TeeJay

Glad I'm not the only one who thought that I have to admit, I think it would definitely look nicer on a different strap

Well, I'm surprised to say, that, despite changing the bracelet for a more modern one (the other rattled too much) I'm still wearing my DIY GMT Submariner Okay, so the night visibility wasn't particularly good, but, I still haven't had the urge to rip it off my wrist... Even the irritating rattle of the other bracelet only made me swap the bracelets, and not take it off... Still needs some work on it, I think a set of vintage sword hands will improve the visibility, but, I'm pretty impressed thus far... a 20 minute soak in a scalding hot bath, and not a hint of fogging or condensation

Awesome watch, I'm sure it'll get plenty of wear

I don't like the price tag, but that is one eff you sea kay eye en gee hardcore watch

Shit, I didn't even realize you'd been taken ill, bro Glad to hear you're on the mend No drama with a JAndrew thread, that was over long ago, Guanaco just bumped it to make an apology, so all's well there

That's an awesome quote, he's obviously someone who appreciates watches Maybe not a hardcore collector, but definitely someone who knows his stuff That's an interesting watch I had an Oakley Timebomb a few years back, and wasn't over impressed with it, but I have to admit, there's something quite appealing about that watch... I think on an olive drab NATO strap, it'd probably look the nuts As for the name "Holeshot", that just sounds like a porno term Starlet - "What're we doing today?" Director - "Well, we're starting off with some ass-licking, then some doggy, followed off by some anal and a holeshot"

It'll be interesting to watch it unfold I think the best one was when he got lost driving Lemar to some awards ceremony, and the guy got so wound up, that in the end, he got out and walked

I've been wearing my X-33 most of the day, but, a while ago, I had the urge to put a Rolex I built a while back, back on a bracelet and see how I liked it... I have to admit, I'm feeling it more than I have previously... Behold, the watch formerly refered to as 'The Patient'... Comprising: Asian GMT Master II Silix 'Vintage Rolex' dial (modified to fit over GMT movement) Nothing spectacular, I know, but I just felt the urge to give it some wrist time, and introduce it to folks

I have to admit, I was pretty surprised when I saw it myself, I was thinking " What's he doing wearing the pumpkin version on orange... ??" Maybe he's trying to 'live dangerously' I guess as long as he's happy with it, that's all that matters

I forget the model number, but looking at the photo, I'd say it's the PAM chrono which uses the same case as the 127...

No problem, bro The truth always comes out in the end As far as I'm concerned, No harm, no foul

I'm not sure, but Robbie let me know I was letting the 'Long Post' side down, so I felt the need to get creative I'm sure we can come to some kind of consultancy arrangement And indeed, retail is nasty. It pays the bills, but the sheer amount of crap that comes with it, I'd advise against it unless all else fails... Professional jobs might be stressful, or dealing with 'important' things, but I doubt many of them get close to the utter nastiness which many retail assistants have to endure when an uppity customer can't get their own way

Absolutely fantastic photos What a backyard

On some of your points, I agree, but others, I disagree with completely... Firstly, you must remember that the consumer laws of our respective countries are very different. In the UK, as mentioned above, buyers do not have the right to demand that a mis-priced item be sold at the incorrect price. However, there are laws, which say that items cannot be intentionally falsely labeled, for example, if something is marked as "Today only, manger's special price!" then it can only be sold at that price on that day. If it is re-adversized thus the following day, then that is illegal, as the initial advert clearly stated that the price was only valid on the day, so it's not as if buyers are unprotected, it's just a case of them being protected from intentional 'scamming'. I agree, they are paid to do their jobs, and yes, they are being paid to do it correctly, so I agree with you absolutely on that point. But, I would make the following exceptions... Human error can and does occur, so while it should not be 'accepted', it should certainly be 'understood' that it can happen, and allowances made... Also, the person sitting on the register, is likely not the person who actually priced the product. Also, it is well known that scummers will try swapping price tags on products in the hopes of getting things cheaper (doesn't really work now companies use barcodes ) so sometimes, someone else might unwittingly pick up something with a swapped label... Either way, the incorrect label is not the fault of the person on the register, and it is not reasonable to hold them responsible for the incorrect labelling, especially if it is not in their power to actually remedy the situation, that's what supervisors are paid for... I couldn't disagree with you more strongly on this issue. While I do expect a modicum of professionalism and courtesy from staff, I do not expect, or believe that I deserve, to be fawned over. Just because they are there 'to serve', that does not make them servants, and I would never treat them thus. Again, if that's how consumer law in Canada works, then that's indeed your right, as mentioned though, it is not the case in the UK, so that's just a matter of perspective [Edit to add] While it may well be a legally correct and right, morally speaking, it's a pretty shitty attitude and approach to actually insist on a vendor accepting a lower price which may well have been applied by a either a poorly trained or new member of staff, or which has obviously been applied in error, ie "If you don't let me have it at that lower price, I'll sue your ass into the middle of next week..." Legal victory, yes. Moral victory? I don't consider 'being smart enough to get one over on someone' as particularly moral... Sure, it doesn't hurt to ask if the price is correct, and if it's wrong, then indeed enquire if they will accept that price, but to actually insist on it, just because "it's the law", I don't know, it just feels wrong to me... Now this is something which I have mixed feelings on... I have absolutely no patience for retail employees who don't know their product. Admittedly, it's their manager's fault for not ensuring they're properly trained, but equally, it is possible for them to research the industry themselves. If an employee has a negative attitude, then ultimately, they don't deserve to keep their job, and an attitude like that is something I have never tolerated in people I managed in the past. However, to say: I would have to say again, that just because they are in that job, it does not make them indentured servants, and if someone was to ever treat a member of my staff with an attitude like that, then regardless of the amount being spent, I would (and have) tell (told) them to leave. One thing I would never have, is anyone deliberately belittling staff under me, or treating them like servants. At the end of the day, the money being spent is irrelevant, as the business could equally sell that amount of product to any other customer, so it's not as if a 'big spender' is irreplaceable. I play it fair from both sides: While I would not hesitate to 'eject' a customer who was being condescending to staff, equally, I would not hesitate to discipline a member of staff who was rude to a customer, or who continually made mistakes in their performance, which they did not resolve through additional training. Indeed, that is not an acceptable situation for a staff member to be in. But, equally: It was not you place to do that. It is for her manager to discipline her as need be. Had I been that woman's manager, you would have been told (not asked, but told) to leave the store, as I would not stand for a customer chewing out a member of my staff. However, to be fair, I would then also take her aside, and explain the importance of product knowledge, and tell her that lying to customers is unacceptable, because selling product on a false pretense is legally actionable... As I said, I play it fair on both sides... That's going a bit far... I agree absolutely. In the past, if I ever made a mistake ringing through a sale, I would immediately make up the balance from my own pocket, and it's a damn good lesson in not making mistakes However, while I would not mind a manager insisting on me making up the balance (although to be honest, none ever have, I only chose to do so because of my own standards) if a customer dared to suggest that to me, even if it would cost me my job, I would tell them to go eff themselves, because at the end of they day, they are not my boss. I agree, it is frustrating when people are less diligent than others, but I always leave it to a manager to reprimand the staff, not do so myself. Believe me, I've made my fair share of complaints in the past about poor service, and I know that in one case, it actually led to someone being fired from their job, and you know what, I don't feel bad about that, because their incompetence and lack of professionalism cost me time, and thus business and money, but, I never berated them myself, simply because it was not my place to do so. I passed the comments on to their manager, (on several occasions) and let them get on with their job of 're-distributing' the member of staff (This actually involved bank personnel, rather than retail, but same principle, in that they were incompetent and unprofessional) I guess it depends on the circumstances. It's one thing to stand up for one's rights, when one is in the right, it's another to just be an obnoxious customer who insists on getting their own way, (when they're actually in the wrong) just because they're spending money We ought to start offering our services as consultants acting as 'mystery shoppers' to help maximize on staff competence

Absolutely so, I think people are too quick to forget that human error occurs, and too quick to think that just because someone is working behind a till, that gives them the God-given right to treat them like garbage. It's funny how it works in the UK, as people just think that the price on the price tag is the price, and simply pay at a cashier (who actually says how much it will be, or asks for the amount, rather than the customer actually offering the amount and the cashier formally accepting it) but I guess it's just the difference between the law on paper, and how it works in the real world. I think the real problem, is that people are too used to 'corporate good will', and don't seem to understand that a company policy might be one thing, but their actual consumer rights, can actually be very different, and they actually have more leeway under 'corporate good will' than they do under the law [Edit to add] Whoever came up with the phrase "The customer's always right!" deserves a kick in the nuts from everyone who's ever had to work behind a counter and had a customer mouth off at them despite being in the wrong...

Something slightly different for me today I'd really been enjoying wearing my X-33, but during a 'snagging incident' one of the spring bars was damaged (the sprung notch pinged out) and I didn't have any other spring bars slim enough to go through the strap, so I dug the factory bracelet out, and installed it. Okay, the end links are hollow and held to the case by bent spring bars, and the clasp is totally wrong, but the bracelet itself is very comfortable. To answer a question RobbieG made while we were discussing the relative comforts of various bracelets, I would say that the bracelet is more comfortable than a Sub bracelet. It is the same curved links as on a Seamaster's bracelet, which means minimal contact points with the wrist, but, and this is the crucial element, with only a quartz movement, the watch head is not as heavy as an SMP or PO, so it is more comfortable, on the bracelet, than they would be, due to the reduced weight I prefer how it looked on the Seamaster strap, but it's an acceptable temporary substitute

Indeed, as b16a2 said, here in the UK, consumers actually have much less rights in such matters. In some shops, they will honor mis-labeled goods as a goodwill gesture, but they are not actually legally obliged to do so. This is where being a retail worker can be a real kick in the nuts, (as well as a billion other reasons ) as customers think they have all these rights, like a shop having to honor an incorrect price label, and if it isn't honored, they'll "take you to Trading Standards !!!" ( ) I guess it's not their fault, as 'customer service' and 'good will' tends to go against actual trading standards guidelines, so as customers, folks can be used to getting their own way, when legally speaking, the business did not actually have to agree to their demands, but it is damned irritating to be on the other side of the counter, knowing that legally speaking, you are in the right, and the law is on your side, but the customer thinks they're in the right, and just won't be told... Be kind to retail workers, it might not be the most challenging of jobs, but it can, in it's own way, be difficult and unpleasant in a way many professional jobs rarely, if ever, are. I once saw a McTrainee being threatened with a beating by building contractors, simply because he couldn't take their order, because it was his first day, and he hadn't been trained yet, and just happened to be standing near a till (Never saw him working there again, the poor bugger...)

How about ordering a bog-standard aftermarket strap, ordering an OEM Omega buckle, and installing it on the strap? That's what I did when I customized an Aqua Terra for my dad, and it looked the nuts

I've found that after wearing the larger watches, anything under 40mm is just too small. I'll wear an Omega Seamaster, but there's no way I'd wear a Rolex Submariner or GMT II. That said, neither would I wear a Breitling SFSO, or a Rolex Deep Sea, for the simple reason that I think the dials are too small compared to the case size. With all fairness to Panerai, they might be large watches, but the dial does fill the case, so there's no 'wasted space'... At the end of the day, it's a matter of what you're looking for in a watch, and what you're comfortable with

I don't have a UPO, but the PO's I do have, none have AR coating, and the dials appear the same color as the dial on your UPO Rather than brown, I've always refered to the color as 'charcoal-grey'... The 'not quite black' color my mother always bought my school pants in because they were cheaper (by a few pence ) than actual black pants. It's a color I know well That's a really interesting perspective My favorite aspect of the Planet Ocean's design, is that the crown guards are integrated into the sides of the case, and don't spoil the line of the side. I admit, I've never had a problem with mine, but, as I wear my watch on my right wrist, the crown doesn't dig into my arm, and, being at an angle, the HE valve has never been a problem on the back of my hand...

Any time, bro

Awesome resolution Great response from Joshua

That's the best attitude to have, brother, it certainly keeps thing interesting Here's to a good 2009 to you and your family

Was it the Rolex and the Chopard?