Preppy Homeless Friday and Redux: Duo-Dials-The Doctor Will See You Now

If ever there was a day that had me manifesting the preppy homeless man guise it’s today. Baseball hat day at the office…slumming it is an understatement-we’re dressed for comfort not for show.

My complaints about inconsistent weather have now been heard. It was about twenty six degrees when I rolled out of the Casa this morning. My sixty dollar military surplus overcoat served me well in tandem with Flusser silk and J. McLaughlin cashmere gloves from last year-at 65% off. Nothing better than buying gloves in June for a deal.

Do not fear pink. The only thing that I don’t like about this fifteen year old J. Crew pink cashmere turtleneck is that the neckband is so tight that it gives me a bit of a double chin. And I don’t have a double anything actually. Shut up.

 No shave and a delayed shower-“situational hygiene” I call it. I’ll shower before bed tonight. However, when I’ve got an old baseball cap on there’s a good chance that the situational hygiene strategy is in play. I know that I should throw this hat away but I can’t-I love it and we have memories together. Shut Up. My momma still can’t believe that they even let me take one course at this Baltimore Based community college. I noticed one of my favorite watercolours after I snapped the hat picture and it reminded me of how I take most of my caricature buddies here in the office for granted. 

This is an original extant-preparatory watercolour of Prince Alfred-Duke of Edinburgh-younger brother of the Prince of Wales-later Edward VII. It was done by Carlo Pellegrini-“Ape” of Vanity Fair fame. I love this little image as well as the two prints that were rendered from Pellegrini’s original watercolour caricatures of the Duke.

I've got one of the prints here in my office-the Duke Bowling at the Marlborough Club in St James-1873.  

And here’s another of the Duke by Pellegrini

 Fair Isle socks and Ralph shell cordovan tassels. Admit it-you like ‘em both. And yes, I’ve worn these Cordings moleskin pants a million times in the last month. I don’t have much to choose from.

Ok, I’ve gotta wrap this up for now. Have a blessed weekend.

ADG with no LFG.

Duo-Dials

I’ve always loved duo dial-doctor’s watches with the segregated second hand functioning independently. The lore says that physicians could better view the segregated second hand while taking a pulse. Perhaps my affinity for them goes back to all the freelance OBGYN work that I did in undergrad.

The Rolex Prince is in my opinion, the most elegant version but they also go for about fifteen thousand dollars these days. That’s a bit out of my price range and the cantankerous nature of vintage watches is something that doesn’t intrigue me.

Enter the Hamilton Seckron. Hamilton created some of the greatest watches in America. Founded in Lancaster Pa. in the late 1800’s, Hamilton created watches that vintage collectors would later call the “American Pateks”. That still left me out of the game until about 1989. Hamilton revived many of the classic watches from their early 20th century catalogue, including the Seckron. I bought three of them and still have one remaining. I lost one and gave one away.

I don’t buy expensive watches but I damn sure won’t wear a fake, street corner knockoff either. My Seckrons served me well until I encountered a watchmaker in

England who crafts faithfully, a Doctor’s Watch in the spirit of the Rolex Prince.

Barrie Law at Waterman’s sells in my opinion, some of the best value in vintage inspired timepieces. I have three of them.

Speaking of time…I’m out of it!