• Master
    14 Mar 2012, 2:11 a.m.

    Abandoning the kids with their grandparents, it was time for me and the mrs to runaway for a few days with a short getaway.

    So where best to escape reality and have some fun & good food than the place they call ‘America’s Playground’… the place of concentrated excess pretty much all on one single street (strip)…

    ...where else, but Las Vegas!

    *

    So boarding the plane from London… (note the typical British grey skies)

    i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/teeveetee9/photo2-7.jpg

    Checked out the cockpit… and what a nice photo op it would have been if I had a pilot’s watch on (but not this time).

    And sorry… I couldn’t see any of their watches, but clearly if these pilots were any good (with good taste to suit) they'd ALL be wearing IWCs...

    i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/teeveetee9/photo3-5.jpg

    Up into the skies…

    Over the icy mountains of Greenland…

    i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/teeveetee9/IMG_09272.jpg

    To the desert mountains of Nevada…

    i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/teeveetee9/IMG_0937.jpg

    Just landed…

    now check out those blue skies!

    i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/teeveetee9/photo1-7.jpg

    Checked into the hotel room with a view…

    i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/teeveetee9/IMG_0942.jpg

    A quick unpack

    and it was time to recharge the batteries with some food!

    i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/teeveetee9/IMG_0960.jpg

    And recharge indeed, because it was time to hit the shops!

    Quicky through the lush indoor gardens of the Wynn Hotel

    i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/teeveetee9/IMG_0979.jpg

    i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/teeveetee9/IMG_0978.jpg

    And crossing over to the Palazzo Hotel…

    Can anyone guess which shop we headed to FIRST?

    *

    (or rather raced to… as I’ve got a bad case of ‘the virus’)

    i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/teeveetee9/IMG_0963.jpg

    Yes admittedly, my heart was slightly racing and my pulse was certainly elevated, and there was even a bit of sweat on my brow… now whether that was the virus or I’m simply out of shape, who knows! LOL

    *

    Anyways we have reached our destination and it was time to look around!

    Now I won’t bore you with too many photos of the boutique, as Bill B had a great post about this boutique not too long ago here.

    *

    But on my visit there were the usual fantastic fayre...

    like some Ingenieurs…

    i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/teeveetee9/IMG_1030.jpg

    some Portuguese…

    i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/teeveetee9/IMG_1039.jpg

    and then wow… some MORE Portuguese…

    like a Minute-Repeater

    i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/teeveetee9/IMG_1038.jpg

    and check out this Dynamic Duo:

    a Grande-Complication and a Tourbillon Hand-Wound!

    i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/teeveetee9/IMG_1034.jpg

    At this stage, I had to take a deep breath –

    and first calm myself down by checking out the lovely 'art-work' on the walls:

    i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/teeveetee9/IMG_1035.jpg

    i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/teeveetee9/IMG_1040.jpg

    But now it was time to play with some goodies

    (many thanks to the very friendly and extremely knowledgable manager Ben Cucio who really helped bolster my newbie IWC knowledge).

    *

    Tried on a Aquatimer Vintage Collection

    i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/teeveetee9/IMG_0971.jpg

    There were other great watches that I tried on, but some I was told strictly not to post on any forum! (sorry folks)

    *

    So anyways, it was then time to try on the one I really wanted to play with.

    You see I’ve already got timepieces with the following dial colours: white, black, and grey. And trying (desperately) to throw some ounce of rational reasoning into this raging virus that I have… certainly the next one should have a BLUE dial…

    And what a blue one it could be indeed…

    *

    a Midnight Blue Portuguese Perpetual Calendar!

    i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/teeveetee9/IMG_0965.jpg

    Didn’t want to remove the protective plastic, but boy was this watch ‘singing to me’

    i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/teeveetee9/IMG_0966.jpg

    Not a limited edition, but certainly a limited ‘production’ from hearing the background of how incredibly difficult it is to get the blue dial just right with its complicated manufacturing/chemical treatment process.

    Anyways, what do you all think?

    Please tell me... does it look like it BELONGS on my wrist?

    *

    Certainly, my Da Vinci was telling me it wouldn’t mind sharing wrist time with a new big blue brother! (yes my form of the virus causes watches to speak to me...)

    i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/teeveetee9/IMG_0969.jpg

    *

    Alas, so sorry there is no fairly tale ending here!

    The virus does have me bad, and as much as I’d love to have bought a third IWC in as many months…

    There are limits to the insanity (and quite sadly, the budget)!

    *

    Oh well, here’s hoping entrepreneurial success finally lands on my lap (or rather wrist)… (at least before the next leap year (please) so I can enjoy a PC…)

    *

    So back to work and reality it is…

    but first signing off with a photo of my beautiful Da Vinci over a Vegas breakfast taken the next day.

    i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q562/teeveetee9/IMG_0984.jpg

    best wishes fellow virus-afflicted!
    thang

  • Master
    14 Mar 2012, 2:36 a.m.

    Great report Thang - I need to get some of that sun myself :)

    This one always sings !
    i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l497/vanhalen812/SIHH-My%20Day%20in%20Schaffhausen/MyDayinSchaffhausen17Jan1228.jpg

  • Master
    14 Mar 2012, 6:05 a.m.

    Oh yes, it does!

  • Master
    14 Mar 2012, 6:52 a.m.

    Hm, the blue PPC is simply incredibly nice.

  • Master
    14 Mar 2012, 7:34 a.m.

    Hi Thang - that midnight Blue PP BELONGS on your wrist. Great story and post.

  • Master
    14 Mar 2012, 8:13 a.m.

    I agree with Andrew. Grab it while it's within sight. Great photos and travel report. I enjoyed reading it very much and thanks for sharing Thang.

  • Master
    14 Mar 2012, 8:26 a.m.

    being naughty here, and to mix things up a little, i think Thang is going through virus-torment right now ...

    but don't forget 502305, with quite a dash of blue too !

    i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l497/vanhalen812/502305%20PPC%20Platinum/PPCPlatinum5023054.jpg

  • Master
    14 Mar 2012, 8:33 a.m.

    I think that belongs on your wrist Shing, a plat beauty.

  • Master
    14 Mar 2012, 12:09 p.m.

    shing, PCs are pricey enough let alone ones in platinum. please mate... your suggestions are nothelping me manage the condition! =P

  • Master
    14 Mar 2012, 1:14 p.m.

    Thang - great story and great pictures, thanks for sharing.

    There is no doubt, that blue PPC indeed belongs on your wrist. As you know I succumbed to the virus thru a PPC last year and I have not regretted it for a single second since.
    If your finances, and more importantly your missus, allows - then pick one up while you can still find one :-)

  • Master
    14 Mar 2012, 1:26 p.m.

    I've had the pleasure to have the blue PPC on my wrist...and it most certainly does belong on your wrist! It is a real beauty!

  • Insider
    14 Mar 2012, 1:37 p.m.

    Thanks, beautiful watches. Ben is a good guy to deal with and has become a friend. I have not seen the blue dial perpetual in person but it looks great even in photos!

  • Master
    14 Mar 2012, 2:13 p.m.

    Ahhh, the blue PPC. I doubt I have as much will power (or won't power) as you do. Though I've never seen one in the metal, if I ever had one on my wrist I doubt I would be able to take it off and give it back to the dealer.

    Great story of the trip. Thanks for sharing it with us!

  • Master
    14 Mar 2012, 2:25 p.m.

    Thang, the blue dial PPC always sings to me, I feel your pain in leaving it in LV.
    Perhaps you will win enough at the tables to fill your budget! LOL.
    Enjoy your time and thanks for sharing with us.
    Safe Travels.
    Kevin

    PS I don't know how long you are in LV but if you don't put the PPC out of your mind the virus will take over and you'll make more trips back to the boutique.

  • Graduate
    14 Mar 2012, 2:46 p.m.

    Nice report Thang,

    I can only imagine how hard it was to get out from the boutique without a "souvenir"... :-)

    BR.
    Carlo

  • Master
    14 Mar 2012, 4:59 p.m.

    A beautiful blue dial. If it was stainless steel it would be on my wrist.

  • Master
    14 Mar 2012, 5:02 p.m.

    +1 Me as well.