No, you do not need the new thing.

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Most watch media is trying to push you to buy something. It could be a "review" that is thinly veiled advertising, or someone who is banking on you unknowingly buying via their affiliate link. It grinds my gears that it's not more transparent, but I think it exposes a deeper issue. Do you really need the… Continue reading No, you do not need the new thing.

Dress for Success, Round Table No. 16

Greg: The topic is this: we are always told to dress for the job that we want. What is the watch equivalent to that proposition? There is always a bit of projection and dress-up with watches, but what watch would project what we wanted? Chris: Does this one step into that “fetishisation” category? The number… Continue reading Dress for Success, Round Table No. 16

Mid-Century Modern Watch Guide of Sorts (wrong century, for one thing)

I have been involved in several arguments about two casual terms that we often apply to watches: Art Deco and Bauhaus. The problem seems to be that the terms are amorphous and apply to architecture and interior design somewhat differently than they do to watches. Art Deco buildings had largely stopped being built when Art… Continue reading Mid-Century Modern Watch Guide of Sorts (wrong century, for one thing)

Waterbury Sour Grapes Edition

I am reading a lot of disgust and anger about Timex’s release of its one dollar 170-year anniversary Waterbury edition. Everyone is disappointed and feels used by Timex because they didn’t get one. Is this reaction justified? No. Don’t be an idiot. Timex announced that there would be 1000 watches available at its retailers and… Continue reading Waterbury Sour Grapes Edition

Sherwin Agonistes

“Invicta causes anthropomorphic climate change and that’s why I wear an eighty-year-old Gruen.” No, that’s not what Sherwin said, and perhaps that is an unfair characterization of his point, but it gets at the general premise. More charitably, “wasteful spending on watches is harmful to our environment”, may be closer to his argument. “Wasteful spending”… Continue reading Sherwin Agonistes

They are taking our watches…

Are the numbers of thefts of luxury watches rising in our major cities? Are there knife or gun wielding gangs of immigrants making our streets less safe in which to wear a luxury watch? These are different questions. The answer to each might be “yes”, but it will be hard to obtain accurate statistics to… Continue reading They are taking our watches…

Corrections and Clarifications

The following are corrections and clarifications from recent The Escapement Room articles. TER and the authors regret any error made or offense taken, such not being the intent of TER or the author. Take Me to the Bivet, April 2024: The author regrets referring to Jean-Claude Bivet as “LVMH’s former sexy beast and master pimp… Continue reading Corrections and Clarifications

Born to lose

This year I am batting .181, which makes me the Dal Maxvill of online bidding watch idiots. I have only won 18% of the online auctions where I have participated. I lost one this weekend that was deeply frustrating to me and Chris because we discussed that I had found the perfect 1940’s military watch,… Continue reading Born to lose