Nanuq, that is an awesome story. I love it. That is exactly the reason why if I try to attempt something of this magnitude, I do it right. It has to be like yours and dbane's, otherwise it's a replication. A rep serves a purpose too, but you would never have had that kind of bonding experience wearing a mere rep.
I view vintage auto restoration the same way as these vintage watch restoration projects. If someone pulls up outside a restaurant driving a Corvette Stingray, it is completely irrelevant whether they purchased it recently, if they are the original owner, or if they sourced every part and assembled it from the ground up. It is stunning and awesome regardless. Showing it at an auto show or selling it is different, and then provenance and full disclosure plays a vital role. A Stingray is a Stingray whether one part inside the engine compartment is an aftermarket part built to OEM specs or if it was original. Again, selling and showing bring those details out to the open but not for pure enjoyment.
Anyway, there is a wealth of knowledge here and this place is like a PhD program for vintage watch building!
Dbane, thanks for the link. I can't wait to drool over your piece.