TeeJay

I'm getting the last day's wear out of the Aqua Terra I customized for my dad before I mail it off for his birthday friday. Have to admit, I never intended for it to be one I'd wear, but it has become a firm favorite

Thanks, and precicely. We're into watches because we like watches (for whatever reason), not because we want to show off how deep our pockets are... I find that it's only the nouveu riche (ie rappers, actors and other 'flash in the pan' celebrities) who insist on flaunting their wealth. I'm not one who believes that people should save their money, it's their money, they should spend it how they want, but I find it interesting that the people who have inherited wealth, or built themselves up in business (rather than entertainment) tend to be way more conservative in how they display that wealth... Nothing drives a nouveu riche person crazier than being treated like the regular schmuck they were before they scooped the lotto Which is precicely why I choose to buy rep watches, and generic clothes. In the case of clothes for sure, they're all made in the same sweatshops, it's just a case of half the batch get's GAP labels, the other half gets BargainBin labels, other than that, no difference whatsoever, so I can't see the point in paying out more for the 'expensive' label.

Of course they're afraid. They know that the majority of people, if they can get an identical, or near identical product for cheaper, will go for the cheaper option. I know that the nouveu riche like to throw money around like confetti (proving what shallow and ultimately tasteless individuals they are) but most people are not going to pay more for something than necessary, so those 'big companies' are indeed living in fear that their business practices, when revealed via replica goods, are going to cost them customers. In general... I know there are those who argue that reps are not 100% accurate, and there are those who try and get their reps 100% accurate so they can try and pass them off as genuine to others, but at the end of the day, what does it matter what it costs (other than to a shallow brand-name obsessed elitist) and as with cases where outsourced parts are being used, what difference does it make what factory eventually assembles the parts? The parts all come from the same place... I look at it this way. The watch on my wrist is real. (ie it is a physical object) It tells the time. The dial says 'Omega'. That's good enough for me. So it has an Asian movement in it. So [censored]ing what? Say I aquired a genuine Rolex and had to install a new movement. I wouldn't bust my ass trying to get a Swiss ETA to put in it, I'd put in whatever movement did the job and was easiest and cheapest to aquire. One person would say that it was a genuine Rolex, someone else might equally argue that by not having fully genuine parts, it was no longer genuine. I know that yes, these reps are not made in the factories, and my example is more a Ship of Theseus debate, but at the end of the day, what difference does it make to the owners? They still required assembly, precision parts, calibration, and look good and give pleasure to the person wearing it, so really, other than elitism, what does it matter...

All in all, I'd say to both parties, this is just a case of them getting their comeuppance. Hublot, like Omega and Rolex, have been found to outsource their part manufacture to China so they can keep down production costs, but still charge high prices to their clients. Good business practice for them, pretty shitty way of stiffing the customers for extra $$s because of a 'Brand Name'. This is precicely the reason why I buy rep watches and generic clothes. Not because I can't afford the 'Brand Name', but because I object to such consumerism and the abuses it leaves one open to. Bearing that in mind, these reps and the trade they take away from Hublot is their comeuppance for their use of outsourcing and artificially high price tags. Joshua, has been proven to lie to people and to try and manipulate them if he thinks he can get away with it. Being given a C&D notice is his comeuppance for that behaviour. He knew the risks of dealing in reproductions when he got into the business, so had to have been aware that oneday, one of the companies would take notice. This is no different to Disney giving a C&D notice to companies making unlicened Disney merch, or George Lucas issuing a C&D notice to companies making un-licenced replicas of lightsabers. In all honsty, I don't think anyone would have 'informed' the Hublot folks about Joshua, but think it can be traced back to the idiot who posted their HBB on Timezone and tried to pass if off as gen. Great move there, guy So before anyone wants to accuse or insinuate that I 'told tales', I would like to state that while I am not at all sorry that this has happened to Joshua, I was not in any way responsible for it happening.

I've put the 2900.50.91 back on

Thanks, and no problem Indeed, I find tracking down an elusive piece more fun than just going to an easy source. It's that hunting instinct coming out

Did James Bond ever take his watch off while 'on the job'? Good enough example for me to follow Joking asside, I almost never take my watch off while wearing it. I will take off a watch on a leather strap if I have a bath/shower/swim, but anything else stays on. Afterall, they're water resistant and designed to be worn under water, so why remove it? Same goes for night-time wear. They have luminous dials, and having it on the wrist saves having to turn on a night light to read the time, or fumbling about on a night stand and knocking things flying. I have never taken my watch off to go to bed, although I did once wake up to find myself undoing the strap on my watch I re-buckled it and went back to sleep

Hee hee, I wouldn't dream of touching your straps (see, I said this was a perversion rather than a habit ) Out of curiosity, where did you get your PAM strap which is mid-brown leather (possibly calf-skin) with blue stitching? I think something like that would look fantastic on the PAM I gave Emily's step-dad for father's day. The strap it came on is a mid brown leather, but I think the stitching would really go nicely with the hands (which stand out more due to it having a brown dial) I'm tempted to get a Strap Culture strap for myself, I'll see how good the fitted strap is when it arrives I don't know, my preference for overall 'styles' of watches remains Diver's Watches. I think that the way a PAM strap fixes to the case so low down, makes it appear to 'sit bigger' on the wrist than say the Omega 2900.50.91, which has more sculptured sides, and a strap which goes right to the edge of the bezel. I like the aesthetic of Panerais, but I can't see them ever becoming my favorite brand. I used to really like Rolexes, but Omega did a similar, but superior product, so took Number One preference. Panerai's product isn't similar enough to Omega's product to do a similar thing

I would suggest suggesting that the watch be worn on a different kind of strap, but, with an SMP, in all honesty, they do look best on the factory bracelets...

Congratulations indeed

I started out wearing the 2900.50.91, but mid-afternoon, had the compulsion to swap it over for the 2531.80. No wrist shots, but then y'all know what they look like

How many have you got now?

Well, I really wanted a 112h, but that wasn't part of the deal, so I had to go with the closest. I'll probably also get a PAM 1950 (I refuse to use 'the F Word' as it's a bit 'Ghettoriffic' ) as that's what Orlando Bloom wore in Elizabethtown, and, although I've not watched the film, nor am even a huge Bloom fan, my interest for collecting movie memorabilia allows that to qualify thus hee hee, I said 'phile' not 'holic', this is a perversion, not a habit Joking asside, I'm really looking forward to getting it, even if it does wind up as a paperweight 99% of the time. I'm sure I'll find some opportunity to wear it

I've tried to deny it, I've tried to hide it, and I've tried to repress my urges, but I've 'fallen off the wagon' I was given an offer I couldn't refuse, and now have a 111h, black dial on brown leather, on order. Not as a 'regular beater', but to add some diversity to my collection Pics to follow next friday

Likewise, I'm not trying to start a fight either, I'm just pointing out, that pointing out one's own positive experiences, as pointed out previously by Richard and others, helps no one. This is not a forum to promote A&J, but to protext people from any kind of scams or dishonest sales. This forum is here to protect us, not them...

That's great. For you. How about the other people who got totally screwed because they bought something expecting it to be something, but wound up with something else? Or who paid for a watch to be serviced, but received one that was untouched? The point of these threads, as several people have said, is to look beyond your own experiences, and consider what has happened to others as well, and consider what is best for the community as a whole

Time for beer... Yes, I've cracked open a Carlsberg I'd prefer a Red Stripe, but haven't got any in at the moment

Thanks, and no, I was thinking of something like one of these Thanks Thanks I tried to PM you the details, but your inbox is full, and, given that these boards are 'observed', I try not to give out dealer names on open forum. If you PM me once you've cleared your box down, I'll give you the scoop That's the plan Thanks It's probably not one I'd keep 'as is', but I definitely appreciate how it looks

Indeed, it's a pretty awesome dial (just not what I want this watch to be like) It reminds me of those old Blue Dial Rolexes

Ahh, more a case of 'personal customization' I can certainly go along with wanting to do things like that Once again, awesome watch

This is going to be the base for my White Seamaster dress watch project. I'm going to be installing a white SMP dial, and one of Omega's more fancy bracelets, but I thought I'd share a few pics of it in it's unaltered condition. For

Awesome watch, but one question... Why have the crystal ARd? The gen 2531.80 is not ARd...

I buy rep watches and I read the Holy Qur'an... Does that make me a terrorisisisisisist??

I've never been a fan of the B&R's square cases, but I do like the look of the color-scheme of that watch