tomhorn

This is going to get interesting ...

No experience to the UK, but to the US it is usually 4-5 days to get here plus some time in customs and then USPS delivery. The last watch I ordered came in 9 calendar days. Try putting your tracking number into the Royal Mail site. If they are like the US, once it hits the Royal Mail system they will use the same tracking number.

My strap is from Tourby. Great quality and a good price. It's a 22mm, so you have to squeeze a little, but it's fine. As for the v1 vs v3 debate, IMO it depends on what you are planning. The v3 has double AR and many think it's good enough so it takes care of one of the upgrades. Personally I think Chief's is much better for the watch, so whether I was starting from a v1 (which I am) or a v3, that really doesn't matter because it's getting a Chief treatment either way. The only other knock to the v1 was the dial markers and mine are fine, so non-issue there for me too. IMO, if someone wants to do all four of the mods I mentioned in my post, they should try to find a v1 with a 21.6k A7750 in it. A tough search, no doubt, but with the 21.6k movement the hands are a straight ETA 7750 swap. With the 28.8k movement your watchmaker has to do a little more work. Some can, some can't. If you're not going to do the movement swap then it doesn't really matter IMO. Just stay away from the v2 as the lume is all wrong.

All about personal preference I guess. With either one, you are going to want to do the DW replacement and AR at a minimum. If you find an early v1 with the 21.6k movement in it, the hands swap directly without modification to an ETA. Some people thing the dial is a little better on the v1, assuming you find one without crooked markers. And of course, since you can't get a v1 brand new anymore, finding a used one on one of the boards will cost you less for the base watch. That's a little help towards the cost if you are planning on doing lots of mods. If you are not planning on modding it into 'super rep' status, then just go with the v3. Wear it proudly until you send it off for your first service, have your watchmaker swap in the ETA datewheels at the same time, and be done. IMO mods to the 3717 should be done in the following order: 1) Datewheels 2) AR 3) Lume 4) Gen 7750 (or one of concepta's gen IWC movements) I still think the best looking modded 3717 I have seen pics of is Chief's. http://www.rwg.cc/members/index.php?s=&amp...st&p=582881

IMO any attempt by Google to do an OS will be a niche play for a long while. Corporate users won't switch from MS to a new OS until it has proven itself for years, and without corporate users, the mainstream public won't switch. Most people use the same OS as they do at work because they don't want to have to learn two. Linux still hasn't taken off in the corporate world on the desktop and it probably never will show up in many home PC's. When Windows 7 is finally released you will see most corporations switch from XP to Windows 7, as the smart one's never adopted Vista. That will lead to home upgrades as well. On servers, netbooks, and phones Google has a much better chance to be difference makers from an OS perspective, IMO. Given what they have done with their architecture, I'm surprised Google hasn't released a branded OS for servers yet.

+1

I had a bad crown on mine too By-Tor. Chris (Eurotimez) sourced a new one for me and it's been smooth sailing since ... knock on wood.

Dial is a little too busy for me, and what is with the recent trend of partially skeletonizing dials? It messes up the aestitics of a watch. I understand open hearting and of course tourbys, but the way most companies are doing them it just makes the watch hard to read.

This will end up being a murder/suicide, a jealous spouse, or a drug deal gone bad. Talented QB ... a shame this happened ...

Looked like a gold Daytona to me, but I never got a really good look at it. Not sure about Roddick, but Federer is a Rolex spokesman now after switching from Maurice Lacroix.

Federer's wife was also wearing Rolex ... a white gold pave diamond encrusted day/date. I'm not much for bling, but it was very sharp.

Quartz with a working chrono will have bad subdial spacing and the watch you linked to isn't even close to accurate. You can fairly regularly find the A7750 version up for sale from members for the low twos (without mods). IMO, you'd be better off uppping your budget a little and grabbing one of those.

I know there are many opinions on the subject of BCE's but mine is the v3 with the graphite dial. Each version has small things wrong with them but I think this one is the best of the bunch. I'm sure any of the dealers can source one, so pick your dealer and order away.

From Two and a Half Men ... Charlie: (trying to explain to Jake, why he had to go out with a divorced woman who gave him her number, even though he promised he wouldn't) Ok, ok...let's say you're a hunter! If a deer takes your gun, shoots itself, then straps itself to the roof of your car...you have to take it home and eat it! Jake: What?!? Charlie: I'm sorry...i can't make it any clearer!

You have more than a vision problem if you live in the northern hemisphere and think snow in June is a good thing ...

Grammatically, in this sentence, "Generally speaking it is important to show respect for foreign cultures and the easiest way to pay tribute to someone in a foreign country is to be familiar with their conventions, customs and traditions." you are speaking about the foreign culture, so the proper word is 'its' not 'their'. Having said that, no one would really care other than English teachers ...

Consider yourself lucky then. Many people have posted about issues with DFW Customs. Of course, they all could be making stuff up ... And yes, there is a large customs facility at DFW ... http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/contact...rts/tx/5501.xml Packages are checked in many places. My orders to Ohio have all gone through Chicago up to this point, not SF or JFK. Knock on wood, I haven't had any problems yet either ...

The Zigmeister's lume jobs on those are insanely great works of art. Can't imagine the patience it takes to do the rotating bezel ....

There have been many posts here and on other rep forums about the nightmare that is customs in DFW. A rep that lands there has a much higher than average chance of never getting out ...

Took me awhile to find it ... it was over on RG. http://www.repgeek.com/showthread.php?t=50174 Starts with post #6.

As I mentioned in my earlier post, I think BK is the best source for the WM9 products. There was a post I saw somewhere where he showed what he did to 'fix' a WM9 v2 Sub for another forum member that had gotten his directly from WM9. Mainly small things, but the end result was a better watch. Pricing is the same, so no reason not to go with BK. On another note, I think the initial post should not have been in the 'scammer' section (thanks to whoever moved it), and that's why the OP might have gotten some negative comments directed at him. If he wanted info on BK/WM9 he should have posted in the General Discussion, Rolex or BK's subforum instead. If the same post had shown up in one of those places, I think the reaction would have been more subdued. I think the general consenus from the experienced membership here (and on other forums) is that BK and WM9 are not scammers and are well respected producers of high quality reps. Granted, some of the responders could have been a little nicer about it, but they were ultimately just trying to support a couple of the good guys in our hobby.

Well, you've certainly posted this in the wrong section. First, WM9 is the manufacturer of the rep. BK is (I believe) his authorized dealer for the boards. WM9 ships him the parts, and BK assembles the watch and ship it to you. You can order direct from WM9, but given BK's sterling reputation for assembly and QC, IMO you are better off getting one from him. Flat out, if you want a Rolex rep which WM9 happens to make, you will find no better 'out of the box' rep of that watch. Buy it from BK and IMO you will get better QC, and sometimes an upgrade over the stock WM9. For example he is using a Clark's crystal in the Sub, and also has his own custom crown. You can not get the same quality rep for $200 less ... whether or not it's worth it to you is your call. For many of us it is. I have the LV and SD on order now.

IMO, from a 'style' standpoint Rolex doesn't exactly fit with the typical college crowd. Maybe if you were at Harvard or some other private school where very wealthy kids go, but there you'd probably get called out with a rep at that price. For the rank and file college campus, I don't think it's your best choice of brand, but if it must be Rolex, the Noobmariner or the Explorer I would be your best bets in that price range. Personally, I'd spend a little more and look at an Omega UPO, TAG Aquaracer Chrono, Ebel 1911 or Breitling SFSO. PS - Congrats on deciding to go back to school after a break that long .... good luck and study hard ...

It's like putting a $5,000 set of 22's on an AMC Pacer ....

I'm a Panda guy too ... it's all By-Tor's fault ...