TeeJay

I'd say that it's definitley worth it, as it gives us an interest, gives us goals to strive for (whatever they may be) and ultimately, because it gives us pleasure...

Indeed, I'm not swimming in cash, but neither am I begging for change, but I've now got a collection of nice watches, which is something that's always interested me. I have a watch which I wanted for about 10 years. Yet now I own it, I have found there are better watches available (in my opinion) and I never wear it anymore... Even if I won the lotto I wouldn't replace every watch in my collection with gens, as I just don't think they're worth the price tag. As much as I love spending money, and as much as I am '[censored] rich', at my core, I am essentially a penny-pinching scrooge and will not pay a penny more for something, over what I perceive it's actual worth to be... Given I have an

Can't wait to see the photos, I have some FrankenSubs of my own planned

TeeJay>>

My first pet was a guinnea pig.

Lovely creatures.

What most people don't know is that they have quite some character.

In Sweden Fred Flinstone is simply called Flinta.

That's what I named her(!).

Same here, I had a pair of guineas when I was 8 who lived for 7 and 8 years, respectively. More recently, we decided to get a pair of Himalayan guineas last year, then just kept on getting more, till we have our herd of 7. Two sets of paired males, one set of paired females (twin sisters, actually from triplets) and Patches, who has to be kept seperate from the others or she fights with them It's wierd, she hates guinea pigs, but loves people...

Indeed, they have loads of character, even the more 'reserved' guineas have character in their own way, they are indeed lovely creatures and I'd say they are pretty much the ideal pet

Indeed. Just goes to show that owning anything requires patience, love, and a good sense of humour. And money...

Absolutely. I'd equate having a small pet like a guinea to having a child, as both are entirely reliant on the owner/parent for care, food and shelter, and, unlike a child, a guinea will be reliant on it's owner all it's life...

Cute cute!

Name?

(always wanted to use that emoticon)

Her name is Patches. We adopted her from a friend of my fiance's, who had found her in her garden shed in a rat poison box, covered in rat poison. (It turned out the next door neighbours had bought two guineas, one had died, so they are suspected of 'letting her go' ) She was taken in, cleaned up and made comfortable, but not expected to survive the night. When she did survive, they couldn't keep her as they had dogs and cats, so we said we would take care of her (we already had two guineas at the time, we now have seven) and the only conditions were that we pay for the cage, and that we kept the name she had been given by the friend's children. We've now had her just over a year, and she is without question the favorite of our guineas. Although they are sociable 'herd' animals, Patches does not like the company of other guineas, and only enjoys Human company, but with people, she is extremely loving and friendly

Check these links Teejay

http://members.optushome.com.au/heliosz/jamesbond.html

http://www.qualitytyme.net/pages/rolex_art...submariner.html

Excellent info, thanks

This is actually the one that Connery wore in Dr. No...

Are you sure about that? The watch Connery wore in Dr.No was on a black leather strap, and belonged to producer Cubby Broccoli...

Kind of hard to justify spending so much on a bezel when the dial is so far off...

Given the price of the real thing, the cost of the insert is nothing. The owners of the website will also custom produce dials for $150 a piece. I asked if they could to a 6200 dial, but in modern colors (as if the dial was newly manufactured, not 54 years old) and they said that wouldn't be a problem...

Holy crap those inserts are way expensive...at that point it may be cheaper just to buy an MBW vintage.

Expensive, but accurate...

Besides, when the watch itself is this cheap, why not go crazy on the extras

Ahh, I thought you had inadvertently answered my question -- about which version I should choose, as most authentic to the time period and 007 -- but no! Turns out Sean Connery wore this one in Dr. No, which will be my choice:

So thanks for nothing, TeeJay!

P.S.: Sorry to hear about your guinea pigs.

Yes, that might've been what Connery wore, but, in the novel of On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Fleming wrote that Bond's watch was a 'Rolex Oyster Perpetual' (no mention of Submariner, and, for someone who wrote precicely what Bond ate/drank/drove, I think that is crucial in meaning that that wasnaming the watch, rather than describing it. In another chapter, it is said that Bond looked at 'the large, luminous numerals'. The only watch which had 'large, luminous numerals, and only had Rolex Oyster Perpetual on the dial, was the 6200, circa 1953. In 1955, they attatched then name 'submariner' to the watch...

Indeed, the guinea is fine, her teeth will have fully regrown in two weeks, it was just annoying that she'd snapped the two top teeth off, as that meant the bottom teeth also needed removing, so they'd grow back evenly. Had it only been one tooth (of either set) it wouldn't've required a trip to the vet. Oh well, that's the responsibility of being a pet owner

Here's a picture from when we got her last year...

Can you share your source with me TeeJay?

Thanks!

Indeed,

ClassicWatchParts.com

The bezel its self is more of a problem

Indeed. All the more reason to just buy the watch from Silix, order a new insert, and swap them over I had planned on grinding down a Sub's crownguards to make this case, but, if I can just buy one with a suitable case, that saves me a load of work. I'll just use the other Submariner to make a Tudor

I would be in for a UK group buy, as the price is excellent, but an emergency yesterday meant I had to take one of my guinea pigs to the vets to get broken teeth removed, and that cleared out the last of my money till I next get paid. If there'd be one of the Submariners with numerals left in two weeks, I'll definitely buy one. (Watch at the top of this picture) I don't like the bezel insert, but know where I can get a correct one for that model watch...

In terms of practical readability, I'm not a fan of skeletons... In terms of aesthetic appreciation, I think that looks freaking awesome

I'm still wearing this one, and will be doing so till my other Omegas come back from the watchsmith. Sure, it's not perfect, but, it's still a really nice watch, and, the majority of the viewing public wouldn't have a clue :happy:

Awesome work If you're looking for a bracelet for it, I believe ClassicWatchParts.com sells the old-style bracelets

Nice to read your positive experience with Tony's afterbuying customer care.

But I keep my reservations about cqOut's customer protection.

What can I say.... Tony has always behaved in an extremely pleasant and professional manner, in all aspects of our dealings, and, it was nice to see that when things hadn't gone quite as planned, he lived up to his promises to return a product, rather than some dealers people have mentioned, who simply stop acknowledging emails... Absolutely top guy, I'd recommend him anytime

I would have to say go for the full ceramic version rather than a coated version. No matter how carefully treated, a coating will eventually chip, spoiling the appearance. Even regular wear, which causes the links to rub against each other, will remove sections of coating... This is why I put my fiance's J12 on a faux-leather cuff-strap... Sure, the watch itself still took a few knocks, but at least it didn't have the damaged bracelet pulling it down too...

By that, he meant it'd not make his balls ache. Long story ...

Sounds interesting, do tell

There's an 18 month waiting list for the DB9, with people selling them as soon as they get them to people willing to pay more to jump the queue. Do you think this practice were possible if the cars were tailor-made? Think of the resale value of a car you had to wear platform shoes to drive because it was made for Herman Munster.

When you put it like that, you're right, it doesn't make a whole load of sense, I was going purely by what I'd read about Hugh Grant's comments.

Anyway, to use your hot-rodders as an example, what makes Boyd Coddington's time worth more than a Ford engineer? I mean his time is worth more and that is reflected in his prices, but why?

In terms of One Man's time, absolutely nothing. The difference being though, if you have deep enough pockets to go to Boyd Coddington, you get a car which is 100% custom made to exactly what you want. Take the same amount of money to a Ford dealership and tell them you want this and that done to the car, painted with reverse-faded candy paint, and I think you'd be politely, but firmly, shown the door... Exact same principle with a watch smith. Pay the price, and he'll make whatever you want. Try it in an AD for a big name like Rolex or Omega, and they'd be unable to accomodate your request...

Now apply that to Rolex's chief designer and Omega's chief designer. They're obviously higher paid than the guy that designs Orsa or Oris watches and that salary has to be passed on to the final price of the watch. The Planet Ocean instantly has more value because Omega used more market research, costing them more R&D that simply cannot be actively applied to the manufacturing cost as parts and labour.

Indeed, the salaries have to be included in final cost, but, put it this way, rather than selling one watch for $1000, if they were to drop the price to $100, I bet that there would still be enough sales (probably more sales due to the reduced price) to cover those original salary requirements... With regards costs, I wasn't really talking about the R&D and whatnot, but the actual monetary value of the watch itself and it's components. Ie, how much in terms of Raw Materials, would it actually cost to make the watch... If that was as high as it would seem, ie if the watch was actually worth $1000, and being sold 'at cost' + salaries, then the rep factories simply wouldn't be able to afford to make them, even without having to cover the salaries of designers and R&D consultants...

I think that kind of sums up all I said before in this thread in a nice, neat little sentence.

To me, it doesn't matter the cost of the gen because, due to the faults and shortcomings of the reps, there's still an absolute price point I think they're worth.

One rep isn't worth $500 (because it's based on a $10k watch) to me compared with another only being $150 (based on a $2k) when that $500 rep still might have missing screws, stripped crown, no oil and lots of dirt, etc. just like the cheaper one.

Absolutely

For the forseable future, I'll be wearing this:

As today, I took my Planet Ocean in for regulation and waterproofing, as well as taking in my X-33 to see if it was repairable.

I'm sure I'll cope :biggrin:

If using Aston Martin as an example doesn't fit, try Jaguar vs Ford. They're made in the same factory, in some cases with the same parts, yet a part coming out with a Jaguar badge on it is more valuable than a piece with a Ford badge.

Absolutely. Pretty much my point entirely.

ps. The DB9 isn't 'custom made' as much as 'sold with optional extras'. It's like getting an IWC with a rubber strap or paying a bit extra for the Croc or the Stainless. They don't measure your legs and shape the cockpit around them, so dispel that illusion immediately.

Really? I remember reading about when Hugh Grant ordered a DB9, and said that there was a ludicrous waiting list, but didn't mind waiting, as it would be 'tailored' to his measurements...

Wtches are harder to "custom make" apart from maybe a modified dial, different strap, and maybe an engraving somewhere.

With your example of the Aston Martin, it's not a drastic change - if you see a DB9 on the street you recognize it's a DB9. They don't put spoilers and wings all over the place and put in James Bond style weaponry if you ask for it... or do they ?

As far as I know, it's the interior being custom designed, much like changing a strap on a PAM

I admit, the Aston-Martin is not a dramatically personalized car, in that it is still recognizeable. But, it is still tailored to the buyer, so that makes it that bit more personalized than someone buying a car from a dealer and choosing what color they want the paint and uphostery, but, as mentioned, right at the top of the scale in terms of customization, are the creations of Boyd Coddington, as they are built to customer specifications.

Indeed, watches are harder to customize, but not impossible, this was what I was meaning in terms of would they agree to fabricate new parts (say five huge links or ten tiny links) or would they just say "here's the parts list, go nuts..." Try walking into a Rolex AD and asking for a customized Sub... I bet that'd get laughed at more than someone flashing a rep

Hope it turns out well for you!

I have a hard time wearing anything but my off-white VC... it fits just about any situation.

Fingers crossed with the deal

I don't think it'll beat my Omegas for wrist time, as I think I might consider it 'too small' for extended periods of wear... (although I'd agree it certainly seems to be a very versatile watch )

Easy solution, is for By-Tor to contact the website they are appearing on, explain the situation, and request the images be withdrawn from the servers with immediate (say 12-24 hr) effect. If not, then their liable for theft of intellectual property (the photographer retains lifetime rights to images they create)

How stupid will the seller look, when their sale features blank spaces with little red Xs where the pictures once went, or, better yet, an image saying the photos were removed for X reason (as when Imageshack remove reported images) Very easy to resolve, next to impossible to prevent recurring...

My 'best rep' in terms of quality of replication, is my Rolex Submariner, which I bought for $800 from EuroFakes. It now sits on the shelf gathering dust because I now prefer Omega watches...

My 'favorite rep' is a coin-toss between the watches in my 'Casino Royale' collection: My Planet Ocean Big Size, and my 2220.80 SMP. The PO is a larger watch, the strap is more comfortable than an SS Bracelet, and it has a more 'rugged' feel to it. The SMP is more 'decorative' in terms of dial pattern and bracelet links.

To be honest, I'd rather wear my faulty X-33 than my Submariner now... The only reason I keep it is sentimental value, as it was the first 'expensive watch' I bought, and was a model I'd wanted for years...

same here on replicas... look on ebay... you will see replicas without branding... how much cost they? Less than reps with branding. So we pay for the name... on genuine watches... also on replica watches.

Yes, that was precicely my point. Be it a replica, or a genuine item, whatever The Product might be, a Name Tag will automatically command a higher price than an Unbranded item, even if the only difference is that Name Tag. Adding a name to an item does not increase the actual quality of the item though, it simply increases it's commercial value.

The point I was trying to make with watches, which I had to illustrate with cars, is that in the car world, if you spend enough money, you get an item that is not only hand-crafted (which I agree watches are), but an item which is also customized and 'tailored' to the buyer's preferences. With a watch, the only way to get a customized watch, is to go to a watch maker (or build it yourself) that is not the same as buying an expensive branded watch, and having it made just to your specifications. Indeed, would a company like Rolex or Omega even make something specifically to order for an individual purchase? If so, how 'flexible' would they be with the customer? Would they allow 100% creative freedom to make literally whatever the person wanted, or, as with the Submariners with Arabic script, would they give the buyer 'options', like when buying a regular car? Even the Panerai Slytech was not a totally unique, one-off watch for Stalone, but a case of the company taking his input, and making a production series from that, which they knew they could sell more that one unit. Where as back in 'car world', with the Aston-Martin DB9, or a Boyd Coddington hotrod, the customer gets something which is unique to them and their personal requests. (obviously the hotrods are more unique than the Aston-Martins )

As an aside, I think Boyd owns a gold Daytona. I've seen Chip Foose (who personally I rate much more highly as an artist and designer) wearing a red/black GMT Master II, and several other watches which I couldn't actually identify...

compare gen prices with fake prices is one thing

compare price of gen watch with another gen watch is a different thing!

some gen watches has a good price (in compare with gen watches... not reps) - others are to expensive

Rolex Seadweller price is ok. Manufacture movement, superp quality, a BIG name, development in worth, good service etc etc etc

other gen watches are to expensive and not worth the money... enough expamples!

But also exist good reps and reps which not worth any cent... Daytona second 6! One of the badest rep.

Indeed, all very valid points.

All I've saying, is that just because something has a 'Big brand name', that does not automatically mean that the product is worth a high price tag. I feel that high-price tags on products (be it cars, clothes, watches) should only be reserved for things which are totally customised to a client's requirements. For example, a Boyd Coddington Hot Rod is worth way more than, say, a Bugatti Veyron, purely because the entire thing has been 100% custom made for the client.

(For the record, I am a huge admirer of Chip Foose' artistic abilities, and he is one of my 'business idols')

Um ... that's capitalism. Everything is worth exactly what someone is willing to pay, it's the definition of value. It's how things work, apparently.

What makes an Aston-Martin or Jaguar worth more than a Ford Mondeo? Made by the same sort of people out of the same components and raw materials, yet one is without a doubt worth more than the other.

You collect replicas because of this value, one way or another.

I know what you mean, but, just because someone is willing to pay X amount, that doesn't mean that The Product (whatever that may be) is actually worth the associated price tag.

Aston-Martin is something of a flawed comparison... The DB-9 (I believe that's the model) is individually customized to the owner's personal measurements. I remember reading about it when Hugh Grant ordered one.

Rolex, as far as I know, do not make a product which is so individually tailored. Sure, they might throw some Arabic writing on the dial for wealthy patrons, but in terms of 'tailoring' the case and link sizes, they are still just standard issue components, they wouldn't make a bracelet with say five huge links, or ten tiny links (or whatever would be needed for Mr X's wrist)... Sure, they're both considered 'luxury products', but one is still way above the other. It's like comparing a hand-tailored Saville Row suit to the best off-the rack Armani, Gucci, Calvin Klein etc. Neither product is 'bad', but one is still considerably 'more deserving' of it's price tag than the other, although it could still be argued that one could have an equally nice, and equally well made hand tailored suit from Thailand, for about $20...

In all fairness to her though, Cait doesn't live with us so never actually saw the watch 'in person', so it's not like she actually stole something she'd taken ownership of She isn't that mean