TeeJay

Absolutely awesome to see parts of Lani's collection on display

I would also agree 100% with this, especially the boldened text:

Well, we see Lani's approach- buy them all. I like this one!

After you get a few, you'll notice what you gravitate towards. You'll notice what you lack, for example you have no big watches, or no leather straps, or no chronographs. I've been here a few years and just now have my first chrono on the way.

Get what interests you at first. Only when you start gathering a few will you realize what your tastes are going to be. You may love the Yacht-Master, but hate it on your arm. A little trial and error is necessary.

I think the definition of a good collection, depends on one's definition of a collection, or rather, what 'plan' one is collecting too...

Some might choose to collect a particular manufacturer, or type of watch, where others, might choose to have a collection with a set watch for a set activity/look, or, even incorporate both aspects It's all down to the individual and their own tastes, and that's what makes this such an awesome hobby, as there's truly something for everyone

Franken/built-up WM9- $1200+

Genuine 16610- $4400+

saying/knowing "It's real"- Priceless.

For everything else, theres Mastermeister.

That's looking awesome, bro

I will NEVER pay for a gen again...I mean who cares anyway if its real or not. I don't...not anymore. I am having fun with this stuff and I was curious what some people with much more experience than I, have to say on the matter.I meani f you are insecure about something like wearing reps,I would think you have bigger fish to fry than watches.

Couldn't've said it better myself

Thanks for the birthday wishes, amigos, it's all very much appreciated I didn't manage to get any 10:10 wrist shots like I did last year, as birthday activities just didn't give me the opportunity, but I had a great time with my closest friends and family, which is something I haven't been able to do in five years

Demsey, indeed, I do still imbibe, as my understanding of the passages in question, are that the prohibition is on praying whilst drunk, and the other passages, I read as rhetorical questions rather than actually listing alcohol as forbidden That said, I've never been a particularly 'big drinker', mostly just socially

As for watches... No change for me since wednesday

People who don't know me, could think I was racist for wearing this jacket...

I guess combining that with having a shaved head makes me look like some White Supremacist... I can understand that, and it's my choice to wear a garment which could give that misconception, but, I think it's sad that we live in a world were pride in one's heritage or nation can be misconstrued as 'being racist'. The only thing I can say to people who do make such misguided assumptions, is that before judging a book by its cover, they really should take the time to read it and understand it properly...

As illustrated above, the Scottish Doctor wore the flag of St Andrew on his jacket, so given my English and Welsh heritage, I think it's only proper that I should wear the flag of St George, the flag representing a unified England and Wales, with my Atlantis patch. What can I say, I'm a collector of film and sci-fi memorabelia, and I'd rather have something personal (and relevant to me) than just wear a 100% off the rack replica of this jacket,

as I'd look pretty silly walking around the UK flying the Stars and Stripes...

I can't think of anything more petty than racism. Personally, I've no time for it or any other kind of bigotry.

I'll be away for the next few days so I can spend my birthday with my parents and friends for the first time in five years, and this is what will be telling me the time till I get back Sunday

I'm no expert on the 1655, but it is still on my 'to acquire' list Wear it well

Lovely, lovely things. In particular that "Very, Very Limited Edition" Panerai in the third picture!

It's a beaut, isn't it I admit, the first one wound up in my collection, and might even make it as a future project, but at the moment, it's just a paperweight (keeps good time though)

How're these?

But of course, even the gen will still get the "Is it real?" question

The only way to get the raised print effect like Rolex has is to use silk screen with a thick metallic ink. You should use gold ink on this one. Rolex used to make a burl wood dial day date in gold circa 1980's. This would look sick in a vintage looking gold submariner or gmt case and bracelet. Maybe even a gold jubilee bracelet gmt plexi crystal. Now I got wood...............

Sadly, I don't have access to screen printing techniques Nor even transfer printing...

I'm definitely feeling the idea of a woodmariner, and that was definitely one of my choices for the project, but I wanted to keep the wood 'reserved for special occasions', rather than a daily beater, so what I'm going to go for, is a Presidential DateJust, with modern 'rectangular lume' markers, so it will be a primarily smart dress watch, but with the ability to be functional beyond that formal setting

I like it! Nice job. What would really make that dial pop is to do the mid links in the bracelet as well! I forget, but one of the high end swiss luxury brands is doing wood mid-links in their new model.

Thanks for the feedback, and I love the sound of wood as mid-links, I'll have to hit up Google to try and track down some photos

I really like the sound of that If I can help out in anyway, just let me know

"The noob Subs are so tacky now"....ooohhh i bet everyone that has just bought one of those(and loves it) feels real good now!!!

To be fair, the Submariner is the watch which brings many people to forums searching for the answer. It's the 'spring-board watch' which gets most folks into collecting, but, most branch out into other brands, other models, other variants. As I mentioned in a thread in the Rolex area about the 16610 (as nice a watch as it is) there are more interesting variations available, such as the vintages, or no-dates, or even Tudors. The standard 16610, I feel, is like getting a hamburger. No cheese, no mustard, no ketchup. Sure, it's tasty, sure it does its job and fills you up, but, there're 'optional extras' available which will make it a better burger

The 16610 is such a 'middle of the road' Submariner, I would have to say it's not worth it. There are more interesting variations available, and the reps of the 16610 (such as WM9s) will look just as good on the wrist, for only a fraction of the price But that's just my .2c

That's a tasty looking watch, and interesting that it is a budget version, but only has 'Oyster Perpetual', where the budget versions often have 'Oyster Perpetual Date' on the dial (Pretty funny for a no-date watch ) so that one's quite a find As you say, a little vintaging, and it'll be looking 'historically authentic'

@roccosiffredi: Rocco siffredi also wears a PAM in movies and when not playing. http://clabedan.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/06/04/jcvd.jpg

That's Jean-Claude Van Damme...

Why ??? Rocco is for the italian a very very idol !!!!

And he wears Panerai Rocco is The Man

No change for me...

Hurry back, bro, here's hoping it's nothing sinister keeping you away

That's fantastic news Congrats

verdigris - using ammonia and salt, will see if I like it, but don't want bright green, more of a blue-green that is not too loud, and then I will try ferric nitrate - this will give a light brown (dark straw) to dark brown, depending application... that is the theory anyway.

More pics tomorrow....

That sounds absolutely fantastic, I can't wait to see the results

very interesting TJ

Many thanks

TJ, the printable decals that you (Slartibartfast) used on the Tudor dial exist in a clear variant... Then you can print whatever you want and apply on the "wood".

Thanks for the feedback, that's very true, and I had considered the decal method to get dial printing, but, I'm hoping to go for a really 3-D effect on the next dial by indenting over the 'grain' with a pin, and I think a decal might 'flatten' that too much...

Very well done with what you had at hand. I always look at new projects to justify new tool purchases to wife.gov, and sometimes it actually works! ;D But, then again, sometimes it don't...

I think I only managed to get away with it because of the cost of the vinyl