seriph

Zorro - that would be brilliant mate ...... that way I can do a 1:1 rep .... we live in Kilmore, near Melbourne Australia - unfortunately our little corner of the world came to fame in 2009 when the world exploded around us in fire - 3 minutes from our place is where the Black Saturday fires started .... 2600 homes lost - millions of wildlife lost - 173 good and decent people gone forever and lives changed in untold ways ...

But humans are infinitely adaptable so we rebuild as best as we can - we are very grateful our home was spared .... the vagaries of wind change saved us and our township, but it ripped through others which from time to time and understandably, quietens our joy, but never our spirit.

Of course, the strict quarantine laws mean we are the only country that doesn't have rabies and a bunch of other funky critters... but hey, I want a hornback for my Montauk ... I really wonder how our customs could ascertain whether something was leather or .... well..... leather anyway - comes down to what they look at I guess. ... and of course an AD has to declare I guess. Funny how the complete watches can come in without any hassle though.

great pics man .... and love the avian touch!

1st time for leather ... have made things as detailed but nothing in leather - should be fun ... doubtless the prototype will end up in time and money more expensive than just buying a strap but it gives me a new skill.

Hi again folks - spent the day in town and saw a few nice items ... several nice Vacheron Constantin (most looked like they were rep Breguets!) and Raymond Weil watches but no AP's - I resisted going in to Watches of Switzerland which took some effort

ZORRO - thanks for letting me know the width of the strap .... 32mm is pretty wide!

- thinking about making a strap that has two 'horns' side by side but would like a correct replica with central horn to kick things off.

it will be my first strap but I have always figured that if hands made something in the first place, then why can't I have a go?

I am investing a fair amount of time and dollars in this project so trust me .... pics aplenty

mind you I am no photographer!

Yeah I keep seeing import licences being offered etc. but my material will be coming from the Northern Territory ..... there is quite a bit of it around BUT getting the 'right' section is a challenge - it is fairly prized therefore commands a bit of a premium .... on your other responses - I already have the suit and ties .... all high end but low price through being a tightar5e

Suit is really nice - turquoise/aqua stripe with an alternating mauve stripe which works a treat - the level of detail on the suit is great. (internal mobile phone pocket with purple paisley finish strip on the slit etc. and actual opening buttons on the sleeves .... I have never seen that) Not sure on the shirt yet but I have seen some Vivienne cufflinks that have the right blue accents so they might be good to get too.

... just as soon as I get out of pauper's prison

Awesome pics mate. Truly stunning timepiece. What's so bad about the straps? Are they cheaply made and stiff or is it that they are just a sloppy rep strap?

I hope to make my own but am interested to know if the rep clasp is OK. If not, are nicer ones available?

My Monty arrives in a couple weeks. Will be fun. I know a few eyes will roll but i have even selected ties and a suit with turquoise pinstripe and even turquoise buttonhole thread on the sleeves.

A really great review. Thanks!

What's the strap width please. I want to research replacements before my Monty arrives.

... looking at buying a gen part-hide to work on.

Great job mate! Although the products aren't available here in Australia, I should be ableto buy equivalents.

My Montauk hwy arrives in a couple weeks and from what I hear of these straps they are a real letdown. Your idea is brilliant. I'll probably do it as soon as it arrives. I am also searching for the right piece of authentic hornback skin to make my own strap from. Will be my first strap but should turn out OK. I had been holding off because I couldn't source a close enough colour but this will reduce that issue.

Thanks!

Well I tried to add a pic and get rid of my duplicate post but I am getting some funky message preventing any changes taking effect - sorry folks.

Reasons I loved my Porsches

1. Incredibly fun cars to drive

2. No other car looks like them

3. 26,000 race wins and counting (Porsche, not me )

4. Affordable to own/run/insure

5. Fantastic resale value

6. Made money on the sale of every one

7. With such long-lasting model iterations I could buy parts at the milkbar (almost)

8. Had fantastic dealer support even though I was not a new car buyer

9. True enthusiasts worked in the service dept. Porsche Cars Australia and always helped me when building my last Porsche - a replica 1993 3.6 turbo

10. They're bloody reliable

11. They're not BMW's

... Oh and driving mine always made me feel good

My Lamborghini on the other hand (LP400S) was the worst car I have ever owned. My Mercedes 190E AMG Hammer dropped like a stone in value within a year (50%!) and was literally undriveable in the wet

And now that I am a pauper these days, my Porsche Design Diver that I just got on Wednesday is a great rep ... I make no excuses that I bought it as a fashion accessory and at $120 I think it was a deal. It has sat in my drawer with its friends for the past two days and hasn't missed a beat - I will adjust the strap tomorrow and wear it to the big smoke on Monday, along with my Salvation Army Store suit, shoes, tie and shirt and I will have a happy day

Reasons I loved my Porsches

1. Incredibly fun cars to drive

2. No other car looks like them

3. 26,000 race wins and counting (Porsche, not me )

4. Affordable to own/run/insure

5. Fantastic resale value

6. Made money on the sale of every one

7. With such long-lasting model iterations I could buy parts at the milkbar (almost)

8. Had fantastic dealer support even though I was not a new car buyer

9. True enthusiasts worked in the service dept. Porsche Cars Australia and always helped me when building my last Porsche - a replica 1993 3.6 turbo

10. They're bloody reliable

11. They're not BMW's

... Oh and driving mine always made me feel good

My Lamborghini on the other hand (LP400S) was the worst car I have ever owned. My Mercedes 190E AMG Hammer dropped like a stone in value within a year (50%!) and was literally undriveable in the wet

And now that I am a pauper these days, my Porsche Design Diver that I just got on Wednesday is a great rep ... I make no excuses that I bought it as a fashion accessory and at $120 I think it was a deal. It has sat in my drawer with its friends for the past two days and hasn't missed a beat - I will adjust the strap tomorrow and wear it to the big smoke on Monday, along with my Salvation Army Store suit, shoes, tie and shirt and I will have a happy day

Doesn't seem to be available anywhere. Would really enjoy owning a yellow version of this watch and have been searching now for around 6 weeks. Maybe it'll come back sometime. A real beauty

V2 all the way...couldn't resist. Not getting the wrist time it deserves...

I am reading good to great right now

The colour makes me think of Tiffanys - I love it but lemme tell ya .... my wife ain't gettin' anywhere near these pics!

Forewarned is forearmed though .... how much is this baby?

+1! Dave123 - I just bought a Breitling box complete with everything (except a metal "R" on the box which the eBay seller did NOT mention!!!) including all papers and so forth .... it isn't a B4B box but it is still a nice example .... some damage on the chrome edges, but I got some chrome signwriter's film from a mate today and will be doing a surgical repair on the outer cover..... it is a very nicely designed box and quite a rare version, which I will explain in a moment....

As I type this I can't help wondering if this box etc. might be better suited for another member - I know myself well enough that if the "correct" B4B Flying B No.1 box came along I'd buy it (Don't even know what one looks like yet!)

The box I received was not the one displayed on the guy's page and while that and its overall condition was a disappointment, it is for what I believe to be a more difficult to obtain watch.... (races down the back of the house to get the paperwork)

OK ... it is a box and all associated's for a Breitling Navitimer - Chronograph - BREITLING FIGHTERS - Special Series. I don't pretend to know if that is vastly different than the other Breitling offerings, but it includes an illustrated booklet about the watch and certain WW2 aircraft, (the following is housed in a lovely yellow card package) an operation manual, a booklet dedicated to the use of the slide rule, a circular slide rule, list of Authorised Distributors, INt'l Wty booklet and an embossed, perforated, numbered and signed certificate. Finally, it has a leaflet about he Bakelite case and wait for it ...... the original purchase receipts for the actual watch and a spare link.

The watch box itself is stunning black and has a tan leather insert bearing the Breitling name and logo inside the lid .... I imagine that's standard.

Anyway to get back to the damn point, I am buying a BLUE Flying B No.1 and hope to keep it in the correct box, but this would do uber-nicely I reckon, unless as stated, a fellow member had the special edition watch to match it .... (or should I buy one of those as well.....?????)

All the reps I have are MB reps and use MB refills .... I am referring to rolling ball and ballpoint. All the Fountain Pens are piston, not cartridge - I am out for the day but will respond to the PM's within 24 hrs.

JKAY - I think that may be the best avatar I have ever seen

I have had the two watches (original and mine) next to each other and mine looks fine but there is just something about the original's level of finish (of course!) that is what I call "just another thing" meaning there's nice .... really nice ann just another thing altogether..... my main reason for buying the cheaper rep was because I thought it would be quartz and smaller than the original .... now that I have tried on the original and am happy with how it looks, I will but the more expensive rep. I am just trying to find it for under $400 because if the markups for watches is anything like the markup for rep MB pens, then there is a LOT of profit in there for the sellers and someone always seems to have something cheaper .... having said that, I did get an unexpected payment this week so will probably just buy it now.

You're spot on about buy the watch not the brand ..... in fact, you can buy most high-end reps with different logos on them for a LOT less than their branded counterparts. I just can't bring myself to do that, but I have seen some really beautiful watches in my searching that as far as I can find, have no corresponding model as originals. Of course, we have all also seen some bloody eyesores as well!

FWIW (about .05c?) I get very positive comments about this cheapie .... my poor photography may contribute to the cheap look of the watch here as well.

Sorry to intrude again but I just wanted to point out that BREITLING markets their own range of very beautiful pens. Usually available through eBay for under $200

Blimey mate.... 13 Fountains and 50 pens.... now thats a collection.... I gotta ask mate... Why so many ?

I sound like my Mrs... when she asks why I have so many watches but only one wrist (for wearing it that is!)

Hear ya loud and clear! What I have done is source reps of the highest quality. This means/requires buying several lesser versions of course (sound familiar?) and chipping away at the research until one finds the "Holy Grail"

Along the way I have met some characters and have enjoyed doing a bunch of pen related stuff like writing poetry and making pen boxes as gifts.

Folks may not realise, but there are pens which surpass watches in value and rival them in beauty. The fountain pens are an indulgence really .... it is nice to have original vintage FPs and they are really quite beautiful. I will be making an 'overmantle' in my office (in our 1880 home) that has shallow illuminated display cabinets on either side (that kind of look like columns ..... very hard to describe) - I will set up displays inside each side to show off the pens and enjoy them.

It is an obsession I guess, but truly what real hobby isn't? I have loved miniature machines since my first train set (5yrs of age) and have re-purposed what people think is junk, since becoming an adult. There is nothing more yummy than getting a design right, whether it is on paper of in real life. The design for the last box I made (2 weeks ago) for my mate's 50th came to me while his wife was telling me her plans for his surprise party. Here's that story , which all just came to me in a blink:

http://www.fountainp..._1#entry2087929

it worked out well.

Anyway, back to the POINT! Beautiful things are beautiful things - when someone designs something stunning, many people are moved by its beauty and grace. I can't afford the huge sums of money that MB and other makers can command for their pens (at times, a new LE or Writer's Edition MB is $1000 - $5000 and travels into the stratosphere for say, an MB Charlie Chaplin Skeletal) so when the wife and I visited Honk Kong I saw a shop that had replicas by the thousands and they all looked pretty good to me at that time. So I bought a few and it began from there. I have a pen design of my own in mind to make and market but that's a while away as yet. Suffice to say it will be wrapped in canvas sail-cloth from a windmill on the plains of La Mancha, Spain and its barrel from wood from the windmill's spar. Hopefully it will work out - I'll be impressed if anyone recongises the "connection" - but I got the inspiration from a story which means a lot to me.

So pens, watches, ink bottle, train tickets, aircraft, antiques ..... people collect a million different things - I guess I will never understand why people collect Barbie Dolls but I seriously doubt they care that I don't.

The cheapest pen I have cost me nothing and the most expansive, I guess around $150. I use a $6.85 (delivered from China through eBay) fountain pen every day and people are always commenting that it is a classic style. I enjoy using it and it writes well.... though possibly not as well as a $50K MB original, but I will never know. And it doesn't really matter - I have a saying that goes "If you can't write, you can't write with a thousand dollar pen."

Of course, even a crappy pen will write and even my rubbish buys in the pen world aren't totally useless because I can use the refill in my other pens. In Australia MB charges around $16 for a refill ..... I get precisely 16 for that price out of China! And so it goes ..... I will post some pics of some nice pens later if anyone cares to see them but I don't want to monopolise the discussions with my crap any more than I have

But seriously, I am after a well constructed polished SS rollerball. It doesn't have to be very faithful to a Gen Montblanc (unless there is a really good rep of an SS pen that you would recommend).

Hey - personally, I would go to a decent pen shop in your area - MB is really only the best known brand of quality pen. There are hundreds of spectacular pens out there and most are very reasonably priced.

Stainless steel pens: I don't know mate ..... I do have a couple polished SS pens but I don't recall seeing many other than Parker ones. That said, I probably don't 'see' them because my focus is elsewhere.

Seriously, go to a pen shop and you will be blown away by the range and beauty of pens - they are what I call "useful art"

Apologies for the repetitive posting .....

Mine arrived and while I am v happy with it, it had a couple of problems and a couple of pluses ..... no "for Bentley" on the dial .... PITA! Dial not Blue, but the black is yummy.

Pluses: Date in the correct spot (but black numbers not red) and automatic, not quartz ..... AND it cost me $82 del'd to Oz. Pics can be posted if you'd like to see them .... they're not great images but they work for information