jkerouac

One more followup hint:

Use Advanced Search on this section for posts by member Ubiquitous and the key words are Royal Oak. Be sure not to limit your search just to the last 180 or 365 days. You may have to go back even more.

Board etiquette is to do as much research as you can beforehand so that you can ask targeted and informed questions as oppsoed to simply asking who has the best this or that.

The board makes this fairly easy with the brand-specific folders, which you obviously found. The Search function at the top of each RWG Web page will also serve you very well, as well as the dealer transaction reviews, and other folders which contain information about specific movements and other aspects of these watches.

Having said that, cheers and welcome. Pour yourself a beer or glass of wine and enjoy your quest for the watch you desire.

Try researching Davidsen.

Good luck.... and enjoy.

Best wishes to you and your lovely bride, Dave.

The economics of sports is totally corrupt and out of proportion to sports franchise's value to their communities.

I enjoy almost all sports, watch on television when I get the chance and attend in person a few times a year. But I also think the value of sports franchises and athletes is vastly overrated.

Here in Seattle our baseball franchise set an enviable record: the first baseball franchise with a payroll in excess of $100 million/year to lose more than 100 games in a season. Needless to say, both the general manager and manager (coach) were booted. Compare that to Tampa Bay, which has one of the lowest payrolls in American baseball (if not the lowest), and went to the World Series.

And then there is basketball, where even incompetent borderline criminals can "earn" $10 million a year and then claim they don't get enough "respect." Our basketball franchise just moved to Oklahoma City because Seattle wouldn't give in to owner extortion for a new arena. Oklahoma City didn't have those qualms. Apparently they don't have any greater needs, such as schools, poverty, and transportation improvements to pay for.

Like I said, I have nothing against sports. I know that there are many admirable athletes, and consider myself a moderately avid fan, but the whole system and scale of priorities turns me off.

I've wanted to get back to Maui for many years. When I did go, my favorite activity was the drive to and from the town of Hana. It's a very slow and winding road with lots of waterfall-fed ponds at the side of the road where you can take a quick dip in your own private paradise.

Consider staying overnight in Hana.

Near Vegas, if the weather is reasonably nice, take a boat trip on Lake Mead.

I doubt that prices will fall. As for rep factories failing and fewere models..... how will we even know?

I do expect rep purchases to decline since these are discretionary items at a time when a lot of people are feeling pain due to fear of losing a job, sharply reduced income, and declining home and investment values.

And sure, if people suffer really serious losses, such as their jobs or homes, then I'd sell my watches, or almost all of them, really fast.

By the way, I didn't like any of the options in this poll, so I didn't vote.

Regarding your primary question, I've had only one rep stop functioning out of ab. 20 purchased over the last four years -- and that was probably the least expensive rep that I purchased (ab. $75).

With reasonable use and maintenance, a decent rep should last as long as any non-rep that you purchase.

The main caveat is that quality control standards in rep factories may not be as stringent as in regular factories, so reps sometimes require a thorough cleaning and lubrication very early in their lives in order to last a long time. So for that $350 rep you may want to invest another couple hundred dollars in a pre-emptive service... or buy one with a movement that can be replaced in a few years.

Thomas,

Everything works fine again this a.m.

Thanks, as always, for your prompt attention and assistance to member concerns.

I let my chrono timer hands run most of the time..... because I enjoy it. Parking that big hand bugs me.

The one exception is the chrono timer on my Chopard GMT, and I keep that one parked because the timer hand has a slightly irregular beat, which bugs me even more than having the hand parked. This is a known and well discussed issue with this particular watch, and it doesn't seem to effect its reliability.

Awesome news, LR.

You do the rest of us US citizens (and I am a naturilized citizen myself) a great honor by joining our ranks.

I will have a drink in your honor tonight (OK, perhaps even two or three).

I have a couple of reps that I never wear, and even though they are cheapies purchased early in my career (and one no longer even runs), they bug me. I'd much rather have all reps that I wear regularly, say at least once a month.

Unless you travel, once you set your GMT hand to your chosen alternate time zone you shouldn't have to readjust it again. Even after my GMT watches stop (because I don't wear them for a few weeks), it's a simple matter of resetting the regular time and the GMT follows along at an 8 hour (in my case) offset.

Enjoy that Chopard. It's a beauty.

Works on a girl. On a guy, the just-below-the-elbow look would make your arm look rather effeminate, unless of course the watch is a big old Graham or similar, in which case it might look like an explosive device, in which case don't expect to make it through airport security or onto an airplane.

Even if they don't look fake, the whole of point of a high quality shoe for me is that they feel like a million bucks (a shoe isn't worth anything if my feet are screaming or tire out quickly) and last forever.

I would spring for the gens (ideally waiting until they are on sale).

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the IWC Jones -- nice little watch, but in no ways did it look anything other than what it is... a $100 watch.

The Santos 100 (first generation) also did not have the finish and overall look that I would expect of a genuine.

I haven't been around much in the last week and just found this thread myself.

All the best to you, Terry, and I join your many, many friends in thanking you for your great and extremely thoughtful and generous contributions to the board and to us. You will be missed.

I haven't been around much in the last week and just found this thread myself.

All the best to you, Terry, and I join your many, many friends in thanking you for your great and extremely thoughtful and generous contributions to the board and to us. You will be missed.

I think I've had a couple orders ship via EMS before (car related stuff), and I think I remember them being sort of ninja-like. No package, I blink and then somehow the package is sitting at my door.

I know that once EMS from China enters the US, it is turned over to USPS... but I was wondering if they deliver it in a different mail truck.

I'm curious because I saw my package leave customs at 1pm yesterday in a city about 6 hours from here, the mail just got delivered by USPS @ 9:30am and the package did not come with him. Thanks!

I've had packages come via separate delivery guys and by my regular carrier, but always with signature required (except for inexpensive parts). How fast the watch gets from customs to you depends on a lot of factors. If my tracking information shows that the watch is already in my city, then I usually get it the same day. But if that doesn't happen, then you have something to look forward to tomorrow.

Congrats and enjoy.

Extremely classy, and a project so well conceived and executed that (if it were mine) I wouldn't even trade for a gen. Talk about a watch to be wear with honor and pride! Congratulations.

jkerouac, how could I forget Tull. Just loaded some up to listen to. Btw the way, how you doing old boy. And Grand Funk, the 3 early albums of theirs before they went mainstream really are good.

I went to a boarding school for high school. Typical thin dormitory walls. The guys next door put Grand Funk on their record players and replayed them over and over and over and over again.... even when they weren't in their room. We almost tore the wall down just to turn it off. Have to admit that I've never been able to listen to Grand Funk since that early "traumatic" experience.

I wonder which of my favorite albums those guys can't stand due to overexposure???

By the way, I've always had a fond spot for Pink Floyd's Atom Heart Mother.

The first Springsteen album I ever heard was the The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle .... before he became The Boss. Blew my socks off with songs like this one:

INCIDENT ON 57th STREET

Spanish Johnny drove in from the underworld last night

With bruised arms and broken rhythm in a beat-up old Buick

But dressed just like dynamite

He tried sellin' his heart to the hard girls over on Easy Street

But they sighed "Johnny it falls apart so easy and you know hearts these days are cheap"

And the pimps swung their axes and said "Johnny you're a cheater."

Well the pimps swung their axes and said "Johnny you're a liar"

And from out of the shadows came a young girl's voice said: "Johnny don't cry"

Puerto Rican Jane, oh won't you tell me what's your name.

I want to drive you down to the other side of town where paradise ain't so crowded, there'll be action goin' down on Shanty Lane tonight

All them golden-heeled fairies in a real [censored] fight

Pull .38s and kiss the girls good night

Oh good night, it's alright Jane

Now let them black boys in to light the soul flame

We may find it out on the street tonight baby

Or we may walk until the daylight maybe

Well like a cool Romeo he made his moves, oh she looked so fine

Like a late Juliet she knew he'd never be true but then she really didn't mind

Upstairs a band was playin', the singer was singin' something about goin' home

She whispered, "Spanish Johnny, you can leave me tonight but just don't leave me alone"

And Johnny cried "Puerto Rican Jane, word is down the cops have found the vein"

Oh them barefoot boys left their homes for the woods

Them little barefoot street boys they say homes ain't no good

They left the corners, threw away all their switchblade knives and kissed each other good-bye

Johnny was sittin' on the fire escape watchin' the kids playin' down the street

He called down "Hey little heroes, summer's long but I guess it ain't very sweet around here anymore"

Janey sleeps in sheets damp with sweat, Johnny sits up alone and watches her dream on, dream on

And the sister prays for lost souls, then breaks down in the chapel after everyone's gone

Jane moves over to share her pillow but opens her eyes to see Johnny up and putting his clothes on

She says "Those romantic young boys

All they ever want to do is fight"

Those romantic young boys

They're callin' through the window

"Hey Spanish Johnny, you want to make a little easy money tonight?"

And Johnny whispered:

Good night, it's all tight Jane

I'll meet you tomorrow night on Lover's Lane

We may find it out on the street tonight baby

Or we may walk until the daylight maybe

And then of course there's that girl Rosalita that we all lusted after....

Anyone at loose ends in downtown Boston next Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday evening (Sept. 15-17), respond here.

You guys are great. I get a contact high just by replaying some of those albums in my mind.

I just got me out of my chair to load Jethro Tull's album Stand Up (Digitally Remastered) on the CD player.

New Day Yesterday

My first and last time with you

And we had some fun

Went walking through the trees

And then I kissed you once

Oh, I want to see you soon

But I wonder how

It was a new day yesterday

But it's an old day now

Spent a long time looking

For a game to play

My luck should be so bad now

To turn out this way

Ah, I had to leave today

Just when I thought I'd found you

It was a new day yesterday

But it's an old day now

Spent a long time looking

For a game to play

My luck should be so bad now

To turn out this way

Ah, I had to leave today

Just when I thought I'd found you

It was a new day yesterday

It was a new day yesterday

It was a new day yesterday

But it's an old day now

I was just thinking about how good life is to me and my family, and it occurred to me that I am surely not alone.

So tell me, what are YOU thankful for?

Me, I'm thankful for health and a strong body, my family, my friends, and for opportunities in life.

I second that sentiment, Nanuq.

One year ago I had just had surgery on my achilles tendon and was stuck at home with a cast on my foot. One year later I can get back on my bike and feel pretty damn strong even riding up hills. I can hike and enjoy the beautiful mountains and trails near where I live.

My dad is having a tough time, having moved into a senior apartment and (since December) doing kidney dialysis three times a week, and my mother-in-law may pass away in the next few weeks. They and others of their generation know their days are limited, and yet they live every day with relatively good spirits and with class.

I love my wife and enjoy and appreciate our house.

I think about the people who lived and grew up on my street in the years and decades past, and the people growing into adulthood today. I wonder about the people who are living in houses that I have lived in, and schools that I attended, and what their lives are and will be like.

I remind myself that we and our ability to enjoy this planet are all temporary. So we'd better enjoy our time here, with good food, friends, laughter, appreciation for nature and different ways of thinking and being.

I enjoy my work and I am thankful for that.

I try to thank the people around me for being there.

I am grateful that we can enjoy a space such as RWG. Ten years ago this community would not have been possible.