Watches in Leo Tolstoy’s Writings
The world
over Leo Tolstoy is considered the king of fiction just as Shakespeare is
considered the King of drama. Watches were popular in Russia in the heyday of the kingly rule. Of
course, in the fascinating world of luxury watches the Russians have not made a
name for themselves. But they were great users of luxury watches till the dawn
of communist Russia which discouraged all forms of luxury.
But after the fall of communism the Russians have taken to luxury in a big way.
Today Russian and other nationals go in a big way for the watches of great brands because
more and more people feel that it is a sensible option.
The
writings of Tolstoy are filled with many allusions to watches. He uses
watches for its symbolic value as the gadget showing the rich Russians of the
day who adorned their watches as the symbol of class. Watches were rare at the
time of Tolstoy and only the rich owned them. He uses watches also as symbols
to show the passage of time in the ticking of watches. He uses them as the
vehicles of philosophic reflections.
Take
for example the character Ivan Ilyich’s lavish side is articulated by the
clothes that ordered at Scharmer’s and the watch that he wore. Tolstoy uses
watches effectively for their auditory effect of the passing of time as is the
case in Childhood, Boyhood and
youth: All was quiet in
the room; his even breathing, and the ticking of the hunter-adorned watch alone were audible. In the
War and Peace the great
novelist uses watches as the vehicle for the philosophic ideas of Napoleon the
Great: Our body is like a
perfect watch that should go
for a certain time . . . Yes, our body is a machine for living that is all. Certainly Tolstoy knew about great
watches Patek Phillippe,
Vacheron Constantin and Breguet which were imported in large
numbers to Russia .
Charlotte Bronte’s Patek Philippe Watch
Though in the 19th century men only wrote novels some
women tried this genre successfully. One such successful writer is Charlotte
Bronte. . With the publication of Jane
Eyre in 1847 she shot up in
fame as a spectacular woman celebrity. The present day new rich and
famous make their way into the world of glitter and glamour by the purchase of
a status symbol. Bronte also did the same. Possessing a timepiece in the
Victorian England reflected the radiance of the owner’s triumph. She got for
herself a pendant style Patek
Philippe. This has
romanticized the Patek Philippe among the English fans of Bronte.
In those
days men wore watches in their pocket and women either around their neck or
pinned on their dress. Bronte might have pinned the watch on her frock or might
have worn as a chain around her neck. The watch had gold case and opened on
hinges and revealed in the inner lid an enamel portrait of an affectionate
mother and child. In the days when only kings and queens used watches she had a
watch; like Queen Victoria , Bronte too had
a cute clock to pin on her frock.
There are a lot of references to watches in her novel which
she was taken by the enchanting world of watches which in those days were the
possessions of a rare few. In
her 450 odd pages of the
sprawling novel, Jane Eyre there are a couple of references
to the watches. There are
at least eleven direct references to watches. The novelty of the gadget and
perhaps Bronte’s subliminal fascination of the new status symbol of the
successful might have triggered these allusions. Three of the characters, all
from the upper echelon of the social rank, in the novel wear watches parading
their class as well as affluence.
There are
people who look for the residence of James Bond and try to find out the
biography. The celluloid super spy that emerged as a larger than life person
over the years and became the ultimate macho image today is a household word in
every nook and corner of the world. There are many who are blissfully ignorant
of the fictional origin of the icon. The gallant secret agent parades his
metrosexual array of gadgets and fashion accessories that include cars like
Aston Martin, Rolex and Omega watches. Not only did James Bond use
the finest brands of everything but also emerged as a brand himself. There are
thousands of products now that bear the name of Bond or 007 on them. The
watches that he uses in his films have made them legendary and triggered their
market value and demand. Many want to own the watch used by 007. However, the
reality is Bond might throw away many thousands of dollars. But majority will
have to sweat their brow in many hours of work before they get hold of a few
thousands dollars that they can spare.
Though
fictional the super spy engages the attention of people the world over. Every
thing about Bond is not only subject of intense gossip but also of serious
research. The flamboyant gadgets that he paraded in his film are under the
microscope today. Was Bond brand addicted? In order to answer that we must go
to the author that fathered him, Ian Fleming whose birth centenary we
celebrated recently. Indeed Bond grew larger in size that his creator has been
eclipsed. In his original version Fleming wrote that Bond drove a
Bentley, Smoked Dunhill and gulped Beefeater gin and wore on his wrist A Rolex Oyster Perpetua Chronometer.
There is
an eagerness for many watch brands to make Bond their watch in the future films
of Bond. Paid brand placing in films today is a feature of modern marketing. A
clipping from Casino Royale reveals this. Vesper Lynd, Played
by Eva Green, asks Bond: “Beautiful watch. Rolex?” Bond replies, “Omega”. The
iconic timepiece Omega
Seamaster, the automatic, water-resistant at 100 meters with coaxial
movement is his watch. The recent 007 film, strewn with hi-tech gadgets
prominently placed amuses us and boost the sales of the products. Bond wore
Rolex and Omega in future he might wear a new watch. It will be surely be luxury watch from a celebrated house.
. It will be surely be luxury watch from a celebrated house. 
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