dangerman

Damn, I'm just as torn as ever on this question. They both make equal sense. What do I do now? Flip a coin? Or maybe go for a less expensive strap and get one of each. This hobby is bleeding me dry! Never enough $ to go around.

Fantastic news TWP! My heart sunk when I first read about the initial diagnosis. I guess having my own three month old and a two year old boys, l feel a gut level empathy. To be honest I tried not to think about it too much. Knowing always that it could just as easily be happening to my family, or others I know. You must have been going through hell. So happy to read that things seem to be looking up. Best wishes for continuing good news for you and your family.

Other than my wife and my best friend I try to keep my rep hobby to myself. Experience has taught me that this is the best policy with eccentric hobbies. My wife thought it a bit odd at first but says she doesn't mind. She just grins and shakes her head now and then. My friend is OK but doesn't understand (thinks its a bit of a waist of money) so I've only shown a couple to him. My dad would give me a hard time, but thats just him. He doesn't understand spending money on any thing fancy (except his yacht; and even that is small and basic). He is perfectly happy with a $20 watch. I know better than to try and explain the attraction to him. And if you think people don't understand the appeal of replicas you should try flashlights. Then you will really know what is is to be treated like a bit of a freak!

I'm thinking about a HK Tan Pilot Strap for my 3717. All ways thought that black was the only way to go and the members pictures confirmed this. Then I saw Pugs photos and it's really opened my mind. Brown seems to work very well indeed. Yeah I know I should "get both", but I just can't justify two of these right now. Looking forward your suggestions.

I used Araldite. Only apply a very small amount.

Thanks Pug, that helps puts my mind at rest. I guess the consensus seems to be not to worry, and I really don't want to send it back if I can avoid it. Thanks to all for your opinions.

Great work The Zigmeister. I really appreciate the time and work you put into it all. Reviews like this take the rep community's knowledge to a completely different level. Just a fantastic job!

Another thing is that it takes a fair bit of effort to screw the crown right down. Once screwed down there is (to my eye) still a very small gap between the case and the crown. Maybe it's because the case is curved and there are no crown guards, I don't know. Do other peoples 3717's crowns screw right down to the case with no gap at all. Am I just being ultra sensitive and imagining flaws...? I'm driving myself crazy!

Maybe I'm worried about nothing. Just that I never had this on my other two watches with screw down crowns. Both SMPC (with fast beat Asian 7750) and Ultimate PO (Swiss ETA), I unscrew the crown it pops up and then I feel like I'm winding. Sorry to be a pain but you know how it is when you get a new watch. Paranoia about any possible issues. I still wouldn't mind a few more saying this is normal.

Just received my fast beat 3717. I love it but one thing concerns me. I push the crown in and as I screw the crown down I can hear the watch winding and feel resistance ie like when I have the crown pulled out to first position and am manually winding. It is similar when I unscrew the crown. It's like the gears are still engaged and feels like I am out at the first position turning in the opposite direction to when I manually wind. I also have a fast beat 7750 in my Seamaster Professional Chronograph and it is nothing like this. When I pull the crown out and unscrew or push in and screw in it seems to completely disengage from the movement. I hear nothing and I feel no resistance. Could you tell me if you think I have something wrong with the watch? I'd especially appreciate hearing from other 3717 owners.

Hi V, I wouldn't touch the Porto for now. I see you have probably read all about the movement issues. The odds are just too bad on this one. But have you seen that The Zigmeister is back and he is optimistic about the new seconds at 3 movement. He hasn't done a full review yet, but if it turns out to be good and ends up in the Porto, that is when you can get add the Porto to your collection. For now I'd go for the 3717. I'm getting mine from the post office today (can't wait!). Sometimes you don't want a really big watch, but not too small either. Discrete and yet eye catching at the same time. And such a simple and elegant design.

Hi I've just read about this GB. If it's not too late I'd like to get in on the buy for black day and date wheels date at 3 o'clock. Am I too late?

Looks great. I'm looking forward to the review. Just one question at this stage. Is this the version currently being sold?

I guess that was always going to be the answer. I'm kidding myself if I think I won't eventually end up with both. Perhaps it will cure my gen lust too. There I go again kidding myself. Oh well a man has got to have a dream right?

I was all set to get the replica of the Superocean Steelfish . But first I wanted to see it in person, so I went to the a local AD. While there I saw they stocked IWC as well. Saw the 3717 in the flesh. Wow. This is the watch that got me into reps when I started looking for a less expensive alternative to the gen. Around $6700 Australian dollars ($5700 US). Then the madness started. Crazy thoughts. Must...have...IWC... Pilots... Chronograph. Want it. Need it. I have to have it. Not the rep. I want the real thing. I want it bad and I want it now! This is madness. Utter madness! Let me start by saying I didn't get it. Just too many responsibilities and higher priorities ie mortgage. I'll wait a few years and see how I feel then. But the seed has been planted. I'm on a teachers salary so this is a truly extravagant amount for a watch. More than I thought I'd ever spend on a gen. The most I ever imagined was a Speedmaster or Seamaster or maybe one of the Sinn watches. Now I just have to decide between the near perfection of a Steelfish Rep or the 3717. The IWC is less perfectly reproduced, has a less reliable movement, is more expensive, misaligned datewheel; and yet it is the one my heart would have me go with. Tough decession. Heart or head. Your recommendations are welcomed. I'd also love to know if anyone else has ever been seized with an insane watch lust like this before?

To all those who think they are obsessed with reps you ann't seen nothing till you get obsessed with hi fi. Makes any money spent on reps seem trivial by comparison.

Spl _pl you are one very lucky man. GF who is: A) Cool with your watches and Absolutely stunning! Truly you are twice blessed.

I haven't seen it on his web site...wondering if you saw this there, possibly I just missed it. My other question is if this is the latest Asian 7750 or the older version?

Thanks to all. Some really lovely suggestions. I'll spend a while looking these up and thinking some more.

I'm thinking of getting a rep for my wife. Now I'd ask her opinions before I went ahead, but this got me thinking about putting together a short list. Rather than the usual suspects I thought it would be fun to find men's watches that would appeal to a woman. Personally I'm thinking small 38-40mm, and thin. Also Quartz as I don't think she would put up with the watch having stopped after a few days being unworn. But those are only my early ideas. I don't want to restrict the options at this brainstorming stage so just say whatever watch you think would be nice.

I hope these are of some help. They are just some quick and dirty shots so excuse the low quality. Nonetheless they still give you a good idea of the look of the strap on the PO.

I found my Ultimate PO actually started hurting the back of my wrist. Bracelet adjustment didn't help. I almost always have trouble getting a good fit with metal bracelets. Largely due to wrist size changing as the day progresses. But this was worse than I had previously experienced. I just couldn't get comfortable no matter what I did. A little looser and and it banged around uncomfortably. Tighter and I got pain on the wrist back. It bothered me enough that I started wearing it less. I think it was a combination of the weight and the shape of the watch. For me the solution was a leather strap. I wear it so there isn't too much movement. I guess the leather has a little give which makes it more pleasant than metal when adjusted to be a firm fit. Easy to adjust during the day if you feel the need but I haven't so far. I went with a black Hirsch Medici from here (just replace the hxxp with http): hxxp://www.watchband.biz/pd878992944.htm?defaultVariants=search0_EQ_Black_AND_search1_EQ_18%20mm_AND_search2_EQ_L-Long_AND_search3_EQ_Steel_AND_{EOL}&categoryId=10 A bit expensive, and fiddly to fit to the watch. It took me ages to get it attached in a position that I thought was right. But once I got it right I was thrilled with the comfort and how good it looked. Besides being able to get comfortable I also now prefer the look of this watch with the leather strap. Sporty with an integrated look like the rubber strap, but IMHO much nicer because the leather also looks really good in smarter settings Depends on the look you are going for. The strap uses special thin spring bars so you can't use the ones from the bracelet. It doesn't come with two of these included so if you do decide to get this, make sure you buy a couple of spring bars from the site as well.

I don't even think about deliveries arriving for the first ten days, though occasionally I have been surprised.

The posts I enjoy the least are the ones where we have the board vs board bitchiness. Both forums are different. I enjoy them both for their different good points. I would love it if this was the beginning of a greater feeling of brotherhood between RWI and RWG. Great to see Pugwash on RWI again too.