rsv123

Argrghhh, just what I feared! It's so good I might have to buy one

quality will continue to fall? maybe i'm crazy but in my mind the quality of our reps have only gotten better over the past year(s)...

Would be inclined to agree about quality. And I also seem to remember paying around $400 USD for my early PAM reps, so I don't think prices have risen than far either.

(Crossposted to RWG)

Another thing that has bothered me since the day one is the free Google availability (and very high search ranking) of both of these forums (RWG and RWI). It attracts idiots and lots of unwanted parties. I sound like a broken record but we should be more like an "underground" community. Some people still don't fully realize that this hobby is illegal.

Perhaps removing ourselves from the Google would cut the customer base for the dealers... but in the long run it would affect positively I'm sure. I don't know how it can be done to prevent the site showing from Google, but I've heard it's possible. We can't really afford these sites becoming "mainstream" if you catch my drift... If we do, I'm sure all these problems are just the beginning. That's why I have mixed feelings about (very nice) public documentation of reps like Richard Brown's stuff. High Google ranking -> direct links to dealers at RWI, TRC and RWG -> bad for the community (imho).

Of course I understand that these sites have originally been created to prevent people from getting scammed by places like Replicacenter (and high Google ranking helps them to find us), but at some point we (the dealers and regular members) have to start thinking more of ourselves. Yes, it's selfish and cynical but it's a selfish and cynical world.

PS: Glad you're back Reg.

Agree about the googling, quite often a basic search like "IWC GST" or "Panerai Arktos" ends up having more entries from RWG/TRC in the page than legit sites. Apart from making searching for gen comparison pics harder this is really shouting about reps from the rooftops for the gen community.

Just realised that by including the names of the watches above I have probably increased our chances of this thread being hit in a google search...

Like I said over on TRC, nothing fills me full of confidence more than handing my credit card details over to a counterfeiter.

The rep nazi says "No reps for you then!"

So maybe it's just super-anal me, but the lume in Andrew's pic looks really bad. The date font is improved but not quite right. The cyclops looks good as does the crown. But if I were to buy this watch, I'd still want a The Zigmeister lume job and an archibald/kruzer datewheel.

To be honest, none of Andrew's pics look that good - I suspect the camera wasn't too hot (and lume pics in low light ain't gonna be pretty if the pics in normal light are poor) so I will reserve judgement on the lume until someone else has one or has photos.

The thing about the date is that even though it's not perfect, it is functional! The early Asian Arktos had such a small date window it was actually hard to read most of the time.

As far as the CC goes...count me out. It's a long story but someone managed to nab my CC through whatever protections PP uses and make a copy of it. Got a call from Visa that it was being used in the far east. Thing was this: since that card was a freebee froma club my wife joined w/ a low limit and shitty interest rate, she was going to rip it up, but since it had built in free protection, I decided to link it to the PP account I use for reps and rep parts only. Coincidence? Was the security breach somewhere else along the CC company chain? Maybe, but no more CC or PP with anyone I don't trust implicitly.

Who can you trust though...? My physical (chip & pin) Visa card was cloned by a petrol station in North London. I don't know which one, but since I only ever used that card for petrol that I was going to claim via expenses, I could narrow it down to 3 stations. A friend had his card cloned using an ATM around the corner from his house (also in London). You have to keep the limit low, keep a close eye on your statement and your finger on the panic button with CCs in 2007.

River is out?

Yup, he is selling of the last of his stock now.

I just noticed that one dealer is going directly to secured credit card processor. That is fabulous. And don't ask who on this forum. "They" are out to get us. Actually, it is not funny. May PP rot in hell.

Just make sure you use a card with a reasonably low limit and insurance. I remember using Western Union before many dealers took PayPal and it was OK. Bit more hassle than PP but certainly less hassle than not being able to buy reps!

Yeah, just noticed he's gone from the dealer section! Is this related to the PayPal problems?

I would advise against any "buy now" buttons that link directly to PayPal or Nochex or any other online payment site. They pick up the source of the link in their logs so all it takes is one bad transaction to get linked back to RWG, TRC or RWI and you have trouble.

Crown looks a lot better in Andrew's pics! I think I need to buy this watch...

Crown looks a lot better in Andrew's pics! I think I need to buy this watch...

It's looking damn good, certainly an improvement on the previous versions.

Regarding the crown and crown guard, the crown looks slightly off, but not so much as to bother me.

Here are some good pics of the gen:

http://www.thewatchquote.com/Panerai-Lumin...tos-No_4058.htm

Looking forward to the Arktos North Pole if it's as good as this!

Heard some disturbing news that perhaps the Black Faced Carrera is the only model with the new high beat Asian 7750 and that the black, brown and silver dialed version are not the high beat version. The trusty and Joshua sites have them as high beat and I hope they are, anyway enjoy the Black Carrera (I am about the switch off the rubber strap for a real OEM Tag Heuer bracelet I have as I agree it looks better).

TimeShare

That is very disturbing, if true, have been thinking of pulling the trigger on the silver dialled version. I will wait until someone can confirm that the other models are the new version of the A7750, as I had no end of problems with watches using the original version I will avoid anything with that movement like the plague.

Yup, it's called "defending your trademark". What's worse is they may charge him for the time.

Or, they could just keep it for the collection, like Matt Groening does with counterfeit Simpsons stuff.

I think they would be on pretty dangerous legal ground if they took $400 for a service and then destroy/hold onto the watch and also try to charge for the time taken to destroy the rep. They will need to refund the $400 paid for the work first and maybe deduct a little for handling the rep.

Indeed, perhaps panerailord can be renamed "The Seeker"

Am I the only one waiting for a rep of this...?

Hmmm. Interesting.....

I'm of the opinion that anti-reflective coating (as the name suggests) should be unobtrusive, but I am seeing a trend that it is becoming something people are expected to notice - like a tint!! Some coatings simply change the colour of the glare.

No thanks!

Most of the Panny reps seem to do this - instead of normal coloured reflections you get purple/blue reflections, but the reflections are still there...

I have only one thing to say... "Show me the rubber!"

Was a new 45mm PO version really necessary?

The ultimate is good enough, instead i'd rather see a new 42mm version.

It's absolutely essential - if only to get the 22mm rubber strap!

I seem to remember someone who owned a gen Omega PO removing the external AR using polish as he didn't like the fact it was impossible to keep unmarked so I don't think it's just a problem with Sinns.

Get's my vote, even without a poll! The lack of a decent 22mm rubber strap is the only thing stopping me getting a 6th gen 45mm PO.

Love this watch - stylish and original

For me it was all Panerai submersible reps - with the exception of the Arktos (dont' ask me why). I couldn't wait to get these watches and pestered the dealers for info, voted for them in every poll and even considered buying gen (very glad I didn't!). They just don't feel or look 'right' on my wrist. I didn't like the 187 when it first came out, and then after staring at it long enough became mesmerised by it, bought one and still couldn't love it when it was in my hands; it was a great watch, but did nothing for me. My foolish trigger-happy buying has at least brought some advantage to other members when I have sold my less loved watches!

Yeha.. beginning of 2007..

This steel/ceramic version with cf dial is my favourite

Mine too