rek001

Also, if ETA will be tightening up the availability of movements in the next few years, what about future replacement parts for these movements? Will these parts also be more difficult to get?

I also have a number of rep watches with inexpensive asian movements and so far they have been perfortming admirably.

Absolutely superb.

How about a wristshot?

It's a real shame, that's for sure.

I haven't bought an expensive rep in...about 8 months. Nothing that's come out has tempted me enough, I'm still waiting for something thatfloats my canoe enough to pay $400.

In the meantime I've been trolling iOffer and CqOut and have bought some really decent, satisfying watches for about $85 each, it's been a lot of fun.

This is depressing, really.

On a brighter note - look at the latest version of the chinese tourbillon, that's an accomplishment.

Maybe there's hope yet.

Excellent advice so far, also, I'm not sure I'd wash my car wearing such a beautiful watch, could get all scratched up, especially the gold plate.

Very clever!

Thanks for the explanation.

@ porsche

oops, color me embarrassed...or maybe Breitling should be embarrassed, such a braceelt gap!

Anyway, come on Homer, the suspense is killing us.

I've been worrying about this for awhile now and it dawned on me that maybe I could ask you good peoples' advice.

Right now my partner and I invest through a broker with AG Edwards (now Wachovia), a recommendation by a doctor in my partner's practice.

He's ok, pretty conservative. He's set us up with a muni bond ladder, some stocks and a fair investment in American Funds family.

This is the thing, my partner is a doctor in a small practice and as such, has a completely self-directed retirement plan. All bonuses and spare cash are turned over to our broker for investment.

Upon my retirement I will get a decent company pension but because we're not married, upon my death the pension will cease (I'm 12 years older).

So I've been worrying a lot about our retirement savings lately, especially with the financial markets in such turmoil.

We are not very financially savvy, and need a bit of handholding when it comes to choosing and monitoring the performance of our investments. I'm thinking we could do better, especiallly in comprehensive planning - taxes, insurance, asset management.

The April issue of Chicago magazine has an article about independent financial planners in the Chicago area, but it's a bit overwheming, how do you choose?

Well, thank you for reading my story and any advice would be most appreciated.

I don't mean to thread crap here, but the bracelet /endlink gap in porsche's pic is really bad. Are all the reps like that?

Yes, when I think of the history of this watch...it has caused quite the uproar, lol.

I've been on the rep forums for 4.5 years now, hard to believe....anyway, before that I was logging on to Timezone and PMWF (Poor Man's Watch Forum) daily. I bought a Rolex DJ and a UN 1846 Chronometer, then I started buying Poljots and Seikos, buying expensive watches was too stressful, difficult to make up one's mind and be happy. A lot of my collection up to that time ended up being homages of expensive watches anyway.

One day I was looking at a PMWF member's online collection and I saw he had some reps. I decided to PM him, asking where he got them and he directed me to RWG One and it was downhill from there. I was in horology heaven.

My first rep was an electric blue Seamaster from Sean, with the silver bezel, just gorgeous. I still have it.

My second was a Roadster from Eddie Lee, I was one of his earliest customers, as I remember asking him (now) embarrasing questions about his ability to deliver product.

Absolutely gorgeous in Chicago, blue skies, dry, in the low 60s, the first nice weather we've had in about 5 months, it was quite a winter.

We had snow/sleet as late as last week.

Of course, people are going crazy outside, great people watching.

I'll be out there in short sleeves sporting a beautiful watch.

The new SD has been Seiko diver-ized I think. That's what the overall design reminds me of.

Now, as far as the new DJ is concerned, not bad at all. The 42mm case is a most welcome modernization and I hope they come out with a nice rep of this soon.

Interesting thread, I have to agree on Ubi's Frankentonas, pamfried's AP ROs and repaustria's vintage GMT.

I'd like to add Homer's tourbillon in RG and black dial, if someone has it?

My personal disappointment though, is my slim wrist at 6.5", but deep and narrow in cross-section which does not allow me to wear some reps I'd love to own, such as the AP RO and the HBB. The lugs would stick out beyond my wrist and that is just not acceptable.

hehe, good one

Maybe I'll go with MBW/MBK

Too cool, I love the concept and the design.

I'm tired of mumbling "Jetmid is my hero" every time I see a potential forum member.

I too have an SS/onyx ring I wear daily but I'll sacrifice wearing it for this.

Thanks Ken, it's absolutely brilliant.

Yes, the one on the left I have.

It doesn't write well anymore? Mine writes very well.

Rollie charm bracelet?

Oooh, you are a pen collector? NICE.

I have a Waterman Edson FP (blue barrel) and a Pelikan Souveran 800 rollerball, black barrel with silver trim. I love my pens.

I also have 6 rep pens, they're not bad for the $ but the real deal is so much more satisfying.

You have excellent taste in clothing and accessories too. Great to see someone dress up appropriately for church.

Ok, seriously, who has the the best white Exp II?

Aaargh you guys!

STOP IT

Too many tantalizing suggestions.....ah what the heck, why not get them all, I haven't bought a nice rep in 7 months, LOL.

Wow, thanks for the additional suggestions!

@carlsbad & Tee Jay

Hmm, hadn't thought of a white dial Pam, would look great on a tan strap...I'll seriously consider it.

@Homer

That's a beautiful watch, but a bit too shiny for me. Thanks for the suggestion though.

@ajoesmith & Stephane

I think the XL looks better in black dial, you can see more detail such as the distinctive 12 & 6. The white dial looks too washed out. Thanks a lot you two, now I'm considering this watch also, LOL.

@jkerouac

OK, you've helped me make up my mind, thank you for your thoughtful responses.

I think the Chopard is a very beautiful and uncommon watch, very under-rated.

Now to choose a dealer.

How exciting, I haven't bought a higher end rep in about 7 months.

I'll post pics when I get it.

OK, I just figured out what bothers me about the SFSO - the bezel.

It looks unfinished, as if the factory forgot to fill in the bezel numbers and markers with black. Go ahead, call me crazy.

So right now I'm heavily leaning towards the Chopard GMT on rubber strap if the bracelet link gap is as bad as I think it is.

I just finished reading Sql_pl's excellent old review of this watch, gave me a very good impression.

SFSO? Hmm, hadn't considered it. Definitely a possibility...thanks for the suggestion.

@jkerouac

Thank you fro your reply.

I've been studying pics of the Chopard on bracelet, I've noticed a fairly big gap between the fixed endlinks and the first flexible links on the bracelet, on my slim 6.5" wrist this would be very noticeable....have you noticed this, does it bother you?

Well, I was looking at my collection last night and I decided I have too many SS black dialed sport watches, it looks a bit gloomy in the watch box these days.

So I've decided my next acquisition would be a white dialed rep, in stainless steel. Something that would look good against a lightly tanned arm.

My choices so far:

#1 Chopard Mille Miglia GMT chrono, white dial/black subdials

#2 Montblanc "smart" Sports chrono, white dial/black subdials

Which one do you prefer? Any other suggestions?

Please help me pick my next watch.