New old member here- I joined RWI about six years ago I guess, and bought a few watches from TDs... but was never terribly active in posting. Just getting logged in again and trying to make sure I meet all the requirements to access different areas of the forum, i.e. M2M, messaging vendors, etc.. Thinking maybe my account was inactive for so long that I need to do whatever the noobie steps are again.
I've traveled and lived overseas for the past several years. I'm happy to be back in the good ol' US of A at the moment and looking to do some repairs/ mods and update the quiver. Got the itch at the moment, need the prescription.
In any case, I've been researching a couple of watches I plan to buy shortly.
I'm pretty well 95% decided on a Clean factory 116610LV. I've wanted a hulk for years, but apparently I never purchased enough Rolex's from AD's to rise to the top of the list + the premium over list was exorbitant last time I looked at gen on grey/ used market b4 ruling it out for the time being... and it looks like the Hulk rep game has come along pretty nicely. Also, I'm pretty well decided on giving a new TD a try. @Elliot Black / Andiot has got some nice prices and the reviews are looking grade A from what I've read. I'm planning to pick up a 116519 Daytona, too. I really love the YG Pikachu, followed closely by the Ghost version. I'm leaning Clean factory here too, but still need to research movements and comparisons on these models compared to BTF or whatever other top runners are out there. My only hesitation here is on the wearability/ durability of the YG... which I don't have a lot of confidence in. Having it custom plated would seem to be the safe bet, not sure yet if it would be outside of what I'd consider reasonable cost and complication in my eyes, need to do more research here. Find someone recommended in the states perhaps so I don't have to ship overseas after arrival. Or perhaps if it would be worth my time/ within my technical reach to DIY a more durable good looking yellow gold plating, probably not though. I wouldn't mind a little advice about how best to go about acheiving a best bang for the buck YG 116519. I'll continue to read threads and do research on my own of course, but I wouldn't mind being pointed in a direction that might make that process more direct, if anyone is so inclined. If durable gold plating is too complicated or expensive, I'll probably forego that dreamy gold version for now and do a ghost instead.
Lastly and in closing, god willing, for any poor souls that have read this far... I tried to get a couple of my daily beater/ travel watches serviced recently and it has been a harrowing experience. Couple shops that I knew years ago in this area (SLC, Utah) aren't around anymore and the new shops I sought out didn't want to take the service job on a Ginault Ocean Rover (first version) and an old 114060 sub rep... don't remember the factory, but it's been a decent beater.. it's the Supreme F'em dial. I did eventually find a generic watch shop that said they could do the job, but first day back and the Ginault loses about 30 minutes every two hours if it doesn't completely stop/ get stuck. The sub had new spring bars installed, turns out they were shoulderless/ double shouldered...err no flanges anyway... so they're stuck in there now... tools don't grab, floss doesn't fit through the lug/ end link clearance, couldn't break the bars using wrapped pliers. Oh, and the bezel is completely seized... oh and the weld on on the clasp broke a half hour after putting it on... lol. Anyway, if anybody can make a referral for a watchsmith in the Salt Lake valley that might be good for this type of maintenance, or even the gold plating job on a new daytona. I'd appreciate that as well as any recommendations that come to mind that might be helpful with this saga of a first post. Will employ more brevity in the future. Thanks for coming to my TED talk, God bless your soul, and hey there to the watch lovers of RWI!
I've traveled and lived overseas for the past several years. I'm happy to be back in the good ol' US of A at the moment and looking to do some repairs/ mods and update the quiver. Got the itch at the moment, need the prescription.
In any case, I've been researching a couple of watches I plan to buy shortly.
I'm pretty well 95% decided on a Clean factory 116610LV. I've wanted a hulk for years, but apparently I never purchased enough Rolex's from AD's to rise to the top of the list + the premium over list was exorbitant last time I looked at gen on grey/ used market b4 ruling it out for the time being... and it looks like the Hulk rep game has come along pretty nicely. Also, I'm pretty well decided on giving a new TD a try. @Elliot Black / Andiot has got some nice prices and the reviews are looking grade A from what I've read. I'm planning to pick up a 116519 Daytona, too. I really love the YG Pikachu, followed closely by the Ghost version. I'm leaning Clean factory here too, but still need to research movements and comparisons on these models compared to BTF or whatever other top runners are out there. My only hesitation here is on the wearability/ durability of the YG... which I don't have a lot of confidence in. Having it custom plated would seem to be the safe bet, not sure yet if it would be outside of what I'd consider reasonable cost and complication in my eyes, need to do more research here. Find someone recommended in the states perhaps so I don't have to ship overseas after arrival. Or perhaps if it would be worth my time/ within my technical reach to DIY a more durable good looking yellow gold plating, probably not though. I wouldn't mind a little advice about how best to go about acheiving a best bang for the buck YG 116519. I'll continue to read threads and do research on my own of course, but I wouldn't mind being pointed in a direction that might make that process more direct, if anyone is so inclined. If durable gold plating is too complicated or expensive, I'll probably forego that dreamy gold version for now and do a ghost instead.
Lastly and in closing, god willing, for any poor souls that have read this far... I tried to get a couple of my daily beater/ travel watches serviced recently and it has been a harrowing experience. Couple shops that I knew years ago in this area (SLC, Utah) aren't around anymore and the new shops I sought out didn't want to take the service job on a Ginault Ocean Rover (first version) and an old 114060 sub rep... don't remember the factory, but it's been a decent beater.. it's the Supreme F'em dial. I did eventually find a generic watch shop that said they could do the job, but first day back and the Ginault loses about 30 minutes every two hours if it doesn't completely stop/ get stuck. The sub had new spring bars installed, turns out they were shoulderless/ double shouldered...err no flanges anyway... so they're stuck in there now... tools don't grab, floss doesn't fit through the lug/ end link clearance, couldn't break the bars using wrapped pliers. Oh, and the bezel is completely seized... oh and the weld on on the clasp broke a half hour after putting it on... lol. Anyway, if anybody can make a referral for a watchsmith in the Salt Lake valley that might be good for this type of maintenance, or even the gold plating job on a new daytona. I'd appreciate that as well as any recommendations that come to mind that might be helpful with this saga of a first post. Will employ more brevity in the future. Thanks for coming to my TED talk, God bless your soul, and hey there to the watch lovers of RWI!
