A Conversation Piece

- your watch is a conversation piece.
- actually, your Negroni is.

I can’t hold but compliment people who take Negroni. So the flights are no exceptions.

Your watch might catch someone’s eye, spark curiosity about your taste or punctuality, even ignite a brief chat about craftsmanship or style. But your Negroni? That’s a whole different breed of conversational catalyst. It doesn’t just tick tock - you know, it clinks, it invites, it provokes.

There’s a subtle art to wielding a Negroni in social settings, especially on flights where idle moments stretch longer than the flight path itself. People might initially glance at your watch, admiring or questioning the brand or design, but it’s the ruby-red drink swirling elegantly in your glass that truly breaks the ice with strangers.

Why is this? Maybe it’s the Negroni’s history, a captivating mix of bitter, sweet, and aromatic flavors that somehow mirror the messy, complicated alchemy of good conversation. Or maybe because anyone brave enough to order or even sip a Negroni is signaling a certain openness to complexity, a taste for sophisticated balance, and just a pinch of rebellion against the banal.

On that flight, I noticed the cascade of exchanges the Negroni precipitated. The seatmate started with a cheeky remark about the bright orange peel garnish. Then came the debate - vermouth or Campari first? Then, an unexpected segue into distant Italian vacations and a shared love of sunset views over Venetian canals. A watch, elegant as it may be, rarely gets the same conversational mileage.

A Negroni, unlike a watch, invites stories. It entices memories, opinions, and, most importantly, connection. In a world brimming with tiny distractions, it commands presence. So yes, your watch may mark your time, but your Negroni? It cultivates our time. It’s a liquid invitation, bridging strangers, fleeting moments, and shared smiles over an airplane tray table.

Next time you sip one, notice how the world leans in. Maybe it’s bitter, maybe it’s sweet, but it always tells a good story. And isn’t that the real luxury?