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I fell off the wagon last night. Eek! And I blame Kevin Jankoski! I am angry! 

Ricky Lee
October 24, 2009 05:41PM
Registered: April 2005
Posts: 5,891 (2010-02)

The reason being I read Kevin's post about how he bought the Nino automatic while under the influence, and got a good laugh out of it. I've long since learned me lesson about WisUI, you see, and said to meself "Silly bugger. Doesn't he know that poitín and don't mix?", as I sipped my Tullamore Dew. Well, then I recalled he'd mentioned a purveyor of mesh bracelets a bit earlier, and I'd been meaning to check them out. Well, long story short, I found that said seller also pushes watches along with bracelets & straps, and this morning I woke up next to an eMail announcing that I'd bought this:




Now, it could have been a lot worse, for I paid a mere US $29.30 shipped. Me Inner Scotsman keeps me from being too extravagant, even when I'm in me cups. And given that even the equivalent costs more than twice as much nowadays, I reckon 'tis a pretty good gamble...


Here's the auction description
Quote
eFlay seller
HIGH QUALITY MECHANICAL AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH

--Movement: 21 Jewels mechanical multi-function automatic movement (no battery required)
--6 hands with calendar, week and 24 hours
--El luminescence hands of watch
--Case: solid steel case
--Back: solid stainless steel
--Strap/band: 20mm genuine leather
--Size: 44mm (diameter,including crown) *13mm (thickness) total length:260mm
--3 circle dials are calendar, week and 24 hours display
--Weight: 90g
--Water resistent 3 ATM
--Condition: 100% new

Nice profile..


And it at least has a screwdown caseback, though I'm not sure about the crown(s).


It's shipping from Hong Kong, as you might expect, given the price. So now The Wait begins.

A Planet Ocean homage has been on my WISh List for quite some time, though, so I reckon another week or three won't kill me...

Thanks fer readin', y'all!



-Ricky




Oh, and did I mention the fact that I love the brand name, it being..

Basil Fawlty Basil Fawlty

..a character from my all-time favorite sitcom.

Messages In This Thread

I fell off the wagon last night. EEK! Scary! And I blame Kevin Jankoski! I am angry! Image Attachments Post contains linked URL
Ricky Lee -- October 24, 2009 05:41PM (Views: 187)
It's clever how they make the day/date subdials look like chrono subdials! I am so confused! (n/t)
MCV -- November 06, 2009 12:12AM (Views: 17)
Re: I fell off the wagon last night. EEK! Scary! And I blame Kevin Jankoski! swell in my defense:
KMJ1966 -- November 01, 2009 11:31PM (Views: 20)
Ricky the funniest thing is the same night I gave serious thought to buying the Basil I mean serious but like the look of the nino better and I like cool vintage finds so send me a PM when you get her and let me know if I should get under the influence again lol great minds work alike too!!!!!!

Your fellow wissing under the influence partner in crime

Thumbs up! Ricky ! I am smiling
IF -- October 25, 2009 11:57AM (Views: 24)
1. Thumbs up! for a watch at an unbeatable price and a cool extra crown at 10.

2. Thumbs up! for that marvellous whisky ( Tulla) , super choice !

3. Faulty Towers rocks !

I love this post, Ricky ! ( ...and...I know nothing, I come from Pitsidia !!!!!!..............).....Laughing

How typical,I was>> Image Attachments
Bock -- October 24, 2009 09:49PM (Views: 43)
looking at the very same watch on eBay and then see this post of yours Smile Is that a sign or so? Laughing Wink No I wait Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off

Nah not exact the same btw,another brandname on it and the minute hand differs...

Stock image

Re: ..looking at the very same watch on eBay and then see this post of yours I am smiling Image Attachments
Ricky Lee -- October 24, 2009 11:42PM (Views: 14)
Not surprising. Great Minds Think Alike, after all. Laughing
Quote
Bock
Is that a sign or so? Laughing Wink No I wait Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off
Nah, go for it! Then we'll have a FNF Cage Match! Wink, wink ROTFLMAO!
Quote
Bock
Nah not exact the same btw,another brandname on it and the minute hand differs...
Yeah, I've seen (and been tempted by) the Schaffer in the past. Dunno why I've never pulled the trigger on one Crazy! Loco! - the price is within a dollar or two of the Basil, after all. I'm not seeing any Buy-It-Now deals, though, so not quite as convenient.

I'm of two minds about the minutes hand. On the one hand, the arrow-tipped minutes hand looks good, and complements the hour hand nicely. OTOH, insufficient differentation between the hour and minutes hand is a poor design practice, IMHO, and compromises at-a-glance readability. Likewise, being something of a Bracelet Man, I like the idea that the Schaffer comes so equipped. But OTOH, I'd much prefer that it was a solid-link bracelet. Now, I'm not a snob about such things, and in most cases I'm fine with a folded-link bracelet. But something about this watch seems to demand a nice hefty solid-link bracelet.

So.. I dunno. All in all, I think the Basil is probably a better bet, for me. Smiling

Cheers!

-Ricky


Congrats Ricky.Thumbs up! Looking forward to photos and review. (n/t)
Mark C. -- October 24, 2009 08:20PM (Views: 27)
The proof is in the pudding - Standing by -- I am smiling looks Cool! (n/t)
Riddim Driven -- October 24, 2009 07:51PM (Views: 30)
Looks interestink... (Also.... teh he he, "farty towels" Rolling on the floor laughing my ass off Thumbs up!) (n/t)
Nuvolari -- October 24, 2009 07:12PM (Views: 43)
Laughing out loud! Be sure to Watch or Accessory Review when it arrives. Thumbs up! (n/t)
Dave Murphy -- October 24, 2009 07:10PM (Views: 28)
First thing I thought of was Fawlty Towers, Cool Chronograph Sir Cool (n/t)
S.Hudson -- October 24, 2009 06:51PM



OK, it's official. My WUI watch IS an It's a happy day, a new watch arrived
November 06, 2009 02:53AM


See HERE for the WUI Incoming post.

Bit of a scare, as at first I thought the bezel was scratched;



Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

But turns out the bezel had a protective film on it, and that is what was scratched. IOW, it served it's purpose. Thumbs up!

The bezel is actually flawless..



Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

..though you'd be hard pressed to tell by these Q&D photos, I grant you. Sorry! Best I can do with this light! Oops! I'll make it up, I promise. Wink

And speaking of the bezel, it's a 60-click uni, and could be smoother. Not bad, mind, but not exceptional, either. The pip lines up at 12 spang on, so that's a plus.

Case finishing is very good, bordering on excellent. And rather unique.. the polished areas are not a true mirror finish, but an odd sort of hybrid. Looks like something you'd get if you glassbeaded first, then polished lightly. Quite unique, and very pleasing to the eye! The area between the lugs is brushed, and quite well done though, again, not exceptional. The case back is mirror polished. Can't fault the lines at all - looks to me like they nailed the PO shape perfectly, including the rather complex curvature of the lug's inside edges. Base diameter of the case is 41mm.

Sure I couldn't resist peeking at the movement..



Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

..no idea what it is, but perhaps one o' you Chinese watch gurus can ID it. Gigfy? Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off

I will add that the caseback is machined quite well - the threads mate smoothly, and there was no drama whatsoever in the caseback R&R - and the gasket is nice and substantial.

One more shot, with the rotor rotated slightly...



Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

Some niggles, sure. First, it is a faux chrono, right? The subdial at 3 is date, at 6 is AM/PM, and at 9 you have day. Pusher at 2 adjusts day, pusher at 4 is date. The crown at 10 o'clock is a dummy, totally non-functional. Thumbs down

But some positives, too. It hacks and handwinds, and sets and winds very smoothly indeed. Likewise the pushers operate well. And don't get me started on the strap! Not only is it an XL It's a happy day, a new watch arrived, but is very nicely finished, with a not-too-glossy yet not-too-drab sheen that's spot on. The buckle and tang border on artwork, easily the best I've seen at this price point. WIS Honeymoon

The lume.. definitely a positive! I can't vouch for the longevity, but it's damned impressive initially. One surprise here is that the day and date hands are lumed. I am confused Not sure I wouldn't rather they weren't, as you can't really read the D-D in the dark, and so they just add a bit of confusion to the mix, IMHO. Eek!

Bottom line, I'm happier than a slopped hog. Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off For the price (US $29.30 shipped), it's hard for me to see how you could find a better Planet Ocean homage. The Alpha PO costs nearly twice as much and, it must be said, has a spotty reliability record. So, while the track record of the Basil remains to be seen, for the price I am quite happy to be the guinea pig. Smile

y'all!

-Ricky




Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/06/2009 03:00AM by Ricky Lee.

Messages In This Thread

OK, it's official. My WUI watch IS an It's a happy day, a new watch arrived Image Attachments Post contains linked URL
Ricky Lee -- November 06, 2009 02:53AM (Views: 146)
Enjoy it, RL! Looks like the WUI didn't go so bad after all. (n/t)
Dave Murphy -- November 06, 2009 01:03PM (Views: 26)
It is a very nice watch! Enjoy it Ricky ! I am smiling (n/t)
IF -- November 06, 2009 08:34AM (Views: 21)
I'm happier than a slopped hog for you!!  Thumbs up! Applause! Rolling on the floor laughing my ass off (n/t)
JohnnyT -- November 06, 2009 05:21AM (Views: 28)
Nice watch at an unbelievable price! Thumbs up! Well bought Applause! (n/t)
Nuvolari -- November 06, 2009 03:51AM (Views: 21)
Lookin' good, Ricky. Congrats. Thumbs up! (n/t)
Mark C. -- November 06, 2009 03:49AM (Views: 23)
holy mushroom.. thats a nice watch ricky. sorry to ask but is the caseback plan or marked? (n/t)
anjizkit -- November 06, 2009 03:10AM (Views: 26)
Plain Jane. Image Attachments
Ricky Lee -- November 06, 2009 03:15AM (Views: 46)

coool .. i like... >>
anjizkit -- November 06, 2009 03:21AM (Views: 31)
i was hoping it didnt have the emblem of our favorite marine horse... lol would have destroyed the fun totally. Whats the crystal? mineral?
Flat crystal, definitely mineral glass.
Ricky Lee -- November 06, 2009 03:24AM (Views: 26)
And, yeah, a Fake aleart seahorse would've been a downer for me, too. Smile

-Ricky


nice... you have a winner for sure (n/t)
anjizkit -- November 06, 2009 03:34AM (Views: 30)
Poor Man's credo to the max! Applause! (n/t)
MCV -- November 06, 2009 03:06AM (Views: 31)



Catalog Shots of the WUI PO Homage..

November 08, 2009 12:32AM


Errr.. weel, as close as I gets t' catalog shots, ye ken? Wink


Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for


Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

A few minor nits.. I am crying the bezel is distinctly 'copper-ish' under natural light. I am confused It's a good look.. some actual PO photos look so, too ? Crazy! Loco!

Also.. there's a dust speck in de crystal! Frowning Worse it moves around and appears at different places.. I am angry! 'tis the pea-soup puking Linda Blair version of a dust speck! Eek! Alas, it hid for the photos!



Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

So.. dunno what to say other.. Oh! Accuracy! Oops! I synched it to the..


..48 hours ago and, as of right now, it shows +22. Thumbs up! Not so bad! WIS Honeymoon

-Ricky


Messages In This Thread

Catalog Shots of the WUI PO Homage.. Image Attachments
Ricky Lee -- November 08, 2009 12:32AM (Views: 108)
Lookin' good, Ricky.Thumbs up! (n/t)
Mark C. -- November 08, 2009 04:01AM (Views: 25)
Hey Ricky, are you gonna get the matching Oregano and Thyme models? Rolling on the floor laughing my ass off (n/t)
MCV -- November 08, 2009 03:30AM (Views: 16)
Very nice photos, RL! Thumbs up! Enjoy! (n/t)
Dave Murphy -- November 08, 2009 02:44AM (Views: 18)
Very nice pictures Ricky. I guess that Basil leans a bit on Omega designs (hand, bezel color). It is a great >
Reto -- November 08, 2009 02:13AM (Views: 20)
..looking chrono
Best regards
Reto
Ricky, I believe these are some of your best shots. Thumbs up! (n/t)
Dave P -- November 08, 2009 01:07AM (Views: 20)
Nice shots Ricky! Aside from the "pea-soup puking Linda Blair version of a dust speck" looks like a GREAT deal (n/t)
DJM -- November 08, 2009 12:39AM (Views: 29)


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