Anybody Using A Kabuki?

[aldenf]

Before you make the claim there are no watch movements made in the US, you should have checked. There is a watchmaker in Lancaster, PA. His name is Roldand and his brand is RGM. While he does case some ETA movements he customizes, he also makes custom movements from his shop and hands. They are works of art and actually reasonably priced for such craftsmanship.

Www.rgmwatches.com

I get it. Watches are beautiful. They're works of art. The craftsmanship is AMAZING. I have a pocket watch that was my grandfather's; 14k gold, made in America (in the 20's, I believe). It still works great. Watches can be passed from generation to generation.

Maybe I could justify $1500. Even if I was in the top 1%, I could never see myself purchasing a $25,000 watch. I'm happy for watchmakers that there are people who do. I'd be fearful to remove it from it's original packaging. I guess it's just not that important to me.

 

[AstroTurf]

So...How about those Kabukis ?!

Mines been sitting on the shelf for about a month now?!?

 

[Knifemaker]

Yes, he is a "Custom Maker" There are hundreds of Custom Makers the world over. Including the U.S. But No manufacturers. A Huge difference. Certified Watch Makers are not as common as Certified repairmen or assemblers. In fact, the making of a working movement is "Required" in many apprenticeship schools the world over. Including The USA in order to become fully certified. There are certified Watch repair shops, and Certified Watch Makers. The latter is the only people I will allow to touch my Rolex's or Panerai's.

If you will but read his ad copy on his page, it clearly says Custom and Bespoke. Exactly the opposite from a manufacturer.

It seems a few people are arguing a point they are possibly not truly familiar with.

But then again, not many understand the desire to collect fine watches in the first place.
At one time, it was highly respected in the U.S., but has sadly become somewhat of bygone era. In Europe, it is very much still alive. It's the Old World Craftsmanship thing. Something almost entirely lost here in America with our throw away society so much in vogue.

Today, I'm wearing a Panerai 438/441. Google it. You would have to be incredibly wealthy, or very very foolish to put this in a drawer or throw away when it stops!
Knife

www.Chrono24.com/en/panerai/ref-pam00438.htm

 

[classwife]

Mines been sitting on the shelf for about a month now?!?

Ugh ! I am in love with mine and use it daily.
So thrilled to have a tank type thing that I can enjoy - have been a dripper for years !

 

[DavidAmonettNashville]

Ugh ! I am in love with mine and use it daily.
So thrilled to have a tank type thing that I can enjoy - have been a dripper for years !

No troubles with the o rings being tight ? Or did it come with the new ones?

 

[CDATundra]

Mines been sitting on the shelf for about a month now?!?

Mine too!

 

[coldgin96]

I think what I said was completely missed here on the watches.
There are NO american made movements being currently manufactured. None.

The Shinola does not claim to be fully American made. It says American assembled on scale. It is in fact, the firs American Assembled watch in many many years. I am familiar with their product. I am quite please to see this happen and have been watching their progress for some time not.

If you will re-read my post, it says "Fine Watch." This term is not my opinion. It is a standard term used in Horology. (The Study and or collecting of watches). Simply put, it refers to exceedingly well made timepieces, of superior quality in both materials and workmanship. In most cases, it also is assumed that the Movement is made in house rather than outsourced. There are exceptions to this, but not often.

Rolex, Omega, Tag Heuer, and many others tried the Quartz path back in the early 80's and it put a huge dent in their credibility. Rolex was the ONLY one who made their own Quartz movement. Still did damage to the company's reputation.

Zen has stated they are working on their own In House Movement. So yes, this will be a first for the American Watch making industry in many years. Something to be proud of!

Currently, the In House is years out. I do know that at least one of the watches is using ETA Swiss movement. although listed for sale, there were actually only a few given out as a test. More on this at later date.

I will be seriously be looking at one myself in the future.

Knife

Shinola- U.S.A. MOVEMENT WITH SWISS PARTS

Btw, Michigan is where I make my stand, buddy!

 

[BreSha6869]

Yes, he is a "Custom Maker" There are hundreds of Custom Makers the world over. Including the U.S. But No manufacturers. A Huge difference. Certified Watch Makers are not as common as Certified repairmen or assemblers. In fact, the making of a working movement is "Required" in many apprenticeship schools the world over. Including The USA in order to become fully certified. There are certified Watch repair shops, and Certified Watch Makers. The latter is the only people I will allow to touch my Rolex's or Panerai's.

If you will but read his ad copy on his page, it clearly says Custom and Bespoke. Exactly the opposite from a manufacturer.

It seems a few people are arguing a point they are possibly not truly familiar with.

But then again, not many understand the desire to collect fine watches in the first place.
At one time, it was highly respected in the U.S., but has sadly become somewhat of bygone era. In Europe, it is very much still alive. It's the Old World Craftsmanship thing. Something almost entirely lost here in America with our throw away society so much in vogue.

Today, I'm wearing a Panerai 438/441. Google it. You would have to be incredibly wealthy, or very very foolish to put this in a drawer or throw away when it stops!
Knife

www.Chrono24.com/en/panerai/ref-pam00438.htm

During a recent trip to my corporate head office where I met with many of our senior exec team members (all earn at least $2M/yr), I noticed a weird trend in watches.... There were a few Panerais and a Rolex or two, but mostly Apple watch (or similar) or Fitbit thingies. Apple watches on very wealthy execs. We are in high tech, but I still thought this was fairly weird....

Sign of the times I guess. Maybe they wear their Pateks only to fancy black tie events....

 

[Vicshalls]

This is accurate per my purchase two weeks ago.

Definitely sucks about not being able to ship nicotine products to Canada...
Apparently Canada is extremely strict about things! I just found out that I am not allowed into the country because I have a DUI on my record! And if I'm found in the country with a DUI on my record, I'm considered a felon, and could go to jail? Doesn't sound to fun to me!

First thing is i am not trying to be political in any fashion. I just want to point out that Canada picks and chooses who it lets in and here in the states if we try to do that the rest of the world blows a gasket.

That is all.

 

[Vicshalls]

Mine is identical. P3 GMZ with the white o-rings. The glass tank physically would not fully go on to the tank bottom.

I'm not worried about a few bucks, but paying for a new set of o-rings because the ones that came with my brand new $100 tank don't fit properly seems a tad nutty to me.

Sounds a little dumb, but do you wonder how they got that glass on there in the first place? one would think they would have broken several before they got one on there good.

 

[classwife]

No troubles with the o rings being tight ? Or did it come with the new ones?

I have yet to need to take it apart, so I don't know

 

[classwife]

Shinola- U.S.A. MOVEMENT WITH SWISS PARTS

Btw, Michigan is where I make my stand, buddy!

Lol...I was just looking at a Shinola ad !


Actually, I haven't taken any of my Kabukis apart...the other 2 are Z2 threaded tho.

 

[BreSha6869]

Sounds a little dumb, but do you wonder how they got that glass on there in the first place? one would think they would have broken several before they got one on there good.

I honestly don't really care how they got it on. The tank wouldn't go on for me which is all that matters to me. I have about 25 different tanks and I have never broken a tank other than by dropping it.

 

[BreSha6869]

First thing is i am not trying to be political in any fashion. I just want to point out that Canada picks and chooses who it lets in and here in the states if we try to do that the rest of the world blows a gasket.

That is all.

Impaired driving is a criminal charge in Canada, so the Govt considers anyone from outside of Canada that has been charged with DUI to have a criminal record. It is a tad harsh considering that being caught with up to an ounce of the green stuff will only get you a ticket and a slap on the wrists, but it is what it is. It's tough for a Canadian with a DUI charge to travel outside of Canada as well.

 

[ScandaLeX]

Mine is identical. P3 GMZ with the white o-rings. The glass tank physically would not fully go on to the tank bottom.

I'm not worried about a few bucks, but paying for a new set of o-rings because the ones that came with my brand new $100 tank don't fit properly seems a tad nutty to me.

All the more reason I continue to feel the orings that actually fit properly should've been provided to those who purchased the tank free of charge.

Seems because it's Zen people are ok with this but if it were....oh let's say Kanger, everyone would have their pitchforks out demanding refunds or bad-mouthing the entire company!

 

[AstroTurf]

Sounds a little dumb, but do you wonder how they got that glass on there in the first place? one would think they would have broken several before they got one on there good.

Spit... Good Ole American SPIT...

LOLz

 

[classwife]

Spit... Good Ole American SPIT...

LOLz

ohnoyoudint !

Eeewww !

 

[rbrylawski]

Yes, he is a "Custom Maker" There are hundreds of Custom Makers the world over. Including the U.S. But No manufacturers. A Huge difference. Certified Watch Makers are not as common as Certified repairmen or assemblers. In fact, the making of a working movement is "Required" in many apprenticeship schools the world over. Including The USA in order to become fully certified. There are certified Watch repair shops, and Certified Watch Makers. The latter is the only people I will allow to touch my Rolex's or Panerai's.

If you will but read his ad copy on his page, it clearly says Custom and Bespoke. Exactly the opposite from a manufacturer.

It seems a few people are arguing a point they are possibly not truly familiar with.

But then again, not many understand the desire to collect fine watches in the first place.
At one time, it was highly respected in the U.S., but has sadly become somewhat of bygone era. In Europe, it is very much still alive. It's the Old World Craftsmanship thing. Something almost entirely lost here in America with our throw away society so much in vogue.

Today, I'm wearing a Panerai 438/441. Google it. You would have to be incredibly wealthy, or very very foolish to put this in a drawer or throw away when it stops!
Knife

www.Chrono24.com/en/panerai/ref-pam00438.htm

It's no secret that I'm a watch guy around here. Most of my watches contain Swiss ETA high grade mechanical movements. I also have a Sellita SW200a and a Grand Seiko SBGR movement, which is about as in-house manufacture as any watch can be.

To your point about manufacturers, I agree there are no US mass producers of mechanical movements in the US any longer. It's a real shame. But please don't confuse Manufacture with mass produced. Any watch movement made with parts machined in the shop, in whole or in part, is from a Manufacture, regardless of the quantity produced. That said, Shinola, while built in the US can not actually qualify as a Manufacture, because the parts are all Swiss made, but put together in Detroit. Either way, it's nice to see someone mass building watches in the US again.

Cheers from the middle of the Caribbean Sea, on our way to Cozumel. A beautiful day it is, with very calm blue sea's and blue sunny skies!

 

[ScandaLeX]

Humm---Did I really deserve this bit of snarkiness?

Most of the watches listed were Quartz, In the watch world, that is sorta the Yugo compared to the Bentley. Very very low grade. Fine for a child. Not for a man of taste.

I notice Smith and Wesson was listed as one of those companies that cares about the customers. this is forgetting the years it was owned by Puna arms, who drove the quality into the ground. Or the Stand Smith and Wesson took siding with the Dem's in wanting to stop ALL Sales to the Public, and only wanting to cater to L.E. and Military. Both Domestic and Foreign. It was only when the board of directors came to the realization that the company would in short order face bankruptcy if such a move was made, that the decision was scrapped. Yep! S&W truly cares about us!
S&W 41 Mag is still My # 1 Revolver, and I carried one for years on the Sheriff's Dept.

Knife

I don't feel like going thru here to find the actual post where all this started but I do know for a fact it had nothing to do with watches, guns, planes, trains or automobiles!!! If you took this as snark then I have to say HIGH FIVE to DP!!!!

I was specifically talking about vaping when I said there are others besides ProVape & HOH who offers exceptional customer service & you jumped out your mouth that if I believe that, I must be out my mind!

I am not so elitest that I think the sun rises & sets on Zens' behind & my vaping did not begin with ProVape....like others, it was a progression & on MY journey I have for the most part, experienced exceptional customer service!

Now....carry on talking about the watches you turned this into!

 

[BreSha6869]

Spit... Good Ole American SPIT...

LOLz

Prolly. Hence the reason I disassemble and wash EVERYTHING before vaping out of it.