It’s almost Peaky Blinders season in the UK.
That’s the time of year from Easter to about mid-July, when men of all ages squeeze into ill-fitting houndstooth check suits, add a pocket watch plus fob chain and start drinking at 8am.
Then they board an 3 Advisory MoT minibus, driven by a retired cabbie with macular degeneration, bound for the champagne bars of Aintree, Goodwood, Chester, York or Ascot.
Sample the horse racing, bare knuckle brawls and hook-ups with heavily tattoed women, as you check the time on your retro pocket watch. Or use it as a bolas-type weapon when it all kicks off in the Tattersalls, as the mother-of-the-bride attacks you with her leopardskin stiletto.
Live the dream baby.
So you could just buy a cheap quartz pocket watch on Ali Express, or even splash out on a Dalvey. Of course some watch collectors have vintage Walthams, Elgins or english pocket watches. But if you want Swiss quality and something new, then this Ball Trainmaster Secometer has a real top-winder, art deco feel from the 1920s.
It has a 45mm case width and you can engrave it too. So it makes a great birthday gift idea. Only available online, retails at £554 without any engraving work. More here.