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This was the most emotional decision I had to make during the Big Gonzo build. It was, and always will be known as the Great Gonzo Crisis. In the end I chose an ETA 2846 for several reasons. 1030s are getting more scarce by the day, and autowind reversing wheels will only last so long. I intend to use mine in the ocean - a lot - and I cannot justify trashing a 1030 if it leaks. An ETA is durable and easy to replace. So my path chosen, how to make it work? My dial is made on a gen 6538 plate so the feet were wrong. Drilling the ETA base plate is the most elegant solution. The stem height for 2846 vs. 1030 was wrong anyway (too tall) so did I want a spacer? In the end I had Ziggy cut the feet off the dial (please remain calm) and he built a custom movement ring. Then he machined the MQ case to fix the stem height. That's called 100% commitment. A problem arose when I used 1030 spec hands on the ETA. He Who Must Not Be Named had lumed them to exactly match the dial so I needed them. I had one watchmaker attempt to broach them to fit, and he was marginally successful. I wound up sending it to MyManMatt and he did it right. Using gen Tudor gold hands would have been easier if I could have them tinted to match. You'll need a stem adapter to mate a gen 8mm crown to the ETA movement. Now it's together, the movement doesn't move AT ALL in the case, it looks fantastic, keeps perfect time, and it's bulletproof. That's exactly what I wanted. PS: an additional something to consider: http://www.yukiwatch.com/articles/article/7390084/160035.htm

Tough one. Very promising start to this. I'm no expert. If you do go the donor watch route, you can always store the rest of the gen parts safely for future use. Just put the 1030 back in and that piece would be back to good use. So you really aren't damaging anything. I want to try this a few years from now, but I'm starting to lean towards the 5510 now, since I can use a 15xx in it. Seems to be easier to find those.

I'm hankering after a 1680. These pics are killing me.

Fast Freddy, that's a beautiful piece and you're welcome to apply for high value sales permission if you'd like to sell it. I suggest you upgrade to (at least) VIP if you want to sell here. Post hidden.

If anyone cares... Crossovers complete. Just gotta wait for warmer weather to build the enclosures.

I think you are circumventing the system amigo, you need to follow the rules on selling Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Love the Beard mate

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Thanks for the kind words !!! I have a picture showing a few watches..... I have about 10 more vintage rollies. Some under construction, some complete. Some reps, some gens....

Trusty is the only dealer I've dealt with here. Brilliant dealer and an all round good guy. Always quick to reply for me (I'm in Australia), the normal price and a speedy delivery.

for the non believers ..enjoy J12 http://vid1178.photobucket.com/album...psubjznf91.mp4

Haha - words to live by. Thanks for serving, JoeyB!

Thanks. Had I known I'd live this long I would have been more careful.

Welcome Axelconnor As Hayden says, at the bottom of teh homepage is a list of our TD's that we have collectively dealt with 1000's of times, their reputation and service is closely monitored and they are constantly updated by the many members here, so buy safe from them. AJ

Hi mate, welcome. Stick to the Trusted dealers list on this forum. Especially when you're just starting out. For the prices on that site you're not even getting that good of a deal and probably won't get anything at all (at least not like advertised) if it's anything like the mass of non-TDs that most newbies post.

The Crown Guards don't wear beaver, they wear bearskin.

5513 today