I planned on purchasing a Key West for a while. My mother thought I was insane for buying from a one man watch company, especially one with such a long and unguaranteed wait time. "What if he dies?", she said. Really, my money would be long gone if something happened to him and that's scary. She also didn't like him taking half the money right upfront, which he really does to keep his company afloat. It is what it is. Don't like it, don't order.
It got me a bit worried but I got over it and planned to order anyway but the two month delay in me ordering due to him only taking 25 orders a month (which are selling out within minutes) led to me honestly being disgusted by the whole homage thing. I read so much about Rolex during this last year due to the development of the Key West that I honestly fell in love with the company and it's history. I no longer want to wear a watch that copies it's whole design from something else, made from someone who has nothing to do with the company the original watch is based on. The real GMT-Master is
still around and
still uses the same design. Watches like the new Trident, elegant dressy divers, are the real homages IMO. MK II just do copies. High quality copies, but copies nonetheless. Besides, I think the new Tridents are better looking than what he offers.
The price of the KW went up by $200 recently along with a possible delivery estimate as late as 2017. That, with the
very long wait times now being expected if your watch should have a problem was it for me. I don't want to support a company like this anyway. What if my watch has a problem? I don't want to deal with the headaches. Bill needs to hire some people to help him get stuff done quicker, pronto. I'll send him luck, but not money.