omni

Just came across the thread, nice to see you have the same tastes Alan. That was a nice buy for someone, similar in looks to my vintage 1950's AP buy a couple of years ago although that one looks in better mint condition compared to mine. Great dress watch.

Col. is correct regarding the Homer Tourbillon. In my case, I have the full skeleton tourbillon with the Seagull ST80 flying duck. So how do you tell which you have? The ST80 looks very similar to the Blancpain design with a "flying duck" while the Liaong 5010 is the 4 screw design. ST80 Liaong 5010

I really loved your country on my first visit last March. My relatives made me promise to return so we will. Have a good day and congrats, you should be proud of your country. The USA is always one of your best friends, you can count on us to always be there when we need you! Hah!

As a sworn gearhead from the day I greeted adulthood, I loved digital when I first saw Johnny Carson exhibit the first Pulsar on the Tonight Show in the '60's, it was so cool and hip for the times. (Yes I'm very dated) I find it very serendipity with Richard's post that the very first "replica quartz" watch I ever actually purchased was a Tag Microtimer from Richard Lawton, which had to be at least 3 years ago? I would just buy anything "rep" at that time after careful consideration to the gen. You know you have the rep. fever if you can consider buying a rep. digital watch! (Do you hear that Teejay with your Suunto rep copies?) Here we are talking about digital becoming the king again. I believe it is the same as radios, at first as big as refrigerators because of the tubes, then down to the size of iPods when they first came out because of the invention of the transistor, then the "boom box" era as radios got bigger because of the backlash of the "sound quality" and wanting bling of a big boombox on your shoulder (think 60's - 70"s when most of the members were just being born.) It made no sense with the advance of micro electronics. How history repeats itself as if you think all your ideals and thoughts of fashion and taste were original. When you get my age, you kinda hafta laugh at the thought of your parents laughing at you when you swore you were the cutting edge and knew more about "where it was at" than they did..................Gad, life is such a joke and if you have a sense of humor, you can laugh with it, if you can't it's just a never ending swim upstream in the river of life that will sour your sense of humor like vinegar. Even if digital phones/watches/clothing/whatever accessory becomes mainstream, history will teach us sooner than later that we will all harken back to the past in perception that in our youth or our parents' generation that it was better times, so we latch onto the things that remind of us those times. All fashion is regurgitated, since I laugh that if I had kept my leather trimmed - embroidered hippy-dippy bell-bottom jeans from the late '60's they'd be right in style (think bootcut jeans today). What's old will become new, what's new will become old, TODAY'S LATEST WILL BECOME TOMORROW'S COLLECTIBLE COMMODITY. Mechanical watches already are what they are, mechanical works of art of a past era, coveted for when craftsmanship was an individual and tangible commodity. Its not really nostalgia, its exclusivity of appreciating the craftsmanship versus machine stamped manufacturing. Hand craftsmanship will always be exclusive no matter how great the advances of any industry. Couple that with the gizmo aspect of the male persona, you can see why this has always been mainly a man's passion through the ages since the first clock. Even if it is now considered a mainly male jewelry "accessory", it still is a gizmo that most women roll their eyes at and don't get. They like it for the jewelry aspect, we like it for the gear aspect whether it be digital/electronic or purist mechanical. Its irreverent whether we need something on our wrist to tell the time or not today with all the things that tell us time, Passion will always trump practicality.

Very eloquent posts with much to ponder and I'll probably repeat some of the good thoughts: The old saying that quartz has no soul still rings in my ears although I'm only a recent mechanical watch fan of 4 years and I've been around a long time, always the nerd with the latest digital tool watch. I still know the value and accuracy of quartz/digital and ramifications of the new LG video watch phone just revealed at the Vegas Electronics show convention. No real diver will put his life on the line with a mechanical movement when he can have the accuracy of a digital dive watch with a hellavu lot more functions than how much air time he has left. Nor a climber who needs more accuracy than a mechanical can give. Personally, I'm also now at the advanced age that I need an analog watch dial in an emergency as I can no longer make out digital numbers on a small watch dial without glasses , no reading glasses and I can't see the digits. I guess that's why us older folks are going for analog dials and my gravitation towards the bigger cased watches. I lost my love for the busy faced Breitling only because I could no longer have fun working the bezel timing computations without really squinting with my reading glasses! Luxury items will always be there for the wealthy, collectors, WIS, so there will always be a market for the Swiss mechanical watch producers, but only for the well established Pateks, Vacherons, Breguets, Omegas, Rolexes; not the fad stuff we have seen recently with the likes of Hublot Big Bang. The designer brands, Mont Blanc, Cartier, etc. will suffer. There is going to be attrition/shrinkage again in the Swiss watch industry as the younger generation use their cellphones to tell time instead of wearing watches, or wear their cellphone watches and us older generation pass on. For the last 30 year I have seen the typical business salesperson (mainly USA) that consider the entry level businessman's watch of choice that you've arrived is a Rolex sub, which is a perfect example of style/persona over its actual intended purpose, but I think that will also change. I have two sons in their 20's, both quite tech enabled, they prefer looking at their phones for the time and very seldom wear a watch. One likes my watches, but so far only the gizmos quartz that have functions other than time, its just a sign of the times. They can afford good mechanical watches but don't desire them, although if they inherit them, I'm sure the mechanicals will have some meaning. I am still buying some latest quartz for beach/yard/tool, and as I said above, if I could see all the midgit digital numbers, I'd have the latest coolest tech toy. But these are the kind of watches you throw away or give away rather than have someone like offshore fix. When they crump, there is no emotional attachment. Mechanical, on the other hand, will always have a following that the afficianado will pay to have fixed if it is status, artistic, rare and antique value, they will never dissappear or be wiped out by Digital. Digital Quartz is a precise tool, Mechanical is gear art, two different mindsets. I don't think one will kill the other, but some producers may blend like the Seiko springdrive to survive financially.

2 years with an asian Seagull movement tourbillon, no problems.

If you're even contemplating that question then I'd say no if those payments will be a burden on an income stream you're equally unsure of. On the other hand, the Porsche is a mental luxury that if you can afford it today with no concern, then buy it and enjoy it for as long as it is affordable. The big question, "Do I really need the car for my mental well being at the risk of my economic future." If you are used to living on the economic edge of taking chances, the answer is yes, no risk no gain. Just do it smartly and plan for the worst. I have all my retirement money tied up in retail development, it is quite evident to be a losing year for me nor the future that bright, yet I continue in buying those big-ticket consumer luxury goods that I deem affordable from studying the possible ramifications of the economic downturn to my own personal situation. For right now, they are affordable. The economic future has many aspects, some say wait until mid-year for the slide to halt, some say we will not see that until 2010, some even longer. It's all guessing, albeit, very-well educated guessing, just filtering how the big picture effects my industry. I don't care to point fingers of blame, its too late for that, only will we still go down the garden path to ruin or change course? Let see how the new administration handles it, it will either break my hopes for the future or cement it. I know where you are coming from. I also have a Porsche, I'm on an island (although not deserted) but don't care if I can rarely get it out of fourth gear without running out of road here. Its just a part of my current mental well being.

Just a gorgeous watch Lani and phoband, I've reviewed both your photo reviews. Congrats and wear them well. I also miss the snow but do not miss living in the ski resorts any longer, too cold for these old bones, that's why I'm here! Lani, remember, we have very early snow in the season on Mauna Kea this year, it has been cooler earlier. Links to Photos of Hawaiian Snow below: http://macprohawaii.blogspot.com/2008/12/s...-mauna-kea.html http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/...KING01/90106063

So just picked up my Airman 7 from my jeweler tonight. He said he could not mechanically tool the broken stem out of the crown that I broke off, so he just dissolved the steel stem in the crown with common alum off of the spice rack! He first tested it on the crown which had no effect as he said it must be made out of some kind of chrome white metal, so leaving the crown in a solution of alum for a day, it completely dissolved the steel stem piece that was stuck in the crown. I'd never heard of this trick so I thought I'd pass this tidbit on to the modders out their. To expand on this story, my auto-watchwinder had hard plastic holders that would barely hold this 53mm cased watch, and while putting it in one of the holders, I snapped the crown off the main movement. Needless to say the winder is now in the garbage since it was a cheapie anyway and I was pissed-off. Ordered a stem from Ofrei and hoped I didn't have to order a new crown from Glycine and wait forever. Happily this all worked out well and he had it back to me in 2 days. Have any of you ever heard of this before? Alls well that ends well and I didn't have to hassle ordering and waiting a month for a new Glycine marked crown. Cheers

Care to enlighten us that are on the purchase fence why the negative statement for the Storm? Keyboard, software, battery, browser? Doesn't do me much good without the reasons. I've read the reviews. Although I don't like hassles, I only use the qwerty keyboard in a pinch when I have to answer email right away and can't get to my laptop, since at 61, my eyes & tactile ability are less than 10 years ago. When answering emails, it has to be compellingly urgent for me to do it on the BB but I do it and its not that bad when squinting. I was thinking that the bigger touchscreen keyboard and the ability to have a bigger screen for showing off my "grandpa" wallet pictures is an advantage. Speed on a BB keyboard is not my greatest concern, its the reliability & software. So again, @dalayclass, what turned you off to the Storm and back to the normal familiar BB layout that the Bold has??????????? Regards, Omni

MR: Great unique hands on review I don't think I could have gotten even from CNET. I am a businessperson who travels, so Crackberry was my first choice 'cause I work through half a dozen email user accounts, instant email is important when response time can make a difference. I have a Verizon BB-8830 World Edition that works flawlessly phonecalls & emailwise internationally as if I was on home turf. Pretty neat to have someone call you locally and you say you are currently in another country as if you sounded next door. I'm sure the new iPhone 3G works just as good on voice but I doubt it does as instant on the email internationally. Another factor why I got this BB was the talking GPS, mounted on the windshield of a plethoria of rental cars, it has saved having to carry an extra GPS device on a trip. I'm into lightening the travel load schlepping. The new Storm has intrigued me as you have just confirmed what I thought it would do, satisfy my inner nerd for a gizmo toy Iphone with emphasis on touchscreen ease, games, videos, music & camera while still being connected businesswise internationally. I think most professionals who travel use Blackberry as my most recent trip to OZ & NZ revealed, the business peers all had BB. A road warrior note: To solve your running out of power on the go, look into my solution, an iGo N136 charger with several different adapters that charge with normal AA batteries. I recently used it to emergency charge up my headphone, phone & laptop on an extended tour bus ride. Also the wall plug-in iGo can charge all your devices on the road in your hotel room (cameras too) with just one charger, you just need to buy the extra octopus looking cords and extra adapter plugs, but it sure beats having to carry all the different chargers for the different devices and cuts down a briefcase load of crap.

Happy Birthday Dave, I'm honored that you thought enough to put me on your email Christmas & New Year's list. Nice to see you up, about and out. Offshore and I need more fellow 60+'sers around here so don't be a stranger. Gunnar doesn't know the secret but after 60 God puts you on autopilot, that's how we can drive home after downing a bottle or so! Enjoy another year......all the best. Omni

No ka'oi post lani. Mahalo nui loa and Hau'oli Makahiki Hou bruddah, Omni

Funny you should open this thread, I'm looking forward to it because that's whats cookin' for dinner tonight and I'm not sure what all my wife puts into it or the amounts except its fairly plain & mild and I've watched her put in brown sugar, red chili, worchester sauce, filet mignon, crimera mushrooms and sweet onions. However, your ingredients sounds like a meat eaters dream without even knowing the other ingredients so I don't think we could improve on it. I on the other hand am a radioactive fan and will add jolokia peppers to my personal bowl afterwards.

Aaron, Demsey, having finally changed his outlook on moderated forums, was looking in the old archives for links to members that had posted their music abilities on vids on the internet, he was referring to a post in the Looney Bin at this thread link "What was your First Concert" that he resurrected from a year ago and made reference to your drum videos. Yeah, the ring looks great, will be nice to flash that on the hand at F2F GTGs whenever one year an RWGer drops by Maui again or I travel abroad one day when the economy recovers. Regards, Omni

I dunnoh? This Demseyristi sorta liked the Southern Fried Zeppelin video, seeing as I'm partially redneck (my liver) kinda person. And my first rock concert which I never revealed, could you really call it that in 1966 which you really had to be stoned to appreciate............Fillmore Auditorium 1966, July 1st only, Quicksilver Messenger Service and Big Brother & the Holding Company............Ryyannon oughta remember those days when we ancients ruled the day and so young we didn't know crap even though we thought we knew it all. It good to see this in the Looney Bin that you actually have to want to come here to see as it doesn't popup in "View New Posts". Mike will eventually put his "yawning baby" stamp on all this flatulence reminiscing.

TT..........you are a true asset, I didn't hookup with anybody in OZ this year as the wife kept me moving too much. But you at least are a true honor to meet and the Ozzies should not miss the opportunity as they would miss meeting a true gentleman. I too cannot believe after 4.5 yrs. that I still can't let go of this place, the people make it great beyond the watches.

Those watches will probably not have any problems during Jomashop's warranty period. Murphy's Law ............. they will breakdown and stop right after the warranty period is over. Then its just a matter of sending it back to the factory through your local AD and $500 lighter in your wallet.

I'm a fan of Ball Watches but without the tritium tubes, why bother replicating. Pass.................

All the blessings on this day of Thanks we celebrate in the US to all the multinational members of RWG.

Well, there ya go, typical current RWG1.1 trashing of a thread behavior, I rest my case.

RWG.com (RWG1) is no more, RWG.net (RWG.1.1) is just an attempt to continue the nonsense that was taking place there by the membership, it is not really a replacement, think of it now as the funny smelling parent to this forum that has progressed to requiring changes of adult diapers for incontinence. (In other words, it was time to move the parent out of the house because it couldn't take care of itself and put it in a home). It has always been around in the background so number it what you will. There are really only 3 main serious rep. forums of note, RWG.cc, Repgeek and RWI. RWG.com was always at the bottom for the last 2 years for site visitors.

Dave123, its not an attempt to replicate RWG1, its just a continuation of a playground. To the uninitiated unaware newer members. My empathetic explanation of the regurgitated site: RWG1 was the original where this forum sprang from, we took all the good parts of our original wild and popular forum that we thought was endangered with extinction and left all the perceived garbage behavior behind, new and improved. That definitely is not the case with RWG Redux. Well, some liked that detritus left behind and continued to keep it alive with the goal that it was finally free of the up-tightness constrain of moderators & normality (Admittedly, I'm a charter member of that crowd). This eventually attracted all those fringe replica-watch-geeks with personal agendas that far outweighted their hobby. Granted, RWG Redux is populated by replica watch enthusiasts and will bear some resemblance to the forums, but think twisted personal blogs for content. I think most members here know that RWG Redux is just a place for the somewhat tolerated members of all the serious replica watch forums go so they can do their own sophomoric "did too, did not, did too, did not, did too, did not.........ad naseum one-up-manship" thread hijacking with no moderator to tell the brats to go to their respective corners while we lock the threads. Not the normal cup of tea. If you have a wild hair up your ass and its itching, then by all means join the Redux, but bear in mind, there is absolutely no thread locking, only thread hijacking and its expected, encouraged, tolerated and the norm. If you don't have shoe leather quality thick-skin and on the other hand have a civilized sense of decorum and are sickened by anything "politically incorrect", be relieved, like Dani, that the post-whore prattle crowd that is useless to a serious replica watch forum has finally gone back to their playground. (For a sample look at the stains left at the "Looney Bin" by this recent rabble). Think of the TTK type responses and multiply that to the majority of threads and you'll get the drift. Its entertaining to watch, its funny, its chaos, its anarchy, its camaraderie, its really stupid at times, its really cruel and mean at times, its blog posts, all wrapped and tied around a somewhat interest in replica-watches, very weird. But participation is either something you feed on or are repulsed by, there is no moderate middle ground like all the other watch forums. I have been a charter member and supporter of all the RWG1, RWG.cc, RWG Redux forums. When I'm serious and feel I have something statesmanship to add, the posts are here, when I'm not, its there. But my belief is to encourage this odd behavior as a fellow closet anarchist, but keep it contained in its own place for the good of the general public and for the participants own good. Please wish RWG Redux well so the rest of the forums run a little smoother. I say that to my fellow RWG Redux refugees with a lot of tongue-in-cheek truth 'til-it-hurts affection.

May I have your attention audience: "All the flying Elvis's have left the BIN Building".

Gad Dems, we sound like a buncha ol'crazies, (well, I guess we are) and the posse rides again. Seeya on the lime sucking scurvy crew side as we set sail again, a bit juiced up with all the limes and gin. Its martini time and I have to take my leave here and go to the romper room, I should shut-up at his point-in-time but Jekyll has just fallen down drunk and Mr. Hyde picked my nose just now. "RWG Redeux" where untied straight-jackets are the uniform of the day and everyone has a flamethrower. This should now be my last visit to the Looney Bin here, no need anymore. However, anything that resembles WIS knowledge in the essence of the "prime RWG directive" of steering the populous away from scam websites, and whatever braincells that make sense will still be posted by me upstairs. RWG.cc is still my watch home.