glassreplica

Tolis - indeed a fantastic looking watch and as pointed out the text spacing looks great. I was hoping for an EU dealer so that I don't have any customs issues coming into the UK. I know that Narikaa (does not have the UPO) and Precious Time (has not responded to my emails as yet) are both dealers within the EU. Are there any other EU based dealers?

Thanks - I have heard back from Narikaa, but, he does not do the UPO only the PO. I have not dealt with Watch International before, have other members user WI and could you provide contact details / a website? Thanks in advance.

Please don't read this as my criticising the dealers mentioned, I just want to find out if I am doing something wrong, or should I try alternative sources? I have been looking for a UPO for a while. I contacted PT (Precious Time) back in October last year and we agreed a price for a UPO with SS and with Black Rubber straps. I dropped him a note to confirm that I wanted to proceed and have not heard since. I have dropped a further 4 PM's and also contacted him through his website (ptswiss). More recently I have dropped PM's to Narikaa to see if I can get a UPO through him, but, again no response. Is there a shortage of UPO's? Am I contacting these guys in the wrong way, or broken ettiquete? Or, does it just take a long time to order from dealers - I realise that this is not Amazon, but, does it take this long normally? I would love to get a UPO with SS, black rubber, black bezel and either orange / white numerals, but, it seems to be difficult to track one down, or to get a response from dealers. I would want to wear the watch for light swimming and so may need to consider modders in the future / waterproof testing (once I have the watch any recommendations on good modders / testers in the EU would be welcomed). I am UK based and so would prefer to avoid the customs risks associated with non-European trades (unless other members have experience of safe trades on high quality UPOs from dealers?).

Thanks Jkay, though I don't know 'Watch Interational' and have not used them before - where can I find their details? Has anyone else got recommendations on the best UPO dealers within the EU (I am UK based and want to avoid customs issues). May try PTswiss again as maybe my he is having problems picking up messages at the moment. PT - if you happen to be on the board feel free to drop me a PM if you are interested in completing the deal on the UPO? Cheers.

Have tried PM'ing PT on this site and have also been to ptswiss and dropped him a note through there (two weeks back) but still heard nothing. Is ptswiss still in business, should I expect him take a while to respond and allow more time? Should I move on to considering a different source for this watch? Thanks for any advice.

Thanks to you all for your posts.... JKay - very helpful and informative. Guess I was showing my 'newness' to the rep world thinking that there might be a list of watches coming up / buyer requests going to the factories. I also assumed that new versions were indeed new versions - your explanation makes a lot of sense which has now got me thinking about which version to source (particularly of the UPO - which would be the best version to aim for?) plaifender - how very true. I have: 1. a gen Omega Seamaster which gets daily work use, but is getting a little too marked through continual weekday use and would like to moderate the wear and also have a second work-watch. 2. a Pam 111h ultimate from DSN on a Kain Heritage strap which gets weekend use (the Kain strap is amazing, though I am tempted for a gen Panerai even though in the pics the patterned leathers look a little fancy and the plain a little boring) - any thoughts on gen PAM straps would be welcomed 3. a rep Navitimer (from Josh) which hardly gets worn (maybe one day every 3 months). Even though the Navitimer is probably quite an accurate rep version, I just don't wear it much. I guess it is completely down to what feels and looks right for the individual. With the Pam and Breitling I jumped straight in and bought the same day as looking. I am agonising over the Omega as I am an Omega fan and love the gen Seamaster. My concern is buying a UPO not being happy due to the differences with the real thing - I will then spend the next few months focusing on replacing it with a gen which is a whole different conversation I will need to have with my wife. I had a good deal offered to me from Precious Time on a UPO with Rubber and SS straps and sent a PM to buy. After sending the PM to confirm my purchase all went quiet and I have not heard back from PT. I have dropped PT a few more PM's and will wait to see if he comes back. I should imagine that he has a fair few to get through, however, I did want to check if anyone knows if he is away / how often he frequents RWG? On the off-chance he is not able to, or would prefer not to, complete the transaction with me, are there other dealers in the UK / EU who deal with the UPO and if so are you able to advise. I also had a PM with Murph - great guy - who is selling a UPO for a great price and I would love to deal, but, coming from the States would concern me with customs and duty - any thoughts on shipping from States to UK? Sincere thanks in advance

Being based in the UK I am struggling to find any recommended watchsmiths for my reps. I really want to get one / two waterproofed / checked for swimming. If anyone has any experience it would be greatly appreciated. Cheers

Having gone through this forum extensively, I was struggling to find the latest views on: 1. Which reps at this point in time are the most accurate to the gen 2. What new reps are coming out soon which are likely to improve on the accuracy of previous models I have also come to understand that just because a revised rep is coming out, it does not mean that it is going to be more accurate, and in some cases less so. What I don't get though is why? Most of the reps I have seen have fantastic movements and very accurate compared with the gen. To go through all of that trouble and to then use the wrong font, font spacing, or logo (eg. happy feet on the Omega) - any thoughts on why? Sorry if you feel this is all covered elsewhere, but, a June view as we enter the summer months in EU would be welcomed. I am particularly partial to the UPO and Breitling SOSF - are these among the top 5 accurate and high quality reps out there? Thanks in advance to you all.

I appreciate asking for thoughts on straps is quite subjective, however, if anyone would like to share views or if someone is able confirm the strap size for the Pam 111h, it would really be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Thanks, that is really helpful. I have looked the Europelli site and have selected 2 that I like the look of: http://europelli.com/ShellCordovanCollection.html Which shows the: Genuine Shell Cordovan Leather Limited Edition Historic Dark Cognac with Matched Stitching. Waterproof Calfskin Lining! 24x24mm, 120x75mm Length P-CORDOVAN-24RDCM and http://europelli.com/SignatureCollection.html which shows the: Signature Calfskin: Chocolate with Matched stitching 24x22mm Regular Length Item # P-SIGCALF-24RCHM If anyone has bought either of these before, please let me know your thoughts. From the pics they look great, but, a second opinion on quality and fit / and whether this would enhance the look of the Pam 111h to gen strap levels. The top strap is $95 (Cordovan) and the lower is $55 (Calf) - from experience is the difference in quality work the extra $40? My second question is, have I selected appropriately size straps: the top one is 24x24mm and the lower is 24x22mm. What size should I be looking for and how does the sizing work? Is 24 x 24mm the size of 24mm at the bar and 24mm at the tang? Or have I misunderstood? Thanks in advance and what a fantastic site for help.

Hi there - fantastic forum and I have been avidly reading over the last few months and have made a few posts. I have a Pam 111h ultimate from DSN (around 2 years old now). The quality of the watch and closeness to the gen is good enough for me not to embark on modifications, however, the strap does need attention. I like the look of the strap in Alvinado's Pam 111H post below: But I would prefer a dark brown / black strap. Ideally I am looking for a chunky strap which is comparable to the gen in terms of quality. My current leather strap cheapens the watch as it is the standard strap which came supplied. I have a bracelet strap which I am using most of the time as this is great, but, want to have the option to swap to leather occasionally. Has anyone any recommendations / actual strap pictures they could post? I would love to see some examples any help to track down one which will finish my Pam off. Thanks in advance.

Noel, you have just won me over with my wife. She was not convinced by the SS strap - says that the classic look is better with leather. However, now I have shown her your post, she realises that this is the closest that I will come to exercise and doing weights and she is more encouraging. Am liking the look with the bracelet. I have done a deal on the strap from FxrAndy and hopefully will receive in the next few days. Assuming it fits and looks good, I will post some pictures. Next step is to get a really great leather strap - looking for dark, brown, thick and slightly vintage looking (may go for the vintagising (sp?) mentioned above, would be intrigued how this is done and weather it reduces the life of the strap (I should imagine bleach could damage the stitching - having said that the straps look great when done, so if it means a shorter life, sobeit). I just wanted to say, dealing with Andy has been great, he is a real gent and spent time measuring his bracelet and researching whether this could fit my watch. He was much more concerned with making sure it will fit and look right, then making any money out of the deal. On the off chance it does not fit, it will be down to my poor measuring of my watch. Keep posting pics of watches with SS, as they look great. Any recommendations on good, thick, dark worn brown leather straps would be great to see too.

Just PM'ed with FxrAndy and he is looking into the measurements and whether his bracelet will possibly fit. Just wanted to share this is as it members like FxrAndy that really make this forum a great place. Thanks.

FxrAndy - thanks for your message and I have sent you a PM. Everyone else, thanks for all of your responses. FxrAndy's strap may be worth a try and I may get the SS idea out of my system and end up sticking with the leather, but, until I see the SS on the watch I think I will always consider it. I actually thought Panerai produced a version of the Marina on SS as well as leather, but, never really researched it, just like the look of some of the SS Pams.... now you have got me thinking that maybe another Pam with SS is on the cards and to retain my 111h on the leather. This rep stuff is quite addictive. Also starting to think UPO too - they look amazing and I had PM'ed PT a long while back to order one, but, did not hear back. I need to follow that one up too. I will take a look on the forum for Pams with SS, in the meantime, it would be great to hear from you as to which Pams best suit the SS? Thanks in advance

I should have added. If this strap is recognised to be good quality and a good buy, could anyone point out the differences between this and a genuine (e.g I always thought gens had a mix of brushed steel and polished steel, or titanium and polished steel)?

Hi there - I have a DSN ultimate 111h which I have had now for around a year. It is on a standard DSN brown leather strap which is okay, but, I think that the strap let's what is otherwise a fantastic rep down. I have seen the following SS bracelet strap on Ebay, whilst, I would rather buy from here, there don't seem to be too many posts with straps for sale and I just missed out on one the other day for $35 posted under the trading post and was gutted. What are your thoughts on this strap? Has anyone bought from this ebay seller before and are they well known? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/24mm-STEEL-DEPLOYMENT-STRAP-BAND-PANERAI_W0QQitemZ170444584488QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Jewellery_Watches_WatchAccessories_SpareParts_SM?hash=item27af49f628#ht_2588wt_1165 Any help would be great as I don't want to end up with a cheap looking strap. I was hoping to get something close to the feel and quality of the genuine. Thanks in advance. Also, if I get the SS bracelet, it will give me the chance to try out distressing my brown leather strap - has anyone found the best tried and tested method for doing this? I have read a few posts on bleaching, vinegar, boiling and scraping, but, not sure what has worked the best for other members. Cheers PS. fantastic forum and 90% of posts are interesting and a great read. Apologies if I have missed something.

Thanks - that is really useful information. In terms of the crown is that an easy replacement / could PT complete before shipping? Also, have you any experience with the quality of water-resistance of this watch as I want to wear it for sport and swimming? PT mentioned that for light shallow pool swimming it should be okay, but, not for the sea (I guess because of rougher salty water?). I would welcome any views on the standard water-resistance and also what would be required to improve the water resistance (assuming that is possible to do). Thanks again.

Hi there, I am considering the UPO 45.5mm black with orange numerals and have read loads of the posts and By-Tors fantastic review / guide to the UPO. I would want to get this watch with both the SS clasp and also the black rubber strap as I can't make up my mind which would look best. I actually have a gen omega seamaster which is starting to get a bit battered (damaged, not crispy as in fish n' chips) in daily use and want this as a second watch to wear at weekends and when I go swimming - and so it must be waterproof / water resistant. Having read a load of the posts, I wanted to ask which dealer would be best given that I am in the UK and also what price I would expect to pay for the UPO with both straps? Any thoughts would be greatly welcomed. I have looked at the precious time website - ptswiss.com but there are no prices on there. Also, is there anything I should look out for when getting this watch? I understand that this watch is the first rep to have the exacting screw in crown as the gen? Thanks in advance.