Victoria

In my last email to him, I made it plain that I like him as a dealer, but will not stand for the run-around. No reply (as yet). Awful situation, no wonder you quit! The other day I remonstrated with Andrew, asking him not to work so hard. There he was, at an ungodly hour his time, waking up just to answer all his emails. I told him (and meant it), "enjoy life once in a while!", because even on Sundays he's there at it on his computer. Poor guy. He's like all of the good ones, I'm sure. Heh. I can imagine. I do have automatics from this seller, and others, and yes, they are the ones which are the klunky movements, but in their case, no matter how much I wear them, they quit after 3 hours. I'm certain that's not right, but hey. Lesson learnt as you say... Words to buy by. Thanks Predfan.

(No names not mentioned for discretion) The deal is like this. I've had a problem with a watch from a dealer who was extraordinarily chatty until the point I mentioned replacement parts. Actually, two dealers, but with that other dealer he was always professional and friendly, but erratic in his emails. I'm used to it by now. With the former dealer, he couldn't have been quicker in replies, and helping me to purchase any number of items online. Every time I refreshed, there was a reply from him. But ever since my "Problem, can you send this replacement part" email to him, he's been giving me the good, ole-fashioned runaround. Doesn't respond. Asks for clarification (5x) when I have made my points as clear as day in each reply; in fact, hasn't replied in 2 days to my last payment info, which he usually would without fail even on the weekend (especially on the weekend). This seems like stall tactics to me. Is this common? Or is it just my newbieness and impatience showing up? I think what compounds this is that all his other watches that I've ordered from him have turned out to be a little substandard. They look great, but the movements are clunky, and need seeing to every moment. I also purchased one non-watch item from him, which turned out to be an ABSOLUTE JOKE. Something which probably costs a few Yuan in Hong Kong, in the street corner, for a plasticky ripoff. In his favour, he said I could choose another, but I am concerned. I'm this close to not ordering from him again. I said no names, but it's not Andrew or Joshua. They're the creme-de-la-creme, and now I know why.

Stop! You've been of tremendous help in this thread. I am so looking forward to that PAM 199, and to all the other mods I wil have done to my two other PAMs which thanks to you guys, I can do so knowledgeably now. And speaking of straps...my God, may VISA take pity on me, because look: http://mariopaci.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv...Product_Count=3 A gorgeous Mario Paci strap from Elliot to go with the submerssible look of the PAM 199. And it's on sale too!

Wow, there are so many wonderful replies in this thread, but I can't reply to all lest I overshoot my newbieness status. Let me just say that I loved your post. Agreed 100% on all points. Dr. Hayek seems like someone you'd find in Billingsgate, in that photo, rather than the CEO of probably the most venerable of all watch companies...save for Patek Phillipe. And speaking of which, I once had the pleasure of meeting Phillipe Stern, the CEO of said company. A gentleman. Could never in a million years imagine him doing a similar photo.

Maradona was a footballing genius. But there will only ever be one Pele. It's like how I appreciate and love Elvis, but Frank Sinatra topped him by miles.

"This recipient is currently unable to receive money" @ http://www.payme.cc/ as per instructions. Am I doing something wrong? I'd like to upgrade my membership, at long last.

PP0010A - Patek Calatrava 5053 WG White - Swiss ETA 2824 (37mm) http://www.ttwristwatch.com/index.php?main...products_id=695 Glashutte Classique White - Manual Wind (38mm) http://www.ttwristwatch.com/index.php?main...products_id=128 VC0009 - Vintage Working Chronograph SS White - Lemania (40mm) http://www.ttwristwatch.com/index.php?main...products_id=842

Heh. Since buying my computer, I haven't once used the mic function. This was my chance tonight. Using the pronunciation guide above, this is how they would sound. I hope the American one is right! It's a popular American name but I've personally rarely heard it used in Britain, except biblically. http://minorcrisis.net/files/Aaron.wav You can copy-paste that unto your players, instead of clicking on it directly. Not sure if this saves bandwidth, but I believe I'm not allowed to embed without VIP.

No clue. And being English, I will raise my eye-brow reprovingly at you. I'm sure folks here know it, but I got the photo of Marasnorta here: http://www.oysterinfo.de/en/specials/celebs/index.php

LOL! Oh My God.

I'm a serious film buff and you know already I love watches, so I'll be updating this thread with watch sightings in film. Tonight, after we saw NEXT (based on Philip K. [censored]'s novel), I wanted to find out what timepiece watch-queen-extraordinaire Nicolas Cage was wearing. I told my boyfriend, I'm certain that's an IWC Ingenieur Chrono watch, which featured so prominently in the storyline. Well, upon doing some research in film review sites, turns out it's: http://www.tagheuer.com/the-news/archive/i...6B-7CCD460D92BD The Tag Heuer Carrera Tachymetre Chronograph. He is seen wearing it in the offered black leather strap, but also in one scene with the SS bracelet. http://www.tagheuer.com/the-collection/carrera/index.lbl Lovely timepiece.

That's Dr. Nicolas Hayek, CEO of Breguet, the guy who reinvigorated the famed timepiece company. Now that's a wrist-check photo, baby! Can anyone here top that? P.S.: In case you don't get the Maradona reference, unlikely in this forum, but anyway -- the ex-footballer is well-known for his, shall we call it, penchant for wearing Daytonas on both wrists.

If it's already in your city, then you can expect it by 1 PM your time. (Mine arrives in a local post office at 8 AM, and always comes at 11 AM all the time. Not sure why, but you could time it ironically with a watch!)

In my limited experience, I've found that I trust the EMS site UNTIL it leaves the sorting centre. Then afterwards, I just check USPS. They're more reliable then, and I'm certain their other country equivalents would be too.

Haha. That was a sarcastic haha, in case you missed it.

Blimey, that's a beautifully angled shot, Triplehd. And thanks for that info, Ape! I love quirky too, and have a Nixon Clique watch with the Frankenstein "bolts".

Well, I think this thread will be axed as spammish, but I've often wondered with the Frankentona skills shown by SO many members here, why you guys don't seriously consider going into the watch business yourself. That is, to create a watch. Hey, if Alain Silberstain can, why not you?

I was like that until a week ago, when I got a nice nice indeed (takes about 3 days not to be "red" and finally turn to brownish tones, sigh). Love it. I was shying away from a velvety suede strap, but those are smashing. And I too have a new PAM 111h that I won't be taking off my wrist all this week. Ahh, the joys of dealing with Andrew. P.S.: I know you've posted it upteen times, but what is the watch in your .sig please?

Oh no! I just bought one for my father. The Rolex screws are very simple. What do you recommend I get ahead of time with this? Or just take it to the watchmaker and save the bother? Maybe I'm too new to the hobby, or it's just not my personality, but I can't imagine selling any of my longed-for rep "babies". Not even if they go to waste getting no wrist time whatsoever.

If I may be allowed an opinion, Everythingape, you look mighty sexy with that watch. I love the NATO Bond strap; goes well with your complexion and wrist-length.

According to EMS, Paul's package is still in Guangzhou, in the mystical "Sorting Office", though it arrived at my home on Thursday morning. Hehe.

Holy schnikey. That V sure is lucky!! I even love the PAV99! By the way, I was super busy today, but I finally got my Andrew 111h. Ladies and gentlemen, if there is such a thing as falling in love with an inanimate object, I'm a total goner. The Panerai is by far, the most distinctive, addictive, sexy watch on the world stage today. I'm TOTALLY hooked. Ordered the PAM 199 already. Since it's a thread about straps, here is the one I put on the starter 111: http://timeconnection.biz/Merchant2/mercha...Product_Count=3 Maybe to you guys who are used to buying Mario Pacis, and those gorgeous hides from our various vendors (like Greg Straps as mentioned by Chieftang below), maybe you see this and go, eh. So what, Vic, seen better, cheaper too. But I tell you, it's stunning. Wrist-shots on Monday, when I get a little more time! By the way, Elliot couldn't have been nicer, and speedier in delivery either. I respect other people's opinions, especially older posters, but the rep he has here SO FAR seems nonsensical. Either way, MWAH! Me love PAMs!

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-6/1028476/PAV91.JPG "Mario Paci Special Edition original leather PAV 91 with MP Brushed sewn in buckle for Panerai watch" A steal at U$269. Sigh. Too rich for me right now, even with the other forum discount.

I'm well on my way to 20, in one month. But you know, that means nothing because I bet you most people in this forum prefer quality over quantity, and my stupid little $150 watches will fail, had I just saved to buy one with Swiss ETA for $350.

Excellent reasoning. Also, most of the illegal activity in this world you alluded to, whether prostitution, gun-running or drugs dealing has a decidedly violent undertone. We just love expensive watches. It seems to me that though we could theoretically get into trouble with the law, Customs, etc. MOST of us rarely do (touch wood), and it's the dealers in fact, whose lives might be in greater danger than ours. Tangentially, maybe this is the reason why they don't produce 1:1 copies that are at least cosmetically perfect. A bad font here, a missing numeral there, etc. It just can't be the rush to get out the product to be able to make $$. I have a suspicion part of it is not to fly too close to the sun, as they might get their wings singed -- in other words, these companies would really crack down on them if their copies were too perfect, possibly in ways we cannot imagine in the West...