During CT '91, there was a 110 charged with carrying all the needed bits for
the watches: batteries, straps, buckles, crystals etc. They even had a
factory-trained jeweler to direct the participants in the mainenance and
repair of their Camel Trophy timepieces. Mostly, though, they dealt with
problems with eyeglasses and wedding rings.
Seriously though, we packed up the whole famn damily several summers ago
(one child ago) for a trek to the new European Union. We spent some lovely
time in Provence until the little one got a 45 degree fever. We retreated
to a luxo air-conditioned hotel in Cannes for a brief convalescence. I had
left the wristwatch at home, planning to buy a souvenir to tell time. I'd
seen the CT watches at Schipol in Amsterdam and this was what I wanted.
While Kjel ate antibiotics and rested in the comfort of the hotel with Mom,
Alec and I went to find a CT watch. I found a jewelry store not far away
that had a large novelty watch inventory. Very chi-chi place; lotsa
diamonds, and security. They buzzed you in but kept you waiting until
someone left so there would not be too many people in the store at one time.
In Tarzan-French, I explained that I was interested in a Camel Trophy watch.
I tried one on - too small around the wrist. I tried another - same thing.
Every watch I tried, whether leather or metal band, was too small for my
wrist. I don't know if this was some artifact of the intended local market,
smaller Europeans, not us lumbering corn-fed Americans, or if CT watches are
too small everywhere. Again, I labored to communicate as I asked if they
had extra links to put in the metal watch bands. Alas, no, but we can
replace the band with something different and larger, I was told. Will take
two days. Groan. Fine. He measured my wrist while I bought a Tintin watch
for Alec. I gave the jeweler some information about where I was staying and
then consoled myself with a Cafe Au Lait by the yacht basin.
Some time passes - two days actually. I visit the jeweler to collect my
expedition timepiece, only to be told they cannot find anything large
enough, and will have to make something. I am leaving for Italy this
afternoon, and they better darn hurry. No problem. I pack up the Opel
minivan (that's another story - I want two of those), and trot over to the
shop to get my CT watch. The solution I am presented with makes me want to
both laugh and cry. Gone is the slick CT metal band, replaced with a (I am
sure) some foo-foo French designer band, alternating brushed and shiny
stainless, with a swoopy logo that is someone's monogram. Camel Trophy
watches have a cool little clip that fits over the watchband at the
connection to the watch and this incongruously is fitted on this band. The
clasp looks funny and closer examination reveals that they have used part of
a clasp from another watch band (slightly narrower) and a short portion of
yet another watch band to join and lengthen the original by a couple of cm.
The sheen of epoxy gives away the secret for the rigidity of this
arrangement. I couldn't ask for a more CT solution to the problem. Its
perfect.
My only regret is the open border to Italy where I hoped to flash my rare
and dangerous watch in the face of the customs official. The Opel is
looking pretty CT too - It has piles of bags on the roof and I had got it
stuck in a small alley in a small town in Provence and smacked up the rear
quarter - ALWAYS get the insurance on the rental. There's six of us in the
van and we cruise into Italy at 160 KPH, but I am far away, driving through
mud and swatting biting flies and eating strange local foods.
Anyway thanks for the memory...
Todd
> -----Original Message-----
> From: lro-admin@koan.team.net [mailto:lro-admin@koan.team.net]On Behalf
> Of Paul Quin
> Sent: Tuesday, January 07, 2003 7:13 AM
> To: lro@koan.team.net
> Subject: [lro] Camel Trophy Watch Spares
>
>
>
> My Christmas present to myself just arrive yesterday. A brand new Camel
> Trophy watch! :-) (from E-Bay)
>
> It has a leather strap which will eventually wear out (though it is much
> more robust that any other watch strap that I have seen), does anyone know
> of a website that stocks replacement CT watch straps? I know that these
> things have been out of production for a few years. When were
> the last ones
> made?
>
> TIA,
>
> Paul.
> _______________________________________________
> LRO mailing list
> LRO@land-rover.team.net
> http://land-rover.team.net/mailman/listinfo/lro
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