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+1 It's highly unlikely that most of will ever see someone wearing a gen FC Diver, so unless you've seen a gen and have a photographic memory, who will notice, indeed!

I have compiled this set of side by side pictures to try to explain to the membership all the differences there are between the two and hopefully finally make clear some confusion, and show the membership how easy it is to mislead buyers on parts that cannot be seen. This may take some time and many edits and picture uploads, so be patient please. Now lest get some things clear, first on ETA, I could rant on about how ETA is the largest Swiss movement maker in the world and blah blah blah, but it is easier if you read for yourself here ( http://www.eta.ch/ and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ETA_SA ). Now that you have read a little about ETA (I hope) we can proceed. Here are some other links on the specific movement we are talking about in this thread which is the 6497 (http://www.monochrom...panerai-cimier/ and http://www.watches-w...?title=ETA_6497 ) Now you should understand that in this case Panerai does not make this movement and the fact that the 6497 has been around for over 60 years. Let me make it very clear ETA MAKES THE GUTS OF THIS MOVEMENT AND PANERAI MAKES ALL THE PRETTY STUFF THAT ADORNS IT OR DRESSES IT UP, PANERAI DOES NOT MAKE THE PARTS THAT GO INTO THIS MOVEMENT sorry about the caps but it seems many just don’t get it. Panerai OEM is ETA OEM because only ETA is licensed to produce those parts, it is all proprietary To ETA. http://www.eta.ch/swisslab/6497/6497assem.swf The 6497 has several variants and two beat rates 6497-1 = 18000vph (low beat) sec. @ 9:00 6497-2 = 21600vph (high beat) sec. @ 9:00 (Gen. Panerai use this movement in their watches, practically impossible to get and very expensive when found) 6498-1 = 18000vph sec. @ 6:00 6498-2 = 21600vph sec. @ 6:00 Most of the parts you will see here will never be seen on the watch itself because they are buried deep within the watches guts. So let’s start with the main plate, this can be considered the chassis of the watch just like on a car. Here you can see three one is REP the middle is stock ETA and right is modded to look gen. but is still a stock ETA. Most important thing to look for when a watch is advertised as Swiss is the stamp markings under the balance wheel. Only true Swiss movements have this and it is stamped not etched, the REP has no markings at all. On the 6497 there are some numbers on it but the most important thig to look for is the ETA crest stamp. I have not finished my write up, but I want to make one thing very clear. Though the parts may look very much alike, the difference is enormous in the quality of the parts. The ETA parts are a great deal superior to the Chinese counterparts. The ETA parts are made of superior metals and seem to be stronger and heftier. One obvious example is the bridge screws I have sheared off several Chinese screws with out putting any torque on them as opposed to the ETA, they are hardened and I have yet to shear one off. So please don't be fooled as too how similar they are, the main difference is in the quality and longevity of the ETA parts. Back: Front: Now let’s look at the components that go on the front of the base plate and under the dial. This consists of the list of parts pictured below, most of these parts are never seen. Slide pinion: Virtually identical Winding pinion: Also identical Setting lever: Only difference is finish Yoke: Identical Yoke spring: Identical, the ETA might be a little shiner Setting wheel and Intermediate setting wheel: Only differences is finish, ETA is smoother and shinier Minute wheel: Only difference is finish Set lever jumper: Identical, I added a modded one to show how Panerai brushes theirs, beyond that they are the same Set lever jumper retaining screw: Color is different and Rep is slightly domed on the top and ETA is flat Cannon pinion: ETA has a smother finish and brighter shine Hour wheel: Rep is shinier, however Panerai uses a brass wheel see second picture More to come, need to take more pictures to post below Now lets flip the movement and see what parts are in the back side. These parts are more important because here is where all the main mechanical parts of the watch reside. And in the case of some Panerai watches these parts are completely visible to anyone who looks at the back of the watch, and where the largest amount of "tells" are. Escape wheel Third wheel: The third wheel on the ETA 6497-2 is brushed but not on the 6497-1, on the REP. they are too shiny, I mod them to look more gen. Lighting is different on the picture but they are all a light gold tone Second wheel (they come with long lower pivot for second hand or short pivot for no second hand configurations): The third wheel on the ETA 6497-2 is brushed but not on the 6497-1, on the REP.. they are too shiny, I mod them to look more gen. Lighting is different on the picture but they are all a light gold tone Center wheel:The center wheel on the ETA 6497-2 is brushed but not on the 6497-1, on the REP. they are too shiny, I mod them to look more gen. Lighting is different on the picture but they are all a light gold tone Bridge screws(bolts):The ETA is a thicker screw and has a small grip, while the REP has no grip at all. The color is different as well Barrel: Setting lever screw Crown wheel ring Crown wheel Crown wheel screw Click spring Click Click screw Ratchet Wheel Ratchet wheel screw Pallet fork: Pallet bridge: Pallet bridge screws: Balance: Panerai movement which is the ETA 6497-2 use the Glucydur balance that is made and licensed by ETA, the 6497-1 however does not. Glucydur and the balance wheel One of the trademark features of ETA movements is their Glucydur balance wheels, which look like this: Incabloc shock system: Not made by ETA but by Incabloc S.A. and used on ETA movements I hope this helps members understand the differences between the REP parts and the OEM ETA parts. Most of the parts are identical and function the same. I use the ETA parts on my builds because in some cases the ETA parts are built heftier and are obviously made with quality materials. Thanks for looking........

Actually, eight is a few too many. I plan on putting a few of these beauts on the block in the coming week, but for now my little collection is as large as she's ever been and I must say standing in front of the box is a nice place to start my day. From left to right here be my children: 1. "Kung Fu Panda" - Newest to the herd - Franken 3714-04 Reverse Panda. Gen Movemen, Dial, hands, crown and buckle on Peter.watch black Croc. 2."The Bold and the Beautiful" - Franken 3717. "Gen if you can see it" (Case, Crystal, Dial, Hands, Date wheel). ETA 7750 with Rep Bracelet. 3."Spots on the Moon" - Gen Omega 861 Speedmaster customized with LE 35th Anniversary Panda Dial/Hands on Peter.watch black Croc. 4. "Blue Moon" - Gen Omega Saphire Sandwich Speedmaster customized with LE 40th Anniversary Gemini Dial, Broad Arrow Hands/Bezel on Black Croc. 5. "One and Only" - Franken 1665 DRSD with Palpatinized Old School MBW case, Ubi date wheel, RepAustira Caseback, Gen Crown/Tube, Bezel, Superdome 39, CPW Dial, ETA 2836 on black Kangaroo NATO (set includes Mary's 7036 bracelet, Rivet Bracelet and gen bracelet clasp). 6. "My Pamela" - PAM 390 Super Rep - V3 111N case, 390H Dial, Hands, Caseback on Heroic 18 Strap. 7. "My First Great" - 1:1 Omega Speedmaster Date Super Dooper Rep Red/Black. My first Rep and now pretty much unobtainable. 8. "Orange Crush" - Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Super Rep - Well known Planet Ocean Orange 42 running ETA and Sunnydale Super AR Crystal In all, 2 Modified Gens, 3 Frankens to various degrees and 3 Stock/Stock/Mods. Financials: 2 Modded High(ish) End Gens = 6 Reps (4 High End, 2 Stock/Mod) ...or to put it another way, Gen and Rep inverstment about equal. So, Rep world definitely provides more bang for the buck. But, as we say a gen is - a gen. Thanks for looking.

Had the pleasure of trying one of these on yesterday, wow is all I can say mate, that strap makes it too

I'm pretty much stuck with this one ! I lost my bank safe key and wait for at least 6 months hoping it will be returned! If not, I'll have to spend 360€ to get the safe broken

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'I was just suprised that the watches I loved in pictures, I thought "meh" in real life, and those that I thought "meh" in pictures, I love in real life' True mate and testament to that I bought a Beaut Modded AP from a member yesterday, not that keen in the pics but love it once I had it on my wrist ! I was also fortunate to try out a Hublot BB too again loved it on the wrist bugger another one on the wishlist !

This beauty today.

I have a 3.5, go with the 3.5 Best thing to do, imho, is buy the clone version and swap the movement later, so you are sure that the swiss eta is really swiss