TJGladeRaider

I'm in SW Florida, but I can get to anwhere I need to. Just PLEASE pick a really nice hotel! Life is too short for cheap hotels. Bill

NO . . . no, no, no. Surely you do not think you are going to get by with that Davey. Remember who you are dealing with. A watch like that, and results like that REQUIRE specificity. EXACTLY what did you start with, and how did you make that lovely thing. Lord that's pretty. When I grow up, I wanna be like Davey! LOL Bill

Generally speaking, I agree with you. As I have developed in this hobby, I find myself having, and fixing, more and more problems. As my abilities increase, things I never would have noticed before need fixing - so I fix whatever I can and it would be simply asinine for me to send an MBW back because the cyclops wasn't PERFECTLY aligned, or there was a speck on a dial, or a defective clutch mechanism in a crown . . . On the other hand, I do not think a seller has a right to expect me to know how to do any of that - and it wasn't so long ago that I didn't. I think this buyer should do as he has expressed the intention to do - give the seller reasonable time in light of his apparent travels and then insist that he make it right. If you buy a working watch, it is the responsibility of the seller to receive a working watch. That's not just my interpretation - mail insurance is only available to the sender, and pays to the sender. As a practical matter, I think we should collectively adopt that as the rule, because it is simple and resonable. The seller has no control over packing, and a properly packed watch almost always ships just fine. Just my .02 Bill

I think I am somewhere around $25K in reps. Oh well, a man should have a hobby. Bill

Me too -- I love that hat in Klink's avatar. Bill

Maybe this will help. Since these were taken a couple of months ago, I have a few more MBWs. Of course, those are just the Rolexes. I also have a drawer full as my patient little wife isn't going to let me have anymore space for boxes. I wonder what this collection would sell for all together. You're not even infected yet, let alone addicted. Bill

Ummmmmmmmmm . . . OK, . . . IF you are going to Nanuqize your watch, it's probably best do do as he says. I wouldn't know as I do my best to avoid the conditions he lives for. Frankly, I don't need a watch that will survive more than I do, so a thin film of teflon gun lubricant works me. Mountain bike riding on snow and ice . . . Dude, you worry me. BTW, your Omega Planet Ocean says hello, and to tell you how nice, warm and cozy it is here. LOL Bill

I know for sure that there are some pictorials on here - especially for MBWs. Personally, I use the small blade on a Swiss Army knife, carefully (it's razor sharp) and slowly working my way around the bezel. Almost invariably, whether the watch is Chinese, Taiwanese, or an MBW new styly or vintage - the problem can be fixed by careful cleaning and reassembly. The TWs have little prongs that stick up on a thin shim beneath the bezel. If you have one of them, look at them closely because if one is too close to the crystal, it can hang things up. I think the TW bezel system is far superior to the Chinese wire spring, but the Chinese system can be tightened up and smoothed out dramatically by using a thin piece of teflon tape. Bill

I am quite sure that I have some SMP extra links with pins or screws - whichever they came with. E-Mail me your mailing address at TJGladeRaider@aol.com Bill

I think it may have been a post of mine that mentioned using a case back gasket. That ring does not actually seal the crystal, it creates a rubber seal under the crystal retaining ring (no doubt intended to help seal the crystal). MBWs don't come with that o-ring anymore (if they ever did) but I found that an extra case back o-ring I had fit perfectly. The seal itself is interesting. The watch case as a sort of ring that sticks up with a very small lip on it. The crystal pushes down on this ring such that the little lip sort of digs into the inside of the plastic crystal. Then the crystal retaining ring pushes down over the crystal TIGHTLY thereby forcing that little lip into the plastic crystal even tighter. It's a pretty good system even without the o-ring that goes under the retaining ring. Bill

Yes

It depends up the Sub. On MBWs, the best way to deal with bezel issues is to take it apart, replace the insert if you are going to and take that opportunity to remove all extraneous glue - ALL of it. Then I pilish the spring washer, and clean the channel it rides in with a hardwood spike like a large tooth pick. When everything is clean and polished, I typically use gun oil to pit a thin film on the spring washerface that rides against the crystal retaining ring and a tiny drop in the channel on the inside of the bezel that it rides in. My MBWs all turn exactly as they are supposed to, which none did as they were received. On anything else, you may have problems with the different kinds of springs that need to be addressed but before I did anything else, I would remove the bezels and clean everything very thoroughly, reassembling with a bare film of oil on the parts. I would never recommend squirting oil into the mechanism hoping that it will find the right problem, especially on an MBW as the problem with them is never that easy to fix. Different desgns require different fixes. Good luck. Bill

Apology graciously accepted . . . and a good thing for you too as I'm a big chicken and my "Second" is a nine-year old and she's DEADLY with a Super Soaker. Bill

Oh Sweet Jesus . . . is there no end to insufferable insults? Have you no shame Gio? Dost thou suggest that I would pay $5000 for a $500 watch just to join the "I have been screwed by Uncle Rollie" club. Surely thou jest! If I was going to spend $5000 today, I'd call George, order ten new MBWs, and spend the change on some first rate bourbon. I don't actually own ten MBWs yet, but I'll soon be there, and as I look at those little lovelies, I cannot help thinking that anyone who would trade them for a new gen is fookin nutz. Now, level such an egregiously abusive and wholly offensive insult at me again, and it will be Super Soaker Water Blasters at ten paces at dawn! Bill

Sorry dude, but I am going to have to steal that line and tuck it away for the appropriate time!! Oh Well -- that will teach you to utter something so quotable. What can you expect from those of us who demonstrate little respect for intellectual property rights! Bill

Not meaning to ignore you, but I cannot very well acknowledge that you beat me to a position I didn't take. There is no such thing as "Breech of contract," the word is "Breach." Spelling notwithstanding, I cannot agree with your explanation of how this is a breach of contract since there has been no explanation as to what contract was alleged to have been breached, identification of contrary provisions, or even any acknowledgement that there was a contract at all. So anyway, "Hi Phoband, nice to see you." Bill

I have a bunch of watches that he has had serviced for me. They all keep remarkably good time, and as I have demonstrated in various pictorials, they tested just fine in my waterproof tester. I don't know who actually does the work, but it is something he has done where he operates. Thus far, I have only had one watch with a glitch, and that was evidently messed up in transit (the sent me the broken piece to show me when they repaired the watch). I hope you enjoy your watch. Bill

Yep, you surely did. I have been tied up for the last couple of weeks making it hard for me to do anything more than glance at a few posts now and then, so i am only just now catching up. I did see that post by that ubiquitous low-life Randy teasing us with his spare parts . . . and these people think some of the avatars are a turn on! I am slowly building my collection of MBWs - I have a box of them and I need to get a few of my favorites out to be relumed with SL. Some of the reviews that have been posted reveal that we have some real artists in our midsts and as much as I love the MBWs, I need a watch that I can read at night. Bill

My Goodness -- our favorite whoreologist must have fallen from the wrong side of the bed. Lemme see . . . just because I seem to be hopelessly conflicted by confusion . . . aren't we on a board dedicated to the theft of generally recognized intellectual property rights? Now, even assuming (not that I would) that surfing the net while at work were to be a "breach of contract," could someone point me to the appropriate state or federal criminal code section that covers "breach of contract?" I suppose one might argue that using your employer's internet access for personal use is a theft by conversion, that would also seem to be quite a reach -- unless there is such a draconian policy published in that particular work place. Otherwise, I would think it would be much like making a personal call, which some employers allow within reason, and I think most allow while on breaks. Of course, to make such an allegation without further inquiry would be extremely rash, since the purported "thief" could be self employed, or employed in some capacity where browsing the net might be allowed -- such as a gate guard on the late shift, or some such thing. In any event, I remain hamstrung by cognitive dissonance - that response seems remarkably hipocrytical on this forum. BTW, my new MBW White Sub is fabulous! Bill

I'm not sure I heard a question here either but that's OK - I have more questions than I have answers already. I am sure I learned a few things, and I found the post interesting, but I find the life cycle of a maggot as it relates to human decay to be fascinating so . . . Well, anyway, I thought it was a useful, informative post. Bill

When you get a little curious, and start into screwing around with these ticky little things, next thing you know you have bezels, crystals, crowns, tubes, springbars, drills, . . . coming out your ears. Just thought I'd share a few pics -- YOU'VE BEEN WARNED! Of course, some people are probably just more obsessively curious than others. LOL Bill

I have several Rep GMTs - some with 2836, and some with 2893. I have not got anything where the hour hand adjusts except the Rolex GMT II - I had not actually noticed this until Ziggy posted because I had never worn that particular watch. My Omegas and Paneras all adjust the GMT hand. If they have the 2893 movement, the hour hand adjusts differently in that it "jumps" from hour to hour. The 2836 vs 2893 question is interesting. I prefer the 2893 movements and pay a lot more to get them, but many people don't think there is any real benefit to the 2893. Have you seen the new JL GMT Joshua is selling? That is one beautiful watch. Bill

You guys don't miss much do you. LOL Bill

What a class act. I've never done business with you, but I know your reputation. I commend you for realizing that this rep thing is just about some silly fake watches - friends, family, business and life cannot take a back seat to that. I think people need hobbies to some extent, and I know my wife is very tolerant, but many men my age do "Middle Age Crazy," and spend more on some Bimbo in a week or two than those of us who collect these things ever do. In the process, they destroy trust and damage their families. Like I said, it's just fake watches - but it's a relatively harmless thing to enjoy. Personally, I have enjoyed many fine posts from you, and benefitted by what you have chosen to share. Come and go as best suits you and your family, but know that your contributions have not gone unnoticed. Thank you for that. Bill

It's particularly difficult and I know of no other way than by using a drill press. If the holes were larger, I would use a vertical mill as they are set up to withstand side loads, but there is no way a 1.3mm wire bit will mill sideways thru this stainless steel. All you can do is set up your press to drill an off-center hole, use a lot of cutting oil, with low tool speed and feed rate. Unless you have a real drill press, or a vertical mill (a vertical mill is a drill press but not vice versa), I would not even consider trying it. Bill