anton

I had to change the finish to match the bracelet I was putting on it. I pulled the bracelet from my Crosswind Special, which has polshed angled links. So I had to either brush the bracelet or polish the case. Polishing was much easier to do. EDIT: Thanks, Giorgio and Italiano. Just noticed that I hit "add reply" twice.

If you all still have qualms about buying the blackbird, this should sway you into getting one...

Hey, nice joke. That's about as funny as your overusage of ellipses.

okay, I admit that I screwed up. But I will post better photos soon.if you think it looks bad now, it looked like CRAP when I got it. So this is a work in progress. It truly does look better in the flesh, like my wife. Esteban, did you say you had spare markers?

I've recently received a 187 rom a fellow member here through a trade and it is one beautiful watch...except that it needed a little refinishing. When I received it, I saw that there were some "war scars" there due to some desk diving, and I wanted to restore that "circular grain/brush pattern"; and also to polish the bezel markers without polishing the rest of the bezel. Unfortunately, My attempts at removing the bezel have come at the expense of a "snapped in half" kinfe and a chipped flathead screwdriver. Then I also noticed that through my polishing process, all the markers became polished excet for the one at "20". Is was a dullish grey in color. So my continued foibles with the dremel tool told me to go faster, @ 35,000rpm. Then I saw that thing go down and down until it was all gone. That's the after photo. Notice the marker missing? I think the prevoius owner must have lost his marker so he used something to fill it in. My father used to use it in his welding projects, but I can't get the name; help! if you know it. So thus far, I have been wearing it like this to minimize suspicion: and the marker in question is covered by a sleeve. If you've also noticed, the plastic cover on the bezel pearl is cracked. I am painting over it with luminous paint. As far as the markers go, I'm mulling over getting replacements or removing all of them and painting the holes black, like on the other subs. What do you think? And how do I get the rest of them off? I put my watch in a pot of boiling water for five minutes but it seems that the adhesive is very strong!

...but the ETA 2894's base movement is also the 2892. It's just simply a chronograph module placed on top.

Is that a tapered bracelet? It's kinda hard to see...

Look at the game tonight! deja vu(2004), anyone?

Wow! Look at all the overwheling responses about this "gay" thread! I laughed, I cried, I misunderstood, I've read them a couple times over. Maybe we should just add the word "gay" to all the topics here! Then we'll have an active forum! I wonder what kind of opinions we'll receive if I ask if whether or not my movement is gay? Oh and V, "flame war" was supposed to be a tongue-in-cheek joke.

Geez, I ask a question and now it becomes an all-out flame war! (no pun intended ) I think it was in the first page when someone said it best when a watch does not become "gay"; it is born that way. Let's face it: we all have a little "gay" in our watches. The gold, the diamonds, the "curvaceous" shapes, the one that goes with our wardrobe, the one that masks its' "gayness" in an air of masculinity as not to disappoint their militant father, the one watch that has a "sister", the "macho" strap that has a million straps. So then if that makes me gay, then "gay on!".

Two stores: and probably the reason why one asked for the SN. (True story) I purchased a rubber strap for my Super Avenger from Tourneau. They had it in stock, so they provided one on the spot (confirms P4's story) I tried to purchase a blue rubber strap for same watch from Kenjo. They didn't have it and they DID ask me for the S/N. Since I didn't remember it off the top of my head, they still ordered one for me anyway. The AD told me that they do it so they make sure the AD orders it for the correct model. Bear in mind the BUSA probably knows that the sales reps aren't the most knowledgeable bunch, so they take out all the guesswork and have them provide the SN. Then the BUSA rep can punch it in the computer and locate the proper size to ship out. It's not to prevent "jazzing up replicas"; they try to keep a foolproof system and in the days of retail, no one wants to have shrink due to human error.

Lello, If some are available, I'm in for two.

Chief, count me in for three: EDIT: one more added; count me in for four.

My inspiration is the GTG in NorCal, so I want to organize a GTG in Manhattan. Reserve a party @ 21 Club (or place we can agree on), talk watches, life, sip some good wine, munch on some good eats, and have a hearty time. Maybe take along some pieces with us. I'm tired that the only people who I can talk watches to are the ones who are tying to sell them to me. Anyone in? I'd like to organize one within the coming weeks...

Actually, I anticipated your response; forgive me members but you are of but a few who could provide some valuable insight on why such is such. I was expecting the following answer from most guys: "It's gay because it just is." I started bringing this up because I have a friend who owns a Breitling Airwolf. Digital functions and all, a complete tool watch. But earlier that day, he was shopping at (where else?) the Apple store and saw one of those Nordic "socialite-looking" types wearing one too. So he swore he'd never wear the watch again. Because he saw the woman wearing it too. His reason: "A woman wears it now. Then that makes it gay if I wear it".

So lately I've been trolling all the older posts in this forum and I came across some interesting reads anfd opinions on what people considered to be "gay". Namely, the B&R white ceramic. I mean, what is a "gay watch"? Do watches have sexual preferences? Just like watches that are considered to be feminine. Why do we let societies and trends dictate how big our watches should be or how small a man can't wear them? Although I'm American, I blame our people. Why is that we seem to think that bigger is better? What goes through our minds when we make a determination that a watch becomes "gay"? Does it have to meet some type of criteria? What about when a woman is wearing a "man's" watch? Shouldn't that watch be "gay" now? Since, after all, we start wearing watches that is clearly targeted at the opposite gender, does that not make it a "gay" watch? I mean if a watch wanted to be "gay", why doesn't it have holes for chrono pushers and a dedicated "needle" to stick in there whenever we wanted to push it? (Okay, sorry for becoming sexual). Who determines these trends? Is there a governing body in the UN to determine what is determined "gay"? Why do we let socieital fashion dictate to us what is "gay" and what is "not?" I mean, let's say you see Carson Kressley wearing an IWC Aquatimer, is that watch "gay"? And Paul Newman wearing a Rolex daytona with a leopard dial with diamond markers? Should that be a "masculine" watch? And don't tell me that women can wear men's watches because it looks sexy on them. But not the other way around. I mean, if I like something, who cares what other people think, right? Why should other people dictate to me what should look "normal" for me? And what is normal anyway? And what is the definition for "gay" anywho? Last I checked, it meant "happy". I apologize for my ramblings. But some things are just perplexing, no?

Recently I had the opportunity to purchase a gen bezel as a jeweler friend of mine had a customer who purchased one but wanted a diamond bezel (crazy stockbroker types!), but looks like to me that the bezel on the rep is a tough cookie to remove. Anyone had success in removing it yet?

If you notice the first pic from the second, I had removed the GMT hand which was able to bring back the flushed datewheel. I'm in the process of sourcing hands and a 7754 movement. Expensive, but probably would be worth it.

The gen is measured from "tab to tab" and the rep's measured from "bezel to bezel"; meaning that it's measure from one end of the rider tab to another and one end of the bezel to another. Hence, the 1.2mm difference.

I did a double-take when you mentioned that it was a gen. But the blued screws were the gen tell-tale sign. I've got one too. Not a chrono, but a big date version (35419). Now after seeing yours , now I knida wished I got that one instead. BTW, have any idea where I could get the leather "racing" strap? (with mini-holes on the band) And lastly, they claim that their line has AR coating on the inside of the crystal. How can I confirm that?

It's pretty much close to gen; there are some minor details that are off (secomds marker, dial font, case screw quality), but overall, it's a pretty decent rep. Even user "watchbuff" has made a mod on his watch to match the caseback screws of the gen! PVD is not so bad either. Just don't scratch it up.

I'm going to go on a limb and say that it is, since it's the same layout. But, the standard 2894 has 37 jewels, whereas the Montbrillant has 41. What the difference is is beyond me.

Starting my newfound love affair with this beauty: @ Bazz: Brautiful 187! Been looking for it locally everywhere. Can't find it!

My story is not so much disgusting as it is embarrassing... I was presenting a project for hedge fund investors whom I was trying to woo over to put some money in a starting restaurant outfit....in ourder for me to win the confidence of the investors, I had to make myself appear confident and successful, so I wore my most expensive-looking watch (a Yacht-Master) that I knew they would recognize. As I was showing then graphs and charts, I made a few key points abotu investing on paper. I put it on the conference room table and they saw my watch. Looks like they were staring at my watch than the paper, but in a split second...the springbar popped out of one lug and it just fell apart on my wrist. Needless to say, I was called out on the watch and called out on the fib. I lost the deal and they ended up investing in some up-and-coming golf course chain.

You need 22mm straps for it.