whitestripes

I don't like rolex2u because they don't accept paypal. Ah, I just want a good SMP!

@ mars08: Where did you get your "bargain" Bond? I'm interested. What differences are there between the <$100 and the Silix $200 + $35 shipping (other than the ETA or fake ETA movement)?

You should ask the same of her shoes or hand bags.

Bond, I think you are missing some of the points of this discussion, which I find strange because you originally were very enthusiastic about getting the King SMP. 1. What is Silix's incorrect "needle" size? I am unaware of needles on watches. 2. The change in bezel design should interest you. If it is what we think it is, you cannot fix the alignment of the bezel insert. See By-Tor's guide on Bond SMP modding for details. 3. The crownguards are what drew me into the King SMP in the first place. In your "Buy a new Omega SMP or repair this one?" thread, it is made clear that the crown guards are what we're after. My point about the other SMPs having perfect crown guards is that they have the same case, just different bezel, dial, hands, and bracelet. I think they are purposely leaving imperfections in the most popular Bond Sub.

I am awaiting her reply. However, whereas once (about a day ago) I was ready to PP her the money, I am now having second (and third) thoughts. Have you guys noticed that non-Bond SMPs have wonderful crown guards???

The bezel (protrusion and insert) all turn together, which is no problem. My problem is what happens when I want to get a new insert? Can I shave off the protrusion to get a flat bezel insert space to put an aftermarket insert? or will I have to pop off the pearl from the new insert to get it to fit? What if the pearl is crappy? Am I stuck with it?

Hi guys, So after looking around the various dealers' offerings, I am very close to buying an ETA Bond SMP from King (best looking crown guards, IMHO). Here is a response from her: Eric: hi,answer the question I am very interested in the Omega Seamaster 085 "Bond." I just have a few questions: 1. Can you guarantee that it has a genuine Swiss ETA 2824 movement? yes 2. Can you insure that the 3 o'clock marker is there? same the my web pic! 3. Is it possible to do a quality control--centered lume pearl on the bezel, and align the bezel?lume pearl not on the bezel now.it on the case! insert not have that pearl dot on it ! 4-6days you can get it by usps! waiting for your message regards king What does "lume pearl not on the bezel now... it on the case?" Is this like the PO where the lume pearl is stuck to the bezel part, and the insert has a hole for it? I wish her English were better... Has anyone ordered one of them?

Man, I am so close to buying the King rep.

uh... are you thinking about the Blue SMP chrono "bond" style? Because that is one of the best out of the box reps there is, period. Change the datewheel to ETA-style and you're chilling. The black SMP chrono is plagued by the subdial spacing issue, which will never be fixed because a 7750 layout is too far apart. I've thought about getting a blue SMP chrono but it's too thick for my 6" wrists.

So I posted my story in the supporters section... had a few reps, sold 'em to fund a gen moonwatch. I've been wearing the moonwatch for almost a year, and my damn WISness has been incubating this whole time. If the speedy Date were out last summer, I would have gotten that and be done with it. Now, I find myself missing the date feature and the Date is damn near perfect. Should I sell the Pro to get the Date, and other I want, + cash? I bought it used so I won't take a big hit on depreciation. Then again, the Pro is classic. I'm young (20) and spent an exorbitant amount on the Pro ($1550), though I love it. I just want more watches, and it's hard to justify buying another of the Speedmaster line. Keep gen, save for reps, or sell gen? What do you guys thinK?

I guess it is arguable about the He valve or crown guards being the biggest tell, but let me make this point. The He valve, while slightly off, LOOKS correct. The crown guards are in the correct location, but look horrible next to the gen.

Hope they release a new blue Bond SMP with and fix those damn crown guards.

I have had something similar happen to me. Back in high school a friend and I were fooling around with Kendo sticks (look it up on wikipedia), but they are bamboo swords to train people to sword fight. My friend had been trained in sword fighting, and for some reason, he hit me square in the eye. I went down and couldn't see out of it for a couple of minutes, and my eye looked just like that afterward. No permanent damage, but just letting you know it gets better after a couple of weeks. I hope you heal up quickly, you do this forum a great service. BTW, I am no longer friends with the guy who hit me.

I've been torn over a Bond SMP or a 42mm PO. When I found out that the 42mm PO's crown was horrendously ugly I was turned off. The current Bonds have some ugly crown guards. Is there anyone offering mod services for the PO-- installing a gen crown/tube? I live near Ofrei so it'd be no problem to get the parts. Problems with 42mm PO: -Crappy endlink/first link... GAP and bad clasp. (can a gen endlink/first link fix the problem?) -feet on the Omega logo -HORRIBLE CROWN Or mod services for the SMP? Problems: -HEV location -Crown guards ugly -Screws, not pins, which doesn't bother me. What's more important to me is that the bracelet moves like the gen, as in the middle pieces (with the polished bits) can move independently of the other pieces? Or is it like my cheapo Asian 21j Bond GMT, which had them look like they could move independently but they were fixed? Why do the models have some easy to fix flaws when there's super-reps floating around? What can I do? Is the KingWatch the best Bond SMP?

King's-- $240. I might have to do this.

The question is... which has the best crown guards? Silix's are horrible.

BUUMMMPPPP! Do we have to wait until 2009 for this rep?

So it's pretty common knowledge that, with a ETA or cousins day/date wheel and a double ar treatment, the 3717 is almost perfect. I've noticed that the dealers now write "update" and have it with double AR. Is it any good?

Will this ever be repped?

I just emailed a few dealers with some gentle prodding. Perhaps more forumers could send "reminders" as to how much we want this? BTW, the other watch I'm itching for is an IWC Mark XVI. Right now I have a gen Speedy Pro. I used to have the rep Pro, but the subdials spacing and lack of hour functionality killed it for me (the movement was beautiful, though). I also used to have an Asian Bond GMT, which I sold. I have found that I shouldn't jump the gun on watches just because I want a new watch. I also really want the new Speedy Date (beautiful watch, I debated getting the gen Speedy Pro or Date, went with the Pro, but to be honest I miss the date fxn sometimes). In thinking about my perfect collection... 1. Gen Speedy Pro 2. 42mm Black/White PO 3. IWC Mark XVI A chrono (an icon in the watch world), a new classic diver, and a dressy pilot's watch.... MAN OH MAN. Maybe when I get older (I'll be done with undergrad in a year) I can amass these watches. I can wait, but it's so hard. After watching some 007 movies I want a Bond SMP, too. Many of the board members whose opinions I respect have said they don't believe a 42mm UPO is coming out. I would love for them to be wrong, but they are so often right it discourages me. Another big worry I have is that even the regular 42mm will be discontinued. Why the hell do they discontinue good watches (old factory SMP jumps to mind)? I can understand them gouging us repeatedly for slight improvements but with some inaccuracies (cough cough Sub) but to perfect it then take it away? That is cold and cruel. They need to stop focusing on these new OVERSIZED MONSTERS WITH CERAMIC WHATNOT for $500 and focus on the cheaper super watches that will sell in much higher quantities. I know they say that we are less than 1% of the market, but I'm sure that it's harder to sell $500 ceramic watches on street corners than a $150 non-chrono, non-ceramic, non-hublot rep, right? Ahh. Frustrating this rep world is.

Ok, so I was seriously considering getting the Bond SMP, but after almost putting down the money I decided (and knew) that I was just "settling" for the Bond SMP when I really wanted the 42mm black/black PO. The endlink issue appears to remain on the 42mm PO, and that would eat away at me. So does the 20mm rubber strap for the PO (from Ofrei) fit the PO? Then again, at $192 it's very pricey, but I guess if it fits it'd look quite gen. So if it fits I guess that's what I'd do. However, I am a bracelet man. Can I buy the gen endlinks for the PO? Will they fit flush with the case, and, just as importantly, will there still be a gap between the endlink and the first link? Is there something special about the first link in the way that it connects to the endlink? How did they fix this on the 45? Ahh it's just so frustrating not being able to have such an "ultimate" version of a more reasonably-sized watch! No gap in endlinks, or a rep???/gen rubber strap + 4th gen 42mm PO-- is that perfection I hear? The feet are ok to me.

Hi guys, I'm looking to get a SMP Bond. I would love the PO more but there is no good 42mm version that I'd be happy with, so I plan on getting the Bond SMP. So I looked at pam111, trusty, josh, and silix-prime, and silix's prices are the best. Is there a difference in the ETA SMPs? They range from $200 (silix) to ~250 (josh/andrew) + $30 shipping. Is there a history of fake ETAs in these models? Before I put down the cash, is there really no 42mm PO on the drawing board?

Like many other models, reps of the SM300 are passed off on eBay as the gen all the time. These reps are easily available. UNLIKE other models, reps of the SM300 are not available to us, though it is obvious that they are being made. I could most definitely live with some of the flaws in the watch, as long as the beautiful case, dial, and acrylic crystal were there. However, I can't pay the gen price for the gen, much less for a rep. The big difference is: the gens that we want reps of but can't get (IWC Mark XVI comes to mind) is because they do not have rep counterparts, as good ones don't exist. The SM300 is widely known as the most "tampered with" watch on eBay, which means there are either complete reps, or many aftermarket parts that fit the bill, which I'm sure a rep manufacturer could work with to make a rep of the entire article. The reps exist--why can't someone source them at a non-gen price?!

Hi guys, I'm after a watch that is/looks like/rep of this: The old, venerable SM300 from the past, with beautiful domed acrylic crystal and that vintage look. It would make a beautiful companion for my gen speedy pro. However, prices on the originals are sky high, even if you don't get a fake that you paid top $$ for, and the WatchCo NOS is at $2600 Australian, which is a pretty penny. That turned my attention to the Precista PRS-14, a nice homage. However, they run about $650 new, more than I want to pay, especially when I can get NICE ETA reps at $225, and this isn't even an Omega! I have also considered a mkii modded Seiko SKX007 to look the part: That would run me an estimated $150 for watch, $130 for parts, and whatever labor to install... looking at $300 and still a Seiko, which I don't mind, but I don't like the "cushion" case and 4 o'clock crown. This leaves me looking for a rep, or saving up for the Precista. Please tell me there are reps. (I know there are reps, but they are ALWAYS sold as gens on eBay for way too much). Help!

$2200 is too high.