rsv123

if the concentric subdials are definitely noticeable from a distance on the genuine and hardly noticeable (i just looked again and could see them faintly) on the sample dial with relatively close-up pictures, it would seem like they need to be adjusted on the sample dial. is it possible to make the grooves of the concentric circles deeper?

also, no commentary on the lume on this watch doesn't give me much hope for the possibility of superlume...

Without superlume this won't fly for me. I often get dials relumed, but the complexity of the lume job on this one will make that a tough job.

- This one, which seems to be inspired by a PP design, is a functionning world time but look at the inter bezel. How can a manufacturer dare to distribute a product with such a flaw??! It sells pretty well on the bay though, looks like people won't notice...

What is the problem with the inner bezel?

Edit: Ok, I see the rotating bezel numbers aren't lining up with the hour markers...

Interesting article here:

http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/display.article?id=6925

Covers the fake watch/handbag/etc industry and also some of the recent attempts to crack down on it (apologies if it was already posted, searched and couldn't find it).

No I can't open two different account because Moneybookers control your id by credit card number or bank account number. They allows you to transfer maximum 500 euros every 60 days not a cent can exced this limit.

In that case, I guess that unless you can persuade a friend to let you use theirs you are stuck.

This is exactly how I feel. I liked how Paypal was an independent third party.

The only problem is, there are no guarantees with PayPal - check out this thread:

http://www.rwg.cc/members/Urgentpayment-Ca...led-t21585.html

You (and the dealer) could end up with no money, and you end up with no watch. There have been increasing numbers of problems with PP over the last 12 months. I think the dealers are getting to the stage they can't bear the losses any longer.

Yeah - got a new strap (black buffalo) for my gen Big Pilot (which is a 2005 model which came with the brown/white strap) - £270!

This is the point that you realise they are just slapping a huge markup on everything to stimulate the impression of luxury. The £140 strap from IWC is half rubber/half nylon and likely make in a factory somewhere in Asia. I don't mind paying top dollar (or pound in this case) for a genuine hand made gator strap, but this is just taking the pi55.

Can you open 2 Moneybookers accounts and use 2 different cards/payment methods to transfer the money to MB?

in theory, yes. but it is not as easy to police as you think at least not for wire transfers. Large bank's maek hundreds of thousands of these payments a day to overseas correspondents. they track suspicous activities based on known security threats and other regulotory requriements. Somehow I doubt Josh and Andrew are on their lists..

To me pre-paid is the safest way to go, followed by wire.

I would agree, the chances of them starting the 'war on replicas' as a replacement for the 'war on terror' (whatever happened to the 'war on drugs'?) is very slim. In which case, any money transfer method is an option.

Is this going to be risky? Not sure I feel great about giving out that kind of thing to an illegal trade in a place where illegal trades are there specialty....

What do you guys think?

chad

A couple of topics down we've already been discussing it: here

Would love this strap as well - I might end up buying a gen strap if there is no rep.

Found out that the strap costs a whopping £140 from a local AD. Since that is almost the cost of the watch, I think I will be looking for a 3rd party look-alike.

For anyone in the UK who wants to use a CC safely online, you could try going down the prepaid route (like the Visa gift card that another member mentioned in the US). Here are a list of companies offering what are effectively 'disposable credit cards':

http://www.moneysupermarket.com/cards/card...Feature=Prepaid

I must admit I wasn't aware that these even existed until we started having this discussion, seems like quite a good option for carrying holiday money.

... in the US.

There are several systems that offer a certain degree of anonymity, but the US blocks them saying they're used for gambling.

No, I was thinking about the UK... The UK anti-money laundering regs are pretty strict. Even before the recent tightening, any transfer above a certain value (around £5K I think) into, out of, or between banks was automatically reported to HM government. I seem to remember the Inland Revenue gaining unrestricted access to bank accounts in the UK when they merged with HM Customs (who have rather frightening powers in the search & inspection department). Did you know that an HM Customs (or Inland Revenue now) officer can search you, your house, place of business or motor vehicle without a search warrant? Not many people do...

Unless you are tranferring money from your numbered swiss account, or your bank in the Virgin Islands... If they want you, they have you.

I don't think any electronic money transfer system offers much in the way of anonymity. After September 11th the anti-money laundering legislation was tightended considerably - if the authorities want to see who transfered what and to whom, they can get this info with a wave of the pen.

I just wonder if the date font is the ordinary Asian one... Shame, as the date font was correct on the GST chronograph.

Yeah, I noticed this as well. If it bothers me enough I might get the datewheel from my GST swapped with the one in my Pilot Chrono (when it arrvies).

I think you are thinking of the IWC Big Pilot. Ryaku is talking about the new 42mm Pilot Chrono.

A group buy is too late for me, I've got one on order already.

Pay up, put this one down to experience and make friends with someone in another country that has less strict customs.

What size strap does this fella take? 22mm i hope?

additionally i wonder if one could fit the kevlar looking strap that is on the ceramic doppelchrono... hopefully mr. unicorn is working on that as well??

Would love this strap as well - I might end up buying a gen strap if there is no rep.

I agree wholeheartedly about the forums going a little deeper underground. When I first got into reps about 3 years ago there were no storefront websites and no blatant ads, just a few posts in the photo gallery and a nod and wink from the dealers. The higher our profile, the more likely we are to attract the attention of the gen community, the legit watchmakers and the payment companies.

I would say that last year (2006) has been an extremely good year for quality reps. Let's not forget: the PO (multiple versions through to ultimate), the Brietlings, the HBB, numerous IWCs, some good Tags + the promise of the Mille Miglia and Cousteau, and now in 07 we have the IWC 3717-01 - we have never had so much choice!

Yes. I've been fairly cool lately. Maybe it's a natural progression for me, but I can't seem to get as inspired as a few years ago.

I think this is the natural rep collector progression...

Stage 1: You discover that high quality replicas exist, sometimes with Swiss movements and often very, very close to gen. Excitement grabs you (and your Visa card) and you proceed to fill your boots.

Stage 2: The excitement of buying 1,2 (or more!) watches a month wanes - you may even have a good rep of your 'grail' watch- and you start to worry over minor details, get fussy about movements and start making mods.

Stage 3: You enter a rep-buying sabbatical period, selling some of your less loved watches and continuing to improve your favourites. Probably either buy, or think about buying a gen or two.

Stage 4: You regain an interest in reps, far lower than stage 1, but also continue to consider gen pieces, sometimes even buying a rep before a gen to see how you like it. <-- You (and I) are here.

13/16. So for every 16 women I meet, at least 3 of those could be shemales and I would be oblivious to it

You would be oblivious, up to a point...

Wow! What a great watch - I have been waiting about 6 months for this and it looks good. Just need to save the pennies now..

Enjoy your time with your gf, life > watches.

Cue panerailord...!

Cat 5 is right - it is me...I was sent to spy on the site by the powers that be. But after a couple of weeks I found myself seduced..obsessed with the quality of the reps and the pursuit of perfection that so defines this group. I ordered one, than another and another until I couldn't control myself. And you all reached out to me and for the first time I felt accepted, like I belonged.

Now that I have been exposed, you can stop the witchhunt...

Don't take it too hard, you were the 4,947th person they sent, we all suffered the same fate

The one I held was a gen.

Here's a pic of the gen, looks the same as lovepanerai's rep to me?

Hi Frank, it was always my belief that there was no AR coating on the gen PAM029. I will wait to be corrected...!