From novice to Rolex expert in a few years...

[Brushpup]

Originally Posted by USCpaneristi

We all say things we wish we hadn't. I'd be willing to be if he could take that interview back, he would. So basically, no worries.

He will take it back.........just wait to see how fast he has the review pulled down

[Strut99GT]

I had no idea that Invicta review even existed, but it's certainly amusing in retrospect since he's such a Rolex fanboy now. People are entitled to change their opinions, although I do find it interesting that as someone who is a self-proclaimed watch enthusiast, he owns only Rolexes now. Rolexes are nice, but come on. I believe in his review of the Omega Seamaster vs. Rolex Submariner, he chose the Omega as well. If anything, all this proves is that regardless of how well you can write a review, and how objective you believe you are being when you write it, when it comes to something like a watch, at the end of the day you can throw away just about everything, because you buy what you "feel" like buying. And trying to justify it really makes no sense.

[Welshwatchman]

I still prefer his "Lada makes a better car than Mercedes" article.

[Idle Swede]

Originally Posted by Welshwatchman

I still prefer his "Lada makes a better car than Mercedes" article.

I missed that one Paul, must be interesting reading.

Would you have a link to it?

[Brushpup]

Originally Posted by jimbones43

than the Rolex.

Also I assume you know who the author is.

JimC

You raise a good point....and proper credit is something he is big on. Just to make sure..........

The Author is John Holbrook III (the third).

Not to be confused with I and II or IV

[Idle Swede]

Originally Posted by Brushpup

I used to like him.......until recently. I read this review when it was fresh on the net and then I found his forum a few years later.....

I thought at the time....this HAS to be a different guy.....

And how right you were.

[JCB62]

I actually bought a Invicta 9937 prior to buying my Sub No date last summer. I knew I wanted another Rolex, but was unsure if the Sub or the Explorer II was for me. I figured I try the diving watch look first with what is really a dead ringer for the sub. It's a decent watch - I'm actually wearing it today. The Sub spends most of the time in the safe till I figure out how to tell the wife I bought another Rolex. And my GMT is at the Dallas service center, so the 9937 is seeing some wrist time. Although the Invicta has lived up to all the good reviews I read, and I do wear it....nothing, repeat NOTHING, feels like the real thing on your wrist. Especially since I've been part of this forum, I'm almost embarrassed to wear this 'homage' watch. I know when I see a Rolex on someone else, I immediately figure they must be a person of substance, style and taste. When I see other homage watches, not so much. Yet I still wear quite a few non Rolex watches. I like these watches, I love my Rolex's.

[padi56]

I believe this guy called John Holbrook was once a member of TRF but think he was overfilled with his own self grandeur. So his membership was quite a short one, same could be said for the many other forums out there he might have been once on.



But will remind you guys keep other forum matters on other forums and not on TRF.

[Idle Swede]

I tried to purchase the Invicta book at the end of the article.

No such luck, I guess it sold out.

[JBat]

I take it there's some bad blood between TRF and Mr. Holbrook?

[Idle Swede]

Originally Posted by JBat

I take it there's some bad blood between TRF and Mr. Holbrook?

I think it's not only here but on ALL forums including his own.

[JBat]

Originally Posted by Idle Swede

I think it's not only here but on ALL forums including his own.

Not good when you have issues with your own website!

[haakon59]

It is true that you have to start somewhere in your development of knowledge about mechanical watches. Could we attribute his assessment of Invicta being essentially a better watch (at least economically/value-wise) over Rolex to inexperience? Sure, I will give him that.

At least from the postings I read about a year ago, he has been a huge Rolex fan to the point of intolerance. If you want to be an aficionado, you should give each brand the credit it deserves as well as admit it's shortcomings. How many times have I read about Invicta dive watches that leaked?

I own about 15 watches, right at this moment I am wearing a Potger-Pietri, which I believe is owned (currently, anyway) by Invicta. Surprisingly, in the 2 years I have owned it, it has run pretty well. Would I say it is as good as a Rolex? No, of course not, there are obvious differences in quality. Someone gave me this one as a gift. But it has been running fine since I have owned it and that is good I think. I have owned many watch brands, most of which have performed well. Some haven't done this, however. I think the assessments, in order to be helpful to others on the web, should be accurate and honest and objective.

Audemars Piguet is known by it's reputation as one of the "big three" elite watch brands. I was trying to kill some time a few weeks ago and stopped in an AD which formerly carried this brand but has cancelled their association with it. I asked the owner why he gave up this prestigious brand. He said that his customers bought several of the watches after he first started carrying the watch. Unfortunately, the watches often needed attention for various ills within a year. When the jeweler sent these watches back to AP for warranty repair, most of them were turned back without being fixed or even looked at! He promptly dropped the brand. He told me he has no such trouble with the other brands he carries, brands like Glasshute Original, Ulysse Nardin, Omega, IWC, and Rolex.

Being a good reviewer means you have to take a look at every aspect of the watch and do your best to be objective, listing the strengths as well as the weaknesses and even compare the watches to other alternatives in the market.

[Brushpup]

Originally Posted by JCB62

I actually bought a Invicta 9937 prior to buying my Sub No date last summer. I knew I wanted another Rolex, but was unsure if the Sub or the Explorer II was for me. I figured I try the diving watch look first with what is really a dead ringer for the sub. It's a decent watch - I'm actually wearing it today. The Sub spends most of the time in the safe till I figure out how to tell the wife I bought another Rolex. And my GMT is at the Dallas service center, so the 9937 is seeing some wrist time. Although the Invicta has lived up to all the good reviews I read, and I do wear it....nothing, repeat NOTHING, feels like the real thing on your wrist. Especially since I've been part of this forum, I'm almost embarrassed to wear this 'homage' watch. I know when I see a Rolex on someone else, I immediately figure they must be a person of substance, style and taste. When I see other homage watches, not so much. Yet I still wear quite a few non Rolex watches. I like these watches, I love my Rolex's.

Hey, if she hasn't noticed the 9937, maybe youre in luck!

[mcubed]

Back in the early days (you know, 2005), Mr. Holbrook's articles spurred me to get a scalloped Bezel 8926. I do have to say, despite all the bashing Invicta gets, they make a h3ll of a 100 dollar watch. Is it as nice as my sub? No, but it is a nice watch in its own right, and more than a few Sub owners bought that watch first. I would also argue that the scalloped edge version is much less a "Rolex Homage" and does not copy Rolex much more than, say, a TAG aqua racer does.

I don't wear it much now, but I do when I am going someplace I don't want to wear a 3K watch. Sometimes wearing the Invicta is fun; you get a watch that LOOKS high end but that you don't have to worry about. Sometimes that is a relief.

[mikefrmnj]

Originally Posted by jake

"I got to spend time milling over the watch, the packaging, the documentation…everything you don’t get to play with even when you go into a Rolex dealer to try the watch on. I got to pop the crown….wind the watch….rotate the bezel. I also took several pictures of the watch. In short, I got a really nice test drive on his dime. Hey, I did buy him lunch… I also took the opportunity to do a nice side by side comparison of my Invicta 9937 to his Rolie Sub. Here are my impressions:" -John B. Holbrook II [March 16, 2003] World's Leading Rolex and Jesus Expert

Did he really say in 2003 he "got to pop the crown...wind the watch...rotate the bezel"!?!?!?!?! In his defense he does proclaim he is "a life-long watch enthusiast." Does this mean he is only 6 years old?

All I want to know is if he wrote this excellent review before or after he started having a personal relationship with Jesus!?!

I also wonder if he would buy Jesus lunch (after getting a really nice test drive on his dime–of course!?!) Maybe Jesus enlightened him on Rolex!?!

I also wonder if he was a professional watch photographer when he wrote this world-class review or did that occur later!?! Hard to tell since he seems to be so proud of his "No Image" photos? He did say that he took several pictures!?!

What is it that Jocke's signature says: "Buy a professional camera and you´re a professional photographer, buy a flute and you own a flute." I am certain John B. Holbrook II plays the flute as well as he shoots photography and writes Rolex reviews.

I can feel the love.

[Art 1]

It was bad form of him to lure others from TZ to his forum at a GTG that was primarily TZ members, then gave them all their posts counts from TZ on his forum. I was amazed at the enthusiasm with which some left to go to his forum.

[Idle Swede]

Originally Posted by JBat

Not good when you have issues with your own website!

Specially when your own moderators leaves you.

[harlansmart]

Lol - Great Thread... really enjoyed it a bunch

This page paticularly impressed me... he's not afraid to use the 'I' word thats for sure.... but, he's been a 'Watch Enthusiast for Life' and he's a man of God to boot.

http://rolexreferencepage.com/about/



Leo, one thing, you know in the original post you made a little chuckle.... you're sure this chuckle is indeed not 'nothing else'

Originally Posted by Idle Swede

My intention with the original post was to show how you can go from a novice to a self proclaimed Rolex expert in a few years, nothing else.

Oh BTW, I've met him several times..

[Brushpup]

Originally Posted by Art 1

It was bad form of him to lure others from TZ to his forum at a GTG that was primarily TZ members, then gave them all their posts counts from TZ on his forum. I was amazed at the enthusiasm with which some left to go to his forum.

Gave them a false post count? My opinion just sank even lower.

[Art 1]

Originally Posted by Brushpup

Gave them a false post count? My opinion just sank even lower.

Yes, I was given 8 or 9000 posts. I stopped posting completely at 10,000 even just for fun.

[Brushpup]

Originally Posted by Art 1

Yes, I was given 8 or 9000 posts. I stopped posting completely at 10,000 even just for fun.

[Idle Swede]

Originally Posted by Art 1

Yes, I was given 8 or 9000 posts. I stopped posting completely at 10,000 even just for fun.

I stopped at 7,725.

[Brushpup]

Originally Posted by Idle Swede

I stopped at 7,725.

With 206 posts averaging 0.6/Day, I'm claiming victory in this case Leo.

RIP Brushpup at WTF 9-13-09

[Idle Swede]

Originally Posted by Brushpup

With 206 posts averaging 0.6/Day, I'm claiming victory in this case Leo.

RIP Brushpup at WTF 9-13-09

I always said you were smarter than me.