TeeJay

Like there's any question what's on my wrist at the moment

Wow, whoever wrote that has more issues than a news stand. What a freak. I like Star Wars as much as the next guy, but that makes me somewhat ashamed to admit that... The thing that got me the most about the post, was the "don't touch what you can't afford" playground mentality. My impression, might be right, might be wrong, was that the OP is a spoiled brat in their teens with wealthy parents, who is always given what they want, was given a Panerai, and has now forgotten that they did not actually pay for it themselves, and that owning one makes them a morally superior person Personally, I would not buy a gen high-end watch even if I could afford to, because I think paying that kind of money on a watch is crazy. I have a quartz Casio which cost me about

I already have an Omega SMP Chronometer and a Panerai Luminor 44mm Power Reserve....

The vintage Rollies are OK, but are suspicious to wear as well - who owns a completely flawless wristwatch from the 1950s or 1960s with absolutely no wear and tear on any of the parts?

So far the consensus seems to point to the two-tone...

When I get one, I'm going to find someone to 'distress' it, so it will look like a 60 year old watch

The Planet Ocean might make a nice change from your SMP Chronometer, and, as far as display visibility goes, they are way superior to the Subs. Of the ones you've shown, I'd agree that the TT looks the nicest, but I personally wouldn't buy either, but that's just me. If you fancy living dangerously, why try this...

1 = Rolex TT Black

2 = Omega Planet Ocean

3 = Rolex Solid Gold Black

4 = Rolex Solid Gold Blue

5 = Rolex SS Vintage

6 = Rolex TT Blue.

Now roll a dice, and whichever number comes up, that's the watch you buy

The TT looks nicer than the full gold. However, I would suggest something completely different. If you definitely want a Sub, I would suggest one of these Vintage Beauties:

If you were willing to go for a different brand, I would suggest a Planet Ocean 42mm on SS bracelet. Even though my PO was less accurate than my Sub, that got priority wrist time as it is, in all honesty, a vastly superior watch. I can't wait till it comes back from getting the crown repaired, I'm really starting to miss it.

Haven't seen a Rep Tudor Sub apart from Randy's and By-Tor's so thought i would post my newly finished Military Sub inspired by By-Tor's MBW version. Spec is as follows:

1:1 aftermarket case.

Original Tudor Dial. Aftermarket hands from Hong Kong.

2836 engraved movement with date gearing removed (Original has a 2784).

Original vintage crown and tube.

Original Rolex Tropic 19.

Ofrei bezel insert which turned blue in the bleach.

Bond Nato strap.

P.

That is freaking awesome! That model of Tudor is the color-scheme I am working towards with my 2531.80 project watch. Out of curiosity, how did you get the color of the lumes on the dial and hands to match up? Absolutely fantastic watch, I bet that's going to be getting a lot of wrist time

Nice mod for putting the Bond strap on the watch. Personally, I prefer the original strap as it is more understated, and the Bond strap is a bit 'over powering', but that's just my own opinion... Nice work

This wasn't really something I considered until watching Coronation Street afew weeks ago, and I noticed that the actor who plays Les Battersby was wearing an Omega. From the quick glances, it's hard to tell which model it is, but my guess is the 2531.80 or 2541.80. He tends to wear it with the case on the inside of the wrist, so it is mainly the bracelet and clasp which are visible, but the markings on the clasp (and the deployment buttons) are a noticeable, as is the vaguely blue color of the face/dial. Just a quick glance on the TV, and that made me wonder... Is it the actor's own watch and the costume department simply let him wear it, (or don't even realize what he is wearing) or is it a costume prop and supposed to be a replica? (as Les Battersby could not afford a gen Omega) This got me thinking further...

In an episode of The A Team, there was a close up of the Bad Guy's watch (Gold DayDate) It was clearly a rep, because the second hand ticked. Given that the character owned a casino, he would have been easily able to afford a genuine Rolex, so this was obviously a case of suspension of disbelief for a prop.

In a flashback in an episode of Highlander, an Immortal army captain in Thailand pulled a two tone Submariner from his pocket to try and bribe a raped girl not to report his underling's misconduct. His buddy was shocked at the watch, and the captain's reply was "It came off the back of a truck" Clearly, this watch was also meant to be genuine, but it was not seen in enough detail to be certain. (I suspect, unless it belonged to one of the crew, that it was a rep)

Then there is the man himself, James Bond. In Tomorrow Never Dies, Bond pics up an Omega from a Chinese Armory. As this was a secret service issue, although the prop itself was most likely genuine, would it have been meant to be a genuine Omega, or, would it have been meant to be an Asian rep?

Hi all, just thought I'd tell y'all a little about myself.

I'm 28 and have been engaged for nearly three years. My fiance and I collect guinea pigs, and currently have six. I've been interested in watches since I saw my first Bond movie (Octopussy) and I was hooked. When I was about 11 or 12, I read On Her Majesty's Secret Service, and that was when I read that Bond wore a Rolex Oyster Perpetual with large luminous numbers (I suspect a vintage Submariner) I bought my first rep almost a year ago, and that was my Submariner. Since then, I got my Omega Planet Ocean, a Rolex Daytona and the Omega Seamaster 2531.80 which is, despite it's inaccuracies and ongoing status as 'project watch', the one I wear the most. When my Planet Ocean gets back from having the crown repaired, then that will be back on my wrist full time. I work as a self-employed Art Consultant, which is a job both as vague and specific as it sounds. When I was younger, I wanted to be a comic book artist, so have always had an interest in creative writing and anything artistic. Most lately, that has been coming out through desk top publishing (see avatar and sig) and tattoo design, although I do work in just about any design area. I've found this site an irreplaceable source of information, and I hope to continue to contribute for as long as it remains in existence

Thanks for your time

Have to admit, I've seen worse, like the ones where they are labelled RQLEX and such like. Another member showed their Canal Street Rolex a while back, and to be honest, I thought it was awesome. Might not have been an existing model of Rolex, but it was still a really nice looking watch that I'd've worn any day of the week

She's got one, Pugwash

I didn't think about a ladies YM for her, she really likes the GF's, thanks for the idea, TeeJay!

Looking at the J12's, I'm kinda partial to the BLACK ONE but most have recommended the white. Black not look good on a woman?

Thanks again for all the great suggestions, and she is getting a gen trip, Dutchy

No problem, I just figured that giving her yours would make it a more personal gift

The black J12s also look great, I think people just mention the white one more as that is the more commonly known one

Just another quick thought... If she likes your Yachtmaster, why not give her that, and use the money to get yourself something new? You sound very close, so I'm sure she would appreciate that more than another watch given as a gift, and, even if it was to get called out as a rep, it wouldn't detract from it's sentimental value, as it would still be 'your' watch...

Sorry for the delay, folks, it's been a busy evening...

I saw these in town the other day for

If they haven't sold out, I'm hoping to pick one up in about an hour Pics to follow if I'm able to buy one

I'd also say Chanel J12 with no diamonds. I got my fiance one for christmas from a dealer who deals in more 'low end' reps. they're a great person to do business with, 100% reliable, but, the watches themselves are hardly the best quality reps. I'm planning on getting her another more accurate J12 as the bracelet on this one is coated moulded links, not individual ceramic. However. She has the frustrating habit of not wearing a watch on a regular basis. Nothing to do with the quality of the watch, just what she's like as a person...

To get back on track.

Do not get your neice that Rolex. As mentioned above, people would rag her constantly about it and accuse her of wearing a rep, and that would detract from her enjoyment of it as a gift. She might not know many watch brands, but I can't imagine any woman not knowing about Chanel.

A J12 with no diamonds would be a much more suitable gift as it would be much more understated and elegant. Maybe even one it black rather than whte...

They also let Daniel Craig keep the one he wore for the publicity photographs with Eva Green and Caterina Murino. Pierce Brosnan was extended a similar courtesy during his tenure despite him having an individual contract as an Omega Ambassador. So there are indeed several 'official' watches.

What I want to know is when are they going to put the two battle scarred Aston Martin DBS's they used for the crash scene up for auction?? :D

It does not surprise me to hear that they let them keep a watch each. After filming Phantom Menace, Ewan McGregor's lightsaber strangely went missing... (which is why that had to chrome up a stunt prop for Attack of the Clones)

I think those beaten up DBs would either go for a good price, or sold at scrap prices. Depending on the actual damage done, they might indeed be salvageable. I read in a magazine a year or so ago that someone bought a scrapped Merc, and then with exceptional metal working skills 'kit-bashed' it into one of the top models, and it was even able to be fitted with Mercedes factory parts for the other model of car.

Hmmm - an undercover operative for MI6 who has his own range of merchandise with his code number on it, which he wears when out in the field?! I don't think so.

That's why I'd never buy one of the Limited Editions to wear (although I am planning on using the 'gun barrel Omega' as a donor for my project watch )

@TeeJay - it has been established that several of each type of watch was worn during the filming as they moved to different locations. The dirty PO was the one used when filming the outdoor parts of the free running scene.

Oh, and there's a Seamaster Pro as worn by Pierce Brosnan in Tomorrow Never Dies listed in the same sale (I'd link to it but the site is filtered where I work...)

Ahh, that's fair enough, and would certainly make sense, I just wouldn't've thought they would need to do that with each location Oh well... Happy Bidding folks

Chaps, my HEV button has gone missing. I was going to loctite the bugger on but before getting round to doing it, the little blighter has already done a runner.

Does anyone know where I can get hold of one please??

It's the Seamaster Pro Chrono 300m.

Anyone know the Otto Frei code for the item and if he holds them in stock?

Thanks

I would not like to say for absolutely sure, as I have not examined the gen SMP Chrono, but, I have seen reps where the HE Valve was the same as the crown. If it would be accurate, it might be easier to track one of those down and install that instead... As I say, I might be wrong...

Well,,,think how hard would it be to actually get that level of dirt on the underside of the case? it looks like someone just pushed it into the dirt.....but who wants to be rational about this?

Anyone who doesn't want to get fleeced bidding on a bogus auction

Sorry, but I'm actually going to be scheptical and say that I don't think those are the watches Daniel wore in the movie. I have seen pictures someone took at an Omega exhibition which featured his Planet Ocean, and it was spotlessly clean... Unless he had several POs throughout filming...

Here's mine... It is 99% out of the box unmodified (replacement bezel insert)

I like what you did by adding the second spring bar. This should take care of the annoying, protruding clasp issue on the leather strap models.

Thanks, I thought it up all by myself, so I'm particularly proud of that mod

I hate it when clasps protrude, so normally, I take out enough links that I have to put the bracelet's end pin in the last micro adjustment hole, but with the Daytona strap being leather, I didn't have the option of shortening it. I had a spare spring bar from an old quartz Timex with a dead battery, so thought I'd give it a try and see how it worked. I had to use a pair of flat nosed pliars to get enough force to push the second end of the pin into place over the bracelet, and I was expecting it to shoot back, but it's stayed firmly in place, and really does the job

the sub is ok, but the daytona screams fake to me. Sorry.

Hey, that's cool, I'm certainly not offended by that opinion. The Daytona is the poorest quality rep in my collection, and the watch that gets the least wrist time, as I only wear it when I wear brown shoes. I'm not as familiar with Daytonas as I am Submariners, so wondered if you could point out the tells? I know the tachymeter markings are triangular when most are round, but, on the Rolex Homepage, there is a Daytona which has those triangular markings...

Here are some much delayed pics of my two Rolexs. The Submariner is 99% out of the box unmodified (replacement bezel insert)

The Daytona is 98% out of the box unmodified (note extra spring bar at the end of the clasp holding it flat to the strap)

Wow, I just noticed I've got the VIP membership when I realized I could edit my posts Thanks very much, I shall use this new level of access to increase my knowledge to better help others

Great pics. Can I ask how big your wrist is? Mine is about 7 inches and I am not sure if I should stick with the 42 or go for the 45. There are no dealers within an hour of me so I can't even go and try them on. Also, does the rubber strap that fits on the 45 that bond wore also available for the 42? That might be a determining factor since I would want that rubber strap.

The rubber strap is available for the Planet Ocean 42mm, but, you will likely have to go to ofrei.com to order it. The 20mm resin Seamaster strap is quite readily available, but this has several differences to the strap for the Planet Ocean (different shape of notch holes, different spring pin placement, and does not have the words Planet Ocean on the inside, only Seamaster) As a result, although the Seamaster strap can be fitted to the Planet Ocean, the ends of the strap will not fit properly in the Planet Ocean lugs, and will gape away from the case when the strap is tightened. The differences between the two straps are quite noticeable when you know what you are looking for.

Omega Seamaster Strap:

Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Strap: