In this week’s WSJ Off-Duty section, there is an article entitled “Watch Me Now.” It talks about how today’s graduates prefer mechanical watches. These are young men and women who have been educated in our high tech, computer literate world. Not only new mechanical watches, but also vintage ones as well. From a Vintage Diver Watch, by Davosa at $379, to a $2,610 watch from Cartier, or a $3,900, 200 meters dive watch from Tourneau.
Although I have both mechanical and digital watches, I still prefer mechanical watches. I think it’s the simplicity of the time piece. When you want to re-set the time, just pullout the stem, turn it to the new time desired, push it back in and you’re done. I have a digital dive watch that requires me to review the manual that came with the watch, when I want to change the time or the date.
My favorite watch is the one I bought back when I landed my first real job, the beginning of my career in advertising. I was working for a large agency specializing in ethical pharmaceuticals. All that meant back then was that the ads and brochures were designed for doctors. I started in the mailroom at the staggering sum of $50 per week. Luckily, I was still living at home at the time. The dress code at that time was a suit, only blue, black or gray. White shirt, conservative tie, black shoes, socks, and belt. That meant I needed at least two suits for the winter, and two for the summer.
After six-months in the mail room, I was promoted to the traffic department, with a raise in salary. Now I was getting into the glamour connected with the ad biz, and I wanted to really become a part of it. I had seen movies portraying the culture of the business, especially by Cary Grant, my hero, in the movie “North by Northwest.” Who wouldn’t want to have drinks at the Oak Room in the Plaza Hotel?
So, I decided I needed an elegant wrist watch. Obviously, the only place I could think of at the time, was of course Tiffany’s. During one lunch hour, I trotted down to fifth and fifty-seventh street, to purchase my dream watch. It was 18K gold, very thin, a Universal Geneva watch which also had the Tiffany name inscribed, and an alligator black band.
This was a watch to be reckoned with. As I was purchasing it the sales lady, and yes, they were called sales ladies back then, she asked me if I had a Tiffany’s account, and if I didn’t, would I like to open one up. Well, I was too far gone by this time, with my head in the clouds to say no. No problem, it was very simple, I just filled my personal information, and I was set. The watch cost me $100, you have to remember it probably was 1960 or 61, and I was now making $75 a week. No matter I was flying high.
I had it appraised in early August 2005. It was now worth $7,000.00. Later in the month on August 29, 2005, when I was in Biloxi, Mississippi, Hurricane Katrina came and took it away.
Oh well, easy come, easy go.
