The Quest for the Ultimate Watch

My birthday’s fast approaching. The days leading up to this annual event are always fabulous. I mean, birthdays are occasions to splurge (I’ve said this before, I think) – a day when you can buy yourself anything, no questions asked. The only limit is the depth of your pockets, really. And if by some good fortune your pockets are deep, the only other limit is your conscience.

I told Hubby today that I’m planning on getting myself something “extra” special this year. I am, after all, hitting my “late thirties” (that’s 36 for you). My dream this year (actually, it has been for a while) ) – to lay my hands on a gorgeous, respectable watch.

I made a shortlist of candidates:

1. The IWC Da Vinci (Small) (shown here in my preferred stainless steel with black crocodile leather strap).

Nothing compares to the elegant look of this watch. I mean, just look at it! And its insides aren’t shabby either: chronograph-grade, 233 parts (in such a small case!), perpetual moon phase display, caliber 630, 25 jewels. IWC has this to say about it: “The smallest member of the extensive Da Vinci family will display the phase of the moon exactly to the day for the next 122 years, keeping track of the minutes and hours and seconds and recording times to an accuracy of a quarter of a second.”

Two drawbacks: the small Da Vinci is a quartz and it’s Php136,000++, well over the price of a decent, branded mechanical movement (automatic) watch (like the next one).

2. The JeanRichard TV Screen Fantasy Milady

I like the fun, casual look of this watch. Specs: Mechanical movement with automatic winding, caliber 7 ¾””, 25 jewels, 28,800 vib/hr frequency, 38 hours power reserve. Price is not bad either – approximately Php90,000 at Lucerne. And check out the changing orientation of the arabic numerals...

3. The Longines Evidenza (shown here in dark brown Alligator strap)

Another elegant-looking watch in classic tonneau shape. And it’s a mechanical movement, self-winding watch, too. Specs: 28,800 vib/hr frequency and 42 hours of power reserve, calendar aperture at 6 o’clock on the dial, a subdial for the seconds at 3 o’clock, domed, scratch-resistant and non-reflecting crystal, silvered “flinqué” dial with 10 blue painted Arabic numerals, water-resistant to 30 meters (~100 feet). And available in Washington at the reasonable price of Php60,000++. Only drawback: Longines is essentially a Swatch (that is, a member of the Swatch group).

4. The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Lady DateJust (shown here with the classic jubilee bracelet)

How can I not shortlist this watch? No need to say anything more than this watch’s name. But Hubby says Rolex is a bad idea; Customs people all wear it. And that makes it cheesy and cheeky. Still, I firmly believe you can’t go wrong with a purchase of this watch. Approximately Php275,000 at Lucerne and always available -- that means, also, ordinary?

5. The Philip Stein Chronograph (Rubber)

This is a great-looking sports watch. Too bad it only comes in an oversized steel case (It’s discrimination I tell ya!) for men. I love the black rubber bezel and black rubber band, 15 ATM water resistant (Does anyone really dive that deep?). Chronograph-certified movement. Price is approximately US$1,700. I’ve not seen this here, though.

An alternative is the Small classic Philip Stein quartz with interchangeable bracelets (shown here in stainless steel). But (as you may have noticed) I’m a bit allergic to quartz movements. I mean, really, the value and beauty of a watch is in its movement. A truly great watch shouldn’t need batteries.

The great thing about the Small Philip Stein is its price. At a measly Php30,000++ at Lucerne, you really can’t go wrong with this purchase, especially as it’s soooo fabulously fashionable.

A final word on Philip Stein: Interesting thing about it is its patented “Teslar Technology” that ostensibly relieves stress (don’t ask me how).

6. The Patek Philippe Aquanaut

Now this is The ULTIMATE Watch – a watch you purchase to prove to all the world that you’ve made it. The Aquanaut (shown here in small) is probably the most beautiful sports watch you will ever find (with the most elegant composite strap ever) and at 32,768 vib/hr frequency, nothing beats its accuracy. The only drawback is, in the small size, the Aquanaut is a quartz. A tempting option is the medium, a mechanical, self-winding watch that is water resistant to 120 m. Sadly, at Php290,000 for the small and approx. Php350,000 for the automatic medium model, I fear that the Aquanaut will remain the ultimate DREAM watch.

Karate Kid

Yaya (or nanny) told me that my 2 year old daughter, Maia, had a nasty sighting of a woman slapping her 21-year old daughter in public, by the poolside and playground commons of our condominium building, while Maia and other young kids were playing in the area last Tuesday morning. And this woman didn’t just bitch-slap the young lass once (if Maia’s nanny is to be believed) but TEN TIMES! Horrors! (Maia’s nanny picked up from the shouting match that preceded the slapping that the young girl had just got kicked out of school for drug use. Ayayaaay … like slapping her would set her straight!)

So I was holding Maia last night, right, struggling to explain why such things happen in life. She had a sad, bewildered look on her face. “What that mother did to her young girl,” I say, “was bad, and I am sorry you had to see it.”

Hubby chimes in. “Make a distinction, Mama …” he says. Taking the cue, I tell Maia, “No one should ever hit anyone. So don’t hit anyone, okay? That’s wrong.” I quickly add, “But if someone hits you FIRST, well, you box and karate like crazy, okay? Like this …” I strike an unstudied Karate pose, legs spread wide, fists swirling. “Do you understand?,” I ask.

She giggles (like I’m kidding!) and says, appearing to humor me, “Uh-kay, mama.” She then mimics (and improves on) my poor fighting stance and then, with a forward kick, explodes in the cutest “Hay-yaaaaaaaaaa!!!” you ever heard.

Realizing I hadn’t taught her that, I turn to her nanny, scolding her, “AND WHAT HAS THIS GIRL BEEN WATCHING ON TV, YAYA?”

Manolo's Shoe Blog

I thought I’d post something on the lighter side of things today (even I am getting tired of Ponch … so off he goes to the closet; at least, until his next stupid …)

I should be writing more about shopping (and other things of great consequence in life) in this blog. Not that I’m an expert on fashion or anything. But I do love beautiful, expensive things (if only I could afford to buy them). So I’ve been searching for all blogs relevant and interesting on blogspot and found Manolo’s Shoe Blog. Check it out. Manolo’s Shoe Blog is actually quite hilarious (and smart) so he has earned a link on this blog just for The Fun of it.

I will henceforth keep track of The Manolo’s great advice on every girl’s fascination and obsession – Shoes, shoes, and more shoes! Hopefully, I’ll improve my success rate at finding fabulous ones.

Mama Had a Bad Day

I had a really awful day yesterday at the office. So I come home from work distressed and haggard ... My 2-year old daughter, Maia, sensing my sadness, asks me, "What's yong, Mama?" I reply in the cheeriest tone I could muster, "Oh, sweetheart, Mama just had a bad day at the office." She asks, her brow creased, looking worried, "Wha' happen?" I say, "Oh, Mama did this and this, and this and that happened, etc. etc." She asks again, really frowning this time, "A' you sad?" Not bothering anymore to hide my grief, I reply, "Yes, sweetheart, Mama's sad and worried because .... whine, whine, whine" I try my darnedest not to make her feel responsible for my sadness, "... Mama's work is so hard sometimes ..."

She looks at me, pouting, appears to think things through, and though she couldn't have possibly understood the complexity of the problem, she says to me, in the sweetest, most comforting, caring voice, "It's awright, Mama..." She then pats me on the shoulder very gently.

I almost cry, really, if not for her immediately breaking out in (Daniel Powter's now famous) song -- "You had a bad day, you had a bad day, and you tewn it ayound ..."

I very soon forgot the troubles of my day.

Elliott's Not Perfect

So I've been updating myself on my one-true idol, Elliott Yamin, and, sadly, I now have one bad thing to say about him (sowee, Audine). I mean, all these articles about how Elliott is so devoted to his mother (and all the articles devoted to her!) are getting to me. Almost all Yamin sites (including Yaminions and especially YaminMachine) devote all sorts of posts and pics and stories about Mama Claudette. Not that I have anything against her… She’s really quite an admirable woman. In fact, early on, I thought it charming (an “Awwww…” kind of charming) that he is so close to her.

My beef is really against mama’s boys.

Elliott talks loads about his mother (often even speaking of her a little too fondly - "I'm so happy I'm going through all this with her ..." - eew ... ) and always has her in tow. And he is constantly asked about her, too. But did you ever notice how Elliott hardly, if ever, spoke of his girlfriend except in a few interviews here and there where he mentions her name – what was it again? (I hear that she is now an “ex-“, too).

Honestly, Elliott's appeal is somehow diminished by his having a stage mother. I actually pity the chick who ends up with a guy who isn’t weaned off his mama’s milk. I mean, how would life be with such a schmuck? As if trying to get along with your mother-in-law isn’t difficult enough – imagine competing for your significant other's attention with, and constantly getting jealous of, the “other woman” in his life – his mama! Horrors!

Elliott, my boy, lose the sidekick. It's done its work. Now it's just really ... boring ... and annoying, too. It’s time to strike out on your own and let your beautiful voice do your PR for you.

Elliott's Passed Up On

I heard some weeks ago (confirmed through some Elliott Yamin fan sites) that Chris Daughtry and Kellie Pickler both got signed on by Tommy Mottola’s 19 Recordings, together with (of course) Taylor and Katharine. So, my boy Elliott’s the only idol who made it to the top 5 this year who didn’t get a contract with the AI-associated label. That's friggin' screwy, if you ask me.

Wait a minute … Kellie wasn’t even in the top 5, I remember. She can't really sing ... and she’s a dimwit to boot - a caricature of the stereotype American born-yesterday blonde … And she got a record deal?!?! What gives?

Even Paris Bennett (who finished 5th and was also passed up on) is a better singer.

The good news, though, is that Elliott’s poised to announce a recording contract come August 24. I’m keeping my fingers crossed it’s not with Mottola’s sorry motley of labels. Elliott’s gotta teach this guy what he’s missing … the bucks, the BUCKS! any recording label could score if it signs on this smooth-singing angel. . .