My birthday is coming up soon. I mention this for two reasons: first, because it means that I have to renew my vehicle registration; and second, because… well, I’ll get to that in a minute.
The registration is relevant to the object of my lust, because, you see, Georgia requires vehicle emissions testing every time the registration on a car or truck is renewed.
This afternoon, during my lunch break, I went to have my emissions tested. The place where this is done is a tiny steel building, about the size of a Quonset hut or metal shed, with a diminutive office–really, a space hardly big enough for two chairs and a magazine stand–attached.
In the magazine stand were several copies of some “high fashion” magazine or other; I don’t remember their names, as they all look the same to me.
In the magazine I picked up at random and flipped through while the technician revved my engine and prodded my car was an article on wristwatches. And in that article was a description of the thing to which I am by degrees coming.
It is a wristwatch made by a company called Romaine Jerome.
It is not a wristwatch in any conventional sense of the term, however. Rather than a dial and hands, it tells time by means of small drums which rotate, and on which are printed numbers. The drums are driven by–get this–a tiny chain, like a bicycle chain whose miniscule links are well under half a millimeter in size. The whole thing is steampunk and retro and gorgeous beyond belief.
This, gentle readers, is the Romaine Jerome Cabestan watch:

Just the thing for a steampunk ‘con costume.
The only down side? Suggested retail price: $220,000.00 US. Did I mention my birthday is coming up?
Oh, sweet darling! I want one too now. You’re cruel for showing me that this exists, Franklin. ;_;
Oh, sweet darling! I want one too now. You’re cruel for showing me that this exists, Franklin. ;_;
ZOMG Want!!!!!!!
What she said! 🙂
ZOMG Want!!!!!!!
Jesus fucking christ! My parents paid less than that for their 4 BR house in Silicon Valley (ok, that was 20 years ago, but still!)
It’s 2.5 times what our house cost 12 years ago. However, it’s also soooo gorgeous!
Franklin, you should cross post this to. They’ll absolutely love it (as do I!).
Jesus fucking christ! My parents paid less than that for their 4 BR house in Silicon Valley (ok, that was 20 years ago, but still!)
Holy flying crap!!! That is the coolest thing ever!
Holy flying crap!!! That is the coolest thing ever!
What she said! 🙂
It’s 2.5 times what our house cost 12 years ago. However, it’s also soooo gorgeous!
Franklin, you should cross post this to. They’ll absolutely love it (as do I!).
Moral: Don’t read fashion mags? 🙂
While that is SWEET..
what possibly could be better
might be.. making your own!
…soo pretty. *droolz*
Moral: Don’t read fashion mags? 🙂
While that is SWEET..
what possibly could be better
might be.. making your own!
…soo pretty. *droolz*
Well, look, if 22,000 of us each chipped in ten bucks, that would do it… 😉
Well, look, if 22,000 of us each chipped in ten bucks, that would do it… 😉
So fragile… and so expensive. Bad combination!
If you pay someone to make you one, you could bring it down to a few hundreds, I think. Still way too much money for a wristwatch, imo…
So fragile… and so expensive. Bad combination!
If you pay someone to make you one, you could bring it down to a few hundreds, I think. Still way too much money for a wristwatch, imo…
I’ve never been that into watches, but Master is so I showed him this picture. He thinks it’s pretty fucking sweet.
I’ve never been that into watches, but Master is so I showed him this picture. He thinks it’s pretty fucking sweet.