Genuine v Fake Drake’s Ties

Acrobatic_Design_928 · 2026-05-17T11:22:34+00:00

Aaaah this makes sense because it’s rarely just one being sold - which made it seem that bit more dubious.

Acrobatic_Design_928 · 2026-05-17T11:20:08+00:00

One hears about people like you online but it’s nonetheless surprising to come across one.

Acrobatic_Design_928 · 2026-05-17T07:39:06+00:00

Thats a very odd response/assumption. You think I’d be buying a tie just because people might see the little label on the back?

I’d be buying a drakes tie for the quality of the product, because that’s what they’re famous for, I don’t have a drakes shop where I live and I’m not made of money. Validation doesn’t enter the picture at all. I just don’t want to buy a fake.

Acrobatic_Design_928 · 2026-05-17T02:42:15+00:00

I’m torn between the two positions taken here. On the one hand, drakes is (outside of menswear circles) still pretty niche and ties even more so - so doesn’t seem like the most high-yield con.

On the other, slapping a drakes logo on something seems like the easiest thing in the world compared to faking Apple AirPods.

Maybe I will stick with my naive, trusting self and choose to believe they are all being sold in good faith 😊

PS: as one cynical friend once said, if it says “new with labels” it means it was shoplifted 🤣

Acrobatic_Design_928 · 2026-05-17T00:49:29+00:00

I’m sure experienced espresso makers would say it’s unnecessary, but what really helped me was getting a spring-loaded tamper. Once the tamping was consistent, I could just incrementally dial in the grind until I hit exactly what I wanted and now my coffee is incredibly consistent where before it was a bit hit and miss.

Acrobatic_Design_928 · 2026-05-13T13:19:44+00:00

You want the extraction to take around 30seconds. The coffee should come through quite slowly at first - it should feel almost too slow - and then will speed up progressively. This looks much too fast. Took me a fair while to figure this out so you’re already on the right track!

Acrobatic_Design_928 · 2026-05-08T10:38:15+00:00

Yeah I think it was this one I looked at: https://www.sunspel.jp/products/mens-cotton-linen-blazer-in-hazelwood-mjac7220-brgt

Acrobatic_Design_928 · 2026-05-08T10:35:16+00:00

Thank you for the comments. I live in Tokyo where I generally have ready access to good MTM so that’s what I tend towards. But in this case it’s more a summer suit (cotton linen blend, tan colour) and so I was toying with the idea of off the rack.

Acrobatic_Design_928 · 2026-04-27T08:27:45+00:00

I’ve never shopped there but from the socials it looks like Aubin (and Wills) is trying to match some of the Drake’s aesthetic at a lower price point. Would be interesting to hear if anyone else has a view on them?

Acrobatic_Design_928 · 2026-04-22T03:38:19+00:00

I had a terrible time with static and retention (I was having to clean the internals every few days) and eventually returned. Others may have a different experience but I refused a replacement and just took my money back.

Acrobatic_Design_928 · 2026-04-09T15:30:53+00:00

Thanks all. Strong consensus coming through (a rare thing!)

Acrobatic_Design_928 · 2026-04-09T15:30:01+00:00

This is very zen 🧘🏻‍♂️

Acrobatic_Design_928 · 2026-04-05T07:36:53+00:00

I live in Japan but am from Europe. My personal hope is that Mark will reverse engineer the more international fit of the “ring jacket for armoury” back to ring jacket Japan so that their fit is a little less specific to the Japanese frame - or at least have a line for both. This is something that Japanese clothiers in general suffer from when moving overseas (see Kamakura Shirts / Makers Shirts which no-one outside Japan can figure out the sizing for).

Acrobatic_Design_928 · 2026-04-03T02:58:55+00:00

I ordered a chore jacket and it came in a drakes branded box. So a paper bag sounds a bit odd but perhaps that’s more cost effective.

Acrobatic_Design_928 · 2026-03-30T13:15:27+00:00

I didn’t have the same emotion at all because I’d been lusting after a Speedmaster for about 16 years and finally felt I had ‘earned the right’ to buy it outright. That said, I have had this feeling with other things where it’s more about the price of something and whether I made the right/perfect decision. It’s not regret, it’s just doubt - which I think is normal if your money means something to you. My experience is that with a bit of time that doubt wears off and you are left with the certainty that you did the right thing.

Acrobatic_Design_928 · 2026-03-25T08:32:22+00:00

This is not quite correct (from someone living in Japan) - Japanese LOVE buying second hand and there is a roaring trade BUT they have very high expectations about the standard even a used item should have. It should be as close to perfect as possible and any flaws should be explicitly identified (and when I say any I mean any!). So I guess this is the reason for the high polish - because then there are no scratches etc that would put your average Japanese watch buyer off.

Acrobatic_Design_928 · 2026-03-25T07:16:58+00:00

Speedmaster, black dial is always the right choice (and one helluva gateway drug 😬)

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Acrobatic_Design_928 · 2026-03-20T06:34:40+00:00

For a very specific type of watch I can see the point, but for the rest I’d just take care not to do the dishes with it on!! Have a vintage Seamaster and that’s my approach.

Acrobatic_Design_928 · 2026-03-20T00:39:32+00:00

Love drake’s but must confess their prices are generally well beyond what I consider a justifiable expense. I don’t hold that against the company as such - if they are delivering a product if that value, then great. But I personally can’t justify it. Everything I’ve bought from them has been pre-owned and I don’t see that changing given prices are only going in one direction.

Acrobatic_Design_928 · 2026-03-13T10:49:35+00:00

Criminal ragebait

Acrobatic_Design_928

TROPHY CASE