Five years ago I saw a watch in a display case. The watchmaker was Peter Speake-Marin - a name I'd never heard of. The watch itself was a magnet for the eye - a timeless version of an Edwardian dial and lugs on the case that suggested a century of timepieces.

When I could, I bought a Piccadilly. Those were better days in the valley; I don't think I'll be able to get anything like the Piccadilly again. But it will last forever, and I never would have known about it if it hadn't been for a watch store that moved far past the well known marques with their large advertising budgets.

SM
Redwood City