This week on Lounge Lizards: Romeo y Julieta Dianas with Planteray XO 20th Anniversary Rum/Favourite Timepieces/Alcohol and cigar ratings.

[El Presidente]

The Lizards pair Romeo y Julieta Dianas with Planteray XO 20th Anniversary Rum. The guys return to Cuban cigars after five weeks, they share a listener voice memo on a successful New Orleans trip, and the guys answer an email and do a deep dive on their favorite timepieces. PLUS: Havana Intl. Airport Cigar Seizures, Finding Lizards to Split Boxes With, Disappointed Listener Asks: Does Alcohol Affect the Ratings?, Gizmo Pronunciation Vindication, Daily Driver Timepieces & Cigar/Watch Culture Parallels

[TomsRibs210]

This was another stellar episode of the Lounge Lizards, and it is always great whenever they dunk on a bad cigar.

This episode was like waking up fully rested while on vacation, all of the family still asleep. You amble out quietly, slip on the hotel robe, grab a blanket, step out onto the balcony, steaming coffee in hand, and look out onto the morning’s horizon and breathing the crisp dawn air - the joy one feels when Gizmo finally gets a pronunciation correct. 

[TheCigarSoldier]

Great episode as always. Only downside this week was the combo was a total swing and a miss. Thank you all for being sacrificial lambs and saving me money! I found the watch commentary very interesting. The question was posed to Senator what he'd recommend for a beginner or younger professional just starting out in their careers, looking to get into the luxury watch space, to which he suggested an Omega or a Rolex. Both are phenomenal options and I concur with his take on everything. However, I thought I'd offer a couple options that are in a more feasible price range in your 20's. I'll preface that these will be a notch below the luxury level he is taking about, but still Swiss with exceptional quality. With a military background, I have always loved pilots and divers watches. I received a Marathon 46MM CSAR as a gift from my last unit when I left, and I wear it weekly. Longines also makes an affordable piece with great quality in that $1,000-$3500 price range. Hamilton comes in even more base level anywhere from $500-$2,000. I understand a lot of these options are not done in-house like Omega, Rolex, or AP, but that's the tradeoff to get a taste of a great watch at an approachable price point before sinking 8 grand into a new hobby. Just my 2 cents. Curious to hear others thoughts on the topic. 

[JohnInCleveland]

The Lizards asked what our everyday watch is. I wear a Jaeger LeCoultre Master Control. (I’m only adding this to hear Giz pronounce Jaeger LeCoultre.)

[JDoughty]

My everyday watch is my cell phone, it does everything a watch does and much more. There is absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying a nice watch, or anything else in life that you genuinely take pleasure in. If you like a thing and want to collect or wear it, that's cool and I respect that. There are watches with very fine craftsmanship that are worth admiring and appreciating. I just can't see the use of a fancy one for myself. I do have one of those satellite wrist tracker units that are good when hunting in remote areas without signal and consider that one to be well worth the investment and the carry weight. 

[ElLoboLoco]

Not a watch guy, iPhone like JD 👆🏼mentioned. I’d be pretty upset to spend close to $70 on a cigar that is mediocre at best. 

[NYGuido]

Great episode, though I think they picked the wrong vitola here. I've been smoking through a box of Nobles, and they've been delightful. Floral, tasty, good burn. Sure, they're not worth the price, per se, but I needed an "aged" box of something to start my collection and picked up a 2020 box for a bit of a discount on a trusted site. I think they may just not love the RyJ profile, which is totally fine.

As for watches, it was clear that Senator has some serious cash! My daily driver is a Breitling Avenger GMT, but I also have a few others. Crown jewel of my collection is a Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Annual Calendar.

Looking forward to smoking along with the guys on next week's episode. Any NYC members who want to meet up somewhere and smoke/listen together, let me know.

[El Presidente]

8 hours ago, NYGuido said:

 

As for watches, it was clear that Senator has some serious cash! My daily driver is a Breitling Avenger GMT, but I also have a few others. Crown jewel of my collection is a Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Annual Calendar.

 

Very Nice 

 

[NYGuido]

On 10/18/2025 at 1:51 AM, El Presidente said:

Very Nice 

That’s the one but with a warmer, grayish dial. Thanks!!