Levels of disposable income have risen in dramatically for some folks in recent years and those with the cash are looking for unique and increasingly flashy ways to spend their newly acquired wealth. Many wealthy buyers are looking for the ultimate in bling and that includes buying everything from tourist travel to outer space, mega yachts and even personal submarines.



That is right, for upwards of fifty thousand dollars and much more, personal submarines have become a reality for those folks whose ship has come in and who really want impress their friends and influence people.

For those folks who want to make a personal fashion statement but in a far more subtle way, personalized jewelry has, for many years, been a more gentile way to show the bling but without the need to hire a submarine captain. Custom made and personalized watches have grown in popularity among the super rich not satisfied with the look of just any old Cartier, Corum or Jaeger Lecoultre timepiece. Watch makers have responded to this new demand and have begun offering one of kind designs that most often surpasses what can be had, so to speak, off the rack.

Custom design watches can be had, for the right price, in many different styles and materials. Gold and platinum cases are always a classic favorite but for those folks interested in something more rugged, other materials are available. Valued for its tremendous strength to weight ratio, titanium has long been used in aircraft applications and even implantable medical devices like pacemakers and drug pumps.

Watch makers have been offering titanium watch cases for some time for many of the same reasons the metal has been used elsewhere. Titanium does not corrode like other metals and is incredibly strong and titanium is the perfect choice for the sports minded wearer. Then there are limitless design possibilities when it comes to the use of gemstones. Gemstones can be found in everything from the inner works of the watch to the dial face and crystal to the band. When the bling is the thing, nothing says you have finally arrived quite like the look of a diamond encrusted watch.

The trend toward custom timepieces is not limited to the wealthy and many manufacturers have begun to offer unique watch styles for those folks of more modest means. Custom design watches have become available that reflect the wearers hobbies, special occasions and an almost endless variety of different themes from auto racing, team sports, science, military, religious and inspirational motifs.

The concept of theme watches is hardly new and many people remember owning or may still own a Mickey Mouse watch with the older, original models having become collectors items and, aside from being in great demand, can fetch a significant sum of money.

A very popular look is to have a watch made that sports a totally unique face design that can incorporate artful style with function, including some designs where only the owner is able to interpret what time it is. The advent of computer aided graphic designing has not been lost on watch making and can be used to enhance even the more traditional hand crafting that goes into many of todays expensive time pieces.

There will always be those of us who want simply to be able to tell what time it is. That modest need can be satisfied with an inexpensive watch that is not lacking for practicality and function. However, if you have the means and wish to impress people at your next cocktail party or state dinner, a custom watch may be for you.