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...it's just too beautiful

Yes: Vietnam case Gen crystal Gen crown-tube Gen bezel assembly Gen dial Gen insert Gen bracelet Gen finals TC v2 hands Eta Swiss 2846

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This article was written in 2008 & websites often vanish or move, so YOU may need to research some of the links --freddy333 So you're a Noob. Welcome aboard. You've just found yourself the coolest and most knowledgeable WATCH forum around. The members on this board are some of the saaviest watch afficianodos anywhere and are well versed in replica, gen, vintage and homage pieces, as well as gen and rep movements. There are oustanding writers, photographers, watchmakers and modders as well as up and coming members who have spent hours and days contributing oustanding pieces of information in the form of topic posts, reviews, galleries, tutorials and you name whatever other kind of information you would want. The questions you have as a Noob have probably been asked before...many times before...so many times that the asking of the question AGAIN annoys many of the more senior members so much that the only response you'll get to your query is: USE THE SEARCH FEATURE, NOOB! Many members on this board have helped me so much in the early stages of my rep journey asking for no more payment than to be a positive member of this board, that I felt I should put some effort into putting together a guide to help you enjoy and appreciate the rep world. I'll tell you now...you should use the Search feature located at the top right of the forum screen. You may not IMMEDIATELY find exactly what you want, but the odds are what you want is buried in the various topics that get returned. Do yourself a favour and read seemingly loosely related posts, because you will find nuggets of information that you will find useful, that you probably never thought of asking. Start by being general with your search (e.g. A7750) and then narrowing things down when you learn enough about the topic and need something very specific (e.g. 0.17mm hands a7750). Here's a step by step guide developed using the Search feature, and comprised of posts I have referred many Noobs to in answering their common questions: STEP 1 - Learn the Talk Don't know what we're talking about in the posts? Look here for definitions: Abbreviation wiki The Zigmeister's Glossary If you want your questions answered without getting flamed, learn Forum Etiquette first: Edge's Guide to Rep Forums Pt I Then, learn the basics about reps: Legality of Owning Replicas Best Sub Phoband's intro to collecting If you've got time... Awesome collection of watch info STEP 2 - Start to Crawl Which watch to buy?? Many people will tell you to pick the watch first...then the collector as some collectors can get things that others can't, although most can get the same merchandise as they all deal with the same factories. Read the brand forums...read the reviews and buying guides. By-Tor, Pugwash, Seadweller, Andreww, Chrgod, myself and a bunch of others have written lots of reviews of various pieces to help you find the best of the best. Selecting a collector to buy from is a tricky choice. There is no "best" collector as it depends on many factors: Where you are from - European buyers often pick European based collectors to avoid semi-frequent customs seizures Price - price variances between collectors after incorporating shipping can vary ~$0 - $120 (more for the big ticket items) Availability of a specific piece (some collectors have access to things others do not) How much you value instant communication (within hours vs. within days) Availability of certain modding being done out of the box Your level of patience in dealing with the inevitable quality control (QC) issues that will arise Where should you buy from?? Check the list below. RWG Member Trade Section RWG Recommended Collectors NOTE: Dealer links can be found in the subsections in the Collectors area or HERE RWG Want to Buy (WTB) Section Which dealer or member is the best?? Trade Reviews (Including Reviews of Collectors) If you need to ship to the EU...read this: Problems Shipping Reps From China into the EU If the collector/site you're interested is not listed below, use the Search feature to see if others have asked about the site already. Finding existing answers about a site/collector in question will yield you more info than asking a question that's been asked many times before. Try various spellings of a site (e.g. watcheden, watcheden.com, www.watcheden.com) to make sure it hasn't been asked already. If you can't find info about the site/collector you are interested in, check below: Ripoff List If you still haven't found info on the site/collector you are interested...use common sense. Buy from them if you want, but don't cry to us if you lose your money and don't get a watch, or get a watch that's a piece of crap that you feel you paid too much for. We have recommended collectors listed above for a reason. They may be more expensive than what you can find out there...but these collectors have been around for awhile, members here have had positive experiences from these ones, they supply decent product, and they will not rip you off. Don't forget to Search. Which watch??? That's a matter of personal preference...but you could search for reviews...or go here: Onzenuub's Rep Review Database You might want to read reviews of the movements before picking which rep to buy...some movements make great looking watches but reps with ticking-time-bomb lifespan: The Zigmeister's Movement Reviews Francisco's New and Improved Seconds at 6 Review Francisco's Seconds at 12 Review STEP 3 - You've pulled the trigger...you're waiting to walk You've made your first order...you're now sweating about if it will arrive...and EMS tracking...the wait...the drama...the horror...ooooh...the suspense. Yeah yeah yeah...we've all been there...so has everyone else: Lanikai's Excellent Post on Tracking Your Baby (applies mostly to CONUS...Canada is never an issue...other countries?? Use search.) A not so untypical shipping story Great play by play of waiting for a first order to arrive Aaaaah...my watch was Handed Over to Customs Aaaaah...I live in the EU and my watch was Handed Over to Customs...you may be screwed (contact your dealer for details on this scenario BEFORE ordering. I spent $500 USD and all that got shipped to me was a !@#&'ing TOY!! RWG dealer Recommendations suck. STEP 4 - You've got the watch...now what?? Congratulations!! You have yourself an amazing mechanical marvel...unless you bought a soul-less quartz cheapo (just kidding). Watches are delicate instruments and require careful handling and care. How do I get the most out of my new watch? By reading: The Zigmeister's Basics 101 - Getting the Most Out of Your New Watch The Zigmeister's User Guide for the A7750 If you've never had an automatic watch, you're probably wondering why your watch doesn't keep running after 2 days: My watch stops running...now what?? The Zigmeister's Mechanical Movement User Guide The Zigmeister's 's Care and Feeding Of Mechanical Movements Problems Accelerating Wear and Maintenance of A7750s Does my watch suck? It's loud...not like the gen. A7750 Power Reserve and Rotor Spinning Problems Noisy Rotor and Grease/Oil A7750 Spinning Rotor...is it a problem? If my watch sucks, should I get it repaired? Some say yes...some say no. If you got a cheapo $100 watch...likely the movement is a DG2813 that can be replaced for $12-$40 (for a DG4813) + labour at $50 for a movement swap. That's almost the cost of a new one. If you can do it yourself...it's definitely worth swapping. If you have a gen ETA movement...it should be able to be repaired by a rep friendly watchsmith and is worth doing so as the movement is very reliable. If you got a nice spanky A7750, it can be costly to replace the watch and the movement...so repair may be worthwhile...but expensive as these are complex movements that require great skill to repair. The cost of servicing may be close to the cost of a new watch, but a proper servicing will give you years of RELIABLE service. Many people say unserviced, they still get years of life out of their A7750s. The moral of the story for me is, if you want the watch to last for years, get it serviced. If you like the watch a lot...get it serviced. If it's fun but doesn't get a lot of wrist time, you like it, but you don't love it...sell it...and likely skip the servicing. If you will cry because the watch died prematurely...get it serviced. You can try swapping out your movement: Toad's Movement Swapping Guide - Redux or get a Free Watch instead My watch sort of sucks...I need it repaired: Repair is always the problem with reps. Good watchmakers/watchsmiths are hard to find. Finding one that can work on the extremely complex 7750 (gen or rep) movement is even harder. Finding one that can work on an A7750 is the hardest. Why should my new A7750 watch be serviced? It's new right? Sure it is: Why service your A7750?? How should a mechanical watch be serviced? Things to know about rep servicing The Zigmeister's Post on the British Horological Info on How Watches SHOULD be Serviced To find a rep friendly watchsmith or watchmaker try searching RWG. You can start by looking here: Advanced Search and plugging in "watchsmith" or "watchmaker " in a Titles Only search. Use The Zigmeister, where possible but read this post first Who is The Zigmeister and where do I find him? ...or Thomson Highway in Europe ...Francisco seems to do amazing work as seen in Francisco's Forum Subsection ...or Domenico seems to be getting good reviews (though I've never used him) - Domenico ...or the phone book or shopping mall repair folks My watch definitely sucks...I want to return it to China: Play the rep game long enough (or if you're unlucky, even your first rep), and you'll get a dud. Maybe it's a movement, maybe the wrong watch, maybe a crooked crystal, crooked hour marker, etc). If yours is DOA or has some issues: Search RWG to see if they are known issues Search RWG to see what other people have done about the issues If the issue is a warranty thing...contact your collector and seek resolution If no resolution found with the vendor, complain about it hereonly AFTER you have attempted resolution so others can be informed of your experience Ship it back to China for warranty repair/replacement How do I return my watch to China? Returning your watch to China STEP 5 - You're walking now...how do you keep things running? Odds are good if you bought a chrono, it has an A7750 movement: What A7750 do I have or should I buy? There are so many versions... The Zigmeister's User Guide for the7750 Movement Care and Feeding of A7750 Chronos - Setting the Date The Zigmeister's Explanation of why handwinding your A7750 is bad This watch is great. Can I take it swimming? Read here for water resistance testing: Reps and Waterproofness Pugwash's Water Resistance Testing Post Greasing Gaskets and 4' Pressure Testing What is Water Resistance? Water Resistance Testing Home Brew Pressure Tester STEP 6 - Walking to running Ok...you love your watch but want it just that little bit more accurate. What can you do? How To Adjust Timing or Beat Can anyone do mods on my watch? The Zigmeister's Post on Questions to Ask a Modder I want to take it to the next level and put a real Swiss Valjoux 7750 movement in my chrono...just like the gen? Swapping Swiss Rotors with Asian on 7750s Takashi's A7750 to Swiss Tutorial Ajoesmith's A7750 to Swiss Tutorial How do I do STUFF to my watch? Francisco's Amazing Tutorial Section RWG Knowledge Base You want improved AR? Chieftang AR. The King of AR!! You want lume? Do a search on "The Watchmeister" (pass through parameter links don't work anymore) NOTE: The Watchmeister is not a full-time watchsmith so his client list is essentially sort-of closed. What does this mean?? Read: Who is The Watchmeister and where do I find him? Everest Watchworks STEP 7 - Take a rest...you've come far grasshopper...you can now leave the Mountain You're enjoying your watch...now put back into the community that helped you so much. Post some pics...write a review...encourage other Noobs...etc Pugwash's Guide on How to Post Pics ...start working on your own watches RWG Links to Where to Buy Tools RWG Watch Repair and Upgrade Section Practice and memorize everything here: The Zigmeister's Technical Info Subsection The Zigmeister's Watchmaking Resource Centre STEP 8 - Be thankful for this amazing resource The information I've provided above is gold. I know you will find it useful. I've saved you months of time searching...and have helped you get up and running quickly and relatively painlessly. The info presented here is by no means comprehensive as the forum has TONNES more to offer. SEARCH. The info above is worth far more than a stack of watch mags, books, etc...so Upgrade Your Membership and stop being a freeloader. If you're so broke you can't afford the small amount to be a Supporter...maybe you shouldn't be buying watches. If you can't afford to support the forum financially...support it through content, buy raffle tickets, post topics, reviews, news...interesting stuff...and Upgrade your membership and support the forum Don't Forget the Upgrade is a Subscription

So, here is what is done better explained with a quick sketch of the mod performed. Skecth is just for illustration, it is not a working drawing... The top of the case is shaved slanted: looking at the drawing you will understand why I believe it is the best option. Shaving it flat can't work as we can't modify the inner part of the case on a budget as that would imply very expensive works that would exceed the price of a Vietnam made case. And the point here is to stay around 1/2 the price... Therefore, you can all get now why the retaining ring has to be modified too to sit properly on the case. Here is a case un-mounted, so you can see the shape of the parts. Once it is assembled you can't see at all that slope. That's the trick !!!! Now you know. Enjoy the pics.

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Up on the mountain with the old Rover and Big Gonzo

Gold x blue.

Ceramic diver

My thoughts also go out to our victims and their loved ones during this horrid times of grief. Life is just so fragile and one never truly knows when that morrning or evening will be our last one with our loved ones. I speak on the anniversary of my father's passing exactly 3 years ago today. One event that I remember at my mother's funeral some 12 years ago when I noticed something out of the ordinary just as we were leaving the sermon and were making our way into the hall next door for the wake, It wasn't about who was there nor how many people had attended as I did not know half of those that had attended nor would I ever recognise them. It then struck me that I saw a gentleman wearing his kippah, another was a Sikhu Indian and also a Syrian man that I knew was a Muslim that seldom came to have his clothes altered at my mother's Seamstress boutique. I found this event very sorrowful but at the same time very peaceful and also quite bliss. At the wake I saw many of them mingle with each other and saw both the Jewish gentleman and the Syrian gentleman speak with 3 other people while holding their cup of tea/coffee. I asked myself why could this not be in every corner of the globe?? When my mother was single, she had been a volunteer at a church orphange having always had a passion for children where she had also been an au paer both in paid and unpaid work.. I recall as a teenager many years ago, where some people I hardly knew would stop to say hello to mum and it was only after I had asked my mother who they were that I knew the correlation, My mother never saw this event but I damm wished she did because she was all about peace and indoctrinated into her children the same. Bros, please lets cherrish and respect one another as when one thinks about how long we live in comparison to how long we remain dead, we can just about say we never lived!!!

For the 15400 rep, it is generally very well done, and one of very good quality to be honest. The thickness would not be an issue on the wrist, as a salient portion of the extra thickness comes from the caseback and most of the time, this is just not noticeable on the wrist. The thickness is apparent when the watch isn't worn, and placed side by side vs the gen, on the table for example. The only real issue with the replica, in my opinion, is the datewheel font. I would prefer an A2824 movement transplanted to the watch, and by doing so, aftermarket datewheels like Edge's or the omega datewheel can be used. The JF V2 15400 is an excellent choice and currently the best on the market in terms of case construction and finish, which is mostly what this watch is about.

Good eye! Even better than that, this is the "Black Lung" version of the SUB300 "No T". I've been able to verify the existence of 11 worldwide. Eleven. According the Vargas (Doxa's lawyer that ran this project) that's about how many were made.

Hello, I have a franken 1016 that I had built back in 2012 that I have never quite been happy with and am considering trying to improve. It is built on a gen Rolex 16030 case set, gen 1570 movement, Ingot gilt chapter ring dial, JMB bezel, gen tropic 22 crystal, Yuki 7206 rivet bracelet. I never had the lug holes drilled larger, so was thinking that would be a first step. Also, the case is a bit worn/beat up looking. Was thinking about having it refinished (polished on the sides, brush on top of lugs). Lastly, the Yuki rivet bracelet has never fit the case well, the end links are kind of ill fitting and bent, along with the rivets of the first link contacting the lugs of the case. Is this normal for these? I found a local watch smith that use to be an authorized Rolex repair center (no longer), should he be able to handle all of these issues? Would I be better off just buying a JMB V2 case set? These didn't exist to my knowledge when I had this one put together back in 2012. Thanks

I'd send it to Mike in NY (I could never spell his RWG username out. lol.)

"Would I be better off just buying a JMB V2 case set? These didn't exist to my knowledge when I had this one put together back in 2012." Probably be Ok as long as the 1570 will work in the JMB case and my guess is it should. I do not have a 15xx no date movement handy so I can not try one to see if it will fit the JMB case. I stuck a '1016' together a few years ago with a genuine 162xx case and 1570 and everything went together Ok but the case appeared to be a bit thick compared to a genuine case. The JMB V2 case looks better so I got one for another '1016' project but never finished it. A 1575 date movement is about .5mm thicker than a no date movement and this can cause the stem to be too far toward the back in some cases. A no date rolex 15xx will fit in a 16200 case and a 15xx date movement will work in a 16000 case.

This is the nuts mate - Thanks for posting it is a real help