Victoria

Sincere regrets and hugs about the lay-off, llsteve80. The US economy is percolating, despite some ideas it was going towards its usual end-of-decade readjustment, but lay-offs are perpetual sadly. Small comfort for you, but you'll get something. There's always something out there. Best of luck on your Franken, and don't give up hope you'll finish it, though it might go on the Bay! FOLLOWUP: 7 or 8 cars?!?! What on earth, sell those first! My God, I was about to PayPal you an anonymous donation.

I could do without the giggles, and yokel hee-haws in the background, but I did like that Youtube vid a lot, admittedly. CBR, I know what you're saying, I too appreciate the mechanics that went to build this watch (279 parts!!) but you put a Tourbillon in the front, not the back, yes? I just don't get that.

5 Stars already?? FRIDAY AND SATURDAY I have a sweet tooth for Manifatture Firenze straps. When I saw this Python strap they were offering, which is an one-of-a-kind, never-to-be-repeated Prototype, I HAD to have it. HAD TO. Like men HAVE to have some women, you know? I've thrown all my 44mm PAMs at it, from PAM 111 to PAM 177 and they all play. GORGEOUS! L to R: Toscana Siena Carbon; Tootall Moroccan Sunset; Toscana Fiero; Mario Paci Senape; Taikonaut White Kangaroo. Below, the reverse side of the MF Python on the PAM 113. I may be a girl, but I like a bit of tail. These nails were meant for scratching a man's back. (Editted since my boyfriend reads this. ) SUNDAY Remember what I just said about gold-leaf tattiness, the Over-The-Top Brunei Royal Family, and how much I prefer the Queen's understated ways? Fugehdaboudit!! Ice ice baby! Call me, Jfreeman! @By-Tor: Yeah, I noticed you were here very seldomly recently. Puggy too, but he's out handing his CVs. @Mark Eleven: Nice! And what is your country's holiday, if I may ask? @ALL: Wow, 4 Rolexes in a row. Care to make it a Rollie Weekend? @TWP: Thanks so much. No brownie nails for me. They look rank on me. Autumn leaves, what's that? Actually, I have some friends up in North Carolina who are experiencing their first real autumn ever. And my boyfriend said that it was actually cold in Toronto yesterday...so autumn has truly sprung. @TWP again: BTW, I've always been meaning to tell you that the 203, especially with your leather jacket, and the Fiddy, are my fave Wristies of yours. You look HAWT.

Teeth or oyster detritus? FOLLOWUP: Yeah, if you're even an average reader (and I took an Evelyn Wood speedreading course) you can polish off a Sobel book like The Planets in a day.

Yipes, actually that sounds tacky and a half. I'm glad Koreans are having fun and building skyscrapers, but this gold leaf whimsy reminds me of the Brunei Royal Family. Have you seen them in Westernised clothing? Horrid. Simply horrid. And here is a Brunei princeling taking his bride off to their honeymoon. Solid gold-leaf Rolls... Say what you want about our Queen, unimaginative, dull, sedate, but give me her hearse-like, black, 50-year-old Daimlers any day to this gaudy Eastern tat. Thanks for the IMAX info though! If I go to Seoul, I'll check it out. I think you're being tactful. That's a kind way of saying Sobel writes pleasant historical fluff pieces, like Robert K. Massie's "Nicholas & Alexandra". Fantastic, but a little novelised and therefore, not serious or scholarly. Love reading her, but it's not hardcore History like I intend on writing. That's why I'm going to be poor and unknown... P.S.: OOH OOH! Since we're completely OT, by now. Sigourney Weaver AND Kathleen Turner at a Halloween gala.

Trick question? I'll say, NO and hope for the best.

Blasphemy! Anyway, have you never seen IMAX screens? (Uh, yeah, see...I'm an Imperial measurements girl, through and through) EDIT: Hey, have you guys in the US seen Sigourney Weaver reprising her Ripley role, for DIRECTV adverts?? Ugh. It's like Sir "Ed" Hillary doing car adverts a few years back (Subaru, wasn't it? WTF).

May I request some club or general sports related wallpapers from the various MARVELLOUS RWG photogs? I'm thinking of soccer, baseball, etc. but I have a particular fondness for Jesse Owens, as one example. It doesn't matter about the watch on top of the background photo. In fact, it would be interesting to see which watch is chosen for which sport-related wallpaper. Thanks!!

You know, that's a perfect description of this watch. "Fusion of "haute horoligie", timeless Italian style and "action man" heritage" If I were a Panerai AD, I'd make my poncey assistants memorise it and recite it back to their potential Viagra-taking millionaire 80-year old clients. Hmm, thanks to you and TeeJay for the clarification of why there is an AM/PM sub-dial in some watches. I can only imagine the mine owner might be the one to afford it... @geo1nah2a: AWESOME commentary! This thread is chock-a-block with top-notch analyses.

The TOURBILLON is just fughazi. It's like the Mercedes Kompressor or Saab Turbo. Neither is as alarmingly in bad taste as Tourbillon on a watch though. My theory is that Richemont authorised it, to paraphrase George Mallory on why he attempted to climb Everest, "because they can". It's a big ass watch. You can pretty much write Tourbillon on it, like you couldn't on a 24mm Cartier. Oh no you di'int! I love the 190. Well, as I said, I belonged to this mindset until almost individually, they won me over. It's a very charismatic marque. This reminds me of the L'Egiziano thread where Pugwash and I duked it out a few rounds about whether or not it was beautiful. I loved it, but then I hate the Ferrari PAMs, so truly beauty is in the eye of the beholder...

I believe By-Tor mentioned one with a leather band a year back (!). http://www.rwg.cc/members/index.php?s=&amp...st&p=134115 There was a chap who came on here once, whose name I forget, asking for a red Seamaster above something or another, if memory serves. Posted a new photo of the precise one he wanted. Hope he sees these now, because it could be the closest he'll get so far.

Hehe. Just in case there is a newbie that doesn't know (not saying you, Butterfly), Joshua usually prices his new releases as 888,888. 8 is a lucky number in the East. Pronounced in Mandarin/Cantonese, it sounds the same as "fortune".

Well, just about to sign off for the evening, but GOOD, Chieftang. I'm glad someone opposed the first (bad) impressions here. The BIG problem with Panerai, is it's a persnicketty marque. It's exasperating because something you once hated, you suddenly find yourself loving. I mean serious falling in love, to the point where you NEED IT NOW. First, I hated Panerai when I first joined RWG. Then I got a 111h, and the rest is bank statement history... Then, I hated the Radiomirs. Suddenly, I bought the 183, 190, and 210, and guess what? Loved them. I want a 183 gen one day. Then I got the Fiddy, which I thought was HORRID. Looked like a frikkin' mantle clock. I took one look at it up close, and was a goner. My recent "hate" is the 232. Now I want it like yesterday. I'm sure this happens to everyone with Panerai. They say, no way never. And suddenly, they're TeeJay.

Wow, DBR, that's one of the best analyses I've ever read here. It's true, because it's common sense. Nibbler's Fang, LOL! Oh that Pugwah. And ex-town planners, marvellous visual. I never thought Milton Keynes and Panerai would have something in common. Wonder if they have concrete cows too?

That's always been my take on Tourbillon watches. What's the bloody point if you can't see it? On that note, here is the PAM 276 Tourby at work:

Quite. Panerai seem to be suffering from Rolexitis -- the idea that since you're popular, more is better: Overwhelm your followers! Leave them gasping for air! Bling! Blong! Tourbillon! (hey, that rhymed, cool). No Panerai, don't go this route. The Fiddy is PERFECT. The 217 is a gem. Even the 233 (not a fave of mine) works. Adding a Tourbillon with a cheesy little dot (A DOT! What is this, Disney World? It's like that ride "Mad Tea Party" with the spinning tea cups) spinning 'round the seconds sub-dial is the height of design hysteria. And the GMT? Ugh, God. I won't even mention the AM/PM sub-dial. I'm just thankful they didn't think of a Day-Date under it........... Hope someone loves this, because I just don't see the PAM 276 taking off. Famous last words.

Off the top of my head: Navigater Tourby RepAustria Maybe others have more suggestions. These 3 are all members, and they can all be PMed, presumably. Good luck!

Slai -- impeccable. The shot, the watch, THE LUME. Love love love. CONGRATS! @Stephane: Breaks my heart to see you parting with the VC Overseas. Don't you know how dashing and elegant you look? Even your ex looks good with it. Dad loves TeeJay's white VCO. It's so classy...

And more importantly for us, do you think they'll make a rep out of it? Info: Called the "Luminor 1950 Tourbillon GMT". Price: U$98,000 or 79,000 Euro. Limited run of 100 pieces per year. BTW, the tourbillon is seen "at work" in the front by the blue dot going round and round the seconds sub-dial. Detailed Specs: hxxp://www.thewatchquote.com/Panerai-Luminor-1950-Tourbillon-GMT-No_6181.htm (change xx to tt) Thoughts: Eh. Doesn't sing to me. You?

I LOVE THIS ONE! It was between the one I posted above, the Bj

I agree that the first video is stilted, but look at the co-ordinated play of the second Andrews' Sisters link (damn the person for not allowing embedding!). It's amazing to me how all the gestures of today are there: their palm slaps, the shoulder work, the "coolness" jive factor which must've been revolutionary for women then, especially since it was inspired by black American culture. Did you see Maxene give some "skin" to the soldier? Give me Five, cat! If you see an early Bing Crosby compared to the mid-40s Andrews' Sisters, they're TOTALLY modern, and therefore, recognisable and approachable, whereas he looks like he's got a pole up his rump. You just have to get over the Du Barry pompadours. I love parodies, so speak it to me, baby! French & Saunders are the best in modern parody work, in the English language today, though neither are a patch on Morecambe & Wise. ...roll on Caravaggio. Speaking of which:

Yeah, but DuDro, you're a guy. I'm also 5'6", 130lbs, with 5.7" wrists. I don't know what it is about me, but I can carry off a large watch like a 44mm. I think it's that I'm medium-boned, but not with a lot of "padding", and have what used to be called "good bearing", so I can pull it off. Thanks!

Man, I just have to stop going to Supercuts. And look at those canoes for shoes I'm wearing. Where are my Jimmy Choos???

Rima, you're right. I'd much rather save for a TWP IWC Costeau Diver 2007. Guys, I want to buy a Breitling, especially at this fabulous offer, but I just can't see myself wearing this watch...

Kru, something tells me I wouldn't doubt you could afford that. Call me indiscrete if you want, but I know a man who knows what's what. Hey! Just thought of another thing for US members...there's an IRS tip hotline, right? Gosh, people -- don't go making enemies of neighbours. They can leave an anonymous tip to the IRS, saying, "Hey this person has a boatload of Rolexes and gold watches. You better check him out." Not that I've ever heard of that happening, since I don't know a single person who hasn't lied in his or her tax returns sometime. Chances are they're not clean either.