tenacious_b

Wow; is that gen? If or not, where did you buy it?

it sounds really weird to say this, since I collected for 3 years without buying a rollie, but here are my top 3 for 2008: 1. V3 Deep Sea - Despite narrow bezel font, WOW 2. GMT II C IHS - what else can I say that hasn't been said? 3. 40mm Milgauss - damn fine watch - even though I let mine go over no date window weirdness

I have been lucky or lucky with my chronographs..... I have been lucky enough to get really good specimens... OR I have been lucky enough to sell them before they crap out

Thanks Robbie; excellent post!

I broke this up into paragraphs, to make it an easier read.

Based on the job description, i'd go for it.

Yeah, how about that for an opener? This is the story of my journey to become a watch collecter, and how my views on watch size have evolved over the years. Well, let me start by saying that my journey into the world of watches has been an odd one. When I was a kid, I wanted a Seiko like my dads, and I got one for a birthday, and didn't end up liking it, so it sat in a drawer until last year when my dad cleaned it up, replaced the crystal and now wears it as part of his watch rotation. I got an original Casio G-Shock when I was 10, that was lost in a moving box for a lot of years, so I never got much use out of it. When I was in college, as a father's day gift, I splurged and got my father ad myself a couple of nice swiss army watches - I lost mine in a card game, and dad still has his. Then it happened - one of the guys at my apartment complex in college had a fake tag and was passing it off as genuine. Had some crap story to go along with it, and I half believed him at the time, not knowing anything about watches. Looking back, it was not only obviously fake, but the kind that we routinely make fun of around here. But, the bug had bitten me nonetheless, and I found a gas station on the outskirts of town that sold them openly. These were really crap pieces, many obviously made of tin or some base metal. Fast forward a few years, and I discovered the world of higher end reps through the most well known network of scam sites and attached rating site, where they were selling Italian made, 37 jewel, platinum yachtmasters for $1,700.00. It took me a couple of years at that time, but I saved up the money, but never got up the nerve to pull the trigger, even though I was utterly obsessed with the notion of owning one, to the point I would dream about it. That was a lot of money to me back then (and still kind of is), but I just could not bring myself to do it as i was certain it would end in tears. So, I went on my happy way and tried to quench my passion by buying a couple of invicta's early models that looked like the sub and yachtie. Those were great watches, and got some comments, but there was still the tinge of disappointment that they were not what I wanted. Fast forward a few more years, and I accidentally discover some semi legitimate Panerai Homage watches called International Watchman Marine Divers. I was intrigued by the crown guard design and began obsessing over it. I contacted one of the re-sellers of these watches (watchrick) through a low end gen forum, and he was out of stock, and said instead of waiting for new stock and dropping $500.00, he pointed me to RWG 1, and a whole new world opened up in front of me. I read and questioned for 2 months, and then finally took the plummet and ordered my first panerai from Eddie Lee. This was my only watch for about a year, and so started my love affair with big watches. Note that all the other watches I've mentioned to this point have all been typical 38 to 40 mm watches (save the casio that lived out most of it's years in a box). Well needless to say, the Panerai 029 turned me into a large watch elitist, and I could not bring myself to buy the little bitty yachtmaster I'd always dreamed of. This continued on for the next 3 years as I added 2 Breitling SOSF's, and at one time up to 4 UPO's, a tag Aquaracer, an Arktos GMT, Pam 063 and on down the line of large case size watches. The absolute smallest I was willing to go at the time was the IWC Ingenieur and the IWC S7evin. However, I reached a turning point with my views on size when the GMT II C was first introduced. I was so smitten by this watch, but I thought the case size was going to be a deal killer. I finally did purchase it, and was amazed at how nice it and normal it looked on my wrist compared to my other watches. It was much more comfortable than the PO or the SOSF, or the Arktos, and I found that I wasn't as "aware" of it was I was my other watches. So, long story short, I have come full circle from starting this hobby based on the lust for a 40 mm watch, and I currently find myself in love with my GMT II C. I wear it so much that I have actually gotten rid of all of my other watches over the last 6 months. A couple of weeks ago, I got the new milgauss, but got rid of it due to the utter freakishness of not having a date window. Now, after all of this, I am actually wondering if the Deep Sea is too big for me. I will likely get one, and I hope I love it as much as I love my GMTIIC, and if I don't, I'll help it find a home with a friend or here on the forum. I am just really surprised at myself. I went from never noticing watch size to be fanatical about big watches, to falling in love with a small watch to the extent that I never wore any of my other watches and got rid of them all. Has that every happened anyone else here? Epilogue: I am waiting for someone to purchase, receive, and post pics of their WM9 yachtmaster. Although I will likely try something nutty like putting a GMTIIC bracelet on it, if ever get one. Anyway, I rarely post that much, but hit a slow spot in my day, and thought I'd share. Happy Holidays, Bryan

Thanks for the tutorial links....I think I may be on my way to a home made light box. On a separate note, I wore the Milgauss on Friday, and I just don't love it. I am just not a "no date" kind of guy. If it had a date window, I'd be in watch heaven. I am going to post it up a little later.

That is what everyone is calling V3 aka 1:1...it is the ONLY one so far with the correct crown guard that is curve cut around the entire crown. It also suffers from bezel font that is too thin.

If you can't get it fixed, I can sell you a complete replacement bracelet for $50.00

Can anybody comment on the accuracy of this watch? http://www.kingwatches.net/ROLEX-518.htm btw...I am not endorsing King, i just always go to this site to see the photos as they seem to be higher quality Bryan

when i first got interested in reps, it was because of a desire for a platinum yachtie. 4 years later when I finally found RWG 1 and got up the minerals to part with $300.00, I had gotten interested in Panerai and bought a PAM 029, once I got that, Rorex was too small for me, and then over the next 3 years, I have had some 30 watches of all shapes and sizes come and go. I believe that now I have arrived at a solid and "forever" favorite, which has become my grail watch. That would be the 42mm Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean black and white.

added pics late last night....any comments on the watch, or advise of camera stuff? I am using a Nikon Coolpix....I've heard its a good camera, do i just need to buy or build a light box?

you'll need to talk to Daytona4me about the group buy

Well I am sorry to disappoint, but I am not capable of good pics and was not able to catch any daylight today, so I did what I could with 2 opaque lamps, an underarmor undershirt, and a couple of bottles of the good stuff. Going to start posting pics now, hopefully will be done in a few minutes.

Oops even more stirring the pot.....I told Andrew that I thought it was sad that this model would end on such a sour note (skinny bezel font); his reply is as follows: "Maybe the 2nd batch will be improved a little. thanks" Like sands through the hour glass, so are the days of our lives......

I just asked Andrew, and he said that the one which is being referred to as 1:1 - the one that seems perfect except the skiny bezel font aka V3...is the last one slated for release. I have to wonder though, will they perhaps fix the bezel midstream like they did with the GMT IIC? Damn confusing.

About $248.00 including shipping on group buy from D4M

Ok, so I received my milgauss today, the one wit the correct size case, green crystal, swiss movement, etc, etc, and the quality and build of the case is better than I anticipated. The watch has not lost any time today, and it is spooky accurate even when compared to large studio pics of the gen. It wears smaller than the GMT IIC, but not significantly so. The pair of them next to each other is something to see. Looking through the crystal straight on, it's crystal clear, but at certain angles, it's green all across the surface. The case revealed a perfect high sheen once I polished it up with a lens cloth (all I had on hand), and it really accentuated the subtle curvature of the sides of the case. The endlinks fit tight, and there isn't even the slightest gap between the internal surfaces of the lug horns and the outer surfaces of the end links. The clasp action is crisp and feels very secure once closed. It takes "the right" amount of pressure to open the clasp; not so tight that it's difficult, but not so loose that it feels cheap. The brushed and polished contrast on this bracelet is is better even than on my GMT IIC, and all of the bracelet screws fasten and unfasten easily without any gritty sensation. The crown is smooth and inspires confidence. Crown stem still registers 3 positions thought there is presumably no date wheel. Movement winds nice, tight and smooth. All in all, I can honestly say, I've never received a nicer specimen. BUT.... And I had not anticipated this, BUT, several times today, I instinctively looked at my watch to check the date as I was scheduling conference calls on my outlook calendar and in webex. Yeah, I know how that sounds...you are working in a calendar-based software, and you look at the date on your watch? But habits are habits, and I found myself becoming increasingly off put by the lack of a date wheel. When looking at the watch in pictures, it never bothered me or occurred to me that it ever would. I am going to let is sleep in the watch box tomorrow and wear it again on Friday, and if it doesn't grow on me by then, I am likely going to post it up for grabs. I don't have a light box, but I'll try to grab some natural light tomorrow and post some pics in this post. Stay tuned. Here are a few pics - my apologies for my photographic inadequacy. I hate taking crappy pictures...any suggestions on a good mid level DSLR? -Bryan

Ah I remember my first time....I was a nervous wreck as well. 4 years later, I still get butterflies with every order.

if you want to see some really kickass pics of this watch, check out the pics on kingwatches.net

Well it's something special as I completely cratered mine out on a door face the other day, and I could "feel" that I hit the bezel, and not so much as a smudge. So ceramic or not, it's tough.

Anyone notice the caseback? Made in Swiss?????

does anyone know for sure if it's the 42 or 45?

Everyone, I don't know how accurate this is, since these kinds of due dates always seem to end up being somewhat fluid, but Andrew just replied to my request for an ETA for the 1:1 Ultimate DSSD, and he said we should expect to see it in late December. Cheers, Bryan