WILD WILD WEB Pt. 1

"I Saw It On A Forum"

 

    I have a lot of experience with clients coming in and telling me that they know certain modifications will work, or that some parts are interchangeable because they saw is on a forum.  Some would go as far as telling me "I guess I know more than the Watch Guy" or even trying to argue.  Please know that  we can sell you the parts, with the exchange ONLY policy, and send you on your happy way.  Just remember $300 does not go far in a boutique when they only give you credit for it.  Here is the thing, boutiques are not supposed to make these modifications and are directed not to.  So, if you have had this done or you know someone who will do it for you, than you are lucky and I would not ruin it for yourself by putting them on blast in the forums.  

I will use the time a good client of mine asked me for a random, or so what I thought was a random part.   (You will see pictures below to assist in understanding what I am saying) 

One day my client came in asking to buy a rubber strap for a timepiece that I knew he did not have.  So I asked him what his intentions for the strap were.  He replied that he saw on a forum that this rubber strap (New Omega Seamaster Diver 300) would work on his Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional.  I asked if he was sure and he showed me screen shots of what looked like a perfect match.  The pictures were all of the timepiece either laying flat, or from the case back side.  Being that I am a huge Speedmaster fan I happened to have on my Speedy Pro, so I offered to test fit it on mine before he purchased it.  He was more than delighted to let try first, eagerly waiting to see what the results were.  At first, I have to admit it did look perfect, just like the photo on the forum. 20mm lugs so no problem with the size, the thickness was just about right (not sticking up) with the integration into the case having the perfect contour.  I thought, finally a rubber strap option for my Speedy that I like.  That is until I lifted the timepiece off the changing area.  When pressure was applied to the strap, like as if you were going to buckle it, there was suddenly a major gap between the contour on the strap and the case.  It looked horrible!  The problem lied with where the spring-bar holes in the strap were.  Because the strap was not designed for this model it did not hold it on properly.  When I showed my client he was very pleased that he was not stuck with a strap that does not work for what you wanted it to do.  Needless to say he returned not long after with an iced coffee to say thanks!  I am not saying that you can't find modifications that work.  But before you go into a boutique and tell a sales professional, who's job it is to know watches, that they don't know anything, please know what you are talking about.  

The moral of the story is some of what you see on forums is not real or just not showing the whole picture. 

What You See vs. What You Will Get!