Victoria

Second listing for this item in the last 2 months. It doesnt look original for the 1665.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ROLEX-ORIGINAL-BEZEL-S...1QQcmdZViewItem

Page not responding. That happens a lot to *bay links on RWG, I notice. Could it be an url-ban-to-Bay from Admin?

Or is it that you are logged into your account, CC, and have c/p'ed the link with that "info" on it (thus we can't see the page).

You know VB, DSN makes a very good watch however I am afraid his QC is hit and miss. My fiddy from him died only to spring back to life with a backward wind and a gentle whack. The foundation of the watch is quite sound and rather than do all this international shipping, I found a good watchsmith who corrected the problem.(It also ran 5 minutes to fast per day). It has to be frustrating to have all these problems and I hope that it gets worked out for you.

I am an Europeanist par excellence, but having lived in the East, I know the mindset a LITTLE, however didn't help that I lived in perfectionist Japan.

There street vendor ladies wrap up your purchases with such delicacy, such refinity, and even though it costs a few bob, WITH SUCH TIME (15 minutes for a $5 bauble), that I can only compare that to the grace of Maison Chanel vendeuses, who treat every purchase as if it is an honour FOR THEM to handle it, no matter its cost.

EDIT: Is it a small wonder then, that the Japanese are culturally in love with France? There is a samurai tradition of chivalry, of delicacy of course, which I believe they think matches well with the attitudes of outer perfection of Versailles. When reality doesn't meet expectations, some Japanese tourists are so shocked, they have a syndrome for it: Paris Syndrome.

But China is not Japan, and also just because there is a cultural flavour, it doesn't mean it has to be followed by all people.

Yet, I believe others have pointed this out in the forum, isn't Davidsen Japanese living in Hong Kong? Has his perfectionism, his craft, suffered because of this?

China will get to Japan's level of proficiency. It's the middle step in a Capitalist business mindset, putting quality control above all else, or at least showing remorse, and responsibility when things go wrong. The last step is of course reindemnification, whether lawsuit money, or prison.

Whoa, I'm getting way ahead of myself, with this weighty talk.

But I'm just giving this whingy thread a little fibre to chew on.

The 112 issue is VERY minor, wouldn't bother sending that one back.

You are absolutely right, TK471. Thanks for keeping me grounded, too.

Please read my reply above, for the modder part. I'm not quite there yet, as a collector.

Step 1: Buy one rep watch. WOW! It runs, Canal St is great!

Step 2: Hmm, you know, there are better models out there. Internet?

Step 3: But is this site reputable? Why is it asking for my mother's maiden name and blood type?

Step 4: Register on RWG, etc.

Step 5: Crikey. I know absolutely nothing about rep watches. Let me start posting immediately and reach 1000 posts!

Step 6: Second watch is great! More more!

Step 7: Third watch has issues, but I can live with them! Ooops, first watch suddenly started having issues.

Step 8: Let's diversify merchants, or find better ones, even if they cost more.

Step 9: NICE WATCHES!

Step 10: I am almost at 500 posts! And 500 straps!!

Step 11: This sucks man. 50 watches, 30 problems. Not a good rate of return. What's next?

Step 12: Davidsen

Step 13: Same old, same old.

Step 14: Modding?

...

Step 1,000,000: Sssurfer

I feel your pain, I truly do. I've had several watches from DSN pass through my hands. 3 were perfect from the get go, 2 were considerably less than perfect.

Thanks, Subzero1, for your reply.

This is a genuine question, not a "challenge" question:

Should one give Davidsen more leeway in mistakes since he is an artisan, unlike "mere" collectors like J&A? Maybe my/our approach to DSN is wrong?

Though clearly my expectations are commensurate with money spent, perhaps their individuality needs more patience, not less, from a buyer.

On the other hand, it's hard to praise him when certain other parts of the order were wrong. Trifling things, like missing parts, or wrong colour bands (second time in a row), but again, at that level of price, one would expect much closer attention to detail.

And his reply about the missing parts is utter silence.

Based on my experience I would say to keep returning it till you get a good one. That is the only real way to give feedback to a dealer on the quality of the products they are sending out. DSN watches are hand made and hand assembled, so there's variation there that would not exist as much from other dealers. But I will say this as someone who has owned PAMs from just about every dealer on the board - when you get a good DSN, one without issues, it BLOWS AWAY the reps from everyone else. DSN's are the only PAM reps I'd feel comfortable wearing around WIS friends. Sure, they may have this tiny detail wrong or that tiny detail wrong (these are reps after all), but the overall "feel" and presence of the watch is one of the very few that can match that of a gen. Look at the crystal, the much cleaner lines of the case, the texture on the dial, etc... Those things all "sell" the watch to a greater degree than on any other PAM rep I've had or seen.

Guess what?

A fellow newbie, but newbier than I, just PMed me this morning, as I was replying to posts here.

I told him practically the same thing you just told me, even though I am currently unhappy, and disappointed with DSN. I said that getting a working, near-perfect Davidsen watch must be amazing, because as flawed as mine were, it blows the others out of the water.

So, moral of the story, for me there's hassle involved in dealing with DSN, but it's worth it in the end because the final results are so good when you do get one that is perfect.

I have to be honest with you, and say that without a bit of friendly arm-twisting, dealing with Davidsen hasn't been easy.

It still isn't. He's replied, and with counsel from others, I am about to reply that I want to send this back to him, as well as the first faulty Fiddy, as promised.

We'll see.

I'm not replying until I consider every option, but my gut instinct is to let the original chap solve the problem.

Thanks again!

Hi all, nice to meet you......just dropped in from another board and discovered a treasure trove of info, and some pretty hot discussion.

Hey Graman. Scoobs said it, but I'll repeat it, Welcome.

You've debuted on a contentious, but not unfriendly thread, so thanks for weighing in with your points!

(Oh, actually, it was unfriendly to me. But since I constitute a small part of RWG, and the insults I believe were made invisible so as to stay on-topic -- thanks -- overall, I wouldn't call it unfriendly)

GEF Le Spezia and a Hugo Boss suit with the ole DSN fiddy.

You never never put a foot wrong! Especially not in those Gucci loafers.

@Scoobs: Thank you!! Your avatar never fails to make me smile, Scoobs.

@Swdivad: Welcome back! Great Tantalum strap, which I had seen but never complimented before.

@TeeJay: YAY! Good for you. And there is a reason for my erm, silence. Stay tuned tomorrow, okay? All will be revealed. *g*

Well, I returned from my rum-do, and have taken off the Santos, putting on my newly-beloved PAM 112. The Santos is a big-faced watch, but though it weighs more than most watches, I feel like I just put on Swemoose's rock on my wrist.

What's a mosca???

The Panerai logo aligned to the "E" on the 005. That's how it is called in Italian, according to the invaluable SSsurfer.

Now THAT is so nice, wow...

When I saw that, I said, WOW. Now THAT brother is a strap.

FxrAndy had better get cracking, experience-wise! If not, my custom will go to Savage.

But of course, dear.... even then it's a no no here. Our populist, so called liberal government, has definitely put an end to what was tolerated before

Good. You only need one addiction, Volker, rep watches!

If we were fooled. How would we know?

1) You were informed by another person that the watch-wearer told them it's a rep

2) You eventually received a confession from the watch-wearer

3) You later saw a "tell" detail which you didn't catch the first time

Many ways.

EDIT: As seen by the "dagger" oops in another thread, I am not at that level of eagle-eyedness, so I am sure I have been fooled many times. But recently, a chap posted a photo of his PAM 005, and someone said, "Gen right?", because of the "mosca" placement. I'm not sure, but I believe he got it wrong.

The pair 'loose lever + unability to pull the crown out enough to set time' is a tricky one, as it requires two 'opposite' fixing: filing the CG down, AND shortening the stem. FxrAndy explained it at perfection.

Still, it would be an easy fix to any modder (too bad, no watchsmith would perform it, so you can't rely on your local watchsmith, if any).

But even still, to me DSN should take care of it. In the end you paid (and not even cheap) for a working watch.

GOOD! GRAZIE COSI TANTI, SSsurfer.

I was vacillating between emailing DSN back that, never mind, I'll solve it locally -- or -- telling him I expect him to FIX this watch, since aesthetically as you can see, it is nearly flawless.

That's what hurts. If it were a POS (or in Italian, POM) I wouldn't care. But its beauty is mocking me, saying, HAHA, idiot child. You believe in happy endings like the Mickey Mouse watch, huh? I'll teach you!

...not that I usually hear voices from watches. Much.

EDIT: Whew, I'm getting back my sense of humour and proportion. THANK YOU GUYS! God, that Freud fella was really on to something when he realised people have to talk out their probs, huh?

EDIT #2 REPLY: "If he doesn't, let us know. I am currently offering free consulences to DSN on some projects of his, and I'll behave accordingly on how he will behave with you."

OOOH. The cavalry have arrived!! I am so so very blessed to have you guys on my side. Quick, someone make me laugh before I start to cry...damn woman waterworks.

EDIT #3 REPLY: You have PM, caro mio. AND THANK YOU ABOUT DI SICA TOO! I can't believe I forgot that film...

EDIT #4 REPLY: Well, no email reply as yet, but then I don't really expect poor DSN (I mean the "poor" bit, it's not sarcasm, he does work very hard) to work on a Sunday, a this time, 7:00 PM his time.

Let me try to sleep.

When I woke up in the middle of the night, due to my now messed up biological clock -- big f-you very much to rep watch collecting -- I decided to change my Fiddy strap (?!). This is when this whole sorry mess was noticed. But tomorrow is another day! In China.

mexican tomatoes eh? LOL

i;ve seen those leaves before...

Oh, is that Marizhooana, the doobage? Wow, awesome, Volker! Medicinal purposes entirely, of course.

Wow, i'll get my coat.

Don't forget your hat.

(HEY! I had to get you for that picky inference. Not that you were wrong...........)

I take it you have experience then, i need to get one of those wheels to mark the stiches out!

Volker must be a master leathermaker, because those lines, with bad eyesight and all, are DEAD STRAIGHT. That leather is fantastic too.

Seriously, I'm down for one.

This below is a strap I'd love to see others try variations on:

That's Savage's prototype for his new "Tailhook". I hope he doesn't mind my posting this, but I think he'll realise it might just generate interest...sweet sweet strap.

DSN is a good guy and a good dealer... his items are very nice and superb quality... BUT he should control all his items before ship them out... to many flaws

DSN did turn out to be a good guy. He's not terribly polished, like Andrew and Joshua (OH NO! DUCK, THE CARTEL!) but he tries, bless him.

but DSN is a man of his word... he will get you a FULL REFUND or a replacement.

A second replacement, third watch? Like that member who posted in the Trade Review saying he sent his back 3 times before it was right? This I expect from Paul. Heck, I'm jubilant if I even GET a watch from, Paul.

BUT DAVIDSEN? Yeesh.

But a quality control should be better... so no circumstances for him and his customers...

I just don't get it. Even my genuinely revered Andrew messed up an order that was SO easy to spot before putting it in the box to send out (and yes, he promised me that he would, since it was for my dad).

EDIT: Don't mention the d-word! I know.

I told him, I know you will take care of me if anything goes wrong, but just please please check it before sending it out to me. He said yes, and whammo. Great guy, he sent a replacement LIKE THAT, but these things are almost too easy to spot before sending them out.

Guys, with this lack of quality control in this and other items, China will NEVER catch up to the West. It's like it's not important to them, somehow.

i sell swiss watches since many years... and NEVER ship any watch out before check it 100% (it takes some time but it is natural for a good dealers)... and had NEVER any refund on a watch. And if i say a check up... i mean a FULL CHECK UP... i control also the smalles screws

Tourby, I said I was scared of modders, but you are a forum member I respect (The Zigmeister too!).

If only you were in the US, baby...thanks for the kind word in reply. ;(

Btw. Sorry about your problems with DSN's Fiddy, Vic, mine is absolutely perfect.....

I mean this genuinely, because I am happy for others around me, that I couldn't be more thrilled for you. No one should have to go through these pinpricks of bothers when you pay so much. That you didn't, AWESOME!

And hey! Great strap. I still have a 217h...if you make some, I'll buy one from you.

Half of me says send it back the other half says send it to The Zigmeister, cutt your losses have him service it sort the crown problem and you will have a perfect fiddy and i think right now i would go with the latter, Send the 112 to me though, lol that dimple would not bother me at all!

I know, I know. I definitely deserved that. The girl who wants just everything right...only this time, I think I have a LITTLE more cause for complaint.

I'm not going to send it to The Zigmeister. I'm scared of modders at the moment. I'll try to sort things out with DSN first, and if no joy there, give it and more of my money to a watchsmith...

WTF?!?!

Davidsen was known for his quality products.

Are those days over???

Maybe.

Maybe he can't keep up with orders anymore.

Maybe he has made a lot of money, and is starting to slack.

Maybe a lot of new clients are not his concern anymore, but just maintaining the older, less demanding (?) ones.

Or maybe he just doesn't care about me. This last bit just forget before you even finish reading it. It's just my sadness talking, Fitmic.

Thanks for the reply, though.

Vic, the 112 looks great remember these are reps!

First, FxrAndy. Thanks. Means a lot you took the trouble to answer this succinctly, and with a clear eye.

Yes, I have no probs with the PAM 112, but I just said that if I had to send two Fiddies back, should I ask DSN to do something about the PAM 112 too? Not that I would send this back BECAUSE of this dimple problem, only.

Now the CG on the fiddy is an easy fix to get it tighter, remove it and gently file down the feet so that it sits closer and then holds firmer, i have done 3 this way, you could even do it with a diamond nail file watching tv just keep the feet at the same angle and take the same amount off both sides,

Thanks for the tip.

However, this is beyond my powers as a newbie. Me, file? No, I'd do something wrong and ruin it worse. Send it to a watchsmith? Sure, I thought of that.

But part of me says I shouldn't have to do this ON A REPLACEMENT whose QC should've been absolute...

Now the crown, is it the case that it touches the inside of the CG when it is pulled and the CG is stopping it getting to the hand set position? as that is a different matter? and would require the stem to be shortend.

Two issues. The floppy lever which is very "close" to the crown in the closed position (and frankly, even the open one).

And the crown feels loose to the touch, where it is IMPOSSIBLE to pull it out entirely to hear the "click" to set the time. When you pull it out as far as it goes, it just winds the watch, not sets the time.

Guys, maybe I'm just not meant for rep watch buying. Please help me to think clearly because I am bowed over in sadness right now, RWG Paneristi.

My DSN Fiddy and PAM 112 arrived earlier Saturday, and I was chatting to the chaps in the Shoutbox of how happy I was, dancing around my comp room like a fool. Everything seemed solved, sealed, delivered by the amazing craftsman that is Davidsen.

Because I had already the DSN Fiddy, I will admit to you that I had all of Saturday concentrated on the PAM 112. The lume is fantastic, glowing like the dickens. Aesthetically, I thought it was beautiful, and VERY close to the gen.

So I shot off an email to DSN thanking him PROFUSELY and with genuine gratefulness...and it turns out, prematurely. BIG MISTAKE.

The DSN REPLACEMENT Fiddy has:

- A completely loose Crown Guard lever, which is a breath away from opening loose every time I move it.

- Worse, a Crown which doesn't come out all the way, and therefore, the time cannot be set.

I could EVEN tolerate the crown guard lever (yes, I've tired screwing it tighter, GENTLY. Remember, I had this problem with Paul's horrific Mini-Fiddy, so I know what I should do).

But how can I tolerate a crown which cannot be pulled out enough to allow time-setting??

Lord, Jesus, give me strength! ON A REPLACEMENT FIDDY YET! ...anyway, pics.

Fiddy, PAM 112 Package Arrival:

Fiddy Arrival (Note the time):

Back of Movement:

Photo taken 15 minutes ago (Note the time -- I can't set it):

I'm awaiting an email reply from Davidsen, hopefully, somehow giving me hope he'll put things right.

Also, in the meantime, I've noticed that the CG "dimple" on the PAM 112 is less than flush as in the original, and the printing of "Luminor...Panerai" is not so good.

Mine:

Normally, I'd be content just that I got a nice PAM 112, because it's beautiful.

But if it turns out that I need to send back my TWO FIDDIES, do you counsel me to send back the PAM 112 for such a detail? By the way, certain things I requested (like specific straps, and some other things), were not sent either. He didn't reply to that earlier at all, merely saying "Enjoy your watches". Sigh.

Really, guys, I'm sorry to trouble you, but I need your support, and your clear thoughts, because I have none at the moment.

Apart from all of this, I'm out $$$, and still don't have a single good DSN watch to my name...

@VB

I think you misread my post...

My wife had been spying the purse for quite sometime...

Her pick, her chose...

Premature replyculation, TT. Sorry about the misread.

D&B's~

(snip)

EWWW!! Herm

I know you have to be joking. No man would buy that purse unless he was angry at his wife!

Maybe he was! :lol:

No, seriously. She tried returning it to the shop, but other countries' return policies are not the same as in the good ole US of A. They said it was used, and that they smelt perfume on it, so not even store credit.

I think she took it eventually to a consignment shop. Not sure what happened there, but their marriage has survived.

Ive been listening to the radio and its great, a good selection of different songs!!.

Does anyone know how to record audio?

If so let me know

I'm sure there are others, and for other players, but when I used to use Classic Winamp, I used "Streamripper". You can regulate the quality, and thus the output in MBs. And believe me, 30 mins worth can be a HUGE amount of MBs.

http://all-streaming-media.com/record-vide...cast-ripper.htm

Before I download, is this something offered by either Trusty or Josh?

Before I answer, is this something a committee will have to approve?

Bought my wife a D&B last month that she had been spying for quite a while for her 50th...

I'll make sure she knows that she should divorce me for it...

TT

PS: Guess I never was known for having any class

Poor TT. You're not the first guy to fall under the "buying the wife a nice purse" dustbin of bad taste.

Look no further than my father, who went out and bought this Christian Laboutin bag [ R ], because he was sadly mistaken about quality women's purses.

Looks like Sasquatch mated with Christina Onassis and gave birth to Cousin It from the Addams Family. Ay.

Some people would enjoy BEING big brother.

Or a kangaroo court...

(Okay, that was too harsh. I apologise. But really peeps, committees and what-not are just there for power trips, or devolve into them eventually. We have Mods, we have logic and brains. Let's use both to buy reps, no?)

WHAT NO WAY! Carlsbadrolex that's an awesome first effort. Even the proficient FxrAndy's first effort wasn't as good.

After you divorce your wife (for buying a DOONEY & BURKE purse, WTF!), I wish you many many happy sales of that strap, once proficiency is gained.

I'm down for one already.