Reply With QuoteThe first in the wild! Looks fantastic, love the lugs!
Mine has just reached Germany :-)
Quick first impressions as I have to go to work.
Looks even better in the flesh than in the photo's. Case finishing is lovely, nice fine brushing. Crown feels a quality component and has a good, positive feel to it, and the screw-down is silky-smooth. Case size is absolutely perfect too - any bigger would be too big, any smaller and it would venturing into pork-pie territory on account of the height. The watch has very pleasing heft - feels really solid, in fact ( without checking the figures) it feels like the head has a similar weight to my Marathon SAR. I was a little concerned at how the lugs would be in real life as they are not as long and slender as the originals, SB1 etc, which is an aspect I particularly like in those watches - but actually they look great and importantly everything is perfectly in proportion - everything is kind of 'right'.
Obviously the dial is ultra-clear, the hands look great, love the second-hand, LOVE the way the minute-hand and second-hand go right over the markers to the edge of the dial. The minute-hand seems to finish precisely where the markers finish - excellent! Lends an 'instrument' feel to the watch. The matte-black dial itself is completely neutral as it should be, and appears a dark grey at certain angles. Can't tell you how much joy it brings to read "Great Britain" on the dial!
The domed crystal is very subtle - but I think it changes how the watch 'feels' quite substancially. It's one of the qualities that a person wouldn't necessarily be able put their finger on, yet put two identical watches together - one with and one without the doming, and I bet they'd pick the domed version every time maybe without really knowing why. Similar effect on my Omega AT. Helps with reflections too - and I am now sold on underside-only AR as the crystal doesn't have the weird colouration going on - it just appears invisible at most angles.
Bracelet is top-notch - as good as anything I've ever seen. End-links fit absolutely perfectly. Surprisingly lighter than it looks like it should be - in contrast to the watch itself which ( to me ) is slightly heavier than it looks like it should be. Very positive clasp. Adds a certain dressiness to the watch - I've taken it off for now and will keep it for posh. I'm a Nato man at the moment.
Thats it for now - here's a couple of quick and dirty pics - look forward to seeing your ( much better! ) shots. Even if this wasn't the chronometer version, I would still think that this is SUCH a watch when you consider the price. Amazing. Well done Eddie and thank you - it's fantastic
On the Nato:
The first in the wild! Looks fantastic, love the lugs!
Mine has just reached Germany :-)
I'm not as think as you drunk I am.
Looks great, can't wait for mine!
Dave E
Skating away on the thin ice of a new day
The first report from the ground, well done sir! :D
The bracelet is a dog to get back on. :lol:
Eddie
Whole chunks of my life come under the heading "it seemed like a good idea at the time".
Awesome... well done on getting a review and pics up so early :)
Looks fab, look forward to getting one!
UPS was just here with our watch, it took just 24 hours to Vienna. :bounce:
Very nice piece, very glad to have it. Thank you very much Eddie for everything! :)
I guess it takes more time to Salzburg. :wink:
Cheers,
Susanna
Ps. it is even more beautiful than on the pictures.
My Speedbird III has landed too, everything about it is true, love it!
Thank you Eddie and TZ :cheers:
Mine has arrived. First impressions are excellent.
The bracelet fit to the lugs is one of the best I have seen... in fact better than many major manufacturers. The crown feels both smooth and precise and I think the slight bulge on the end of the crown sets it off well.
Disagree about the bracelet making it look bling, rather it makes it appear of a quality out of keeping with the price.
Size is about perfect for a use it for work watch.
Will get some photos up over the next few hours once I adjust the bracelet.
Looks great 8)
What serial numbers are people getting?
I bet. You made the end-links fit too well! Lucky I went out and bought a spring-bar tool on tuesday specifically to get the Nato on without scratching the case. Oh wait - you put a free one in the case! :)The bracelet is a dog to get back on. :lol:
Eddie
Yes - I don't really mean 'bling', it looks slightly dressier with the bracelet on, more 'instrument-like' with the Nato on. Actually I'll change the posting....Disagree about the bracelet making it look bling, rather it makes it appear of a quality out of keeping with the price.
Neil
Nice post - thanks very much for posting, and for the pics.
The hands look great.
We have got number 9. It is a great number, meaning this:Originally Posted by SimonH
Nine: The spiritual meaning of number Nine bring us to the very height of vibrational frequencies in this number sequence. Nine's represent attainment, satisfaction, accomplishment, and our success to achieve an influence on our circumstances. The spiritual meaning of number Nine deals with intellectual power, inventiveness, influence over situations and things. Nine beseeches you to recognize your own internal attributes, and extend these abilities out into the world to make a positive, influential difference. :)
Greetings,
Susanna
I thought seeing some arrival pics and people posting that they have got there's would cheer me up about it... it's actually done the opposite and I'm even more gutted that despite getting an order in I was in the batch of those who were over the 50 threshold :evil:
must-stop-looking-at-this-thread
We have got number 9. It is a great number, meaning this:
Nine: The spiritual meaning of number Nine bring us to the very height of vibrational frequencies in this number sequence. Nine's represent attainment, satisfaction, accomplishment, and our success to achieve an influence on our circumstances. The spiritual meaning of number Nine deals with intellectual power, inventiveness, influence over situations and things. Nine beseeches you to recognize your own internal attributes, and extend these abilities out into the world to make a positive, influential difference. :)
Greetings,
Susanna
WOW! SUSANNA! :D
Now now, chin up, I did not get one either! There will shortly be another opportunity to sink your teeth into this cake!
:lol:
+1 :evil: I'm going to get one of the next batch, if I can, but I agree "must-stop-looking-at-this-thread!
Here is #006
Was going to call them quick and Dirty....but they are not that good.
Just look at that fit !!
:shock: How did you manage to scratch the bezel and case that fast?
I agree, wonderful fit. Love it to the bits and can't wait. Bloody UPS is a lamebird.
I'm not as think as you drunk I am.
I had not noticed, and given I have done little other than sit at my desk...........I have no idea.
Oh well...................... fortunately, you would never know without a macro lens, it's invisible to the naked eye unless you hold the watch about 2cm away from your face.
Damn I hope I get mine tomorrow, that looks stunning!
Dave E
Skating away on the thin ice of a new day
Tomorrow for me too, looks great! :)
Thanks for the excellent review, well written.
Not really... very obvious in the pics!
Looks easy to remove though so wouldn't sweat it :)
DAMN - looked at the thread again!!
Congrats guys. I got the shipment E-mail this morning I should have #20 around 18:00 EST tomorrow. Just in time for the weekend. Screwdrivers are already on my desk ready to size the bracelet.
Mine hasn't shipped yet.
EDIT: Following a phone inquiry with Eddie, I am reliably informed that it's going out today. 2nd on the pile to be done in fact! :D
It has arrived!
At home unfortunately. Postie gave it to my wife :shock: Forgot to fill in my company address for shipping.
The Horror! :lol:
I'm not as think as you drunk I am.
Those few extra seconds filling out the company address might have risked you not getting one at all mate! :shock:
Cheers,
Guy :)
This thing is an IWC Mark something or other slayer. :twisted: VERY nice! :D
Oooh I can't wait until those tax refunds come in....
My wife has it now. So that's pretty much the same. I do expect some serious emotional blackmail :lol:
I'm not as think as you drunk I am.
I love your new tag line mate - I am thinking of joining the club :D
Shipping notice received...
Dave E
Skating away on the thin ice of a new day
Wonderful pics Jon. The bracelet and fit do look fantastic. Mine was sent yesterday, hope it gets here Friday or Saturday.
That watch definitely looks very, very nice. Thanks for the pictures!
I have no shipping notice - but no "sorry you missed out" email, either. The suspense of whether or not I made the cut is killing me!
Guntram
It's out of this world, so much better than on the photos. Dial sits very high in the case, crown position is EXACTLY how it should be, crystal is fantastic etc.
Sorry for the superduper crap pic, better ones to follow:
Even my wife wants one now!
Eddie, the Speedbird has grown up. I think you're done now :)
I'm not as think as you drunk I am.
Same here, so ends a two and a half year journey. I'm actually quite nervous, I really want to love it.
Just my luck, I'm in gods own city all day tomorrow.
It is NOT a crap pic!!!!! Droooooooool! :D for you!It's out of this world, so much better than on the photos. Dial sits very high in the case, crown position is EXACTLY how it should be, crystal is fantastic etc.
Sorry for the superduper crap pic, better ones to follow:
Even my wife wants one now!
Eddie, the Speedbird has grown up. I think you're done now :)
Tom
Yay Yay Yay Yay
Shipping notice from 3 o'clock, am I right to hope for it to be here tomorrow?
I am sitting here wearing a Dreadnought, but I find myself envious of you guys getting these new watches.
So are we going to see a 'Friday - haves' thread and a 'Friday Have-nots' thread?
Looks great to me and good to see them filtering out into the wild. Bit gutted I missed out by a few seconds but hey ho. Good to see another quality watch added to the TF stable.
Congrats
Hey!
It is domed! 8) Awesome!
Cheers
Henrik
Number 16 has landed, the bracelet has been sized and it's where it belongs:
Dave E
Skating away on the thin ice of a new day
Glad to hear #20 is going to the rightful owner :)
Looks great!
Let's play
Shipping note received, timed at 17:12, sounds like I got one of the high numbers. :D
Regards,
Grant
Me too :D
Mine too - hope I get no. 50!
#20 arrived at 16:45 at my home just as I was leaving the office. My Daughter got it from the UPS man. I got home at at 17:45 sized and on my wrist by 18:00. I will take pics and update the museum tomorrow (text is already there).
#25 was picked up in Sheffield at 14:53 hrs and arrived safe and sound in rural Schalkwijk at 13:35hrs the next day
Even with Eddie's thorough packing it was sized and on my wrist within 5 minutes............ :)
And later this evening time for some pic's
.
There goes the warantee. :blackeye:
anon
Costume jewellery. Ouch!!!
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