Highflyingclive

Damn you, Ken. You force me to be serious. Yes, I'm still here for the watches. The more I hang around, the more I learn. As you know, I've been around a long, long time, but still have the knowlege of a newbie. Slow learner. Bought two watches this month, one from Jos, the other a private sale from a fellow member. That's a privilige that non-members don't get. So, I am here for the watches. In the main. But there are fringe benefits. The cameraderie. What a great bunch of (mainly) guys. I feel that I have some real friends, here - there are many that I would like to hoist a beer with - yourself included, of course. Its your round :-) The bloodsports. You know that if there were no watches here and the membership was composed of bananas, I'd still be here. Until the day the the United Nations declares Willith-baiting a crime against humanity (surely, a contradiction in terms), I'll be here. You couldn't pay me to leave.

I really enjoy reading Dave's reviews and looking at his excellent photographs. But I can't help but wonder why, with all the money he has made from Microsoft, why does he buy reps? Surely he must be able to afford genuines.

Damn. This comment has been rolling around my head all day. You seem to have a lot of knowlege... but you intersperse it with opinion, which isn't very helpful. If you are aware of technical issues, please tell us about them. Calling the movement "crap", is of no help at all. How can we learn from you if you don't share the information that you have in your head? As to the reliability and longevity of the latest breed of Asian movements... it is too soon to say. I have to say, that so far, none of mine have developed problems. But let's face it... previous attempts have not been a resounding success. Over to you...

Belts - yes! Wallets? I don't have any money

That is a very interesting point. My GMT has an incredibly smooth second hand - but as "everyone knows" that reps have bouncy second hands, that will impress all but the cognocenti. And only a small proportion of them will be able to recognise a co-axial escapement To my mind, these are small details... there are other minor flaws on both versions... easily avaoidable and obvious... that should have been taken care of at the factory. But a rep is only a rep. Both versions are excellent - and incredible value for money. Personally, I'd rather have the reliability of the ETA - and I love the smooth sweep, even if it is wrong. The trouble is - we have been spoilt. Reps have improved so much in the last year or two (and have become so much more affordable) that we are now expecting perfection. But there will always be flaws.

40% Dixie. And I live in Buckinghamshire. Yo'all.

Hey, Drop... Can you take the back off and post a pic. It might save a lot of guessing.

Competition benefits the consumer. That's us, guys

That makes a lot of sense. I have a bagful of stock straps...

I just bought the same watch from Joshua. Same but different. Fabulous! Mine cost a little more than yours - but it has the correct clear caseback, settable GMT hand and an ETA 2386-2 movement. I can't get mine off my wrist!. What a watch. I share your enthusiasm! Having been used to daily fare of one Pannie or another, I cannot get used to how slim this watch is - it really hugs my wrist. And - having said so many rude things about metal bracelets, over the years... I have to admit... this is comfortable. The first bracelet watch I have known that is as comfortable as leather. There you go guys... If you need a new GMT - this one is highly reccommended. And you have a choice of Asian movement from Andrew or Swiss from Jos. As a dear friend of mine might say... "Life is good" Happy timekeeping! Clive

Radiomir GMT, ideally, the 184 or 185: But I like the 098, too: Happy timekeeping! Clive

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Absolute rubbish! Genuine sapphire is a gemstone. Synthetic sapphire is man-made - but has the same chemical composition and scratch resistance as the gemstone. Second hardest material known, after diamond. To describe synthetic sapphire as "crap window glass" is ... well, just plain wrong. Sorry. If you want to know more, go to the Synjeco factory in Switzerland, as I did. Synjeco (SYNthetic JEwell COmpany) are one of the major suppliers of synthetic sapphire to the Swiss watchmaking industry.

Your hairspring is in a total tangle. A job for a proper watch repair man. However, this is a really easy movement to work on, and if a genuine ETA, spares are available, so the fix shouldn't break the bank. Best of luck...

The lug screws are a pain - but unless you want to change your strap often, not a problem. The bad crown tube is a major problem and should be fixed. I have $20 street-market Rolex reps that have never caused a problem with thie screw-down crowns. So why are we expected to put up with bad crown tubes on otherwise high-quality Radiomir reps? This problem is the reason that I don't have a Black Seal, yet. I do have a Radiomir 147, which I love to bits. Changing the strap was a challenge... but on the plus side - it doesn't have a screw-down crown. Problem solved.

Is that all? I have not studied this rep, so assumed that the typo was on the face. If it is on the caseback, there is only one thing to say... Pass me the Dremel

Factories in China tend to assemble, rather than turn raw metal into finished product. At least, such has been my experience, when sourcing legitamate products in China. I suspect - although I don't know for sure - that rep "factories" do the same... buying cases from one maker, dials from another, movements from a third... and bolt the bits together. The fact that there is a typo on the dial only means that the dial-maker made a mistake. There could be one factory assembling the finished watch - or there could be umpteen - all buying dials from the same place. So it comes back to the old, old advice... First choose your dealer... then choose your watch. Happy timekeeping! Clive P.S. I rather fancy the maroon version. It is the first Breightling that I have actually liked. It may have a typo... but look on the bright side. At least this version has the "B" on the second hand the right way round

Another case of careless driving?

Could be... the Zig told us that some parts are not interchangeable

I agree

Yeah... sure... but only if my plane gets diverted.

You will only need a very small house...

Damn. If only they had tried counselling...

I Agree. Kill all Norweigians. Do it now. You know it maks sense,