Pix

@Bazz : Wow ! I love it. Can you tell us more about this watch ? Here's my latest aquisition : came this morning...from Bangkok Review to follow...

Small drops make big rivers... I'm in. BTW, how about sharing the risk and also allowing donations with Moneybookers for instance ? I think most of us have both accounts.

Maybe it's simply the rep ? I have difficulties imagining a high end watch with such a jerky seconds hand. I mean, even the less educated in watches will remark this and think it's just broken...

That's a topic I like :-) Most of my reps are under 200, except the VCO and the PATEK (228 and 250), although you can get the VCO OVerseas with an Asian movement for 120 dollars. May I link to my collection in my signature ? There's no rep you see which I don't like. As for the question : which is the best ? Only your personal tastes will answer. If you want accurate reps, of course, the range of very good reps at that price level tend to shrink : I agree in the Asian SFSO being the best bargain around. If you get it, buy it from Ruby, it's cheaper and not dropshipped.

I agree, the strap choice is excellent.

Ken's back !

Trying to be smart today...

True ! It's as ridiculous as if Bond would be blond...

Thx Andy. I checked indeed on an other pic, and right, it's silver, but not that thick, as you mentioned. Here's the pic I'm refering to. You've been more successful than me on Omega's website ! My personal taste tells me black. All the rest tells me blue. Found a better pearl, and apparently better datefont.

007 himself popping up ! Is it the usual caseback that must be used then ? (same as PO for instance). How about the pearl ?

Hi Mademoiselle V It seems that there is no source (although Pug's post are a clear source for me) but a consensus which was more or less admitted some time ago (at least that's what I understood), probably before you joined the boards, I can't remember when exactly, sorry (march ?). The fact that only 4 dealers are able to source some specific reps and the fact that some other dealers confirm in their correspondance that they do not have access to this ot that model (SFSO as far as I'm concerned, I mean, before everyone carried it) are not evidences of a cartel, but a strong "beam of doubts" that the Fantastic 4 have some very close connection. Their very same pricing too... I am not a paranoid, but I don't want to believe there's no price fixing. I really started wondering and reconsidering my faith in Andrew (my first and repeated for monthes dealer) when I saw Ruby and her SFSO at 135 dollars shipped and the relative strap for 15 dollars, against 198 + 45 from the *cough* Cartel For sure, there are scammers out there and much higher prices (have a look on cqout or iOffer), but who said "the one-eyed is a king in the blind people's Kingdom"... I want to see with my two eyes, as long as possible (sorry for the bad translation, I trust it reflects my opinion however)

There we have the blue. It's true I miss some blue in my collection, I agree on the reflection on non white/black dials (see my brown SLR). I'm just concerned about how the back looks like on this one. I try to avoid laser etching which often looks poor. I'll get in touch with the seller. The swirl is very marked too.

Hi, while raising funds to get the latest Aquaracer Tag Heuer, I'm looking for my new inexpensive aquisition in the meantime and found the Seamaster James Bond 007 L.E. to fit with my tastes I looked around a bit on the boards and it seems there are several variations. The one which looks good to me as a watch is this one. No record of it on TheWatchquote or the Official Website. I saw also mainly discussions about the blue one, that has a white datewheel. Although the exact compliance to the gen is never the main concern for me, and the fact that the feeling as a watch is the first factor of choice, I'd like to know your opinions on the described model as well as your comments on my questions : - is this a pure fantasy watch ? - does it actually exist in black ? - which colour should the datewheel have ? - are there huge flaws that scream fake, except the logo, which never seem to be correctly replicated Thx for your attention and advice.

BT's excellent guide to TAG HEUER led me to this one today

I was just cooling down on the new Aquaracer... And there comes your thread !!

I see. Somehow different. But the result is similar : price increase.

Saw it too, and it's true Silix has sometimes decent reps in the low end field. But I feel something's missing on this one : I think the chronos make the watch totally different and much more sexy.

Excellent analysis which I second, except for this last point : there is a monopoly on certain models. But again, nobody's forced to buy them or from them. But let's all agree, it's disturbing to see prices raise : that makes the hobby more and more difficult and less funny.

I'm just wondering about the reasons why ETA decided to stop the deliveries of their movements to non SWATCH-Group companies. What is the gain ? Increase in margin ? Well, did they expect noone whould fill in the gap ? It's done with Sellita, and surely there are plenty of other alternatives (Pugwash mentionned about Seiko's 28800 bph movement, which I believe too). Wouldn't they get the opposite result ? I mean, just lose their leadership.

Sure. But for the moment it seems to be the "closest" to the Phantom you're waiting for I agree, it's far from perfect. And personally I would not buy a watch with a spelling mistake. But I thought you wished this specific watch sold by our dealers. I must have misunderstood you.

What is the difference with Silix who offered me to sell a PAM CG for 16 dollars whereas mine was obviously VERY loose ? At he end I fixed it myself thanks to Sssurfer's advice. And I guess/hope that was also the solution for your clasp. That's the kind of things we can expect from some dealers, here too, especially for cheap prices. Remember you have always the possibility of rating negative on CQout and that the dealer is out after 2 negative feedbacks. That's some kind of security if you're really unhappy. When I meant reliable, I meant he delivered fast (for 6 pounds), as ordered, well packed and with great communication. He's also the one with detailed pics, unlike the others that may lead to surprises. Defective reps are part of the game unfortunately. The good one is the one that proposes a fair solution. Anyway, CQout is nothing magic, it's just an alternative. BTW, I just saw some familiar names in his customers

I guess it's the same point as for the orange one... Something inexpensive that looks good/different. It would truely be much better with lume, and I can't understand which amount is saved by applying paint instead of superluminova. Is that so expensive ??

You could buy it over there, why waiting one of our dealers ? This one is very reliable, no doubt. I bought twice from him. The spelling mistake is really a shame, I can't understand theses things still happen with the new generation of reps. Maybe a swap with an other caseback or a complete brushing would do the trick ? And no fake Swiss ETA... Beware, that's NOT Luminova.

Updated 22nd August with my new Breitling Navitimer Quartz : believe it or not, it's an incredible watch for the price. Quartz for sure, but that does not make it look cheap at all. Perfect matching with my spare Breitling leather strap

True, the "fix" is "easy" finally. There are some watches (reps and gens) I'd like to have ARed due to their reflection (MB Timewalker black) and one or the other just because they have a beautiful dial, that would gain getting AR (this Navi for instance, although it's very readable and probably cheaper than the AR operation itself)...