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Luxury Watch & Cars: Wearing An MB&F HM3 In Monterey At the Car Shows

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Luxury Cars & Autos

Car crazed fans of all types and budgets flock to Monterey, CA each summer to experience the Concours de Elegance, Quail Lodge car show, races at Laguna Seca, and a number of other events and auctions that all celebrate the appreciation of fine cars. The Concours de Elegance itself is all about, well.... elegance. A highly subjective concept that a panel of trusted judges are called to determine. I wonder why then they seem to choose the same 1930's era French cars as "Best of Show" each year. Though you'll find cars new and old - specially some of the most expensive and exotic motorcars in the world all in one weekend.

So I travel to Monterey this year with one of the world's most exotic watches - priced as much as many brand new luxury cars. Though not quite up to the cost of a rare vintage European sports car at auction around town that weekend, the watch should be an impressive sighting for those "in the know." With millions of dollars exchanged each day of the event in car auction sales, the demographic of people who attend the events is comprised of the wealthier elite. These people are often watch lovers as well. So in cooperation with MB&F, I see how their Horological Machine Number 3 (HM3) "Sidewinder" watch (which I wrote in more detail about here) adds to my, and the experience of others during the show.

At Pebble Beach, the attention you get is often linked to what you are doing, and who you are with. Myself, toting a backpack and camera was likely taken as a photographically inclined car fan (which I am), or a member of the media (which I also am). Thus, people didn't look carefully at my wrist expecting to see something special. Among the ranks of collectors with their rare cars, it felt good having a rare watch - a bit like I was part of the "in crowd." Perhaps this crowd is something you can buy in to, but your status there is all about what you bring to the party - and I had something interesting. An avant garde Italian sports car from the 70's equivalent in watch form.

Tags: 2010, beach, car, hm3, mbf, monterey, pebble, quail, show, watch