Chinese Man Fine With Clock As Gift As Long As $46,000 Rolex
Keeping a liberal mind set and a progressive attitude, 60-year-old Transport Operations Manager, Qu Ni Ma, announced that he was willing to close an eye to the Chinese superstitious belief that receiving a watch or clock as a gift was a bad omen, as long as his family members were getting him the $46,000 Rolex Yacht-Master II model.
The ancient Chinese superstition which stems from centuries ago, was widely believed by the Chinese that receiving a timepiece as a gift was a curse that spelt imminent death as "time was running out".
"I not that superstitious one, can give watch - but must be Rolex Yacht-Master II lah," said the broad-minded 60-year-old.
Claiming that he was not particularly fussy with what birthday present his family members were going to get for him, Qu added that he was perfectly cool with the $133,000 Panerai Specialties Luminor 1950 Tourbillon GMT Ceramic too.
Qu, who was getting on in his years and battled a bout of liver cancer in 2013, told Durian Daily reporters that his brush with death had taught him not to be fussy and demanding in life.
"If my friends and family wants to chip in together to get me a $46,000 classic Rolex timepiece, which price would only steadily rise over the years since its position as a classic timepiece has been cemented, despite my nagging superstitious beliefs that it may mean an early death – I’m willing to be open-minded," he continued, adding that taking things in stride when at his age was most important.
"After all, it's a gesture of goodwill from my loved ones, and there isn’t any other factor in this equation that is the most important to me.”
At press time, Qu's 8-year-old grandson was reportedly scrapping apart the $15 Ben10 alarm clock that he got for his grandfather’s 60th birthday gift.
