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Well i will be in shitinarand next week and i will send you some photos

1960's era PP... Have a great week!

Also, bear in mind that the way you act will or won't attract suspicion from both security agents and customs agents... If you look pretty cool, they will probably not even check your shoes but if you're sweating they will put u in an examination room right away No stress...pretend to yourself you are not doing anything bad!

An old Submariner today

The key area of going through customs with reps or rather the higher risk in terms of customs... (not talking about baggage handlers etc) is returning to your own country... Now its not because its a rep but rather that you may be trying to bring in something that you purchased with out paying duties on it.... now that aspect (Customs duty) and thresholds varies from country to country... visiting another country carries less if any risk in respect of customs.... especially if you are wearing the item... you could consider similar risks in wearing a rep Armani etc especially in Italy... remember as a temporary vistor you have already gone through security and customs in the departure country.... upon leaving you are facing security and valuables on your person are checked for that purpose... not customs Having been there myself several times... I have worn and carried reps and never had a problem or even an inquistive eye... Though i did get a lot of interest going out of the UK.... one customs guy asked me if I liked watches I always carry my watches on my person.... I usually wear long sleeves as well... but not because of customs... that because I dont like the idea of getting 'marked' in the airport or outside... I really wouldnt give customs a second thought going anywhere.... but I would and do always consider the security of any of my valuables and how they attract or might attract the wrong sort of people looking to 'mark' me as a holidaying mug...

And what better way to acquire one than off an unsuspecting tourist

Starting the week:

Utillity patents - protect functionality - are good for 20 years and design patents - protect asthetic design - are good for 14 years in most countries. However, trademarks may be maintained forever. Trademarks include things like brand names but may also include particular shapes and designs if the company can prove that the public associates that shape with their brand. For example, Panerai has trademarked the shape of their crown guard - many of the old body styles even have Reg T.M. written on the CG. If you make a watch that has a similar crown guard to their trademarked one, and Panerai can prove that there is "market confusion" with respect to your watch - market confusion means the public may mistake your brand for a Panerai - than Panerai can win in court. Market confusion is a nebulous standard, how do you prove or disprove whether the public was confused, so if you're even close the trademark owner will likely sue you. Actually, under the law, the trademark owner is almost forced to intervien because there is a duty to police the market and protect your TM or you could lose it. To this end, homage watch makers that make a product that looks too similar to a trademarked design may be sued by the trademark owner. For the most part patents don't play into this because any patents that were obtained have long expired. Panerai is a unique example however, because their CG is so different and well known to Panerai. You can imagine how difficult it would be for Rolex to try and obtain a trademark for their sub design because there are so many subs out there. What about the Rolex sub other than the name is uniquely Rolex (you'll get sued for TM infringement for sure if you use the name) - I'm sure members will chime in here and for each thing they think of I bet Rolex probably has a TM on that unique feature. If your homage watch were to incorporate one of the things that is uniquely Rolex and they have TM'd than you can bet Rolex will come after you. All the none trademarked feature are fair game and as we know there are thousands of sub designs out there so it's a pretty crowded space. Hope this helps, I'm an intellectual property attorney so feel free to ask other questions and I will try and answer them.

1665 GW

Going along with the homage lines Teejay has suggested how about something like this Ocean Vintage Gmt... Great quality piece and reasonable money too

The dial is one I made using a water slide decal.

Tony is ok I ve bought from him in the past, subs vary in accuracy bear that in mind. The cheap stuff is just that, and if your friend is an expert you may wish to re consider. Boxes are extra usually, check with the dealer.

Paperwork quality is crap with reps, boxes are hit and miss. No one cares about them unless its a gen watch, with a rep they scream rip off. Many trusted dealers carry gold tone watches, have a poke about.

Actually chaps, I'll 'fess up. The first car I fell in love with was the 1956 Thunderbird. Absolutely beautiful.

It stands for PAnerai Model apparently

Thanks for the feedback. I can understand that for some there would be no incentive to read much further than that one forum section if that's what you're really looking for. That's quite unfortunate. I've done some paring down, made some additions and learned a heck of a lot. The watch I choose from the trusted dealer of my choice will be great, I'm sure. The lessons I've learned about movement, history, quality, accuracy, factories, dealers, assembly and the likes will be far more valuable than any watch I buy. (Though I'm still trying to figure out what "PAM" means - the "abbreviations" link is dead like many other links on this site.) I'm still sweating from doing the work of researching reps and dealers. While it's new for me, I'm excited about whatever I purchase from whomever. I'll have that much more pride knowing that I looked it all up myself. Hopefully others will view this endeavor similarly and not give up just because the information isn't handed to them. Cheers!

I smell like a Manhattan as well... 2oz of Bullet Rye, 1oz Sweet Vermouth, Dash of Bitters!

Welcome Leecar1980 (fellow Londoner). I'm not aware of a reference sheet for abbreviations you just have to read, read, read and you eventually get the gang of it. BTW can you sort out your font size, I needed my 30X loupe to read your post!

I have to agree with Andy, I have never ever heard of a Customs agent even giving a wristwatch a second glance. Now if you are carrying a case full of watches, they might get pretty interested. I would bet the incident in Germany involved someone with several watches. First off, how would any country afford to stock every port of entry with a complete set of watches? How many thousands of models have been produced in the past 25 years? So, if what you are wearing, doesn't happen to be one of the models that the Customs "watch department" has in stock, what do they do then? Then, how many trained horologists are there, who could tell if a watch is real or rep? Suppose i show up with my DRSD 1665, everything is genuine except the case? Do you really think that the watch policeman, unless he is 75 yers old, and trained and worked on Rolex vintage watches for years could tell if mine is real or memorex? I don't think so, besides, I have a receipt (sales invoice) dating back to 1983 showing I bought the DRSD used for 850.00 USD!! Easy way to solve the problem. Don't wear one of your treasured "Super Franken" watches on vacation. Wear a genuine. Get a Seiko or something comperable.

Pretty amazing that Italy has such a tough stance on Replicas, considering there are peddlers hawking knock off handbags on almost every corner in Venice!. my wife and I were there a few years ago, and the sellers became quite obnoxious. They wouldn't take no for and answer, following you down the street trying to sell you a handbag. I usually travel with a maximum of three and usually two watches. One problem, is pilferage in hotels. If the hotel where I am staying doesn't have an electronic safe with occupant settable passcodes, i don't like to leave anything in the room when I'm away. i figure some of the hotel employees probably have a master code to open the safes, but hopefully it isn't the woman who cleans the room! I have traveled out of the USA a lot, and I have never had a customs agent give my watches a second glance. I worry about them being lost or stolen in other places a lot more than I worry about customs seizure. I would say that if you are indeed worried about losing a watch while on vacation, either to a thief or customs, then I would solve that problem by wearing an inexpensive genuine. Buy a cheap Seiko, a Cashio, Invicta, etc. and have fun!! After all that's what vacations are for,right?

JV by OP...

As I told already pp dispute is canceled and won't happen again. Ken and I found a solution, at this moment I did everything that he asked from me. now I'm waiting for him to reply/confirm and keep his promise. Thanks Ken and my apology to him and the rest for this issue.

bring tears to my eyes...back on the game...uhhuuuuu