NuTymer

for those who bought jmb's hand pressers, what sizes did you guys get for 6497 (hour, minute, and second)? thanks in advance!

That's "J 2/6", not 12/6.

Josh/Andrew sells one, but people have pointed out that the CG is dead wrong. and btw the watch in the photo is not a PO; that's a limited edition 007 smp chronometer 300m.

man, if they make a correct case, i'd buy at least 5: SMP 300 Bond, SMP 300 GMT, SMP GMT sword hand, SMP 007 Black LE, and one more SMP 300 Bond as a spare! ;d hell, i'd make the case myself if i had access to a 4-axis cnc machine! somebody make this case PUH-LEASE!!

I'm in no way a PAM afficionado, as I own only a two PAM pieces that are relatively easy tell (but I got them for that certain aesthetics as a fashion accessory, not for its faithfulness to a gen). I never take my watch off to show it to someone, so the display caseback is never a problem for me, but I've read that swan neck on all rep movements are non-functional and purely for decoration only. So with so many easy tells for Paneristi to call out on your rep, I don't know if swan neck is a detail worth sweating.

Welcome to the fold!

In 20 years of living in SF I don't think I've walked into a sword store in J-Town. And I don't yet own a PAM, so that rules me out even if I knew of this store you speak.

This is a question for the experts. I keep reading about the font difference between the ETA date wheel and the Asian DW. What I've gathered from looking at the photos that had comparison shots of reps with ETA and Asian mvts and the DW, I see that the ETA font is larger and thicker than Asian, and also the curves on the ETA is little more rectangular and the Asian version is rounder. What are the foolproof, telltale differences between the ETA and Asian DW? And can one judge a movement based on the DW font? We're talking out-of-box reps of course. Thanks.

The Zigmeister, awesome macro shots! What lens/camera combo are u using? I need me the same setup. I'm just wondering out loud here, but exactly what level of QC is expected/acceptable for reps that cost meager 5% of gens?

How many years does it take for a lume to age to the point of turning yellow?

I posed this question over in RG, but I thought I'd ask the experts here as well: I spotted this alleged genuine Omega SMP 2531.80, item # 200201669928. Has Omega ever made SMP with YELLOW lume? Note that this caseback is also missing the Omega "globe" logo engraving below the Seamonster. A fake, right?

So if you get an UPO, put a gen bracelet for ~$450 and a gen insert for $XX (no idea where you'd get a gen insert though), you pretty much end up with a rep that can't be called out even when handled in person by an AD, all for well under a grand, eh?

Handsome watch! Congrats! I'm planning on going down the same path as you soon, maybe with the tax refund check. Was it hard to find?

That's a pretty watch, By-tor. That's the very watch that got me interested in watches in general.

you said "she"... that kinda narrows down the list of candidates all kiddings aside, i think a short video clip shot with your digital camera will have the most resounding impact in proving the bezel wobble. macro shot without flash will be the best approach for the double-etching that resulted in ghosting effect on the clasp. not to side with the dealer here, but if one were to give the dealer the benefit of the doubt, I'm sure the dealer had countless email exchanges with first-time rep buyers who had too high an expectation and couldn't come to terms with the fact that they just got a poser watch for $250 that immitates a $4000 genuine article. so i wouldn't be too surprised if the dealer is not so receptive with regard to your friend's claim just based on words and no photos. i'm new to this game too, but so far i've been fairly lucky with my purchases. the reps i got are far from perfect, but for having cost pennies on the dollar, i'm pretty damn happy with them. at these prices i can abuse the hell out of them and then just go buy a new one, and by then the chances are that an even-more-improved rep might be available. best of luck to you in getting this sorted out in speedy manner. -Nu

Thanks anton! I'll check it out!

Where can I go to buy some lume material? The standard lume with slight green hue is fine. All I want to do is fill the hairline gap around the bezel lume on my Pasha. It's not noticeable (unless you are within 6 inches from it), but because I know it's there it bugs me and I want to fix it. Thanks for your help! -NT

In light of the fairly recent release of the HBB "Mat" series reps, here's a short The Watch Quote pictorial of the Rose Gold version of the series: http://www.thewatchquote.com/Hublot-Big-Ba...Mat-No_6037.htm

I usually don't like to chime in on disputes like this, but after reading TTK's account of the Skype chats, maybe Mendota didn't know that these are automatic movements and require some winding before they start running again? Maybe it's a bit of a stretch, but if he truly didn't know about automatic watches, it would have appeared to him as "frozen" when he opened the box for the first one, and later found it to be running again after tossing it around in frustration? And when the watch stopped again because he didnt' wear it for a couple days, he again got frustrated and snapped the crown off its stem while yanking at it? This would also explain why he thought the second watch was "frozen" upon arrival... -NT

Hey Pix, I must say you are very good with that camera. Not to mention a great write-up. I share your view on reps needing to be inexpensive yet good enough not to be called out on, especially with a not-so-exclusive brand such as TAG (I mean, c'mon, they are so widely proliferated that they are sold at Macy's next to Guess watches, for crying out loud). Having spent 1G in a month since discovering the rep scene, and I am in need of a cheap daily beater that's quartz so I don't have to worry about setting time. Your photos got me intrigued in this fantasy TAG Aquaracer, so I looked up your dealer on ioffer, and I just might spring for for one myself. Thanks for the poignant review! @paulV, did you pay $119 all inclusive, including the SS bracelet? If so, that's a pretty sweet deal! By the way, someone from this forum really squeezed TOS to give it up for the same price as when you bought it, at $100 plus shipping. Rather entertaining transaction history if anyone's interested in taking a gander.