Diary No. 4- Time is Money (Literally)

Dear Reader,

The phrase above could not be more true could it? No one can deny that time is a truly valuable resource, so it is better to make good use of it since it seems to be so scarce. Now while this saying is true when it comes to working hard and getting things done, it could also be applied in a much more literal way. Especially around the COVID 19 pandemic, where one could say we had more than enough time (in fact many of us did not know what to do with it), it seems the price of time pieces began to sky rocket. In fact many recognized watch makers reported an increased demand for their luxury pieces (with brands like Rolex even experiencing shortages), reflecting on the pre loved market with some of these watches being sold at huge mark ups. Since then the luxury watch market has experienced a bit of a lull, but that does not mean that watch prices are that much more palatable. Now if you ask me, luxury watches are the equivalent of a fine piece of art, leading me to firmly believe that yes, some of these are worth the money. However, whether they are worth my personal money (given the lovely stability of the economy) is a whole different question. So below I will present you three iconic pieces from two world renowned brands, and the price tags that accompany such watches. Then I will present to you three alternatives that provide an elevated and beautiful piece, accompanied not only by a great quality, but by a price tag that your wallet (and by that I mean your significant other) will appreciate.

Ballon Bleu- Cartier

One of the youngest members of the Cartier range, this stunning watch (which gets its name by the blue Cabochon stone nestled on the side of the watch giving the appearance of a blue balloon), was released in 2007 and has become one of the most iconic pieces of the house. Boasting a variety of sizes, metallic compositions, and color combinations, they also come with a hefty price tag. On the Cartier website these begin around the $5,050 USD range and go to the tens of thousands depending on the variation you choose.

Alternative- Seiko Presage

With a domed crystal, a variety of lovely colors to choose from, and a beautiful guilloche design (a technique also found on Cartier watches) this watch which forms part of my wish list, can be obtained for around $350 USD if you take advantage of one of the many sales going on due to the holidays at the moment. Also, its automatic so to me that is a huge plus (saving on batteries too).

Cartier Tank

The Cartier Tank as opposed to the Ballon Bleu has been part of the Cartier line up for a much longer time period, since around 1919. It was inspired by the bird's eye view of old French tanks used during World War One, and has since then been adored by many prominent men and women throughout history. There has also been various versions of this watch including elongated, reversible, and even asymmetrical styles. This particular piece tends to start at a more friendly price point in comparison to other members of the Cartier Family (around $3,300 USD), but it can easily skyrocket to over $30,000 USD depending on how much you love gold and diamonds.

Alternative- SWR064 Seiko (aka Seiko Tank)

This model, most commonly recognized by many as the Seiko Tank, is truly an exquisite piece. I myself own one and when I say it is one of my most complimented watches, I mean it. Interestingly enough, despite the borderline identical resemblance of the Seiko and Cartier watches, I have never had anyone ask if I am wearing a Cartier Tank, people just ask where I got it so they can get one too. The slim profile, and the face which almost resembles paper with flecks of gold around the dial makes the $150 USD that I spent on it truly worth it. Depending on where you are buying from, they may be available at lower prices and there is even a solar version too.

Reverso- Jaeger LeCoultre

A true innovation from 1931, the reverso which became the reason we now have Jaeger LeCoultre, is a true masterpiece. Originally designed to withstand being used during polo matches (which quite often led to broken watch glass), the reverso was a first in it's kind. It came with a watch face that reversed into a metal plate allowing it to stand up to those intense games and protect the time telling part of the watch. For a while the brand experienced a few decades of flying under the radar, but in recent years has made a comeback with many variations and options. On the pieces where the face reverses onto a metal plate, you can engrave the plate with your initials. Other pieces reverse onto a second watch face usually in another color and variation. It comes as no surprise that these are some of the most expensive timepieces, starting on their website at around $8,000 USD and only climbing from there.

Alternative- Vario Versa

I pride myself in admitting that I also own one of these beautiful watches. This dual time zone watch allows you to reverse the watch phase to either a different colored or different patterned variation on the back. What I also like is that it is not a blatant copy of the Reverso. While the Reverso watch slide in a horizontal manner, the Versa flips in a vertical manner, and even though it is Quartz movement (which I don't personally mind) the price point is also extremely budget friendly in comparison to its French counterpart, coming in at only $428 USD. The Vario brand is hailing in from Singapore and my experience buying with them was one of the most pleasant, shipping took around 3 days and the watch came packaged with and authenticity card and it's own travel case. Not to mention that the owners will actually email you a picture of the exact watch and the condition of it before shipping delivering a quality experience.

In Time

If you ever watched the Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried movie In Time, they took to another level the phrase time is money (in that case it legit was life). While it is true that houses like Rolex, Cartier, Jaeger LeCoultre, AP, and others are iconic with pieces that last you a lifetime, there is suitable alternatives that do not give you the same spasms that those running out of time had in the movie before they died. You can achieve a classic gentleman's look with any of these fine pieces from brands like Vario, Seiko, Citizen, and others and anyone who dare judge you for it is simply not worth your time.

Yours Truly,

S.E. Vega

P.S. Feel free to swing by the Vario IG page when you get a chance, and while you are at it give us a visit at our IG page, @agentlemanschronicles. Now that is worth your time.