TeeJay

Agreed. More people have complained about empty FedEx packages than stolen royal mail ones.

However, at this time of year, Royal Mail does take on lots of seasonal workers and they do tend to be light-fingered.

http://search.bbc.co.uk/search?q=royal%20m...s&scope=all

For instance, 60 people in Northern Ireland were sacked for theft over the last few years, and more than a third of them were prosecuted.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7682004.stm

That's one way of putting it Did you ever catch the Dispatches doco on the Royal Mail a few years back? That was shocking as to the kind of things which went on in some of the London sorting offices.

Yes, there are thieves at the Royal Mail. Yes, they can be sloppy with requesting ID when it comes to collecting a parcel from a sorting office rather than at home, but that only applies if the person misses the initial delivery, it is not standard procedure to have to collect all parcels in person.

Suggesting people use FEDEX rather than the Royal Mail is utterly counter-productive, as FEDEX is a near guaranteed way of getting the goods seized by customs...

Informing people of potential issues is one thing, scaremongering is another.

I saw HelloReplica on YouTube doing up close video reviews. Can anyone comment on their reliability? Thanks!

If HelloReplics is one of Tony's sites, then yes, he is reliable, and a dealer on RWI under the sitename WatchEden. I do not know for sure if HelloReplica is one of Tony's sites, but, the layout, pricing, watermarks etc, all make me believe that it probably is.

Tony is the dealer who I have bought the majority of my watches from, and I would recommend him to anyone

Wow that is freaky.

Here I found another one....

Ken

There's a definite resemblance, for sure

What do folks think? Seperated at birth, or am I just imagining things?

Holly Valance:

Summer Glau:

There are some good eBay deals on iPhones, but it is a case of looking, and a great deal if luck. I got my iPhone off the bay in near mint condition, but that was a really lucky find.

One thing I would say helps justify the cost of the iPhone, is the versatility of its operations, and its customizability via the app store

It's not the greatest in my books. Here's why:

• Happy feet on logo
  
• OMEGA logo looks too "big" yet skinny
  
• The second hand really does suck
  
• Minute hand is too short
  
• End link shiny portions are raised too much...looks lumpy
  
• Bezel insert printing is too fat
  
• Pearl is too large (this will likely affect the newer "high end" rep as well)
  
• The site is likely an overpriced scam site
  

From the look of the photography and watermarkings, I'd say it looks like one of Tony's sites... The price would be about right as well...

[Edit to add]

From the server glitch I'm experiencing, I'd say it's a pretty safe bet that it's one of Tony's sites

This watch would be from Casino Royale, where he wore a black SMP in the dress scenes. In Quantum of Solace he wore a PO 42mm in all the scenes. The QOS special edition is a 45mm PO with a dial that is supposed to look like the checkered grip of a Walther PPK. There is a rep out of it at a trusted dealer on another forum called WackoBirdKeeper.

Pretty neat looking, not sure if that 3D dial would get old in a hurry or provide years of interest.

I think you'll find that he wore a blue co-axial SMP in the dress scenes. The 2220.80, to be precise

Congratulations indeed

That's one heck of a collection, bro, and an awesome idea using photography cases. I might have to do something similar for my collection

That's some awesome work I'm sure it will see a lot of wrist time

Classy

That looks really good... i assume it's the planet ocean size though (and not seamaster size)... thoughts?

If it's the Seamaster case, it'll be Seamaster size While there is a 'smaller' Planet Ocean, there isn't a 'larger' Seamaster

Interesting, is there anywhere I could get a solid base with which to start? Something that is more or less identical with the exception of the seconds hand. I can certainly go through the hassle of the second hand if i can find something otherwise close enough

I don't know of any specifically, but there are likely to be some out there. There was even something similar on the site which you linked to. What you're looking for, is essentially a fantasy model as you're looking for one with a black dial and bezel insert rather than blue ones. I'm sure you'll be able to find one, I just wouldn't like to say where

Problem there is that, even if i replaced the second hand, it has a 007 logo where it doesn't belong, doesn't ahve seamaster in red, and, instead, has the omega logo... ARGHHHH

PS: I have never taken apart watches so wouldn't really be in a good spot to do so (at least i imagine it's pretty hard).

I admit, that wasn't the best example, but I'm sure there'll be one out there... Thinking about it, what you need as the base watch, is a fantasy 2220.80, but with black rather than blue, so I'd suggest looking for that as your base. To be honest, the hand swap, while slightly fiddly,is not actually difficult to do. Taking the movement out of the case is incredibly simple. All you need to do is remove the caseback, pull the crown right out to the 'time set' position, then use a cocktail stick or small screwdriver to depress the crown release stud which is just to the side of where the crown enters the movement, then it is just a case of dropping out the movement and dial and swapping the second hand over. It probably takes longer to describe the procedure than it does to actually perform it

What do you think of this... I am not good enough to spot the issues: http://www.lifetimereplicas.com/product.ph...7&Product=9

It looks okay, but is obviously the Planet Ocean rather than the SMP I really don't think there is a rep of the watch you're thinking of at the moment, but, that's not to say that the factories won't produce one in the future... Personally, I see you having two options... Either wait for the factories to build a rep (which might not even happen...) or, as before, buy several watches and cobble the parts together into one watch

Or, this one:http://www.lifetimereplicas.com/product.ph...7&Product=1, fitted with the second hand from the other

I'm not sure if there is a rep of it, but, you could probably piece something together by getting one of the black fantasy versions of the 2531.80 as a base, and transplanting in one of the 007 second hands from one of the commemorative editions... It'll make it an expensive second hand (compared to the watch) but it could give you the look you want

Very very nice...classic case with a classic face

Can't wait to follow this!

Thanks, bro, I have a good feeling about this project

Tried the QOS on at the AD and its even uglier in person. You can't even read the dial printing because of that obnoxious pattern, and the QOS laser etching on the crystal is impossible to read as well. It just looks like a smudge or scratch. Terrible looking watch. Caseback was nice though.

Hard to believe such a thing possible I guess it just shows what marketing is all about

Wow. That's a really nice line up of watches, ranging from elegant to rugged, yet all obviously very sturdy and practical Thanks for taking the time to share it all

I think that would look outstanding Teejay, can't wait to see the finished article

Thanks, amigo, I've got high hopes for the project, at least, it should look good when it's complete, as all the parts are from the same watch company. The only problem is I think the rehaut will cut across the dial to where the raised markers are (which should look really sharp) but, if it doesn't fit straight off, I'll be filing a lot of material from the dial edge

I've never been keen on the commemorative Omegas, simply because Bond would never wear a watch with his serial number on it, so I view them purely as a marketing ploy rather than true "merchandise", but this monstrosity takes that marketing to a new level/low. It wouldn't be so bad if it was the 42mm version, as that at least appears in Quantum of Solace, but this just comes across as a way of shifting a load of 45mm Planet Oceans. I think only the most diehard Omega collecting Bond fans will buy it. I can think of one watch collector I've encountered who will likely buy it, but I don't want to name names as what he buys with his money is his business.

Okay, the plan for this project, is to use the case of an Electric Blue Seamaster, to create a 'more formal-looking' watch along the lines of the Ulysse Nardin Maxi Marine Diver. To that end, I have begun polishing the bracelet mid-links, and plan to transplant in a silver-colored dial. Possibly from an Aqua Terra, possibly from a Deville. I want the dial and hands to create the 'elegance' of the watch, while leaving the case 'functional but attractive'.

Here's what I've got thus far:

Stock Watch:

With semi-polished mid-links:

At present, the mid-links are polished, but not as much as I would like. I really want them to pop in comparison to the side-links, so that's going to mean much more polishing

I'll post updates as the project progresses

[Edit to add]

This is the kind of dial I was thinking of using:

I'd probably have to do some (okay, a lot of) work to get the dial to fit in the case, but I think it'd be worth it

the markets will do what they will

what i'd like to know if if RWG's British members are feeling the effects on their wallet ?

Personally, I can only say yes and no. I haven't really noticed any difference with buying domestic product like groceries, but I have noticed the difference when it comes to buying things priced in US dollars.

I'd say for a dress watch, minimalism is key. This is being worn solely as a time-piece, but usually only for limited periods of a few hours. Something like the SkyMoon Tourbillon, for example. Yes, encredibly lavish watch, but with complications which are utterly pointless in a watch worn for a few hours.

Like Robbie, I am also getting married soon, so this is a subject which I have been giving consideration to as well. I had planned to get matching watches for my best men, but finances might prevent that. I had been considering wearing my 113, but, at the moment, I don't even want to wear my PAMs, I'm well and truly in the Omega Zone at the moment, so I figure best to go with that. As some of you may recall, last year I bought an Electric Blue SMP as a case for a project watch. The project got shelved, but, it's getting re-activated. I don't want to go into too much detail, as that could be subject to change, but, ultimately, I am going to be building some kind of hybrid SMP heavily influenced by Robbie's UN MMD (colors and form, rather than specific details)

I would say that a dress watch should be on a leather strap rather than a bracelet, and small and discrete. I'm going to be breaking those rules, simply because I want to be wearing something that is 'me', rather than simply wearing a 'prop'. Also, if anyone ever then comments on wedding photos and asks what watch I'm wearing, rather than having to say that it's a rep *insert brand here*, I can instead say honestly that it was a watch I built myself for the occasion

This should be an interesting topic, I'll be looking forward to other's contributions