Crackberry

The M series is not supposed to have blueish AR. I think that stopped some years ago. Supposed to be colorless now. This one has it right. Enjoy.

I have bought OEM alligator straps both for my Swiss 7753 Santos 100 chrono and my "ultimate" non-chrono. I called the Chicago Cartier boutique from out of state. Just gave them the model number of the watch (they never asked for a serial, but I had one at the ready from a watch I saw on Ebay). They couldn't care less, and mailed it right out; no tax. As I recall, the cost was $320 for each in alligator. Both of my watches really look gen now. Nothing like OEM straps! BTW, I also just spent about $300 at a Caribbean AD on a trip last week for a genuine brown alligator strap to put on my new PAM 177M. Again, the OEM PAM strap really moves it up a few notches. Other than the crappy movement, it's now as gen-looking as a rep can possibly be.

Wow. Gettin' close now: Inbound AND outbound from Customs all this afternoon. That means, if past experience holds true, it will be delivered Monday morning. Can't wait to see!

Anyone know whether that Bob strap is genuine alligator? Looks really good in the photo.

Mine should be in the air right now and bound for U.S. Customs. I'm betting it hits my door early next week.

Crown is too tight to the case, agreed, as was the 005 and 177L, but the font looks mighty close to the gen. For under $300, it sure looks sweet to me.

Yes, it's on Josh's site. (And I paid over $800 for the gen ETA version a couple of years ago! Not sorry, though, because it's a great super rep with the ETA7753, and I have the assurance it won't blow up, although I've had no trouble with my PAM 236 with the A7753.)

Got my QC pix from Josh this morning, as well. Does look really super, but same issue with the crown spacing. Have to overlook that, I guess.

Anyone notice that all PAMs are missing from Josh and Andrew's sites? This is significant. Can't imagine they would pull these best sellers without intense pressure. Could the Chinese government be pressuring in response to trademark holders? And of all time, now that the Hublot factory is coming out with the best reps on the market. Wonder if that is the reason?

Told by dealer it will be an "M" and due in mid April.

Maybe not for something this inexpensive.

Ta daa!! My PAM 288, mailed by Josh December 1, and "dispatched" from the sorting center on December 3. Then silence until it hit U.S. Customs yesterday. Delivered this morning: Seven weeks! But, if ever there was a watch worth waiting for, this is it. Just gorgeous. The most gen-like I've ever seen. The genuine alligator strap is outstanding. But listen to this, guys. The package was absolutely saturated with water. The cardboard box, even though inside a plastic baggie just disintegrated, it was so wet. The styrofoam box was wet inside, along with the bubblewrap wrapping the watch. I wasn't concerned about the watch, which I assume is at least water resistant, but I feared the strap might be damaged. But, fortunately Josh had the watch itself inside two zip locks, and it was perfectly dry. My bet is the Chinese postal folks had the backed up mail stored outside in the snow and rain for weeks, maybe under a tarp. Never seen that before. But, it's here after seven weeks, so have heart, guys.

Gives us all a bad name in the hobby. I, too, have reported it to Ebay, which typically does nothing. The date aperture close to the bezel is an easy "tell." But people don't investigate before bidding. It's now over $7,000.

Cartier boutique with no questions asked. PM me and I'll tell you which one. I've bought there. As for winding, I think shaking the watch doesn't wind it enough for stability and accuracy. Then, too, I might not wear it for a day or two, but I want it ready to wear (and may not have a position open on the winder).

I just received mine from Josh (and I had the last "ultimate" from him, as well). No one mentions the biggest problem in my opinion: Winding. The crown guards on all the reps of this model I've had (on my third) are either too wide, or the crown too small to make winding anywhere near as easy as on the gen. Maybe there is a mod that would remedy this, but I'm not adept at that sort of stuff. BTW, I also just ordered a "carbon" Santos 100 from Josh, and I'm anxious to see it. My favorite remains my TT chrono with 7753. I added a gen Cartier alligator strap to this (as well as on the non-chrono XL) and it really makes the watch.

Wow. I missed that. I got excited for a moment -- thought this was a sec at 12 where the spacing between the date window and tachy bezel had been fixed. Obviously not.

In my experience Josh has often told me that a better version is coming, and to wait and not buy something, or that a particular watch is not accurate, and not to buy it. He's been very candid with me (and that's why I've bought a lot of reps from him

I bought the rubber strap from Angus at Puretime. It comes with the end links and connecting screws separate. You can easily connect them to the rubber stap and then to the watch, or simply use the end links on a hornback, or what have you. The folding clasp can also easily be removed from the rubber strap and used on another bans. For $90 it's a good deal.

Josh keeps telling me, in response to the question, that the next batch will incorporate the fix. But he doesn't know when that will be.

There's been criticism of Angus' mod for the black date window frame -- that he just uses a black marker, or sharpie. How does the date window look in person?

Noticed a few hours ago that Angus had what appears to be the same rubber on rubber for $548. He hadn't posted pictures, though. Also offering a mod to change the date window to black, which some say is simply a magic marker. But at $40 less, I wonder if the strap is the same. Anyone know?

I've purchased from Torobravo (he's on RepGeek) and he is a reliable dealer. This particular HBB is the second version with screw down crown, but I bought an original version with snap in crown from him. He can source items, and his prices seem better than cartel prices.