Thursday, July 31, 2008

Materialism

July 31, 2008

If you’ve read this blog for any length of time, you know I have a passion for a couple materialistic things. My Ferrari obsession has been well document. Less well documented is my fanaticism over watches. I will one day own a Lange 1. Most of you are saying, “What the hell is a Lange 1 and why is it so special?” That’s okay. I don’t expect you to understand. You either get it or you don’t. The watch isn’t really about flash. It’s kind of like a male version of high-end jewelry. It makes you feel special. The car is about flash, but that’s a whole different discussion.

Even though I signed my contract 2 days ago and I officially start working again tomorrow, I still can’t bring myself to pay $30,000 for a watch. Well, I found a great substitute (see the link above). It’s called Glashutte and it’s made in the same town in Germany as the Lange 1. In fact, they used to be the same company. The workmanship is unbelievable. The style is similar. The price is “only” $8000. The one I want is the PanoMaticLunar if you are interested.

It’s fun to bring up the discussion with The Wife, just to watch her cringe. Well, it can be fun, but then I find myself in the unenviable position of trying to justify something which cannot be justified. “What’s so special about it? Can’t you find something in the $1000 range? Do you like it just because it’s more expensive?”

I once tried the argument that SHE has expensive jewelry, so why can’t I? Gentlemen, take it from me – this is a BAD argument. Never go there. I regret ever trying this tack. I’ll probably regret bringing it up again here. In fact, here is her response the last time this came up:

Maybe I'm just innately aware of the marginal utility of beautiful watches and the beauty per dollar ratio of the first one is somehow evident to my subconscious. To be perfectly honest, unless these watches prevent cancer and give you arm massages, I'm not sure the price justifies either on looks alone . . . he's got a perfectly handsome Skagen at home that I know was under the $200 mark . . . don't understand his acquisition "phase" apparently and never will.

So once again, I’m back to square one. I still look at watches almost as much as I look at Ferraris. Well, what do you know? I found another very interesting watch. So now, I present you with three pictures. The first picture is the watch, made by a company called Laco – also from Germany. The second is a very similar watch made by Glashutte. The third is a picture of the speedometer setup in my BMW.

Your thoughts would be appreciated.





8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Confusious say...you have a penchant for all circular counting devices made by Germans.

SirFWALGMan said...

It's a freakin' watch. Who gives a fuck? I honestly never got the whole status thing.. maybe it's because I grew up poor and expensive was once a year lobster in Maine. who knows. I do not even wear a watch.

BamBam said...

Thought #1 - Beamer needs gas!

and

Thought #2 - Ask others what time it is. I do it quite often actually.

:)

DrChako said...

Waffles comments make me want it even more...

-DrC

The Sandman Cometh said...

Men make no sense.

Anonymous said...

I saw a Lange at Bellagio . . . $134,000. Hmmm . . . also say a 350 Spyder? (correct me on the number) for $145,000 at BMW SA. Watch or car? Hmmm.

Can't you get a cheaper Lange?
$30K sound like a gold version or a complication. I am sure they have plenty in the $8K - $15K range. Later.

SK

RaisingCayne said...

Yeah, have to say Doc, I'm with Waffles... it's an EFFING watch!?!?

Mine is a Grey Goose model... acquired for free for my putting in a large vodka order. Think I wear it with more pride than I would a five figure Euro verision.

KenP said...

I've a Rolex GMT in a dresser drawer and a Citizen on my wrist. I got that a bunch of years ago for buying a stack of their printers.

I don't recommend calling me as a character witness.