beanyboy

Chronoswiss reps have traditionally been junkie, but I love the Nighthawk model from the Timemaster series so much that I will buy it on site if somebody ever makes one. I saw a gen in a jewelry store in Chicago yesterday, and I am a man in love. I am pasting a picture of this beauty to this topic for those of you who may have never seen this baby! Gerd, you're supposedly a self-involved egomaniacal jerk, but you've outdone yourself with the Nighthawk.

Thanks for all the thoughts, especially the customs risk which I hadn't really thouhgt about. It may be better to split my order into two, using two different dealers too. In the past the most I ever bought was two watches at a time.

I haven't been actively collecting reps for nearly one year and the itch is back. In fact, having checked this Forum and the sites of all the notable and reliable dealers, I have decided to be extravagent and buy five watches that I love. In the past I've purchased one or two watches from Silix, Andrew (Trusty), and River, but I never asked for nor did I recieve a "deal" like a percentage discount or a free watch. But shelling out the kind of dough I expect to spend makes me think I may be in line for some special treatment. Am I blowing smoke here? If not, does anybody know who the best dealer is when buying in bulk? Any thoughts and experiences are appreciated. B

Okay, before anybody tells me to just buy a new replacement, I have to admit I am only doing this because my ten-year-old Chronomat TT, the first good quality rep watch I ever purchased, is my favorite rep. I know the new generation of BCEs are fantastic and I even own one, but the 39mm old order Breitling Chronomat has served me well and I don't want to get rid of it because I find I wear it as much, if not more, than my other reps. Anyway, over the years the watch has lost some of the gold wrap on the bezel tabs, the crown and the pushers. I know I remember seeing something somewhere (in a catalog maybe?) about some kind of material (probably paint, but I'm desperate) that will fix the plating remedially but not optimally. I will be happy to use it if I can find it. Of course, if anybody knows of something even better, I would be overjoyed to hear about it. Thanks in advance for your advice and your restraint! Beany

Nice James! Keep on truckin'!

A fabulous rep collection! You have chosen well and have great taste, although I think the Navitimer was a keeper personally.

Thanks to RLudlowe and others who came to my Cartier Santos strap rescue. Much appreciated! Beanyboy

I own two Santos 100s (one TT and one stainless steel) purchased from Ruby and Trusty over the past year, and both came with brown straps. Now I don't mind the brownish-red color and, frankly, the strap quality on both is pretty good since I went to the Cartier store where I live and checked out the gens and the gen straps look pretty much like the reps. However, I would love to have a black croco strap for my Santos' but can't find one other than purchasing a gen at the Cartier store (needs to be ordered and will arrive in four days at a cost of $425). So if my search on this forum was faulty, or if somebody knows where I can buy a black Santos strap, please let me know. It's much appreciated.

Factory inspections are quite different in Zurich versus Shanghai!

I think it looks great. I love the bezel machining on this model. I would love to get one myself in the white face, but unfortunately my wrist is too small...it's just too much watch for me. Enjoy!

Okay, you've inspired me to finally buy this watch! Looks great! The white face TT BCE is one of the classiest watches out there...

Yes, specifically this one:

I received my Tourneau catalog yesterday and it had a beautiful watch in the IWC section--a 44mm Pilot's Watch from the vintage collection that has the St. Exupery style numbers in green and a brown leather band, and a coin-roping design on the bezel. It retails for $10,800. I am totally enamored with this watch. I checked the various dealers and can't find it...maybe it's not availble yet. I sure hope it comes out soon...because it's on my list.

Yes, I see your point. However, I have seen the gen of this watch and in person it's very stunning. Not as blingy as Narikaa's picture makes it look. And, who knows, maybe the higher quality iterations will have the watch you speak of.

Some time ago I created a tempest in a teapot with Breitling collectors like myself when I mentioned that Miss King of the Showbox fame had answered an inquiry of mine by saying that the BCE two tone model with white subdials and roman numerals was soon to be launched on her site. Well, I happened to notice an iteration of this watch by clicking on Narikaa's latest entry of watches. A picture of it appears below. It's an early quartz iteration, but considering how reasonable Reg's pricing is, some of you may want to pick up this watch. I personally have decided to wait for the Asian 7750 version and one with more correct subdials. But at least we are getting there, oh fellow RWGers.

I agree with you about the Santos 100 t/t. The one I got from ioffer.com was a used piece of crap, but somehow I think if the guy sends me a new one it will be fine. That watch has an amazing presence. It's also the watch that will get you the most compliments from the ladies...

I didn't know that Costco sold highend watches. Actually surprises me. I bet they are pretty good deals though.

So I was going through my collection today, deciding what was great, good, okay, shitty, and it dawned on me that I have been collecting rep watches now for more than 20 years. My first ones were cheap Rolexes and Breitys bourght from guys on Broadway when I lived in New York. Then I went to Shanghai on business about 15 years ago and bought my first quality rep, a Breitling Chronomat t/t that I still wear and love. About three years ago I found this forum, which has increased my knowledge 100 fold. I buy two or three watches per year, and I buy better quality ones, for the most part, now that I know so much more. So I recently took a chance and bought a Cartier Santos 100 from a guy on ioffer.com. Man, was that ever a mistake! The watch arrived, all right, but it was used and broken. How somebody could toss a used, broken, scratched rep into a box is beyond me. Of course, you get what you pay for, and I hadn't paid too much. I have sent the watch back ($23 USPS Priority Mail) and will await the outcome. If I never see a watch or my $100 it's not going to kill me. A rep life lesson. Then the Big Pilot I ordered from Angel & Jay finally arrived after two months, and I couldn't have been more pleased. So I guess that's what keeps me going with this hobby. I love the anticipation, the thrill of getting a watch that exceeds expectatins (happens fairly often), and sourcing high quality straps to replace the crap ones that come with the reps. It's even fun to see what will happen with my cheapo Cartier Santos 100 automatic tin foil movement rep! Some how I think the guy may try to make it right in the end. Just more fun and anticipation. Beany

I don't think the Watch Prince strap looks cheap at all. As a matter of fact, I am going to buy one in black for a Patek rep of mine, on which I think it will look great. I presume it's real crocodile, but if it isn't, then it looks damn good. I for one am not wedded to having "real" crocodile or alligator straps. And I will share with RWG a method using some leather stuff that can make a fake Breitling crocodile strap look pretty darn close to the real thing. Good luck and enjoy your watch! Beany

Straps, like women, are a very personal choice. However, I have to agree with some of the folks above that the rep strap looks better. The reason is that the WatchPrince strap is a bit too dressy for the sporty BCE. The Breitling strap, with it's bigger croc pattern and thick white stitching, is more casual... But don't sweat it Jack! Your choice is great too... Beany

I hear about Eurotimez but his website is elusive! So I kind of lost interest.

I know that the pricing topic has been discussed and discussed, and beaten to death here at RWG. I never really chimed in because I thought I had nothing to add on the topic of pricing and price-fixing of reps. Frankly, I for one think my BCE ultimate is worth what I paid for it, even though some of the oldtimers on this board feel the price is too high for some of the better reps. Even a no brand watch of the same quality and construction as my BCE would have been at least $200, so I am not complaining. I just noticed, however, that Andrew and Joshua have listed the newly released Graham "oil can" watch, which looks like a very decent rep. The really odd thing about it, however, is that they have both listed the watch for USD 418. Now maybe they're connected and, for all I know, the same guy. Let me know if that's the case. But the chance of two independent dealers coming up with the same exact price for the rep defies probability Perhaps it's "retail price maintenance" and it's set by the manufacturer because they're drop shipping the watch. (That's the best explanation, but at least one dealer claims he doesn't drop ship). Perhaps it's "conscious parallelism" as was claimed back when the Sherman Antitrust Act actually meant something in the USA? However, my guess is that it's just old fashioned price-fixing...and there's nothing we can do about it except exit the rep watch collecting business. Beany

I know what you mean...I just got a new Cartier Santos 100 yesterday and slept with it on last night to get the movement humming.... Love the BCE---I am waiting for the next generation, when supposedly the TT with roman numerals and the white face will appear! Enjoy.

Thanks for the great pictures an fantastic, useful review. I have now officially added this watch to my purchase list.

I haven't heard anymore since I posted about the email I got from King. However, all I can say is that you should check King's site every day to two. That's what I am going to do. And, interestingly, I think we are both waiting for the exact same watch. So let's hope that (1) King gets more than one and (2) she doesn't charge $400 for them.... Good luck. Beany