panerai153

Those guys are awash in cash, they are the Russian Oligarchs of today. They are converting cash into "things" before the new Communist leader starts cracking down on ostentatious wealth. Like Mike said, they want the publicity, and the spotlight shining on them. Spending 1/10 to 1/2 as much through a dealer garners no publicity, which they crave now, but may cone to regret in the future.

Honestly, I believe that 99% of WIS are inveterate flippers. We are sort of like the girl, that can't figure out whether the guy she is with is " Mr. Right, or Mr. Right Now"!! we fall in and out of love on a regular basis. I'm just as bad, I could kick myself now for some of the watches I have sold over the years. How I would love to have back the genuine DRSD, the 1680, the early Daytona, the second 1680, the two 18k Day/Dates, and a bunch of other brand watches I sold/traded over the years. Water under the bridge, because what is done is done. My advice to you young guys, try to hold on to a few, because no one knows what will be tomorrow's classic.

MKII Kingston at the beach today

These scam channels stay in business because of the old PT Barnum addage,"a sucker is born every minute!" Folks who don't know and are too lazy to do any research get scammed by tese inflated "suggested retail" prices and then the "sale" price, which in reality is probably a 100% markup! It's not just on these shopping channels either.AmericanExpress is sponsoring a site called Vente Privee lots of big name companies with limited numbers of items at closeout prices. Some are really good deals, bur others aren't so great. A few weeks back they were selling Sturling watches at about 25% of the "retail" prices. I was curious, so I googled Sturling and sure enough e prices everywhere were about what Vente Privee was selling them for, no great deal at all. My advice to anyone would be check around before you hit the buy button on any item that you are interested in.

WOW!!! That looks fantastic. I love my Ceramic, but the old plexi GMT's have a special place in my heart.

Hey T, good to see you back, hang in there and keep on keeping on!

Man, Thats' awesome!! Nice roast suckling pig for the holiday. Folks from the South recognize that instantly!! We roast pigs all the time down here. Actually,we have an inexhaustible supply of wild hogs on my sons farm. one about 90 pounds on the hoof, dresses out about 60 pounds, best pork you have ever eaten.

congratulations, beautiful girl, and I'm sure a happy father and mom.Wonderful Mothers Day gift as well.

Saturday !! For today For tonight

Looks very nice. there are some folks in Ukraine that seemed to have started quite a cottage industry converting old pocket watches to wristwatches. These are way to big for me, but for you guys with bigger wrists they would be just the ticket.

Several weeks ago, I bought this Daytona from a fellow on another forum. It's sort of and interim watch until I get my 6238 build finalized. It's one of the cartel watches with the Seagull copy Bicompax movements. Frozen totalizer @ 6 sec @ 9. I don't know much about Daytonas, they have never really been my "cup of tea" I had a genuine back in the late 70,s early 80's and it didn't hang around long, as I had a hard time adjusting to the no-date and manual wind. Ended up keeping it for a few months and swapping it for a sub or SD, can't remember! I've had a couple of reps including a DW with the "mystery" movement, but again, they didn't end up being keepers. Now that I'm old enough to remember to wind my watch every morning, and I can get the date from my IPhone, I've gotten a little interest back again. The modern blingy Daytonas leave me as cold asa stone, but the old vintage sort of strike a chord. At any rate here is the one I bought, it runs fine and is reasonably accurate (+- 10 sec per day) I'm sure this one has a million flaws, just want to get acquainted with them! I don't even know if this dial is a real PN "Exotic" dial or a fantasy. I believe the crown is too big, looks too long to me, the insert has the wrong spaced 110, but outside of that I don't know what is right or wrong. i do know it came on a folded link bracelet which is a rep and not a really good one, I changed it to a genuine Rolex USA C& I rivet and it's incredibly comfortable. It's amazing how old bracelets that have been worn for years get smoothed out and rounded off and are the most comfortable bracelet going. All you Daytona experts pick this one apart and let me know what's wrong (Or maybe it's easier to list what's right!!!) Sorry, I have only taken a couple of photos of the watch.

Very nicely done!! of vintage GMT's

Maybe HH could give us and update, if there is one as to the status of these cases? Inquiring minds want to know!!!

Right, if you want a believable one, you need to find a Rolex case and dial/ My wifes is 34mm and has a 5.3mm movement and hands are not gen. I believe Matt tried a bunch of different movements and finally settled on an asian as it was the thinnest. 2824,2836 and 2892 would not fit. It really makes a nice watch. i believe her serial number dated it to around 1968.

I have one that mymanmatt built for my wife. I had the gen case and gen dial, he provided the rest. contact him, he might be able to help you find what you need. I don't believe that any of the rep manufacturers build them.

Glad to see you back, and congrats on your second anniversary. Enjoy your years together, they pass all to quickly.

TGIF

Where do these factories come up with some of their numbers? my phong 7206 which is really a 6636. , because it's expansion has these 382 endlinks? I looked them up, 382's were used on Tudors, not Rolex. now here they are on a 7836. how hard would it have been to stamp them 380, or 580,etc. Just make them believable!!

Proud to be allow member of the Diamond club with you my friend, Super member, Big Crown king and a real asset to our community.

This is what i came up with using China Post for tracking. I suppose it's in the USA, since it showed departing China on April 27th. I really, really hate Registered mail!! i know it's pretty secure, and less expensive, but the tracking sucks, and it's the slowest shipping method since the Pony Express!! Since This package was accepted on April 4th I have ordered and received a watch from a seller in Greece, and a insert and crown from a seller in France. Since the sequestration and budget cuts started to take effect a while back, I do believe the USPS is in a "Slow down" mode. Less folks, no overtime, low morale all equal slow processing and delivery.This package for instance, if it left China on the 27th, probably got to the USA on the 28th or early 29th. That was 11 days ago. Customs clearance and movement back into the delivery system shouldn't take over a day or two, so what is causing the crazy delays in getting packages in and out of the USA? Home Tracking by destination country and courier name Success find: 4 items! item No. Year Status Location Destination Country Date RR850595352CN 2013 Collection 52803200 US 20130404 0029 RR850595352CN 2013 Waiting for transit airline Space 51003100 US 20130427 0329 RR850595352CN 2013 Departure from China 51003100 US 20130427 0911 RR850595352CN 2013 NULL FOC US 20130427 2336

Replacing with a gen crown will certainly help, but the short stubby Case guards are a problem. Tapering them will help. It's easy to take away metal, but darn hard to put on, unless you are an accomplished laser welder!!!

I have a gen 16750 and this looks fine.my case, bezel ,insert look like this one. It's very hard to get the crown/ crown guards to look like this on a rep case. AFA Rolex authenticating, I don't think Rolex will Authenticate any watches. You could take it to a RSC and ask for a service. They will inspect it for any aftermarket parts which will have to be replaced if they do the service Pretty expensive way to get it authenticated though!!

Interesting, however it showed "acceptance" on April 4 Th., and I don't think Post Offices show that until the package is actually in their hands. We will see!

Great!!!

Not too stressed about this as of yet, but Here is my situation. I bought a dial from DW on March 27th, senrt the Paypal promptly on the same day. I got a tracking number a few days later, probably around April 4th. Tracking never has shown much, only "origin post preparing shipment " and then nothing. USPS didn't pick up anything at first, but then it showed it was processed through sort facility in China on April 27th. Doesn't this seem like a pretty long time from acceptance on April 4th to sorted on April 27th. i emailed David a couple of weeks ago and never got a response. I told him that I hadn't received the package and could he please check on it at his end. No response. I'm a little worried that the dial is possibly lost (It was sent registered mail, which is my least favorite shipping method) Any thoughts on this. I don't want to create a stink, but I'm out 160.00 USD for the dial,and I need it for a build. What I don't want to happen is to end up with no dial and no money!! I believe if it hasn't arrived in 45 days, I'm out of luck with Paypal. That 's fast approaching. I really don't want to do anything like that, i want the dial, but it really irritates the heck out of me when I send and email asking for help, and the other end goes silent. Very prompt when you're buying, but then nothing.Seems like that's a big problem on the replica forums, and a constant source of irritation for those of us who are prompt to pay and keep the buyer informed about everything. I realize that once something is shipped, it's out of the sellers control, but it would be easier for him to get the China Post people to look to see where the package is.