Watchmeister

Is there any question? This one is getting 2-3 days a week these days.

P- They look fabulous but you need a log-in to see the pictures.

Eddie gracefully retired when it was clear that the business was increasingly a full time business for dealers. He was a true innovator and brought wonderful stuff to many members while running a successful import business. The real question is whether anyone can find the hot woman located in Taiwan who was his silent partner. Back in the day she had her own web site. He was always a true gentleman in all his dealings. I suspect there are a few people around here who stay in touch with him but he is long gone from the rep business.

K- You have put together a great revised collection. But if I am a betting man there will be some additions before the year is out. I am betting you can't help yourself. - K

Absolutely stunning piece. Marty - Wear that one well.

Thanks for the kind thoughts. As most people who know me will attest, it is not about the particular piece. It is about the journey behind it. Whether it was trying to cheer up Palp when in despair over the loss of his mother a few years ago, sharing a pizza with madasbooot plotting a vintage 2 years in the making, egging Ubi onto that next project over dinner in his hometown or begging Ziggy to try another one of my stupid ideas all the fun is in the journey. Gotta run now. My wife is giving me the evil eye. I think I see snow shoveling in my immediate future.

Work is being done on a longer term project on the Pre-V cases. Still trying to get a prototype exactly right before pricing it out though so it will be a while before the project comes to fruition. On the Cg's and case backs there are enough sources around. But for now an older Helenarou or Eddie is your best bet on the cases.

I am looking forward to that pictorial of your extensive quartz collection.

Wow! Now I know the answer to the question how much do you pay for a dial that goes in a $60k (or whatever it costs) watch. It is a stunning dial but alas I don't see my DW "spiffying up" anytime soon.

Yeah, it is like the Patek commercial. You don't own these babies. You are simply the custodian for the next generation. But in the meantime you are going to get a lot of enjoyment.

Some watches you build. And some watches you adopt. In the case of my little Daytona collection they were adopted from the watch smiths themselves when they wanted to move onto new projects. My first child: The Palpatine Daytona: This one dates back to the days when Palpatine was actively working on Rolexes. In his day he was one of the original innovators and a provider of many wonderful projects including the now infamous Panerai Palp crowns. This particular seconds at 6 was his daily wearer and considered state of the art. Hey, it still keeps accurate time and the chronos reset. The Second Child: The Ubi DW Daytona: One of Ubi's first Daytona projects well preceding his incredible 16520 frankens. Ubi put a lot of time and effort into this one a few years ago. I had to wait a couple of years but with him it is only a matter of time before he finds that next "have to do" project. This is one of the first generation DW's with mystery movement. And in a testament to Ubi and Ziggy it is still keeping beautiful time. And the New Pride and Joy - The legendary Ubi 16520. There is not much I can say that hasn't other than to say it is really that good and I am so excited to have the opportunity to wear it. In a sea of 44mm daily wearers this is the one smaller watch that gets weekly wear. Ubi's prior pictures do this beautiful piece much better justice but I did have to add a couple with it on my wrist.

Absolutely stunning build. The bridges look great. So does that case back. That is really a very special piece. It never ceases to amaze me how all these vintage builders keep raising the bar.

Chief- I am embarrassed to admit that I have no idea what, if any AR is on it. I think I bought it from Eddie as he was heading into retirement. Needless to say it has been to Ziggy a couple of times for upgrades since then and we know what happens to things when they go to Ziggy - sometimes they go to you. I should be asking you.

Thanks for everyone's kind words. I am enjoying this one as you can dress it up with croc for dress or thrown on the brown leather for weekend wear. Hey Sixx- Owe you an apology. I still have the bracelet sitting in my desk. I will get it out to you as soon as we get through the next snowstorm here.

I have the same set-up as Ubi and long before I got the dial I had stopped at a couple of ADs and seen a number of the gens. I have never seen one with the thinner font. So I assume it is either an illustration rather than accurate picture of the final production on their web site or they changed the dial to look more like the Big Pilot subsequent to its original issuance.

It is an HKTan I bought from another member quite a while ago.

We have all seen Ubi's work of art. Here is the other one. Pilot V2 (or 3?) with gen dial and hands and old school 17j ETA 7750 movement (yeah, back then they were actually made in Switzerland ). Lousy shot but it gives you a sense of the dial and hands:

63 on A series Coramid.

Just remember a penny is worth a penny unless you have the right misprint - and then it is worth $450,0000.

Great idea. It really changes up the look of the watch. Wear it well.

Absolutely stunning watch. Wear that one well.

I am with Ubi.

I have tremendous respect for JLC and love their movements but do not like much of their new stuff. The watch I aspire to own these days is the older white gold with grey dial Master Geographic. That is my perfect dress watch. Only you and other JLC fans know it is white gold and I love that dial.