"don't have one" is a social signal, and not a bad one. People were convinced that Stanley Kubrick, eccentric genius, hated driving. It added to his mythos. That he owned and drove a 911 Carrera was something completely ignored by everyone because it made him less of an eccentric genius.

This isn't about me, though. I mean, it is, but it's more about an insight I had into American materialist culture and how Hipsterism is a reaction to diminished resources without diminished pride. Class shit digs deep.

I've driven a 911 for over a year now. People say "nice car" about it more than anything else I've ever owned. I'm quick to respond with "and you wouldn't believe how cheap it was" and call it my "schadenporsche" so I can bring up how much real Porsche owners hate my little silver Miata-on-steroids. "Nice car" is another way of saying "are you sure that's your tax bracket?"

This is Max Brusser.

Max was the former head of luxury watches at Harry Winston. In 2006 he started his own luxury brand, MB&F - "Max Brusser & Friends." He's an inspiration. His watches are tweaky, novel, sci-fi-inspired and expensive as fuck. A few months ago on Instagram he had all the Horological Machines - the limited-edition supertweak $100k-plus watch designs of the past ten years - lined up for display. Someone commented "nice collection!"

Max Brusser, founder of a luxury watch brand, former head of a division at Harry Winston, said "I wish! What do you think I am, made out of money?"

Signaling cuts deep.