Credit card processing problems - resolved (updated 5-21)
The online cart system seems to be acting up. If you have a problem paying by credit card please call me after submitting your order. We will take your card information over the phone until the problem is fixed. We have been able to process the cards manually through our processor. Sorry for any inconvenience.
After a software upgrade the online cart system is now processing credit cards automatically once again.
E-mails caught up to March 28th
with a handful of exceptions e-mail is caught up to March 28th. Due to the nature of e-mail access here and the volume of SPAM that is waiting for me to sort through I will have to download and reply to the messages received after March 28th when I return to Pennsylvania on the 12th.
E-mails going out again
I was able to find a way to send out e-mails while in Basel. Because of my current schedule of meetings and the amount of SPAM waiting for me in the inboxes I will be going through the backlog first and then downloading new messages in a few days.
If there is anything urgent please call me at 484 683-1875. Please note that I since this is US cell phone I don’t think long distance charges will apply but they might since I am “roaming” here in Switzerland.
E-mails
I will begin responding to the backlog of e-mails in the next 24-48 hours before I leave for Switzerland. In order to minimize delays for customers we have been working non-stop to complete as many orders as possible before our trip. Since we have been about 1-2 weeks behind schedule this has required an all out effort.
Travel Notice
I will be traveling to Baselworld (April 3rd through April 10th) to visit customers, friends and suppliers. Please note that orders placed this week may not ship until the 19th of April, depending upon what is requested. Due to the need to ship as many pre-orders of the Sea Fighter as possible, orders for pre-built watches placed after today will ship after I return to the US.
I will only have limited access to e-mail while I am traveling.
Pre-built configuration for Sea Fighter Type II day/date
The survey will only take a minute or two and will help decide the final configuration for one version of the pre-built Sea Fighters. There will be another survey featuring the OCN dial later on.
If you wish to leave an e-mail address you will be entered in a drawing for a free Mk II watch (any one that we have in stock at the time of the drawing)…. 
One entry per person 
Custom Stingray ordering resumes
Custom Stingray ordering is available again! We are able to resume taking orders for the custom Stingray after locating additional ETA 2824 movements. These movements will be featured on the watches ordered from this date onwards. The movements are of the same Elabore quality level as our standard movement but with standard decoration. The movements are nickel plated and have unsigned rotors whereas our standard movement is Rhodium plated with our trademark engraved on the rotor. The accuracy of the movements is the same since these movements are also Elabore grade movements with Incabloc shock protection.
One other change is that the acrylic insert option has been discontinued. We will finish the orders that we have on hand for the acrylic insert but are not taking additional orders. We have been finishing the inserts ourselves and have found the process to be very time consuming and the scrap rates hard to control. If we can find a method that will produce more consistent results or a company to manufacture the parts for us we will reinstate the option. However at this time there is no estimated date as to when this can take place if at all.
Web site update
Please pardon some of the glitches as we work through an update of our site. At the moment the menu bar on the left side of the page may not show up properly for IE 7 users. The texting is defaulting to black on a black background. The site does show up properly in Firefox. The changes we are currently making are informational and stylist in nature so the function of the site should not be impaired.
Vantage/Sea Fighter/Stingray updates
Vantage: Pre-built orders are shipping as quickly as the watches can be checked and regulated. I am taking the liberty of regulating all of the pre-order watches personally. The pre-order discount has been closed. When you receive your watches please let me know what you think!
Sea Fighter: The components for the BUND I Sea Fighter are now in Switzerland. I will confirm with the Swiss contractor next week about when the watches can be expected back. The first custom Sea Fighters will begin shipping next week. With regards to the day/date Sea Fighter I will be launching a contest in the next few days seeking input on the final look for the OCN and Type II dialed versions. The first prize will be a day/date Sea Fighter
Custom Stingray: Ordering will resume again next week. I was able to find about 100 more movements in the same quality grade that I currently use. The movements are all Elabore grade Swiss Made 2824s with Incabloc shock protection. The differences between these movements and ones I currently use are only cosmetic. These movements are Nickel plated rather than Rhodium plated and the rotors are unsigned. The performance will be the same as the ones that I am currently using. At the moment the movements are being checked out and cleaned by a Rolex authorized service center before being returned to me.
Lead times: For custom watches the lead time is currently 6 months. This is taking into account a planned break for 4 weeks in July. Depending upon the status of the GMT watch I may cancel this vacation and stay to work on the GMT project and watch orders. However 24 weeks is the more conservative estimate at this time.
Internet connection
Internet connection is back online again.