sssurfer

What is your concern about, exactly? Being an addicted, or being afraid that the customs might seize your watches? Or both? In any case -- congrats.

Sorry, I can't resist: Should you be able to take a similar pic by sitting on the top of that pyramid, well, that would be even more gay...

Wow, you are heading to really ultimating an ultimate! Congrats, don't miss to let us know your results. lanikai, are you telling that you have been able to remove a crystal by pulling it from the outside, instead of pushing it from the inside after opening the case and removing the movement? Also thanks for the aluminium mag tip. I thought that only diamond abrasive past would be able to work on sapphire.

My bet is: never.

I suppose that the mentioned PT, as we were speaking about UK based collectors, was Precious Time rather than Pure Time.

As far as I know, all 42mm rep radiomirs come with 20mm buckles, so a XX/20 strap should be ok to your buckle. If you give me a link to your watch I might be more specific. What I am rather dubious about, is the XX value on your watch. I would bet 23mm. 24mm might work as well. But 25mm, mmm, it seems really too much to me...

Wow that strap looks gorgeous, but... 25/20?!? I would be very suspicious about it. As you can see in my pics, even a 24mm strap would warp a little around and along the lugs. I wonder if this is a rep-vs-gen issue. Also, 19mm at the buckle's end is completely off-market, I bet noone won't ever find a 19mm buckle other than from OP (if any).

Well, you may choose between several replies: - (unselfish:) Because of the satisfaction of giving the difference in charity rather than to Richemont-Vendome. - (selfish:) Because of the satisfaction of spending the difference in drugs (or women, or travels, or what you like) rather than giving it to Richemont-Vendome. - (artisan:) 'Cos I love modding. - (statistical:) In order for counting out people who ask silly questions (variation: for counting out bad-mannered people). - (threatening:) 'Cos I am a black block. - (philosophical:) Let's define 'fake'... - (psychological:) Why do you ask it? - (ethical): To support emergent economies rather than established ones. ...and so on...

Should you ever get called out, chances are that he's someone of us (even if personally I would never call anyone out). In that case, try the secret 'Jetmid' word. Something like 'Oh, did Jetmid tell you that?'. Or 'Dunno, got it from Jetmid'...

Yes the strap in my pics is the one that came with the watch and it is a 24/20. And I agree that a 23/20 would be the perfect size -- but almost impossible to find, as long as you don't go to genuines. You might find a gen on Paneristi or eBay. But be warned, 90% of eBay straps are not genuine even if advertised as such. I also agree that a black strap is the way to go with your watch. I would even consider a CF strap -- great with crowded dials!

26mm fit 45mm radiomirs -- probably oversized to 42mm model like the 204. I would go for 24mm or 22mm. Here are some pics of a 24mm strap on a 42mm radiomir.

sssurfer = stainless steel surfer. I found this more appropriate than silver to a replica forum. ---- Btw, just in order to avoid any possible misunderstanding in case anyone interested in removing AR coat read this thread in the future: Cape Cod cloths are only to remove AR from sapphire crystals! DON'T use them on mineral crystals!

Hilarious tale, vbarrett. But if you are really able to splatter sauce around just by eating penne rather than spaghetti or bucatini then yes, you have a bit of a problem there. Yes, I am scandalized. I rather use to carry two or three spare straps (and a proper screwdriver, naturally) to replace that that might get stained. Waiters and other clients often have some puzzled looking at my bustling with the watch, straps, screws, and so between all the wines and dishes, but heck, who cares? It's for the sake of my PAM. And no, unfortunately I have no ridicolous moments to tell.

True split-second: no. But if what you like is the 213 dial pattern rather than the split-second function, there were some reps with that dial advertised as 212 on cqOut. They also were quite cheap as incorrect. Too bad, it's two days that all Richemont-Vendome brands (including Panerai) are excluded fron cqOut listings. Maybe you can still find them somewhere on the net with some searching.

Well, those were two links to caseback openers for 47mm: http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Arrival-custom-mad...VQQcmdZViewItem http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...atchlink:top:it

Ditto. Or about 300 dollars. Thanks, The Zigmeister!

Unbelievable! Great finds all, folks! Keep the spice flow coming!....

Very sorry for your loss, Reg. Have my most heartfelt condolences.

Oh boys, we really became so loving... but as a PR lover I can't help from helping one who is looking for PR. Ok, kid, the PR is not a problem on itself, it is a working and reliable feature on reps. The problem is that all PR models have date too, so you will have to face issues about the cyclops and the datewheel font. If you choose the 028 you will also have issues with the PVD coating. Here is a summary of 028 problems: http://www.rwg.cc/members/PAM-028-ETA2892-...put-t30308.html And a report on an almost-completely-modded 028: http://www.rwg.cc/members/index.php?showtopic=24788 Some generals about PR models: They come in two incarnations: PR indicator @6 Hr (027, 028), and PR indicator @5 Hr (090, 124, 171, 222, 241). PR@6 comes either with 2892-A2 movement (about 650 USD), or Asian 21J movement (about 80 USD, incorrect caseback). PR@5 comes with the exellent Seagull ST-2530 movement and at prices between 90 - 150 USD. They all have a quick date pusher @8 that the genuines have not. Caseback accuracy varies along with the price, but it is often inaccurate and you will have to do some leg work to find an accurate one. Date magnification is good out of the box, date font is not.

Great news, lanikai! Thanks!

That is not zen, that is karma. Why asking yourself those questions? Happiness and satisfaction are in pursuing what makes you happy, not in measuring how much happy you managed to become. Enjoy your hobby and this community -- and yes, even the occasional movement stopping and stem breaking. Take it easy. Quit measuring. There is a lot fun here, even with (I would even say 'in') all that we call 'imperfections' or 'flaws'. Both of watches and people.

Good info, samir, thanks!

Bad news: all these brands below are not allowed to list on cqout anymore: A.Lange-Sohne Baume-Mercier Cartier IWC Jaeger-Lecoultre Montblanc Panerai Piaget Vacheron-Constantin

Cape cod cloths. http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Arrival-custom-mad...VQQcmdZViewItem http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...atchlink:top:it Confirmed. Even if chieftang's double side AR coat is in compliance with military specs, i.e. it must stand at least 20 pumice-stone strokes without showing any scratches. This puts it halfway between sapphire and glass. So, if placed on a glass crystal, that AR coating actually makes the crystal harder to get scratched. Unfortunately, not the same on sapphire. But if one really wants double AR coating like on some gens (not PAMs), that makes for a fair compromise.

The problem is that it is hard not to copy it 1:1... too few details to have it uncorrectly repped...