Leaderboard

I have too much respect for the brand to do anything cheap. So: my build had to be the best possible within a reasonable budget. Not knock off quartz signed PP. Not for me. So, to create that 530 Chrono specially cased in white gold for Garrard of London, I used a genuine 1940's swiss made solid gold chronograph, modified the case to PP looks and installed one of these beautiful cartel dials. It took a year to find the correct donor watch - this case was number 4... - but it was worth the hunt !!!! Enjoy the pics !

By purchasing rare library vinyls...

I'll be a 'sinn'-er today

DSC00163 by S STEEL, on Flickr

Nice handwind 34mm Envoyé de mon XT1068 en utilisant Tapatalk

Newbie here, so let me share a few favorites from my collection.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

More plexi fun Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

In 2015 I was looking for a genuine 24-V50 1665 escape valve to compare with what came in Paul/Abay 1665/5514. A used one on Chronoshop was over $200USD. Plus shipping. Bought one new in the package for less than $50 on eBay. Btw...the Abay valve assembly is oem spec. I made a few but can not find them. They must have ran away with my 8115 balance stop springs. I put a BOLO out.

Talking about smaller watches:

I sympathise greatly with the views that these watches function and are therefore real watches, that there are different qualities of replicas and that we are not in the hobby to defraud others. However the dictionary definition of the words still mean both replica and fake apply equally to our watches and it is a matter of personal view point as to which term one chooses to use. I will give another example of two totally correct views that seem opposed: since all elements save hydrogen, helium and deuterium are created by the death of a star, then everything that contains other elements, including humans are either made from stardust or are nuclear waste depending on how you choose to describe exactly the same thing. Again, one may sound romantic and the other disparaging and again both are totally factually correct.

Work of art...Red depth on a true gilt dial.

I think it comes down to semantics and image. If you are an enthusiast and collector of the genuine pieces, then you will be more inclined to call our watches fakes. If you collect our kind of watches you will be more inclined to call them replicas. On both sides some of this is self justification. Looking at the dictionary meaning of the words: Replica - an exact copy or model of something Fake - not genuine, imitation or counterfeit Well if we are totally honest with ourselves, we all know both terms apply to our watches. Those with an interest in reps will tend to favour calling them replicas, while those who despise them will prefer to call them fakes. Actually I don't much care. I find this a fun hobby and while I accept there are likely some distasteful practices in the business of manufacturing and supplying them, I do not believe it is either unforgivable to buy them, nor that the business is much worse than many totally legitimate businesses. For a long time now if asked out of the blue about my watch by someone I don't know, which is very rare, my stock answer if someone says a "nice watch" is a simple thank you. If they ask anything more I am most likely to say "it's a fake mate" whether it is or not. I don't really care what anyone else thinks about my watch, they are for my pleasure and I certainly don't want mugging and loosing the watch and possibly my arm. Lighten up a little, be confident in yourself and your decisions and enjoy the hobby for what it is. Enjoy your fakes (and gens) brothers