evolution Frecce Tricolori (Ref. A13356)
This watch is available in the Continental US through sead1999.
My experience with this particular genuine watch is through my father. My father is Italian, not immigrant Italian like his parents were, but he has strong ties to them and their mother country, as to be expected. In the mid-90s, he went to the funeral of one of his aunts in Vincenza, Italy where a bit of my father's family lives. After the funeral, my father, who is a BIG air show type fan, went to see the Tricolori, who he knew nothing about, with his brother. He enjoyed their stuntwork and basically raved about them. Sometime shortly after they got back to America, my uncle bought this watch for my for dad as gift to remind him of the show he saw. He wears it about as often as his Yachtmaster. While I knew who the F.T. were because of my dad I knew nothing about how important they were to the genesis of the recent Chronomat.
The Chronomat has a long and illustrious history, just like Breitling brand, that was disrupted in 1979 because of the company's sale to a private investor after quartz technology devastated the Swiss watch industry. Dr. Ernest Schneider, the CEO and owner of Breitling, is largely responsible for the Chronomat's signature look with those trademark (and patented) rider tabs at the 12, 3, 6 and 9 'o clock positions around the bezel. These were put in place to make turning easier for wearers who had gloves on. “Wait, Posh, did you say gloves?” Confused? Don't be. Here's the scoop: for many years, the original Chronomat (pre-1984) had been touted as THE watch for scientists, businessmen, mathematicians and accountants because these early models had slide rules incorporated into them which made the watch function as not only a chronograph but also as a telemeter, pulsometer, and tachymeter capable of assisting in calculations involving multiplication, division, interest, exchange rates, discount rates, rules of three and more. This original Chronomat was never intended to be a pilot's watch but, after a short time, they were advertised to this demographic which I find odd because these had to have cannibalized some sales of the later-to-be-introduced Navitimer, a watch specifically designed for pilots in 1952. I simply chalk this up to a time period where overlapping products and price points even within the same brand were not considered an unwise business practice. The nine Aermacchi MB-339s used by the Tricolori is emblazoned on the case back along with the model and watch number. I believe this is one of the only times you'll have access to the "very first one made."
Fast forward four decades to 1982 and why the need for a glove-friendly bezel. The Pattuglia Acrobatica Nazionale Frecce Tricolori (National Aerobatic Patrol Tricolor Arrows) or P.A.N. Frecce Tricolori, an aerobatic team of the Italian Air Force on par with the American Navy's Blue Angels, contact Dr. Schneider directly and commission a chronograph to be created for them, the specifications of which would lead to the creation of the new Chronomat we all know and adore today. The first special edition Tricolori Chronomat came out in 1984 along with the debut to the public and general sale of the Chronomat. There have been two other Tricolori special editions, with the latest, the one replicated here, appearing in the 2004. The Chronomat can be configured in many, many, many ways and has spawned numerous special editions; and within even these special editions there are and can be variations from watch to watch, be it hands, dials, colors and metals. To check the accuracy of this watch offered by Josh of Perfect Clones, I had a business associate call a contact in Breitling S.A. about dial variations with this model and was pleasantly surprised, both that I got an answer and got it within a week! Although almost all one thousand models went out with dark subdials, a version with light subdials like this was available but most did not opt for it. To get this particular dial now, an owner of the watch would have to specify a swap during a factory service because from what I understood they were not available for general purchase via a dealer.
The importance of this watch is obvious but it's also very beautiful and makes the perfect gift for both new Breitling fans and old stalwarts like Dave123. :D Of late, I think the best change to the Breitling Chronomat Evolution was made to the name by the dropping of the 'Evolution' part.
Gucci Peggy
The House of Gucci is known for creating bold, invigorating luxury items that exude sex and status in a more subdued way than, say, the in-your-face designs of the other Italian giant, Roberto Cavalli. Like Hermes, their beginnings were also in the world of high-class equestrian and leather goods for Italy's wealthy nobility. Just about everything they make is unusual, in a good way, which made me wonder why the positively pedestrian Peggy was so popular. That was until I received a genuine one as a gift and discovered, probably like many others, how wonderful this bag is for many outfits and situations. This Peggy, not necessarily the bamboo handled model, is perennially one of Gucci's best-selling bags and with good reason. The bag comes in two sizes, medium and large, with the medium one being the one I chose here because I have it. For a while, I simply could not find a replica of this bag that was anywhere close to the genuine. They had a few flaws, some apparent and others not, and the flaws may not have been noticeable to a casual observer or even the more seasoned Gucci bag maven but they were there nonetheless. For example, the outer and inner dimensions of the bag were off; they were either too big or too small. The date codes fonts were incorrect or non-existant! They were all a mess, really. Not so with this one.
The reason I like this bag and think it would make a suitable gift for most women is because of the little things that make it easy to live with on a day-to-day basis. There are many bags that seem great, at first, but end up being a bag you can't use everyday, even if you want to, because of those details that made you fall in love with it to begin with are now getting in the way. I'll compare this to one of its closest competitors, the Louis Vuitton Noe. Like the Noe, the Peggy has this great drawstring detail that I have always liked. Opened, the Peggy has a nice trapezoidal shape that, because it is flat and slender, hangs closer to the body giving you a nicer silhouette when you stand or are walking. And even with the drawstring closed tightly, it still retains an interesting shape and still hugs the body closer. Although I do like the Noe and wouldn't give it back if given one, I have a few peeves with its overall design. The Noe, when opened, looks sloppy, and not in that sexy, slouchy way. It just looks unfinished, like if you were to attach it to the end of a stick, you could become a glamorous hobo and ride the rails. The top of the bag is cumbersome under the arm, to me. The Peggy is just a slightly better design than the Noe, in my opinion. But I would take it either one over a Monogram Canvas Galliera ANY DAY OF THE WEEK! It should be noted that this bag comes with a pre-2007 Gucci dust bag. That may or may not be a problem for some.
Omega Railmaster
This watch is available in the Continental US through sead1999.
Besides sounding like poorly produced porn film starring Ron Jeremy and Thomas the Tank Engine, the Railmaster is one of the original members of (and inspiration for) Omega's entire Seamaster Aqua Terra triumvirate which included the revamped Seamaster and first Speedmaster, introduced officially in 1957. The designs and construction of the entire Aqua Terra line are for people who want a watch that nicely straddles the line between sport and dress, with emphasis on the sport. The Railmaster's progenitors were created by Omega in the 1800s. After railway companies began to have serious accidents and running time issues between destinations, Omega was tapped to provide not only a rugged timepiece for use by their employees but also a highly accurate one to ensure that the times quoted and used, both for customers and workers themselves, were off by no more than 30 to 60 seconds, if that, per day. Anything more and it could literally be the difference between life or death. Many tracks at that time had two trains on them not always going in the same direction at the same speed; these train time/speed scenarios that caused railway companies to fret became the basis for many math problems of this time period until the 1960s. These watches produced for these railway companies are, in addition to being extremely valuable, were not known as “Railmasters” at that time.
In 1957, the Railmaster, as we basically know it now, was introduced to the public. This watch was “new” but not all-new because it was actually a successor to a 1953 watch created especially for a division within the British Royal Air Force. The 1957 Railmaster was targeted to railway workers, engineers, scientists and anyone working in overly magnetic or highly electrical environments, just like the Milgauss and Ingenieur. As a side note, the original Railmaster is actually even MORE rare than even the original Milgauss and is valued much, much lower. The watch itself incorporates everything they learned in creating the special watches for the railway workers all those years ago, from it's high legibility dial to its E-Z Grip crown. However, one thing the new Railmasters don't have is the old model's high magnetic resistance, which is a shame. Either way, it's a simple but interestingly designed watch that is, strangely enough, very sexy in that simplicity. The beveled case and angular lugs work together beautifully. There's also a 49mm model that is out of control so for the sake of Santa, stick with the “smaller” model; it's an easy watch to give and an easy watch to love.
I think a strap change for this watch is mandatory because the factory band on this piece is nowhere near as good in quality as the watch to which it is attached. It's a low cost way to bring it in line with expectations.
Louis Vuitton Damier Graphite Keepall 50 Bandoulière (Whew, what a name!)
The name may be long but the existence of the Damier Graphite line is short. The line has only been around for a few years and is the first range of luggage/leather items by Vuitton completely designed for men. The Damier line itself does not count because they had been using the pattern for over one hundred years for everyone, including men. The Damier Graphite line is sensual with its black leather and charcoal checkerboard pattern and ready for any environment, be it a jaunt to Las Vegas trip or on a jet to assuage investor's fears. The Damier Azur line, which is quite simply gorgeous, is fantastic and appropriate for everything BUT business which is why these pieces are important. I do feel that most anything you give a man should do double duty, especially in the way of something like this. Whereas many men today don't mind having lots of watches, clothes and shoes because they have disposable income for them just like women, they typically seem to prefer an item be useful on more than one occasion. I would, along with a lot of you gals out there, buy a purse tomorrow that I may only use ONCE but a man usually would never buy anything, especially a bag, that he only intended to use once for just one purpose. This bag line is without a doubt for those men because you can easily take any of them from work, then the gym and then on a plane with NO problems about suitability for any of those purposes. It's built right into the product. Showcasing, once again, Louis Vuitton's (Marc Jacobs') keen sense for what people want and what they never thought they needed.
In addition to that keen insight for design, they also have a keen business acumen that is almost unparalleled in the luxury goods arena. You see, the bandoulière part of the name signifies that this particular DG Keepall comes with a shoulder strap. The shoulder strap, if we look at the genuine bags, makes this model $300 more expensive than the DG Keepall without a strap. Make sure you make the decision about whether or not you'll use that strap early because there are NO D-rings on the non-strap model to accommodate one later, if that's when you decide to buy one. In the words of my grandfather on my mother's side, “That's how they getcha!”
RepGeek, Merry Happy Christmahannakwanzaadon!
Thanks, RG! I tried to be as comprehensive and thorough as possible and hope that you can use these tips for gift ideas (for others or yourself!) this holiday season or any time. I know that your “consuming confidence” is down and, frankly, so is mine but with replicas (and love and tenderness and caring for each other) we can get through this tough economic period with a renewed sense of the value of money, credit and what we can and cannot live without.
Your comments, questions, vitriol, consternation, condemnation and admiration are always welcome. And remember, no matter your religious, political or social beliefs, if I did not bring you comfort, then at least I brought you hope.
