vikkyrob

I have four Panerais (89, 250, 390 & 441 see pictures at the bottom if you can't remember Panerai numbering) and love them all but I want to buy an amazing strap in exotic materials for one of them. I was thinking of buying this outrageous strap in red crocodile with black stitching for the Panerai 441 but here is the short list so far!! What are the opinions out there?? These straps are not cheap (between $145 to $185) I also love the British Racing Green but think it might be too black looking in most lights. The blue is also awesome but not for the 441! The watches:

I have spoken to the moderators and they said to expose him like I have. I still think they should just ban him and ensure that his IP address is unable to register under a new name. Hence why I have put up his name and address so that he can't just register a new profile.

His address in case he reappears again under a different name: Name: Fahim Arian-Pour Adress: Pfarrer-Kenntemich-Platz 28 City: Troisdorf Zipcode: 53840

Cartier Dispute and Recorded Delivery Scam I have been having a long running dispute with Messi10 and I think the forum needs to be aware that this post office scam exsists. I bought a Cartier Santos Chronograph XL from Messi10 on 11 September 2013 that was supposed to be fully serviced . The watch arrived and it was not keeping good time and the chronos did not work. I sent the watch back to him in Germany. He was not in to receive the parcel and he says the post office did not leave a card saying that they had tried to deliver the watch. Two weeks later the watch is returned to me in the UK by the post office. I tell him I will send the watch again and so I send it to exactly the same address and the post office tracking details say the watch was signed for at 11:14am on 25 November 2013 by someone called Paul. He denies that anyone called Paul lives there but I asked the post office to look into the matter. They wrote to tell me it was signed for at his address and therefore the watch is classed as delivered. They have shown me the signature from someone inside his house that received the parcel. I paid €310 for the watch and €20 in postage and he refuses to accept that it is his responsibility in any way. In future this means that you can send a watch to someone and as long as they sign for it with a random name then they can claim that they never received it and you lose you money!! Be very careful with this man. He sells watches that are in no way the same as advertised and then keeps your money even once you have proven that it is delivered to his address!! Good luck to you all. Rob

I have bought hundreds of rep watch over the years and modded many but one of my favourite things to mod is the crystal. I have or have had crystals from Jakob, Chief, Taka and Uwe and they look amazing (on occasions even better than the genuine). However, I have a real issue with this new "Sapphire Crystal, 6mm Thick as per the Genuine Colourless Double Sided AR Coated... Swiss Genuine Standards as per the Genuine!!!" Is it me or is this the The Emperor's New Clothes (A link for those that don't know the story: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Emperor's_New_Clothes) I own two Panerai's and the new Breitling Seawolf V2 with this crystal and I think it looks terrible. I have compared it to the "out of the box Omega Planet Ocean V5 blue AR" and there is no comparison. The lights from the ceiling above me are very feint in the Omega and in the Breitling they look bright and glarring. Am I the only person who thinks it looks so much worse and is it the same with the genuine watches? Cheers Rob http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Emperor's_New_Clothes

That is stunning. I bet you wish it was yours?

Thanks for all the advice but if (a big IF I know) a BK WM9 came up for sale for about $1,200 or £700 that is still a fraction of the price of the gen which would be at best £3,500. The bonus of buying a BK WM9 is that it would be worth that price whenever it was sold like the Gen holding its value. I know that my watch mood changes faster than my underwear and so holding £3,500 in one watch, especially one that I might not keep for life is more than I am willing to risk. Are there any good ones available from the dealers or are they hugely inaccurate compared to the BK WM9 versions? What are the biggest inaccuracies? Many thanks. Rob

I have owned close to 300 reps in the eight years since one of my best mates Andy (fxrandy a moderator on this awesome forum) introduced me to the most addictive hobby known to mankind! I have some amazing Frankens but there is one watch that seems to elude me and my mood for it ebbs and wanes like the moon. I am after a great Rolex Submariner Blue TT 16613. The ultimate is the elusive BK WM9 version which seems to be the unicorn for me as everything else I have wanted has been a matter of waiting for the modders to do their job and the post to deliver it! However, this rare beauty has been dead some time and never looks like being revived. If I can't own one of these delights then what is the next best thing? Please help as I seem to be at a dead end in terms of viable options. Kind regards. Rob

This is really quite amazing. Being in my 30s and well behind the computer power curve a good friend showed me the latest augmented reality demos. Follow this link and download the app if you have an iPhone and it turns boring pictures on A4 paper into live objects using the camera on the phone. Very weird but imagine if you could view watches in perfect Augmented Reality! http://poweredbystring.com/showcase Let me know if you enjoy the results. Cheers Rob

Stunning collection. I have always fancied a nice Franck Muller but there are always so many flaws. I love my ultimate Patek Philippe Nautlius because on the wirst it is an excellent rep (clearly when you take it off the clear back gives it away instantly) but are any of these close to the gen? Great collection.

There is the same model that is a 2006 version having just had a full service, with full box and papers, on a gen forum for £1,500. I hope this helps but Cartier watches drop value super quick. Rob

I have sent a message asking Uwe for a new crystal and then get him to double AR it. Unfortunately the crystal has got a deep scratch not just the AR. Cheers Rob

I have a beautifully modded IWC 5004 big pilot that has re-lumed dial and hands, serviced movement, gen strap and deployant etc etc but I have the standard glass and it has been scratched. I need to get a new sapphire crystal and then I will send it to Uwe for double AR treatment. Does anyone know where I can get a new crystal? Cheers Rob

This seems to be taking a while for the hottest rep of the year to be on the market!! I am really wanting to order this as soon as it lands but you know they will [censored] it up and require at least five versions before they get one that is almost acceptable (DSSD being the perfect case in point). Any news on when this will surface?

So can I just buy a MBK Nautilus bracelet and fit it to this Nautilus without issue? If so who sells these bracelets and for how much? Cheers Rob

I have just bought the new Patek Philippe Nautilus Ultimate with the SW200 movement. The watch is very good from the front but the extra hole on the bracelet is a real shame. Can the top link be removed and the next link down be moved up in its place? I have added a few photos from Gran's excellent review of this watch below. http://img121.imageshack.us/img121/1310/replicag.jpg Many thanks Rob

Pete I agree with you, but by looking at the absolute minute detail of every genuine in order to fully understand the rep I think it gives one a full respect and admiration for the brand (or in the case of some watch bands you see how much you are paying for crap!!). It takes no time to buy a gen, as long as money is not an issue, but a great rep takes research and a true understanding of horology! (and a huge bag of patience and faith).

I have been a member on RWG for almost four years and have loved it. I have bought about 300 reps and in the same time had about 50 gens. BUT What is the point of reps? (I have been having this debate with myself and a good friend for a few weeks) Statement 99% of people have no idea who Patek Philippe are. The 1% who do, 50% could tell even the best rep is a fake and probably belong to a rep forum or work for PP and the other 50% might think you have a nice watch. Questions 1. Are we buying reps because we like gazing at them? 2. Are we trying to fool people into thnking we have enough money to buy a gen? 3. Do we have issues commiting to one watch and this is the best way to own numerous nice watches? 4. Is it the excitement of modding reps? 5. Why are we modding reps? Is it to fool that 1/2% of people who might call us out? 6. All of the above? I know this is a little rambling but I would like your views. I have always fancied a Patek Phillippe and can't afford the gen. I think the new V2 Nautilus looks very good but I don't really like the sunburst blue. I know that as long as I don't take it off my wrist then the blue is unlikely to be called out. I really like the black dial but it is a fantasy watch (gen Nautilus with black dial was in white gold and limited to 100 pieces). Which do I go for? (if anyone has one they want to sell in the EU please email me!) Let me know your thoughts Cheers Rob

Does anyone know where to get them like this but cheaper? I have seen the Panerai wall clocks on here but no Rolex or Omega. Are there any from the regular dealers being sold?

Guys I saw these on Ebay and the guy has this description of the Omega: "It is not a catalog item, and is not available for public purchase as a brand new clock through any retailer. This is not a copy. It is guaranteed to be the original Horometrie Suisse display, and was not available to anyone but the watch dealers though, Horometrie Suisse, the manufacturer. This clock is the equivalent to all of the 3rd party elegant indoor and outdoor plaques, hangings and signs used for advertising, promotion and display of the watches. Simply put, it is an elegant and very fancy showroom watch display clock, and intended for the use of the authorized watch sellers only." I emailed him and he says that he has Rolex versions (photos attached) that are available "The Rolex Submariner black classic I can offer you for $420 plus the delivery and the Rolex Submariner Anniversary I can offer to you for $450 of course plus the delivery." My point is that the only Rolex wall clocks I have seen in ADs are the Rolex DJ clocks with the gold bezel that an AD told me cost

I have just booked my Eurostar tickets for Vikky and I. We arrive 1108hrs on Saturday and depart at 1400hrs on Sunday. I can't wait. For all those thinking of travelling from the UK the Eurostar is saying it has less than 10 seats on this non flexible saver ticket and so you might want to book asap. If you PM me I can tell you all the details. The cost at the moment is

I have been to the first two and this is still one of the highlights of my calendar. I hope Taka can't make it as I seem to spend the first three hours trading all my watches with him and forgetting to get drunk!! I obviously now have half of Taka's collection and I end up playing catch up with the drinks and feeling really hung over in the morning!! Stephane is the perfect host and to all British members, the Eurostar is the way to travel, and if you email me we can arrange to start the party on the train and all arrive together. Andy and Stephane thank you in advance for organising another superb weekend. Rob

Andy great photos, who took those or have you been on a crash photography course!!!! I love the fact you have finally come around to the Rolex way of thinking. It happens to everyone at some point I am sure. Are you planning to mod more Rolexes or is this a one off? Love the story and keep up the great photos! Rob

I thought I would add a few photos of my Schuhren. It is a real stunner and Andy managed to make it just they way I wanted. The watch keeps perfect time and has an unbelievable quality to it. These are such good value for money and the AR is some of the best I have seen. Enjoy the photos and thanks Andy once again for building it for me. I must order another one from you again soon! Rob

If you fancy taking it apart again and showing me what to do then that sounds great. The thought of me with all of the dexterity of a baby rhino touchinbg a tourbillon is what nighmares are made of!!