docblackrock

Sorry to hear about all of this, my only comments are these... 1. Not sure what the actual need for Rocketeer was re. Chief's AR service in the first place? He acted as a mass forwarder? Is it so difficult to ship a crystal to the US? Or was it to facilitate a more local removal and reinstallation of crystal from the watch? If so, then that brings me to.... 2. People should really look into swapping out the crystal themselves. Removing them by hand is very easy with care, just decase the movement and pop out the crystal with eyeglass/microfibre cloth-covered thumbs. Reinstall is more difficult, but can be done via hand or better, a proper case-pressing tool, the type with nylon dies. They're not that expensive, not difficult to justify since you're planning to spend x amount on getting the AR in the first place - consider it an investment. You are always taking a risk sending a watch to an relative unknown modder, especially since he's not really an active member on this board, and is NOT endorsed by Chief - you should really perform your own due diligence and not just go along with the herd. The lessons learned from the situation with Poland's Most Wanted - who took me by surprise given my own dealings with him - should be uppermost in people's minds. Apathy it seems took hold here. 3. Think at worst this is likely to be a Finepics case rather than a k222 one - he's obviously up to his neck in items, and is behind schedule thus avoiding the persistent emails etc. as to what's going on. Classic case of denial by the sounds of it. Clearly some bodging of coatings at his end, and some less than ideal attempts at correction. Most people will get their crystals back I'd imagine at some point, and if not take it as a lesson learned. Doesn't do anyone any favours this sort of knee-jerk reaction without getting all the facts in first, just serves to heighten the hysteria which could, if the guy sees this, be counter-productive. If it makes any of you that are concerned feel any better, I'm currently in a similar non-delivery non-communication situation with a seller (who passed every check with flying colours) with the exception that we're talking a $5k gen gone AWOL. I'll gladly swap your sleepless nights with mine anytime.

Very nice, another for your collection of "humungous chunky dive watches with orange bits". Out of curiosity, how close is the beadblasting result to a colour match with real Ti?

Yeah you......you're a funny guy, you know that....real funny.

Wouldn't be the first time a company was a little economical with the truth regarding its heritage, so I don't see the big issue. Is the 203 overpriced and overhyped to obscene proportions? Yes Is it worth what it fetches on the open market? Of course not, just like it's 'charlatan' cousin the god-awful 127 'Fiddy'. Style over substance. As much as I like the Angelus movement, it's neither much to look at or much to admire in terms of technical design/craftsmanship - which is borne out by the price they fetched back in '96 - the Cortebert c.618 is far superior IMO. That said, the 203 dial is a thing of beauty - that gorgeous tobacco colour and the historic '8-giorni brevettato' stamp

What, you mean Dluddy?

Well I too was a young pup....on a year-long research stint in the Veneto as part of my studies, and so being poor it was fun walking round with thousands in my pocket

I believe my hand wins, Mister Nanuq.... Now if you would be so kind as to hand over that chocolate-dialled 'Drawer-Dweller' of yours, I'll be on my way

Slightly off Ubi.... I remember very well at that time sterling trading at around

Excellent comprehensive review, congrats. Reminds me I must dig out my old skool ('V2' with black dial) 036 from the bottom of my watchbox - haven't worn it in years, just recall fitting a Palp crown a little while back.

Crack, no, but bet there's a lot of 'crackling'.... Unless of course it has one of these stuck to the caseback...

I think I can raise that Bob, at least in photo terms as it may indeed be the same watch (although there's more gilt 'action' going on).... Behold the Venus de Milo of the Rolex 6542......

I officially hate you. Always something juicy in the works. Sickening. *sigh* What now then? Gilt redial for your 1675? No wait, it's the round font 6536 insert from MY isn't it? Gaaaah......look forward to the pics

Never going to happen.

If this is the foldover deployant clasp (FC5014) then I'm afraid the aftermarket options are almost zilch. TH designed the clasp that way specifically in order to keep owners buying very costly gen straps. I said 'almost' zilch, but fortunately there are a few - Jurgen and Squinky on TZ but IMO I'd have a serious look at seller tango252 at that auction site - e.g. listing 220391477196 - fantastic quality for the price (I have a spare for my gen Monza) plus Al's a very nice guy and will see you right.

All that?!!!!....3 pages of clicking and scrolling..... ......for a white-dialled Fish Steel thingie? Gaaaah, I feel so cheated and used I should have just stopped at the bakelite box pics, worth drooling at alone. p.s. ok ok congrats, wear it well

To think the poor sod never got to see that lug shot....

Sorry to be a party pooper, but the dial.... I'd seriously think about getting it relumed and having those tell-tale hour indices extended to the edge of the dial.

Depends how aggressive the pneumo infection was. Scarring should show up on the film, so that's the first thing to check with your doc. Even if you do have scarring, it is not a progressive state, and if anything it will usually lessen with time once normal lung function is restored. And that's exactly the reason I said you MUST take it VERY easy over the next few weeks.... particularly re. aerobic time in the gym. And since this thread is about airborne/contact infections, it's probably best to avoid the place anyway for a while - probably the biggest biohazard zone outside your local hospital. Your lungs need time to heal. Weight can be lost, muscle tone regained, but healthy lung tissue cannot be regrown. Not yet at any rate.

No, not at a population or genetic level. Anyway Japan isn't an 'incredibly sterile' society, far from it, same as any developed country with open borders. No amount of face mask wearing will change that.

Magnus, depends on how often you think you're going to be resizing bracelets. Personally with pin and collar bracelets, I'd just go to a watch monkey/key cutter and ask them to resize it - easier, cheaper and potentially less hazardous, especially if you try a DIY job with crappy tools. p.s. another big season for little Emiliano coming up

Just because he lives there doesn't qualify his opinion. Whatever his own beliefs, it is still an ignorant and uneducated opinion which he freely shares with strangers at airports. This is how urban myths are created. Oh and even if it were true, the best way to toughen up an immune system? Exposure to pathogens. Japanese wear masks out of a mixture of paranoia, and social etiquette and stigma - not wanting to pass on say a common cold to their colleagues or to miss work through illness. As for OTC medications containing codeine, it's no different to various European and Scandinavian countries regards availability - it's an opiate just like diamorphine (essentially synthetic heroin) and is therefore open to abuse hence a controlled substance.

Lani, glad to see your doc played it by the book re the CXR and azithro as per my email. Remember what I also told you about the 3-day vs 5-day thing, well just don't expect miracles in 72 hours ok. Also as stubborn as you are, you seriously need to give yourself a couple of weeks' proper rest and recovery. Get yourself well soon

Sorry Ken, busy week only just caught up on this. My own thoughts, given I'm also fastidious and slightly OCD about germs and infection myself, let's just say I'm not losing any sleep over this latest scare. Make of that what you will. This 'swine flu' thankfully isn't sufficiently virulent to cause serious concern, however the speed at which it mutated and spread is worrying. Think of it as a warning....the next 'one' may be different. On a positive note, it will provide significant new data which may be helpful in the clinical development of new antiviral agents.

Sorry but that's ridiculously untrue and borderline ignorant/racist in a embarrassingly colonial type of way. Reason they wear masks is predominantly psychological and cultural. Nothing more.

Yes, it's all a dastardly conspiracy between the WHO, the CDC and Roche, not to mention the complicit involvement of various epidemiological centres and academic institutions. Put your tin foil hat back on and go back to studying the double shadows in those Neil Armstrong photos again.