thomasng

kruzer00, you aren't a Canadian resident, unless I'm mistaken, so you have no problems. Canadian residents frequently get harassed and hosed down by Customs all the time. Last year from Hong Kong to Toronto, I decided to bring a genuine Sub back to Canada. I was at the luggage claim, a customs officer saw me reach for my bag and said "be careful with that nice watch", and sure enough I was sent off for a search and was busted. I had the watch seized from me and was ordered to pay a $2,000 fine, and I have nothing to show for it. They offered to release the watch back to me if I paid an additional $10,000.

That's a pile of rubbish. It's white gold with a yellowish tint.

Montoya's the way to go IMO.

I ran into a person wearing a Vacheron Constantin tourbillon on my flight from Hong Kong to Tokyo in First Class and he noticed the AP JPM Offshore on my wrist and we began to talk about watches in general. Turns out the other 6 people in the First Class cabin were all of his family and they live in a HK$600 million mansion, and that they paid close to HK$400,000 ($50,000 US) for the tickets while economy would have cost about $2,000 US for all 6 people (I got my ticket from an award program).

Sorry to burst bubbles but I believe only the white dial is available for the all gold of the 14790. This is one beautiful and elegant watch, the only all-gold I would wear. I tried one on at The HourGlass in Tokyo on Saturday and it looks great with a suit, the brushed YG makes it look classy instead of flashy.

I did some research on neo-Nazi groups in the past few years as an interest point, and it sickens me such groups can exist today given the evil deeds committed by the National Socialist regime. Unfortunately, what is even more sickening is that plenty of these groups are in Eastern Europe, with Poland being the strangest case, as the NS regime was mostly against Slavic people (Poles included), and to this day you have some Polish groups supporting NS which is the ultimate contradiction. As an avid football fan, it's also sad that such crap is mixed in with the game, but generally the most disturbing point is the political message included. Sorry if the post was a bit mixed up and biased, but these are my dirty thoughts from Tokyo at 1am.

A tourbillon is understated IMO, one really needs to pick up one in person and feel it to understand why it is such a sought after complication. It depends on the manufacture, brand like UN's Royal Blue Tourbillon are really interesting, while other brands like Blancpain can be total yawns. I own a tourbillon from a Swiss brand, but will not comment any further on the make.

Sorry, I haven't been around much to answer PMs, but something unexpected rose and I had to tend to it. All is fine now. Anyways, I'm off to Tokyo tomorrow for a week and may not have any time to answer PMs. Please understand if I do not reply.

I got mine almost a week ago and I'm not all that impressed with it to be very honest. It just doesn't hold up to the genuine IMHO, as the lugs are not as well finished as the genuine and there is a clear difference in quality of the bracelet, etc. The bracelet also fails to taper to the level of the genuine and therefore fits worse than the RO 15300 which is considerably larger. It binds my small wrist and is very uncomfortable for me to wear. However, the dial is very nice and the bezel on mine is perfect, but it looks like I'm going to have to do some swapping around with an old Fondation rep I have lying in my drawer back home. My overall rating: 7/10 (Marred by the poor construction of the bracelet and the giveaway incorrect lugs)

I handled the gen a few times at ADs in Hong Kong. There is a clear difference in quality of the rep and the gen. The rep just doesn't look right. First of all, the dial printing is a lot sharper and crisper on the genuine, which IMO screams fake on the rep. The crystal of the rep also stinks because of the lack of AR. There is also a noticeable difference in the finishing of the case. Finally, the hands look cheap and painted with blue fingernail paint.

I doubt you'll see the new Dual Time RO. I've also been dying to see one of these, but the AP boutique in Hong Kong told me that it will be in September unfortunately. Quarks has hit the nail on the head with that post.

Looks like I'll be first to have this thing. I was told I should get it on the 10th.

That's the unfortunate thing about watch shopping in general, regardless of where you live. It's the same story over here in Hong Kong. They use it somewhat as an indicator if you are serious about buying watches. It's like they want to give you a handjob if you're wearing an AP. Try walking into a high-end watch store with a Casio and see how long it takes for them to ask you how they can help you. Then, try wearing something like an AP and they'll all be on you like stink on [censored]. Same story with luxury boutiques. I went to one Hermes boutique with nothing on the wrists and they think you're invisible. When you wear an Offshore, it's like you're the only person in there. I'm not even joking. I hate this way of judgement, but it's the sad reality of how shallow this world can be at times.

Wow, what was I smoking? Bleh, I just ordered the blue dial first to see if I will like the quality of this rep.

Thanks V. Now I have to go look for a flat and get my fiancee a visa (shouldn't be too hard considering she has an EU Portuguese passport).

Well, I've got a new job finally after being laid off for about 2 months. I'm going to be an investment advisor and analyst at Coutts and Co. Private Bank at the head office in London. I'm going to start on January 10th, 2007. My new salary will be just over £125,000 annually, what I used to make. There will also be a chance for bonuses with good performace I am told. It's going to be a 9am-6pm job, and I will be busy even after work, having to answer calls from clients. Looks like luck is finally coming my way again.

My wrists were naked today. I played football most of the day, being a goalkeeper. Had a lot of fun.

(yawns) Jetmid joke is getting old. I'll be happy to take his place.

Necroposting in a 3-month topic I see.........

I'm sorry it had to end with a customs seizure. Poor thing now has to be destroyed. What a waste of such a good watch.

Damn, you guys make me feel like [censored]. I drive a Smart car around town while wearing a watch that costs more than the car- LOL! . I used to own a Mercedes E-class, but it got totaled when it was a few days old.

I'm scrapping my plans to do a PVD 28 and just stick with the 27. I just don't like the hobnail dial much. I have both dials and can do a 28 or 27 with the one watch.

Meh- not a gold fan, but I might get it just because I love the Royal Oak.

Don't waste the dial. It is meant for the discontinued version from EL, case size is different. It wouldn't work on it anyways as the date window is 2 or 3mm to the right on the genuine.

I'll consider it. I finally saw a recent TT 14790 for the first time today. [censored]- I just noticed the "T Swiss Made T" (bangs head on desk repeatedly)