Okay, folks, gather ’round, let me tell you about this little project I’ve been messing with. It all started when I stumbled upon this watch, the Richard Mille RM 11-03. Now, I’m no watch expert, but this thing, it’s a beauty. But the price? Don’t even get me started. It’s like, mortgage-your-house expensive. So, being the practical guy I am, I thought, “Can I get something that looks like this without, you know, going broke?”
I started digging around online. Forums, watch blogs, you name it. I was looking for something that had that same cool, barrel shape, that skeleton look where you can see all the insides moving, and that wasn’t going to cost me an arm and a leg. And let me tell you, the pickings were slim.
Then, I found it. The Chenxi 8865. Now, this isn’t a Richard Mille, not by a long shot. But it’s got that barrel shape, it’s got that skeleton thing going on, and it’s an automatic, which means it winds itself as you move. Best part? It’s dirt cheap. Like, seriously cheap.
So, I ordered one. While I was waiting, I kept looking at pictures of the RM 11-03. I noticed it had this flyback chronograph function. Basically, it’s a fancy stopwatch that lets you reset it without stopping it first. Cool, right? I also saw that it’s an automatic movement, meaning the insides power the watch as you wear it.
- Barrel shape – Check.
- Skeleton look – Check.
- Automatic – Check.
- Cheap – Double check!
The Chenxi arrived, and honestly, I was pretty impressed. For the price, it’s a decent little watch. But I wanted to see if I could make it look a little more like the RM 11-03. Maybe find a similar strap or something that might make it a bit more like it.
I looked on some websites, and man, some of those RM 11-03s are going for over $200,000! Mine was more like 20 bucks, and that was good enough for me. My watch isn’t a fancy one like the RM 11-03, but it’s my little project.
I’m still messing around with it, trying to see how close I can get it to look like the real deal. It’s a fun little hobby, and it’s definitely cheaper than buying a real Richard Mille!
The Takeaway?
You don’t need to spend a fortune to enjoy a cool-looking watch. With a little bit of research and some creativity, you can find something that scratches that itch without breaking the bank. And hey, it’s a fun project to work on!
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