As any financial analyst will tell you (Surely?), there are certain signs that signal that a recession is over. I don’t know all the rubbish about negative and positive growth rates, but I do know when a recession is over. Signs of this include:

People not being afraid of showing their wealth again to their poorer friends. Have you ever noticed that when a recession hits, even the rich talk about it, AS IF it’s affecting them! They talk as if they have been cutting down when speaking to their poor friends, because they don’t want to be seen as excessive in a recession. The SLK and the mansion give it away a little bit though…

People don’t bother wiping the coke off their noses. If you can afford it, flaunt it.

Different drinks. They’ll go from Black Label to Jager Bombs.

Different clubs. Ah I think we’ll move from Claremont to Camps Bay, thanks!

And then Leatherman have their own little sign that the recession is over, the $40000 Leatherman multi-tool. Let’s look at this bad boy:

Description: Like King Midas whose touch turned everything to gold, artist Adrian Pallarols extends his luxurious style to the Del Rey, Leatherman’s 25th Anniversary luxury tool. Using 18K gold from the Andes for the handles, Adrian crafts each of these with his unique Del Rey design, Tim Leatherman’s signature and the 25th Anniversary crest. Only 25 of the Del Rey model will be produced.

Is there a more fabulous display of wealth on offer right now? Yeah look you can find watches more expensive than this, but when last was your $40000 watch used to cut cables, screw in things and be used on those boys weekends away?

This is EXACTLY what I talk about when I talk of a vulgar display of wealth! Because this translates to around ZAR 300000.

Beautiful.