Put This On

All I Want For Christmas: Greg Behrendt

In our continuing series All I Want For Christmas, we ask me we like what they’d like to get as a gift.

Greg Behrendt is a standup comedian with a tattoo that reads, “Dress Better.”  He can even work a sewing machine.  His hilarious new special now on DVD is “Greg Behrendt is That Guy From That Thing,” and his band, the Reigning Monarchs, have a new CD of instrumental first-wave-style ska.  So what does Greg want for Christmas?

“Currently obsessing on the Stauer Dastronic Watch. It’s half watch half dashboard and you can wear while putting your fist through a wall.  And comes with the guarantee that if you are not getting compliments in the first 30 days get a full refund!”

Stauer Dashtronic Watch, $99

It’s On Ebay!

Vintage 18K Gold Patek Philippe Chronograph

Heavy hitters only: Buy It Now for $124,900

It’s On Ebay!

Sweet Russian Spaceship Watch

Starts at $49, Ends Monday

It’s On Ebay!

1946 Breitling Chronograph in 18K Gold

Damn, this is a beautiful watch.

Sitting at $2650, and it’s only going up.  Ends tonight.

It’s On Ebay!

Vintage Omega Constellation in 14k Gold

Started at $9.99; ends Tuesday

If you’re looking for a casual watch, you could do a lot worse than this handsome, functional watch by Luminox.  Apparently it is the only watch that is always lit - the lighting comes from a crazy luminescent space gas.  It’s used by Navy Seals, so it should be able to handle whatever you can throw at it.  Hydroponic gardening, maybe?  And it’s 45% off at Amazon.

(Note: crazy luminescent gas not actually from space.)

via Valet

Tips and Tricks

If you don’t have the money for a fancy watch, but you’re still looking for something with a little more style than the average $60 watch from Macy’s, there’s a simple solution.

Start with a simple watch.  If you prefer not to wind your watch, you can use the Timex Easy Reader, a battery-powered watch with a lovely face (I prefer the model without the clutter of day and date).  If you want to wear a piece of horological engineering on your wrist, you can start with a plain, inexpensive mid-20th-century watch from Ebay.  Brands like Oris and Hamilton (or even Soviet Russian watches) don’t have much value to collectors but have made solid, aesthetically simple watches you can buy for $50 or $100 on Ebay with ease (or $25 with some looking).

Have a jeweler remove the band for you, but leave the posts.  Any jeweler or watch repairman can do this, and they’ll charge you $2 if anything.

Replace the band with a ribbon band, running it over the post, behind the face of the watch, then over the other post.  You can choose a selection of colors here - five for thirty bucks.  Those are nylon, which are a little less refined than the traditional silk grosgrain, but it’s also extremely durable and even washable.

With a solid olive or navy-and-gray band, your watch is ready for turf warfare.  With a red white and blue band, it’s ready for a summer picnic.  Solid navy or black and it’s comfortable with a suit.