Victoria

Best laugh I've had in years.

But what, no CARTIER??

I don't think you can go wrong buying a Ladies DJ rep- sure the diamonds are CZ's, but who goes around w/ a loupe in their pocket. Get the eta movement. And if anyone asks her about it, she can just say, "Oh, my husband got me this, isn't it pretty?"

Rarely does this happen, but the other day someone asked my mum in a mall (wearing her Ladies DJ bling which happened to be a gen), "Is that real?".

Her reply was spot on: "What do you think?".

It places the onus back on the person, and if they're any kind of decent person, that's stops them cold.

Juicy, Andrew has good ladies watches, better than most. Not sure why. I'd go with his Rollie DJs, in TT or bling, or both. No problems whatsoever. Jay/Silix will get you the same, for cheaper, but QC is a factor.

I buy reps to look good for a fraction of the cost.

Haven't see you buddies for a week! I miss u all (On my vocation to Thailand Kon Samui).

I wondered about that! Hope you and your wife are enjoying yourself in Thailand, Raymond.

The Kevlar arrived! Does it feel lighter? Looks GREAT.

I'm reminded of Beyonc

This watch is really close except for this one major irritation!!!

I know what you're saying, but look at this one! From the Mont Blanc site itself:

Only the most knowledgeable people could tell the difference, because this looks remarkably close to your watch. Yes, it's stupid how the factories re-use the SS cases for the gold versions, but this version isn't bad, so take heart, HikeUSA.

Do you spot the mistake???

I'm looking at the gen in the MB site, and I don't see a RG version available. However, the answer is so obvious I too am having difficulty spotting it.

Subdials look right. MontBlanc Automatic looks right. Hour markers, good. Date wheel, well-positioned. Nope, can't see it, HikeUSA.

That is one fine-looking watch though. There's a member who has one for sale (I believe it's Azerbyjam, he with the crappy gen MB pens ...they're actually great pens for that price), and I might just have to check that out.

MONDAY

Ap

After another long day of shoveling and Snow-Blowing (2 storms of over 8+ inches each),

I just saw my bf's Flickr account, with uploaded pics of Toronto's snow deluge. It's one HUGE road of snow, outside his house. Poor guys up there, Dluddy. It's supposed to get real cold for us, overnight. People are preparing to take out their blankets, and jumpers. You know how low it'll be tomorrow in SoFla? 55F/12C.

I'm chilling out with the Nautilus for this Sunday night.

First Corgi, now you. This is just a very classy watch.

P.S.: Not posting the Monday-Tuesday wristchecks, as has been my recent wont. Maybe another newbie would like to, like HaloArchive did.

Here you go Victoria.

It's really nice to see a watch intended for you! Now I see why Ruby wins people over, TWP.

I am going to take the minute hand off tonight and redo it. I am not happy with the lume towards the base of the hand.

What a perfectionist.

Hope others are seeing the work you do, and for free...wow. Thanks, TWP!

(I'm a little overwhelmed at present, with this unexpected kindness. It's been a rough time for me, and this is just the tonic I needed. Thank you guys...)

I am speechless. Well, for my standards.

TWP, may I say it's not often one hears such a cri de coeur from a guy here. You're one of the most frank people I've ever met online (I'm still reminded of your other post) and whatever you need outside of our business relationship, you have an ear in me.

I am so sorry for your troubles. Women have a hard time understanding that a man can love his wife to death, and still cheat on her -- as I once told Sssurfer about male/female differences, men can compartmentalise their lives, whereas women tend to see the big picture. EDIT: Not your case, of course!

Right now, the picture I am seeing is a beautiful watch from a generous guy. Thanks so much...we'll exchange info shortly.

@Sssurfer: To meet a person of your calibre here was worth everything. That is true with other guys too. Mille grazie...

@Golfman: La vie n'est pas si compliqu

My word....what the hell did you expect fror

Gorgeous watch. Looks just the thing on your wrist. Thanks for the review!

Please excuse the lower than usual quality of photos, but I was relegated to the kitchen without my light tent due to the impending festive season requiring a large tree in the living room.

Not at all. They were more human, more full of overspilling genuine love for the watch, because of it.

Any questions?

Yes. Why does an atheist have a Christmas tree?

Actually, I'll ask about something I know, straps -- it may be the angle of the shot, but it doesn't seem to hug the contour of the case as one would expect. Is that the way it is, as the screenshots of the gen are in SS bracelet?

Either way, one phenomenal watch. Glad you can wear your dream watch before year's end.

Suggestions for Bruce79's present to his wife:

1- PM TWP, since he's in the USA and has a lot of rep watch boxes

2- PM WBK at RWI, ditto, at least he could possibly get them

3- Go to Craigslist, eBay, local newspaper adverts and search for one

4- Buy a Steinhart watch winder, though the Cartier Tank may be a quartz, and present it to her in it. Looks elegant

5- Buy a single-unit watch case like this:

6- Give her a kiss with your backs to the Christmas tree, slip it onto the branch, and turn her around to look at it. That would make my heart melt

Good luck.

Nomination for Best Or Most Comedic Title in a Post for December.

I'm sure you might know how guys who are undersized can feel when all of the other dudes are flashing around their 8+ inchers,

I like wearing my 112 on crazy horse because it's comfortable with the leather strap.

I confess, I prefer my 112 to the Fiddy. Don't get me wrong -- I love the Fiddy. It's not a gorilla watch at all, as one member uncharitably puts it. But the 44mm PAMs are perfection.

Whatever hoodoo that they do, visually, makes it look slim on one's wrist. Even my 5.7".

But yeah, I've been buying more and more Rolexes, Cartiers, Chopards, Guccis, a Tag, etc. The reason has to be size.

You grab a 35mm-40mm Rolex or Cartier when you're in a hurry, and with one click, it's on your wrist. You don't have to worry about it raining and wearing a pricey leather strap, etc. And it'll be discrete peaking from under one's blouse (shirt), or dress (suit).

Although Slai's peek-a-boo PAM crown shots are great.

The trend of big watches won't abate soon, though.

Boomers need the hockey pucks as their eyes grow older.

A bit late...

Welcome back! A member was asking about Vacheron Constantins the other day, when I linked to your collection, Pix.

The Patek Philippe Sky Moon Tourbillon watch is perhaps the world's most covetted luxury watch, certainly one of its most expensive, sometimes reaching a staggering U$1.5 million. Having 301 components of complications will do that to a watch.

It's not a timepiece where you can saunter into an AD, and plunk down your Benjamins, though.

A gentleman from Miami waited over 2 years to get an interview with the President of Patek Philippe's son, VP Philippe Stern, who then questioned him intensely about why he wanted to purchase this watch. The answer he gave was precisely what Patek want to stand for, in terms of watches -- tradition. The elderly chap said one day, he wanted to pass it down to his grandson.

He was approved.

If you want to know why I myself bought this rep watch of a hideously expensive gen, the answer is simple: I truly like it. Visually, it is a rather stunning watch, even in rep form.

When you consider that it cost me only, if memory serves, $108 shipped, from a collector who no longer carries it, it's amazing even if it has never gotten ANY wrist time.

Without further ado, the Patek Sky Moon Tourbillon (Ref. 5002) in Rose Gold.

GENUINE

REPLICA WATCH

SPECIFICATIONS AND PRICE AT ONE SITE

From: hxxp://www.gemnation.com/base?processor=viewWatchDetails&watch_id=1463

PATEK SKY MOON TOURBILLON OWNER

From: hxxp://www.orbita.net/pages/12141.htm (story on getting an Orbita winder specially built for the Sky Moon)

...hope you enjoyed the pictorial review.

Ok. thanks , aint doing this for stars V.

No worries, Rodwc. None of us is, but as you say, getting feedback from one's forum members is sometimes a great thing.

I WAS going to rate this "good idea", Rodwc, but then I realised that would be too ironic about your thread's intent.

My threads intent was to further the good cause of this forum,

No underhanded tactics implied from here.

I hope that I havnt mis-understood you V.

Wow, I think so. Let me rephrase, Rodwc!

You posted a very good suggestion (as read on 'Geeks) about giving feedback to members, which promotes a more positive atmosphere in the forum. I was going to rate your post with one of my little ubiquitous ratings instead of actually replying to it, which would therefore be rather ironic. Get it?

Like I said in the further reply, Admin had virtually pleaded with the membership to give more feedback, especially to people who had posted say, a review full of photos, which obviously must've taken hours, but which got precious few replies.

That's sad to see sometimes. I totally agree with what you're saying. Just so that you know, I already gave your thread 5 stars before seeing your reply.

All people, great and small need encouragement.

It would be great to see it here also.

Thanks rodwc.

I WAS going to rate this "good idea", Rodwc, but then I realised that would be too ironic about your thread's intent.

Instead, I'll just post this link to Admin's recent "Spoiled & Uninterested RWG Members?", where he said virtually the same thing:

http://www.rwg.cc/members/index.php?s=&amp...st&p=311649

"Maybe this sounds silly, but it is always great to get feedback from the membership when you have spent hours writing up and interesting post, no matter what it is. Same goes of course for great photoes or other posts you just like for some reason. These posts are also a part of making this into a living and breathing community and sometimes can spark interesting discussions. So please, post your opinion or at the very least use the rating system on great posts. No matter what you do, it will make the posters feel their time is worthwhile and it will also make it easier for other/new members to find these great articles. "

After he posted that, I took him at his word.

I thought it better to give a rating than not, to at least show some feedback to said person who took the time to post a good photo, review, or funny comment. It's one of the best features of this forum, IMHO, though an actual comment is always better, as you point out.

First, and foremost, check out ERWINNER'S 177h strap/buckle thread:

http://www.rwg.cc/members/index.php?s=&amp...st&p=297717

I hear strap culture straps are pretty good.. anyone sells them locally ? I'm in TO Canada. Cheaper from a dealer here ?

PM TWP. He sells them at a handsome discount, or at least used to. Haven't heard him mentioning SC in a while, and his 25% off discount thread is missing.

Some guys, like the wonderful Slai, love their StrapCulture straps.

I, however, dislike them a lot. The quality is abysmal -- cheap, tough Asian leather which pales in comparison to the Italian leathers. Buy the cool pirate buckle, and just swap it around better straps.

Oh and Kenmasters, I think I sent you a PM about straps some time ago, no? I don't think you replied, but perhaps I'm mistaken. If correct, I sent you a lengthy list of strap merchants to peruse.

Here's a handy cheat sheet of PAM straps:

http://www.6speedonline.com/forums/showpos...amp;postcount=2

And check out the Daily Specials over at TC:

http://timeconnection.biz/page/timeco/CTGY/Special

(The Siena Carbon Fibre strap I show in this weekend's Wristcheck is again on supersale, but only for the 26mm size)

What strap is Josh wearing here ?

That's the OEM Coramid strap. You can get them at the Risti Accessories corner, below. They cost about $120, avg.

hxxp://www.network54.com/Forum/353393/ (please change xx to tt)

Here's the Christmas-holidaying V wearing his in the beaches of Sardinia:

I have a Coramid strap too, but I don't like it and rarely wear it. Doesn't suit my fairer skin.

Abt the Stallone Strap: No clue. Looks oddly like a Zulu/Military/NATO strap, which is not common for Panerai. Maybe someone has mentioned it before though. If I know him, since he's gone on record saying he loves Manifatture Firenze straps, I'd say it was one of theirs, perhaps the odd GrigioVerde.

https://www.manifatturefirenze.it/home.php/...at/65/idart/141

But they're not waterproof, so...anyway, MF straps are not cheap but they're fantastic.

https://www.manifatturefirenze.it/home.php/sel/3/rootcat/1

While counterfeiting is bad for the majority of legitimate manufacturies, I think this gentleman's quote is a little extreme.

Honestly, Corgi, even if I were a Rolex or Louis Vuitton exec, I'd think it was extreme.

I read it, and I thought, WEB DuBois said the main problem of the Twentieth Century was the colour line (the question of race, IOW). Some thought THAT was hyperbole, but at least it certainly was UP THERE.

Intellectual property theft being the main cancer of the Twenty-First Century? If only we were so lucky...

Millions of starvation-related deaths in third world countries and no humanitarian relief in view of the future? Perhaps a better choice... or terrorism and september 11 attacks... fake LV bags and watches? Hmmm..............

It's lawyer-talk. No one takes it seriously.

I personally doubt any significant punishment will be inflicted upon the hello kitty lady... lots of pictures, lots of cops for the media blitz to satisfy hublot and then a quick deal and shes back making watches in (most likely) the same disorganized apartment block...

A part of me, hopes so too...

China has a shaming culture, like most Asian cultures, right? Check this out:

This is what happened to sex workers (good to see men are turning tricks in China too...), who were caught, and paraded in the same streets of Shenzen last year.

Article which states there has been a two-month long crack down on "vice" in the booming town of Shenzen, around this time last year: http://shanghaiist.com/2006/12/08/shenzhens_prost.php

Perhaps that's what the Hello Kitty lady turned to, after.

@Chris5264: I guess the people at gen forums have compassion issues, or never rooted for Robin Hood when Errol Flynn was on screen.

But also, though the Hello Kitty lady is tokenism at its worst, and won't affect rep watches proliferating, the Chinese are damned if they do, or if they don't. Do they try to make an effort? Or just turn a blind eye AGAIN and AGAIN?

If we in the West didn't make some people into examples, crime, corruption, and abuses would be like in developing countries. I'd rather some cop pull me over for doing something wrong, even though I'm a careful driver, than not. And I like that if I offered him a bribe, chances are pretty good down here, he'd throw the cuffs on me immediately.

EDIT: One more link, before I shut RWG down for the night:

hxxp://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5693207

Chinese Crackdown Fails to Stem Counterfeit Goods (August 23, 2006)

""I personally call counterfeiting, piracy, the cancer of the century," says Jack Chang, a lawyer who heads the intellectual property committee of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai. "We need to cut it as soon as possible." [...]"

"When you buy counterfeit goods, you'll actually be viewed as a supporter of child labor and violent crimes. Do you still buy it?" Chang says."

Because this is the best marketing they can do trying to make up people's minds in a way they are not buying reps.

70% of all manufactured reps (of any market: clothes, toys, watches, mechanical and electronic devices, motor spares... etc) are sold in the USA and, since September 11, there is no better way to make an american to repudiate something than crowning it with a "terrorism" adjective.

No, Luisik. As I said, long before I bought any reps, I've been hearing of the terrorism angle. That's pre-2001.

My mother told me she heard something similar in the late '80s, and that was in South America when we lived there, when counterfeiting was then at an all-time high.

This terrorism angle isn't necessarily American-centric, 9/11-centric, US-government centric, though the world's perspectives will never be the same afterwards.

I think journalists in the newspapers I quoted you, including the ones at the IHT, would be shocked to hear that they were carrying this administration's water, in this or in any other matter. On the contrary, they would set out to repudiate these claims, whenever possible.

So why don't they?

Another inherent question in your "marketing" angle, is that this presupposes all journalists are against counterfeiting, as a moral stance and their editors only want them to publish articles which are negative in scope.

I doubt that. Even for the advertising revenue.

There was an article on the radio news here in the UK only today, advising people to avoid buying counterfeit goods as gifts for Christmas. They did not specifically mention watches, but the substance of the report told how profits from counterfeit goods funded terrorism, pornograhy and organsed crime. OK call me naive, but I had not considered this possibility. Anyone here have any insight into this and how it may or may noy affect our own hobby?

Before I bought any rep, I had read in news articles that counterfeit goods funded terrorism.

Instinctively, I think this either is hyperbole, misrepresentation, or just wrong.

Organised crime? Of course. They have their hands in any illicit activity, anywhere in the world.

So the question becomes, why are journalists so insistent in advancing this "terrorism" angle, in almost all the serious articles I've read on the matter, in journals of record (like the NYT, WaPo)?

The answer CANNOT be that their journo hands have been greased by Rolex, or Richemont or Louis Vuitton, etc. Some perhaps, but not all. And funding terrorism is injected in ALL the articles.

Again, I ask why? Mischief-making?

I'd like to see the evidence too, but there has to be a concrete reason that goes behind cynicism about government, politics, and tired Bill Maher schticks.

Vicky, did I already point it out to you that there are no F-series 005?

And I have d/led your .xls spreadsheet too!

Also, for what it counts, logo models are not in very high consideration by gen owners and 'risti. If you get a gen, you may expect it will not retain its selling value in time as non-logo models...

I had had SOME intimations of what you say. There are certain models they obviously rate over the others, in that snobby what's in-what's out way of gen forums.

IN: 292, 249, 127

OUT: 232 (getting there), 104, 217 (maybe; seems to suffer from the "Oh you couldn't get a Fiddy" syndrome)

The other historics are rated much higher than any 005, which rarely appears there in Wristchecks.

My dad would tell me that getting such a pricey watch is an investment (anything over $100 for him is an investment). But having no goolies, the 005 just sings to me. I can't explain it, Sssurfer. It can't JUST be that logo because if it were, I could get better DSN models.

Anyway, this was going to be a topic of conversation soon.

Glad you caught it, and any tips would be appreciated.