jkerouac

I would opt for the gold case version of the St. Exupery..... but not at the premium prices currently being asked for this version.

Thanks very much for that review, SQL. I have been considering this watch, and your review is pushing me in that direction. I was hoping that you were going to follow through on the gold version, because that is the version I am leaning toward. Are you still happy that you went with the SS version instead? Without having seen the two versions side by side, how would you assess the choice? Also, it would not have been a SQL_PL review without the requisite girlfriend shots. I kept going back to the fourth shot from the end. In fact, perhaps after I post this I will go back there. Or perhaps I will contact a dealer about the gold Chopard GMT. Decisions....

You will be the classiest guy in your year at the university, Dutchy. Very, very nice and excellent taste as always. I agree with you about how leather complements the Evos more than a SS bracelet. But I can't imagine a rubber strap with that watch. Cheers, and best of luck.

Reg, When you get to reading this, please accept my condolences and very best wishes to you and your family at this time.

Nice collection. I recently started to wear my 192 again. I think it was either my second or third rep, my first large diameter rep, and my first Pam. It was also the first rep that truly took my breath away. It had been out of commission for a few months due to stripped screw threads, which I solved with some River spring bars. Now we are back in business and I am renewing my love affair with my titanium Pam. Once again, congratulations on a lovely collection.

I think they are fun -- and a number of them are actually quite stylish. Certainly better in my eyes than some of the way oversized hyper-testosterone "tool" watches that we sometimes see around here. But I'm not sure when I would wear one, except perhaps to an art gallery opening. If you like them, go for it.

I tend to agree with Corgi. Many Breitlings have busy designs, which makes them stand out from a lot of other brands. So use a bit of restraint with them. For example, in general I prefer bracelets to straps, but with my SS Evo the bracelet looks a bit too bright, and the restraint of a leather strap makes an overall impression that is warmer and classier. Have you considered the two-tone Navitimer or Evo? Those push the envelope for showiness, but in a classy way (and I like the two-tone bracelets over the SS bracelets).

Is Costco an official dealer? I know they sell Omegas (along with Breitlings, Tag, Cartier, and a few other comparable brands), but I don't think they are an official dealer.

Last August. The first picture is actually the ruins of an abbey that is in a park in the middle of the city. My wife and I stayed in a B&B just on the opposite side of the park from the central city, so we walked past past these ruins many times each day. Magical. The street is known simply as The Shambles, one of the oldest streets in the city, if not in England. If I recall, people were taxed on the amount of square footage they had on the ground level, so they built conservatively at ground level and cheated outward on the second level. Needless to say, there are several historic pubs there. I'd have to check a guide book, but this actually might be the oldest.

OK, this thread has been going on long enough. Dutchy needs to know what he is in for. This is the first-year dormitory. They really, really want you to get fresh air while at the University. This is what the streets of York look like after a night of drinking. Notice how the streets seem to get narrower and the walls move closer and closer and closer... But you will have many outstanding professors to keep you from going astray. They know what it is like to paint the town red.... or purple. They certainly must be well paid. This is a typical second-year student. I can't imagine why he turned out this way. It must have something to do with the many beautiful girls who flock to the freshmen. Or perhaps not. (note: All are images of York)

Arhibald has very sound advice. If you have a reliable local watchsmith you can have him check it out for a preliminary assessment. It might involve a relatively simple fix, and if so, the dealer might give you a credit for all or a portion of the repair cost to avoid the expense and hassle of shipping the watch back. If the watchsmith says the watch requires more substantial work, then sharing this information with your dealer can help him decide on the best resolution. Best of luck.

One more clip, this time with a speed boat: More from John Cameron Swayze

Somebody on the IWC forum posted a link to a youtube video of reps being demolished. It reminded me of the Timex watch commercials that I watched when I was a boy hosted by a news anchorman-turned-pitchman named John Cameron Swayze. The slogan of his commercials was worthy of our friend Nanuq: "takes a licking and keeps on ticking!" Another favorite quote: "You know it's waterproof because it says so right on the dial." Also, you have to love the prices. Which is your favorite-- the arrow clip, the outboard motor, the baking test? TIMEX WATCH TV COMMERCIAL COLLECTION

The truth finally comes out:: Ubi is Maradona!! And those are the hands of God!!!

I like to leave my chronos running, so I find that winding a 7750, at least initially, is better than simply relying on automatic wrist action to develop an adequate power reserve. And it was amazing to me as a newcomer how many winds a 7750 will take -- upwards of 20 to 50 turns, I find. A Lemania/Venus takes fewer. But you can pretty much tell when you've wound it enough.

Hayek may be CEO of Breguet, but he comes across as the most common of street vendors in that picture. Even an entry level sales person at an AD will wear something more tasteful than that (yes, including the tie). As for Maradona and Lohan, they are both clowns. Despite all of his accomplishments, Maradona squandered his talents due to a lack of character. And Lohan will be washed up and look used up by the time she is 30. For her sake I hope she develops talent as a character actress, because she will have a very short career as an ingenue. Think Betty Davis rather than Rita Hayworth.

You should have no problems wearing almost any watch available on the board. My wrists are 6.75 in. and I can wear the 44 mm Pam reps comfortably. I've seen pics of people with similar wrist size who wear the Fiddy and feel comfortable with it. But 42- 44 mm is where I feel most comfortable. Your best bet is to search for Fiddy wrist shots to get an impression how they would look on you. Also, you might go to an AD and try on the largest or larger watches they have in the store.

I just checked the temperatures for Yuma, AZ, which I figure is the closest US city to Muttsta's route. Temps yesterday and today are in the 110 F range, and will be staying there for the next week. That translates to between 40 and 45 C for the contintentals in the audience.

I always found some hair on a girl's arms to be sexy. Of course I'm talking closer to peach fuzz than King Kong. As for the rest, I always found navigating through the bush to be part of the adventure. Somehow the trend over the last 10 years toward "hardwood" has taken some of the mystery and adventure out of the journey.

Contact Gunnar Gran about this. He gained a lot of experience (he might say more than he ever bargained for or wanted) in working with Chinese manufacturers on the design and manufacture of a custom watch for the Replica Watch Guide, the forerunner to the Replica Watch Group. In fact, that watch project, and the challenges that it posed, was one of the prime contributors to the schism that resulted in the launching of the Replica Watch Group. If I recall, communications with the manufacturers was channeled through one of our distinguished dealers. And even with that assistance, the project was a [censored].

There are quite a few watches to choose from. If yu like chronos, a Speedmaster with a Venus/Lemania movement can be quite reliable as well as good looking. A Speedmaster was my first rep purchase. On the downside, I think perhaps the smoothness of the Venus movement spoiled my expectations for rep movements. Although it comes on a bracelet, it is easy to swap in attractive bands. There are lots of choices at that size.

I had to remeasure. My own scrawny wrists clock in at 6.75". I think we need to send rick a care package of burgers or something.

I understand what Nanuq is saying. I received a gold Omega Geneve Dynamic when I graduated high school, and it would look stylish and modern even today. I wish I still had it, and am actually keeping my eyes open for a used one that has the same dial (one of the less common dials for that model). But I also understand what Dutchy is saying about university costs. If you get a classy yet less expensive rep today, you won't have to worry as much about something happening to it. If I were you, I would go for one of the distinctive yet sporty models, like the Cousteau or Chopard, rather than the two-tone Breitling. The first two would be suitable for a wider variety of situations. The latter is better for dressy situations and would otherwise draw too much attention to itself, particularly on a college student.

Resizing Breitling bracelets isn't particularly difficult (and I give this testimony as someone who is extremely lacking in the watch-related mechanical skills that others here possess). Although in general I prefer bracelets to leather, I think the Steelfish and Evo look better on leather. Leather adds a more refined look, whereas combined with the bracelet these watches look a bit cold and blingy. But until you figure out what leather or rubber strap you want to purchase, simply resize the bracelet yourself. Then you can swap back and forth occasionally between strap and bracelet for a change of looks.

Awesome news, Floris. My wife and I visited York last summer, and found it to be a great town. And the Yorkshire countryside was beautiful as well. I can't imagine being able to spend four years living and studying in such a wonderful place. In addition to your business courses, I hope you can take some archeology and history courses dedicated to the rich legacy of York. I recall at least two very nice watch shops in the downtown area. I am sure that they will become used to you studying the watches in their windows. For the rest of RWG members, I urge you to plan a vacation visit to York, and be sure to invite a young college student out for dinner.