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Here's a boring and controversial rant from a conservative and dull Rolex man. If you strongly disagree with my offensive views, feel free to post just as controversial replies. Biggest recent design mistakes by Rolex: 1. Super Sea Dweller. How can they replace the beautiful, attractive classic Dweller with this mumbo-jumbo watch? I tried on the genuine yesterday and it's utterly terrible, with all those cheap gimmics. The only thing missing was a radio antenna suddenly popping up from somewhere. It's been popular replica on the forum though. I gotta wonder why... PloProf is purposefully ugly, but it's ugly in a cool way. DSSD wears awful and is ugly as a mule's butt. 2. GMT IIc How can they replace the classic Pepsi with this utterly boring watch? Where is the original GMT tool watch spirit? The best word to describe this model is the color "GREY". Great watch if you're walking around in a rainy Monday afternoon (sic). And polished middle links on a tool watch? Really. 3. ROLEXROLEX rehaut engraving. Now that was just plain stupid idea. It destroys the smooth and beautiful rehaut shine. 4. Fat lugs on the classic Submariner. This is like the Porsche 911 -> 996 transformation. Water cooled engine and Boxster headlamps. Purists say NO. Porsche quickly moved back to the traditional headlights later. People say how the clasp has been improved and blahblah. The fact is that you can't update perfection. 5. Yacht-Master II. Maybe the ugliest watch Rolex has ever made. If I didn't know better, I would think that it's directly from Canal Street. The only updates that make any sense are the new Exp, ExpII and perhaps Day-Date/Datejust. Those watches (imho) needed an extra millimeter or two. But they should have left the classics alone, and not made them look like Invictas. I'm afraid the current Daytona is next on the chopping block. Be afraid, be very afraid. Thoughts?

Sorry to use my unfair advantage of it being a new day here while it is still yesterday to our northern members. Could not wait as my new BK YM finally got to see the light of day today.. It has good points and not so good points but I love it!

A watch with a rotor can't be overwound.

Hey guys just got this from yuki... what do you think? Comes with hands for eta too. These should fit my 1680mbw case with a 2836 movement?

I ship from Spain but usually I don´t keep stock there, mostly for triangle shipping..

For me, this watch is incredible in pics and in person. The little details are awesome. I just never loved it on me so I sold mine. Yet I like seeing it on others, particularly on mesh.

Really good read... Enjoy ~ Mike _______________________________ They told me the big black Lab's name was Reggie, as I looked at him lying in his pen. The shelter was clean, no-kill, and the people really friendly. I'd only been in the area for six months, but everywhere I went in the small college town, people were welcoming and open. Everyone waves when you pass them on the street. But something was still missing as I attempted to settle in to my new life here, and I thought a dog couldn't hurt. Give me someone to talk to. And I had just seen Reggie's advertisement on the local news. The shelter said they had received numerous calls right after, but they said the people who had come down to see him just didn't look like "Lab people," whatever that meant. They must've thought I did. But at first, I thought the shelter had misjudged me in giving me Reggie and his things, which consisted of a dog pad, bag of toys almost all of which were brand new tennis balls, his dishes and a sealed letter from his previous owner. See, Reggie and I didn't really hit it off when we got home. We struggled for two weeks (which is how long the shelter told me to give him to adjust to his new home). Maybe it was the fact that I was trying to adjust, too. Maybe we were too much alike. I saw the sealed envelope. I had completely forgotten about that. "Okay, Reggie," I said out loud, "let's see if your previous owner has any advice." ____________ _________ _________ _________ To Whomever Gets My Dog: Well, I can't say that I'm happy you're reading this, a letter I told the shelter could only be opened by Reggie's new owner. I'm not even happy writing it. He knew something was different. So let me tell you about my Lab in the hopes that it will help you bond with him and he with you. First, he loves tennis balls. The more the merrier. Sometimes I think he's part squirrel, the way he hoards them. He usually always has two in his mouth, and he tries to get a third in there. Hasn't done it yet. Doesn't matter where you throw them, he'll bound after them, so be careful. Don't do it by any roads. Next, commands. Reggie knows the obvious ones ---"sit," "stay," "come," "heel." He knows hand signals, too: He knows "ball" and "food" and "bone" and "treat" like nobody's business. Feeding schedule: twice a day, regular store-bought stuff; the shelter has the brand. He's up on his shots. Be forewarned: Reggie hates the vet. Good luck getting him in the car. I don't know how he knows when it's time to go to the vet, but he knows. Finally, give him some time. It's only been Reggie and me for his whole life. He's gone everywhere with me, so please include him on your daily car rides if you can. He sits well in the backseat, and he doesn't bark or complain. He just loves to be around people, and me most especially. And that's why I need to share one more bit of info with you...His name's not Reggie. He's a smart dog, he'll get used to it and will respond to it, of that I have no doubt. But I just couldn't bear to give them his real name. But if someone is reading this ... well it means that his new owner should know his real name. His real name is "Tank." Because, that is what I drive. I told the shelter that they couldn't make "Reggie" available for adoption until they received word from my company commander. You see, my parents are gone, I have no siblings, no one I could've left Tank with .. and it was my only real request of the Army upon my deployment to Iraq, that they make one phone call to the shelter ... in the "event" ... to tell them that Tank could be put up for adoption. Luckily, my CO is a dog-guy, too, and he knew where my platoon was headed. He said he'd do it personally. And if you're reading this, then he made good on his word. Tank has been my family for the last six years, almost as long as the Army has been my family. And now I hope and pray that you make him part of your family, too, and that he will adjust and come to love you the same way he loved me. If I have to give up Tank to keep those terrible people from coming to the US I am glad to have done so. He is my example of service and of love. I hope I honored him by my service to my country and comrades. All right, that's enough. I deploy this evening and have to drop this letter off at the shelter. Maybe I'll peek in on him and see if he finally got that third tennis ball in his mouth. Good luck with Tank. Give him a good home, and give him an extra kiss goodnight - every night - from me. Thank you, Paul Mallory ____________ _________ _________ _______ I folded the letter and slipped it back in the envelope. Sure, I had heard of Paul Mallory, everyone in town knew him, even new people like me. Local kid, killed in Iraq a few months ago and posthumously earning the Silver Star when he gave his life to save three buddies. Flags had been at half-mast all summer. I leaned forward in my chair and rested my elbows on my knees, staring at the dog. "Hey, Tank," I said quietly. The dog's head whipped up, his ears cocked and his eyes bright. "C'mere boy." He was instantly on his feet, his nails clicking on the hardwood floor. He sat in front of me, his head tilted, searching for the name he hadn't heard in months. "Tank," I whispered. His tail swished. I kept whispering his name, over and over, and each time, his ears lowered, his eyes softened, and his posture relaxed as a wave of contentment just seemed to flood him. I stroked his ears, rubbed his shoulders, buried my face into his scruff and hugged him. "It's me now, Tank, just you and me. Your old pal gave you to me." Tank reached up and licked my cheek. "So whatdaya say we play some ball?" His ears perked again. "Yeah? Ball? You like that? Ball?" Tank tore from my hands and disappeared into the next room. And when he came back, he had three tennis balls in his mouth.

Having just welcomed 2012 about 48 hours ago, this is a pictorial look-back at the watches (gen & rep) that I acquired in 2011. 2011 had been exciting in the world of reps as factory standards improved significantly. I came across, by accident no less, into RWI towards the end of 2010 whilst doing a google search on Panerai and was truly amazed at the amount of images there were available. I then found out about RWG and the other sister/brother forums (i.e RG, WC). The rep forums proved to be most informative, not so much of the jerk-circle gen forums that I once often frequented. Everyone is helpful in dispensing information and assistance. Mods, Trusted Dealers, VIPs, members all were friendly and helpful. A BIG kudos to all of you guys! Here are the watches that found their place in my watchbox (& on my wrist) over the last 12 months: Part I (Rolex/ Tudor / Omega) Explorer 14270 Explorer 214270 Explorer II 1655 "Orange-Hand" Explorer II 16570 Black Explorer II 16570 "Polar" (Gen) Oysterdate Precision 6694 Manual-Winding (Gen) Yachtmaster 16622 Rolesium Tudor 7032 Monte-Carlo Omega "Reduced" Speedmaster Japan Exclusive - Marui Edition (Gen) *Missing in Action: Tudor Snowflake 94010 - Currently in service Part II (Panerai) 005K V1 025A 026K 111J 112J - My first built using an old 111H midcase with Taka Single AR crystal, high beat 21.8kbps movt, Francisco's sticker decal, DSN 112 dial and 111J caseback. 312L V1 2012 offers yet another 12 months of endless possibilities of upping the quality and accuracy of our reps. Thanks to the TDs for taking the members' feedback and comments to incorporate in the final product offerings. I most probably need another 10-12 piece watch box for 2012. Here's the watchbox damage for 2011: I can't wait!