What this place is all about: real gentlemen, real class.

[boursachi]

Gents, I just wish to thank you all for this community.
Our good member Mike has been nothing but gracious with his time and effort in securing and shipping to me a pair of screws that I need for my Bumblebee.
It must have been at least 10 emails back and forth, putting up with my naive questions, taking delivery himself, and then taking the time to personally ship half way across the world. All refusing to let me know of any cost until he was certain it was on a plane.

This is what the Audemars Piguet Brotherhood is all about.
Mike, you are a true gentleman and I am grateful for your time and effort my friend.

PS: I am going to keep the card on my side-table because I want to see my wife's reaction.

[boursachi]

As for why I need those lug screws, and this is my personal final conclusion, it is because I had the misfortune of having installed an inferior strap.

When I first uploaded pictures of my BB on the aftermarket strap from APBands, a couple of members here commented on how the fit looked out of place.
I did concur that it was "off", like oversized wide tires sticking out under a narrow fender, but I never described the fact that it "moved" strangely as well.
Being on a tang buckle, either side of the strap is free to move upwards to more of a degree than if on the deployant clasp. However, with the aftermarket strap, it was just that it would 'tick' to a certain degree and go a bit higher. It never felt right and I thought it should not have. So now I am lead to believe that the stress with putting on and taking off the watch (I do that daily at least 3 times for prayers at least).
I should have known better when I saw the finishing and smudges on the lining, but I learned the hard way. And I am grateful now.

Sure, it could have been the installation. But I had it done at my AD, and I have changed the Panda's strap twice before when I had it with them. I also have my GPC on right now, also on a tang buckle as you are all aware, and both the fitment as well as the 'movement' is worlds apart from how that strap felt on the BB.

WHATEVER!
Point is: please, please, think carefully before going aftermarket. I do not wish for anyone to go through the drama.
I was lucky that I heard the screw hit the floor and held the case in-tact so it did not slip off my wrist or anything.

I have a decision to make now: either go with the original hornback for the yellow stitch, or the OEM rubber. But now at least I know I will have the peace of mind of going back and forth on both. :)

[B. Doggy]

[ocwatching]

Mike is a gentleman and always helpful on line and off..

I personally think he should be a Mod here on TRF!

OEM sometimes is the only way to go..

[Submarino]

Mike is indeed a true gentleman and one of the finest in this community. Glad you sorted things out and no more 'after-market' crap on your beautiful APs.

[FeelingTheBlues]

Having had private conversations with him by sending private messages I can only agree that Mike is a class act and a wonderful human being. Kudos to you for the kind gesture my friend!

Ali, I hope you'll enjoy that great gift, however physically small it is it represents a big act of generosity!

[Dickson Lim]

I love TRF, and I love Mike as well!

Absolutely pure class. This is how our hobby community should be. Salute.

[Yoda]

Wow. Well done Mike, you are a true gentleman.

[ydna808]

Yeah Mikes da man He helped pull me over to the 'dark side'

[TSW]

Great gesture of our buddy Mike

[bayerische]

This site is full of gentlemen!

[Manofsteelpt]

Hey Ali, hope all has been well...

You must be speaking of Kilyung... I agree Mike is a great guy and true asset to this forum. He has endured countless emails of MY naive questions too!

[ChristianN]

Great gesture, warms my heart a bit in these troubled times to see people reach out across the world to eachother.

[Frosty]

[texex91]

[kilyung]

Glad I could help, Ali! The BB has a number of great OEM strap options:

- original BB hornback (nothing beats stock)
- ROO rubber (it fits the deployant well but tapers too much for my taste)
- Diver rubber (perfect but requires the Survivor or Diver 24mm tang buckle)
- Survivor rubber (a different look; requires 24mm tang buckle)
- Survivor hornback (AWESOME with the Survivor tang buckle - I'm thinking of buying another and having the black stitching replaced with yellow for a stock look but less taper)

[Watchonisto]

[exchange83]

What a great gesture!

[sleddog]

Fantastic to hear.....and it's the little things that always mean a lot!!

Classy Mike!

[nick c]

good job mike

[tkc324]

Class act.

[Hairdude1]

for Mike!

[mailman]

Mike is a good person

[Andad]

Good one M.

[mb23]

Awesome

[T.S.Eliot]

[boursachi]

Thanks everyone. Here she is again on the hornback.

Regarding the Diver's rubber, are the plots and screws and everything all the same? Just need to get the strap itself along with the 24mm tang buckle?
If so, how much are they from AP, given that the Tang is the Titanium version which I THINK is the same as on the GPC as is on the CF Diver?

[kilyung]

Originally Posted by boursachi

Thanks everyone. Here she is again on the hornback.

Regarding the Diver's rubber, are the plots and screws and everything all the same? Just need to get the strap itself along with the 24mm tang buckle?
If so, how much are they from AP, given that the Tang is the Titanium version which I THINK is the same as on the GPC as is on the CF Diver?

Glad she's back together again! The Diver strap uses the same plots and strap screws. You can also use the GPC 24mm tang buckle. The Diver buckle is pricey... $700. A new strap runs $184. The small size strap fits my 6.5" wrist nicely but leaves very little tail so I used the tail from the regular size and the keeper from the small.

[boursachi]

Originally Posted by kilyung

A new strap runs $184.

That is very cool. And thanks for the confirmation that it uses the same plots and screws. Price is not very far off from the 18mm rubber strap.
Unfortunately I do not think I can use the tang buckle I got from APBands although it is 24mm. This is because it has a narrow point end, as opposed to the Diver's "rectangular" opening in the strap.

Share some pics of your BB with the strap but unworn and from different angles, please.

[emagni]

Glad to hear you have her back to normal again. Glad to hear we have great folks like Mike that are part of the TRF community!