Victoria

I might book a suite at the Delano for Xmas

I will be closer to you my dear

You'll LOVE the Delano, if you've never been.

Some caveats are that there are an awful amount of Eurotrash honeytraps, masquerading as well-to-do single girls, sometimes true (they'll give you names of all the "in people" around the social circuit in London, Paris, and Ibiza, tell you they've attended Marlborough College with Kate Middleton and Eugenie York, etc. etc.). But they're speciality is to get you into compromising situations, and possibly to use "leverage" by hinting evil tidings to your lady wife, if you don't cough up some money...

Not that you're that kind of man, as your love letter references to your wife attest, but just in case any other chap is reading this, who is, don't go soused to the Delano loos, ya hear?

Other than that, the Delano lives up to the hype, Stephane. Great private beach, excellent, discrete service. Great bar atmosphere. Good vibe all around.

You know, there used to be a delicious story that Ian Schrager often sealed off a whole floor for himself, like Howard Hughes used to do, which could always be located due to the permeating scent of marijuana when you reached said floor.

It's good to be the King...of South Beach.

gay watches bring a lot of fun.

rolli

(First, LOL that there's an emoticon called "elvis", as I read above. I suppose as a non-VIP I don't have access to most of those cooler emoticons until I become a fully paid up member. SUCKS!)

Okay, not to resurrect this thread but, today I went to the beauty spa wearing my totally tricked out PAM 118 on the PAV 91.

And did I get a stare and a double-take from any of those bleached hair,

Your timing is impeccable. So yesterday I wandered into an AD (with my AP RO under my cuff) in order to buy the wife a gen ladies' watch.

I guess there are ADs, and ADs. Remember the story of that Madrile

Yet somehow they managed to make her look ugly in Da Vinci Code.

Dude, that's nothing compared to what they did to Romy Schneider in her forgettable Hollywood comedies. *cringe*

Rare is the foreign actress that lands good roles in the US, these days, with the bizarre exception of Penelope Cruz (whom I hate).

P.S.: Audrey is starring as Coco Chanel in a French biopic. Yay!

(As a French-speaker, I tend to see subtitled French movies as just movies without the art-house pretence. It's great. )

Me too.

I've tried to upgrade my membership also, but still on hold. To answer specifically, no- us noobs can't see collector area yet.

Great site though- amazing how much I've learned in a few days here... scary amounts of info though. Want to make my first transaction an informed one- nice to have found a resource like this place.

This noob can. And has already bought some items from the trade area...

Not sure why, but perhaps I flew under the radar somehow. Thanks Admin! (Still also patiently, happily awaiting my upgrade)

So I've been bitten by the Panerai bug. I really really really tried to resist and then I went and looked in today wristcheck and saw antons flyback.

Now, I have no control and am actively seeking a PAM.

I'm asking for help as I'm a stickler for accuracy over anything else. What, in you guys' opinion is the most accurate PAM about. Ideally I'm looking for one that will look good on a Dark Tan strap.

First, the disease is incurable.

Second, the disease bores those around you, especially girl/boyfriends.

Third, it'll possibly bankrupt you.

Fourth, you'll get a subsidiary disease called strapitis.

Fifth, you'll have the time of your life during all of it.

Welcome to the PAM Obsessioners Club. Macaroons and Coke inside the welcome basket.

Pedro - Portugal were the sun always shines

Oi, tudo bom, Pedro! Here's your Bra-Portuguese speaking fellow newbie from England who now lives in sunny Florida (got that?).

I believe Josh's ETA Superocean is said to glow like a galaxy:

http://www.perfectclones88.com/bl02001-sup...242-p-2597.html

It's not cheap, and I'm sure other dealers have them (I heard Ruby does, yesterday, so I was investigating this last night), but there's one option in the Breitling range, for you.

E o sol brilha tanto no Portugal que as rosas se machucam, 'tadinhas!

Good luck.

BTW here is another strap finished today (lanikai this is yours )

Lanikai, my fellow strap obsessioner, got one from you, V???

Aww man. I am currently in bargaining mode with one of our members for a watch. What's wrong with me. Why am I passing up one of your beauties, just to get MORE watches...*bangs head on monitor*

Wow, great posts.

I just wish that I can make it to the beach this summer. It's not far, but seems like it's very far due to all the mayhem goin' on around here

I've been following this thread with great interest, though I hate the O-T section of any forum. One gets into trouble.

I noticed that Stephane and I have the same watch leather case! What with the laptop, and me getting some Mont Blanc pens, I'll be like or Stephane Jr. (uuh, "Stephanie" maybe) to his Stephane!

Un/fortunately, I live in South Beach. It's hard to convince one's parents to go to a pricey beach resort, when we live 5 blocks away from the "20 most exciting blocks" and beach in the world. Pace Copacabana.

I know! I'll go into my pool...and promptly ruin my PAMs.

Eunomians, I hope I haven't put my foot in it, but are you in Japan? I've been to those weirdo tent-beach places, where they have fake wave pools, where kids go surfing. Better than Butlins. Just.

Shes a french artsy movie loving flaming liberal

Hey! That describes me perfectly! Except for one very important qualifier...

By the way, you guys have gotta go see Hors de Prix, when it comes to your cinemahouse/rental place. How can any red-blooded man pass up Audrey Tautou looking like this? Artsy-fartsy, indeed.

My appetite for desert just spung up ... EVIL ..... got pics of the new PAV 93 .. hint.. (not out yet) it's reptilian and it's NASTY .... FO REAL ... GOTA GET ONE vb....EMAIL U KNOW WHO AND ASK

Saw it, baby. Almost fell in a faint. Must have it...

But the reason I'm posting today, in this lingering Mario Paci thread, is that I want to thank you, V, and especially fighgodeep for his/her splendid photos of the Senape.

SO GLAD you guys convinced me to get that instead of the Anacardo, because it's absolutely GORGEOUS. Yay!

Pics at the weekend!

and say it's a rep. What can I say -- maybe with that attitude, I deserve to be called out on it.

"Not say it's a rep", I meant. Yeah, I'd lie -- with a straight face too. Or as my Spanish friends in SoFla say, "with a hard face".

This didn't happen to me but as I was working in our restaurant I noticed a customer wearing a PAM and asked him if he was wearing a Panerai. He showed me the watch and it was the kind of, Thailand BAD Panerai rep I've ever seen.

I stood there and he's trying to tell me that it's a gen...as I pointed out that it can't be by telling him all the flaws (a lot) he just wouldn't give in that he had a rep...really at that moment his CG screw fell out!!! He just went speachless...I really felt sorry for that guy.

Aww, poor guy! You're so bad, Maikel. Can't you let a guy try to pull one over on you? Even once?

Seriously, I fear getting called out by a PAM freak like you guys are. And that's because I would lie just like the guy in your restaurant, and say it's a rep. What can I say -- maybe with that attitude, I deserve to be called out on it.

P.S.: LOL, Kenberg.

This was $165...she's gone up ( at least for me ). I don't blame her.

Well, now the fun part starts ! The waiting.

I suppose I'll get a confirmation email in a couple of days.

I don't want to bug her.

For sure, I appreciate her making these gorgeous watches available for us at a price I ( personally ) can afford.

I think I'm ready to try Ruby, and go for this Steelfish (the only Breitling I like). Always feared to because honestly, I like short, quick comms, payment 1-2-3, and I've heard she not only doesn't speak English well, but is as slow as molasses.

Wonder if I should really...

Actually, I was going to buy that Hublot Big Bang Aspen from that CQOUT.com guy, but after waiting for DAYS for the merest reply to a quick question, I realised it ain't worth it (his subsequent incomprehensible replies clinched my distaste). I'll wait for a collector who is in Asia now, to possibly source one for me.

(Thanks for the wallpaper again, Pug! I had the previous one for three whole days, just staring at the beautiful teak wood and mahjohng tiles. More more!)

Do you feel collectors often quality control their very first shipment when you order that first time with them...and then, once they see you have your repeat custom, they start to be less careful?

After a full month's worth of purchasing 16 reps from 4 different collectors*, I've noticed that almost without exception their first shipment is impeccable, comms lightning quick, extremely fast shipping (less than a week), and problem-free.

Then, a breakdown in quality becomes highly noticeable, almost to the point of every shipment thereafter containing SOME problem, however insignificant like a wrong strap, deployant missing, and the like.

Ultimately, our hobby is riddled with problems, and patience is required. All of us understand that. And most of the more reputable collectors will take care of you without much hassle.

But

My Nanuq Rolex Oyster Perp 'emergency watch'

Get your very own here

LOL. Jolly joker.

Actually, that's a great one Ape, since last Halloween I didn't know what to wear for a costume. I think I'll print that out, and go as a "nouveau riche Eurotrash" ho, complete with orange tan, Roberto Cavalli leopard see-thru dress, and gold Jimmy Choos. Thanks!

Argh! Did you not read a word I said, FxrAndy?!

dluddy, I meant! Sorry, FxrAndy! But you did ask in the previous wrist-check when I was going to show my wrists, so naturally I confuzzled both of you.

Feeling the love VB. Love the PAV - great combo Where is the wrist in your wrist shot

Argh! Did you not read a word I said, FxrAndy?!

I wanted to have a flawless manicure for my first wrist-check shots, and my manicurist cancelled the appt on me today. Boo! Okay okay. I sense the natives are getting restless.

Here's a sneak peak: Andrew's PAM 111h on the Giovanni e Figlio Cordovan Marrone strap (gorgeous too!).

I actually went outside my balcony to take pics of this, and left immediately because one of my neighbours was looking at me as if I were a crazy lady -- the whacko taking pics of her wrists!

I'm back to the UPO Lite

Mmm, nice too. Lite?

Guys, no midweek wrist-check photos?

Well, as I told you when I received my PAM 118 from Czarczar, and Elliot's luscious PAV 91, I would be posting my first wrist check photo this Wednesday, today. I had a manicurist appointment, and wanted everything to look spiffy for my debut post (yes, don't laugh). But she screwed me over at the last minute, and cancelled. So, I'll debut my wrists on Friday -- sorry...

Meanwhile, here is what I am wearing Wed & Thurs!

P.S.: I totally ripped off the wrist-check computer idea from Stephane. Imitation being the highest form of flattery.

Can you feel the PAM/PAV LOVE??

What watch?

Heh. Actually I grudgingly admit that she's very beautiful. I hadn't heard of Megan Fox before, as she was a small role actress before, but she's WAAY sexier than someone like say, Jessica Simpson. They should've cast Fox in Dukes of Hazzard instead...

And cornerstone, thanks for posting those PO shots in "James May's 20th Century". I found a more petite 42.5mm PO for sale here, and your photos were the ones which tipped my scales to buy it.

Me only concern is that I have read that the way the bracelet secures to the watch on the 4th generation is not very good... is that true???

Having just bought, finally, an orange bezel Planet Ocean (42.5mm) which will require a strap change, I am also interested in knowing about this. The seller said that some members suggest a little WD40 on the springbar, because it can be very tough.

P.S.: HAHA. Now I am going to post on this Omega board all the time. And those of you who were breathing a sigh of relief that "Whew, she's only into Panerais so far", will now have to be afraid, be very afraid! I'll probably be PMing By-Tor daily with tips.

Here is another strap for a customer who wanted one for his Pam (and not a Ferrari).

GASP. Lovely. It looks like the Crazy Horse, only better!

P.S.: Saw your LV strap reduced, V. Would go for it, but would much rather save to get your Greek hide one.

I just got back from ten days in Oahu, specificaly Waikiki. Everyone from young Japanese kids to middle-age American men had one. Our boat captain had one, and that's really the only one I confirmed was real. I must have seen at least thirty that I took the time to notice, including a young couple in their early twenties, with matching SS Subs.

When I moved to Florida, I wore Rolexes and Cartiers almost exclusively.

In England, though by no means rare, they were unusual because they were expensive enough to make them unthinkable for the middle-classes (all those lovely taxes, dontchaknow). If you had one, and were an average person like most of us here, you had somehow saved lots and lots so you could buy them, or you had inherited them. The latter being my case.

(I find that middle-class Americans are much better able to finance their goodies, than we are, perhaps as a cultural quirk such as credit card overusage, not caring if someone puts them in their place socially, etc. Or maybe they have less VAT luxury taxes...)

Suddenly, I found myself in South Beach surrounded by Rolexes, especially SS Subs. EVERYONE had them. My condominium janitor, fresh off the boat from Haiti not two years back, wears one. As an aside, his cleaning lady wife also has a LV bag, also fake obviously.

It's almost like a rite of passage in America. Everyone wears one, and consequently, they rarely get wrist time on me now.

Part of that has to do with my own personal issues, which I'm honest enough to mention publicly. But part of it also has to do with not wanting to wear something which cost my parents blood sweat and tears to give me; looks beautiful; but is so ubiquitous and repped, that no one believes it's real.

Like fitmic, when Jay answers my email for the vintage 007 Rolex, it'll be my first Rolex purchase.

(Last reply before shutting down the computer!)

Why is it everytime I read a thread of yours lately there is the mention of FOOD and not just substance to eat but a great menu ????

Because (a) I don't know how to cook, so food is ever on my mind (where to go, what to order, how much it'll cost me working out later.... & ( b ) I go out to eat a lot, with friends and family! Woo. Wallet drain...

and i am assuming when you talk of "sex" it has to take at least 2 people for the act to be called _ _ _ .. just wanted to clarify that because it is soo stylish to at least wear your panerai when indulging in aerobic activity

So you are in an Italian Restaurant and you take off your Panerai .. isn't that sort of sacriliges (sp?) I bet sssufer or Lello would never think of abandoning their PAMS for the sake of red sauce ....

I'm sure I have scandalised all the Panerai purists here since my arrival. Fancy 4 possibly 5 PAMs bought in one month. Why, Pannies are there to savour, slowly, to appreciate each detail in the fullness of time -- not to purchase them like a Maalox run to the chemists!

Now that i have had my fun ... i will probably run into a PAM moment so my logic with the MP straps is ... when i think i may mess up .. i wear the Toscana PAV and when all is right with the world and my coordination i think it safe to switch to the MP PAV...isn't this a bit off the wall thinking???

Not really. But then it seems we're both rather superstitious, lanikai. If I were a baseball player, I'd be as eccentric as Bill "The Spaceman" Lee.

Dutchy wrote:

Hahah, hilarious stories, thanks for sharing!! smile.gif

I didn't even mention that I almost knocked down a wineglass, as I went to "get" the napkin! I'd have made a terrible 007.

You're man is a lucky one.

The one thing I mind about him, is that being Italian, he'll never go with me to an Italian restaurant! Because Italians always think it's a waste to spend so much money on something they can cook 10x better, at home. And they're right...

My wife never gives her jewelry or watches a thought. Now a stain on a Blahnik or Choo is a disaster.

Ooh, your wife is my mother. I am so totally not a shoe person.

(I'm a handbag/perfume gal, though, big time. I tried to have a look at Bergie's Belts in that section without success!)