TeeJay

Actually, I will love this brand-new Toscana Light Chestnut Bone Crocodile strap a very SHORT time, as it's on its way to its rightful owner, TeeJay! Promise kept!

Here's a little preview, a mini-Caper if you will, since I would never mount it on one of my PAM 111hs, even if just to show him how it would look. But I thought he might like a sneak peak.

The overall quality is GOOD.

The croc Toscana one I got from Rolli is completely different, being more glossy and though more expensive than this one (albeit by a few dollars), I think this is perfect for a classy every-day strap, but not sombre and formal.

The colour is somewhere between dark honey and molten gold, but it is much thinner in the "long" end than I anticipated. So thin, I wonder if one can wear it with a Panerai deployant?

So guess what, TeeJay? Just in case you don't have one, I am throwing in a Diver strap with deployant for your use, as well as a Pre-V Panerai buckle.

And maybe another strap, but which one is a surprise! Just let me know your colour preferences.

Me love you long time!!!

That strap looks absolutely fantastic, I can't wait to see how it looks

When you say diver strap with deployant, do you mean the SS bracelet, or a rubber strap? I only ask as I have the SS bracelet on its way to me now, along with a watch I ordered for Emily's mum's birthday next month As for my color preferences, they are firmly in the brown ranges, from light tan, all the way through to dark chocolate. I do have a black strap for my 111h, but it just doesn't 'look right' on it, so I always wind up taking it off again

Thanks again for such a generous gift, it really means a lot to me, I can't wait to get it fitted so I can put up some wrist shots

it really is not worth it.. by the time i send it back i have to pay $50.. and basing on experience (all my 6 watches that i ordered from andrew has always similar problem.. whether its missing pearl, bezel insert fell off, not waterproof).. so im not taking that gamble!

Might be time to try a new dealer, amigo

hi was just wondering.. does anyone have a spare bezel insert for submariner? that will fit a noobmariner/beginmariner (mine fell off while wearing it )? because i need one.. if you do pls pm me.. and i would really appreciate it!

Do you still have the insert, or did it fall out unnoticed in the street? If you've still got it, some superglue or two part epoxy will hold it in place

Not me you can buy a lot of reps for the price of one original and generally no one will know except the person wearing it.

That is very true. Other watch enthusiasts (0.01% of the population) might have an idea, if they can see the watch for long enough, but the majority of the viewing public aren't going to have a clue. There's a hell of a difference between unlimited viewing time of a high def image 5 times the size of the watch, and catching a glimpse of someone's watch as they pass on the street or on the bus

PS Welcome to the party

Hi - don't think so.

I have an old gen blue midsize. It's just over 36mm including the bezel.

The full size SMP is 41mm including bezel.

The crono diver is listed as 41.5mm Maybe that's the difference.

One for SMP and one slightly bigger for SMP crono.

Anyone can verify that ?

It could just be a difference in what's written down. After all, the Planet Oceans are often described as both 42mm, 42.5mm as well as 45mm and 45.5mm. It could just be a case of one listing being 'dead on' accurate, the other being 'general term' accurate...

For me, that'll be a no. I buy replica watches for the same reason I buy generic clothes: I refuse to pay the artificially inflated price tags attached to 'brand name' items. That's not to say that I don't like the products, I just don't think they're worth as much as their parent companies do

'Swiss Made'... Watches where parts are outsourced and fabricated in China and shipped to Switzerland for assembly... Not exactly the best analogy.

Stitching does not make up 50% of a strap by any stretch of the imagination. at least 80% of a strap is the material it's made of, then there's any filling, glues and stitching to hold it all together.

While I agree that there is certainly a dictionary definition of what is 'hand made', there is also, as mentioned, a tollerance for using labor-saving tools to make that 'hand job' ( ) easier. As I illustrated with tattoos, or the hutch I made last year... At the end of the day, it's a matter of semantics and personal interperetation.

I'd suggest a few...

Chanel J12, but, as Hyster suggested, on a bund strap which goes beneath the caseback. I did this with my fiance's J12, and she never took it off, until a Hublot Big Bang Aspen arrived for her step-sister's birthday present, and she decided to keep it for herself On that line, an HBB might be suitable, but, they're not light on the wallet. I think the watch which would suit her best, would be a titanium Panerai

That's a fantastic strap, I think I'll have to get myself one of those, likely to use as a contrast with my planned PVD project

I'm interested in this. Ofrei have 2 bezels - 082Su1360 AND 1361. Difference in the diameter.

I had always thought the SMP and SMP cronos had the same diameter, so was surprised to see 2 bezel options.

I have a standard SMP, originally from PT in the UK I believe. It's the standard diameter.

So can anyone explain why there are 2 bezel sizes available, and which is the right one for the standard SMP.

And for the change, is just a gen bezel necessary, or do you need any other parts ?

And - is Mr Repaustria available in general for this mod. or are there other people avaable to contact ?????

There is a mid-sized SMP available... At a guess, I'd think that's what the other bezel is for.

That's an awesome piece

Here's another couple of examples of 'hand-crafted' things which are done with the aid of mechanical tools...

Tattoos. Unless one is having a tattoo done in traditional Japanese or Maori manner, the tattoo artist uses a mechanical needle to insert the inks. They are still however, personally in control of the machine. It does, not only what they want it to do, but what they make it do.

Another example, is a guinea pig hutch I build a few years back. I used a jigsaw to cut the wood panals to size (easier than using a hand saw) and then used an electric screwdriver to put the screws in (easier than using a hand screwdriver) The hutch was still 'hand-crafted', even though power tools where used, and that was the point I was trying to illustrate with regards the straps.

As for the misunderstood comment, I suspect what was meant, was that the strap maker was happy for people to see his methods of manufacture, and was being 100% open with his methods, rather than simply saying he did something, and then doing it in a different way.

As World Traveller said, that's a crazy amount to pay for a replica. You could get at least a dozen equally nice watches for that price. At the end of the day, it depends on how important it is to you that the watch be 100% accurate to the original watch. If fidelity to the original is an issue, then you will have to pay a premium for it. If you're less concerned about 100% fidelity and just want something with the 'overall look' (bearing in mind that the people here are a 0.01% of the population, the majority of the viewing public will not have a clue as to what's on your wrist) then I'd suggest browsing sites like CQout, where you can get reasonable levels of replication for a fraction of that $2000 price tag...

Best of luck with your purchases

Oh darling, thanks, and to WT too!

I think I've seen that, and didn't know what that was about. Be careful, TeeJay...thanks again.

I was stupid enough to absentmindedly scratch an itch without washing my hands first. Ironic that I do so five times a day, but the one time I get my hands dirty, I scratched before washing them Oh well, I have creams and whatnot, it'll heal up

Looking good The 112h was the model I really wanted, but had to settle for the 111h. Oh well, maybe I'll be able to get one in the future Wear it well

At least it's not PlanetOceanitis Haven't had a flareup of that in a while, I think I'm over the worst of it

I can't top the medical advice you've been given, but, as someone with a 6mm diameter wound in their forearm (that'll teach me not to scratch) trust me when I say I sympathise Get well soon

Wow. That is one tasty watch.

So you bought from overseas and had no trouble?

P.S.

PT is one of the best in the world no arguing there but wondering about overseas...

Absolutely. I've had watches come from China, Malaysia and Thailand, all came through without problems

thanks for the advice teejay. im really thankful for having found this forum with supportive and helpful folks

No problem at all, I'm always happy to help. A few months back I ordered a Panerai 111h from my usual dealer, and it had a problem where the power reserve was non-existant, and despite keeping perfect time, it would stop after an hour or so. I emailed them and asked if I could exchange it for a different model, they agreed, so I shipped it back, and received the replacement watch (I'd chosen an Omega Aqua Terra for my dad) To be honest, it wasn't a flaw that the dealer could have seen while inspecting the watch so I didn't hold it against them, and, they resolved the issue in a single email, no quibbling or argument at all. I've since customized the Aqua Terra and gave it to my dad for his birthday a few weeks back, and actually ordered another 111h from the dealer. This one hasn't had any problem at all with the power reserve, and has hardly left my wrist (other than winding and photos) since it arrived I'm sure you'll be able to work something out with your dealer and come to a mutually satisfactory resolution

Well that might be true, but... the dictionary defines it differently

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/handcraft

So it is a lie to say it's hand crafted or hand made. It involves a mechanical device to complete it somehow, which takes it out of this realm. The only part he could say is handcrafted would be the cutting.

But this is not unusal. Almost every TC strap is done this same way. It is called handmade but there are many mechanical devices used in the process.

I'm not going to argue dictionary definitions with you, we'll just have to agree to disagree To be honest, as long as a person is in control of the tools (ie it's not a computer operated automatic machine) then I would personally consider that to be good enough to be considered hand-crafted, although I would be happy to agree that there is still a difference between using a hand-operated tool (like a hand file) and using a 'labor-saving' tool like a dremel, as one process is involving 'elbow grease', the other just requires the skill to use the tool properly

now i realise when the error occurs, whenever i wear it and make adrupt movements it goes faster. Also, when i take it and swirl around (gently) it goes slightly faster afterwards (e.g. few secs gain)

i noticed once when it stopped moving all together.

this sucks guys. am depressed.

That definitely doesn't sound good. Could be the hands slipping, could be cogs slipping, I really don't know enough about movements to diagnose the problem, but I can tell you that it shouldn't be behaving in the way it is... A jeweller could probably fix it (or install a new movement) but why pay them to do it, when the dealer sent you something that's clearly faulty? Ship it back to the dealer and ask for an exchange or refund. You'll likely have to pay the shipping to return it, but better the cost of that than a repair bill which could be at least twice the shipping costs... Best of luck getting the situation resolved

How do you guys normally have it shipped here? Do you ever have to pay import duties?

Anybody know a good watch smith in central/ north west London?

My stuff has arrived both by regular mail and by courier (Parcel Force take over the local end) and never had a problem.

I couldn't suggest a specific watch smith, but I've found the best ones to try are the independant family owned stores. In London, I can't imagine you'd have much trouble finding one

She told me that hers is the UPO as well.

And i quote thru our emails

"yes, it is swiss eta 2824-2 automatic, super AR coating. i think you can see my movement picture and AR color picture on the web. it is the same as the other dealer who said it is UPO."

Anyways, i just want to ensure that i have a swiss eta movement - my intention of spending more on my first rep is to get a good 1, not a movement gaining 10+ secs now when i adjusted the time < 1/2 hr ago!

It's gaining +10 in less than half an hour?? Send it back right now. Don't bother taking it into a jewellers to be regulated, that kind of gain, when taken over a 24 hour period is huge. It shouldn't gain +10 in a day, so it certainly should not be + 10 in 30 minutes...

Sorry to say it, but it sounds like you've been sent a lemon

Yo TJ ..This is how it will "precisely" look like... :p hope it helps

Awesome, thanks

That was what I envisioned from the descriptions, thanks for the visual confirmation Time for me to see what's available