Head to Urban Dictionary where anything can mean everything – and obviously we’ve all searched our name at some point – and you’ll find the term bust down, “when you buy a rolley or an expensive watch and add more diamonds to it after purchase,” reads the definition. Bust down, iced out, custom; it’s much of a muchness, referencing the aftermarket modifications to a watches features, be it bracelet, or bezel. Inserting stones by filing or shaving portions of the watch away, the ‘purity’ of the watch is compromised from its original form, affecting the resale value.
If that is why you’ve purchased your vessel of time, then steer clear of the aftermarket, and opt for factory-set diamonds instead, placed in by the brand as part of the watches original aesthetic, and oftentimes at a higher karat. That said, a watch is an extension of our personality, so do what works for you. If diamonds are your best friend, no one’s stopping you. If financial investment is your even closer friend, stick to the factory. For partisans of heritage, you may as well be getting a spray can and squirting it all over the Girl with the Pearl Earring. But maybe she wanted some hoops?
Whether you die by the sword of convention, or you hold the torch for polarity, discover some of the best iced-out, glittering, need-to-wear-shades-to-hide-the-glare watches that we’re obsessing over.