cornerstone

Ah, you're too kind! Philippe Dufour! The movement is a double escapement. Not sure about the US patent.... Cheers!

Hmm...I tried... But you've beaten me, you sly fox! :fox4: Any other takers?

I wanna see this haircut in green!

I think they hired Multiplex because they had done such an 'amazing' job with Stadium Australia(!)....slightly overlooking the years of continuous grief and f*$k ups in the run up to Sydney 2000! I guess they never got to see The Games... London preparing for the 2012 Olympics will be hysterical - I love their endless optimism. But for a city that can't build a stadium on time for AU$2 billion (I was a billion out before), can't build train lines for about the same amount, and only managed an indoor car park (Millenium Dome) for about another $2 billion - it will go pear-shaped at great expense! FA Cup Final kick-off is midnight tonight on, where else (?), SBS.

Ah, Cardiff, that hotbed of Aussie Rules.... Intriguingly, the English FA Cup final is only being played in Cardiff because the English FA paid the Aussies (Multiplex) a billion dollars to build the new Wembley....and they haven't quite got around to it yet. But it's on their 'to do' list.....

Of course, he must find it difficult to walk around....

STOP PRESS: Scotland score five goals. Not in a single year....in one game! To paraphrase Sir Alex: "Bloody hell, eh?" Strange days...... Anyway, actually wondering if Edge was going to be heading down Hampden way for the Scottish Cup Final. Obviously the neutrals all want Gretna to win, must be annoying to be a non-Old Firm team getting to the final and be treated like they own the place! Should be a great day of football - Scotland triumphing in the Kirin Cup (ooh, love that Kirin beer. Did you know Japan has beer vending machines on the streets? Heaven! I'll tell you...those vending machines wouldn't last five minutes in Craigmiller. They wouldn't last five minutes in Morningside!). The Scottish Cup Final. And, oh, should be some 'proper' football down in Cardiff. Enjoy!!

...and they only made prototypes during this time because the factory was making fuse timers for the war effort! Thank you for another great journey into the history of watchmaking!!

1943/1944 - the first Timex. It's upside down because it's a nurse's watch....

You made this too easy with the pic link......

Yeah, that's not very attractive. Would 007 wear a watch like that? Not sure who the target market for the (gen) watch would be - incredibly rich eleven year olds?!

Sounds great! Nothing but encouragement coming to you all the way from....Sydney!! I don't have any high end reps, but thinking about it, one of the reasons would be that there was nobody down the road who could ever look at them if they broke!! Best of luck!

Hi! Post some pics of the new arrival if you get the chance! Cheers!

With all our watches now in a million pieces, that would make you a popular man! Thanks for your great post.

In the UK it really is titbits! It's tidbits in the US. Chambers

Add.... Cheated of win by referee not allowing goal that didn't cross line or go into net.

Scotland are years ahead yet again! Been bleak down Hampden way for quite a while now More seriously, I think McLaren is slightly in awe of European tactics (as has been the British vogue for quite a while now, getting foreign managers etc) and tries to mimic them....badly. Then he resorts to pub team tactics when it all goes wrong. If there's one place you are going to get ripped apart at the back by just hoofing the ball up the pitch it's international football. I think Craig Brown at least understood that much.

Excellent 4-0 defeat by Sevilla, showing tactical acumen at the highest level. Rubbing my hands....

Bring it on! Bricky, allow me to introduce my friends.....

It goes without saying that the highest quality reps are available from the dealers here, and that 'going solo' brings risks in quality. That said, the fun can be in the shopping and the haggling - plus you don't have to worry about shipping (customs may be looking for bling when you land though!) I really enjoy shopping in the Hong Kong markets, even if it is a tourist trap (they saw you coming!). I agree that Mong Kok / northern end of Kowloon is a good place to wander. In the past I've found that to get the real reps you end up being taken up godforsaken alleys into some grotty buildings, a steel door opens up on the fifth floor and suddenly you're in a rep sweatshop. That was pre-1997, but in this day and age I assume the reps just come in from China. Which brings me to the best place to go 'fake' shopping - over the border in Shenzhen, if you fancy a day trip. The sale of ripped off stuff is blatant there. They will even fake Cisco routers.... Not sure this helps all that much, but it might point you in the right direction. Enjoy!

Spot on. The mere fact that it is expensive is what makes it alluring to many people. The same people simply wouldn't buy it if it wasn't expensive.

It's a real name.

Ah, I see....this Billy the kid....

What didn't he do? "He studied watchmaking in France and in England and invented different escapement methods, including the tourbillon, and re-winding mechanisms. His watches and clocks are widely regarded as some of the most beautiful and technically-accomplished." That pictured bust is on his grave. Unless, someone else wanted his face on their grave.... Thanks Gunnar! Been enjoying myself!

Abraham Louis Breguet!