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Tom, yes you're 100% right I just realized that I didn't copy this here except in some PMs, sometimes I forget to cross-post. http://www.repgeek.com/showthread.php?t=127647 page 2/3

AmStaff, any nooz? Oh, I'm in for four or five if the price is right

Tom, It's not a huge deal for a $200 watch to be honest. But if you're a perfectionist, you can still have your cake and eat it too, just order 2 watches - 111J & 005K. 1) Take the crystal, dial, cg body, caseback and all screws (CG, Lug) from 005K. 2) Case them in 111J case, using 111J movement, 111J crown and 111J CG lever. 3) Enojoy your really awesome 005 and sell off the remaining parts. You beat me to it, W!!

Tom, I don't like to quote myself but please tell me if I could have been any clearer when I wrote this: And then later in a response to the question about water pressure test popping either the crystal or the bezel:

I've been saying this about the h-factory bezel since mid January but doesn't look like it registered.

I actually like it Kind of a nod to the tall pinion on vintage Panerai. I'm still thinking whether I should do the H1 or H2 to be honest. The OEM is H1: P.S. I think if you do the lever pin with a faux "microlathe" finish it will be 100% perfect NOS look.

Sam, H3?

out of the two - 111j for sure. The 005 has rehaut and movement rest milled into one piece with the bezel and then friction fitted into the bottom of the case.

29 or 28? I have a The Zigmeister-♥ honpo 29b and the dial is great aside from the low-bar A's

Very nice! That case actually predates Eddie Lee, that's from 2004 111F, one of the OGs of Panerai reps.

Holy crap, this is awesome.. I mean diddy

I'd be in for PreA style movement.

I should probably expand on this a little bit as I see this pop up every couple of months. The rehaut depth issue on manual models with premium cases like JF or OEM for example stems from only two things: 1) Using highly refractive & misty rep crystal with a translucent I-ring crystal gasket (OEM gasket is white and yeah you guessed it 177/219 gasket is also white) 2) Using a dial that's too thin and creates an additional bit of air between the dial and rehaut. In many instances of course the rehaut depth is just that - an overly deep rehaut coupled with thinner than OEM crystal for an even more drastic effect. This is especially true for automatic GMT & PR models with a tall handstack and cyclops that's not milled into the crystal but is rather glued on it.

Chad, it's the crystal. Put this crystal in a JF you'll have the same effect.

urban, you toss the movement that's in it and put in a good quality Seagull ST36 clone or ETA6497.

I'm with kbiz on this, the same sentiment about new models thoroughly trumping old ones will be reiterated over an over again until most people realize that if it sounds too good to be true - it is. The newer reps might be a bit more polished in some areas like case finish or nicer a/r or a crownguard with a rubber bushing, etc., BUT they'll never reach the coveted sum is greater then the parts status of the old Honpo and EL 27,28,29,63,187,194,188,196 models. Most of the rarer old models with premium Swiss movements were produced in very small quantities, I'd be surprised to learn that there are more than 100 of the original Honpo 29's out there. Whereas the new models are produced in quantities far exceeding Panerai's own production numbers. They're cheaper because there's even more corner cutting than usual. I'm not saying this because I own oldschool models and want to see them keep their value, I realize that despite years invested into upgrading them with the best custom and OEM parts they're still only reps and are worth nothing in the real world. To me they represent something else - they're friendships forged, knowledge gained and shared, the excitement and anticipation of something that's not run of the mill, "best out of the box" that you can just buy for a couple hundred bucks. There's a bit of a sell off going on right now but I'm betting there will be some serious seller's remorse down the road and whoever grabbed them will be one happy camper.

rats, it'll all be worth it in the end though

A small correction, B - OEM 24/25 sub crystals are 3.5mm thick. The only crystals thinner than 3.5mm are on chrono models (2mm) and some 40mm PR models (2.5mm). Special edition 1km & 2.5km subs are 5mm+ thick with a monster 194 at 5.9mm thick.

130/500

triple-gasket spring loaded.

Yep, strange name great preV tubes - Fasci. He's in Australia.

Cosmetically the old 2005 generation of cartel reps was not bad. Good quality sapphire, nice proportional case with thin lugs, CG was quite good and the caseback was thick and engine turned on the inside. However, due to mid-case construction it was a model that was nearly impossible to waterproof. Where the normal/OEM PAM midcase and rehaut with crystal bed are one piece, the old rep had a separate midcase and separate rehaut which was basically a short section of machined tube friction fitted into the mid-case with the bezel going over it.

Great pics, this looks familiar

Hi T, Just want to see if you're still on target for January 2011 date.

Senator, Is it the lever from DSN's crown guard for 188?