Well, the first thing that comes to mind is, he is a different breed of cat, probably cursed with an elegant streak and wouldn't dream of even trying on a suit that retailed for less than $7,000. He knows that the devil is into details and these little touches help develop an image and a persona or it's expected that they will go along with this persons lifestyle: Physician, attorney, architect, designer, etc.  He wants to look like somebody and he wants his wife or lady-friend to look like somebody because he realizes that she is a reflection of him. 

There certainly is a class system in America. These little nuances of style, such as a $300 Mont Blanc pen or an important pair of shoes, all contribute to developing one's image if that's what you need to do in life.  I am not sure that I need my landscaper to be wearing a $6,000 Rolex President. 

It's the type of person who flies first-class, owns a Mercedes, has highly-cultivated tastes, and has inner feelings of superiority that lead them to think they should be wearing the best and enjoying the finest that life has to offer. In other words, dressing for success can never hurt.  

In reality I have many many cultured, educated clients, one of which has spent over a million dollars with me on fine watches. He understands the magic and the tremendous level of skill required to create these mechanical masterpieces. And indeed, many collectors view fine time pieces as works of art, made by a genre of human that is just not around anymore on this planet. I've always enjoyed working with clients who appreciate the things that I sell, and many of them have built up wonderful portfolios of exotic time pieces and clocks purchased from Capetown. Because we are selling creations that are more in demand than there are skilled humans to make them, we are dealing not only in art goods, but also in investments. You can't wear a share of Microsoft stock on your wrist! By the way, whatever happened to Microsoft? You'd be much better off buying watches at this point.

Every now and then, there's a fortuitous meeting between someone with good taste and a lot of money. So why shouldn't they spend it? In my book it's a sin to have a lot of money and not to spend it. If you don't know how to spend it, you shouldn't have it!  Remember, there are no pockets in a shroud.  Maybe Brioni could make you up a one with pockets.

I am thinking of buying my wife a 10.00ct Natural Fancy Colored Emerald cut Diamond. It's romantically eerie that knowing 10 million years ago, deep in the bowels of the earth, was forming the 2000 degree soup and pressure that would result in a piece of rough that would be polished into diamond for my wife. Diamonds last forever, and they are truly a touch with immortality. If that turns on your wife, and you can afford it, just do it! The fact that if its purchased correctly, that it would be an investment, and the fact that it would please the life out of her, and give me a moment of piece, almost justified the purchase. If you buy something that you know you are going to love for a very long time, the money doesn't matter. Like years ago I bought a used Rolls Royce for $150,000, I love it more every year. My mechanic just gave it, I guess it was the Millennium Tune-Up, for $7200! I must admit, it buckled my knees a little. When I queried this good soul, I said "How did you know I even had this money to pay? I mean we're talking serious money, Rolls Royce or not. Have you ever had problems regarding collecting the money?" "Not yet, Mr. Marcus, Do you need more time?" My Mechanic asked me. "No, I don't need any time" I said, as I furiously wrote out his check. I Wondered if I should dump the rest of the Microsoft to pay for the tune-up on the Rolls! The other day he called my office, and asked me if my technicians knew anything about Patek Philippes. It seemed that one of his relatives had just passed away, and left him one that was not working. I advised him that Patek Philippe was surely the Rolls Royce of time pieces and they were persnickety, and needed a bit of maintenance. Won't revenge be sweet now!

Every now and then some good soul calls me up panicked that their Rolex is not working. "How could this be?", they mumble in anguish. I know how they feel. I had to own Rolls Royces for more than 10 years to realize that they were no more dependable than if you took on a stripper from the Gold Club. Expensive stuff breaks with the frequency that non-expensive stuff breaks, possibly more. But if it's a joy to own it, like Nike says, "Just Do It."

Almost nobody would spend that kind of money just to have something that will tell them the time. I believe most of them are investing in something that will tell the World about themselves. Of course you can't bring your car with you everywhere you go, but you can bring your watch!

I have a friend that wears Brioni Italian Custom Made suits, and if the temperature is a bit over 60 degrees, he has learned to take the suit jacket off and fold it so that the Brioni label is facing out for all of the World to see! Maybe Brioni should make him some suits with the label on the outside! Anyway, that's the game!

I have a rule of thumb when I'm buying something expensive. If I think it's going to make my heart and soul happy for a prolonged amount of time, and if I'm not going to suffer after shocks after spending a few grand on myself, like they say "Living good is the best revenge!" as we pick of the scars as we travel through this ugly existence called life. Everyday I speak to people on the phone of great financial significance, but they are schnorers! They don't think enough of themselves to spend some money on themselves! Remember, this is not a dress rehearsal guys, this is it! As Jack Nicholson said, "This is as good as it can get."