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I finally completed my IWC pilot watch collection! Yea! You can pro'ly tell I prefer the bracelet to the strap. It's only because the large gaps between the strap and case make the watch seem far to big on my skinny wrist IMHO. From left to right: Mark XVI, Mark XVII, 3717, 3777, 3717 and the strap is on another older model XVII.

The 16600 is the rare modern Rolex I enjoy wearing. After owning a variety of models, the Super Sea Dweller V2 was the one I had stuck with the longest. Despite the arrival of many wannabe super reps, the SSD v2 has held up extremely well. The only issue I had was the oversized LEC on the crystal. When the BP SD arrived, many went crazy for it. The LEC was gone. My SSD V2 had already been modded, crown guards trimmed, it sported a gen insert, gen crown/tube, PBDad had done a great job of reluming the dial and hands. So, I did the only thing I could think of - I put my SSD v2 for sale and opted to start anew with the BP sd. My SD had a small issue. The swiss 2836 movement had lost its auto wind capabilities. I posted a thread on this seeking help. With this issue, the offers I received for the watch were not interesting. So, I decided to buy a BP and take the case and crystal from the BP and put in the guts of my SSD V2. I was fortunate to be contacted by a true gentleman of the board - member Misiekped. He had responded to my auto wind problem and offered to fix it as he was a watchsmith. He has been a member here for 6 or 7 years. After a few exchanges, I told him I would send him both watches to swap out the parts and fix the swiss movement. He also told me would service the movement I was keeping. On my next business trip, I mailed him the goods. The work was completed within a few days if memory serves me. He provided regular updates - at one point, we were PMing back and forth for almost an hour as he was keeping informed of what he was doing! When I received the watches, everything was perfect. I sold the BP SD that was now in the SSD case and wore the 16600 SD for a straight week while I was on holiday. I just reported back to him that the watch stayed in sync with the clock on my phone! Awesome!! I am extremely happy with Misiekped and his work. I have since sent him a 1665 MBW double red that had been parted but I asked him to put it back together as I need to sell it. The work was completed very quickly especially considering I sent it a week before xmas. I have not picked it up yet but the pictures he sent me indicate that the watch looks fabulous. So why am I writing this? I asked Misiekped why he did not openly publicize his talent. At the time, the whole MD2020 fiasco was still very fresh and no one knew what was going on with MD2020. So recently, after the 1665 work was completed, I again offered to post a review which can contain much more than positive feedback. So here we are. Misiekped has worked on 3 watches for me thus far. I have been extremely happy with his service and the cost associated with his work. Communication has been perfect. The 2 watches I did get back so far came back in perfect working order. The 1665 is ready but waiting for me to get myself in Conus. I recommend him if you need work done. He even relumed a seconds hand for me! As we are always in need of a qualified watchsmith, I thought it was time that I shared my find with all of you! Misiekped, thanks for your work! You have earned repeat business from me.

By the way flyr did not go all the way thru that thread but the guys can just order Cape Cod online.

Excellent points @ fraggle Ken

Just by coincidence I started a similar thread over at the other RWG this morning http://www.rwg.bz/board/index.php?showtopic=68486 Got some interesting feedback!

+1 All about enjoying what is on the wrist. New here to RWG, but have loved watches for a long time. Gens generally stay in the safe. Wear the reps most of the time. The people I socialize with know I collect watches and have gens, but they also know that I wear reps because I am upfront about it and I would rather have many watches than just a few. With those who are close to me and see me daily like some co workers it is a little game, now it that one a gen or a rep? I love watches whether they are gens or reps. For me it is all about liking what is on the wrist not whether someone can tell or not--more about how much I like it. I actually like it when people comment on a watch I am wearing, Then I tell them it is a rep that someone worked on to make it look like this, I looked long and hard for this rep and saved ?K that I can spend on my wife or golf or cigars or cars or other things I really like. To me it is fun to talk about the pursuit of watches (gens or reps) sharing the passion for time pieces with others and drawing them into our hobby. Now I am not saying to just by any rep, do some research and buy the one you like and makes you happy. I spent some time looking around here and my taste led me to some of the builders/modders who take a rep and mod it or clean it up to improve it. That suits my eye, that attention to detail. Not because I want to pass it off as a gen but because it looks better to me and when it is on my wrist I will be proud to wear it. You can find them in the TD section.

Enjoying the new Donerix Strap on my Hublot:)

Recently found Top Gear UK on Netflix and it has become one of my favorite shows of all time . I laugh every time Mays gets rear ended and Hammond says "sorry" Love the Stig.

cajun as I hope you are surmising close you can get, gonna fool somebody who works on movements NOT going to happen. Just get one that appeals to you and no big tells on the wrist. You need a Gen movement to get by a watch smith even then there are other tells inside so do yourself a favor do not focus on it.

That Seamaster looks a lot better. The movement ring and the auto weight look good. The movement itself is still just as incorrect though, but there's more shiney bits to disgrace a casual observer. I think a better question is is this friends opinion of you more important than the watch a itself and how much you like it? I mean if I was buying a rep for a partner, I wouldn't try to hide the fact it's a rep, I'd show them the choices and let them choose maybe 3 and I'd pick one from those 3. If its a friend who's just using a gen watch to prove how rich they are, or boasting about how good they are at recognising reps, buy whatever you want and keep on reminding them that its a rep, a lovely rep that looks and feels good to wear, and you've got enough money left over to buy a new BMW. It'll drive him nuts

I thought I'd give the old girl some exercize today. No I didn't set the date, that can take 2 men and a small boy.

Are you drunk?

Good for him! I hope he loses his anal virginity in jail like a b#tch! Great job Mike! Awesome!

Great job, blue. The MBW Explorer is a terrific mid-case let down by its bezel/crystal profile, so I'm glad that J's bezel fit. Any plans for lughole drilling?

Its the opposite, V1 has a cloudy crystal (can only be seen if you take it of and put it through direct light. And V2 has incorrect polished line on the lugs: Image taken from RWI (PolonusTM)

My first rep in a long time will arrive some time today from what i see from tracking,i will break out my camera for the first time in ages for it when it gets here.... For now its this gen on cell phone pic,why is that... Hmm,tonites empty kool aids in the car reflection... Whatcha wearing on hump day?....