The Rectangular Lady watch by Thomas Sabo has a chain-link strap Left: With its Roman-numeral face and simple band, the appeal of Cartier’s Tank Français ($4,650 through www.cartier.com) is timeless. Right:($429 through thomassabo.com).
I once knew a man with a wristwatch collection so diverse and dizzying that it drew gasps from people. I have also seen the trend recently toward having a "wardrobe" of watches. Hey, society accepts - nay, encourages - both men and women to fill their closets with more footwear than there are days of the month to wear it, so why not timepieces?
These days, we need a sports watch, a tux watch, a couple "fashion watches" (industry speak for pieces in the triple zero range that last a few years). A watch collection can help frame your identity and investment in a couple of really good watches give a sense of permanence.
I feel cheesy citing Jackie Kennedy, such a dreadfully obvious style icon. But I would have to admit that I likely selected my dream watch based on archival photos of her cavorting on the Cape in a black turtleneck with her Tank Louis Cartier. I must say I feel more modern about the great object of my watch desire now that Michelle Obama has made Cartier's Tank Français her signature timepiece.
I don't want blingy diamonds, bells, whistles or flashing lights. The Tank, with its classic Roman-numeral face and simple band, is perfect.
That is who I want to be, and if I had one I would be so secure in my righteous identity that I would not require any other watch.
So I was very happy when I found this beautiful watch by Thomas Sabo. The German jeweller is a trusted go-to in Europe, but relatively new to the Canadian market. In the $400 range, this piece comes in at less than a tenth of the price of my Cartier dream watch. But at that price you get Swiss precision and a good heft (watches are the last product on earth that you don't want to become more lightweight).
I love the Sabo Rectangular Lady watch ($429 through www.thomassabo.com) because it conveys the same things I would expect a Tank to say about me: classy, high-minded, elegant, sophisticated. I'm not novelty-watch bimbo, nor do I sleep around with a Tag one day and a Chronos the next.
And by wearing the Sabo and buying it for myself, I am showing that I am a sensible woman who knows the value of my own hard-earned cash.