Watchmeister

I am assuming it will require a relume. I love it but can't figure out whether I can possibly wear it. That is huge, Cool but huge.

Congrats. Now all you have to do is post silly posts like this and poof....10,000.

Although I can't see your pics I share your frustration with Red dials. I gave up on the DRSD years ago but best of luck in any case.

For automatic I say 029M. It looks that good and the caseback is solid so there is no movement issue. The 88 looks great too though.

Actually it is called a good investment. Even in the depth of the last downturn I never saw one trade for less than $15k.

+1. And as someone else added the cell phone is always the second watch.

Now that is just sick. I love those gyro tourbillons (okay Sphero in French). Some day the Seagulls of the world will get around to building some movement with that feature.

Good to see you on the mend T.

Because it is a very good rep of a $20k watch. Best I can come up with.

I don't know what is what but my family have been loving the Motorola 4G Droid. Seems to be a nice mix of blazing Internet speed (at least on Verizon) with about as large a screen size as is comfortable to hold. The thinness is fantastic too. This Rex is not coming from a TIS though (technological idiot...)

If there is a problem the dealer will sort it out after the New Year. And for the record I will always buy the Noob version of a rep rather than a H factory if both make it irrespective of who stocks what. H is not gen construction - ever. Noob is. My very simple rule. And I can't say I am the genius who figured this out. But two different PAM experts independently came to the same conclusion.

Now I am intrigued. Can't wait to see the new one.

Can't comment on the 88. On the 29 I don't own it yet but one of my best friends on the forum who is incredibly knowledgeable says it is unbelieveable. I am going to order one after CNY.

I have never bought the "don't make them as good as they can be" theory. The gen manufacturers are already as aggresive as they can economically be but their responses are limited. They can't prosecute everyone and can't even effectively stop the factories. They know full well who the factories are. The minute a rep factory uses a brand name on a large scale such that the true brand owner notices the owner will do what make senses economically. And on certain things a rep can be made very close to gen but basics like movements, dials, etc. will never be exactly the same. The rep factories are not using the identical materials, processes or even machinery. No, its not all marketing on the difference between rep and gens. When we buy a rep we are simply trying to get as close as possible for as little as possible. The rep factories are weighing the same issues from the other perspective.

Great looking piece. Nice work.

That screw may well be malformed. Honestly, no biggie but if there are no other issues than the dealer can just screw in a new strap pin. It is possible that you are waiting a couple of weeks though to the extent the dealer doesn't have a spare in house. You may have to wait until after CNY.

Great stuff. Enjoy those babies.

Great review. Wonderful level of detail. Yes you can find flaws but stepping back you have to put together a heck of a rep I would happily wear if I owned - rare for a Rolex.

The big boys are weighing in. Thoroughly enjoying this thread.

I am surprised to hear that the ETA movement pinion looks broader than the hand tube. The old A7740 movements could easily take gen hands and the newer one had a thicker post and so it required "opening" the hand tubes.

It would be a great trip but otherwise save your money to pay the dealers' for your watches. Irrespective of the unlikelihood of getting the exact watch at the right price the minute you walk out the door you are on your own if there is a problem.

Too funny. The WD40 question dates back to 2010. And anyone silly enough to try WD-40 deserves what they get. The number and types of different lubricants with their various characteristics was surprising to me when explained to me by a knowledgeable watchsmith. As always leave it to the experts unless you are willing to buy all the proper materials and work through a numbe of junk movements.

If I were sitting on an EL I would do the same.

Life is a trade off. The 300 series is very different but with an open case back and a movement copying an in-house movement it is by definition not very accurate off the wrist. The Fiddy is a real change of pace due to its size. But the most accurate out of the box will be the closed case back models. With a handwind in hand and if you are obsessed with accuracy than I vote for the 29M. It is ridiculously good and the engraved bezel makes it look very different from a traditional handwinds.

I look at it as a damn good rep with the right case proportions however IMHO the two key flaws are the date section and the inner bezel being unlumed. The date section is certainly liveable as projectologist says but the inner bezel unlumed is a fatal flaw. If you ever run into another one during the day, getting on an elevator, whatever it will be painfully obvious. So my take is great rep but if you are ever worried about running into someone who knows the watch then go with a relume including the inner bezel. The markers and hands could use a relume as well.