Has anyone who received confirmation DMs from me NOT received their #Kikipan320 film?

The setting tropical sun casts golden rays and long shadows across a rose gold watch on a bronzed wrist. The watch has a black dial and polished ceramic bezel with coffee accents. It feels like early retirement.

Tandorio factory (unbranded) GMT-Master II clone with NH34 movement and rose gold plated 904L steel case and bracelet.

I paid $175 and planed to swap the dial for Tiger Iron but I also like it as is.

It feels high quality; fit and finish is good and there are no unfinished edges.

Chinese streets side provisions store in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong.

Whoever did this is an artist.

I tip my hat to this baby fig tree which has taken root on this wall in a back alley. Tenacious AF.

It doesn't matter if it's a clone, you can say you made it yourself and if watch snobs don't get it, they just haven't reached enlightenment.

And finally, if you pass a watch that you made onto your kids it'll have special meaning and they won't (be able to) sell it to buy Pokémon cards.

You're not paying an AD service fee every few years and it never cost you much in the first place. You're free to enjoy it without fear of depreciation/scratches.

My dive buddy asked what if it floods? I made it and I tested it; if it floods, I'll swap the movement and I'll have learned something.

Speaking of DIY watches, you'll have the joy of designing, sourcing and making it, perhaps upgrading it later.

You'll learn more about watches than you will from an AD. You might learn to regulate or service the movement, or you can just swap it out if something goes badly wrong.

Maybe you made the watch from parts, or maybe it was a multigeneration hand-me-down.

Maybe it commemorates your marriage, a birth, or was the watch you wore in your service.

Maybe it commemorates sobriety, or cancer remission.

That all has more real meaning than 2024's routine annual bonus.

The key for getting value for money as a consumer is to get a good, reliable and cheap watch that you can be proud of and stack sentimental value onto it.

Watch philosophy thread:

Watches are commodities and most of the market value is a flawed social construct.

A commodity is worth what what you can be sure people will give you for it right now, cash in the barrel.

e.g. Rolex is a good commodity because it's pretty reliable, easily priced, liquid.

That lume was awful too. It went out as fast as a 70s vintage degraded tritium dial.

Anyway, good news was I modified it into an AP Royal Oak clone. Bad news is I didn't think I liked chonky watches, but I honestly love the way it wears and I've handled a few real ones so now I want a real one.

I bought this vintage sub homage. Cheap and tatty, finger prints inside and missing a gasket, BUT not only did it contain a TMI/Seiko movement, it was a NH35A date-day. All for $70 which is only a little more than the movement costs these days. And it's running +/-0s, 0.1ms BE and high amplitude.

Thanks for sharing your photos. I love them! Looks like it has some real punch while retaining highlight and shadow details. #KikiPan #KikiPan320

What could go wrong?

Chinese EVs are evolving. www.bbc.com/news/article...

If I was an anthropomorphasised pet rat, I would hang that in my nest as miniature fine art. OTOH, if I was an unanthropomorphasised pet rat, I would take a nibble and use the rest as bedding and be just as satisfied.

Check under your car seats! I crawled around looking for a lost watch and not only found it but also also a fresh Cuban cigar, an Anker high capacity charger that I haven't seen in yonks, an unopened bottle of sweet Asian chili sauce and a can of Campbell's minestrone soup. Quite a haul.

#KikiPan320 loaded on my "X-Pan", @zdp189.bsky.social #believeinfilm

I'm still planning on adding an applied logo, but I'm procrastinating.

Here's the rebuild with LHD layout (crown facing left) and the bigger hands for enhanced legibility. The hands are so big the minute and second hands slightly overlap the chapter ring. LHD suits people who wear the watch on their right hand or who like the crown out of the way.

Yes, the case dial (and another set of hands) and movement was from all from Tandorio.

Yeah the Yacht-Master is a bit bling. It's deliberately intended to prioritize bling over diving competence. It has the same seals as the Submariner but down-rated to 100m and lacks the bezel lume pip, essential for diving.

It's also $16000*, 80X what this cost. *$25000 on the gray market.

I've added PVD coated solid end links to the strap. This is both a visual enhancement and uplifts the look. I think matte finish would have been better.

A fake Oysterflex isn't cool, but the strap is great and I can't find unbranded ones with the TiNi reinforcement which is necessary to work well with the buckle. The aftermarket buckle has a Rolex logo but it also has 1.5mm pins, which is needed to fit the strap. It's a circular problem, but the Oysterflex is perfect and no better rubber strap exists for the Submariner case.

Chinese factory-made watches are hard to beat on value for money, but this homebuild is all premium-grade parts.

I'm working on getting a personal logo made, which I'll retrofit.

Because I published a few designs on Tinkercad and can customise one to your exact height requirements.

Do you have access to a 3D printer?

Components were a Grade 2 titanium case, case back and crown, ceramic bezel, sapphire crystal, sterile matte black dial, BGW9 lume. Oysterflex-esque strap with TiNi alloy core. Size is 40.5mm across the case, and 13.2mm thick excluding cyclops. Total weight is 89g on the wrist.

Costing: I paid HKD854 for the case, dial HKD72, hands HKD29, Japanese manufactured NH35A movement HKD457 (there's a shortage), strap was HKD255... totalling HKD1,667 (USD200) so not the cheapest way, but these are premium parts. Build time was maybe 2-3 hours.

I just got done with this Yacht-Master inspired build.

It's more of a titanium Submariner date with ceramic bezel and rubber strap but it's light, comfortable and robust.

Specs and costing is in the alt text if you're curious, but this watch is for my personal use.

However...

I don't need 600m depth rating.

Having a Co-Axial escape entry doesn't extend the service interval because the lubricants still need changing.

A COSC certified chronometer is plenty accurate.

I don't need 1,500 Gauss magnetic resistance.

And I prefer classic styling and size.

Today's Omega vs Vintage:

Pros: More better depth rating, robust, Co-Axial, reliable and precise, METAS certified

Cons: Thicker, heavier, brash styling with huge numbers of variations, costly and hard to service, vastly more expensive.

Wrist check: Omega DeVille GMT 4533.40.00 38.7mm case on "Armadillo" strap.

They're rare, but it can't be beaten
for beauty and utility if you're looking for a dress GMT in this price bracket ($2,500 ish).

www.omegawatches.com.hk/en-hk/watch-...

Black cat crossed my path 😎

If it can ship here, it can ship anywhere 😎

Thank you @zdp189.bsky.social and Camera Film Photo! 🙏

Can’t wait to show everyone how Kiki sees The Yukon.

Hey did anyone get hit for import at or duties on the free #Kikipan? You shouldn't have as I requested it be prepaid.