A Southern Gentleman Is

A Southern Gentleman is… Respectful

BY TIM KEARNS Being a Southern Gentleman revolves around one word: Respect. It’s respect for yourself and for those around you. Being a gentleman isn’t a personality quirk. It’s not something you turn on and off like a switch. It’s a choice. It’s a lifestyle. And although it’s a reputation that’s quickly diminishing in today’s self-absorbed world of electronic devices - I’m hopeful the traditions can make a comeback. Many of these traditions below I have made a habit that my wife and daughters have become used to and my daughters now expect the same of their husbands.

HERE ARE A FEW SOUTHERN GENTLEMAN TRADITIONS THAT SHOULD STILL APPLY TODAY

A gentleman will…

DRESS PROPERLY WHEN GOING OUT Dress properly means for the occasion, whether going to the lake or out to eat. There is no need to look like a slob in dirty wrinkled clothes even if you’re cooking in a BBQ contest, but especially when dining at a nice restaurant or going to an event.

OPEN HER CAR DOOR In the old days, it was seen as a sign of his protection and strength when a gentleman would help a lady up into the carriage. Their dresses were often long and heavy, so the gentleman would open the door for her so she wouldn’t have to drop her dress in the dirt. Today, opening a door for her is not a sign of weakness towards her, but a gesture of affection.

LET HER WALK THROUGH THE DOOR FIRST Women should always go through the door first. Even ardent feminists will admit to this. It’s not an acknowledgment that women are the weaker sex - it’s perhaps an acknowledgment of women as the stronger sex.

PULL OUT HER CHAIR In the old days, it was common for the gentleman to pull out her chair and allow her to face the open room. Today, the gentleman pulls out her seat, and sits facing away from the crowd and the TV. Why? Because he doesn’t need to be distracted - she needs to be the HOLD THE UMBRELLA WHEN IT RAINS When raining, a gentleman will hold the umbrella over her. No, he does not mind getting a little wet.

center of his attention, not a football game or golf tournament.

STAND TO HER OUTSIDE, CLOSEST TO THE STREET, WHEN WALKING Symbolically this might be seen that he’ll always be by her side, through thick and thin, and will protect her from anything. But this does have historical merit to it. Before today’s sewage systems, a man would stand on the outside of the sidewalk to protect a woman from the dust and sewage that could splash up from horse-drawn carriages. Today, a gentleman might stand in the way of puddles splashing up the street, or in the event a car veers onto the sidewalk.

HELP HER PUT ON AND TAKE OFF HER COAT A gentleman should help his lady put-on and take-off her coat out of common courtesy. Even if your relationship is new, men should still offer to help.

WALK HER TO HER CAR / DOOR Because he’s concerned for her safety, a true gentleman will walk her to her car or to her front door if dropping her off.

CARRY HER BAGS A gentleman will help her carry her bags - whether they are groceries, packages or she needs help with her luggage when flying or traveling.

GIVE UP HIS JACKET A gentleman will always pay attention. When she starts to shiver, he gives her his jacket.

GIVE UP HIS SEAT If there are no other seats available, a gentleman offers his seat to a lady.

SIT AFTER SHE SITS She’s the guest - a gentleman will allow her to sit first.

KEEP HIS APPOINTMENTS AND PROMISES A big part of being a gentleman is respecting other people’s time. When a gentleman tells someone they’re going to help them with something, they help them. When a gentleman promises they’ll have a project done by a certain date, they meet the deadline. Not only does this build trust, it helps build self-trust, a crucial-yetunderrated form of trust for a gentleman.

ASK HER FATHER FOR HER HAND IN MARRIAGE In Victorian days, a gentleman would have to show his ‘credentials’ to her father to show his worthiness. Today, a gentleman asks her father for his blessing because it shows a sign of courtesy and respect to his future father-in-law.

ALWAYS ON TIME A gentleman is only as good as his word. He should plan in advance and don’t ever keep her waiting. Traffic is not an excuse for being late.

I have to say that both my Son-in-Law’s check almost all of these boxes! So all ladies; wives, daughters, grandmothers, aunts, ladies you come in contact with socially should all be treated with respect and honor. This should be the standard rule of thumb for all southern gentleman!

TIM KEARNS A Southern Gentleman Is...

Tim is a Williamson County business owner who lives, works and plays all within the county limits. He has been a triathlete for thirty-three years and married to Bess Kearns for thirty-two years. All of his commitments are for the long haul! 8142 Heirloom Boulevard The Grove | Under Contract 106 Church Street The Brownstones | Under Contract 206 Emily Court The Brownstones | Under Contract

580 Crofton Park Lane Fieldstone Farms | Under Contract

203 2nd Avenue South in Historic Downtown Franklin Daniel-Christian.com

2330 Wimbledon Circle Fieldstone Farms | Sold

2340 Wimbledon Circle Fieldstone Farms | $569,900

1023 Stockett Drive Stockett Creek

MATT DANIEL

Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist Managing Broker, ABR o: 615.790.6107 c: 615.498.6129 Matt@Daniel-Christian.com 991 State Boulevard Westhaven | Sold

484 Essex Park Circle Fieldstone Farms | Coming Soon

NEW LISTING COMING SOON!!

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DIANNE CHRISTIAN

Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist Broker, ABR, CRS, GRI, PNM o: 615.790.6107 c: 615.260.3313 Dianne@Daniel-Christian.com

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There is something about a gentleman and his timepiece. What’s the first brand name that comes to your mind? For me it was ROLEX. They are iconic. They have been on the wrists of some of the most important, celebrated and influential men who have ever lived. Gentlemen like Winston Churchill, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Elvis Presley; Many Presidents including John F. Kennedy to more recent figures like Michael Jordan, Brad Pitt and Michael Buble.

I recently had the opportunity to share some time with Alex Johnson, President and Owner of Diamond Cellar Nashville. We discussed Diamond Cellar, men’s timepieces in general and of course, the incomparable - ROLEX.

Diamond Cellar was created post World War II, in 1947, by Alex’s grandfather in Columbus, Ohio. He began as an apprentice in a neighborhood jewelry store and then started his own jewelry repair business, quickly growing to become one of Columbus’ premiere jewelry repair services. This reputation and with his knowledge of the business, he eventually began selling jewelry.

Fast forward to 1952 - Alex’s grandfather started his first jewelry shop. It did very well. He took a small store with no name brands and aggregated some of the most luxurious private brands, into Ohio, and became one of the biggest stores in the nation by 2001. It continues to expand to this day.

Alex has brought Diamond Cellar to Nashville, and this location houses some of the world’s premium brands such as Cartier and Chanel as well as many more. A first class environment and unique shopping experience for the customer, are the trademarks of Diamond Cellar Nashville as well as featuring one of the largest selections and stores dedicated to ROLEX.

Diamond Cellar began a partnership with ROLEX in the 1980’s. While still in college and not yet working in the family business, Alex went to a ROLEX brunch with his father in New York. While there, he met another young man that had just moved to New York from Switzerland and simply struck up conversation and then continued to stay in touch. A few years later Alex joined

There’s Just Something About A Rolex

BY JOHNNY BIRDSONG

ALEX JOHNSON AT LEIPER’S FORK DISTILLERY

“WHERE DID YOU

GET YOUR ROLEX?

LEADERS IN ALL

WALKS OF LIFE

ACKNOWLEDGE

THAT PRIDE OF ROLEX OWNERSHIP

STARTS CONVERSATIONS… MAKES STRANGERS

FRIENDS AND

DISTINGUISHES EACH AS A PERSON

OF TASTE AND JUDGEMENT. ”

– Bob Hope

the family business with his father and shared his dreams and goals of growing the business, which he also shared with his friend at ROLEX. Alex wanted to grow the existing partnership with ROLEX by creating a location in Nashville for “the greatest and most collect-able timepieces.” The response was positive and very interested - his friend said: “We are looking to do something in Nashville.”

“Rolex has been a very beneficial partner. They want to see you grow as a store. They are as invested in the process as we are,” says Alex. What started out as a business relationship, is today, a friendship as well he says.

So, why ROLEX? The name was invented in 1908, and it would become one of the world’s most respected brands. It all started with the founder, Hans Wilsdorf. In 1905, at the age of twenty-four, Hans Wilsdorf founded a company specializing in the distribution of timepieces. He began to dream of a watch worn on the wrist. Wristwatches were not very precise at the time, but Hans Wilsdorf foresaw they could become not only elegant, but also reliable.

Today, this world class company and the standard bearer in timepieces, ROLEX, controls every step of the process. They design, develop and produce in-house, all essential components of the iconic watches, from the casting of the gold alloys to the machining, crafting, assembly and finishing of the movement, case, dial and bracelet in a relentless pursuit of perfection.

Alex says: “ROLEX continuously reinvests “HE COULD NOT JUST WEAR A WATCH. IT HAD TO BE A ROLEX”

– Ian Fleming describing James Bond in Casino Royale (1953)

in their manufacturing process. They are waterproof when others are water resistant. They have been to the top of Mt Everest.”

Today they are the most demanded timepiece in the world. Alex goes on to say: “They want to keep it something that truly symbolizes whatever your impetus to purchase is; they have a very healthy understanding of why we are inspired to do things. It’s not to simply spend money. It’s to look forward to something, to cherish something…. more of a capstone. They are snapshots of a moment in time and behind every ROLEX is typically a very momentous moment,” he concludes.

When asked about the significance of a gentleman and his timepiece, Alex says: “A gentleman’s watch tells a story and lends itself to someone asking to hear it.”

ROLEX has an awesome collection. So, how does a Gentleman of Distinction know which style is best for him? “Go to the ROLEX store. ROLEX wants you to meet with an expert. Someone who has gone through ROLEX training, someone who has experience and knowledge; it’s not just the external watch it’s what going on inside it. When you come to our store it’s an experience not just a line of watches,” Alex says. “The intent is to walk in and not be sold something but be educated, have your questions answered; to feel as if you walked into a little part Geneva right here in Nashville,” he says.

Come make a ROLEX memory at Diamond Cellar Nashville today!

(615) 610-7656 • www.diamondcellar.com