For a number of years watches have been my thing. I can recall a year receiving a tax return and purchasing the most expensive piece of timeware I would ever buy. It was a $500 Valentine watch that I got from Filene's Basement. And consider, that was markedly discounted from the original retail price. I can remember the feelings of elation I felt. YEEEESSSS!!!! This was not only the finest piece of timeware I owned but it was the most extravagant...it was Valentino for goodness sakes! I didn't have to contemplate nor did I have any regrets about the buy. I owned a piece of haute couture and that was all that matter. Nevertheless, I got a lot of wear out of the watch, it had been an excellent companion on dates and late nights out. So much so that I broke a cardinal personal rule: NEVER ALLOW ANYONE TO BORROW YO' SH*T!!! With this timeless piece of luxury I did the unthinkable! In my defense, I wanted everyone to feel as glamourous as I did, so I figured why not share the wealth...literally! Well, share the wealth I did and I ended up getting screwed. This exquisite piece of time and jewelry was returned to me in disarray, missing a rhinestone and a much warranted apology from the prodigal wearer. Piss, is the least of what I was feeling. I never understand the carelessness in which people use and return your most precious effects. It's been some time (no pun intended) since that incident, but the memory of "deconstructed" perfection has yet to fade away. Can't say the same for the friendship however. But as it's said, "time heals". I'm a crafty gal, however I was never able to find just the correct sized pyramid rhinestone to replace the missing. I continued to wear the watch nonetheless, and surprisingly continued to receive compliments. As time continued on, I ended up resizing the band because it was always so big for my delicate little bird-like wrist. Dents to the metal hardware, scratches on the quartz crystal watch face, missing rhinestone and all did not stop my $500 watch wearing flow. But I had to put a halt to all the stunting because it was causing beaucoup cosmetic damage that would end up being irreparable. So, I put my extravagant ways to rest along with the watch. Ultimately, I grew detached from my watch. I still loved H-E-R, but I was beginning to realize that this had become an obsession as opposed to a daliance, so I decided to permanently put my fixation and timepiece to rest. I ended up handed it down to one of the very special youth that I worked with. I figured since she was an up-and-coming young woman of the world, she was going to require all of the outfitting and accessorizing necessary to take it on.
Unfortunately, I failed to take a photo of my once prized possession (UGH!!!). But, I located an almost exact replica (albeit the color. The one I muse of had a black face (with the "Valentino" name on top watch dial, clear and jet-black crystals with a black alligator watchband). Bellissimo!
A fitting tribute to time lost & past without a hankering of sorrow. The piece featured above is from the 2010/2011 Valentino [Women's] Timeless collection (Fascia Coral Red Dial Brown Alligator; model #: 8751100055). Retails on Amazon.com for $599.00.
