He got that old uncomfortable, sweaty look on his face.

“Don’t worry,” I said, reassuringly. “I’m on the case.”

At this point, he got a new, uncomfortable, sweaty look on his face. But that was all right. Change, my therapists have told me, is always threatening.

I surfed jewelry websites such as Cartier, Blue Nile, Tiffany and Saks (isn’t this Baume & Mercier watch from Saks lovely?).

Something more politically correct? How about Novica, which sells jewelry made by artisans around the world?

Something a little more discounted?

But shouldn’t I shop locally? I went to Anthony Nak and browsed through his gorgeous, shimmering jewelry. Unfortunately, I realized I wasn’t fabulous or young enough for his things. I needed something a little, well, stodgier. No, that is the wrong word! Something more classic? Yes, that sounds better. At my age, who can afford to be trendy? I am the classic type.

But shouldn’t I be shopping for something used? Wouldn’t that be more responsible and prudent?

I took to hanging around eBay’s jewelry lineup. I looked at watches. I looked at rings. I wanted something I could wear every day. It sounded like a watch was the ticket.

But in the past, hadn’t I had a little problem with eBay? The trouble was, I am so competitive, auctions have been troublesome in my past. Once I identify something I like, I feel as if it’s mine. I start to resent other people bidding on it. (Isn’t that called grand theft or something? I believe so.) Anyway, this explains why I’ve paid too much for an Oriental carpet and a gold vermeil starter watch in the past.

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