Before we even start, HUGE thanks to Milos (Watchfan1) for organizing this event
This is the 2nd annual NYC GTG and the 4th total GTG that Milos has organized - without you it wouldn't be possible - thank you for all your hard work buddy!
I started the day with a walk down "Hell's Kitchen" for the famous food festival.
It was 10:00 AM and the streets were already full...
All kinds of food from all over the world were on offer. If you wanted it - you could get it here.
NYC's finest were on hand to make sure everyone was safe - and as a Brit, I had no worries at all as I walked down what was once one of the most violent areas of New York City.
How times change.
Leo got a little support from DiamondGirl as we went in search of Oysters ;-)
And then up to Columbus Circle for a walk around Central Park.
A real piece of green in the middle of such a thriving city.
But time was running short, the GTG started at 3:00 PM New York Time, so it was a rush to get back to the hotel.
Passing the "Daily Planet" building on the way back ;-)
We get to the GTG on time - and know we are in the right place.
We have to queue to get up the stairs and check in - there are so many people this year it is a really good feeling to have so much watch passion in the same room.
We have to show passports or other ID to be checked off the guest list. Fortunately the line moves faster than passport control and soon we are into the main area of the GTG.
It is nice to see the regulars.
David and Larry K
I think they were pleased to see each other again too
That is what makes these GTG's so great - the people. The people are what MAKE the event, the watches are just the medium that bring great people from all over the world together.
Miguel introduces himself and shows me his Breitling
Migel has flown in from Albuquerque, New Mexico for the GTG
David (Illuminatus), Iveta and Steph (Diamondgirl)
Hiro, Harry, Randy16v
Bill Sohne from The Purists, with LarryK
Noelle and Christiaan
James Dowling in the corner "Talking Watches"
Watchlady
Christiaan, Dan Hall from Ball Watch USA and Jeffrey (Churchill) looking at the "Goodies Table"
Tzachi shows me a little Panerai Prototype piece
Harry and James Dowling, as James shows me some of the watches he has brought.
And I mean "some" - like me, James flew all the way from the UK just for this event and it was a pleasure to meet him again, as always.
Rare Oman dial
A Double Red
A 5517 Military Sub
Milos starts the Kareoke
But is quickly joined by Christiaan and James who remind him this is a watch event
And so, the meal begins
It was great to see a few more ladies there this year
I think Noelle told Christiaan that she would really like a watch for Christmas - the one Milos is wearing, what was it again, a 5960P or something ;-0
James talking to Jeff a HUGE thank you for signing my copy of "The Best of Time" which I had brought over all the way from England.
LarryK and Milos
Leo (IdleSwede) says "If I make the universal Chung Lee sign - will he come?"
And so, it is time to start the raffle
Chuck Agnoff, the Founder and President of Orbita Corporation, tells us a little history about the company and explains the part his lovel wife Evelyn had in its formation, and the important part YOU have in the feedback you give to Orbita to make them the best winders money can buy
As Chuck said "My wife, Evelyn, gave me a gold Rolex® wristwatch as a gift to celebrate my 60th birthday and my retirement. Great look, great feel, but if I didn't wear it for a few days, it stopped running. I repeatedly had to reset it for the correct time, day and date. That was annoying, so I invented a device to keep it wound when I wasn't wearing it. It worked quite well, so, postponing retirement, I decided to start a company and began making watchwinders"
Jeff Hess of Ball Watch USA gives us a little history of Ball Watch
And the prize giving begins
HUGE thanks to everyone who donated prizes for the GTG - without the support of you guys, it just wouldn't be the same.
In no particular order, thanks are due to:
James M Dowling and Jeffrey P Hess
James and Jeff kindly donated a signed copy of their best selling book to the raffle
“The Best of Time – Rolex Wristwatches an Unauthorised History” 3rd Edition by James M Dowling and Jeffrey P Hess, published 2006 by Schiffer Publishing Limited. ISBN 0-7643-2437-3
The books were also on sale and James and Jeff were so approachable, and if you wanted the book signing, they were only too pleased to oblige - true gentlemen.
Ball Watch USA
http://www.ballwatchusa.com/
You guys have been there for every GTG we have had and we really appreciate your support
Actually, I really appreciate the lovely Ball watch I won at the Tampa GTG in 2006 as well!
Ball brought along some goodies to show
As well as an Engineer Hydrocarbon for the raffle
Orbita
http://www.orbita.net/
It was my great pleasure to participate in Orbita's Beta Test programme for the Rx Privee Watchwinder.
I will post a full review of the Beta test in a seperate post in the future. Needless to say, the results are what you would expect from Orbita - excellent.
It was great to also see the final production version of the Rx Privee at the GTG and I feel honoured that some of MY input as a beta tester has gone into this final production version
Orbita brought along baseball caps, watch cases and this GORGEOUS three watch winder the FUTURA 3 which comes with either Black Lacquer or Macassar stands - all for the raffle
Chuck also brought the entire Ernst Benz collection
John B. Holbrook II of Watch Talk Forums and JBH Enterprises
http://www.watchtalkforums.info
http://www.jbhenterprises.net
John donated several copies of one of his best selling e-book's "Macro Watch Photography for Beginners" on CD to the raffle
I personally have this book, and it is excellent
Micah (Molex) of Vintager Straps
http://www.vintagerstraps.com/
Micah gave away tokens for custom watch straps
He makes every strap by hand himself he has no factory, no employees and no mass production.
As he says "it's just you, me and your strap"
The legendary Hannes of the German Rolex forum
http://www.r-l-x.de
Hannes donated some goodies for the raffle too - a bunch of full sized "European" Rolex catalogues - not those post card sized ones you get in the USA!
And the lucky winner of the Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon is...
Matthew!
John Holbrook / Jeff Hess / Matthew / Dan Hall
And the lucky winner of the Orbita Futura 3 is...
Kevin!
Kevin (of Orbita Corporation) Kevin (winner of the Futura 3) Evelyn Agnoff (of Orbita Corporation)
Time for the table shot - I have to say for 80+ WIS in attendance, this was the weakest table shot I have seen. I've seen better ones in coffee shops :-(
Time for the "GMT Evolution" shot - a crazy idea I had before the GTG
A HUGE thank you to everyone for bringing their GMT's and making this shot possible!
The watch talk continues long after the GTG has ended
And spills out onto the street outside the venue
LarryK says "Goodbye" Brooklyn style - which looks a lot like "Hello" Brooklyn style
Steph shows us why she is called DiamondGirl ("Dee Gee")
We jump into our taxi and make our way back to the hotel
Since I was last in NYC all the cabs have their own touch screen TV's with local information, maps etc which is very easy to use and really helpfull
And so, I move off in the night for a post GTG meal with Chung Lee, "The Unicorn" David, Leo, Steph, Chris and Will
But that is another story...
If you want to see MORE watches from the GTG then please paste this link into your browser:
All text and images contained in this web site are the original work of the author, Harry III, and are copyright protected. Use of any of the information or images without the permission of the author is prohibited.
*Apart from:
The picture of "Macro Photography for Beginners" which is the original work of John B. Holbrook, II and is copyright protected. Image used with the permission of the author.
The picture of the Vintager Strap which is the original work of Micah Dersden and is copyright protected. Image used with the permission of the author.
