Basel 2018 release party at local AD

[faz]

Great event, good wine, champagne,Hors d’oeuvres, new watches and many nice PM pieces. A great AD with good knowledgeable team from all my past experiences with them ( know most of them by first name).

Highlight of the night for me: I was given a chance to buy a black skydweller but passed on it so someone else who really likes it can get it. While I appreciate the technology, it just isn’t my type of watch at this time.

A few very lucky people landed an opportunity to buy ( at MSRP plus tax) a hulk, a SD43, three TT CHNRs ( one present, a couple on order, ) one 2018 DSSD black plus also a DSSD blue, a BLNR, and get this: 4, ... yes ... 4 Daytona’s ( 2 black, 2 white), present in the flesh!!! ... plus one or two other watches that I am sure forgetting . Of course there were tons of people there and chances of winning the raffle to buy was very low (I.e. raffle the ability to buy at MSRP, not raffling free watches), but a bunch of people were very happy owners of new watches and that was great to see.

I wore my 16710 to the event to compare with the new BLRO and to calm myself down.

My personal take from seeing the new references: ( my personal, newbie opinions, take them with a huge grain of salt).

- BLRO: beautiful piece as obvious from pictures. If one is lucky to land one at MSRP, beautiful catch for sure. But for me, frankly, underwhelming a bit. I mean, You seen a WG version? You seen a jubilee?? Good, put them together and there it is. Nothing to see here. ( to buy, it is a great watch at that price point , but to see in flesh? Nothing you haven’t seen before). In fact, that counter with the demo BLRO was way too slow with no one around it so I revisited it for more pics. I already have a BLNR, and the 5 digit Pepsi, so I am not craving the new BLRO at all. Showing pictures to my wife, she agreed: oyster looks better to her. But she might have ulterior motives. Lol!

- TT 126711 CHNR: beautiful in person, the rose gold on the bracelet melts away into the steel so doesn’t stand out as much as my bluesy’s does for example, so more people will feel comfortable with it and it will be more popular than other TT watches for sure. But it being a TT, I think it will not be as much in demand as the SS models in a short while. I will wait a year or more before getting one if I were in the market.

-RG 126715 CHNR: pure beauty, it would probably be the favorite amongst most men looking for RG, as well as ladies.

- new DSSD: wider beefier clasp and bracelet, nice finishing touch between the logs. The king of divers has been updated and incrementally better like a newer gen Porsche 911 is to a previous gen.

If I owned a DSSD already , I wouldn’t go out and get the new one. For me personally it won’t be worth the update. But since I don’t own one, if I were to buy one, I would go for the new one. ( You would be hard pressed to tell the difference from three feet away though).

Ok then. Here are some pics. Hope you enjoy.
























Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[uniqueMR]

[Cru Jones]

Thanks for the report and photos. Interesting about the raffle for a chance to buy watches at MSRP!

[FinWatch]

Thanks for sharing!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Devildog]

Originally Posted by Cru Jones

Thanks for the report and photos. Interesting about the raffle for a chance to buy watches at MSRP!

I suspect the raffle was more about being able to buy the watches at all . MSRP is a given as this is an AD

[Devildog]

Faz,

Both the CHNR and BLRO (new and old) look great on you

[brandrea]

Great review Faz. Looks like a fun event.

I’m still on the fence about the new blro ... if there’s one thing I’ve learned from owing the BLNR, it’s that you can’t for e yourself to like a reference

[Racerdj]

Sounds like you had a great time. Thanks for the pictures.

[AK797]

Nice write up and pics Faz, looks like a great night, apart from the flipper enabling I mean raffle.

[travisb]

Looks and sounds like a great event! 4 Daytonas?!?!

[alpharulez]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[kuuttingg]

I hope to get my hands on the Daytona! *wishful thinking *


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[faz]

Originally Posted by Cru Jones

Thanks for the report and photos. Interesting about the raffle for a chance to buy watches at MSRP!

these are the times. I was talking to an older gentleman outside ( while waiting for the event to start) and was explaining to him the raffle to buy at MSRP part. He had a DJ2 that he had bought with no knowledge of other watches or shortages, and had received an invite to this event as a customer. “You mean if you win, you get to buy it st MSRP ??” I said “yes, as in you are lucky we are letting you buy this watch kinda deal!!!”


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[faz]

Originally Posted by Devildog

Faz,



Both the CHNR and BLRO (new and old) look great on you

Thank you.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[faz]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Great review Faz. Looks like a fun event.



I’m still on the fence about the new blro ... if there’s one thing I’ve learned from owing the BLNR, it’s that you can’t for e yourself to like a reference

Absolutely right.

And it is a gorgeous watch. I was just feeling that for a new reference, it doesn’t look that new!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[tng11]

Nice event faz! Pretty cool they also did a raffle for the opportunity to buy some hot pieces, but of course that's a far cry from actually raffling the watches.

Originally Posted by brandrea

Great review Faz. Looks like a fun event.

I’m still on the fence about the new blro ... if there’s one thing I’ve learned from owing the BLNR, it’s that you can’t for e yourself to like a reference

Agreed Brian! I wasn't a huge fan of the BLRO when it was announced, saw it in the flesh, it also did nothing for me. I wanted to love it because everyone claims its the best thing since sliced bread, but some things weren't meant to be!

[faz]

Originally Posted by AK797

Nice write up and pics Faz, looks like a great night, apart from the flipper enabling I mean raffle.

There were definitely some flippers in the crowd. But I can tell you many of the people were genuinely interested in the watch ( especially the Daytona’s ) and I would be surprised to see those selling their new purchases. But we shall see.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[faz]

Originally Posted by travisb

Looks and sounds like a great event! 4 Daytonas?!?!

Yes 4, pretty amazing.





Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[AK797]

Originally Posted by faz

There were definitely some flippers in the crowd. But I can tell you many of the people were genuinely interested in the watch ( especially the Daytona’s ) and I would be surprised to see those selling their new purchases. But we shall see.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm sure many put their Academy Award faces on for this, everyone knows how to behave now.

[j-watch]

Thanks for the detailed experience with the new pieces. I gotta say, your photo's (especially against the 5 digit) makes the coloring of the BLRO look much closer to a 5 digit version then other shot's that have been posted recently. I think it looks great, to be honest, and I'm not even on a list for this piece as I was concerned about the "off coloring".

Told my AD to hold a CHNR for me to see when his next one arrives, but like you, I'll probably wait a year or so and see how the pricing situation shakes out.

[faz]

Originally Posted by tng11

Nice event faz! Pretty cool they also did a raffle for the opportunity to buy some hot pieces, but of course that's a far cry from actually raffling the watches.







Agreed Brian! I wasn't a huge fan of the BLRO when it was announced, saw it in the flesh, it also did nothing for me. I wanted to love it because everyone claims its the best thing since sliced bread, but some things weren't meant to be!

You can’t force love.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[lig]

Wow - very cool that they at least managed to save up some inventory for their regulars. I still want a Jubilee bracelet in the collection so if I get the opportunity I’m snapping up a BLRO.

Nice write up.

[faz]

Originally Posted by j-watch

Thanks for the detailed experience with the new pieces. I gotta say, your photo's (especially against the 5 digit) makes the coloring of the BLRO look much closer to a 5 digit version then other shot's that have been posted recently. I think it looks great, to be honest, and I'm not even on a list for this piece as I was concerned about the "off coloring".



Told my AD to hold a CHNR for me to see when his next one arrives, but like you, I'll probably wait a year or so and see how the pricing situation shakes out.

Frankly one of the reasons I switched to Pepsi from my LV yesterday was to compare the Pepsi looks with the new BLRO. Under the same light, same angle, side by side shot made sense. Mind you, the color is not exact in my pictures as my hand is more orange than in reality, but I didn’t want to change the picture warmth afterwards to show a true unaltered comparison between the two.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[faz]

Originally Posted by Racerdj

Sounds like you had a great time. Thanks for the pictures.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[rcwatches]

fantastic

[KBM]

Hey Faz,

Great write up and photos, thanks a lot for those. I'm headed to a similar event in my local AD tonight, can't wait to see those in the metal.

[faz]

Originally Posted by lig

Wow - very cool that they at least managed to save up some inventory for their regulars. I still want a Jubilee bracelet in the collection so if I get the opportunity I’m snapping up a BLRO.

Nice write up.

Glad you liked it. Believe me, if my ticket would have been called I would not have said no like I did to the black skydweller.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[4srolex]

Faz, it was good to see you at the event last night and I would have to agree with you on the Pepsi. I was a little underwhelmed when I saw it and think my BLNR is the GMT to keep. I’m in the list to get one at MSRP but I would not pay a penny more for it. I could not believe the first person who’s number was called turned down the Black Daytona because he wanted a white one.

I think it was interesting the the last 2 Daytona’s that we’re raffled off were watches that are saved for customers who buy PM watches. This confirms that if you buy a PM, you will have move up the list and have opportunity to purchase a 116500 at SRP.

My buddy won the last Black Daytona so congrats to Daniel and Faz you are a true gentleman to give your winning ticket to the guy who really wanted the Skydweller.

[faz]

Originally Posted by AK797

I'm sure many put their Academy Award faces on for this, everyone knows how to behave now.

must have been some Oscar worthy performances then!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[maylebox]