Victoria

Mine:

Victoria, or Vic, or Vicky, lanikai pleasssse. "VB" sounds like a bad rash ointment or a substandard Aussie beer. *DUCK!!* Head Mistress, NEVER. Mine had a moustache and took cough drops hoping staff and pupils wouldn't smell her gin & tonic breath. Well, I'm here to tell you that we did.

Heh. Guess what? I've found out most people who are members of most speciality forums are nuts. Me leading the conga line of craziness, obviously. Stirring the pot is good. It keeps us all on our toes. Yet, there is a difference between that and being punchy back when people don't take to your thoughts like you believe they should in one of your first posts. Let's never lose sight of the fact, though, that we are dealing with an illegal enterprise, which steals ideas, creativity, and sweat from others. In the big adult world we've assigned names like "trademark", "copyright", etc. to describe this, but between you, me, and the deep blue sea we still know it's just called, "cheating". And I've yet to meet a single person who likes being cheated when they're the victim. Hey, did anyone ever see that TV programme called "Cheaters"? I loved that show! I wanted to be on that show! And I'm so busted when they do a series on rep collectors.

Oh dear, what is wrong with these forums of late. Everything is about getting too PERSONAL. Crikey guys, it's just a watch forum. Cool, thanks, Lanikai!

This has possibilities! The "Vbarrett Award for Colour Dynamism in Straps" (for the Bob Vertigo lover in all of us) The "Vbarrett Award for In Your Face Machismo Strap" (Vintage/Ammo straps only) The "Vbarrett Award for My Wife Likes This Strap But I'm not too Sure" (ostrich, chicken, anything in feathers) The "Vbarrett Award for Quality Strap" AKA "OMG HOW MUCH DID YOU SAY YOU SPENT ON THAT CRAP?" (self-explanatory) Or...maybe not.

:cc_confused: You can't find a better curse than that, even in Arabic!! P.S.: Speaking of BUCKLES...I miss V, the King of the Straps and Prince of the Buckles. He's due back on the 18th, yay!

This particular IWC is GORGEOUS. That AR sings! But Sophie Marceau and all, I think IWCs are one of the most masculine watches around. That, any Breitling, and B&R, I would never wear...they're like having a penis on my wrist. :saddam:

FRIDAY Are you sitting down? A Panerai-Free Weekend Wrist-Check!! And gasps were heard throughout repland! That's right. I'm taking By-Tor at his word. And that word is TRADITIONAL, baby! Here's the Gold Gucci Twirl Rep (Joshua) above, and Gen (via the Gucci Website), below. Not too shabby. SATURDAY Going back to Blighty, cap in hand. Wonder if they'll let me back in... Snobs that we are, Rollies don't hurt you know. On more than one occasion I've been upgraded to First Class on BA just because I've looked the part. Although I think I'll leave the flat cap behind... SUNDAY Ahh, but it's back to Miami Beach on Sunday, wearing my HBB! That's I-95 where it was shut down every night from 1-5 AM so Mr. Jamie Foxx and Mr. Colin Farrell could shoot their "Miami Vice" (ssssucked). But when you can see this vista every day of your life, who's complaining?

That's two very positive reactions, from you and Kollektor. ME HAPPY! Thanks!

THREAD SERIES LAUNCH Thanks to the suggestion of one of our members, and a fellow strapaholic, I am starting a new thread series in the Panerai area this Monday, 20 August 2007. Every week, I will feature one or two straps (at most), and review them as to quality, availability, and price comparison -- i.e., "bang for your buck", trade value, and importantly for many businessmen/professionals, colour co-ordination. MOTIVATION From the amount of PMs I receive, I have realised that a lot of men on RWG want opinions on straps, wanting to avoid the common problem of not liking a strap they once thought was beautiful or cool, on some website. This can cost hundreds, if you're not careful! VISUAL PRESENTATION Of course, I will be using copious photos in my reviews, and am ransacking my father's closet to that end. At the end of each review, I will photograph the featured strap against suit backgrounds in black, blue, grey and/or brown, to give you a rough guide how the strap would look like on you. Wristchecks are fantastic, but sometimes they do not tell the whole tale of what a strap will look like against certain fabrics. WARDROBE GUIDE I am not Trini Woodall or Susanah Constantine, of "What Not To Wear" fame, but I thought it was overall a great idea. And I'd finally be putting my Strapitis addiction to good use. Note: Suggestions on improving the series idea are greatly appreciated! Continued PMs seeking opinions just fine!

Speaking of Canadian customs, I found a Canadian-risti site where a Canadian customs officer gave a rundown of what to expect when importing watches into Canada. Now, Jawo, this isn't necessarily intended for you, so don't get frightened or anything. Just thought yawls up in the Great North might be interested in reading the "flip side" of our collective coin. "A definitive guide to Customs : Feb 08, 2004 - 11:15 PM Hi everyone, All the following applies to Canadian importers. Follow these guidelines, and you will be enlightened as to why things happen the way they do, and also to avoid certain pitfalls. Firstly, all watches made overseas fall under the most favoured nation tariff treatment - they attract a duty rate of 5%. On top of that, regardless of where the watch is made, this item will also be taxed at a 10% excise tax rate, 7% GST rate, and in some modes of shipment, such as the postal stream, a 7% PST rate. Here's how they are assessed: Upon its arrival at the Customs clearance area (or Customs Postal Unit) a watch's value needs to be arrived at for tax purposes. This can be gleaned from either the declaration, or, upon inspection, an invoice. Then, if that value is accepted (they're not idiots, they have lives, and expensive hobbies, too, and they know the difference between a Vostok and a Vacheron), the calculations are as follows: The transactional value is converted into Canadian dollars (CAD), using the exchange rate of the day - that value is called the value for duty (VFD). If the VFD is over 50 CAD, a 50 CAD excise exemption is taken from that root value. (It simply means that all those taxes will be calculated on whatever value your watch is in CAD, less 50 dollars). Next, a 5% duty rate is applied to the residual VFD, and then added to the original VFD. That combined value is called the value for tax (VFT) It is upon this value that a 10% excise rate and a 7% GST rate are applied. Here is an example: You buy a watch for 1,000 USD - first convert the value to CAD using the exchange rate of the day, say, 1.32, so: 1,000 X 1.32 = 1,320 (VFD) 1,320 - 50 = 1,270 (Excise exemption) 1,270 X 5% = 63.50 (Duty) 63.50 + 1,270 = 1,333.50 (VFT) 1,33.50 X 10% = 133.50 (Excise tax) 1,33.50 X 7% = 93.35 (GST) 1,33.50 X 7% = 93.35 (PST) 1,000 USD - applicable duties and taxes = 383.70 CAD Clear as mud? This does not include, as has been mentioned, a flat fee from UPS (called a brokerage fee), or a 5 dollar Postal admin fee (when shipped in the Postal stream) Now, how come some get through untouched, and others not? Here's why - Firstly, you have to consider the volume of shipments that arrive into Canada on a daily basis - it's voluminous! Not every single package in every single mode can be physically examined to verify that it has a correct declaration; citizens would be in an uproar, and it would take months for you to get your watch, literally. So, to facilitate the flow of goods, Customs relies on importers (or vendors abroad) to accurately declare the value of the goods being carried. Since they can't look at every one, some do 'get through' without any assessed taxes. In addition, sometimes the odd package gets dropped down the chute (in the Post office) by accident, or it

Gepetto turns out to be a very nice chap, after all, and he's trying his best to satisfy his customer. Much appreciated, David! Here is the watch he's sending me, having apologised for the quality of the pics. Guys, anything you can point out as needing more attention will be GREATLY appreciated by me. Thank you so much! Newbie Thoughts: The sandwich dial seems less egg-shell white, which I believe someone had once mentioned. Also, engraving seems crisper, and the screws seem less embedded. I think the best part of the DSN Fiddy is his immaculately flush CG and fat crown. Cannon pin seems more "finished" and higher. What do you think of it all?

:wub: Guys, I can't believe no one commented on these series of photos! Or are they a repost, and I am unaware 'til now? Awesomeness, P4GTR! Especially loved the Buddha and matches. That's so wrong somehow though. @chris: In case anyone cares, your Invicta skeleton thingie was my fave! @b16a2: Hope you saw I got the Bob Vanilla strap and credited you. Also, Ibiza? Great pics! @Stephane: 3 times PER DAY. Wow, and I thought I was OCD about my wardrobe changes. Oh wait, do you change your clothes and then, obviously, your watch? Because that's what I do. I never repeat clothes/watch combo twice per day. @tmg: I love love love your orange mili-strap. Did you get it from that vendor in HK on *bay? (FOLLOWUP: Thanks! Will check the site out...okay, checked it out, but Mr. Marx has no 24mm so I am SOL!) @Kollektor: Thanks for the strap compliment. This allows me to announce that due to a fellow member encouraging me, I am debuting a new thread series on Panerai straps, where I review one per week. Let me know if you think this idea is dumb or worthwhile! And as I said on Repgeeks, I am taking a SABBATICAL from launching these Wristie threads, at least for a whole week. So if someone doesn't take the initiative, SUFFER!

Remember the Housatonic!! ...not quite as catchy as the Maine, I grant you, but then I'm no William Randolph Hearst.

Billionaires have it rough these days. Manor homes, Castles, Yachts, even air balloons -- it's all been done, and in fact, OUTDONE! So guess what has been the latest trend in kajillionaire testosterone-driven acquisitiveness? SUBMARINES! French English "CNN is carrying a story on the gemini three-person submersible. 'Forget the yacht, mansion and private jet. This is Gemini, the family submarine described by inventor Robert Leeds as the world's first underwater sports car.' However, the submarine only goes about five knots, so speed is not its primary focus. It can handle three people for three days at depths of up to 50 meters. Not quite a James Bond sub-car, but cool nonetheless. The official site has lots of pictures." -- Slashdot This is one of the examples shown on that site, via Slashdot. Dunno. Just don't see Roman Abramovich in this.

I always suspected Osama was in Hawaii! In my dad's profession, the "Feds" are always sniffing, and up in his biness. Okay, not Homeland Security, but definitely IRS, and the like. One time, he arrived and his desk had tape all around it, with a Court order not to touch the contents or else he'd go to gaol. He picked up the phone, called his lawyer, and within one day, the "audit" was over. It's not what you know, but who you know -- though bluffing in life helps a lot.

Right but Jawo isn't a newbie. He said he had received 40+ rep watches without this message ever showing up. I don't think his concern is completely laughable -- just jarring for him.

Being a veteran of many sport forums, I just have to disagree with regret, Kollektor. The time for soccer to have taken off in the US was in the 1930s, after the USA came in third in the very first World Cup ever (winning the "bronze" if you will, after perennial powerhouses, Uruguay and Argentina!). It didn't. It remained a niche sport, which oddly until recently was always seen as either a "daggum foreigner" sport, as it was also seen in Canada and Australia, or a sport played by the upper-class elite in prep schools and ivy league, private Universities. Highly ironic, given soccer's universal working-class status. But there we are. There were two other occasions when soccer could've REALLY taken off in the US (in the 1950s, as the US transitioned from baseball to gridiron football), and perhaps in the 1970s (with the NASL and Pele-mania). WC 1994 really helped, but even so, it comes a distant...7th? behind: NFL MLB NBA NASCAR College Ball (football, basketball, sometimes baseball) NHL ...MLS?? The problem with this is that people have been predicting this "immigrant" impetus for soccer's growth since the 1920s. And it's always the case that the immigrants EVENTUALLY adapt to the cultural environment, how ever slowly it may seem these days. This is why third-generation Greeks in Australia love Aussie Rules over soccer, whereas their parents may not have as much (debateable). It is said that my hero, Lou Gehrig, could play some mean soccer which his German parents still found discomfitting (they wanted him to become an engineer, like his uncle, that's why he went to Columbia), but at least they understood the impulse better than playing that bizarre baseball of his. So, with regret, I don't think soccer will ever be the national obsession it is in England, or Brazil. I think the rest of the world likes that a lot, because when Americans put their whole mind, spirit, and body into ANYTHING, you might as well go home. Like the US women, they'd probably win a World Cup like THAT.

That's why you didn't say anything after I caressed your wrist in the Wrist-check! You're ex soured you on us. Mangia bene. Me, I'm going out for Cuban. Feel like ropa vieja tonight.

Psst!, Mr. Pugwash! Like the hint of Josephine Baker/Florence Mills "La revue Negre" background in the shot!

Hmm, sounds like a NATO or military strap? I am wearing one here with the Radiomir base, 210. Ahh. I've heard the same from other men. Dad wears only SS bracelets for the sweat reason too. But then you guys have hairier arms than me! ...I think. The Arktos is a monster! I hope you will feature it one day in the Wrist-Checks. (I hear you about kitschy though)

ACTUALLY! It's funny you should say that, as the recessed cannon pin now drives me insane. There's no way I am going to fix 15 watches, and counting, so I'm just going to have to choose one or two to mod. I've been on Vaccum's tail for a while, even though he may not know it , so since the recent events have narrowed my choices, and The Zigmeister is in Canada, Vaclume here I come! P.S.: Even funnier than that, is now I am sorry I spent all that money on these basically highly inaccurate models. I really really should've bought the most accurate-to-gen PAMs, but I know my personality too. I like LOTS of stuff, not just one really turbo watch, completely modded with Jimmy this CGs, and DSN that crystals, like many guys here have. One good thing about having spent $$$ on all these reps is that my taste has surprised me. I used to think the white-faced PAMs were hideous. No longer. Au contraire, in fact. I used to think Radiomirs were "un-Panerai" (oh the irony, if you know the history!). NO LONGER. My third fave watch is the Black Seal, 183. So after the gen 112, I think I'll get a 183. A Radiomir for sure, though. They are so choice!

I did see a PVD with a way-cool MF orange stap on RWI, today. However, I think the strap is what impressed me more than the watch. Sorry, Dluddy. PVD = too masculine. Same with chronos (for me! Not in general for other women).

Dluddy...not sure if you remember this...but remember that very first photoshoot of my two PAMs I posted? "PAM at the Beach". Well, I had to that point just received that very day my wonderful GeF Marrone strap, which I was fit to burst with pride over. Put that on my first true worthy PAM, the Andrew 111h. But on the stupid fantasy Mini-Fiddy by Paul, I had on a crappy strap by a vendor on the *bay. It was a black mock-croc, so thin and untasty that Wonderbread would laugh at it. So you replied something like. "Great shots, Vic. Definitely gotta get a better strap on that Mini Fiddy, though. ". WELL! I didn't say anything at the time, but women often internalise those things, and though you meant NOTHING bad by it all, don't get me wrong -- I took it as a challenge. LOOK AT ME BOY! Just look at me now! Edit: Correction! It was Deltatahoe, not you! Drat. Women remember, but sometimes we remember what we want, not the truth. http://www.rwg.cc/members/index.php?s=&amp...st&p=280144

Hehe. Actually, if my credit card company would ever get my cheque, and thus I would be free to spend more money on reps...I am indeed buying one in ceramic soon! The white HBB.