Both Sides of the Fence
Keeping you up-to-date from the horological world as found in the recent Robb Report "Watch Collector," Issue No. 1, where not so much watches, but tourbillons are sold, witness the Ghengis Khan.
From Swiss watchmaker Ulysse Nardin, I'm guessing the Ghengis appeals to those feeling particularly domineering or rapacious; perhaps both. Special timepieces these -- you can't just walk up to the display case and pull one out. The representative demurred on the pricing request, saying it depends on the watchmaker with whom you work.
When I asked for a ballpark, she fairly gasped: "Who are you?" "Just someone who saw it in the watch magazine, lady." I was given the ballpark: $650,000 suisse francs. With a slightly favorable exchange rate for the U.S., 1 USD:1.17 francs, you'll pay for this watch what you could buy a shack for in Ojai, should such a thing be available.
Meanwhile, in my neck of the woods, if you asked about the horological forecast, you'd probably get a concerned look about the state of AIDS and other STD's in our counties, one of which leads the state in number of newly reported AIDS cases this year. These people won't be buying the Ghengis Khan anytime soon.
--Lisa
Labels: ghengus khan watch, horology
posted by rangeragainstwar at 9:37 AM
14 Comments:
If one has to ask the price of a tourbillon one cannot afford it.
::murmur:: Peon.
my apache grandfather, when confronted with items that cost far more than they were worth would always ask the salesclerk "where are the holes?" the clerk would be puzzled and often ask "the holes?" whereupon grandfather would say "the holes for the ears of the jackass that would pay that much money for a . . ."
when he died, my mother, uncle, myself, and some cousins were at the funeral home and being shown caskets. we were shown one made out of walnut wood, with a velvet lining and brass appointments. the representative said that the cost was $25,000. there was a beat or two of silence before my uncle asked him "where are the holes?" then we collapsed in laughter.
MB,
I love this story. Your grandfather would have approved, I'm sure.
My family has always marveled over the absurdity and exorbitance of the velvet/pillowed caskets. Your body will only decay there, and what a gruesome image to have occurring on velvet pillows.
Much better a pine box, or cremation, really, for the environment. The thought of all of those hermetically-sealed steel caskets full of rot disgusts me.
L.
You know, I think if I had that much money---so much I could spend that much on a wristwatch (for crying out loud!), I don't think I'd give a half-damn what time it was!
lurch: 'Twas a CRASS question, wasn't it?! Y'know, but--what if $400,000 was my cut off? No paeans for the peons?
But, there will always be a need for the Timex-wearing peon.
labrys,
But, how will you make your flight to St. Barths?
The triple Jack minute repeater model will kindly gong for you on the quarter hour. (It actually sports little towel-wearing peons striking gongs on the watch face.)
Best watch I ever owned was that all-nylon combat watch the Army used to issue. About the only metal parts were the mainspring and the hands, I think Army Green, black face serious radium hands and figures and thankfully weak band pins so if Your watch band got caught on something like a big ole rock or branch tip, the thing would fall off, and you'd be able to wriggle away.
I'll bet if someone found one somewhere out west and north of Dak To and cleaned it a bit and then wound the stem it might still work today.
lurch, no doubt the watch would work better than we do. I'll bet it had a wrist compass on it. jim
No, Jim. You know the kind I'm talking about. :) No band compass though. Do I look like I eat cereal from a box? LOL
lurch,
I do know the ones you mean; they would dissolve when insect repellent hit them. They were exactly like Rolex, minus the sapphire crystal.
Insect repellent? Wow, you guys do lead a soft life.
lurch,
I had to use the insect repellent to cover up my after shave.
Thank you, Ranger. Now I know why your group had such a mystique.
lurch,
Mustique, you say? It was that, and the deodorant.
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