bernard cheong
7182
Part 8 Real work...and
Bond wears Chopard!
Actually Jacky Ickyx, who is probably ten times cooler than a fictitious Bond wears a Chopard.
The scene from the quintessential Bond movie for me is that of Sean Connery as Bond, unzipping the top half of his rubber wet suit to reveal a white tux beneath, dry and pressed. He raises his left wrist to check the time. Ever wondered what watch he was wearing?
The point is...we all at one time or another want a watch we can wear almost anywhere at anytime. This can rule out almost any complicated, serious watch that has a place in a museum or a collector's drawing room. Well, we can argue that Richard Mille has made a few watches that seem fit for multiple G force torture. However, those watches are so damned expensive, I would bet my month's salary that not ONE Richard Mille owner ever trashes his watch in reservist training! Scuba diving at the Maldives does not count.
That settled. I want to pick ONE decent tuxedo class watch that can qualify as a real life contender for harsh treatment plus dinner with high society. First of, Chopard seemingly started as a jewelry house with outstanding diamond studded watches which were so expensive that I was never on their guest list for a single dinner. They knew I could never afford any of them!
After building a reputation as exclusive as that, they began to introduce more affordable, yet flawless elegant watches with decent simple mechanical movements. Notably successful were the Mille Miglia and LUC Sports line which I think are excellent purchases at almost any of their price points up and down the scale. They have excellent casework and dial finish. This is very important as you actually do not see your precious watch getting "old" as you own it for the next 20 to 50 years, or more. especially if you do not intend to keep buying watches every few months, like some of us.
Chopard, with their years of experience in jewelry, has paid great attention to the details of their dials, cases, and hands of their watches...these you can see and feel everyday. The steel quality is second to none. I would not expect any Chopard watch to develop "patina", the sickening yellowing color which some people call the "antique" look. I personally hate it.
So, as a watch that is intended for everyday wear and tear. The damned thing has to withstand UV light from our sun, salt and water from sweat and sea. Gold and platinum do not have any problems here. But stainless steel is the most difficult.
(In fact, this is the BIGGEST reason NOT TO BUY ANY FAKE WATCHES. They never ever use stainless steel! They fade! Literally.)
The LUC Pro One is worth very penny. The Pro One is the watch to have, and you can trash it during reservist training. It is tough and cool, like driving a Ferrari onto the surf and spraying sand and salt water into the air in ?slow-mo?.
This watch is damned well made, even for a sports watch! It is thick, big and tough. It has a well-bred LUC 4.96 caliber machine inside. An in-house Fleurier made engine. Mounted and finished by hand. COSC certified. At 42 mm, it is large enough for a guy, but also cool enough for a confident sexy woman. This is a watch that no watch snob can put you down for owning! If they have any idea of watchmaking, this watch is as honest a machine as it gets. It?s also rare. Although not at all "cheap" or "affordable" in relative terms. I won't state the price, but you will not regret asking about it!
It must help to have a damned sexy watch! After my car is parked too far away to be seen (and its NOT an Italian one). If buying the LUC is above budget, then the Mille Miglia Grand Turismo XL is the only alternative, and make sure the dial is white! It?s a fraction of the LUC?s price.
Wearing that watch is as good as driving the finest open topped Alfa Romeo, and twice as appealing to girls with brains (take that any which way you like).
