Read a lot of TD reviews before placing the following order with Sead, the watches are below followed by the order dates:
1. Rolex YM - 7/29/2013
2. BR03-88 - 8/4/2013
3. PAM104 - 8/4/2013
Received the package today, 8/15/2013, and here are the results:
1. Rolex YM - Not included in the box. Sent a PM to Sead just now asking for status, since this was ordered first and was told he had them in stock and ready to go prior to ordering.
Not worried at all about not getting it, let me be clear here. Just surprised that it's not here with the others being that was the one that was in inventory.
2. PAM 104 - Wonderful, nearly a super-rep, and while not one of the board's favorite PAMs, easily the best no-brainer auto for those who don't like to wind 'em up every day. Very pleased.
I own the gen of this, and comparing them side by side right now shows just how far the factories have come the past few years in getting really really close. 9 out of 10 for sure, with the only issue being a very loose crown guard that was easily tightened. Movement is sharp, DW clicks perfectly as it changes, etc. Very nice.
3. BR03-88 - Multiple defects out of the box. Damn.
Non-functional/dead digital display in crown positions 1 and 2, and negative control of movement in crown position 3. No ability to adjust analog time (hands) as well, in any crown position.
***UPDATE on BR03-88 status in post #7 of this thread. Original review text below:
The quartz movement itself functions (keeps analog time fine, albeit the wrong time as you can't set it haha), but the digital display and functions (alarm/chrono/etc) aren't able to be selected or manipulated in any of the crown positions, and are dark/dead in positions 1 and 2 completely.
The digital display will actually come alive and light-up in just the pulled-out crown position 3 for whatever reason, but the crown has no control of the settings or options when rotated clockwise or counter-clockwise as it should according to the manual.
Would I use Sead again: No problems with him so far besides the half-dead BR03, which I can mostly blame on the factory more than him. But if he had looked at it prior to shipping, he might have seen the defect right away (dead dial), so the whole "he doesn't send QC pics because he inspects them for you" belief by members of the board is kind of disproven by this experience.
Oh one other issue on the BR03-88 for those curious, the bezel triangle didn't line up at the 12, off by a half-click (in-between detents). Not sure if this is common on the reps, but fyi.
Love the PAM though, have to say I'm very impressed. Makes we want to take a risk on a 386 or 505 just to try out the dark side DLC for once. For kicks I put the gen 104 and rep 104 on a scale and both came out to exactly 124g...amazing.
I will continue to update and edit this review as the process continues.
1. Rolex YM - 7/29/2013
2. BR03-88 - 8/4/2013
3. PAM104 - 8/4/2013
Received the package today, 8/15/2013, and here are the results:
1. Rolex YM - Not included in the box. Sent a PM to Sead just now asking for status, since this was ordered first and was told he had them in stock and ready to go prior to ordering.
Not worried at all about not getting it, let me be clear here. Just surprised that it's not here with the others being that was the one that was in inventory.
2. PAM 104 - Wonderful, nearly a super-rep, and while not one of the board's favorite PAMs, easily the best no-brainer auto for those who don't like to wind 'em up every day. Very pleased.
I own the gen of this, and comparing them side by side right now shows just how far the factories have come the past few years in getting really really close. 9 out of 10 for sure, with the only issue being a very loose crown guard that was easily tightened. Movement is sharp, DW clicks perfectly as it changes, etc. Very nice.
3. BR03-88 - Multiple defects out of the box. Damn.
Non-functional/dead digital display in crown positions 1 and 2, and negative control of movement in crown position 3. No ability to adjust analog time (hands) as well, in any crown position.
***UPDATE on BR03-88 status in post #7 of this thread. Original review text below:
The quartz movement itself functions (keeps analog time fine, albeit the wrong time as you can't set it haha), but the digital display and functions (alarm/chrono/etc) aren't able to be selected or manipulated in any of the crown positions, and are dark/dead in positions 1 and 2 completely.
The digital display will actually come alive and light-up in just the pulled-out crown position 3 for whatever reason, but the crown has no control of the settings or options when rotated clockwise or counter-clockwise as it should according to the manual.
Would I use Sead again: No problems with him so far besides the half-dead BR03, which I can mostly blame on the factory more than him. But if he had looked at it prior to shipping, he might have seen the defect right away (dead dial), so the whole "he doesn't send QC pics because he inspects them for you" belief by members of the board is kind of disproven by this experience.
Oh one other issue on the BR03-88 for those curious, the bezel triangle didn't line up at the 12, off by a half-click (in-between detents). Not sure if this is common on the reps, but fyi.
Love the PAM though, have to say I'm very impressed. Makes we want to take a risk on a 386 or 505 just to try out the dark side DLC for once. For kicks I put the gen 104 and rep 104 on a scale and both came out to exactly 124g...amazing.
I will continue to update and edit this review as the process continues.
