TJGladeRaider

I go thru George. As with anything lese I buy, I am aware that if I eliminate the middlemen, or do the job myself, I can save money - maybe. Or maybe I will just waste a shitload of my valuable time, thereby pissing away potential income, trying to save a few bucks. Bill doesn't do mechanical work . . . Bill can, but others do it better, and cheaper. Bill doesn't do his own plumbing . . . Bill can, but others do it better and cheaper, not to mention a certain do-it-yourself disaster many years ago. Bill doesn't intend to fly to Bankok, screw around with people who may or may not show me the watches I want, hope to get the right thing ordered, so I can come back in a few days to pick it up and then try to sneak it thru Customs, even if I can thereby deprive George of a little of my money. Last month, I sent George about $2500, I bought at least one watch that I have never seen advertised anywhere and had no idea existed, I am going right on with the business of making a living, and I have absolute faith that my watches will arrive at my door, as was the case with the dozen or so I have bought before. Plus, I got to chat with George - and I like chatting with George. Bill

As I have written many times before, complete with pictures: I have bought them, and tested them in a waterproof tester made for watches I have verified that each and every one of them (see past posts with pics of collection) are waterproof to 5ATM I routinely wear my reps fishing, swiming and, in fact, scuba diving. Please, no more BS from the peanut gallery about that being unduly risky, divers have not relied upon wrist watches for twenty years. Risky is wearing a $5000 watch underwater where things that get lost, stay lost. I have never, ever, ever , ever had a failure in watertight integrity. Bill

I missed a great photo op today, but I may revisit it again and post some pics. If you want to see the absolute WORST lug holes in existence, the TW Best Classic watches are your choice. I cannot for the life of me figure out how they get thoses holes so screwed up. Take one of those watches, pull the bracelet and insert #57 wire drills into the holes so you can see what I mean, with four drills inserted in the four lugs, the watch looks like a porcupine. To even think of inserting a drill down thru one lug hole and out thru the other is a cruel joke. No wonder people are having a vexatious time drilling out those holes. Here is a tip for those of you drilling lug holes. Once you get the holes drilled, getting thos Rolex pins to fit thru the bracelet is your next challenge and then trying to get them on the watch will make you say bad words. Try this. Instead of using those Rolex pins, use regular 22mm HD springbars instead. I know, I know -- that won't work because they have pointy little ends instead of those big fat ends on the Rollie bars. Try it and see. I have no idea why the larger 22mm springbars look like the fat ended Rollie pins when installed, but they do. It is one hell of a lot easier to get that bracelet back on with the regular 22mm pins . . . especially since they fit thru the end links. C'Mon - I know some of you guys have some drilled cases and regular 22mm springbars, try it and see. You won't believe it when you see how it looks. Bill

Yeah, no kidding . . . the guy should be a detective! ; ) Bill

Joshua does this on the best version he sells. The bracelets come out with no sharp edges, and a silky smooth feel that the others don't even approach. Bill

Nope -- not even a little bit. I have an entire box of bands of various sizes and types. All the 22mm bands fit a little lose for my tastes and several of the 24mm bands fit just right. The 24mm springbars were an easy fit too although I don't think I'd want to have a go at them if using the bracelet. That thing was hard enough to get off! If you take the bracelet off, look at the springbars that came with the watch. Nothing special I know, but compared to the cheap, corroded garbage we often find holding bracelets on, those were nice to see. Bill

My 45mm Orange PO arrived from Joshua - that is one massive watch. Since I'd rather not have one arm significantly longer than the other, I ditched the bracelet and replced it with a gen alligator strap and deployment clasp. I tried a 22mm Alligator strap, but it didn't fit as snug lug-to-lug as I preferred so I used a 24mm strap with 24mm HD Springbars. I just looked at the gen version of this watch in Nassau - while I am sure the pundits will spot flaws, I think this must be one of the most convincing reps I ever saw. One thing is clear, this watch is definitely AR coated. Bill

I think it's to allow you to reduce once you have enlarged to the point she can no longer stand up straight. Bill

I'm sorry, but I missed the "sodomized repeatedly" part. Please send me the link to that story . . . unless of course that wa your own, peculiar embellishment. Bill

Tell you what. You contact Rolex and tell them that there is a nasty man in SW Florida with a HUGE pile of counterfeit Rollies and have them come chat with me about it. Neither Rolex, nor their attorneys, nor their investigators, have the authority to arrest anyone. Bill

They all work perfectly - I have a total of . . . well, let's just say a lot more boxes than that. Bill

I do believe that this is the first time my presence here has been a problem; I don't know what to say. I'm going to have to give this some thought. Bill

Wow . . . imagine, what if it became illegal to possess these things here? What would I do with these - and I just ordered another batch of MBWs from George. I guess I'd need a BIG safety deposit box in a foreign bank somewhere. Bill

LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLL Oh Lord, our hero . . . the guy who was going to lawyer up and take on the world a few moments ago . . . sorry Dude, I wasn't trying to scare ya to death. It's OK Toni. Really . . . you can read this thread for a month or two and you'll note that nobody else is likely to follow with "OMG, you mean . . .". The only RWG member to be shocked is you. Bill

I been here a long time dude. I know many of our best known members, who they are and where they are. I have the names, addresses and phone numbers of many of our best known dealers. I guess it must just be the end of the world any day now . . . but, wait . . . nope, I am not a moderator. Bill

You are most welcome. Bill

LOL I like to try and share information with those who want and need it to the extent that my meager experiences with reps makes that possible. The fact that I spenty my career as a federal agent, and know a little more about this subject than Tony, does not oblige me to clear up all the misconceptions that afflict his mind. I do find his comparison of US Customs to the, "educated workforce" to be annoyonig, but I that's OK - his problems may annoy me but when he tries his "gimme a lawyer"" nonsense in actual practice, the pain he suffers will be his own. Like someone smarter than I once said, "It ain't what you don't know that gets you in trouble, it's what you do know that just ain't so." I'll leave it to the US Customs people to educate Tony. I'll share one short anecdote with those why might benefit from it. Once upon a time, during a drug interdiction operation in SW Florida, I boarded about a forty foot Trojan sport boat some fifteen or so miles offshore having been vectored there by BLOCC (Blue Lightening Operations Control Center). The owner/operator of the vessel was an arrogant, nasty mouthed individual who "knew his rights" and ordered me, and my partner, off the boat saying, "My Brother's a Lawyer, you aren't going anywhere on my boat [expletives deleted.]" As I started to go below decks, he grabbed me by the shoulder and spun me rather violently around. I am sure it was a bit fuzzy for him as he hit the deck, and the flex cuffs bit into his wrists, but the pain of his split lips had him conscious enough to comprehend as he heard me say, "My Brother is a doctor, you wanna tell me where you hurt." I could have arrested him, but I thought it better to let him go talk to his brother about suing me. Either way, he'd get the same education, and letting his brother explain things cost me a lot less paperwork. Although we had different jobs, and different job titles, just like the guy who checks your bags and asks you questions, I dealt with hundreds and hundreds of people without so much as ever offending anyone - I had a job to do and I did it. On the other hand, there were those occasional fookwits who could not accept that and had to see who had the biggest penis. I can only say, based upon my experience, and personal observations, people who go along with the program come out way ahead. Conversely, as my partner of many years used to say, "If you have to be stupid, you better be tough." Bill

Did you really say that? Unless this was intended to be a joke, you would probably do best not to travel abroad. There is no such thing as a $10/HR Customs Inspector. Those people make very good money. Second, of course they would have the gall to ask you . . . they are US Customs Officials, they get their authority from Title 19 of the United States Code, and they can do with you pretty much whatever they want to without having a warrant, or probable cause. Foook with these people and you will learn a Darwinian lesson. Bill

I'm sorry, but much as I would like to cooperate, I have only been royally screwed over once, by a person who had the misfortune to die suddenly, if not particularly tragically, shortly thereafter. I have no particular qualms regarding speaking ill of the dead, but the facts and circumstances attendant to his passing are not clear, and no arrests have as yet been made. Thus, it may be best that I not provide anecdotal evidence that some might construe to be motive. Bill

It's simple. When I travel, I carry two and wear one - some (or all) will be reps. Some of you may recall that I happened to be traveling home from Geneva when the terror plot at Heathrow broke. What ya bet I breezed thru without being searched?? LOL Anyone want to know how to guarantee that you can get back in the Country with all the goodies you took out . . . send me $5. Ooooops, I forgot I already posted about that. Geeeeeee, there goes my shot at wealth! It's simple, take a picture of it all before you leave - sitting on your office desk with your name plate for example, or the dining room table with your kids around. Camera, Video, exotic pens, watches . . . I travel with a lot of tech stuff so I take a photo of the whole shebang before I leave and print a few copies to be stuck with travel papers, in my suitcase, in my laptop bag, etc. Gen or rep is irrelevant if you brought it from home. Just don't cop an attitude with people and all will go just fine. Bill

Huh?????????? I thought this was a place for honest replies Slay? Bill

As Mr. Rogers would say, "Can you say, "P E R S P I C U I T Y," sure, I knew you could. Find that a little suspicious do you? By the way, have you ever read the actual "stinking badges" quote as it was initially written in Treasure of the Sierra Madre? In making the movie, John Houston could never have let Bogie use that kind of language - especially in the 1940's. "Badges, to god-damned hell with badges! We have no badges. In fact, we don't need badges. I don't have to show you any stinking badges, you god-damned cabrón and ching' tu madre! Come out from that [censored]-hole of yours. I have to speak to you." Bill

Perhaps someone knows better than I, but my advice would be, "go cheap." Consider, you are talking about a product manufactured by a company that expects to sell everything they make for a ridiculous mark-up. Look at a gen Rolex springbar, and compare it to a heavy duty standard springbar that costs pennies - they look different of course, but is it plausable that the Rolex Springbar could cost 100 times more to make? I have about 100 of these from different manufacturers - if someone can show me a difference between the ones I got on E-Bay from Hong Kong for about $1 each, and those I bought for a lot more than that, I'd like to know. My Source Like I said, I'm not the expert here - and we have several. All I can tell you is what I see. I have never seen a gen springbar, so those may be better/different and the comments to the effect that the gens are longer do appear to be true - I have noticed that my springbars do not go to the very edge of the case like some I have seen. I thought that the rep lugs might be slightly thicker, but it could just as easily be the gen bars are longer. Good Luck, Bill

Wow -- I would say that would be a lot for an MBW. You can buy them from George new for a lot less than that. I have modded CN COMEX, 1680, 5513, 1665 and I think they are a very nice watch for what they cost, and frankly, I think most people would be better served by buying the CN watch to mod than buying an MBW to mod - although the MBW is definitely the better watch. Either way, you get a Swiss movement and once you file down the CG's, the CN is a good looking watch. The problem with the CNs is the bezel assembly is not like the gen, whereas the MBW is identical. I any event, if you are going to practice on something, I suggest you practice on CNs until you are comfortable with that and then try it on an MBW. As for the Rolex crystals, I never bought one. I use aftermarket replacements, but they fit the CN just fine. If you are going to be wearing vintages, it is nice to have some extra crystals around - they scuff up ridiculously easy. Bill

That's a CN Vintage. It's not nearly the watch the MBW is -- and not nearly the cost. On the other hand, I'd not be too quick to turn up my nose. While everyone talks about the MBW (I have bought about a dozen), that watch can be modded too, and it WILL take OE Replacement Parts, contrary to popular belief. It's simple. The OE Bezel assembly press fits to the crystal, therefore a factory Rolex Bezel Assembly will fit on any watch having a crystal with the same Outside Diameter as the Gen. Here are a few vintages and here is what I did with a watch I got from Andrew. The thing I find amazing is that nobody seems to have spent much time trying to mod the vintage subs made in China. To me, that is the obvious place to start practicing. Bill