ratchpot

That's right, the dials (I got two) were for the 33mm model. I gave up on that project and am now focusing on swapping out the dial of my Nick Faldo rep, with a Fick Faldo dial, and then replacing the see through caseback with a regular RO caseback. This way I'll have an almost perfect 14790 military dial model. Back to the "endlinks project", I have just remembered that last year I had a discussion with someone over at TRC about the next step in the process, i.e. once you have the endlinks in place, you need to get a strap to fit correctly. To cut a long story short, I gave up on the strap conversion project because AP have never made a 36mm (or smaller) RO that has the strap with dual endlinks combo. All of those watches have a completely different case design for their strap models. For example, the regular RO strap equivalent of my 36mm Nick Faldo actually looks like this: Therefore, unless you want a frankenwatch on your hands, the strap conversion is only appropriate for the larger RO models, e.g. Jumbo, Chrono etc.

That's a coincidence. I sold a RO dial on eBay earlier this week because it wouldn't fit my rep...

See below. As you can see in the picture, the endlinks are designed so that they are removable from the case, but are permanently fixed to the bracelet. The only options therefore for people wanting to convert to strap are to get the endlinks by cutting through the bracelet or source the endlinks separately. This is a picture of a genuine RO, with the endlinks removed. The endlinks are IMO an essential item for conversion to strap.

It's interesting to hear that AP are now selling end links to the public. When I last checked (last year), AP still had an express policy not to sell endlinks to anyone. Good luck with the project though, and keep us posted.

Welcome back, Dave! Looks like everyone is ready to have a happy party time now !

This is tooooo easy..... European Player of the Year 2005: Ronaldinho (runaway winner with 225 points to Lampard's 148) Fifa World Player of the Year 2005: Ronaldinho (poll of approx 150 international coaches and 150 captains) Fifa World Player of the Year 2004: Ronaldinho FIFPro World Player of the Year 2005: Ronaldinho (poll of 38,000 professional players). ROFL @ TwoTone pic

Excellent project. Keep us posted.

His passing and vision are second to Ronaldinho and Beckham, to name but two players. Reasons why Owen deserves his place in the England team: A. Proven international track record. Owen has the 4th best England goalscoring record ever (better than Shearer (7th best)). Also 22 goals in 54 European games. B. Current form. 7 goals in 10 games this season. C. Everyone (apart from you) thinks he's a world-class player. Reasons why Rooney deserves his place in the England team: A. Proven international track record (taking into account how young he is). 11 goals in 29 England appearances. B. Current form. 13 goals in 32 league appearances this season (also creating 8 goals). C. Everyone (apart from you) thinks he's a world-class player. Reason why Chris Sutton doesn't deserve to be in the England team. A. Unproven track record at non-domestic level. 2 goals in 12 Champions' League matches. B. Current form. 2 goals in 14 league appearances this season. C. Everyone (apart from you and Shearer and perhaps his mum and dad) thinks he's a big-headed [censored]. I've already sufficiently destroyed your arguments, so I won't bother with Beattie...

Ok, let's get some things straight before this all gets out of hand 1. Ronaldinho is the best player in the world right now and has been for two seasons. Not Lampard. That's just the way it is. 2. England have a decent chance of winning. They are certainly not favourites, but if their players are fit, they probably have their best chance since '66. 3. Nothing wrong with a fit Owen and Rooney as a first choice strike force. They could justify their place in any world team. 4. Paul Robinson is not a great goalie. I can't argue with that. Edge, there's no need to be worried. Here are England's last three results against South American teams (all in the last year): England 2-1 Uraguay Argentina 2-3 England Colombia 1-2 England

The last I heard, HAL was completely operational, and all of his circuits were functioning perfectly.

Unless we get spiked by the Russians, like in Goldeneye...

That Royal Oak Tradition d'Excellence N°4 is my holy grail watch. I hope it never gets repped.

Spitfire Chronograph Automatic, reference 3706. 39mm case diameter, 14.6mm case height.

Hey, welcome on board. It's nice to have another AP fan here - we are in short supply so you had better not desert us. I became an AP fan about 3 years ago and have followed the brand closely ever since. Hopefully most of the AP posts from the old board will make it across here, as there's a wealth of useful info that you should read. The genuine RO features a monocoque case design and, as you say, the caseback is not removeable. However to open the case still have to unscrew it from the back first, so in that sense it is opened from the back (I suspect we are saying the same thing though). Personally I don't mind that the rep is differently built, as I would much prefer them to perfect the aesthetics first... If by "best" you mean accurate, then sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but with the current offering of 36mm RO reps you are not going to get the level of correct replication that you would get with the latest Panerai, Omega or Rolex reps. The best RO rep in my opinion is the (now out of production) Nick Faldo model that Ubi posted..... but even that has some major flaws. However, having scrutinised the genuine model for about an hour or so, I can say that the rep is still a fantastic watch. I will be putting mine in for mods soon and hope to post the results here when it's done. As far as suggestions go, you may want to try and source a second hand Nick Faldo. Otherwise you're pretty much limited to the other 36mm model that Ubi posted, or perhaps the Fondation model that some dealers still sell.

Maybe he really is sick.... in the head.

Eunomians, in keeping with your previous IWC rant topics, I'm there to try and help unravel this seemingly eternal mystery. My thoughts are that we will never see an improved Mark XV rep. The current rep is what we'll forever be stuck with (and on that basis, there might be some twisted logic in buying it before stocks run out, so we can stare at it, in amazement at how the rep manufacturers totally dropped the ball on this one). I really hope I'm wrong, but I think we'll never see a proper MK XV rep for two reasons: First, the MK XV is such a simple watch to rep compared, for example, to the GST. Given that they still haven't repped it properly by now, and there has been no change in circumstances in our favour, I cannot see them revisting this watch. Second, the Mark XVI is coming out this year, and it will get more attention, so the rep manufacturers will just continue to ignore the MK XV. I can however see them repping the Mark XVI, and *if* there is enough interest in it, perhaps they'll see this as an easy money-making exercise and milk the customers' wallets until they get it right by the third or fourth generation... Of course, on the other hand, the rep manufacturers might decide to do with the Mark XV what they did with the GST, i.e. wait 2-3 years after IWC has discontinued it, and then make a nearly perfect rep of it. If that's the case, I'd rather buy a second hand gen right now than wait all that time.

Some further info on this FP Journe watch, from the Wristwatch Annual. Model Tourbillon Souverain a seconde morte Movement manually wound, FP Journe Caliber 1403; diamter 32mm, height 6.35 mm; 26 jewels; 21,600 vph; one-minute tourbillon; escapement with "second morte"; patented remontoir; plates and bridges made of 18-karat gold. Functions hours, minutes (off-center), subsidiary seconds; power reserve display Case platinum; diameter 40mm, height 10mm; sapphire crystal; exhibition window case back Band platinum, folding clasp Price US$121,500 Variations in rose gold with crocodile skin strap (US$96,200).

I also have the same model from River, which thedoctor and Ubi kindly advised me on before I purchased it. I remember when you did that. The picture you posted of the polished bezel was excellent. It would be great if you could put it back up here (the link to the picture is broken on the old RWG).

I did jury duty a few years ago. I was happy to oblige; but then again, I was only required for two weeks...

Hmmm... you seem strangely familiar, but I can't quite place where I've seen you before.... Anyway, a warm welcome from me...!

Just dropped in to say hello from Old Blighty ! looking forward to being actively involved in many AP and IWC discussions, and more !