Bossart

In my experience if using EMS from China invariably the watch arrives in approx 5 to 10 days. Often when the dealer sends you the tracking number it has not actually been sent yet. Maybe a few days later than you think they send. It then often takes an amazing time IN China going from production or storage depot to the export point of that country. Once out of China it fairly zips along, then reaches UK. It can sit a few days at this end waiting for "customs clearance" but should be on Parcelforce UK tracking system by then. It also sometimes says "held by Customs". This does not mean held by customs, but awaiting customs clearance, which normally is given - but it can take 3 days. Then Parcelforce tracking will follow it clearly each day till delivery. I'm sure you will receive it - as someone else says - be patient and take a few pills!!! John

I have the Rose Gold Jaeger LeCoultre Tourbillon and it has been superb. Good looker and excellent timekeeper. Can't fault it.

Not had this model before, but I had had a few fly-back day setting reps. All have failed with the flyback mechanism. Whilst the movement may or may not be a reasonable one, the usual rep poor assembly and lubrication doesn't bode well for flybacks. I don't touch them now. The watch looks OK, though personally the 14mm depth would put me off. It seems too clunky for my wrist anyway.

Selling a watch for that kind of money with crap "in the packet" photographs? To my mind that has to be total [censored]! And off Ebay? For that kind of money - I'll go to Patek themselves to buy it - no way from some guy on Ebay!!!

Absolutely - I should have said that too - and no offence intended

As I collect only "classic" watches (I do not include Rolex, Pams etc) most are under 40mm anyway. The only two larger at 43mm are a Jaquet Dros and a Maurice Lacroix. Usually 35mm to 39mm is the norm. Suits me as I have a smallish wrist - and I have no love of "lumps" of generally black faced steel oversize watches as I find them both ostentatious and slightly ludicrous. Classic examples under 40mm I enjoy wearing - It's just a pity the rep makers didn't put some effort in to these various makes in comparison to the ubiquitos Rolex.

The most recent ones that are nice to wear - First is a quartz low price but nice watch of surprising quality - The second a very stylish Sterling Silver hand wind 17 jewel J&T -

Ok I understand that the genuine watch manufacturers are up in arms against rep watches, but I sometimes have to ask myself - why? Do they actually lose sales as a result of reps being sold? I would think not as the guy who buys a $60-$200 replica Patek simply isn't normally going to be one of Pateks direct customers - is he? At this price nobody seriously thinks they've bought the genuine article anyway - and any deception is so transparent as to be meaningless. I would think they should be tacitly pleased that the rep guys think enough of their watch to copy it - marketing & advertising the brand name on the cheap I'd say! The employment in China manufacture of these watches is vast and without it these people would suffer much more as a result of shutdown. To my mind the decline in genuine top maker sales is recent and much more the result of the western world's financial decline which fuels the perception that maybe these top watches really don't offer ANY vestige of value for money and they are maybe way overpriced these days. Super technical kit has always had initial development costs - but after a while the prices come down and down - NOT so with these watches - they just go UP and UP. Surely profiteering? As someone else said it's the middle range "top quality" watches like Rolex that could suffer in these circumstances, but the top 5% earners in the world will always be the true customer of the "super watch" manufacturer - always - and regardless of any recession. They don't have recession! What these top makers are losing are the noobie rich, the wannabes and lets face it, with these BIG watches with bling etc etc this has been an added value market that they have gone after bigtime - BUT - it's not their true business - and ultimately it demeans their top products and their top customers. A top classic watch/timepiece repeat customer does not like to be aligned with some nobody who buys a Rolex - that's ultimately bad for business. Maybe they should think on this before declaring all out war that they simply cannot win. A guy, call him Pete knew little about watches but liked good quality design. He saw a Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde watch - it was a rep - not exactly like the real deal, but certainly had a good resemblance. He buys it because he is fascinated by it's design and look. He loved it so much he decided to learn all about that company and their products. Eventually he went to a pre-owned watch sale and made it his business to purchase that actual model - it cost $6200. He loved it so much and realised it was actually an investment. Pete now has 9 classic watches, from Patek Phillipe, Jaquet Droz to Jaeger LeCoultre to Audemar Piguet - value somewhere around $180,000 - he keeps their papers, documentation and boxes in the same cabinet as his stocks and bonds, bank account details, investments etc. Pete is a now a known repeat customer to some of the most prestigeous brands - he gets invitations for their newest launches etc. Why? - because he bought a cheap classic replica watch.

The boss has the luxury of knowing your salary. He sees a Rolex one day a Patek Tourbillon the next, a Cartier etc etc. IF he bothers to look he will probably assume these are fakes anyway - salary + Patek = not possible. So he then thinks, "What an [censored], trying to be something he's not maybe - I wonder if he does this in my time!- that is coming across as a counterfeit sort of guy and he's representing MY company". I might just FIRE HIM! Moral - get some decent Gens for work and wear the fakey stuff at other times.

Meeting some right Know-it-alls today and tomorrow - so let's see what they make of THIS...... And I won't mention or refer to it at all.........but I just bet they notice it...... :D

Posted this elsewhere recently - posted here for those not in other forums. Simply meant as an intro to this model. Recently received this Cartier Ballon Blue to add to my Cartier collection. Maybe not a perfect 1 to 1, but all in all a pretty close effort - so I'm pretty pleased (the small differences are almost trivial IMO). It's actually a very nice watch to wear, being really quite heavy the weight distribution allows it to cling to the wrist very neatly, so you don't need to have the bracelet too tight. The case is quite well made and has a nice polished finish. The bracelet has a really nice two tone highly polished quality and the link pins are an easy push fit, unlike some of the Cartier rep bracelets which are screwed and subject to screw head and thread problems. The date window detail is excellent and the date is very clear and well defined with good quality date/ring print. It also sits bang in the middle of the window as it should. The dial numerals are well defined and stand out well in good relief and look quality. The hands are very deep blue and look almost black - only showing really blue on the wrist photograph with the light at an angle. The crystal feels very heavy, solid to tap and warm smooth to the touch and is domed perfectly in tune with the case shape. The nicely shaped steel back is engraved Cartier Ballon Blue, water resistant with a CC number and Swiss Made. It's a good size at 38mm (and looks bigger) by about 10mm depth (front and back are domed) and looks very slim on the wrist. As it's quartz I don't expect any accuracy issues and so far it's kept pretty much perfect time. Adjusting hands and date - both actions are very smooth and feel good. Not ratchety like some. Sourced for me on his recent Asian trip - by Narikaa.

YES - you are definitely on to something - but which leather straps?? I've been looking for something to wear that would swell whatever it's on... :D Then I can stop taking that damned Viagra stuff...!!!

YES.......I love it.................and in broad Scots too!!!!... :D

Rolex - Rolex - Rolex........All these Rolex's - seems everybody has one or two or even three! Where's the individuality anymore? I'm wearing this JD for the whole weekend - so there.....! :p