Alex at WatchRap.com asks the following:

“Omega seems to have a good history and nice design. But my perception is that the Purists do not really rate Omegas? Or am I mistaken?”

I don’t consider myself to be a Purist or member of the Purists, because I rarely post there. However, for a ‘generic’ or ‘public’ forum, it is one of the best around so I like to lurk over there.

I would expect that Omega is not in the league of most Purists, because Omega isn’t exactly a manufacturer. But, as one of the answers demonstrate, Omega seems to get ‘mad props’ because of its diversity, history and classics (e.g. Speedmaster). Although I am personally heavily disappointed by most new Omega models, except for their bestseller, the Planet Ocean, I have to agree with this comment on WatchRap.com.

On the other hand, I also feel to have out-grown Omega as a brand, without wanting to sound arrogant in any way. I consider my vintage Omega Speedmaster Professional with caliber 321 one of the nicest pieces one can get from the brand, and almost all other Omegas from my collection (including Seamasters, Speedmaster Pro’s and others) had to make way for watches of other brands. I really don’t know which Omega I would be interested in at the moment. Perhaps the DeVille with Rattrapante (and Co-Axial movement), but then again.. that’s almost in the same league (price-level) as my long wanted Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. And I am afraid that a nice watch as the DeVille Rattrapante would loose in a decision like that….

Anyway, as long as I haven’t got the money for ‘another’ watch, I am not having this problem

Matias wrote the following in a small message at Paneristi.com :

“I have enjoyed this site for some time now( maybe two years now)but have never posted anything. Approximately 6 months ago my PAM 118 was stolen from my home and I thought I would never see it again.( a police report filed,etc.) My wife,who had bought it for me,searched E-bay relentlessly. One night she yelled for me to come to the computer.There it was!To make a long story short the police recovered the watch and it is on my wrist at this very moment. Friends and family were relieved but I felt the need to share this with my fellow Paneristi with those whom can truly understand ( this is not just any watch).”

An unbelievable story, especially the part of discovering the watch on Ebay. If your watch is stolen, make sure to enter all numbers (serials, reference etc.) in the WatchSearcher database: http://www.watchsearcher.com

I was browsing some watch sites and came across a picture of this JeanRichard Bressel 1665 with power reserve. It seems to have its own in-house JR1000 movement by JeanRichard, case size of 42mm and a saphire display back.

Prices are just below 6000 Euro according to the Girard-Perregaux forum at The Purists.com (JeanRichard and GP are connected in some way…).

The Bressel handwound version (not displayed here) is probably around 2000 Euro, according to the same source. It lacks a power reserve feature ofcourse

Alessandra from Baobab TV mailed me if I was interested in linking to http://www.thetimetv.com. Ofcourse I am! It is a wonderful initiative and really gives the online watch community an ‘originality’ boost. thetimetv.com is broadband television about watchmaking, a very interesting ‘tv channel’ on your computer! Check it out!

A Rolex GMT-Master ofcourse!

Hannes treats the R-L-X.de forum visitors on these two screenshots from the Discovery channel:

The fellow above is Brian Trubshaw, British Concorde Testpilot.

Thanks Hannes!

If you want over 80 pages of famous (and less famous) Rolex wearers, click here (you might need to register).

CosmicMike over at Paneristi.com shows his three amigos. A Panerai 27C, a Black Seal and the 113.

Photo by CosmicMike

I don’t care much for the Blackseal. Although I like its design, it would bore me quite soon I’m afraid. I really do like the 113 and 27C. The 27C to me, is the ultimate Panerai aside from the Luminor Marina models. Anyway, I wouldn’t mind owning a Blackseal in the first place. Just to check how it feels on the wrist

Congrats on this nice collection Mike.