HemiSam

This I believe. The Omega deployant clasp is silly money. I can only imagine what one from say AP would be... HS

I am having the strap made to the size of my Omega Speedmaster FOIS. It's a 19/16mm so it's a bit fussy in that most stock sized straps will not fit (at least perfectly). The nice alligator hide finished in a semi-matte with large square scales, calf skin backing, and with the J.R. deployant clasp is well under $500 delivered. Closer to $400. It would have been less if I could have used the stock size available. Not sure where $800 came from. That seems a lot for a watch strap, but perhaps I am uninitiated. HS

It won't be nearly that much. HS

Was emailed a shot of some skins to show me the hand finished semi-mat in question for the strap I'm having made. It's the middle skin. All in large, square scales. Also a shot of the deployant clasp. HS

This looks AMAZING! I'll need to give it a spin. That Kirk & Sweeny is crap rum. I've got a bottle of the 12 yr I bought long ago and then a very good friend of mine in from Maryland sadly very generously gifted me a 23-yr old bottle. I drink a lot of rum, but this brand ain't the one... The Flor de Cana 7-yr is a solid recommendation for this. It's a bit on the dry side for rum but nothing wrong with that. Don Pancho 8-yr rum is made by an old Cuban gent that's made a lot of fine rums for some very famous distilleries. He's a bit proud of the 18-yr but the 8-yr is a sweet spot. If you want to go high end without breaking the bank I highly recommend Zafra 21-yr rum. I don't think I'll wait for the holidays on this recipe....I might get to it this weekend. Cheers.... HS

Turns out that Jean Rousseau makes the straps for Omega on my Speedmaster FOIS. Took a while for their East Coast store to get the detailed measurement info back from the mother ship, but they did. I filled out their "bespoke" order form....LOL. I think this means custom and you get what you pay for. Provided tons of detail including my desire to have a deployant buckle installed vs the tang buckle which is not my thing. Hopefully it all goes to plan. I'm excited. I think the Speedy is going to look good with a brown alligator strap. HS

TMoney, This is just my two bits. I've read exactly what mikeymad posted many years ago now when I spent an excessive amount of time absorbing coffee related info. I rarely find the quality of beans locally that I have come to appreciate (I got very fortunate a month or so ago and found some local incredible Ethiopian recommended by a friend). Shipping can be costly, some roasts are limited in duration, and often I don't make the time to make my French press during the work week so my bags can last longer than two weeks. I agree whole heartedly that coffee is best when recently roasted, but it doesn't go "bad" a few weeks after. Good coffee is good coffee and the coffee I buy is still pretty damn good after 14+ days. It does deteriorate....loses some aromatics / flavors but as long as you're not more than say a month into a bag it is still very drinkable in my humble opinion. A proper roaster generally supplies a good quality bag with a one way valve. If yours doesn't, keep one from your prior purchase. Also, if you're going into a bag daily you're releasing built up CO2 at least once a day so perhaps that will help you rest easier if you prefer a sealed canister...keep it in a cool / dry place like a pantry. I always keep mine in the supplied bags. I kept coffee in the freezer years ago to test it and it was not the end of the world as some on the forums would lead one to believe. I appreciate the science behind good coffee, but it goes a bit far at times for my liking. I'm currently drinking some lovely coffees from La Colombe. My first time buying from them. I prefer medium roasts...went well past my all has to be dark phase years ago. It depends on the beans. I can highly recommend the Rwanda Lake Kivu and the Bourbon Workshop from them. Happy cupping... HS

RIP Messrs. Robinson and Finney... HS

Very nice, Seawolf! Hope you get what you want. Super classic design. HS

When I looked up the omega constellation manhattan, all I see are ladies' sizes. Post a pic if you have one. I'm curious. Cool on the Rolex. I think you'll be very pleased. My 39mm is brutally comfortable and versatile IMO. HS

The Rolex boutique here in the Galleria sees a lot of traffic. They had the Oyster Perpetual 39mm in grape back when I bought mine last year. Good looking watch. They had several of the smaller versions (e.g. 36mm and smaller). To get the new white 39mm (or the black for that matter) I had to order it and wait. They are so back ordered on Daytonas that, to their credit, they don't even accept waiting list additions. I'm waitlisted at a reputable dealer in a smaller town. A friend's uncle that seemed pretty straight forward and requested no deposit. We'll see if it does any good. Maybe by then my tastes will have changed...LOL. I might perish before it shows but nothing to lose. We'll see... HS P.S. I preferred the Dark Rhodium to the Grape...

I have read that they controlled supply and worked in the last several years to manage length. So much so I had to wait for my 39mm oyster perpetual...their most basic watch I figure. I had not appreciated the extent of it. Effective but not so nice. I take your point on the text being quite copious, but to my eyes the dial is sexxxxxy. And I really like a few other things: it's 40mm, it's not too tall and there is no date / cyclops. I also like the auto racing link even if that's not the way it all started... HS

That's about how long the wait list is supposedly so it looks like I'll be waiting either way...LOL. My next purchase will likely be a brown alligator strap for the FOIS Omega. It's a bit of an odd sized strap at 19mm/16mm, and I want a deployment clasp...I really do not enjoy fiddling with the simple clasp. I'm thinking this one will do the trick if they can make it in my size... HS

I have not made the leap to an Apple watch. Everything in the house including the phones is Apple other than a Windows computer at work and one I used to keep for running my datalogging and tuning on my hot rod. Now I'm running VMWare Fusion fairly successfully on my Mac Air so I'm not using the POC HP Windows laptop at all....but no Apple watch. I don't have a reason other than I can't see myself wearing one at work and I really like my newfound mechanical watch crack habit... There is one more watch I have to own before it's all said and done (for now anyhoo...). A stainless Daytona. Newish not vintage. Likely in black face. We'll see how it goes. I have a hard time getting comfortable paying $20K plus for a $12K stainless watch so we'll see if waiting for one does any good. HS

Best thing I've listened to in a while....thank you, Dusty! I went down the rabbit hole on Trip Hop some years back and really enjoy M.A. Admittedly, never heard them live and to get to see them on vid is very cool. Score! HS

Condolences, Dusty. RIP Jessica... HS

Suits my slow bourbon recovery mood today... HS

RIP, Mr. Vuillemot. Looks like you lived well.....Godspeed! RIP, Carol... HS

The Saxonia is a lovely dress watch. Love the shot of the back as much or more than the front. Amazing work for the money. HS

I know which one I like better... HS

Beautiful dress watch the Saxonia. HS

Good stuff, Dave. Yes...time for a service on the JLC no doubt. Not inexpensive, but you'll be happier for it. On a personal note, I am slowly looking for brown alligator bands with a deployment clasp for my FOIS Speedy. The brown leather band is nice and supple, but it doesn't move me. I think a medium brown alligator with a nice deployment will really put me over the moon with this watch...no pun intended. Well, perhaps a poor pun... HS

Dave, Looks apples and oranges to me. Both nice watches, but I think you're after more of a tool watch if I've followed your posts...recall correctly. I like the idea of the steel band if that's what you're wanting. The Seiko's construction and finish is very impressive, but aesthetically it just doesn't do much for me. I have to say I have been super pleased with my 39mm oyster perpetual and it's a watch I am comfortable wearing for mild sporting stuff. It's a bit new for me to beat on it too much yet, but I figure I'll get there in time. What has surprised me these last few weeks...maybe as an aside or maybe something to keep in mind as a variable as you explore options. I was concerned my Speedy's manual wind would be a hassle vs the automatics I've grown used to over the years. Actually, it's been the opposite and a pleasant surprise. I think I'm preferring the manual wind. I feel I have more control over when it's fully wound / will run out of energy. Nifty... HS P.S. how about a Tudor as an option? I like the look of the Black Bay Fifty-Eight on the steel band.

HS

So very sad. RIP...thoughts to the fallen, the families and prayers the lost will be found. We lived in Jakarta for a year and half in 1997 - 1998 and our first boy was conceived during a dive trip off of Sulawesi...amazing place with 14,000-17,000 islands depending on the tide. It was also our first evacuation...started burning the malls after high sulfur diesel prices were raised post deal with the IMF. Lovely people and it was a simpler time before 9/11... HS