Oyster

I love profiled cases, they don't need to be high to do it for me

Thanks for the kind words guys! The sole reason why I love Rolex, the profile, the case, Oyster, its so sexy...

Thanks Red, I love the simplicity of the 12/13.

Photos time As for mods, I'll find out soon enough if gen part fits. Cheers Rob

Advertising Is Dead. Long Live PR. Had anybody read this book recently? Yet another article from ablogtoread. "Hi, how's it going?" "Just fine sir, care to view any fine Jaeger LeCoultre timepieces today?" "Well, I don't know. What makes these.... Jaeger LeCoultre watches.... better than what I've got now?" (sigh) "Sir... these are what we call, 'real watches.' A a Jaeger LeCoultre watch represents an accomplishment combining elegance and discretion with a natural aura of serene confidence." (blank stare). "I don't.... What exactly does that mean?" "It doesn't matter what it means sir. I'm telling you, as I have been told, that it is the appropriate response to these... questions..." Yea, I don't know what Jaeger LeCoultre was thinking behind this new idiotic marketing direction which is aimed squarely at one response from consumer. "Wait, what is Jaeger LeCoultre saying?" Self admittedly, Jaeger LeCoultre is stating that there seems to be some problem in the consumer's perception of the brand. So when you are checking out their advertisements, of course you aren't going to focus on the watch, but rather this relatively insulting question. I personally have never worn a real watch. All this time I've gotten along quite well with cardboard cutouts on my wrist that keep excellent time twice a day. Being under the perception that I was a watch lover, I am saddened to learn that I don't know what a real watch is, nor that I am wearing one. In one fell swoop of poor articulated words, Jaeger LeCoultre insults the majority of watch owners out there and every other watch company in the industry. Working with world renowned marketing/ad agency DDB, Jaeger LeCoultre probably walked into their offices saying, "people are buying more mechanical watches, but our sales aren't up proportionally with the increased demand. Here is a million euros, do something." Not being business idiots and specializing in marketing. DDB did what they do best and took the job. Most people in the world who aren't watch lovers, don't really understand the watch industry. And that goes for DDB as well. With no offense intended, I find that the vast majority of PR and marketing firms don't know squat about watches, and just place them in the sale category as fashion and jewelry. For this reason, we are blessed with the ad copy dribble that stands for most watch industry marketing materials. When will they ever learn? I posit that there is no cure in sight. Please try reading the words that accompany the pictures of watches you pick up catalogs to look at, or on websites. Utterly indecipherable much of the time. Like a code that makes you solves riddles to figure out basic items that make a watch desirable. I'm glad that a 1000 labors worked for a 1000 to perfect the sheen on the watch case, but what movement does it have? I've actually experienced sales people at watch retailed locations pulling out "the big book" that is supposed to have the information in it. The tome is hauled up on the display case. Dust is blown off, and the poor sap looking through the pages is annoyed themselves that none of this information is easily to find. It would be like going car shopping and the sales person calling the factory to determine what type of engine the car has. "There is a guy from corporate that might now. I can give you his phone number." Oh no, you've done quite enough, I won't trouble your overburdened company for any more basic information. Perhaps I should find a couple of Jaeger LeCoultre sales people and ask them what makes their watches "real?" Those would be some interesting answers, lathered with a thick coating of, "who are you to ask" and a layer of "if you have enough money to buy one of these watches you really shouldn't care." Ahh...sales... I think I might just do that. At least to prove to myself how ill conceived this entire new circus act of a marketing slogan campaign is. The people who spend a lot of money on nice watches at this level tend to oversee Rolex for something more interesting and unique. They focus on looks, features, and tangible benefits in a watch. The "have you ever worn a real watch" concept might temporarily catch the attention of someone who doesn't know anything about watches, but not long enough to purchase, and certainly not enough to garner credibility in the eyes of anyone who might actually buy a Jaeger LeCoultre. So for these reasons, "have you ever worn a real watch" is a dumb question. And the response offered by Jaeger LeCoultre makes no sense. In fact, I can't determine if there is really a response at all. A question akin to some hallucinogenically derived postulate about existence itself that has about as much of a good answer as does something like "do we ever really live?" and "can enough money really ever buy a good advertising campaign?"

I LIKE image removed to save bandwidth

This is not a re-post but rather the opinion of Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com First, see the official statement/announcement that has recently been released, then read my comments below it: "The Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie and the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry are joining forces to launch an international anti-counterfeiting campaign. Their objective is to inform the public on the damage caused by this global scourge. In spite of the many efforts made, the problem of counterfeiting and piracy continues to wreak havoc on virtually every economy worldwide, and is expanding rapidly through multiple distribution channels, especially online. Astronomical amounts Calculations based on Customs seizures show that counterfeits and piracy worldwide amount to US$ 200 billion to 360 billion a year, or 5% to 7% of international trade. Swiss watches are no exception, as the sector is hit full-on by this modern-day plague. The Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry (FHS) estimates that over 40 million fake Swiss watches are made each year (compared with exports of almost 26 million authentic Swiss watches in 2007) and that they generate net profits of around one billion dollars. This illicit trade, whose main victims are the most prestigious Swiss brands, is equivalent to around 6% of total Swiss watch exports for 2007. Everyone suffers In this context, it would be na

I'm speechless. Its a new 1680! WOW

OK, the more I think about reps, franken & the lot, the more I like about MBW/MBK. I'm now going to speculate on his rationale in making such a watch. We very well know that that there are direct copies like the one Yuki/NDT/Phong is selling but MBK in my opinion is truly unique. If we take off the bracelet and the dial, it could be very well a hommage. Perhaps he had this in mind all along where if you'd like your MBW/MBK to be similar to a Rolex why don't you just go drill some holes bigger and shave some cg? And Wolah... Otherwise, his design remained unique compared to the rest on the table. What do you folks think? R

Thanks for the article auto. It was a good read. Gonna be a quick one here, got to do lunch in a bit. Ok, we are quite in a quandary here as we will be needing a few classification in the end since:- Our parts come from these sources (some are exclusive):- 1) Genuine (OE) 2) Aftermarket (AE) provided a logo is not involved. 3) Imitation (Sounds better eh?) And to further dissect the parts source:- 1) Case - As long as there are Rolex related engravings, they are deemed copies unless removed (accuracy is another matter). - MBK are more of a custom since they are made for other movement and require slight mods visually, again unless engravings are removed (as above but will take OE parts). - YUKI/Phong/NDT are direct copies. 2) Dial - Copies but not entirely accurate (Most often they are marketed as redials ) 3) The rest of the components could be either OE or AE to form the watch. Quick summary:- 1) Whereby no logo are involved - Hommage 2) All genuine (some parts from different article) - Franken 3) A combination of OE/AE/Immitation -> ??? As long as immitation parts are involved, it's going be a a little tough R

Ok gents, please allow me to summarize on the 16 posts we have at the moment where numerous terms had been suggested. To put it loosely, we are all about in the market where we put in an on the shelf Swiss movement, genuine parts and aftermarket parts to form/build a watch whereby it resemble a genuine article. They "could" be called a :- 1) Composite Watch - Greystash 2) Custom or Customized - Teejay 3) Fantasy - Teejay 4) Semblance or "semb" for short - Wwarren 5) Aftermarket Upgrade - Pugwash 6) Tribute - Redwatch 7) Testament - Redwatch (add/edited) Please help to grow this list Next up, say when we have 10 terms or more, I'm planning to get a poll up so that we'll have an unique term to call ourselves for our beloved hobby Cheers R

Perhaps a hybrid TERM would suffice gentlemen?

LOL +2 Ms. Casabona/author should have done more google, then sign in with RWG, Then.......... Hit the search button I'm pretty sure her article would turn out differently

Precisely. Unless the said watch is intended to deceive. On another note it reminds me of what Ferrari did with their FXX. You are buying a program, you don't own anything and that simply implies that you can't do anything to the car. But sadly most Swiss Manufacturers are not Ferrari

Bring it on guys So far we have two. We can vote later?

An article I pluck from ++tp://counterfeitchic.com/2007/10/index.php ========== Pssst! Want to buy a watch? According to an article by Liza Casabona in this month's WWD Accessories supplement (not available online), seizures of counterfeit watches are on the rise. So far this year, watches and watch parts account for 10 percent of the goods seized by U.S. customs, following only apparel and footwear, and up from 2 percent for fiscal 2006. And that's not including online sales of "replica watches," or the legally more complex issue of jewelers altering less expensive versions of genuine watches to look like their pricier counterparts by, for example, adding diamonds. (Thus far, the brands are winning their trademark infringement cases, based on the argument that the modified watches are misrepresented as original workmanship and do not carry disclaimers.) Perhaps counterfeit retailers have finally decided to target all the guys hanging around on Canal Street while their female friends are buying fake handbags. And yes, those quotes are from your favorite law prof -- thanks, Liza! P.S. Doubt the trend? There's even a website that reviews replica watches: ========== It seemed that the so called aftermarket parts are big business especially when a logo is involved Franken (gen article with other parts from another gen article) or modified pieces built to pass of as other seemed to be another. So my question now, how do we categorize our so called franken (I believe there should be a better or a more accurate designation compared to the franken we all use)? This is after all the land of frankens (united atleast ) compared to the vast our there. R

I guess that's the norm in terms of repairs or servicing especially when volume counts. Just like car manufacturers. Oh no, you flooded your your DRSD N!!! Salt water too, ouch, hope your watch now is better now.

Movement service, new acrylic crystal, new gaskets, pressure test - $420 Case & bracelet refinishing - $ 0 New service dial - $ 225 New bezel insert - $ 51 New hands - $ 42 New crown - $ 39 New tube - $ 39 New second hand - $ 21 That was the price almost 20 years back, anyone know whats the inflation of cost now?

For your eyes only... h++p://rolex.watchprosite.com/?show=forumpostf&fi=732&pi=2494186&ti=415441&s=0

When one is loosing ground, oft they go defending themselves, like everyone said, old story. Some folks would buy though. This is how I look at it. Counterfeit watches has got nothing to do with the real brands out there. How would I be affecting them when I buy one? It is clearly a different price point. It is not the case where the Chinese are repping them and charges the same price. It is also not a case with DVD where loyalties are involved. On the other hand, yes, they are infringing the very core of copyright contracts but they are there because they are protecting themselves. Businesses are selfish in nature, true? But one also got to look into the very nature of the contract. Most watches are border lining in terms of design. Gosh, most if not all watch manufacturer would be sued and close shop. And guess what, all of them are still around with similar designs. Hypocrites to the core. Articles like these surfaces once in a while or if not planned periodically to tell and remind the factories in China to watch out. And they'd know that it is impossible to fully curb them or at all. There's simply no way. Public goods are always driven by demands. Watch industry are not Bill Gates industry. Sorry dudes. Making a premium is fine but over the past decades it went overboard with economies grown too much but little value remained. Same goes for Swiss watches. Its funny how they put it where cost of labor and materials will be increased to 80%. My as well double that? This can only mean one thing. Everyone who buys a Swiss watch will be paying an extra premium of 30% from now on for the same goods. It is just a step up in making more. I can assure you that most of Swiss watches are made in the far east, the branding of Swiss is an easy one. Cost of material $100, and jacked to 50% in labor, wallah... we have a Swiss watch. Now we can charge it for a grand or 2. Marketing and PR make up the majority of the cost. Another example, please excuse my comparison. Take the BMW, great car yes! I own one too. But heck, its brand/badge power dude! So, do allow me to summarize:- 1) F*@k you rep makers, you are making more now thanks to us and we are not happy as the world banking went to hell. 2) Ah... opportunity to make more with someone to blame, perfect as they are illegal! 3) Marketing, PR rules, we know you love it, its glamorous! 4) Yes, without reps, we could triple our earnings! shareholders... wohoo... 5) We can F@#k with you, because we can. 2 cents worth R

Yes gen parts are ridiculously high in price for rep projects but not for gen article restoration. However at times there are good bargain tho I'm a cheapo, so I'd normally stick to aftermarket parts

Hello everyone, I would like to share my views on costing in regards to building or modding your MBW & Yuki's etc. The list are in no way exhaustive covering all angles of build but the very basic/cost effective. Cheers, Rob PS: Gurus, please chime in, this could be very informational to the board

Oh... these beauties are very real, they are yours for only

Now this is what I call the ultimate mod!!! Stunning pieces I like

Has anyone tried this? - eprey # 250316888298 Unfortunately there are for vintages. Perhaps it would solve the problem if they do have one for later models.