RobbieG

Been enjoying the DJ as always - but maybe a little more lately. So much so that the eventual DD seems to be approaching fast in my rear view mirror it seems. We shall see. So in keeping with the Sunday boredom relief Mini Cooper wristie shoot I will continue with the DJ tomorrow...

Yeah I'm sure you will love it - especially if you are already a BMW loyalist as I have been for some time. I know some people hate them but I have had four BMW's before the Cooper - two 3's, a 5 and even the supposedly dreaded 7, which gets terrible reviews, and I had nothing but perfection out of all of them. That said, another big bonus about the Mini's is the price. I literally felt like I had to try to spend over $30K on mine customizing it exactly as I wanted it. You really can get a lot of car for $25-35K or so which isn't easy to do these days. It seems like you can easily do that with almost any car and with zero cool factor in the majority of them. I mean speaking of BMW's, a loaded 5 series is pushing what, $60K now? A lot of bang for the buck with the Mini's. Good on gas too - despite the fact that I wind on it all the time...

Well I wouldn't know but I would think they would do good in snow given the front wheel drive. Oh well no matter for me being that I am genuinely afraid of snow and temperatures in general under 60F I'm so tropically blooded. And it is funny you should mention it because I happen to live in South Florida which I sometimes wonder if it is it's own country. Moreover, it is so flat that the whole area is pretty much a dead tarmac if I ever saw one...

Well I'm no expert but I have never seen a dial look quite like that on a 6542. The edges of the indices outlined looks weird to me. I know some are but these seem a little too boldly "outlined". The hands look right as does the bezel assembly though. I wasn't aware of a red date font either. In any event, this is the only fairly complete resource link about the 6542 watches I have ever found on the web... http://doubleredseadweller.com/gmt.htm

Yeah, mine is a little rocket ship. It has over 200 horses and as such does well on two wheels. Hahaha. If it was rear wheel drive I would never have another car. Seriously. But the torque steer is just too fatiguing for longer drives. Comfort isn't an issue. It is plenty big inside and the seats/leather/appointments are BMW through and through. Unfortunately the more you load up the motor the more fun it gets but the torque steer just gets worse. But for me I just use it to blast around the office hood and go to the store or whatever. I have driven it essentially every day since I got it last October and I only have 3K miles on it. That goes to show you how small my range is locally. But it really is the perfect little runabout. And it turns more heads/gets more attention at gas stations, etc than my 996 which I know is hard to believe but nonetheless true. And here it is outside my office...

The lume color on your gen EXP makes me grin from ear to ear. Good stuff...

Thanks Freddy. From one guy who still appreciates classically sized watches (and cars) to another...

Am I still allowed to post even if I don't own the watch anymore? I hope so cause here goes...

Always something brother. We just have to take the little things in stride or be constantly bummed. The only way around it is to buy the gen if you love a watch that much. The ceramic GMT is easily desribed as a super rep with room to spare and I still say that after having owned the gen for a time. I didn't love the watch enough personally to justify keeping it when I decided to start thinning my gen collection, but now the rep is back on my list as I think it is easily accurate enough to justify its cost. In other words I only liked it at $6K but I love it at $300. Many watches have been the other way around and I just can't live without the gen because I loved the rep so much. My suggestion to you is to maybe look at the best reps that way and think of them in terms of value for the money. It may help you live with the flaws easier. Keep in mind that these factories wouldn't be able to make the money they do if they made perfect watches. They are certainly capable. They want flaws to keep customers chasing the latest greatest that never comes. Genius really. So my advice is just enjoy them for what they are and stay out of the flaw game - unless you are a modder who loves the project of assembling different parts to make the one best version. I realize you can't do that wih the watch you speak of - yet. But who knows, one day they correct the rehaut on a subsequent version but they will purposefully ruin something else on that version instead. Genius. So now everyone buys it again just to rob the case and swap the other parts over. Now they sold two watches to a bunch of people. Look at the Planet Ocean saga. That is the best recent example of what I speak of. Silly. After a bit I just refused to chase it aand bought the gen. I loved the watch so much I decided I need not live with any flaws. If I didn't do that I would have all told bought three rep versions and bought gen parts and done the necessary lume and AR before it was over. So if you truly love a watch get the gen. If not just embrace the chase and play the waiting game for fixes. It just unfortunately comes with the rep territory my friend.

Two of my favorite toys at the moment. My favorite car at the moment is my John Cooper Works Mini S, and my favorite watch at the moment is my Rhodium Roman Datejust. The Cooper isn't my hottest car and the DJ isn't my hottest watch, but both are very good at contributing to the philosophy of life that I'm trying to embrace more and more lately. Less is more...

I don't think it makes a difference. If you have confidence in yourself the watch is secondary assuming it is a fairly accurate rep. Look at it this way, if you are wearing an essentially 1:1 rep and a new guy you meet knows it is a fake, you just made a new rep-freindly friend. No body else will know or probably even notice that you have a watch on at all or what it is. Just food for thought, and that coming from a guy who's collection has been principally high end gens for some time now. But I would still not give a second thought about the rep or gen debate with a new client. I think a lot of it comes from your collection philosophy. If I own a rep I am going to have the confidence to wear it anywhere . Otherwise I'm probably not going to own it. Like I always say, a nice watch is a nice watch - rep or gen. Certainly all of the known best quality reps from each brand represented here with our dealers will fall into the "too nice to be a fake" category in the eyes of 99% of people you run into. Don't forget, most people still think reps are only the bad canal street Rolex watches they can spot across a room. Many of them don't even know you can buy a 1:1 Breitling BCE for example. There is no way any one except a WIS and a rep WIS at that who would spot a fake Ultimate BCE. Just no way...

Yeah but tell us how you really feel...

Yeah great. Less than I thought. I figured a grand or so. $750 sure beats $2600 for the gen and you basically have the same thing. Congrats again on a great job and great score...

Yeah his is the only gen like AR around. There is a difference. In fact, I would venture to say that his AR is more powerful than most gens with the exception of a few and with those he is certainly equal. Example, I own a gen Aquatimer and its AR is weak compared to Cheifs. Conversely, my gen PO AR is very, very strong but more purple than his. Finally, my gen UN MMD has the strongest AR I have ever seen that is also completely colorless. Cheifs is right there as well. Hail, hail, hail to the Chief...

BRAVO brother. Now THAT is a great rep watch. I dare anyone to honestly say the gen watch is any better than this. Hey dluddy, would you mind letting us know what you have into this all told so the members can compare the cost of your project to buying a gen? I bet it is not even half of a gen street price which is currently running maybe $2600 or so for the 45.5MM on rubber. If I only had the time and project inclination, I wish I had done this to my UPO when I had one instead of buying the gen. I mean, I of course love the gen, but projects like this can be very gratifying when you finally finish it. And for you noobs, here is my gen 42MM for comparison so you can see how accurate this watch is. Hats off to you again dluddy. Great job man. and a couple showing the gen He valve and crown profiles as well...

Thank God of people like Stilty around here. That you have the time and inclination to figure all this stuff out baffles me. Thanks to you, the rest of the members who don't have the time can just read stuff like this and adjust purchases accordingly without spending needless time on something that ultimately doesn't work right. Bravo and three cheers for Stilty.

Interesting. So you would choose a 5002 over your gen PAM and your gen PO huh? Cool. Surprised you haven't snagged at least a gen 5004 by now - or do you only like the 5002? Anyway, I knew you loved BP's but I didn't expect that it would be your "only one" choice for some reason.

Very unique. I have not seen one of those before...

Now how did I know you would pick that one Andy?...

I'm joining dluddy at 42MM instead...

You have no idea. It was much worse. I was buying 25K gens no so long ago because I liked they way they looked in pictures. At least now I'm going the other way and considering less watches more carefully. So...which watch would you choose, or are you going to abstain from participation in this one? Do humor us if you would kind sir...

For the final thread in my "Choose Wisely" series, I thought it a fitting end to ask ourselves the unthinkable which is if today you heard that all production of all watches (gens and reps of course) was going to cease in 30 days forever and each of us could pick ONE watch that would be the only one we ever had for the rest of our lives what would you choose and why? Also in keeping with the old rules it must be a watch that you could realistically buy in 30 days even if it meant selling something else or whatever to pay for it. In other words, no double tourby's unless you could and would buy one if this ever happened Man I found this one really tough of course because you have to make a commitment to leaning towards sporty or dressy and blingish or toolish. I found the most honest way to choose was to first decide what situations do I really feel the need to wear a watch and what am I doing and wearing, etc. at those times. Since I tend to really enjoy wearing watches when going out for dinner, traveling and doing alot of the same, etc. I tend to be wearing long sleeve dressy kind of shirts with jeans or slacks in those situations. I also dress like that for client meetings, etc. When I'm truly casual and wearing shorts and T's bumming around I always wear a watch, but I never think like I have to have one on to complete the ensemble or must be keeping critical track of time, etc. so I figured I would have to make the sacrifice there. So I came up with the need for a nice comfortable watch that goes with everything and isn't too big, but is also not terribly common - like everyone doesn't have the same watch even if they have something similar. It must be a very practical choice and not easy to commit to, but if I'm honest about when and how I most enjoy wearing watches it got a lot easier. The really big watches were very easy to rule out as well as the don't all fit under all sleves and some are just too obnoxious outside of the sleeve for every occasion. I basically asked myself when I most like putting on a nice watch and it is when I'm in Vegas on vacation and getting dressed for a really nice dinner with my girl and I'm probably wearing an Armaini or Zegna shirt with nice cufflinks. When I think what watch would consistently put a smile on my face for the ages in that situation the choice is clearer. Plus I'm getting older and this watch should probably suit a middle aged guy in my demographic group. Not to put too fine a point on it but hey, I live in South Florida right? It almost has to be a DayDate President for me objectively. It was a toss up between that and The UN MMD for me, but I had to give the edge to the DD because it is more timeless and more versatile. The MMD is really cool but I don't feel like it would go with anything or every situation. It is blingy but it is also big and I don't always want to feel like my watch draws that much attention. The DD goes with everthing and will never go out of style. It is blingy for sure, but because it is smaller the bling isn't obnoxious but just classsy. And choosing the platinum version with the glacier/ice blue dial makes it all the more special... I will look forward as always to seeing what you all choose and even more fun will be learning why. Sorry for the detail but I just wanted to illustrate the level of thought that it would really take if you ever had to make that choice. Funny how you pick things you wouldn't think you would when you consider your needs objectively.

Fedex and customs? What dealer is using Fedex. It is common knowledge (or should be) with all Chinese rep dealers that Fedex are the worst customs Nazi's around and they have a very high seize rate. I thought everyone was pretty much using their international postal services by now? In any case, sorry to hear of you problems and yes, although I have no reps at the moment I had noticed in teh last year a lot more little nitty problems coming up with watches that I just wasn't willing to live with. In my case I just traded them off to people who could live with the issues, but I feel for you. They better get it right or they will lose more business before it is over. Especially now that gen makers are clammoring for new business with lower prices.

Agreed, Damascus is the stone nuts. Not to mention the age old Japanese technique of wood grained metal that is also a dying art - Mokume as I got on a recent knife I just ordered from them. Just love their stuff. Amazing...

Ah yes, Loco Moco. Haven't thought about that in a while. Great surf breakfast as is left over fried noodle with fish cake and barbeque pork. Also brings to mind the classic Zippy's Bento and Surf boxes which were always great for the road. And the herbs. Ah yes, the good old days. I had a good freind in the 80's that was a gardener in Kula so my herbs were always in season. Those pesky dogs at the Kahalui airport can be a bit of a nuisance though...