Men's love for watches is even more fanatical than women's love for handbags!

replica Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean diving watch232.30.42.21.01.003

　　Women love handbags, something men find impossible to understand; men love watches, something women find equally baffling.

　　The reason men love watches has deep historical roots. The creation of the first wristwatch was itself born from a man's passion for timepieces. A quick look at history reveals that many famous figures, both in China and abroad, were true watch enthusiasts. Take, for example, the founder of the First French Empire—Napoleon Bonaparte.

　　It is said that in 1798, before departing for his expedition to Egypt, Napoleon specifically visited a Breguet boutique to purchase one clock and two pocket watches. He bought them not only out of personal interest but also because this rising political star needed timepieces to signify his prestigious status, and they had to be reliable and durable. Naturally, the performance of the Breguet watches did not disappoint. Beyond his love for watches, Napoleon also loved beauty; he was deeply devoted to Josephine, even during wartime, insisting on writing her a letter every day to express his longing, though the proud Josephine remained unmoved.

Replica Breguet watch

　　Finally, Napoleon played his trump card: a bracelet watch specially commissioned for Josephine, which he used to propose and successfully win her heart. The most famous Breguet 'Reine de Naples' collection is named after Napoleon's sister, Caroline, and remains in production to this day.

　　Looking at the history of timepieces purchased by Napoleon and his family, they acquired as many as 19 items. In 1812, Napoleon launched his expedition to Russia, which led him into a quagmire of war, until his final defeat in 1815, where he spent his remaining days in isolation on a remote island. Perhaps only his watch accompanied him through those final six years.

　　Having covered the watch-loving history of foreign celebrities, let us look at those in China. Emperor Qianlong was a great lover of clocks and watches. Although his reign was known as the 'Prosperous Era of Qianlong' with peace throughout the land, the Emperor himself was a spendthrift, though he was fortunate to inherit the grace of his ancestors. However, Qianlong was also a man of great taste. He was fond of imported clocks and various Western goods, once writing a poem, 'The interior and exterior are clear, satisfying my heart,' to praise imported glass, and even issuing an order: 'Do not spare the expense for purchasing foreign clocks, Western gold and pearls, exotic decorations, or new-style objects.'

　　Qianlong spared no effort in collecting exotic clocks and watches, repeatedly ordering customs officials to purchase Western timepieces regardless of the cost. He also established the 'Imperial Workshop' within the palace, which functioned as the Emperor's private customisation centre, dedicated to clockmaking, bringing the collection and production of timepieces to a peak at that time. During the Qianlong era, imperial edicts regarding the purchase, manufacture, and modification of clocks were numerous.

　　To curry favour with the Emperor, officials in coastal regions scrambled to procure rare and curious Western clocks to present as tribute. This initiative quickly made Qianlong the world's largest collector of clocks at the time. To this day, the Palace Museum holds over a thousand pieces in its collection, a testament to Qianlong's significant contribution.

　　With such a profound historical background, it is no wonder that men's obsession with watches is so intense.