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Dear all, before I start I want to thank this really nice community! I already bought some nice pieces here from some members and met some really friendly people - Also from Germany or Netherlands. Lots of support here!! I did not know that the scene would be so big in Germany too. Sorry to copy and paste that from my IWC thread. But I am really impressed here! So here is my work log for my Franken Rolex Submariner 16610LV and of course I have some questions!! What I have: TW-Best case (same case BK uses) 50th anniversery edition (green insert and bigger indexes) dial GEN crown GEN LV insert GEN crystal Yuki Tube Datewheel from the latest Seadweller Noobfactory bracelet (overworked) Cousins Bezel Click Spring The movement needs to be changed to an Swiss ETA 2836. Already have it here - See pictures below. First questions: Is this a good base to move on? Are there better cases available? Is the GEN dial worth to change? The bracelet is too short for my wrist. Is this the best REP bracelet I can get or would you recommend this. GEN is to expensive in my opinion. So what are your thoughts? Any other ideas or hints or feedback? Thanks!!

There used to be a better 2220.80 available a few years ago. http://www.ttw168.co...roducts_id=1387 this one is just not what I'd want from a relatively expensive rep these days. Anyone that knows the watch would know it's a rep in a few seconds. The chrono is the one to go for.

Once again sorry for your situation. I cannot imagine how difficult it is. You are a very strong individual for doing what you have to do. Just remember to lean on your family and freinds from time to time to help you. And If we can help just let us know. Along those lines if we see anything in your collection of interest is it OK to PM you with a question?

Ugh.. Michael Kors. That's all I can think when I see those watches come through my store

I use an acrylic water-based 'glo-paint' from an artists store, about $5. I then use a 99¢ kid's paint set, those dried ones in the tray you add water to, and take some of the color to tint the glo-paint. Like you said, if you goof up, a wet tissue wipes it right off and you get a do-over!

ok so from what I heard I believe that mine is basicly an updated v2 h fac so not really sure if the're calling it a v3 or a v2.5 , I heard alot of the v2's had bad movements and that was one of the updates ,with that being said I did not see pics of movement in q.c. but did see on timagrapher thing and it was running -3secs /day. Out of my 4 different a7750's the only one that I had trouble w/ and had to send back was the one that has the regulator ,So not really sure how important that is but all my watches that I bought from josh run+or- 5 secs Now other dealers sell the noob v3 witch I dont know much about but in my opinion the hfac is better, and alot people think so too. the tells on mine are basicly just the dial embossing isnt as crisp as gen. or v 3 noob ,and manufacture date is wrong between lugs, the v3 has a messed up bezel and few other things. I'd say get the one from josh that I got ,slap a gen. dial in it and call it a day ! good luck hope this helps ya...

I've tried to lume using a template, didn't work for me. I tried taping off the coronet, toughest for me, using that blue painter's tape. But that didn't work either. The tape pulls the new lume up with it. So, I do it free hand, and practice, practice, practice. First i remove all the old lume. On gilt dials I use a toothpick and sandpaper to a 'chiseled' point and gently try to 'pop' the lume off. Luming, the round markers are easiest. I take a round toothpick and flatten the point to just about the size of the marker inside the gilt. I touch the flattened point in the lume and just touch the marker as centered as I can. Sometimes I need to do it twice to get enough in there, but after a little practice one dip and one dap and it's done nicely. The straight markers are more difficult, and the coronet is most difficult. I have tried many things, including an oiler, needles, toothpicks, etc, all not very good. Then I got from an artist supply store a nib pen and point. The pen shape gives me more control, maybe because it feels more comfortable. I dip the pen point a little heavier than for the round markers, and touch at the top of the marker, and draw a straight line. On the coronet I outline the triangle the same way, then fill in the center. Many here do it much better than I do, but I can mix the color I want, and not have to mail and wait. From my earliest attempts to the latest: ]

I often wondered the same thing. My wife managed to Magnatize her (gen) Breitling whilst switching off our subwoofer for the Home Theater. I have also heard of "Safes" with doing similar. Any experts care to chime in on this one?

The reason they can get away with it, and have been for a while is they are a business, and they can control who they sell to. If they don't like what a AD is doing, or they suspect he is selling parts secondhand, they as a company have the right to shut off his parts account. It's happened in a lot of other industries, where dealers were selling below the MSRP, which is fine until another dealer down the street rats you out, and then the manufacturer will probably warn you first, but if it continues, they may well refuse to sell to you. Don't believe for a minute that Rolex doesn't know where a lot of those "take off" parts are going. They aren't stupid by a long shot! Another factor from their standpoint is reliability. Suppose you take your genuine sub to a Rolex repair person, and he decides that you need a crown/tube. Now suppose he replaces your crown/tube with a really used set that came off another watch. You take your watch home and in a few days, weeks, you see moisture under the crystal, or you go to the beach, wear your watch swimming and it floods. You take it back to the repair person, they tell you you must have left the crown unscrewed. He tells you it needs to go to a RSC which repairs your watch to the tune of say 1200.00 USD, now you're mad, and in some cases, rather than taking it out on the guy who installed the old bad crown /tube, you're mad at Rolex for selling you defective parts. This may sound far fetched, but I'm sure they don't want parts reused on Rolex watches, and they darn sure don't want them being used on Reps!! It's all about protecting the brand image, and they,Rolex, could care less whether the independent watchmakers, or customers are not happy with their rules. I firmly believe that the purists will always spend whatever is necessary to keep their Rolex watches "Pure", however the vast majority of Rolex owners are not WIS or Rolex purists, they are just a guy or gal with some disposable cash, who wants a good watch, and wants the prestige of wearing one of the few brands that are instantly recognizable by just about everyone. Those are the folks who, when their watch requires a service will take it to a watchmaker, generally someone local, for their service. If the watchmaker tells them, I think you need a new bracelet to replaced your old stretched bracelet. A new one from Rolex will cost you around 1K, but I can get you a nice replacement ,use your old clasp and end links for around 200.00 USD, and no one will be able to tell the difference.I believe that a lot of folks will buy the 200.00 dollar bracelet and save the rest.I wouldn't think many if any AD's will offer this option,as it could very likely put their parts account standing in jeopardy, but independents who aren't beholden to Rolex would probably do it in a heart beat.

If it was up to me, I'd try a drop of hydrogen peroxide from a toothpick onto a lume marker. Let it soak and see what happens.

Online shopping is absolutely not safe. Several years ago, I got a call from the AmEx fraud dept. They asked me If I had bought any stereo equipment to be sent to Arlington TX? I had not, seems like they found about 4k worth of charges including an airline ticket on Alaska airlines, The thieves also attempted to buy a first class ticket Dallas to London on British Airways, but the BA rep said that they would have to call AmEx to confirm the purchase l.e. AmEx woulld then call me and make sure it was me buyiing the ticket.The thief immediately logged off the BA website. Over the years,I have had several smaller thefts on my cards. What they will do at times will send a few very small "Feeler" charges through to test your cards security, and then hit you for big stuff. Checking your credit card statements frequently,as well as having the credit card company up your fraud alert status. AnEx Delta Skymiles card always asks for my zip code and the last four digits on the card for any purchase over 15-20 dollars. Don't forget it's not just onlins shopping, giving your card to a wiater or waitress at a restaurant is an avenue for fraud. Gas stations are plagued with thieves using card reading equipment that can be concealed inside a pump. They can come by a station at night, pop open a few pumps attach their readers and come back in a few days and remove them, loaded with lots of credit card numbers, names, everything that's on the magnetic strip. Safer to use an oil company gas card with a very low credit limit for purchases at gas stations.Nothing is foolproof, as while you are busy working trying to feed your family, the thieves are sitting around scheming up new ways to steal from you and I.

Pics?

Trusty is very good, but again, I must say that the dealer is not the factory. Trusty has no control over the conditions at the factory. Yes you got a great watch but it is the same watch you can buy from any trusted dealer. Choose a dealer based on price and service. They all sell the same watch.

Even I haven't had anyone who has ever called out what I was wearing. I recently had a friend who came over for dinner. This person used to be a very good friend once ....but now has become snobbish....measuring everything and everyone only in terms of how much money you make (mostly under the influence of his wife ) During the entire dinner....the conversation was how much money he is making/I am making etc. etc. He happened to see my DSSD lying around on the bar counter....picked it up and examined it. Said...nice...how much does it cost. To which my answer was....how much do you think.....he replied...around $10-$15K (Sing $)....and I said you are close. He then insisted on seeing my watch collection .....was more than impressed and said.....Wow....your watch net worth is over $200K. I just smiled. He asked if I ever sell my watches....to which I replied....yes I do ....sometimes(wanted to tell him I have a couple of watches on sale even now ) I would normally never do such a thing.....but it was fun yanking this guys' chain

ya know...it depends on soooo many factors...wear i live, people will notice it as a "nice watch"...most only know media-hyped brands like rolex and tag...breitling?...probably not...AP, VC, Breguet, A.Lange& Sohne, IWC, Panerai, etc, etc -- 99% of the circle of people i befriend, work with, socialize with, have never heard of these brands...so for the most part, i get "that's a nice watch"...which i simply say "thank you"... could i wear a rolex, tag or breitling in my social circle?...sure...i don't own a tag...i will own a rolex after i complete a datejust deal in a couple weeks - roman numerals, silvber dial, ostrich strap...my breitlings draw attention b/c of their size and quality; nopt necessarily b/c they are known to be expensive...since i wear a sfso or skyland - they fit my persona - and my social status would say "sure, he could own one"... i own a hublot, iwc, vacheron constantin, a.lange&sohne, a breguet deal in process and a gen poljot deal in process...i can guarantee you that 98% of the people i interact with will only recognize the rolex... i have attended board meetings in NYC where i know the directors/investors could/would know watches...so, i never wear a hyper-expensive watch like a VC, Breguet, Lange, etc...i will wear a watch like a breitling or something else that most woud think fit my "level".... i'm seriously not all about me...i wear watches as an accessory -- something i enjoy...i have a tissot t-touch and a suunto observer that can tell you altitude and barometric pressure, blah, blah, blah...and many of my friends/colleagues like that these watches look great and "do things"... all in all - i mix gens and reps...and enjoy them...but i am careful when i'm going to a place where i think there are people that might know a VC, IWC, Lange, Hublot, etc...when i'm with a "professional crowd" i wear something "appropriate" that doesn't draw attention... to me...these watches are about design, function and quality...they are for me...and i don't have to justify "me" to anyone other than "me"... (wearing a friggin IWC Ingy on black leather, sipping a glass of merlot, typing to you all on a laptop, as i watch some mindless crapola on my 60" low-key SONY...) R-