RageRover

No argument there! The only reason I said TAG/Heuer, Breitling and Omega is becasue those companies were brought up in the post before me. But for me, the movement is VERY important. Panerai has now begun to manufacture their own 8-day movement, but becasue many of their watches use a pretty much stock ETA/unitas or a valjoux (yes, nicely finished and with a custom bridge/top plate) i think the prices they command are crazy. To spend thousands on a watch that does not have an in-house or atleast heavily modified ETA is stupid. But thats my opinion. Like I said earlier...imagine a Ferrari or Porsche with a Chevy V8 crate motor. Yes, they would go fast and probably work well. But they would be missing something (atleast for me). The engine is the soul. As is the movement in a watch. Which is one reason I have A LOT of respect for Seiko. Not only does my $150 "Black Monster" use an in-house movement...the case, crystal ("Hardlex" Seiko's version of super-hard mineral glass...it hasn't scratched yet, and its been 3-4 years!) and even the screwsw are made by Seiko. My Tag/Heuers; I own an F1. Atleast its called the F1 now. Its the one with the plastic turning bezel. It ws bought for me as gift shortly after I began scuba diving. It was bought around 1992. When I graduated highschool, in 1994, my parents bought me a Tag-Heuer "SEL" in 2 tone. I dont think both watches are worth much, but they hold a lot of sentimental value. Eventhough I don't use them, I'm going to hold on to them.

I hope you're as lucky getting through customs as I have been! I wonder what you put on that little customs declaration? "sir, is there anything in the bag?" "Nah, just a few watches" lol

YES! IWC is a major step up from MOST watchmakers. IWCs designs have always been somewhat understaded. IWC has an amzing history. Sure, everyone and their grandmother has heard of Rolex...which is one reason I dont own one, nor do I sort of want to. Although I do admire the history of Rolex, and that does attract me to 2 models (i.e. Comex SD & the Tudor Submariner MN issue), The Ingenieur is an amzing watch. I dont own a repro yet, but I think this is going to be my first purchase (although I have been dying for the Panerai 1950). i should keep my mouth shut here...but do u want an amazing, understanded watch, from a company that has an amazing history, yet its a watch that you can probably walk around with day after day and never see anyone wearing it? Then get an Ingenieur. If you want a watch to impress other people or to be like everyother plebian, get a Rolex sub. I sort of feel bad buying a repro of this watch, but it looks so amazing! And Im such an UWC fan. Im sorry, but Omega, Breitling and TAG are junk. Yes, they make some nice looking watches. But the watches they make are really no better than any of the repros you can buy...they use the same ETA movements, just slightly better finishing. The only Omega ever worth buying is the original Speedmaster (with a handwound Lemania). I guess their $100,000 limited production central tourbillon is also ok. Heuer (along with Breitling and Omega) used to produce their own movements and were great companies, but not since the late 1970's IMHO. Once TAG merged with Heuer in the '80s it was all down hill. Although I am ashamed to admitt I own 2 gen Tag-Heuers (I havent worn them in years). I have no problem buying a repro Panerai as paying $6000 for an ETA 6497/8 is just crazy. I guess the same goes for the Omega Seamaster 300 & Railmaster. For a good link on Ingenieur history check out: http://www.frizzellweb.com/larry/ingenieur/ and just a bit of history, this new Ingenieur is a re-do of the "big Ingenieur" first introduced in the 1970s. If it looks similar to the AP Royal Oak, its because Gerald Genta designed both. Im not sure...but I do believe the IWC was designed first. I think the rolex came out first, but like the Milgauss, the Ingenieur (which means Engineer in German I believe, as IWC is made in the German speaking area of Switzerland) was designed to operate in areas of high magnetism

Nice pics! Beautiful carbon crank. Im a roadie myself. Which got me thinking, Panerai is to Campagnolo, as Seiko is to Shimano? How about Lip is to Mavic? Any other ones?

Usually 2. One on the wrist, one in my carry on. Sort of depends where Im going and for how long too. But like jkpadget2 said, if its international, I don't want to give customs a reason to tax me (not that i have ever been stopped by customs, and my passport is almost filled with stamps after having it for only 5 years). For example, imagine having US-customs insist that the 2 Rolexes in your bag are genuine, that you purchased them on your trip, and that they want to charge you 10% duty on the retail price of say... $5000?? After a certain point, why would you need more than 2 watches on a trip? A sport/diver & a dressy watch.