Luxury Watches = Corruption … in China anyway
A Chinese activist has uncovered a sure fire method of rooting out those corrupt government drones. He takes pictures of the watches they are wearing. So what’s the fuss ? Well, apparently some of the photos that have been floating around by way of the Chinese version of Twitter and a 42 page PowerPoint show officials wearing watches that two or three times their annual salary. Hmmmmmm … something does sound rotten in Denmark … err, China 
LOL. I am sure it will come as no surprise to you that this activist’s activity has been censored in that bastion of free speech called China. I wonder if this would be a way to reduce the budget in the good ol’ USA … let’s start photographing watches being worn by government employees and see what we can come up with. In any event, if you would like more information on this matter go here.
Labor Day weekend in the “States” and I am catching up on a stack of magazines. I saw an editorial comment regarding the subject of the USA being a “mature” market for “fine” watches. The editorial went on to say that it was really the industry’s doing (I will avoid the word “fault”) that this was the case as the major “fine” brands focus so heavily on a relatively small market of watch enthusiasts. Understandably it takes the ability to make a financial commitment to fall into the category of watch enthusiasts as described in this article, but as much as I agree with the premises, I do disagree with the intent. It seems that this popular watch enthusiasts magazine has defined the matter from the point of view of VERY expensive brands that are affordable by only a relative few. So what about the rest of us … I guess we are destined to be watch industry cast offs and perhaps not even allowed to wear a watch because we cannot meet the financial criteria. Fortunately, as usual, the “fine” watch industry missies the “proving ground” for many of their customers. You can still be a “collector” and not spend an arm and a leg as many stores,