Highflyingclive

RWG1 is down... for the second time in 24 hours. Could be the end, my friends?

I think that David Sen builds watches to order. So ask him to build you one with the swan-neck movement - and any other goodies that you may want.

It is a wonderful watch. I got one from Joshua last month... now I'm waiting for a suitable vintage strap from HKTan... should be here any day now. Edit to add a pic:

No need - if there is a demand, the Chinese will copy this in ten minutes.

It was a well-intentioned and entirely honourable attempt to save the community that was RWG... when it apeared to be about to sink without trace. Somehow it flounders on. Ignorance is bliss.

Thank you, Sir! Now all we have to do is explain correct use of the apostraphe to Ken. With, if necessary, a mallet. "Banana's", indeed!

Yes, of course... in fact Jos took me to malls that I had not found during previous visits to the GZ watch market. There were plenty of watches on view... and the place was as busy as ever... but no reps on open display. A colleague of mine managed to find a (20mm lug ) PO... but that was only after exhaustive research. Well, demands, really. He's German.

No - that would be hoping for too much. To put your question in context, Jos offers a Panerai box, complete with papers, for about $80. I believe that Robbieg told us where he got the box, in a different post. As has already been said, the Jones is astonishingly good value. But don't expect a replica box set in with the price.

Sorry to contradict you, Ken... but the GZ market has come under pressure from the thought police. I was there last month - not a single rep on view. Everything interesting is undercover. Quite a contrast from the scene a couple of years ago. Had I not been with Jos and Andrew, i wouldn't have seen a single rep. The same was true of the leather market - not a single fake bag on display. China? The country is going to the dogs...

Asian Unitas in Radiomir California: Asian "Lemania" in rose gold Pam 147 Rose gold IWC Jones All from Jos Nana

No doubt - Pam 063. Or SMP 300m GMT... damn... the SMP has a et bezel, which is handy for timing parking meters and cooking eggs... but the 063 is so much smarter. Can I have one on each wrist?

If you didn't toss it into the garbage, I could find a happy home for that crown... it is better than the one on my pos GMT.

Two Asians.

When I bought a strap from Walter, I received the strap shown on his website.

Repeat this mantra as necessary... "Tracking is not updated in real time. Tracking is only of any real use if your package goes missing." I just received an EMS package from Jos. It took five days from China to England. That was exceptional... I once had to wait for a month.

Just leave it to Andrew... like you said, he's a professional. I had the honour of meeting him recently... he knows what he is doing.

This [censored] has poop. You heard it here first, folks! (Two great nations divided by a common language... :-) ) OK - beautiful watch... I love regulateurs... but it only has a $70 movement... the good old ETA 6947. Pretty face... but pressed. not engine-turned. So, its beautiful... but worth the money? You decide. You can buy one here, for £995. http://www.chronomaster.co.uk/sinn_current_stock_2.htm I sent the pic to Joshua and asked him if he would consider having it repped.

Admin - I'm astonished. You have so many beautiful watches... and Patek have made so many beautiful watches... but this thing? OK - it is personal taste.. but I find it incredibly ugly, whether real or rep. So hard to believe that this monstrosity could have come from Patek. But whatever floats your boat. You probably wouldn't like some of my watches, either. It takes all sorts. I'll make a bet with you. If you do get this watch... I bet you sell it or trade it within six months. Virtually unworn.

Living in South Bucks, working in Perivale. Didn't I see you in Tesco's the other day?

Are your lugs properly tapped (threaded)? Early Panerai reps were not tapped - the lug screws were just driven home in the hope that they would cut their own threads. This was the result: When this happens, you are short of choices... you can get a watch maker to re-tap the lugs, or you can try to secure the stripped lug-screws with thread-lock.

OK... enough opinion... here are the European (ISO) Standards for water resistance in wristwatches: MARKING and RECOMMENDED USAGE (International Standard ISO 2281) WATER RESISTANT Suitable for everyday use. Splash/rain resistant. NOT suitable for swimming. 5 BAR 50 METRES Suitable for water related work, recreational swimming & fishing. NOT suitable for diving. 10/15 BAR, 100/150 METRES Suitable for recreational surfing snorkelling, sailing & water sports. NOT suitable for diving. 20 BAR 200 METRES Suitable for professional marine activity & serious surface water sports. NOT suitable for diving. (International Standard ISO 6425) DIVERS 200 METRES Scuba diving at depths NOT requiring helium gas. DIVERS 300 METRES and over Deep sea diving at depths requiring helium gas. (Dealer’s advice should be sought)

You may well be right, CC - but I am so confident in the quality of gold plating on reps today that I have two more rose-gold watches on the way - one from Narikaa and the other from Joshua.

In that case, I have been incredibly lucky. I have a couple of yg plated reps that are about six years old and there is not a mark on them. Of the two rg plated reps pictured below, the VC was bought a couple of years ago, secondhand and the 147 came from Jos about a year ago. Not a mark on these, either. To be fair, they don't get as much wear as my steel watches... but no sign of "browning in the box".

The black-bezel GMT11 was a good choice - apart from a Colamariner, its the only Rolex I'll wear. Like you, I do business with overseas companies, so find GMT watches really useful. And, as Pho mentioned, there are some good GMT reps around. My daily beater is an Omega Seamaster Professional 300m GMT. Very close to the original and about right for my pay-grade. You might also want to look at the excellent Panerai 063 and 029, or if you prefer the Submersible case, the Arktos GMT and forthcoming North Pole. For a dress GMT, you could do little better that the Vacheron Constantine Dual Time Regulateur in rose gold. Can you feel your wallet draining... ?

It has happened to me - twice - at RWI. A software glitch, I suppose. So rejoin with a new screen-name, have a word with one of the mods and they will reinstate your old name.