Thanks, sounds very strenuous.
Discord is very good for some subjects, online games would be one, or general "live" chitchat. You could say similar for whatsapp too I suppose. For speciality hobbies/subjects not nearly so much. I've been on two watch discords and after an intial flurry of here we are and here is a pic of my watch they both died a death within months. Other social discords I've been on seem to follow a pattern. Kinda like the old private forums here on Boards. If they're under a certain number of posters they usually die off pretty quick. The ones that are sustainable are larger groups and aren't reliant on one or two cornerstone members.
The only problem with things like a private discussion server like Discord (which can be a positive too) is that the general public can't access the information and raise questions - some of the best elements of a public discussion forum in my opinion - people will be locked in to the membership (plus invites too of course).
Positive being that you know exactly who's looking at the information and it can lead to people being comfortable sharing more private details that they wouldn't want to on a publicly accessible server (just for example - model 3, 4, 5 and 6 designs for Sólás) - so pros and cons to both.
But I think we generally like helping people with their watch queries when users randomly pop into this sub-forum - though with this new format I'm not sure if users can "randomly pop in" - longstanding users are having issues finding these threads as it is.
Seems like some people have migrated to Reddit too (I'm not a fan of how they display their replies) - something like Watchuseek's layout works and they did recently switch to a new platform too I understand.
Actually this watch forum, though certainly down on traffic, is funny enough a lot more active than many previously active forums on this site. I suspect those posters who went around a few forums a day made up the bulk of those now dead forums and can't be arsed digging through the labyrinth anymore, whereas if you're more like into browsing one or two forums you're more likely to stick around because once you found those forums you could bookmark them and have one tab open. Passing traffic is almost completely gone. Which is a major problem for a discussion site.
TBH the only forums I browse now are this one and the feedback forum to look at the carcrash in progress. I've only looked for the other forum I mod tGC a handful of times since the "upgrade". I suspect I'm not alone in doing similar.
Random passersby are effectively gone now TF.
Seems like some people have migrated to Reddit too (I'm not a fan of how they display their replies) -
Reddit is OK for many subjects, but judging by the watch and car and other subs I've been on they either die on the vine or have large memberships shouting at each other. 😁
something like Watchuseek's layout works and they did recently switch to a new platform too I understand.
Yep they did and the switch didn't bugger the site or reduce usability and happened pretty seamlessly.
I pretty much agree with Wibbs and I personally follow a similar forum level of activity. Apart from here I'm active on a mainly American P&R forum and that's it, no (un)social media.
Think activity on here, which was never very hectic, is starting to pick up again.
I agree with TF regarding an open forum rather than a private server. We all remember the lad who found the Rolex in car boot sale biscuit tin. Treasure.
Interested to get an infomed answer on this too, the last time I bought a watch from the UK I got him to declare it as a gift with a nominal value. Now I'm currently in negotiations with someone else in the UK about a purchase and he is absolutely refusing to consider it and seems offended that I asked!
As far as I can tell it's 23% of the watch + shipping cost, and a bit extra to the delivery company for collecting it, but hopefully I've misunderstood.
Technically speaking it is tax fraud, Pablo_Flox. Any goods going across the water either way are subject to VAT and import duties. The latter are near zero but if you are buying a GBP2000 (total cost including shipping and insurance) watch from the UK, you are due to pay €540 VAT here in Ireland. In general people in the UK are more compliant with rules and regulations than people in Ireland. I think that is hardly up for discussion 🤣
It’s the sellers responsibility to get the package to you in one piece.
If he under declares and it gets lost in the post will you accept the insured value as your refund?
From Unkel "In general people in the UK are more compliant with rules and regulations than people in Ireland. I think that is hardly up for discussion 🤣"
Unlike the Chinese who mis-declare watches without even being asked. 😄
True enough. I bought a bunch of LiFePo4 batteries that cost about €40 each including shipping, delivered to me last year from China. Individually. So technically they should have attracted 23% VAT when coming into Ireland (as the value was over €22 - this loophole was closed last month).
All of them were marked as something like "iphone case $16" or "keyboard $12". These packages were well over 2kg each 😁
The 2021 Speedie in Heselite is retailing in Keene's for €6,300 but you can buy it from an Irish dealer (Cork based)on Chrono delivered free to Ireland for €5,580 (negotiable).
So if I hang on for another 6 months or a year what do you think it will be available for on the grey?
Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Co-Axial Master Chronometer for 5.580 € for sale from a Seller on Chrono24
OMEGA SPEEDMASTER MOONWATCH PROFESSIONAL- CO-AXIAL MASTER CHRONOMETER CHRONOGRAPH 42 MM 310.30.42.50.01.003 (keanes.ie)
I think the answer is to have a friend in NI, which unfortunately I don't have!
Sent a PM instead 👍😉
Be prepared for thousands of euro in depreciation if you're going to buy at retail. Even at a substantial discount. Here on adverts in the last week or so, a Hesalite sold for well less than half of that retail price you saw in the AD...
The last watch I bought from England I got posted to ni friend. He reposted it to me. The max he could insure it for was 250 pounds via Royal Mail at least. Could drive up there handy enough so that’s probably safest tax avoidance strategy to use.
Was it brand new with B&P?
I think this new reference has a number of significant upgrades primarily the bracelet and movement so I wouldn't mind paying a premium but I'm thinking the retail price is very soft and we may see it selling at below €5k new and unused before the end of 2021.
Evasion is the word there, not avoidance ;-)
Significant upgrades...
You are a marketers dream 😉
CT, that's precisely the kind of customer Omega are hoping for. Personally, yes the new model seems to have a nicer bracelet but there are zero actual significant upgrades.
In particular, it would impact on the already tenuous authentic link between the "moonwatch" and space. If the NASA link and moonlanding in particular matter? There is zero reason to buy the new model.
Why buy a watch that only looks like the moonwatch, when I can buy the space flown versions for far, far less?
I think that should be a 'marketer's wet dream' 😀
The space connection doesn't matter to me, just like the Bond connection when I bought my two Seamasters. I buy because I like the quality and look.
And that's grand, there is zero issue with that.
For me, the new watch is more of an homage to the flight qualified 1861 movement watches. It takes design cues from the best of that watches heritage and TBF it does that we'll.
But, and for me it's a big but. The switch in movement to a non-flight qualified one means the new SKU's aren't moonwatches.
They certainly are Omega Speedmasters, they wear lower and they are a lovely watch, but the essence of the "moonwatch" is IMO at least the link to NASA and the landings.
There is none of that with the new Ref.
It's an Omega chrono, not a moonwatch but as most here know..
I can be a pedantic pain in the hole at times but the link between the speedmaster and Moon is severed.
If that link matters in any manner other than having an "Omega" on the wrist? Then an 1861 powered ref is the way to go.
If it's name recognition, or nice chrono that matters? Then barrel on.
Regarding the NASA connection, what Omega puts on the back of this ref is interesting.
"Flight-Qualified By NASA in 1965 For All Manned Space Missions"
"The First Watch Worn On The Moon"
Which, in pedantic world...
Is a lie, it's not.
It's the successor to that watch but afaik given that NASA haven't been on the moon (manned at least) since '72, it's not a moonwatch. If it's not an 1861 movement, it's not a "moonwatch" and other than carrying Omega branding, it wouldn't be considered moonwatch adjacent.
I can't hand on heart opine as to the flight qual status of the 3861, but it's probably the model Jeff Bezos wore so there is that at least 😉
The “ new from grey” dealer price can’t really drop continuously. Greys are getting the watch brand new through an AD. AD has a fixed margin (as they sell at RRP). They offer a fixed amount off to the grey who then need to make a profit and add a margin.
Best case you might see an AD matching the grey price (a sale or similar, they actually make more profit this way obviously than selling direct to Grey as there is no Grey margin).
You can only hope the used second hand price drops a little bit again ratios between prices are all relative and need to be maintained.
AD price >grey price> second price>old version price
With the old version second hand price strengthen then it’s difficult seeing the new version second hand price soften a lot.
I would get the second hand big box version for 3.5-4K if I were you. There is very little advantage to buying new.
Ah lads, there's only one space watch to have, and it has a yellow dial.
I've yet to buy from Aliexpress since the new VAT ruling but I see they charge VAT at checkout up to 150 euro and over that they don't charge a cent, saying on the website that an individual countries' customs will charge VAT/import/handling fee. What I have heard though is in the case of an item being over 150 euro, is that they stamp a sticker on the box saying fees paid or something to that effect and put another sticker declaring the value <€150 so that customers won't get charged 9 times out of 10.
Which one would that be, then?
A Pogue?
I tried on the new speedmaster and its identical, and I know my way around a decent watch. The bracelet is a bit better maybe, but the case is also quite sharp (verified by me, not just internet stuff). The grey prices on this are unlikely to be significantly lower than RRP for quite a while, and if Omega put up their RRP you might actually be worse off.
That Chrono buyer is dodgy BTW CT, its a fishing exercise, doesnt have the watches you would note he has over 1600 watches listed. He will try source one for you if you contact him probably just using a fixed discount negotiated in Keans.
I applaud you new found interest in quality, but a moonwatch even though its a good watch is not worth 6k or 5.5k or even 5k. Its a 3k watch or 4k if you want the annoying big box. A new watch means nothing, sure half the pricks in cork will have tried it on, and having your name on the card is a worthless noob consideration.
Question really is how much is 6 months without the watch worth to you? How many 6 months do you have left?
