HoustonHorn

Yeah, he did an awesome job on a couple of my app logos several years back.

look what just flew in.

Always a good idea to have the bracelet.

Excellent, love it on the strap!

Great looking watch! I me sure about Nomos until I tried a couple on and they are fantastic. Congrats!

Yeah, the UUUU bump is nice. Was hoping it would drop so I could pick up some more.

It really is crazy. Used today to average down some. For about the 5th time.

Cool, thank you!

This was from a few days ago and led to it going up over $6. Seems like pretty good news. I realize its just Phase I, but with several other treatments also in the pipeline, it seems like only 1 hitting would get this back up very significantly. ImmunityBio Inc (NASDAQ: IBRX) achieved a significant milestone with over 80 subjects in the QUILT-3.032 study completing at least 12 months of follow-up as of January 14. QUILT-3.032 is evaluating VesAnktiva plus BCG in subjects with BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer carcinoma in situ (NMIBC CIS). All data have been locked and analyzed. The results continue to demonstrate a sustained clinically meaningful benefit. Also See: ImmunityBio's Ankitva Shows 100% Survival At Two Years In Bladder Cancer Setting. The U.S. marketing application has been compiled and, following final quality review, is expected to be submitted to the FDA this month. The FDA granted Fast Track Designation to the pivotal trial based on Phase 1 data. "With 71% of the participants in this study having a complete response and a median duration of response of 26.6 months, we believe we have a clinically meaningful therapeutic alternative for patients suffering from NMIBC in which the only option remaining is total cystectomy," said Patrick Soon-Shiong, Executive Chairman and Global Chief Scientific and Medical Officer Price Action: IBRX shares closed 4.13% higher at $6.05 during after-hours trading on Friday. Also, this: Is there something underlying this stock that keeps it in the shitter, other than my owning it? Or maybe that is the problem.

I'd just be interested in knowing the scheduling order so I know when to pay attention.

Yeah, I'm still holding and wouldn't mind adding if there's a chance they get out of litigation and can resume operations. Sounds like that isn't possible currently. I realize that may be a pipe dream, but I'd be willing to gamble a $1k on the potential upside if it ever did make it back to even 10% of my original buy in. Is there any reddit forum or other site that may have any news at all?

So is this about to go back up? Wasn't even trading for a long time so haven't even been able to dump my shares. Wouldn't mind watching it run a little bit and getting back some of my losses. Any news?

I unfortunately did not get into watches and especially high-end watches in time and have completely missed the boat on any of the high flyers. Without a long purchase history, there is no opportunity to get into brands like Patek/AP/VC. Its frustrating for sure. I've moved on to independent brands. I have Moser, a Holthinrichs, and anOrdain (on order) and hopefully a Sartory Billard at some point later this year. I think there is a LOT of value in the independents right now even though the prices have already gone up significantly over the past couple years and they are becoming increasingly difficult to get due to increasing demand. But they aren't unobtainable yet. As part of this process, my desire to spend money on larger brands has greatly diminished. My appreciation for hand finishing, creative and unique designs, and the personal relationship developed with small independent watchmakers has surpassed my desire to buy a higher-end, but ultimately mass produced watch. Its a different experience, probably much more akin to people who truly collect vintage watches. Their experience of buying the watch is enhanced by the extensive search to find the exact right watch and finally buying it. Mine comes from the interaction with the brand/watchmaker themselves and knowing the people behind the watch and interacting with them and in some cases being involved in the actual creative process to some degree (the level varies depending on the brand and the relationship).

Agreed to a point. There is some level of appreciation for extremely innovative design and great finishing that has some worth. But I don't feel like its worth spending that much when its missing the heart (movement). If you need to know the time, look at your cell phone, work phone, computer, or the microwave/oven/appliance. The time is everywhere, but its the ability to create such an incredibly small, mechanical movement that requires nothing buy human interaction (either handwinding or by moving around) to tell the time to an unbelievable accuracy that fascinates me so much. The hand finishing is also what makes it truly something special and why I've graduated from more mainstream brands to independents. My Speemaster Racing has a beautiful movement. But its machined. Handmade craftsmanship to such a fine detail is just about as impressive to me as the movement itself.

They are definitely an incredible manufacturer as well. As you said, they are able to produce a significant amount of watches of incredibly high quality. A large part of that is due to their iterative design process. If you don't change much year after year, you can refine it to the nth degree. And your R&D/engineering resources are focused specifically on that refinement and quality instead of creative design. It's a perfect marriage of engineering/manufacturing, quality, inventory control, and marketing. Rolex will be studied for decades to come as a model for success. And you're also right that other brands are starting to do something similar. Tightening up supply, reducing AD margins, controlling inventory by moving from ADs to brand boutiques, and cracking down on the grey market which is resulting in scarcity and increased demand. Prices are rising as a result. Covid provided the perfect cover to accelerate that process. Gone are the days of 50%+ discounts on the grey market for new watches. Regarding finishing, Rolex finishing is pretty industrial even compared to other major brands like Omega. It isn't in the same league as high-horology which is hand finished. Of course, they use a steel caseback, and most people don't really care about movement finishing (another thing I'm an outlier on). Rolex is the perfect watch for the masses.

I had a couple watches as a kid, but they were quartz and I never really connected. My dad wasn't a watch guy, and I played golf every day so I just never really got into them until about 6 years ago when buying my wife a Rolex. I tried a few on and liked them more than I figured I would. An Explorer II and a Milgauss. Maybe even then I knew a sub wasn't really something that caught my eye. My first real watch was a Magrette that I got after reading the thread on Shaggy and falling in love with Cushion-Shaped cases. My first big purchase was an IWC Spitfire and I remember trying on a blue Overseas Chronograph and absolutely loving it. But $20k on a watch was unfathomable to me. Wish I had that one now. My tastes are all over the place (what can I say, I appreciate beauty in all forms /novicmackey) and as a result I own a lot of watches. My grail was a GO 70s, which I picked up about 6 months ago and is easily my favorite watch. Instead of satisfying my obsession, it basically fueled it as I really started to get into independent watches and high horology. That is a habit that I can't afford. But the watch industry being what it is right now, I think there are some investment possibilities outside of Rolex/AP/PP. As many smaller independent brands have just now started up in the past few years, the low production and increasing demand is already beginning to raise the prices for these watches at a pretty significant rate. I have convinced my wife of this and that has allowed me to continue making some purchases as an alternative investment strategy. The ultimate goal is to move into the watch industry in the next 3-5 years full time, specializing in independent brands. While I still have a preference for "sports" watches, I'm moving more and more towards interesting, currently unknown bespoke brands (outside of watch circles) that trend dressier. I don't know that any will explode like FP Journe, but I do think the rarity will result in them maintaining value and increasing over time as more an more people become aware of the possibilities. Having a watch that is the only one in the world that is custom made to your exact desires is pretty fucking cool. Plus, you develop a relationship with the watchmaker themselves, and if one of them does eventually turn into the next FPJ, you have an opportunity to be high on the list to get other watches. As PP/AP/FPJ are now basically unobtainable unless you have an extensive purchase history, more and more people are moving to the next big thing. MB&F, DeBethune, Gronenfeld, Laurent Ferrier, etc. are all the same as FPJ from the standpoint of being difficult to get and extremely high priced. I missed that boat unfortunately (unless my financial situation changes dramatically), so working on the next wave of up and comers which are in the sub-$10k range. A lot of collectors consider "investment" as a terrible word within the watch industry. I see it as an opportunity to build because these independents are so new and its like getting in on the 2nd floor (3+ years ago would have been the ground floor). For less bespoke, but still extremely limited brands, there are opportunities to upgrade over time. Moser, imo, is one of the most exciting independent brands. I'm not in a position to buy one of their perpetual calendars or a Streamliner at this point, but I can get an entry level Pioneer. If that ends up going up (and prices are already going up), then maybe I sell and get an Endeavour and if that goes up maybe it gets to a point where I can sell it and get the perpetual calendar that I'll keep. If it doesn't go up, I still have an incredible watch that I love wearing. Czapek and Parmigiani Fleurier are two others that are very limited, but have more extensive distribution channels and widening recognition (mostly because they offer incredible sports watches which is a big driver for generating interest). Both are incredible investments at this point if you can get them. I know the Czapek light blue that came out in the last couple months sold out almost immediately and had a waiting list into 2023. Some models are listed at double retail on Chrono24 right now and seem to be selling closer to 50% above retail. The PF Tonda is also extremely popular. The GMT Rattrapante they announced at W&W is probably my favorite watch from that entire show. The IWC Portuguiser is a beautiful watch. IWC is killing it right now. My Spitfire isn't in the same league, but its still one of my favorite watches that I own. Not sure what GO you are looking at, but they are fantastic watches. One of my favorite brands.

I know there are online services but would much rather use the Surly collective and get a real designer. Not sure if @Xminus6 is around much or if there is anyone else interested. Please message me.

I know you've mentioned Sinn in the past. I definitely like Sinn alot (German watches in general) but haven't pulled the trigger on one yet. Interesting to see them get into some colored dials as well with the 556. I like them but a bit of a departure for a brand known as a tool watch company. Rolex has nice watches. They have a formula and they don't deviate much from that formula and they are probably the best run company from an inventory control and marketing perspective in the history of the world. Watchmaking to me is about passion and creativity and creation of incredible mechanical devices. Rolex is the opposite of that, so they don't hold any appeal for me personally. I think brands are realizing a few things. More women are getting into watches and 37-40mm watches work for both sexes. This had a LOT of impact for a variety of reasons that I'll probably expand on at some point. They also have seen microbrands explode in popularity with a large variety of colors and designs. A few big brands have been doing color for years now and it's finally getting more mainstream (thanks Rolex). This isn't your father's watch market anymore. Especially since most brands are owned by luxury conglomerates (nobody understands marketing better) . Watches were strictly tools for the majority of their existence. Function over form. But watchmaking is truly an art and watches as tools are essentially useless in today's world other than very specific instances. They are simply luxury accessories now and as such more people are looking at them as an opportunity for individual expression. It's jewelery for men and another expensive jewelry item for women. Modern technology has also allowed a lot of non-watchmaking designers/architects/etc. to become watch designers and bring those watches to market and market them very effectively with social media. You also have the creative element behind the watches, the watchmakers, stepping out from under their brands and creating incredible, unique, and beautiful products. Add in the inate desire many people have for physical assets both for materialism and now investment assets and its a perfect storm. Microbrands are now generating an entirely new wave of higher end watch buyers for the future. I really don't see this slowing down for the next 5-10 years.

Yep, absolutely this. Big ego or not he's fucking on the ground in a war zone helping refugees. His balls are bigger than his ego. Good for him. The watch community held an auction to support his efforts at www.wck.org and raised a quarter million dollars. His visibility was a big part of the decision to hold that auction and support World Central Kitchen. So hopefully he keeps it up.

I would absolutely get that VC if I had any in with VC. Actually, the guy in our Redbar group here is the North American Online Sales Manager for VC. He basically said that even if he wanted one, he goes to the back of the line. Another guy I have bought a watch (non-VC) from carries VC, but he already told me the Overseas is a several year waiting list. So I imagine this 222 is going to be at least as hard to get, if not harder.

I know you have some nice watches, I hope a lot of them are VCs, because this will be crazy hard to get unless you're in for 6 figures already.

Rolex makes nice watches but I can't imagine paying over retail for one. Plus I just don't really care to wear something everyone else has. I personally think the Liminality is cool and I own another Holthinrichs that is much more subdued but still offbeat. Holthinrichs Raw Ornament and my watch for today, Moser Pioneer Centre Seconds. For the price people are paying for a sub, you can get a Moser Pioneer which is a much better watch.

Do you need a safe space?

I can see that now that you mention it.

I realize most here aren't into independent brands, but I love them. Anyone else here like this? *ducks* Holthinrichs Liminality