Antonio

Gave her the watch this morning, she was thrilled! I'm so happy, and she just loves the watch. Servicing doesn't just waterproof it, it also cleans out all the dirt and crap that gets in at the factory (they're likely not class 100 clean rooms... haha) and they lubricate everything properly, because that doesn't really happen at the factory either from what I've read here. Your movment will be calibrated and last years longer. I had the band swapped on this one (Joshua did it at my request) to more accurately match the current watches. Since the Ladies' versions of these watches are less popular, they haven't updated the date wheel so the 6s and 9s are not closed. But everything else is really excellent on this watch, certainly close enough to pass for what it's supposed to be while on the wrist. Having the watch on a winder for a week before giving it to her, I set the time via my computer, set to sync with international accurate time, the watch was within 11 seconds over the week. Thanks, Joshua!!!!!

Thanks. I'm not really a watch/product photographer, so the actual watch is even better in person. Fun stuff to shoot, not to mention to wear! She'll get it in the morning for her birthday. Still hoping she likes it, I think she will.

Watches are meant to be worn. It's funny, I know people who own expensive cameras that baby them. I know pros who hate the way a new camera looks, and aren't happy till they've earned some "character". They're precision instruments that are designed to be used, the more expensive ones can handle the abuse of professionals. One reason I've started wearing reps and a few gens is to train myself not to over-abuse them (keep them off walls and corners, etc. so I'm aware of where my wrist is...). It's funny, if you read "The Millionaire Next Door" and that author's other book, most millionaires (even decamillionaires) don't wear watches costing more than $300. The big bling-wearers are pro sports players and people trying to impress others. It certainly works. I have a millionaire publisher friend who wears $30-40k watches, but he's an exception.

That's a good possibility, Alex, where's one find ETA replica movements? Might eventually do that for my SD as well, and GT if the 7750 ever gives me trouble. Servicing was around $100, he quoted me watch+servicing+shipping all at once. Love knowing it's pressure tested, so definitely waterproof. He really does stand behind the product as well.

Bought my wife a lady d@tejust. Joshua set it up with a silver face and more true band, and serviced it for me before shipping. Took a little extra time, esp. with careful shipping (you guys know what I mean), so worth the wait and it came in a week before her birthday, I think she'll be thrilled. Keeps really good time, lost about 10 seconds over 3 days, really appreciate the servicing and calibration!

I just ordered one of Josh's GTs, with the $150 extra for servicing. He charges around $100-125 for 2836 and other simple movements. So worth it. Fully serviced, calibrated, and waterproofed as best as can be. My first watch from him, a SD, is tested to 5 bars. Runs like a top, keeps excellent time, and looks fantastic. The 7750s are more complex, and from everything I've read here, servicing beforehand makes sure it's properly lubricated, cleaned, calibrated and will last much longer on average than unserviced. Yes, you're buying a rep, but what good will it be if it lasts less than a year? What I'm wondering next is where to send my watches for servicing after I've had them for 3 years or so? Have 3 years to ask around here for that, but think it'd be worth it to have proper service if possible. Does anyone know?

Have you guys seen the movies on bre itling.com? Amazing details and info on movements, cases, etc.

Oh, and BTW, really nice Sub!!!

FWIW, I bought my first rep, an SD, from Joshua. Had him service the movement and seal it, SO worth it. He pressure tests them. Probably won't take it swimming, have gens for that if I need to swim with a watch, but love having a nice watch that keeps good time, looks like .005 million bucks (but didn't cost that!).

Have you seen the ones on Joshua's site? He has black and brown ones. They look nice.

Beautiful Bentley. Where'd you get it? Not bad with the cam, take it off auto white balance if you can. Here's your #2 shot with a teeny bit of help in PS.

FWIW, though I use a D2x for most of my work, if you are going to shoot watches the Coolpix line actually has amazing macro capability, without any accessories it gets to 2/3 inch from the lens. I like my D2x and other flagship Nikons, and for the stuff I've done of my watches I use an 85mm PC lens (tilt/shift) to allow a lot of control and really great macro. Can control depth of field in ways a conventional lens can't. But for most things, a D50 or D70 or Rebel XT is a fantastic way to get a good SLR that you can grow with, and handles more than watches! The cameras out now are so far ahead of the capabilities of most users it's a joke. If you want to see all that wasted technology at work, check out dpreview.com and see what are affectionately known as "Equipment measurebators", guys so concerned with the performance of their cameras that they have no use for actually taking pictures. Like a guy buying a nice watch and never actually wearing it. But there are reviews of all the cameras with sample pics. Fuji S3 pictures are really nice in the hands of someone who knows what they're doing. So is an F100, F6, 1v, 1dIIn, or whatever. Go to a camera store and play with a few of them, see which one feels best to you in terms of handling. From there, pick the one that matches your pocketbook and real world needs. Forget brands. Get the best camera for you.

Sorry to hear about it, Eddie. As everyone stated already, we have to be conscientious. George Carlin once said "Think about how stupid the average person is, then realize that half of them are stupider (sic) than that!".

It's almost 41 degrees here. But I'm talking CELCIUS.

Well, at least the first time fear is over. Had a link taken out of a rep by a local dealer.

So maybe I'm the only rep collector in Los Angeles. That'd be cool, then I know mine are the only good reps.

Will get some use out of my new SD from Josh, also will likely wear my SeaStar 660 (gen) and Oakley Detonator.

Can anyone recommend a trustworthy watchsmith in the northern L.A./Valley area that will work on reps? For resizing, etc mostly, but maybe eventually for mods. TIA, Antonio

Yeah, it's the "perfect" one. The HE valve really just needs sort of a matching bezel-like outer ring. If anyone looks THAT closely at it and knows the difference, oh, well. It's a really, really nice watch that I'm proud to wear.

I dunno if they make watch bands in 34C... ;-)

Very nice looking watch!

Haven't done any scientific tests, but from this morning when I set it after shooting, it's right on.

Don't know how to weigh it, but it is wonderfully heavy. Alas, we've not embraced metric measure as we should have starting in 1974. SOOO much easier to work with than the imperial/SAE system we use. And yeah, Josh rocks. He's getting more of my business and he well deserves it. The SD is on the winder behind me, I hear it being carefully kept wound.

I got me some big forearms, so this is definitely "me". Big watches look good on big arms. Here's the other side and the HE valve.

Thanks, CW. Ordered a few, looks like from the same country from which you hail. Now when I get new watches I'll be able to better position them for photos. Also need an articulated arm, but I know where to find those.