docblackrock

I would, very negative in fact. It's not an auto either, clearly evident from the BATTERY in the photo. Not even close to the gen movt in appearance either - this is what my c.36 looks like 'naked'... Face it, it's just another crappy quartz attempt at repping a crappy-looking gen - a concept no less, so practically a fantasy watch. Further evidence that makers give not the slightest crap about this 'community' as these will no doubt sell bucketloads to the great uneducated/unwashed out there.

Love my old school Ti franken - the first and only (well apart from the evolution that is the Blacksteel Skyland) watch that I like, never mind own, that has the Breitling wings on. Never took to the marque quite the opposite in fact, so this watch represents something of a perversion for me Fate is strange sometimes. Long story but mine had a damaged 15 rider tab which eventually broke off. Offered it for sale but then changed my mind due to the damage (literal and price-wise). Broke off the two other peripheral 30 and 45 tabs (for symmetry) and started the futile search for a replacement bezel. Lately thinking about getting the SS bezel and colour-match via sand/beadblasting or custom TiAIN, but not sure. In the meantime, I've rediscovered my love and it gets frequent wrist time - a little wabi sabi at work.

Not difficult to know at all - there's no marking because as you know well, it's not a genuine Rolex case, which would have the 18K/750 gold hallmark. As for your aftermarket case being "well solid" , have you actually acid tested it or are you just relying on weight? The reason hallmarks were introduced in England almost a thousand years ago was to prevent fraud - not to say foreign gold with no marks isn't legit, but with no provenance it's always questionable. And as a replica Rolex case, I'd question supposed 18K a million times more particularly given the ever-strengthening bullion price. Incidentally, not being funny but what exactly is the point of your post? If it will fit a gen.3135 and gen dial? Why not just ask that openly in the first place? I get the impression you just wanted to see if it would pass for genuine. As you now know, it doesn't nor is it "rare" - another word you used in the title Good luck with building your franken however. Oh and a tip, as a new member it may help if you're a little more open/frank when posting stuff like this in future. Plenty of people out there with less than altruistic intentions. Just saying.

The Porsche chrono by a mille miglia

Don't need to even look at the caseback or read any [censored] seller's blurb.... The QoS did NOT come in pumpkin dial nor orange bezel. Case closed.

I'd be curious to know why there's no markings inside the caseback

If you're desperate, then you can get pressure testing (Bergeon vacuum type) done at most branches of Timpsons - the key cutting monkeys - a few years ago they were charging around

Nice Saab 900, very fond memories of that car Sorry, off topic, please feel free to ignore and re-engage flaming torch and pitchfork mode.

Avitt, thanks for those pics.... obviously the contrast/white balance in the bracelet pics makes it look to light - the bracelet pic shows it off perfectly. Yep, just a shade or two too dark. Shame as the Pro II on the BS looks fantastic The rep BS is very close to the gen BS in appearance (except for a bit of variation around the slightly darker pushers) so it wouldn't make any difference. Yep, I know the bead-blasting technique seems to yield the best colour match for Ti, but it tends to be too matte in appearance. I now have another idea about your TiAIN coating - looks very 'tantalum-like' - hence my 192 which I just couldn't get to oxidise evenly. Hmmm, may have to give that some serious thought

Col, to say I'm incredibly jealous would be an understatement - there's not many originals left that are airworthy. What Mk? Sat in a static is about as far as I've ever got. I'd pay VERY good money to go up in one. Hard to believe such an old and 'little' plane was capable of hitting 50,000 ft and speeds approaching Mach 1. Pilot was my great-uncle, and before his Alzheimer's took hold, when I was a kid I always remember him telling me just what a joy it was to fly. Particularly when he wasn't getting shot at repeatedly, flying reconnaissance. Likened it to his Jack Russell terrier - fast, highly manouevrable and with a bite as ferocious as its bark

Very interesting results but obviously your DLC here isn't anywhere near dark enough for the BS - but then Breitling themselves had a huge learning curve with getting this process right back with the first Skyland BS. I actually really like the 'colder' TiAIN colour - very gunmetal like - just curious how it compares to base Ti though - do you have an old Chrono Avenger to match? Taking that thought further, would it be possible and practically feasible to colour-match a SS part to Ti-look? Assuming a bit of trial and error of course.

Never heard of this example before, but it's a familiar story (the Wunderwaffen).... Makes sense though - the US controversially spirited away the best Nazi scientists (Werner von Braun) to help with the space program so the fact this plane, remarkably similar to its USAF modern equivalent in design and principle, existed 40 years before we even knew about Stealth planes doesn't surprise me in the slightest. Still, aside from the "ahead of its time" angle, I don't really get the morbid fascination of things like this personally. I have a Spitfire pilot in my family tree and I find the whole story and capabilities of that plane infinitely more interesting.

Wasn't going to chip in here again - not wanting to provoke further hysteria and add fuel to the already burning fire - but a couple of points.... 1. Just wondering why there's still talk of whether his local AR attempts are up to par (which it looks like they're not, not by a long shot) - it shouldn't be the issue here and you're taking your eye off the prize gents - there's clearly evidence of pre-meditation here in terms of kickstarting his own service, and that alone should be sufficient to condemn him. I don't have a problem with shoddy workmanship anywhere near as much as I have a problem with liars. I agree with Stephane who said in contrast, Jakub's crime was never pre-meditated, just borne out of loss of control, panic, and an easy opportunity to 'escape' the consequences. 2. Green tint to AR? That says to me "optical lab" as it's characteristic of the AR coat applied to glasses. People have investigated this route before and it's always proved not the way to go - significantly inferior to Chief's (and Jakub's) mil-spec AR. 3. Finally, just to share one of the many experiences I had with Jakub that puts Rocketeer's behaviour here into context. This is in NO way a defence of what J ultimately pulled on members here, but worth repeating I think. He once [censored] up a crystal of mine (the 5mm thick 187) - he'd stripped the black/silver rehaut ring off the crystal in prep. As soon as he'd done it, instead of stalling and keeping me in the dark (which he could so easily have done) he 'fessed up immediately, and was hugely apologetic. He subsequently paid for and arranged for a replacement crystal from a dealer (took about a week extra) which he then prepped correctly and coated. He also, without prompting, refunded me the cost of both crystals (I was having a second crystal done at the same time) as a gesture of goodwill. Make of that what you will.

Got the email from TH yesterday and I just thought WTF? Truly an abomination. And I don't know which is worse... The Hammer House of Horrors gimmicky "design" that possessed them to use FOUR different types of register (three of which were ripped from the SLR and Grand Carrera series) and cobbled together (using a stock movement) by some visually-impaired chimpanzee? Or the truly cringeworthy (and IMO slightly distasteful) CGI-aided promo film that has that renowned Oscar-winning actor and sometime F1 PR stooge Lewis Hamilton star alongside the late and great Steve McQueen. I mean, they even doctored Steve's famous two-fingered *ahem* salute, presumably based on some insane political correctness impulse - which would be funny if it wasn't so pathetic. I may be a purist who loves the original 'Heuer' Monaco and is on the waiting list for the forthcoming classic c.11 re-edition, but that's not to say I don't appreciate modern "avant-garde" design when it is done well, such as the gorgeous and innovative V4 Monaco now getting on for 6 long years bogged down in production issues. Why not get a move on with that project, Babin, instead of producing god-awful horrors like this LS? Anyway, rant over, I'll just leave it to (an original and non-bastardized) Steve to deliver my overall verdict on this watch....

Not really my cup of tea - don't really hold up well design-wise to the CD 2006 and AT Slevin. Also, no bracelet is a bit of a deal-breaker.

Suggest you do a bit more reading as it's obvious you don't really have much of a clue what is entailed in servicing a movement. No dealer will do it, at best they'll get an associate to do a "dip and swish" - a waste of your money. Same with reluming - it's a very delicate process and even a lot of watchsmiths won't undertake it. Like a lot of new members, it seems you're just looking for a quick fix solution - that you're unwilling to send off your watch for proper servicing just because you want to wear it 'yesterday' screams impatience - a characteristic that will not get you very far in this new hobby of yours. Zigmeister gave you some good advice, particularly re. the dealer/car salesmen analogy. Ignore it at your own cost.

Euwww...makes it look cheap and I can't see it being very durable. A bezel is designed for protection above all else. Plexibezel? What next....a metallocrystal?

Nope, I'd say that tip - which I also do - is exactly the right way to proceed. It's got me a couple of years out my own modded UPO - sadly it has now finally given up the ghost and stripped. By the way can anyone remind me, is the tube swap a straightforward swapout procedure, or does it need retapping? Recall someone talking about the case hole being oversized to fit the gen tube and recommending gorilla glue to fit - yikes - is that true? Also any Cousins parts reference number? Thanks.

Why thanks Lani, very kind of you to say so..... ....apart from the next bit where you then go on to make me sound like a tenured cardiothoracic attending with a nasty case of Asperger's Syndrome p.s. Good to see some communication from the less-than-rocket-speed Rocketeer, and some bits starting to filter through - hope it continues to everyone's satisfaction.

Actually no, that's your interpretation. Fine, as long as you accept my nomination of you as the most hormonal.... Fair enough then, my last word, thread back on topic, no arguments, no bitterness, peace, love, hugs all round, hope you get your stuff back etc.....

Don't think you should be apologising for anything here Ubi, the tone was more than a little rude and came across as an insulting dig about the intelligence/writing skills of Lani. I'm sure you and I weren't the only ones to think WTF?!

Yes, because that's exactly what I said isn't it? I almost missed this "foaming at the mouth" rant, maybe next time you could quote me or refer to me by name instead of "that poster" - that would be helpful thanks.

Jeez, I thought I'd heard it all, until now... p.s. I'm a non-American and proud of it

Exactly my/our point Lani, unfortunately it doesn't seem to permeate beneath the righteous indignation. I'm sorry if my empathy fatigue annoys you Pix, but you have to remember many of us have seen this time and time again, always the same story more or less, and usually the same outcome. I basically said in my original post that knee-jerks, hot heads and cold hearts here will be counter-productive, and I stand by that - it's not the way to go, not at this stage. I also (helpfully IMO) stated how you could avoid these issues in the future without too much fuss. If you choose to see that as lecturing and 'defending' (?!) the modder in question, then I suggest you pop a Valium and reread my post. In my own experience, it is much better to direct your anger towards problems (and solving them) than people, and to focus your energies on finding solutions not excuses. When all said and done, I sincerely hope this all works itself out for those affected.

Firstly, as I said earlier, it takes neither skills or equipment to remove a crystal. But it takes a whole lot of apathy, naiivety, and yes, laziness to just expect someone else to do it for a few bucks, especially someone you don't know from Adam. That was your risk and you took it. Not sure where this 90% figure comes from, but that's the thing with DIY solutions - that's half the fun of this hobby, you try things step by step, slowly extending your limits, getting more accomplished along the way - if you bugger it up, then fine there's always one or two people out there that will be able to rectify your mistakes - no-one's dying here, it's just a watch which almost always can be fixed. It's a learning process. What would I do? Chief was very clear on not underwriting Rocketeer, so you should have taken that as a clue. You were prepared to pay X for the coating and Y (plus postage) to have it reinstalled yet you won't spend a one-time Z on a crystal press to avoid having to pay numerous Ys (plus postage) in the first place? Time to rethink the logic of that maybe. In some ways, I think this is symptomatic of the board these days - I've noticed it in the sales forums even. Place a rare/OOP/old skool base rep in there and no-one will bat an eyelid, but something current with one or two basic mods and the frenzy will begin. This culture of wanting it all now, without having to put in one minute's worth of effort yourself.....it's not that I look down on it, it's that I just don't understand it. Good luck to all those with crystals and watches in limbo.