TeeJay

With a very small jeweller's screwdriver (I think 1.5mm is the correct size) All you need to do is unscrew a few pins, take the links out, and then re-screw them in. Don't forget, that the inside of your Submariner clasp is taken up by the diver's extension, so should be left in the position it is in. Look on the inside of the bracelet, at the links directly around the end of the clasp. One should have a small ring, about 2mm wide engraved/stamped into the middle section of the link. That is the link you use to operate the diver's extension, so that one has to stay in place. Anything between that link and the end of the strap, is fair game though Best of luck

None taken. I was in two minds about it, but it just wasn't working, so the watch went straight back on the SS Bracelet. The strap should go fine with an X-33 or Aqua Terra though, so not a total waste of time and money The second picture wasn't really showing the true colors, as they aren't really as bright as that. The wrist shot is the more accurate coloring.

Just to update and put minds at ease...

How about an Omega Aqua Terra with a white dial, and either black or brown strap, depending on the color of your shoes and belt?

The SMP is back on it's bracelet

My point entirely. To be honest, full body suits are not the normal fare of the 'dodgy tattoo parlors'

Do you know how much money a full Japanese sleeve (let alone a full body suit) would actually cost? A good sleeve alone would easily cost as much, if not more, than a gen Omega...

I'll take that as a polite way of saying it would look better on the SS Bracelet My idea for the leather strap was the watches worn by Sean Bean and Pierce Brosnan at the beginning of Goldeneye. I think that the strap might be better reserved for the Aqua Terra or X-33

To address the boldened question, I guess it really depends on how knowledgeable the sales person is that you speak to. An experienced watchsmith thought my Submariner was genuine until he opened the case, so yes, there are definitely reps available that will pass scrutiny, depending on who is looking at it. The thing is though, what's the point. Rhetorically speaking, is it so important to have a watch which is 100% accurate to a gen, and if so, why? The only reason I can think of, is to try and pass it off as gen. 'Flaws' and variation are what make reps fun. (as well as being a better value for money buy than a gen brand watch)

That's absolutely fantastic work. Master Hiroshi is indeed one of my 'tattoo heros'. I don't think I'll ever be able to have a tattoo done in the traditional manner, so was contenting myself with getting those aspects of the design as traditional as possible.

Okay, so I saw this strap a week or so ago, and thought it would be excellent for putting on my SMP, and the Aqua Terra and X-33 I have planned to buy. My fiance bought it for me today as an early birthday present, and I threw it on the SMP as soon as we got home. Now, personally, I liked it immediately, but, her reaction was rather lack lustre, and she said she prefered the watch on it's original SS Bracelet, and that rather dented my opinion of the strap... Here are a couple of photos I just took for people to give their opinions. Should I keep the SMP on the strap, or put it back on the SS Bracelet and just keep the strap for the Aqua Terra? Thanks in advance

Does Ruby sell the straps individually? It might be worth getting a strap and then fitting on Omega buckle. The rounded tops of the strap are very similar to the strap shown on the Aqua Terra on the Omega website, and Ofrei sells them, but they can only be sold within the US as it is from an Exotic Animal, so that would be an excellent substitute. I'm still in two minds about how it looks...

Fair enough, I just wondered if it was a deliberate choice for ease of closure

That's an awesome picture. I really like the strap, may I ask where you got it? I think it would go very well with the Omega Aqua Terra I'm planning on getting in a few weeks. As for my own wrist... I'm still wearing my new Omega SMP which arrived tuesday, but, I'm now wearing it on a brown leather strap. I'll try and get a photo taken later, as I really need more opinions about the strap as I like it, but my fiance doesn't...

That's a fine looking watch One question though, why is the bracelet on upside down? I've seen a few people wear watches on straps 'back to front', and they claimed it was quicker to work the buckle, the other was a machinist who presumeably wore his strap backwards so excess strap wouldn't protrude from his wrist, which could be a real snagging hazard in a machine shop. Is yours on upside down for similar reasons (easier to fasten)?

Thanks, that's a really good perspective. From what Eunomians said about 3/4 sleeves being most common in Japan, I've decided that that's what I'll have done, because my idea was for the Japanese aspects of the suit to be as traditional/Japanese as possible. That's an awesome sleeve in your picture, is it a full suit, or just a single sleeve and chest-piece?

I've worn both my Submariner and my Daytona into Omega AD, and put them on the counter while trying on the Omegas, but the staff hardly gave them a glance, and were more interested in talking to me. I have worn my black Planet Ocean into an Omega AD while enquiring about the price of the PO rubber strap (to compare to ofrei's price) This is the same AD I've worn my Submariner into, and again, the staff were more interested in talking to me than checking out my watch (I had a shopping bag in that hand) I'd certainly never wear a rep into it's own AD and leave it on the counter for possible questioning, in that instance, (say I asked to see a display model) then I'd just slip the rep in my pocket while they were getting the watch rather than putting it on the counter. I did that while wearing my project watch, when I asked to see a 2254.50 and the Casino Royale Planet Ocean. There was absolutely no way I'd let the staff get more than a passing glance at that watch I really don't get the mentality of wearing a rep into that brand's AD and flashing it under the staff's nose. I mean seriously, what's the point? So you 'pull it off' and it isn't called out as a rep, big whoop... Chances are the staff have simply been instructed never to call out a rep of a potential customer, so it's not like they really believed it... And if you do try and pass it off and get called out, then that's one place you're never going to want to show your face again... Being upfront about it being a rep, still not the best idea, but fair enough, but attempting subterfuge, just pointless and juvenile.

Well, it's funny you should say that....

Just incase anyone's interested, these are my designs for the rest of the body-suit. The blank areas are where I already have (or plan to have) tribal work. Front: Back:

Thanks, that's a real compliment that a Japanese person would approve of my designs. If 3/4 sleeves are most common in Japan, then that's what I'll go with. My left sleeve design is no problem, I'll simply have the clouds terminating under the maple leaves, but the right sleeve might require some signifigant revision. I might just entrust that part to my tattoo artist. Thanks tattoos are indeed rather addictive. What started out as a small glyph on the back of my neck, and a design across the back of my shoulders and deltoids, now extends over my shoulders, collar-bones, lower neck, and down as far as my elbow joints. (A design inspired by Blade's tattoos) My overall aim is to have some more tribal work done, and expand my shoulder tattoo down my spine, and then have the Japanese-style tattoos building off from those 'foundations', to create a body-suit that is both contemporary and traditional.

Sorry I missed your reply on 'the first pass', and thanks for the experienced opinion I'm thinking ribs and inner upper arms will likely be the most painfull areas, but, I know it'd be worth it for a good design. I'm starting to think that maybe 3/4 sleeves might be better, even if it does mean revising the design I have.

This is the thing, work wise, it doesn't matter as I'm self-employed. All I'd need to be sure of, if I ever had to enter a corporate environment, was that the shirt material was thick enough to completely obscure anything underneath. I love the designs I've come up with, but my concern is how they'd look at the wrist, so I'm now thinking a 3/4 sleeve might be best. These are the existing full-sleeve designs... Left Arm: Right Arm: I'm now wondering if something like this length might be better... Ironically, it was Ami's tattoos that were making me think twice about going for the full-sleeves... Took me ages to work out he was wearing a Breitling. Until I saw that pic a while back, I just thought he was wearing some cheap-ass chunky watch My existing main tattoo already extends to the elbow joint, and no short sleeved shirt covers it, and I have a small glyph on the inside of my left wrist, so I've already 'broken the elbow' theory

Okay, so I'm quite an enthusiast of body art, and am wrestling with the idea of having a full Japanese-style body-suit tattooed, which, if I work to my planned design, would include full sleeves to the wrists. I love the design I've come up with, but, am concerned that nice-looking watches might not go so well with tattooed wrists, and I'm wondering if it might be as well to have the sleeves only 3/4 length, so I could still roll my sleeves back a little without exposing any ink. This is a fairly traditional idea, and would also be a better balance with the leg designs, which only ever come to mid thigh (knee at the very lowest) What do people think? Would 3/4 or full sleeves be better for a watch/tattoo enthusiast like myself?

Directing someone (even if they are a Fed) to Andrew constitutes 'destroying the hobby'? Plenty of other dealers besides him and Josh out there, if one's prepared to put in the legwork to find them

We all know that that's not really true, don't we...