Quote Originally Posted by normanduke View Post
Posh, You're a trip. Where have you been hiding ? I guess lost amongst a thousand overaged boys endlessly strutting their dreary machismo ( yawn ).

Thank you for this delightful oevre. I can sense the real fun you had writing this. It is valuable to have the benefit of someone's knowlege distilled and presented in an unpretentious and entertaining way.

I am finding myself drawn more and more to the luxury brands such as Breguet, VC and Patek Phillipe.
I sense inaccuracies in most of the reps but I lack the time now to do the necessary research. I did wonder if some of them are inappropriate to my rather humble day-to-day life but nowI think " no."

You did select one of my favorites, the Dewitt. Wonderful dial.

I do take exception though to the Roger Dubuis. Fabulous case, especiallly the back cover, but I don't understand that textured black stuff glued on between the lugs.

That Chopard Mille Migilia hasn't appealed to me yet but it looks very exciting in the picture on the fellow's wrist.
I wonder why the dealers pictures are always so dull and gray ?

You deserve a reward for being generous so I am forwarding some bona fide good Karma.
Keep your eyes peeled for a genuine Chanel suit in a Salvation Army store. Be patient ! It's a long way from Connecticut.

Norman
Chanel suit hiding in Salvation Army cast offs? I smell an O. Henry story coming on! Thank you for your compliment! I'll make a deal with you: if I write more, will you post more? Is that a bargain?

Glad you enjoyed the piece and are a DeWitt fan. He's quickly becoming a darling with connoisseurs and casual watch fans alike due to those absolutely unforgettable designs, intricate movements and dials. His attention to the overall presentation of the watch and what statement it makes as you view it is keen. It's impossible to read about these watches and view them in person without astonishment in how it came to be, like he created a new life. It sounds cliched but that the feeling I got when I held the watch. I wasn't holding just a watch: I was holding a piece of perfection. Not a lot of watches give off that aura. The more of his work I become familiar with, the more I am impressed.

The Dubuis' "black stuff" is actually carbon fiber for a jaunty effect.

With the Vacherons, Breguets and Pateks, there are inaccuracies, to be sure. They are less noticeable and apparent due to frequent model changes, especially in Breguet's and Patek's case. But all three of those houses do custom and have done custom work for centuries now, like Breguet and Vacheron. I would say of the three, spotting a Breguet replica is most difficult, unless you test the metal of the case; they almost never do steel cases in their Classique Simple, Heritage or Classique Grand Complications lines. And there has NEVER been a steel Special Creation.

I think as far drama goes, the Mille Miglia is ready to play the role. The font of the numbers, and colors are perfect for the effect; and the case, while not as small as other Mille Miglia pieces, is visually tight. So many other watches are lazy in their largeness and just visually meander. Not this watch!

All of these watches make a statement because each one was planned and designed from scratch, starting life simply as an idea in someone's mind and then transferred to paper, piece by piece. It seems everything that adorns their cases is there for a reason, with almost nothing that shouldn't be there. It's not a "simplicity for the sake of simplicity" type of look like Panerais. To me, Panerais are simple because they have nothing else to offer. There is no history to draw inspiration from and, like Mini Coopers, they are trapped in box they created for themselves. They COULD branch out but then you have "THE PURIST" (also known as THE @SS) who decides that all products that continue down that path aren't "true" whatever product we're speaking about. This happened most interestingly to Porsche when they introduced the Cayenne.

Pnaerais to me are the epitome of the statement made by the inimitable Getrude Stein in which she expressed this sentiment: "There is no there there."

And these aren't "busy" like a lot of Breitlings. There's attention to detail and "busy." I think most sensible with a little bit of eye can tell which is which. But, I must admit, I'll take "busy" over nothing any day. Happy, Dave?