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Consolation prizes:

1. MKII Vantage - on rubber strap. Kindly donated by Bill Yao

2. MKII SeaFighter OCN 2-A w/ polished finish. Kindly donated by Bill Yao

3. IWW Spa treatment. Kindly donated by Jack@IWW

4. Custom Olongapo braclet (measurements and emblems to be chosen by the winner). Kindly donated by Juardo

5. Custom Olongapo braclet (measurements and emblems to be chosen by the winner). Kindly donated by Juardo

6. Custom Olongapo braclet (measurements and emblems to be chosen by the winner). Kindly donated by Juardo

7. Italian leather strap set (details to be announced). Kindly donated by Noah Fuller

8. $100 gift certificate for Yobokies custom Seiko parts. Kindly donated by Harlod (aka Yobokies)

9. Crye Precision Combat Shirt AC (color and size options to be chosen by the winner). Kindly donated by Billy

10. Ultimate Tastes of Chicago Combo: (1) Lou Malnati's Chicago Style Sausage Pizza, (1) Slab of Carson's Ribs, (1) Vienna Hotdog Kit & (1) Eli's Plain Cheesecake. Shipped frozen on dry ice - $95 value. Kindly donated by Clayman

11. A copy of World Mook 8 - Military Watches and a copy of the MWR Archive Volume 7. Kindly donated by Ian Parkin.

12. British Military Pulsar G-10 wristwatch. Kindly donated by Ian Parkin.

13. Marathon MIL-W-46374 NIB US military manual wind wristwatch - with original *red* box circa 1990. Kindly donated by Ken (aka kkmark).

14. Heuer Autavia. Kindly donated by Hurley

15. Marathon Composite Navigator (Type-G circa 2006) NIB. Kindly donated by Ken (aka kkmark)

16. ‘Militäruhren' (Military Timepieces Vol I). Kindly donated (and written) by Konrad Knirim

17. Concise Guide to Military Timepieces by Wesolowski and a proof copy (before corrections and changes ) of Zero Hour. Kindly donated by Peter Taubman (Ziggy’s) and Tim M (Zero Hour).

18. Marathon GG-W-113 US military wristwatch - circa 1984. Kindly donated by Howard Marx

19. WWI German military Carl Zeiss 6X30 Maringlas binoculars; completely refurbished and repainted. Lenses and prisms cleaned, bright and very usable. Accompanied with original rain guard and leather strap. Kindly donated by SideB (Simon)

20. Original Seiko 6309-7040 automatic diver’s wristwatch. Kindly donated by Janice and Fred

21. Queber Newport coin cased Elgin 18 size open face,serial no.2736680 made in 1887,grade 97,7 jewel, keywind (key not provided). Kindly donated by River Rat (Mike)

22. A copy of Whitney's "Military Timepieces", Z.M. Wesolowski's "A Concise Guide to Military Timepieces" and Kesaharu Imai's "Military Watch Encyclopedia" - all used but in like new condition. Kindly donated by Lonny

22. Surefire G2 flashlight NIB. Kindly donated by Cliff T.

23. Orient Automatic titanium watch. Kindly donated by Peter (aka. pete26 )

24. Seiko SKx171 dial and hands set; authentic and NIB. MWR Watchdog patch included. Kindly donated by Joel B. (aka. jbaca)

25. BNIB JSAR with bracelet. Kindly donated by Countycomm.

26. N3-B Military Parka with mittens. Kindly donated by James Dowling.

27.Sandy 184, contract date: 30 Sep 1985. Kindly donated by Chris Hooper / Windy City Watch Collector

28. Brand new in pouch Stocker and Yale Military issued wrist compass. Kindly donated by Andy Lewis

29. - Tactical nylon gear - all items are brand new / desert tan.
1 Molle gadget pouch
1 Pistol holster for medium to large frame handguns
1 Double mag pouch
1 Padded knife pouch - Kindly donated by Mike Wolff

30. Imai's Omega Watches  Speedmaster - A Time Capsule. Kindly donated by Tom S.

31. $50 "gift certificate" to MWR. Kindly donated by Bill in Sacramento

32. BNIB JSAR with bracelet. Kindly donated by Countycomm.

Keywords:Rolex watches Replica watches|omega Chopard Breitling Rolex

Rolex is the most powerful watch brand in the world. That does not mean Rolex watches are the best, or that they are worth the most. Rather that the brand itself has the highest value. It does this through a combination of working with incredibly fancy marketing firms such as M. Booth & Associates, in addition to its in-house people...and by having pretty nice looking watches. The secret Rolex formula has been attempted to be replicated on many occasions, but without success. However, on an dollar for dollar measurement, Rolex outspends its competitors by nearly double when it comes to marketing and advertising. So you really are buying a name, but maybe it is a name worth buying. Rolex watches are of the few that when you sell them, you can usually get the same or more as when you bought them. That is power. And I sure as hell am not immune to it being a watch lover. I don't take keenly to all Rolex watches, but there are some you can't resist. No sane watch lover can deny that the classic Submariner design is universally appealing.
It is commonly known that while they release good products, Rolex seems to move slower than a snail on horse tranquilizers. It isn��t just about releasing new products, it has to do with keeping up with trends and improving on existing models. For the most part they are just being careful. Most of their ��good�� designs are over 40-60 years old. It is hard to mess with a good design and feel comfy about it. For example, the new Rolex Date-Just presents an incredible change�� by growing to 41mm (but retaining the 36mm for those who like the traditional smaller size). Regardless, this year a few get changes to the basic Submariner line make me the newest fan of this incredibly lasting design.



The new case shape is a bit more angular and squared than before, and it actually works well. To an extent it is a more retro look than the out-going Submariner model. There are a few good changes to the design that take the watch into a new area of desirability. First is the ceramic bezel. The out-going model still had the aluminum bezel insert that was starting to look cheap, and certainly got scratched way too easily. The new high tech ceramic bezel has molded in numerals (that won��t scratch off). Plus the bezel itself will retain the shine without getting dull and won��t scratch either. This type of bezel first seen on the new GMT Master and the DeepSea Sea-Dweller now finds a home on the Submariner. Better yet, the different Rolex diving watches are starting to have a different character from one another. It used to be that the Submariner and Sea-Dweller were clones to most people��s eyes save for the helium escape valve and the lack of magnifier lens on the Sea-Dweller. Now when you look at a DeepSea Sea-Dweller and Submariner you can really tell the difference.

The case has a few updates as well. It seems like the hands are fattened up even more, which makes for a good look. Rolex has a silly name for it "Maxi-dial." Case size is still medium for the era at about 42mm, but it looks good. On this two-tone model, the gold accents on the bezel and dial look really nice with the gold center link on the bracelet. All Submariner watches have gold hands and indicators on the face. The all steel cased versions have white gold on the face instead of yellow gold.

The story with the lume is different as well. Gone is green, long live blue! The hour markers and hands are all appointed with a ton of lovely blue glowing lume that is brighter (and better underwater) than the green most people are used to. Plus, the lume on the bezel has the same treatment as on the SeaDweller �C contained in a little case to prevent it from being damaged or wearing out. To keep things looking serious, Rolex keeps a healthy portion of the case with a brushed finish, while other segments get the polished look.

Rolex��s in-house movement has always gotten top marks for being accurate and hardy, and nothing has changed there. Still, each model is a certified Chronometer. I��ve been told by a number of watch repair people that they prefer working on Rolex movements for being simple and easy to get parts for. Rolex does a good job at making a world-class mass produced movement and watch.
UPDATE. Just got word that the new Rolesor (mix of steel and gold) Rolex Submariner watch pictures will in fact have the glidelock deployments of the new DeepSea Sea-Dweller watches. Good news! It was just a few years ago that Rolex finally got rid of the outer pin holes on the lugs. I really hated some of the older bracelet deployments, but with the new system of the DeepSea Sea-Dweller, Rolex proved that if it put its mind to it, it could come up with the best bracelet deployment in the industry. As stated above, the new Rolex Submariner watches will indeed have a much upgraded bracelet in comparison to the outgoing models.

Most people with a liking of the Rolex Submariner could go on and on about this watch. The real power of the Submariner, no matter the color, style, presence of gold, or similar - is that it is truly the world's most versatile watch. Looks good on anyone, in any outfit, and can go most anywhere. With it's high value retention and universal appeal, and a design that keeps getting (incrementally) better. As much as the Rolex brand may be overinflated in some areas, you can always rely on the staying power of the Rolex Submariner. Now I just have to get one myself someday.

Visit RolexReferencePage for images of a similar Rolex Submariner watch

Keywords:Rolex watches Replica watches|omega Chopard Breitling Rolex

Most of you know that I actively notice the watches worn in movies and television shows. Rarely do the watches features on the wrists of characters add anything to message of the movie, as they are just part of the wardrobe. I recently saw the movie adaptation of the Bret Easton Ellis' book The Informers, and I have a few things to say about the watches of the film. First, let me say that Bret Easton Ellis is an author I highly respect and enjoy reading. For me, is novel American Psycho is a complex and highly stimulating, almost satirical piece of social commentary. I honestly consider it an American literary masterpiece despite the four unreadable chapters (on music) and some scenes so gruesome even I skimmed over them. Other books of his share the same type of demented Ellis created archetypes, that inhabit a perversely romanticized 1980s (most in LA or New York). Thus, the stories set the comic book- like characters in the era of unappreciated excess, effortless consumption, and optimistic disregard - with Easton's incredible attention to each item of clothing that the characters are wearing (you'll know what I mean if you've read his stuff). Ellis has the most incredible talent for literally placing you in the scene, even hearing the characters speak in your mind. While The Informers is not one of his novels that I have read, I can comment on how Rolex played a role in the movie.




When I saw the first few character of the movie wearing Rolex watches, I chuckled as to how appropriate they were all wearing "the official luxury watch of the 1980's," the Rolex Datejust. I eventually realized that every single male character in the movie was wearing a Rolex Datejust (that I noticed), save for one character that was wearing a Rolex Submariner. No one in the movie even ever glances at their watch to tell the time, but the watches are shown often, and clearly. So why comment on this? The Datejust was a popular watch at the time, it still is. Well, it has more to do with what the watch means, and I don't think it was an accident that every character was wearing one.

In the 80s I was just a kid, so I can't say that Rolex was the only nice watch brand, but it really was one of the only status setting watch brands known to anyone outside of serious watch lover circles. The Rolex Datejust was a character unto itself in the landscape of 80's symbolism. It communicated something about you, a certain required conformity with the set of era bound ideals. Rolex, the "king" of watches (what, you saw the crown right?) began in the 1980s is legacy of marketing prowess taking the timepiece sale out of its watch marketing and instead positioning itself a lifestyle indicator. I have to admit that the watch never looked better than on the 80's styles so well costumes in the movie, but the fact that each character wore them was a tie-in to the era itself rather than good "timepiece casting." The watch is always shown with the 'jubilee' two-tone bracelet in steel and gold. 36mm in size, the case is characterized by the fluted bezel and prominent date magnifier (cyclops) on the crystal). Finally in 2009 Rolex upped the size of the Datejust to an optional 41mm in case width. For me, the placement of the watch in the movie gave me a new appreciate for a watch that I considered to be thoroughly out of date. I mean it has a damn remarkable power to look good on most anyone, in any outfit (which can also be said for the Submariner watches).







The Rolex observation I had makes me want to read the book to see if this concept is more prominent in the text. Of course Ellis would never explicitly mention it in the story, but I sincerely think that Rolex has a special connection with the 1980s and was the watch of the era. The brand still has a seriously large place in horological appreciation, but it absolutely dominated in the image conscious times where it was not about having a nice watch, but about having the RIGHT nice watch.

See Rolex Datejust watches on eBay here.

Keywords:Rolex watches Replica watches|omega Chopard Breitling Rolex

I am about to discuss modified Rolex watches more often. I have been fascinated by this concept for a while and it is about time I delved deeper into this world. There are really two major types of Rolex watch modifications. One is modifying new Rolex watches, while the other is modifying older or vintage Rolex watches (usually Submariners and Daytonas). This is the Pro-Hunter Military Single Red DeepSea. It is one of the former varieties of Rolex modders (there they secretly buy up new Rolex watches to do their mad scientist work on the watches). Pro-Hunter starts with a Rolex DeepSea Sea-Dweller, and ends up with this interesting result. What I like is that the watch is immediately noticeable as a Rolex, but has its share of little differences that give it that "pimp my Rolex" vibe.

One thing that is interesting is that Rolex apparently hates these watches. I've been told that if you have a modified Rolex watch, never send it to Rolex for servicing (they might not exactly send it back the same - and with a "restoration" bill). Chew on that. Not such a big deal though as Rolex movements are famously easy to work with. I sometimes ask watch makers their favorite movements to repair or work on, and "Rolex" is often the answer.

A big trend on modified Rolex watches is to make them black. Why? Not sure. Black is a hot color, and Rolex has no watches that it sells in black. A color such as blue or red is often applied as trim. The dial of the watches get some special treatment, and often the modified watches (at least the really good ones, get specially engraved casebacks as well. Some people want only subtle alterations to the designs they love (which would include the Pro-Hunter watches), and others want something a bit more wild (not a mild!).

The Pro-Hunter Military Single Red DeepSea is different than the version without the term "Military Single" in it that it comes with military style NATO straps. The other version has a matching black steel bracelet. There are also some minor differences on the dial. The black applied material is DLC (diamond like carbon). You all know me for going ga-ga over this coating compound for its look and scratch resistance. Here it is done in a nice shiny manner. Pro-Hunter made just 100 of these watches.

Pro-Hunter took a brand new Rolex DeepSea Sea-Dweller Ref. 116660 - which is a great watch to begin with. The watch has a massive 3,900 meters of water resistance is and sized well for a Rolex at 43mm wide. Like all Rolex DeepSea Sea-Dweller watches it has a helium escape valve, more or less perfect rotating diver's bezel that is made in ceramic, and a date window minus the magnifier lens. Don't forget that on these newer Rolex Sea-Dweller watches, the lume glows blue. Pro-Hunter gives it a special, individually numbered engraved caseback. This Pro-Hunter Military Single Red DeepSea collection was made around March of 2009, so they are still fresh. While there are many Rolex modders out there, Pro-Hunter is one of the good ones known for quality results. The price on James List for this hard to find number is about $16,000.

The news Oyster Perpetual replica Rolex watches Sea-Dweller Deep-sea concerns this desire inherent in the man to push the limits further from the dream and the possible one.
Tight until the extreme depth of 3900 meters, this watch of diving of new generation confirms the supremacy of Rolex in the control of the sealing and shows the promptness of a search of excellence ever appeased.

      Entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex, Sea-Dweller Deep-sea is a completely innovative realization which profits from great technical innovations. It is provided with Ring lock System, a new architecture of case, patented by Rolex, which makes it possible the watch to resist the colossal pressure exerted great depth. It presents for the first time a double system of extension of the bracelet which makes it easily adaptable to the combinations of diving for an increased comfort.
Rolex Sea-Dweller Deep-sea thus fulfills the most pointed requirements of the professional plungers in terms of robustness, precision and reliability.

      By its intrinsic performances, replica Rolex Sea-Dweller Deep-sea is registered with plume in a prestigious line. It illustrates the pioneer spirit which led Rolex to develop, as of the years 1950, of the watches of diving like replica Rolex watches Submariner and Rolex Sea-Dweller. By its name, it refers also to Rolex Deep Sea Special, prototype experimental which reached the 10 916 meters depth, in 1960 in the Pit of Mariannes.

      Show extreme depths with guarantee tight with 3900 meters, replica Rolex watches Sea-Dweller Deepsea required the design of a case to new architecture, Ringlock System. This innovation patented by Rolex rests on the combination of three elements

      The high performance ring, placed inside the breadth of the watches between the ice and the bottom of the case, high performance the stainless steel ring doped with nitrogen withstands with him only the pressure exerted by water on the ice and the bottom of the case. To resist the pressure, the sapphire ice of synthesis is slightly bent and appreciably thicker than on the other Oyster models. The bottom of the case of replica Rolex watches Deep Sea is out of titanium alloy, an extremely resistant stainless material. It is maintained against the ring by a steel 904L ring.

      The valve with helium is out of stainless steel with high performance. Its size was adapted to dimensions of the case to offer an optimal sealing. It allows the gases which infiltrated in the watch at the time of the diving out of box to escape without risk during the increase.

      Indeed, with very great depth, the professional plungers use pressurized boxes in which, between two diving’s, they breathe a gas mixture with high pressure including helium in particular. However this gas very volatile penetrates in the watch. During the phases of decompression, at the time of the increase on the surface, this valve with helium is used as valve of safety.

      The crown of Triplock winder, provided with three joints and screwed with the case, comes to perfect this clever system of sealing.
replica Rolex watches Sea-Dweller Deepsea is equipped with one-way revolving glasses with disc in black Cerachrom graduated 60 minutes, which makes it possible the plunger to read its time of immersion with precision. Engraved in Cerachrom, the figures and the graduations are the subject of a platinum deposit according to a technique developing country patented by Rolex. The price of the Rolex Sea-Dweller DeepSea is somewhere around 9000$ .

Rolex Sea-Dweller Deepsea Pictures
 

     

   Despite the fact that Rolex is renowned as one of the most luxurious and therefore the most expensive replica Rolex watches maker in the world, the corporate still develops and creates exquisite time pieces.

      Rolex watchesDatejust Special Edition, designed for ladies, is definitely an elegant and eye-catching Rolex watchesmade of 18 carat yellow or white gold constellated with diamonds.

      The dial and the bracelet are diamond –paved and the bezel is studded with brilliants which makes Rolex watches Datejust Special Edition dazzling.

      Having a diameter of 34mm, Rolex watches Datejust Special Edition is certified Chronometer and it features a self-winding mechanical movement. This wonderful time piece created by Rolex guarantees water-proof to 100m (330 feet) and it gives 50 hours of power reserve.

      Datejust Special Edition is adorned with sapphire crystals and it is available in gold and platinum colors at a price of $ 25, 000.

Rolex Datejust Special Edition Diamond for Ladies’s Pictures