lanikai

... that is the statement of the week .. coined by a member who epitomizes it !! Have a great week all !!

I have changed my view on the "virtual" thingi .... the people are real !! the timepieces are.. well "Real Reps" ... the friendships are very real.. the emotions ... sentiments.. everything is real.. so this place must "BE REAL" .... as Real as it Gets !!!!!

Life is Good !!!

YM ...Monday Tuesday .. Vintage Pearl.... bruce79 .. he showed us how... thanks b79

Don't worry "supporters" I haven't forgotten you .. I can only do so much in a 24 hour period... so please be patient as I am getting ready to spring a "Supporters Only Raffle" thank you Aloha ~Cheers Lani

\Yup.. we're on the expensive (over priced side)

could see the next "one" at the end of the year.. but more realistically toward the beginning of next year..

Weariing a High end rep on your wrist can have it's down side also.. I was wearing .. my Zig modded 1680 Sub.. and went to the same filling station that I go to for minor pit stops.... I needed a new battery and favour the Interstate line of batteries.. The owner of the garage used to charge me a little above his cost ... Well I usually,.. if I'm wearing a Rolex rep that looks really good .. I take it off.. (for obvious reasons) .. but this time I forgot about it... and when I was talking to the owner of the station He glanced down at my wrist (in notable fashion ) ... I tend to "talk " with my hands a lot.. somewhat of a bad habit and has nothing to do with my timepiece .. I think I got it from all the time I spent with my training partners back in the day.. they're of Italian ancestry from NY ... Anyway back on point ... as soon as he gave the 1680 a "look" I knew what was coming next... and I could of kicked myself for forgetting to put on a steelfish or my PO... yup .. he charged me "FULL RETAIL" for the battery.. and now has the seed planted in his mind that I can afford to pay alot more than he used to charge me.. Needless to say I found another place to do quick simple work ... The Moral of the story:... At times the High end rep that looks too good may get you the attitude and the expectations of ... "If you have to ask how much it is then you can't afford it"... Or worse you will look so tight that you squeak when you walk... when you give someone a hard time over prices, after all you could afford that Rolex on your wrist ..... I don't know about you .. but I am a person that is used to paying wholesale for a lot of items.. Be care full what you ask for in these reps.. you just may get the whole ball of wax

I'll bet that this rep. piece wiil be just s shinny as the genuine.. the makers pics never do the reps justice .. too much sturation takin out. I think the price is resonable ... we';; have to wait and see wait and see approach

...... ..... ahhhhh that's one of TMG's signature timpieces.... it is friggin gorgeous .... i believe I will take a "PASS"

I doubt that will deter them from the stupidity of their actions.... this just draws more unwanted attention to us IMO... I wonder if he's here under a different user name..??

there is nothing that compares to a solitary ride.. in the country to clear the toxins out of ones .. own mind thanks for sharing those awesome pics freddy !!!!

I only wish I could work out of Home.. I would be living on the "North Shore" side of the island.. Punaluu or Kaaawa ... same landscape as 1000 years ago.. when you look to the shorelines and mountains... ahhhhhh.. that has alway's been my fantasy dream... enough food in the ocean.. ocean air..... people who ar in the "Old Style" Hawaii ... I would give up our Minimegalopolis in a heart beat..!! No worries about cars ... gas.... plenty of horses to go up in the mountains.. live off the land... breed....

Sorry S.. can't fit her into the express package.. maybe just her "tongs" used and abused ... Adluddy .. copy that... waiting on the sample for verification.. should be ok.. (hopefully)

Ubi.. Your kindness is overwellming .. I am at a lost for words.. so all I will say Is.."Thank you so Very Much !!!!".. This is a direct result of the type of members and "People" we have on RWG.... more than Just Watches.... NO sh.....!!!!

This is true .. the "Stare Down" .. don't ever look away or flinch ...

Welcome WC ... give yourself sometime.. of course you will purchase a replication of your fav genuine... but heed this ... in time maybe a short time or an extended period ... you will want more out of the replication.. in other words.. "you think" that you will be satisfied with a somewhat respectable but flawed timepiece.. this is the natural order of this Hobby.. And as your interest and knowledge grows and expands you will want more detail and less flaws.. more exact colour in the dial.. you will be 'distracted" by the smaller flaws that you say you wouldn't mind now.. And this comes with time and the knowledge base that you will find Here.. RWG.. IMO the best knowledge base .. weather genuine or replication is here.. on genuine forums you don't have members who know the workings of the movements and spend as much time researching .. reviewing trading knowledge.. this forum is not soley base on esthetics ... They supposedly are working on some breitlings as we speak.. I would wait of get something to start off with to curb your appetite and then check the wrist checks .. read the reviews... once you go Vintage Rolex.. that usually means you have turned the "corner" after about 1 to 3 years and are now into more of the classics rather than the Bling watches.. but nothing wrong with the blind... I guess I am talking from my own evolution in this Hobby spend small on an Asian movement rep.. then after you become more aware of navigating this forum and the members whom are the experts.. For Breitling.. andreww.. would be the reviewer extraordinaire along with toad torrent, chrgod... .. Andrew has a intense and maybe the best (their all good though) review on the breitlings.. Rolex.. ahhh there are a host of pros... Ubi.. toomuchbeer... tribal .. laz ,Freddy.. Carlsbad kind of a little of all..... and a host of others .. but those come to mind fast for me.. Omega.... you have the mod..BT.. pugwash again andreww ...this one is I believe TJ's pet (UPO).... and all others and Corgi .and consell for the high end dress watches... All these members put together have over 300 years of experience... sound dramatic huh I could keep on but main thing is ..there is virtually a ton of knowledge and members willing to help !!!! Just ask !! and I am constantly in awe of the support here.. WELCOME TO THE OBSESSION !!!!! Aloha~Cheers Lani

Thank you All... I think ma luck has changed from the middle of the week I really don't know which way I'm going with this one right now... it feels great to have "options"... If this were a rep Dial .. I would definately go for the aged ..patina look.... This is my first genuine dial !! ergo thoughts of restoring it to somewhat medium age.. or Newer crosses my mind .. but it would definately need a relume as only Ziggy can do it properly (of course)... IMO it would not take away from the geuiness.. but give ;value added" to it.. and the hands would have to follow suit ...and the movement would have to be somewhat original ... then there is the queston of the case .. I have the genuine crystal already.. but not crown yet.... so this is the time that will be the most enjoyable as far as anticipation and the "icing on the cake" so to speak.... This hobby works backwards at times.. you source the "Main Entree" then get everything else that "enhances the Meal" .. thoughts of going 100 on this piece is alluring.. but ahhhh.. maybe sound judgement (what a concept) should kick in and a "middle of the road" sourcing should be thought of. Whatever the final outcome will be; it will be very enjoyable and I will savour each moment to it's fullest !! Mahalo Plenty Gang !!! R

Sweet.. all the way around S. ........ those carbs are a bit nasty to sychronize .. and all the jets have to be changed out for altitude.. but it's a mean SOB.. when performing properly.. thanks for thepics !!.. good shots from your camera phone btw..

S.... great looking pieces together... the 1675 is definately on my project list.... on another note.. the 1655 is almost all sourced... I think the end of summer or just before fall should see it come together..

thank you bruce !!!!!!!!!!!! I had some wood stain that I was contemplating to give a shot at, but.. well... I followed "your" lead .. my colour came out a little lighter but it matches well with Ziggy's vintage lume...after it dried partially I dabbed it with my finger to give it a little rogher texture like it's age.. it came out really well, thanks to your info here !! you da man.. thanks again.. Aloha~Cheers R

I've got to get it to Rob of course for a relume !!!! Thanks TMG... S. .... ya brought the luck !!! And special thanks to the member who found and directed me to this piece.. thank you !!!!

I Won !!!!! Thank you Gang for your resisting !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yahhoooooooo Aloha~Cheers R

I hope this is the real deal .. as far as genuine saphire.. chief has another run set up .. he needs them by Aug. 2 ....

Well said... if it were just the gas price we would eat that for lunch.. and Omni play a higher price on Maui than we do on Oahu ... it's our real estate .. that the Japanese bubble economy in the 80's and 90's inflated ... it is about the oil though as far as everything here is dependant on matson container ships.. and the strong job market that is well under the national average as far as pay scale... We adjust.. the People of Hawaii are resilient and persevere .. it was just a shock that things seem to hit us overnight.. the red flags were there but they have been before.. So it is not about "gas" and cars .... Hawaii has never kept up with the inflation rate... Tourism is not a total option anymore.. it hasn't been for a long time.. solutions were suggested ...ie. Casinos.. Turtle Bay Resort was designed for Casino gaming,... the whole design of the Hotel was meant for it.. Lotteries were suggested years ago as well as offshore (boats) Gaming But our legislature ... too conservative ... no visions for the future..they say gaming will bring social problems..yet Hawaii sends more players to Vegas per capita than any other State.. and illegal gambling runs rampant .. .. Casinos in Vegas are huge donors to local campaign funds.. see a corallation ?? they sponsor tons of events.. coincidence ?? lots of solutions no action !!