TRY THIS - Slow, Elegant Time Keeping

I bought this watch on-line. It's a smaller ladies pocket watch and that fact, along with it £10 price tag drove me to buy the timepiece. Its parts are Swiss made, but the German-American company Lucerne, that appears on its face, assembled it. In the 50s Lucerne, a family-owned jeweller, conducted business from its headquarters on 5th Avenue in New York City. The watch dates between 1960 and 1970. I imagined finding a chain and fob to go with the watch and wearing it in my pocket as designed. But tracking down necessary watch accessories that I like has proved difficult. Then last week I found this tiny beaded purse with a silk faille lining, probably circa 1950s, at The Children's Society charity shop on Pitshanger Lane in Ealing. The perfect home for my watch, little purse and ticker fit neatly in my pocket. At times I'm still required to don a wristwatch, but when I'm able to carry the pocket watch I find the ceremony of removing it from its pouch an elegant process that reminds me time is precious indeed. Both watch and purse, tactile and useful, feel lovely in my hand. The tiny vintage bag was just 99p.  

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TRY THIS - Chance Lady Luck Online

Is hunting on Ebay cheating? Yes, strictly speaking. The thrill of searching for pre-owned treasure is in the random, comme ci comme ca nature of an actual hunt. Virtual shopping is generally devoid of happy accidents as the laser beam accuracy of the Ebay search tool stifles the whirligig of chance. Don't get me wrong, I have a tidy list of items I search for on Ebay; Castaner espadrilles, Clergerie shoes, Marimekko, vintage Levis, 40s/50s neckties and shirt-waist dresses, among others. Often I'll find an item from my list that has potential but still isn't quite right (wrong size, price, colour, etc). Nonetheless I appreciate the seller's vibe; a photo and description is so intriguing that I click further to see what else the seller is offering. The hunt is on, randomness is reinstated. This handmade 'pipe cleaner' brooch was one of a pair found on Ebay. The other tiny lass, passed on to a friend, wore wide-legged trousers and wee green cropped top. The two cost £8.99.