T56371. This one letter followed by a simple string of 5 number may not look like anything special on the surface, but to viewers of the recent DVD released, Stranger than Fiction, this code represents the must have watch of the year. The product is a watch. Not just any watch mind you, it is the T56371 Timex Ironman Combo 42 Lap watch.

The Watch is called a Combo because it features both a digital display that can be turned on and off along with the traditional analog hands. Timex offers other combo or dual tech watched including the mens metal combo fashion watches, the Men's Timex Ironman Dual Tech and Women's Timex Dual Tech, yet the buying public, with a disproportionate number coming from .edu locations, are seeking out the T56371 in record numbers.

Without giving away anything from the movie, the T56371 plays a pivitol role in the story of an IRS Agent played by Will Ferrell and his mondain life. Predictable, that is, until one day he realizes that he is actually a character in a novel being written by a talented writer, played by Emma Thompson, that is suffering from writers block.

This movie must have struck a nerve with the viewing audience and since watching the movie myself I have been trying to piece together what this all means, if anything. The day that the movie was released on DVD, orders for the particular watch portrayed in the movie, the Timex T56371 increased at lotsofwatches.com by well over 2000%. Many other location including Amazon and other watch store immediately posted Out of Stock messages on their sites. So the question that begs to be asked is, How is it that a movie can touch people is such a way as to make them want to go out a buy a particular watch?

This truly happened in this movie. Even though there are other model of the Timex Ironman Combo 42 Lap watch including the Timex T56381, people are only ordering the Timex T56371.

Did people connect with the watch? Did they connect with the Character played by Will Ferrell? Did they just think that the watch was "cool? Did enough other people seeing the movie so that they might see you on the street and ask you if that was that watch in the movie? And if they did, was it that big of a deal that these buyers had to get that particular watch?

I am not discounting the power of celebrity pitchmen and women. Companies have been using them for years. Many sports, including Nascar, use there athletes like Tony Stewart and Juan Pablo Montoya to pitch there product from Motor Oil to Home Improvement along with wanting to wear the same watches that these Nascar Drivers wear. This is also true of NFL, NBA, MBL and NHL Stars. Even other movies like the 007 series have featured particular brands of chronograph watches. The fact that this movie and this watch, the Timex T56371 have struck such a cord is remarkable and worth noting.

I would love to hear what you think about this.

Robert Earl is founder and owner of LotsofWatches.com. LotsofWatches.com is an alternative to the traditional malls and big box stores. Now, more than ever, Time is in short supply. At least in most of the world it is, but not at Lots of Watches.com No need to drive to the malls, no need to find a parking space, no need to deal with the clerk that never has enough time for you. Lots of Watches.com is designed to allow you to shop for your next timepiece of gift on your Time.