It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a large fortune must be in want of a watch.

Such were the thoughts of Mr Bingley when he came upon Mr Darcy at breakfast. "Come, Darcy," said he. "Upon my honour you must choose a watch. Have you ever seen anything so fine as this stainless steel Rettangolo timepiece by Bulgari? It is adorned with diamonds and its quartz movement tells me that the time is now nine o'clock."

With some reluctance, his friend set down a copy of Fay Weldon's Life and Loves of a She Devil which he had been studying with the warmest admiration. The pages seemed to be even longer, yet softer, than his usual Andrex.

"It is tolerable," said he, glancing at the Rettangolo's plum crocodile strap. "But not handsome enough to tempt me."

Mr Bingley laughed. "Come," he said, "The Bulgari family is old enough to satisfy even you. Their jewels are worn by uncommonly pretty Hollywood starlets. I would not be so fastidious as you for a kingdom, sir! I'll wager that although you may find a cheaper watch, you will not see anything finer. Come, let us go to work on an egg!"

In haste, the men drove to London, pausing only for a brace of Big Macs and a Cadbury's Snowflake. In Bond Street Mr Darcy was obliged to admire the prospect of so many remarkable purveyors of luxury goods, Tiffany, Patek Philippe, Watches of Switzerland, Rolex, Cartier, and H Samuel. None of these, however, was the equal of Bulgari. In every corner there were beauties to be seen. Mr Darcy's eye was instantly caught by the Logomania silk scarves and the 18-carat Weldon moneyclip.

It was midnight by his new 18kt gold Bulgari Anfiteatro watch by the time Mr Darcy sat at his desk at Pemberly and unclicked a silver-plated Eccentrica ball point pen, available exclusively from Bulgari. "My dear Miss Bennet," he wrote, "In vain have I struggled ..."