shultz

Aaaaargh! That's a bargain I guess!

@ kruzer00 Hi, removing the mvt. of the chrono Avenger isn't that difficult because the mvt. holder ring is different to the Seawolf which is much more solid. I could finish my Avenger chrono project without any problems because the holder is just a simple 7750 fitting item . All parts did fit butter soft, even the height of the inner tachy ring was the same as on the rep. @ Randy Refering to the rep dial's rehaut which is different to the gen: There is a bigger height of the rehaut of the Seawolf rep which depends on the thickness of the sapphire crystal. The gen watch has a very thick sapphire crystal and a smaller height of the rehaut. I found a report about that watch in an old watch magazine yesterday and could see that the gen crystal is 5mm (!) thick. Don't forget that watch was constructed as a diver's tool watch. To fitting the thick crystal it has a tachy ring/ rehaut which isn't that high as on the rep. The rehaut of the rep dial is higher as the gen to fit the thinner crystal without a gap. Of course the rep's crystal isn't 5mm thick. So I am afraid you will see a gap between the crystal and rehaut after putting the gen dial into the rep's case... Okay you can solve that problem by swapping the rehaut: Glueing the rep rehaut onto the gen dial. Refering to the He valve. I think there are two solutions: 1) Sealing that "valve" with an o-ring and grease. But I am afraid that will not be a 100% solution. 2) Soldering the "valve" from the inside. Nobody will note from the outside and I am sure that will be 100% water resist. Best, Frank

Hi Randy, does the gen dial fit into the case butter soft? As seen on my finished Franken-Avenger the gen chronograph dial does so. I have got two complete seawolf dials in stock (black and blue which is truly wonderful). Both will be swapped in the next future. But I didn't buy a seawolf yet due to this: There is a He valve on the left case side. When you disassembled your watch: Did you figure out if that valve is working? What's about water resistance? I want to build up a reliable and truly water resist watch because there is a lot of water at the south african cost Therefore I will need that truly important information. Maybe you or anonther member knows if the Omega PL Big Size is the same construction? Thanks for informing me. You can take a look on my recently finished Ti Avenger project here. Best, Frank

Yes indeed. I recently modded an Avenger chronograph with a gen dial and I've got two seawolf dials in stock to be swapped in the next future. I am just waiting for my Ti Seawolf. Mvt. of the rep is an ETA 2824 which is the same as on the early gen Sealwolf watches. Just a simple swap because feet and date window position is the same.

Hi Maciek, nice watch, congrats! I am still waiting for my EL Bentley GT which has been sent out one week ago but didn't arrive yet. i am getting excited to receiving that watch which seems to be one of the best out-of-the-box-reps. Greetings to Poland Frank

@ verbal some kind of watchwork is that easy (or seems to be ) But seriously: I am modding, servicing and upgrading my watches with a lot of fun but when it comes to the hands it is always the same thrill. Will they scratch or break? I guess we both are not alone. Removing and setting hands is a hard job.

Hi Jon, Congrats! recently I finished my Franken-Avenger project, too. Please see my thread here Best, Frank

HI all, as posted recently on TRC I also want to share my latest project with RWG members: It is more a Franken-Breitling then a modded watch because i swapped dial and hands for genuine parts and assembled a swiss ETA 7750. The base rep watch is a Ti version. I am just testing my photo skills with a borrowed digicam.... Please pardon the quality. Enjoy the pics: I have got two further genuine avenger chrono dials in stock: Black and white. But there are no lume dots (they have to be relumed) and they come without the tachy ring (but the rep's tachy ring/ rehaut fits, too). You can see my two dials here, feel free to make an offer because I will not go for a further Avenger project: To get the gen hands is nearly impossible. I was a lucky guy by getting a set from a watchmaker who serviced a gen watch. But especially on that Avenger the rep hands are not that bad. You should relume the small dots of the gen dial and of the rep hands to get a nice and uniform look. The gen dials fit asian and swiss 7750 butter soft. No removing, changing, glueing or whatever of the dial is required. Even the date position and the center position of the subdials are the same. By assembling the gen dial to an asian 7750 you will not solve the problem of the recessed date wheel although it will be well aligned. I assembled a swiss 7750 whre the date wheel looks more accurate. But by glueing an overlay onto the asian date wheel it will come up a little I guess. Did I forget something? Please feel free to post further question, okay? All the best Frank

Hi, thanks for your reply. Yes, I read Rob's review and his warnings due to cleaning the mvt. with ultra sonic because it could loose the pallet jewels. That's well known and can be avoid. But if that watch really has the old and rough 7750... I am afraid by asking some dealers I will be told all watches do have the new 28'800 7750 but as you know we've heard something like that regarding to the 14K TT watches, too. You know what I am meaning? It would be a pitty to get no good 7750 because I just received two (!) genuine Navitimer World dials. I would give away one if somebody is interested. Just for your pleasure: A pic of my recently finished Franken-Avenger: Gen Dial, gen Hand set and swiss 7750. Enjoy: Best, Frank

And up.... Did nobody purchased that Breitling Navitimer World with asian 7750 and GMT function yet? C'mon folks let's share your experiences Best, Frank

When I saw that new super avenger I was impressed firstly. But then I noticed the strange dial which of course seems to be something chronomat or what ever. But I guess the super avenger rep will be a truly good base for a frankenwatch project with gen dial. I realized a franken avenger titanium by swapping gen dial, swiss 7750 and gen hands. But unfortunately I don't know any source to getting a super avenger dial... :cc_confused:

I already tried that modd. Please note: It doesn't work because the diameter of the 21j. and the 7750 watch is different.

Hi, did anybody already purchased (and propably disassembled... ) one of the new 7750 watches with additional GMT hand/ function? E.g. the Navitimer world. Does anybody know how the GMT function works/ what exactly the modification is? Is that 7750 reliable? I really don't know if that new mvt. has 28.800 beats. I would be happy for enlightening me

I am awaiting my TOG withn the next weeks and I am planning the same modd for the bezel. In the past I asked a goldsmith (who is also a watchsmith) for re-engraving a bezel. That project was a restoring of a gen watch. He did it and the result is good. Try to find a goldsmith and get him the disassembled bezel. It should not be that big job... Good luck!

Folks, I am loving you

I just opened my 127 with swan neck mvt. and I could see the ETA 6497 engravings on the ground plate. That means it is a swiss made mvt. (but please note my outsourcing argument...)

No, these CN mvts. are not bad, please read The Zigmeister's review. It is even possible to add gen swiss parts (I already swapped a swiss canon pin set). But as kruzer said: I too assume the mvts. will be swiss made. We all know what swiss made really means... Of course it is not a secret that most of industrial work is sourced out.

Hi, of course I followed the 196 date wheel discussion and the re-printing project. But does anybody know what exactly the name of the Panerai date font is? Is the date font on the 196 the same as on 050 and the other (44mm) automatics? Best, Frank

Remembering my lost Arktos markers..... I'm afraid it will be a lottery to get one.... Good luck!

I can't tell it for the 187 but my arktos came with recessed portions (but of course the glue was lousay... lost several markers). As far as I understood the 187's bezel has got recessed portions, too.

Hi, I'll go to purchase a 187 but I am afraid I could loose the bezel markers which was my sad experience with the arktos. I would appreciate it if the 187 owners could tell me (and of course all the other forum members ) how the quality of the 187 bezel especially the markers is. Thanks a lot

I am still thinking about a purchase. But the identical serial numbers are bothering me.... 4500 gen watches are out but I guess 1 million with the serial number 117 Anyway, I guess I will be in nevertheless

Me!

@Lancelot Just to avoid misunderstandings: Did you compare just the cases' height or the height of the entire watch including the case back? Finally I will need additional 3mm to fit the higher 7750. Maybe I will go for two watches and will make one: One automatic with 7750 and right dial and one Ti case watch. In this case I could swap the case back from the 7750 to the Ti case although it is made from steel. That doesn't bother me even not the numerals. But I am afraid of the next problem: Will the screw thread of the Ti case (which is for 6497) will fit the case back of the 7750? I know all these questions seem to sound crazy but e.g. on the 1950 producers we've got a lot of confusion due to the different case sizes.... Thanks again to all on board!

Bad boy