True-Stu

I purchased a beautiful Omega Constellation Double Eagle from this member and the transaction was outstanding (thanks Joe, forget to tell you that before). The communications were great and the watch was well packaged and in perfect condition. I would be very surprised if he didn't handle this problem with you in a fair and gentlemanly manor.

Hey, I'm no longer a "weekend wrist check" virgin! Here's what I'll be wearing this weekend. First up today is my rep Constellation double eagle. I really like this one a lot. A very impressive rep. Tomorrow, while I'm working outside raking leaves it will be my gen. Eterna Super Kontiki. We're going out to dinner tomorrow night and I'll be wearing a brown camel hair jacket, so I'll be accesorizing with this gen. Raymundo Davalos Rossie power reserve with the crocodile strap.

Don't hold back your true feelings now. I'm sure we can handle your innermost thoughts about this watch.... let it all out, it's really cathartic and so good for you!

Thanks Joe. This confirms what Jay told me about his version with the black date wheel.

Hey, nice catch! I've been staring at these pictures for a while and didn't even notice the silver hands on the white face rep. I've ordered the black face one and now I'm even more glad that I made that choice.

Ok, here are some pics of the Super Kontiki This one is the black face, like I have. A simple, yet elegant variation on the Sub theme.

I really do need to take the time to include pictures. My descriptions just don't do the watch justice. I think I'll do a search on picture posting and get some advice.

It really isn't worth that much. On the used market it might fetch $800 US. Eterna as a watch brand never really caught on in the modern era. The Super Kontiki chronometer 300m that I have is 1998-2000 vintage. I think the retail price was just under $2000. The company is now owned by Ferdinand Porsche and manufactures their own line as well as the Porsche design watches under license. I bought it at the time because it was a drop dead gorgeous watch that didn't look like a Rolex Sub wannabe. The unique history of the watch also appealed to me. The Kontiki model was originally designed in 1947 as one of the first sport watches. It was commissioned for the crew of Norwegian explorer and writer Thor Heyerdahl in his expedition across the Pacific in the balsa wood raft they called "Kontiki" after the Peruvian Sun God. The back of the watch has a nice engraving of the Kontiki. I happen to think that the watch spanks the Sub in terms of style, fit and finish and most importantly (to me anyway) people comment on how nice it looks, but have no idea what it is or what it's worth.

Hey I second the motion that this is a great thread. As a side note I'd like to give a plug for the Eterna watch company whose wonderful Super Kon Tiki I am presently wearing. You see, back in the day ETA was the movement manufacturing division of Eterna. Then in 1932, ETA split off and joined Ebauches S.A. Eterna and ETA continued to work jointly on some designs for a number of years. Almost all ETA and Eterna automatics share the Eterna-designed automatic winding system: a ball bearing mounted rotor winding in two directions via springless twin click wheels and two reduction wheels on the locking wheel. The 5 ball bearings of the rotor in pentagon configuration continues to be the symbol of Eterna watches and it is proudly displayed on the face and bracelet of my Kon Tiki. Now for the real point of my posting. With ETA movements ostensibly now made in China and a good deal of the case and bracelet assemblies of "Chiss" origin, what exactly are you paying for when you plunk down the big bucks for some Swiss "designer" brands. There is undoubtably some quality control on the Swiss end and in some brands there is finish work and filligree applied to the movements visible parts. The movement may be oiled and regulated as well. But, and here is the huge BUT-MONKEY, can this amount of labor and "expertise" justify a price increase of several thousands of dollars? No-way, no- how. You are just paying for their marketing and the cache of their name recognition. You will notice that I refer to these companies as "designer brands." There is certainly an exception for those companies that create and manufacture their own movements and do most, if not all of their machining. Hey, I'm really glad I found this place, because you guys really love your watches and that's very cool with me.

As a follow up to my previous post on this thread, I'd like to report that Jay (Silix) now has the 40.5mm Seatimers with the black date wheel and stainless (non-rubberized) band. I think Jay's site may be the first of our reccomended dealers to show the new style. It threw me for a loop because it was initially posted as a 38mm watch. A quick email exchange later, and it is now correctly listed. Well almost correctly. It's called 40mm, but as the calipers show on the Honpo site, it's really 40.5mm, just like the genuine. I am now officially buying one of these. At $150 it is an excellent deal on a very good replica.

Geesh, Murphy's law. I just got another offer on a watch I've been waiting on for a long time, so in the immortal words of Rosanna Rosanna-Danna..."never mind."

OK Richard, I've been on the sidelines hemming and hawing about whether to get this watch. I will now join the party, if you will have me. Count me in! Regards, Stu

Hey, nice Seatimer! Did you put in the black date wheel yourself, or is it one of the new versions that come with it?. Please let me know what the true case diameter and thickness is. (42mm x 10mm or 40.5mm x 12mm).

I just read the thread on the West Palm Beach Rapid Reaction Force ---oh man, that is just too cool! It's nice to know that with a shared hobby, you can become a band of brothers and protect your own. I found this to be true in other hobbies, like high-end audio for instance. You can tell who really loves the stuff - who really has it in their soul. Those are the people who will treat you like a brother and would never dream of misrepresenting or scamming. Heck, they usually go way beyond the call of duty in helping you out. It's interesting to me that it is quite often dificult for men to really bond with each other and have any more than superficial conversations. The common interest, the shared hobby, is the casual and safe door opener that sometimes leads to really great friendships. I envy women in this one respect. They seem to bond so easily with their girlfriends.

Yep, we all know who it is. It's the guy you posted about a few days ago that you couldn't reach with pm's or email. A young man who apparently lacks maturity and integrity.