An Ace up his sleeve - Arts and Antiques, May 06

Arts and Antiques, May 2006

May 2006

What well dressed man would ignore the accessory opportunities presented to him on his wrist? Cufflinks and a nice wristwatch have always been classic accessories of a well heeled man. Today these opportunities to express ones style are being exploited by men of all ages and position who wish to say something about who they are and what they are ‘all about”. Success, a fun guy, a sailor, a banker or a man with unique personality, all of these can be expressed subtly on or beneath the sleeve of a man.

No longer is it just a “Rolex” world where the only good watch is an expensive one. There are many vintage watches which are unique, affordable and prestigious all rolled into one. Vintage Cartier, Jaeger LeCoultre, Longines and Omega are just a few of the fine makers that spring to mind. Certainly you can spend a great deal of money on these brands as well but many lovely vintage pieces can be acquired for less than $1000- $1500.

And what better to wear to accent the perfect timepiece but a spectacular set of vintage cufllinks? Whether the attire is a business suit or jeans and a collar, cufflinks offer a peek at the personality of an individual not to mention offering a fantastic opportunity for opening a conversation. People do notice what men have up/on their sleeve perhaps more so than the “oh so trendy” earring in one, the other, or both ears. Although this also says something about a man, it is not exactly the same statement of style.

Watches and cufflinks will always be a subtle sign that a modern, fashionable and elegant male is in our presence and not just because he is wearing a dinner suit, in actual fact, everyone dressed in a dinner suit has cufflinks on. No, it’s more about wearing these accessories when it is least expected, and more noticed, in particular in a casual setting like drinks or dinner with friends.

Hopefully, by now any man reading this article will at least be considering putting an “Ace up his sleeve.” So let’s take it one step further, why vintage? Why not buy new?

The answer is easy, because vintage sets you apart from the rest. In terms of timepieces, vintage is considered any watch that was made before 1960, anything made before 1920 would be considered antique. By far the most popular decades will include the Deco to Disco” eras, 1920’s- 1970’s with a significant dose of “Bond, James Bond” 50’s retro. Watches manufactured between the 40’s to 70s will be the more durable pieces due to technological innovations relating to shock and water resistance. Realistically you cannot expect a vintage watch to be as durable as today’s microchip technology, but, if they have lasted this long they must be pretty solid.

How do you care for a vintage timepiece? Easy, imagine a mechanical watch movement as a “mini-engine”. Just like a car engine they need maintenance which includes keeping the “engine” tuned, oiled and serviced on a regular basis depending on the type of wear it receives. Typical service cost is approx. $100. per 2 year period. Cared for a vintage watch can last for hundreds of years.

Vintage cuff links cover the same eras as vintage watches. Vintage cuff links offer both men and women a wider variety of style than the mass manufactured new product coming out of China. A vintage piece reflects the arts, economics, lifestyles and fashions of the era of their manufacture. They’re an ideal collectible. They’re affordable, available, make fantastic personal gifts; they’re functional, and can be stored or displayed in a small space. Most of all, vintage cuff links provide the wearer with an interesting and stylish way in which to project their own individual sense of style and personality.

Today’s watches and cufflinks are invariably mass manufactured in China and are available in every menswear, gift and tourist shop in the country. On the other “hand” vintage pieces are unique and come with a history, a story, something you can share with those who comment on your accessories. Then there is cost, more often than not you will find that the “made in China” watches and cufflinks cost the same or more than their vintage counterparts and the choices are limited. On the other hand, vintage pieces cover 80 years of choices- all unique.

Take a look at some of the websites that offer vintage watches and cufflinks, mine is only one of many, (www.vintagetimes.com.au). The selection is enormous, the prices are reasonable and availability is generally limited so you are pretty much assured that you will be the only one wearing the pieces you choose. Let’s face it, if accessorising is about setting ones self apart from the rest, who would want to wear something that has tens of thousands of copies floating about?

A mans wrist truly offers more opportunity for expression than any other part of body and is perhaps the most overlooked- by men that is. As women we are always on the lookout for signs that a man has considered, but not obsessed, about his appearance. For us, a man who is dressing to impress makes less of an impact that a man dressing to express. Tell us something about yourself gentleman!

Women do want to know more about your personality and style than they do your choice of sports or cars. But, if you insist, your cufflinks can also tell us that.

Contributed by Tammy Palmer - Vintage Times, Sydney Antique Centre - www.vintagetimes.com.au - 0413 703 780

Vintage Times will be displaying fine watches and cufflinks at the Asia International Arts & Antiques Fair 2006 taking place in Hong Kong 26-29 May 2006. Venue: Hall 3, AsiaWorld-Expo, (adjacent to Hong Kong International Airport)

Sponsors: The Palace Museum, China National Museum, Shannxi History Museum, Poly Art Museum, Taiwan Antique Dealers Association