chefcook

Actually my experience with patek is quite opposite. I never had any spots not perfectly finished on my pateks. To date Calatrava 5296G and Gondolo 5098R - currently I am waiting for the arrival of a Nautilus 5980 chronograph. I sold the dressy Pateks to fund the Nautilus chrono. What I've seen on my fathers Pateks regarding service times they were not longer than Rolex (but not faster, too): About 8 weeks. The only gen Rolex I stall have is this Oyster Perpetual modded with Explorer hands: http://i42.tinypic.com/14j2mhw.jpg I used to have Submariner Date 16610, Submariner 14060M, Exlorer 114270 and GMT Master II 116710 and all of them had serious quality issues. The bezel insert on the 14060M did not keep in place (bezel machined to big!), the 16610 gained four minutes a day when new (Rolex took two attempts and half a year of waiting to solve the problem!!), the Explorer lost two indices on the dial while going for a walk in the forrest and the GMT never was and never got water proof. I am finished with Rolex. The Oyster Perpetual did not have problems so far but since I don't wear it it has to go in near future. The watches I am most happy with are my Omegas (Planet Ocean and PloProf): They are less expensive than their Rolex competitors, their built quality is outstanding and Omegas service is nothing other than perfect - at least here in Europe. They are perfect every day watches, IMO. But you gotta have something very nice for the weekend, so I got the Pateks. The only watch I'd really like to have but won't buy are Audemars Piguets. Their service is really horrible - waiting a year for the service is normal. Next on the dream list is the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, but German Blancpain service sucks, too.

for what should somebody need it besides scamming others on ebay!?

now that's a graham I like...

afaik they are interchangeable and identical in construction.

I have an ultimate hour hand in spare but believe me: It is not as good as the standard hour hand. It's lumed area is too small.

The minute hand is not wide enough on the standard rep whereas DSNs hand is wider and has the correct amount of lume. DSNs hour hand is too long, the ultimate rep hand has not enough lume, but the standard rep hand is just perfect. The standard rep GMT hand has a very large tip, the ultimate GMT hand is a little short, but DSNs hand is perfect. On the secon hand the standard rep or ultimate rep simply has better quality than DSNs hand.

a combination of DSN and standard rep: Hour hand: Standard rep Minute: DSN GMT: DSN seconds: Standard rep after a relume they are very nice. My former 088 was equipped with this hands combo

Actually the only thing I like better than the 312 is the 320. GMT and the power reserve indication on the back are damn cool!

Today my local Omega Dealer called and said that I should visit him, a PloProf has arrived for me We expected the PloProf to arrive in a month when I ordered it last week! So this was a very short day in the office - I simply could not wait longer While Rolex Submariner and Deep Sea still look very similar and have a similar approach on the diving theme Omega has made something completely different with the PloProf. The DeepSea only have higher depth rating, a divers extension and a HE-Valve over the standard new sub 116610 (ceramic bezel). Basically both look very similar and work very similar. The PloProf though is completely different from the Planet Ocean. IMO the PloProf is a lot less compromised than the Deep Sea and is made for real diving. The bezel look is very cool and safes time plus it is much more secure than an unidirectional bezel. The crown guard should work as such perfectly. The lumed saphire bezel is not only better looking than the ceramic bezel of the Deep Sea but has better readability, too. The calibre 8500 is impressive. It winds smoother than any other watch I ever had. The hour hand can be adjusted indepentently from the others. It is completely built in house, has two barrels giving 60 hours power reserve, it is chronometer tested and of course it has the coaxial escapement, too. A little detail that is really stunning: The black back ground of the date wheel is glossy! That is something the rep makers won't get repped correctly, if you ask me.. The clasp and the mesh band are pieces of art and working very well. And: Man, this is a heavy watch! 290g including all links, 272g sized for my wrist! My Panerai 005 weighs about half of that! But it still wears surprisingly comfortable. On the wrist it does not feel heavier than an automatic Panerai. This is a keeper, for sure!!!

End links are too long. Looks like WM9 V3.

Actually I think the 42mm PO is the best genuine watch I ever had and it get's the most wrist time (gen Rolex Oyster Perpetual 116000 and gen Panerai 005 in the box too). It is absolutely versatile in its looks - you just have to change the strap. It wears comfortable, it is robust and it is the most accurate of all my watches (gaining only about 4 Seconds per month!!). Sometimes I think that it would be fun to build a custom 45mm Planet Ocean: Weld in fixed bars, put a Nato on it, coat it in black PVD, colour the hands... COOL

will take one, too!!

I bought it about one and a half year ago new from a local AD for € 2100. MSRP was € 2850 back then. Currently I am waiting for a genuine PloProf I ordered last week. Waiting is the worst of the watch thing, hope the coming four weeks will pass quickly It seems weird but actually I think the big size Planet ocean wears bigger than the PloProf. The PloProf does not have long lugs. It may be a big watch but it does not wear extremly large due to its clever design.

Man, I am happy that I already have the ultimate 42mm Planet Ocean, the genuine

Biggest give away is the size: The genuine chronograph is only made in 45mm.

It is possible, but not with heat. You have to grind it off and re polish the crystal.

Where have you got this information from? Thanks...

The genuine mesh bracelet is a piece of art - I really hope they'll make a good rep! Besides the happy feet dial it looks promising. I hope the bezel lock pusher works.

I aggree on the bevel and the sharpnes of the teeth. Should be brushed, imo, to look genuine.

V1 still has the best clasp and end links. Case quality was better than V2 and V3. Actually the V3 bracelet is one of the worst Rolex Oyster rep bracelets I ever had. End link fitment is poor and quality is so, too. If you want a really good sub: V1, gen insert, dial and hands relume, gen crown and tube, Noobmariner bracelet with V1 clasp and divers extension, V1 end links and V1 first outer links.

Hi Korn, the V3 lume is not gen like. It is better than on most reps, but no match to the gen. I have had watches with 2836 running for over 10 years. A well serviced movement is a must for that and a gen 2836 is nothing to be concerned with. After having a V3 I'd stick with the V1. It had the best bracelet and dial. IMO the V3 is a huge step back from the V1. I still miss my V1 I sold one and a half year ago Cheers!

At least in my job one has to be good to earn money

At the moment it takes some time to get a reply from george. Just be patient.

LOL that is so damn stupid. What are repmakers thinking of when desining "their" watches?

Is anyone willing to sell me one of the SS crowns with the smaller recess? Opcrown does not answer my emails (none of them since he posted his mail address first).