Finally back on RWI and very soon on watchmaking - or not.

[g00n]

Guys, calm down please, lets show a little empathy towards fellow members.
It's now been confirmed that there is a new and previously undocumented virus wreaking havoc among the self taught replica watchmaker community.
It's unclear where the case zero originated but what is clear is the speed at which it can spread.
Until more is discovered about this virus, it is, for the time being called SOVED-24 - Sudden Onset Varying Excuses Disorder.
Symptoms include random and varying excuses as to why projects can't be completed and/or refunds issued for projects that are sometimes years behind schedule, often accompanied by a refusal to return peoples property.
There can be claims of personal illness given as the reason for the delays, but this can also manifest itself as an illness that works it's way through close family members in a illogical manner.
Those tested positive to the virus have been known to 'Ghost' customers, ignoring all forms of communications, including but not limited to emails, PM's, Whatsapp messages, Instagram DM's etc. Those tested positive have also been known to provide non-functioning tracking numbers to their customers.
Right now, there is no known cure, no vaccine that can fight this devastating virus.
We need to stay strong, united, until a cure is found or a new vaccine can be developed.
I know that in some countries, customers still waiting for news of their build project will, at 20:00 every evening, go to the balcony, or stand in their window of their home, and wave their empty watch storage boxes in the air, as a sign of solidarity with those affected by SOVED - 24.

 

[fnfalguy]

 

[Erect]

Watch boxes empty, hearts unsteady,
SOVED-24 strikes—oh, it ain't pretty.
Excuses abound, but bills are due,
Ghosting and stalling—what's a customer to do?

Fake tracking numbers, "It’s on the way!"
But weeks turn to months, and hope fades away.
Illness spreads, excuses anew,
Family trees with ailments too.

So wave your boxes high with pride,
In unity, we’ll turn the tide.
A vaccine will come; we'll fight the blight,
Till the watchmakers get our projects right!

 

[Dave2302]

It's now been confirmed that there is a new and previously undocumented virus wreaking havoc among the self taught replica watchmaker community.
It's unclear where the case zero originated but what is clear is the speed at which it can spread.
Until more is discovered about this virus, it is, for the time being called SOVED-24 - Sudden Onset Varying Excuses Disorder.

I'm laughing my nuts off at every single line of this ....
Absolutely brilliant, even funnier than the time I was walking to the lavatory in the early hours after a ton of beer and Chinese take away, at which point I thought I was gonna fart, but instead I resprayed the cat who was following me

Nah, seriously 10 / 10
There is only one cure for SOVED ....

 

[Erect]

I'm laughing my nuts off at every single line of this ....
Absolutely brilliant, even funnier than the time I was walking to the lavatory in the early hours after a ton of beer and Chinese take away, at which point I thought I was gonna fart, but instead I resprayed the cat who was following me

Nah, seriously 10 / 10
There is only one cure for SOVED ....

The visual image... astounding.

 

[Fiddo]

Right now, there is no known cure, no vaccine that can fight this devastating virus.

 

[manodeoro]

Hello,

Today I'm connecting for the first time since about 2 months and I understand that many menbers are worried about this ans are waiting for answers.

First thing I can say is that :
- I never considered to "fly away" or "disappear" without finishing any of the dials or builds I started to work on
- I'm not dead ... though I could have been
Second thing is to explain my absence :
- Late november I had a huge car crash and spent 6 weeks on an hospital bed, 1 in intensive care and 5 under observation ... of course no access to any phone on computer and I wouldn't have been able to communicate anyway.
- Last week I went back home I started to check again my emails and medias and sent a few answers.
Third thing is about what I'll do from now on :
- I'll send specific news, before the end of this week, to all the people waiting for news about dials and builds I started ... some where already finished before the car crash and those will be shipped quickly, some are still to be finished and I'll work on this full time on a daily basis so things will go much quicker than in the past
- I must kindly ask people who sent me PMs asking for general informations and advices or requests for any sort of new work to wait for some more weeks ... I need to focus on the work to be finished before I send any answer so they'll probably have to wait until February

I guess I need to make some other things clear ...
About the money I could have received from people without producing any work in return ...
Please take note that I never ask for any upfront payment ... when somebody ask me if I can make any work I first say YES or NO, depending if the work it's in or above my capabilities.
If the answer is NO I do my best to help to find another maker and if it's YES I send a quotation.
If we find and agreement I start to work on my own risk and send pics when my work is finished ... if my work looks good enough and is accepted I ask for payment and ship the product within 3 days after receiving the money ... if my work is refused I don't ask for anything and we just part as good friends.
Some problems may appear and I do my best to solve it ... for example sometimes the final varnish on a dial shows defects after some time and in this case I redo a dial free of charge.
About the parts I receive from members for a build ...
Sometimes ... and specifically last year ... the delay becomes too great and I try to propose an arrangement.
First option being to send the parts back to their owner and second being to send funds for the parts I received.
Some people ask for option 1 or 2 and some prefer to wait some more ... in any case the decision is not mine but theirs and I accept with no discussion.

To finish this long message I ask every member here, involved or not in any work with me, to accept my humblest apologies.
From now on I will connect every morning and share news here, good or bad, on a daily basis.

Wish you all a perfect 2025 year.

 

[Dave2302]

I wish you a full and speedy recovery, and hope that those waiting will give you the chance and leeway to MIR in a timely manner

 

[daytona4me]

When you take on the role that you have, you have a greater responsibility, no matter what. I understand the accident, I understand the hospital stay, etc. But so long as you have breath and you are not unconscious, you have an obligation to communicate. There simply is no excuse good enough. You accepted that responsibility when he took things from consumers.

I'm sorry for what you have gone through but I hope that you understand that frequent communication with customers and staff 100% reasonable and customary.

 

[Hec]

I do not approve the lack of news, but that responsibility that everything arrives well and the customer is satisfied should be a MUST


Some RWI modder after business of thousands send you something in bad condition and you only get a “sorry”, I have lived it not long ago.

 

[369mafia]

Wow. Sorry to hear about yoru accident and hope that you have made a full recovery.

Everything else aside regardless of what some want to say, take care of yourself first , you are the only one that will and if you are not at 100% neither will be your work or mindset.

I am glad that you are returning and look fwd to seeing more fantastic projects produced from your skills and talents.

 

[SuperRep]

Where's the 'sharing news' part... No coms received yet.

 

[repdoc3]

Sorry to hear about your accident. I was afraid something had happened like this! Wishing you a speedy recovery.

 

[tripdog]

From now on I will connect every morning and share news here, good or bad, on a daily basis.

 

[Dave2302]

You seem to be spot on with the SOVED-24 diagnosis

 

[manodeoro]

I've been too much optimistc when I wrote "on a daily basis" and I accept the consequences.
In any case, even if I the "do not trade with me" badge was not on my profile, I had no intention to accept any project until current work would be finished, accepted, shipped and receiveD.

Last week I worked on some ongoing projects and here are the results.
I've PMed the members waiting for those parts/projects.

Rolex 1675 GMT Tiffany gilt dial and "hooked 7" overlay ...
Parts received ... no upfront payment asked
I'll keep working on that project this week

Doxa Irishtstar dial ...
Badly damaged original Doxa dial received ... no upfront payement asked
Printed on the original Doxa dial ... I'm waiting for a GO to ship it this week

Doxa Searambler dial ...
That one was already made but a problem occured the final varnish so I redid 2 ... one with final varnish and one without
I'm waiting for a GO to ship it this week

Seiko MACV-SOG dial ...
Watch received ... no upfront payment asked
Made for an original Seiko 7005-8030 from early 70ies with ruined dial.
I still have to service the movement, lume the new dial and original handset and make the reassembly.

Other projects I'm working on ...

Tudor 7928 gilt dial for 390 movement ...
original Tudor 390 mainplate received ... no upfront payment asked
I alreadyhave put dial feet on a dial plate ... pics sent
I still have to finish the gold/bronze print

Rolex 5513 MK3 matte dial for 1520 movement ...
No parts received ... no upfront payment asked
I have already put dial feet on a new dial plate ... pics sent
Work in progress and should be finished next week

Rolex 5513 Explorer gilt dial ...
No parts received ... no upfront payment asked
Dia plrint done but I decided it's not good enough so I'll redo it next week