Top o’the morning an’ what’s the craic? — The luck o’the Irish, so tip one back — Oh Danny boy, the story horse? — May the road rise to meet you, for the love of Joyce!
Every St. Patrick’s Day we break out our favorite Irish saying (we think — we’re pretty fluthered?), find something green to wear, and make sure we down a pint of Guinness.
Brilliant!
But this year our ale will again be paired with a Quarantini, still likely shared in a virtual pub, and the rare in-person greeting now begins “kiss me… I’m vaccinated.”
Photo: Contentstack.com
So while we’re sitting at home hearing bagpipes a-calling and feeling the full weight of Murphy’s Law, here are some jade gems for this ‘on me tod’ St. Paddy’s Day.
Let’s get right to it: green dials dominate. More than a few microbrand bloggers and vloggers have pointed out that 2019-2020 was the “year of the green watch” and proof is in the shepherd’s pudding.
You might also notice that no one is complaining. With choices like these, how could you? They spare you a pinch on your arse and your wallet, and some almost seem destined for five o’clock somewhere.
Whether it’s the mossy hue of Monta’s Green Triumph, the wildfire green of the Nodus Retrospect (Hadrian’s Wall reference!), or the “booze in the blender” vibe of the Traska Freediver, these micros are proof that, like Oscar Wilde, I can resist everything but temptation.
Now — if we can stop acting the maggot — there are some other leafy dials that deserve their own St. Patrick’s Day mention.
The Visitor Vale Park Officer completes a few Irish connections: the “visitor” brand ethos recalls that St. Patrick himself first had to travel to Ireland (he was in fact Italian — fight me!), the cardinal markings mirror St. Patrick’s enduring three-in-one shamrock analogy, and the officer series pays homage to the US police force and their litany of Irish-heritage servicemen.
A newcomer to the shamrock field, the Xeric Regulator also captures a three-in-one nod with the independent hour, minute, and second hands in a unique regulator movement comes in an alluring Veridian dial, and handsomely doubles down on the vert with Xeric’s own herringbone strap.
And if we really want to channel the Irish spirit — beyond the sharp-tongued Limericks, wry bottles of rye, and Wilde dark humor — we’d end with a blessing. Few are as universal, “may there be a generation of children on the children of your children.”
Which brings us to our final watch: the midcentury Hamilton.
But wait? Hamilton was American? Probably English even… how dare you!
Easy lad.
First, the company namesake, James Hamilton, was Scottish. And without diving into a century’s worth of British history — both the Scotts and the Irish would gladly drink to “here’s health to your enemy’s enemies!” Basically anyone versus the English.
Photo: irishorigenes.com
Second, this becomes important in how many midcentury Hamilton models bear this Gaelic connection with Irish names. We’re not talking about a four-leaf clover. It’s a veritable who’s who of Celtic pride:
Hastings, Greenwich, Cameron, Reagan, Emerson, Martin, Norman, Glenn, Neil, Blake, Clyde, Gilmore, Ryan, Blair, Dean, Keane, Payton.
And for my family, Kirby.
This picture of the Hamilton Kirby was taken at my Grandma Kirby’s 85th birthday — which began in the morning by opening the bar with Irish coffee, proceeded with a day-long trolley bar tour, and ended with… well who remembers.
Hey, even broken Irish is better than clever English.
Slainte!
