Member X

Personally I've always liked the B&R stuff since I saw it in a 'lifestyle' magazine ages ago. I like the simple finish, the chunky size, and the fact they're not very common so not everyone's going to be wearing them (or know what's gen or not lol) They have some new stuff out this season including a Heritage Model, some more black-on-black models (but different to the Phantoms of last year) and also an, er, 'interesting' new model with a skull on it... lol With regards to lack of variation, I would perhaps offer the slightly controversial opinion that a lot of Panerai's look very similar to the untrained eye... and they're doing alright! (I still have no idea on model numbers LoL)

Although I would like to think that I would join a peaceful protest on an issue that mattered to me, the fact that some Policemen (and women) treat it as an opportunity to 'get one in' on what start off as peaceful protesters deters me. The worst thing is that if you dare to fight back or protest at such provocation, they will surely pile in, get a few more physical attacks in, and then arrest you for something! I hope the officer involved in this debacle gets what's coming to him, and hopefully it will dissuade other officers of the same bent that people should be treated equally and respectfully, regardless of whether they look like that are part of a 'mob' or not. [/rant]

Hey cleobis Just come back to this thread - how is the watch going?

This should be a sticky! Thank you for taking the time to write it!

Uh oh, I may have to stop eating for a couple of weeks and pull the trigger on this one!

I have also had these thoughts about an all black watch - I want one, but will it age well... I think that if a watch looks good then a watch looks good. We still now like the vintage designs that looked good then and still look good now, so I don't think we should worry too much, as long as it's a 'classic' piece. All in my n00b opinion though!

Damn... I have clearly been misinformed!

I was under the impression that gens and also gold was super-cheap over there - is there not a tax free market or some sort of 'tax free week' that they have? Perhaps I've just been listening to too many urban myths!

Worked for me - looks like one of the Arab states' languages!

Well done for being brave and getting stuck in! I need to find a cheapy I can play with and not cry over if I break it lol

Slightly out of my budget then LoL

Possible n00b question, but what's this watch?! I like!

I was looking at these in the shops - I didn't know they'd been repped!

I presume that if a group buy was set up, and The Zigmeister was doing all the work himself, he could do whatever configurations people wanted...?

This watch is lovely

I would definitely be interested in an all stealth version if I had some money! I've been looking at the B&R Phantoms (although I'm never going to be able to afford a gen one and the rep lume is too grey imo) and this is a much more interesting prospect! Top work!

Many thanks for your replies, all I can now confidently say that I should buy a Steinhart, a Schuhren or an Erkahund LoL chiefwiggum - thank you very much for the kind offer! I'm over in Essex though so a little far away, I fear Pix - yours was the thread that made me interested in Schuhren! Building to your spec is what attracts me most, but having now looked at Erkahund (a new one to me so thank you for the links tomhorn) they look remarkably good value compared to the Schuhren and Steinhart! I am slightly confused though - the Seagull 3620 movements (Unitas 6498 copies? with seconds at 6) that Erkahund sells separately are listed as being 18000bph for both normal and skeleton versions, but in the complete watches he sells they appear to be listed as 21600bph. Do they have different versions of the 3620? I'm seriously tempted by one of his pre-built watches as they are cheaper than the others (and, money being tight, I could then perhaps afford some straps or my first rep watch), and if he can build one up to my specifications...

Hello all This is pretty much my first proper post so hopefully I won't screw up like a n00b too badly... lol Anyway, I've been looking at replicas and gens as I've had a 'significant' birthday and want to get a 'keeper' watch to last me until the next one (in about a decade's time... lol), hence I figured that going custom-made / gen would perhaps be more reliable than going replica. I was pretty much ready to pull the trigger on a Schuhren Observer (from http://schuhren.de/English/) when I found a link to Steinhart! Now I can't decide between the one above and (perhaps) the 44mm Nav B-Uhr II automatic as reviewed by dave_nyc... In your collective vastly better educated opinion, can anyone offer me any guidance?! lol Comparing the two... Schuhren - positives - Good write up on here - Looks a quality product - Good price - Display case back - Good size for my skinny wrists Schuhren - negatives - I believe it's an Asian 21600bph movement (therefore 'inferior'??) - I'm not sure on the authentic strap and might need to buy another one or get him to provide another one - I'd have to wind it myself lol - Same price as the Steinhart, with its positives calling me... Steinhart - positives - swiss automatic ETA 2824-2 - reputation - same price as the Schuhren Steinhart - negatives - I really think it will be too big at 44mm (and no way to try it on beforehand) - the case back is cheesy! (IMHO!) - I prefer the face of the Schuhren - I can't afford the Chrono version lol I fully appreciate this is something that is entirely down to personal taste - I think I just want to be assured that going for the 'cheaper' movement when I could get a Swiss movement is sensible... Many thanks in advance for any help you are able to offer

You'll just have to wait for him to reply, won't you lol

Well, what can I say - thank you all for taking the time to respond to my post in depth! I agree that taking it slow is the way to go - I don't really feel ready yet to dive in and when I do I want it to be a good first time. (This sounds like some sort of relationship LOL) WR has a very good point that I hadn't really thought of, about how most people with an expensive watch only buy them because they're nice to look at and aren't majorly into knowing all the details of them. This certainly gives me more confidence to just go for it and not worry that it's not a super-rep but just looks pretty good - after all, where I live I don't think I've ever seen anyone wearing a Pam or even an Omega (but then again I haven't really been looking as my eyes have only really just begin to open...) So thank you again, all - I shall resume reading threads and guides till my eyes drop out of my head! lol I am however tempted by the sub-$100 Narikaa PO though so perhaps I might start with that... *edited for spelling*

I entirely agree with the OP - as a n00b myself I thought that getting a "cheap copy" would be pretty easy, but it is entirely the opposite. All I wanted was a replica Bell and Ross BR03 but now I'm finding myself tempted by Omegas and Panerais and IWCs and Rolexes... But there are so many questions!! Which movement? An ETA? A 7750? An Asian or a Swiss version? Is the movement reliable? How long before it might break? Is it fixable? Which dealer should I buy from? People use first names to refer to them but what are their forum or website names? and what sites do they sell from? Will it get seized by customs if I order from outside the EU, where I am based? How much is it? Is it a good price for the specification? Is the specification good enough to look genuine to all but avid watch collectors/fans? Will it need a service straight away? Will my local watch shops touch it if I take it in? Will it need to be sent away for modification to make it truer to the original / look nicer? (Anti-Reflective'd? / re-lumed?) Would I be able to do anything to it myself or would that just be asking for trouble? What on earth do all the acronyms used on the forum mean?? I'm sure some of these questions are answered in the n00b guide that I still have to sit down and read properly but it really isn't easy...

Thanks for the replies all The fact that something can literally keep glowing for years with no energy input is something that never fails to amaze me!

Hello all This is my first proper n00b post lol I picked up an Ernest Jones catalogue today (a jeweller in the UK for non-UK readers) and on the page for Ball Watches it mentioned something about Micro Gas Tubes. I looked them up and found the details on the "Gas Light" section of the following webpage: http://www.ballwatch.com/index.php?option=com_technology Claiming almost 120 years of watchmaking, I haven't heard of the watchmaker before, but I was intrigued by the idea of the gas tubes providing brighter and longer-lasting luminescence than 'normal' lume. Has anyone heard of it before? If it's as good as it's said to be, why aren't other watch manufacturers taking it forward? I was just interested!

For the price and quality of these, I'm thinking that they may be my first rep buy...

I fear this may be a n00b question but could Trusty supply a good bezel that could then be swapped onto this one which has good text?