I like to leave my Rolex at home when I go on holiday, so I don't lose or damage it or get mugged. Any suggestions for a good travel/holiday watch?
Mr Dandy: Ah, the 'beater' watch... for rough and tumble travel, you could easily pick up a bomb-proof digital watch, such as Casio's cult classic, the G-Shock (HK$600 and up; Javy's G-Factory, P1, Casey Building, 38 Lok Ku Road, Sheung Wan, tel: 2545 1999). It comes in many colours, with functions for every imaginable need. I'm not sure when I'd need atomic clock synchronisation, but I like having the option. Or what about the classic simplicity of the Timex Weekender quartz watch (HK$250;
www.amazon.com)? You can also order a selection of understated or colourful Nato-style 'ribbon' watch bands to go with whatever you're wearing. J.Crew has done a fantastic reissue of the military watch in collaboration with Timex, but I was bummed to find they don't deliver to Hong Kong yet (see it at
www.jcrew.com).
Mr Dapper: Quartz? Digital? I suppose they have their place, but a mechanical, automatic watch is a connection to history and craftsmanship, which is a good mindset to take on holiday. Many automatic watches are inexpensive enough to be your daily 'beater' on the road. Orient Watch, from Japan, has since 1950 focused on building affordable automatic watches (HK$1,000 and up; Time Focus, 1/F, Trendy Zone, Chow Tai Fook Centre, 580A Nathan Road, Mong Kok, tel: 2332 9500). Many big watchmakers design only the outer case, simply inserting the movements made by others. But Orient Watch produces all its movements in-house. The same is true for Japanese brand Seiko, which makes excellent mechanical watches at all price levels. That includes the inexpensive Seiko 5 series (HK$850 and up; City Chain;
www.citychain.com). It's named for the five essential features of an automatic watch: shock resistance, water resistance, automatic mechanism, unbreakable mainspring and day/date display. At these prices, should you find yourself confronted by a mugger, politely hand over the watch, then go and buy yourself another.
When I was in Europe over the summer, I noticed guys wearing man jewellery, but it didn't look lame. An old uni buddy had a Louis Morais bracelet that was nice. Are they sold here?
Mr Dandy: There's nothing embarrassing about showing you care about how you look. Brazilian designer Luis Morais (you might not have found him because of typo) is hot right now. You can see some of its pieces at
www.luismorais.com. In Hong Kong, you'll find a few items, such as the black glass beaded Wisdom bracelet (HK$1,250; Lane Crawford, IFC Mall, Central, tel: 2118 7777). I found some awesome armband/bracelets in black leather with gold studs by John Lawrence Sullivan at Joyce (HK$3,300 for two; Pacific Place, Admiralty, tel: 2523 5944) as well as a cuff in gunmetal-grey chain and leather by Mouton Collet (HK$2,800).
Mr Dapper: I've said it before and I'll say it again: men don't need much more than a watch, a wedding ring (if married) and cufflinks. I don't mind one of those sailing-rope bracelets in summer, though, and I found some nice ones at American Eagle Outfitters (Ocean Terminal, Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui, tel: 2730 6939) for only HK$75. You could also try the rope-like woven leather bands at Tod's (HK$1,300 to HK$1,800; Gateway Arcade, Harbour City, tel: 2199 7752). More tough-guy cred is to be had by asking a friend who sails to take you to his/her favourite supplies store for authentic rope to tie on, such as the Ship Shop at the Yacht Club (Kellett Island, Causeway Bay, tel: 2239 0336).
