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Lovely Speedmaster. One of the nicer new sort.
I picked this up about a week ok. I need to resize the bracelet so I’ve been wearing it on a number of different NATO straps. I have to say I am rather enamoured of it. Slim and light on the wrist, lovely dial and case angles and the lume is fantastic.
PRS-4 (on one of Bonesy's).
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Armida A1 45mm
Another watch I've bought and sold about 3 time's.
It's going to stay this time.
Excuse the crap photography
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Last edited by sickie; 28th March 2024 at 20:33.
Some nice new arrivals on this page.
This arrived a few days ago, and I'd forgotten how big they are. Last owned one about 12 years ago, so pleased to have one again.
Courtesy of Ray
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Three absolute stunners in a row!
But Rob, you really need to buy a couple more from me before your done, surely.
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Of this we shall not speak, sir!
I may have inadvertantly wandered on to ThiefBay last night when incautiously crapulous...
I haven't dared to check the £damage yet, but I've been having digital thoughts, so hopefully nothing mortal...
That DC66 though!
If you're going to fall off the wagon: THAT is a watch to fall for!
£11 in an electronics discount store in Tokyo, where I also found...
These aren't fakes, they are the real deal. Rolexes and Omegas stacked like cheap Casios. Unbelievable
Last edited by Dr Wolff; 1st April 2024 at 11:38.
Must admit that I really didn't check the prices too carefully as they were all 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 Yen! Casio's are about 10-15% cheaper than the UK and the Tissot PRX powermatic 80 worked out at about £530. Then factor in the 10% discount for taking off the Japanese tax, and it seems cheap, providing you aren't intending to declare them for customs!!
In the dealer/second hand shops, the prices weren't all that - pretty much the same as UK prices, but there were some unexpected finds. Sinns (including a 156) and three Breguet type XX.
Two incomings this week!
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Must be your second Bond Kippax
Absolutely love the black FXD. Such a nice watch.
Wanted to try one of these for a while but didn’t want to pay full price! Managed to snag this on another forum and it’s like new, very pleased.
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I got this Nighthawk last week and I'm loving the GMT design.
I haven't travelled for ages, so it's currently set to Tokyo time as it's a Citizen XD
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Couldn’t agree more.
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Something a little unusual arrived yesterday. Not unusual because of its groundbreaking design, but rather the company that made it. Takano was a Japanese company founded in 1899 that initially produced clocks and in the 1920s/30s started producing military instruments. After the Korean war they began producing watches, bringing the first ones to market in 1957. These early watches had German Durowe movements, but soon after they created their first and only inhouse movement, which was used in the 'Chateau' branded models. The Japanese market proved hard to break into though with Seiko, Citizen and Orient as established names and in 1959 a typhoon laid waste to Takano's production facility. In 1961 the company was insolvent, but the story doesn't really end there. A year later they were absorbed by the company we now know as Ricoh (the electronics company) and formed the basis for their watch division, which produced some good looking and interesting watches from the 60s to the 80s. There are some early transitional Ricoh watches that are branded 'Chateau'.
Most of Takano's offerings seem to have been gold plated models, which isn't really to my taste. But I was happy to find this steel one. The crystal's scratched up quite a bit despite my polishing efforts and there's a little bit of damage on the dial near the 6 o'clock marker, but it's still a handsome watch in my opinion with an interesting story behind it. It also seems to be running and keeping time quite well despite an unknown (and probably completely absent) service history.
I recently moved on a couple of pieces that weren't getting worn as often as they really should. The plan was to pick up something that would get wrist time, something from Tudor perhaps, maybe IWC.
While looking around my mind wandered back to Rolex. The crown had always been absent from my collection. Partly (mainly) due to not being able to afford one, and partly due to the whole AD culture/waitlist nonsense, which probably soured my image of the brand.
Anyway, in recent years I got over my initial huff, and would always gently browse the models I liked, always out of my price range, but still nice to window shop.
After shifting a couple of my less worn pieces I thought perhaps I could make it work.
I knew what I wanted, an Explorer 1, 39mm with the mkII dial (I know the newest version is 40mm, but I much prefer the dial layout of the 39). I didn't want anything over polished, and I wanted a full set, or as full as practical. I'm also far from an expert on Rolex so a private sale was out of the question, as I'd simply have no idea if I'd been sold a turkey.
So I started looking around, Chrono24 had a perfect one, but it was a private sale, so couldn't take the risk. I'm sure it would have been fine, but with such a big purchase I couldn't risk the drama. Same with eBay, all the private sales were priced right, and the dealer prices were too toppy. Watchfinder had a couple, but there was always something a bit off. They either looked to be too polished, or had links missing, or no outer box etc. It wasn't just right, and with this one I didn't want to compromise, which is something I've done before with other purchases, and in the end they always end up slightly disappointing and get flipped.
I then checked the Watches of Whitby website (I'd visited them in person before, great store to mooch about in if you're up that way). They had one, perfect, full set, great price, no worries on authenticity, condition or anything like that, and bonus that it's one of the forum good guys.
On closer inspection, it was sold. *sad face.gif*
I messaged alexaff on here and rather cheekily asked if and when they get another in stock could they remember me. He was super helpful, asked me to phone the shop, speak with the chap there (Michael) and leave my details.
So I did, I phoned Michael, had a 20 minute chat about watches, the forum, and a giggle about how after all my complaining I've ended up essentially on a bloody waitlist for a Rolex!
The search continued, and I put the whole thing to the back of my mind.
5 days later my phone rings. A Whitby area code! The Explorer was available! Turns out the watch had only had a deposit put down, but the purchaser had backed out. Was this a sign? You bet your arse it was. I paid a deposit over the phone. That afternoon I paid the balance. The watch was shipped out to me on a day of my choosing, and it arrived in splendid condition.
I realise this now reads as a H&V post, apologies for that.
Anyway here it is, the watch I never thought I'd own. I'm happy as hell with it, and am now thinking I might have room for another Rolex, one day.
I realise these are rather ubiquitous, but this is mine, and I think it's fab.
So far I've Explored the bedroom...
The bar...
Shropshire...
And the spooky dark!
Very nice! I got mine (albeit 40mm variant) a few months ago and was as equally as delighted as you are.
£41.50 Delivered to my door from my good friends over at Aliexpress.
38mm VK64 Chronograph, screw down crown, nice packaging, drilled lugs and quick release strap.
Can't complain!
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[QUOTE=jimmbob;6376981]
Great story and pleased it worked out for you :)