: Luxury watchmakers follow the money to Asia

AFP: Luxury watchmakers follow the money to Asia: "A measure of any Asian businessman is the time he keeps and, far more importantly, the watch he wears to mark it.
A handshake can be soft or firm but will likely soon be followed by a glance to the wrist to see the watch wrapped around it, especially in China.
A heavy slab of gold could be a marker that the person is from an inland city. A more expensive, understated watch could be a sign that they're from the coastal cities of Shanghai, Shenzhen or Beijing.
New money, in Chinese terms, versus old. Around 10 or 15 years ago, the coastal cities would also just go for gold; a chunky watch with a meaty gold strap, says watch enthusiast Harry Qin.
'In Asia probably more than in Europe or North America, a watch is something that can hint the status,' the Shanghai private equity investor, who has a $250,000 collection of 18 timepieces, told AFP.
'But many businessmen just wear a gold Rolex. Especially in less developed cities inland, a gold Rolex is still a very easy way to show other people that you've got money.'"