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Re: anyone like the GMT???

Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 11:21 am
by Robin CB
Ah - now that explains the Christmas Card :lol:

Re: anyone like the GMT???

Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 11:22 am
by Lipsy
:lol:

Re: anyone like the GMT???

Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 12:06 pm
by Zarniwoop
Lipsy wrote:Pepsi and surely?
Class !! :lol:

Re: anyone like the GMT???

Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 12:49 pm
by Lipsy
Bit of an age giveaway, that one. :lol:

Re: anyone like the GMT???

Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 4:39 pm
by highway61
Lipsy wrote:Jesus – you're not opening the 'Precista' can of worms again, are you?

Would love people's opinions on them, tbh. :lol:
hehehe...just been reading a thread over on TZ...there are some oddly negative views regarding CW, mixed in with a fair bit of watch snobbishness. My favourite has to be the view decrying CW's originality of design, given that most Timefactors watches are homages or straight remakes of previous designs...I am sure the watches are well made and the PRS 50 is a possible future purchase for me, but there definitely seems some cross brand hostility which seems a bit odd, at least to me

Re: anyone like the GMT???

Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 5:20 pm
by bigvic
highway61 wrote:[quote="Lipsyhehehe...just been reading a thread over on TZ...there are some oddly negative views regarding CW, mixed in with a fair bit of watch snobbishness. My favourite has to be the view decrying CW's originality of design, given that most Timefactors watches are homages or straight remakes of previous designs...I am sure the watches are well made and the PRS 50 is a possible future purchase for me, but there definitely seems some cross brand hostility which seems a bit odd, at least to me
Never understood that either.
Seems to me that because Eddie had an issue in the past with regards to the Broadarrow name and CW, (look it up yourselves!) everyone else must jump on the bandwagon.
Their loss but it's a shame really and just a bit sad. :(

Anyways, GMTs, I'm leaning towards the Steiny Proteus LE..... Better get those pictures of the Trident up pdq CW!

Re: anyone like the GMT???

Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 9:24 pm
by Loddonite
TZUK

TZ-UK is not a Timefactors dedicated forum. Many members don't even own one. It is, however, paid for by Eddie Platts, though his moderation is generally limited to spammers and pornography. Note that there are 670,000 posts in the general watch area, 173,000 in the non-watch "George and Dragon", and only 34,000 in the Timefactors section. Only a very few of TZ-UK's 5000+ members have expressed any particular opinion of CW at all.

I don't think it is a Timefactors fans vs CWL thing at all. It's just a couple of people with an opinion. CW certainly doesn't get bashed like TAG does on some fora and I'm sure Chris is looking forward to the day when the Rolex/Panerai pretend-war becomes a three way contest.

That said, I see Timefactors watches as being in an entirely different market to CW, so there's no surprise to me that some people that like Timefactor's watches would be underwhelmed by CW (and no doubt vice versa).

GMT
I too am waiting to see what the Trident GMT really looks like... but (here we go)... Eddie has got hold of 200 6923-2s and is threatening Speedbird and Dreadnought GMTs. :applaus:

I NEED MORE MONEY!

Re: anyone like the GMT???

Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 9:35 pm
by highway61
if the Speedbird GMT still has the blunt ended hands then it will do nowt for me :lol:

Re: anyone like the GMT???

Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 10:21 pm
by Loddonite
highway61 wrote:if the Speedbird GMT still has the blunt ended hands then it will do nowt for me :lol:
It has.
At the moment.
I think.
Who knows what the future holds? (Well, obviously, Eddie does)

Re: anyone like the GMT???

Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 11:54 pm
by rygel16th
highway61 wrote:
Lipsy wrote:Jesus – you're not opening the 'Precista' can of worms again, are you?

Would love people's opinions on them, tbh. :lol:
hehehe...just been reading a thread over on TZ...there are some oddly negative views regarding CW, mixed in with a fair bit of watch snobbishness. My favourite has to be the view decrying CW's originality of design, given that most Timefactors watches are homages or straight remakes of previous designs...I am sure the watches are well made and the PRS 50 is a possible future purchase for me, but there definitely seems some cross brand hostility which seems a bit odd, at least to me
I can't comment on the hostility, but I have bought quite a few watches from Timefactors: I have two Precista watches; a PRS 50 and a blue PRS 3 LE. Both of them are exceptionally well made watches and definitely value for money. I also have the 36mm Smiths Military which has quickly become one of my favourites; I have a very small collection of vintage Smiths watches and I was very pleased when the brand was resurrected. If I wasn't saving for a C90 or C60 GMT I'd be buying the Smiths Big Date which looks like a great every day watch and doesn't break the bank. I also got my Orange Monster and White Samurai and another Seiko from him when he was still selling other brands.

I can't see the point of comparing the Precista stable with CW as they're completely different in output and ethos. I have to say that I've always found Eddie's customer service to be excellent, from the response to queries to the speedy turnaround for orders. Impressive when you consider he's doing it on his own!

Re: anyone like the GMT???

Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 11:48 pm
by Mortis
rygel and Loddonite are both absolutely correct about TZ-UK and Timefactors.

There are a few people over there who seem to hate CWL for no real reason (by their own admission they've never owned one), and a number of other people seem to want to "fit in" to the clique and jump on with "well, I was going to buy one, but since Eddie Platts perceived an insult over Chris Ward (or Charles Ward as they often seem to incorrectly call him!) not replying to an email* once I am now never going to touch the brand but will happily slag it off to all and sundry".^

Eddie himself seems to not care too much other than the perceived slight, but he has said that he approves of British watchmakers. I think the key is to remember that the two brands are aimed at totally different markets.
Timefactors watches are good, I'd say as good as CWL watches (though slightly pricier they retain their value better), but you know you are dealing with one bloke rather than a company (he replies to things in his own way, the package sent out when you make a purchase, while really good, is not very "corporate" in terms of manuals, packaging etc.). The Timefactors watches are all basically of a military-style design, be it IWC-alikes (the Speedbird) or resurrected old brands like Smiths or Precista. CWL is obviously a bigger company with different aims, one of which is targetting the mass-market. In some ways this is good - we get a wider range of watches - but in others it is bad - we get a load of blingy tat that's all powered by quartzes and the second hand value drops. I also don't hear of that many Timefactors watches with errors (there's a new "my watch arrived but it's broken" thread on here every week), but then the numbers sold are probably much lower than CWL, the buyers are already converts (in the main), and the range of models available at a given time could be counted on the fingers of one hand, so it's hardly comparable.

I, like many others on here, own and like both. For some people on here, the Timefactors style will not appeal. For some people on there, the mainstream CWL style will not appeal. But I feel that there's not much point going on the TZ-UK board and trying to argue with the rather narrow-viewpoints certain people on there have. It's not like I can convert them. So I simply tolerate their wrong (heh) opinions. To be honest, if I got annoyed with idiotic opinions on da internetz I don't think I'd remain sane for long! Eh? What's that Kip? Time for my meds? Oh, thanks! :irre2: :laserschwert: :schlafen:

*CWL was going to call the Speedhawk the Speedbird; Eddie (reasonably) objected in a chatty email, Chris didn't reply (but didn't use the name!)
^Note that these people are often "military watch" enthusiasts who own ten or so near-identical black-faced watches or the like, so CWL probably isn't a brand for them anyway

Re: anyone like the GMT???

Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2010 12:17 am
by Kip
I can't help with any TZUK/CWL battles...I will only say that having looked at the Timefactors watches now and then, that they just don't appeal to me. That doesn't make them a bad watch.

What I can help with is the meds! :lol:

Re: anyone like the GMT???

Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2010 2:03 pm
by paw3001
I tried not to post on this thread but I have to say I agree with Mortis's comments and feel they are very fair summing up of the two.

However, for the record my 2 cents.

I do think Eddie has a bit of a chip on his solder with regards CW because as well as the perceived slight with the lack of email response, even though CW did change the name as he asked, he also states somewhere that Chris Ward "seemed" to speak down to him on another occasion.

He also questions this Forum's independence because CW release pre launch info to us and therefore how independent are we really!! :? He doesn't mention the posts that criticise CW or state people's displeasure with issues or designs. If this was a company ran Forum I doubt that these posts would be allowed. Look at Apple's forum after the iPhone 4 antenna-gate issue and TF has been known in the past to censor posts they don't particularly like. His "Fanboys" have jumped on these situations, much as Mortis describes above, to show support to their Guru and belittle CW.

But the thing that makes me laugh the most is Eddie's ridiculous comment regarding the lack of email response from CW by finishing his post with this, "...That's the sort of behaviour you would expect of a replica dealer."

Now Pot and Kettle come to mind :lol:

Re: anyone like the GMT???

Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2010 7:56 pm
by rygel16th
paw3001 wrote:

He also questions this Forum's independence because CW release pre launch info to us and therefore how independent are we really!! :? He doesn't mention the posts that criticise CW or state people's displeasure with issues or designs. If this was a company ran Forum I doubt that these posts would be allowed.
That's a good point. I think it's laudable that CW remain supporters of this forum given the criticism that's freely given here. Yes most of us are fans of CW watches, but isn't that the point? It's the same with every other forum out there dedicated to whatever the members happen to like; they all have to start from a shared interest - not much point joining the Lawnmower-U-Seek forum if you don't like lawnmowers.

Watch this. There'll actually be a forum for lawnmowers. I bet you.

Re: anyone like the GMT???

Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2010 8:07 pm
by downer