docblackrock

I believe the purpose for fitting the Sub bezel/insert was for lab techs to be able to measure the time spent in hazardous areas. But, geeks or not, I am at a loss as to how they intended the later insert to be used.

Ah you see that's my own theory (time elapsed) about the later 1,2,3 etc. bezel.

1 = 1 hour exposure, maybe a little lethargy at the end of the day

2 = 2 hrs, lacking in energy and slight loss of appetite

3............. bit of hair in the bathroom sink and greying complexion

4............. some GI issues, bit of blood at both ends, and your pet goldfish could be renamed "Blinky"

5............. you don't need no lume on your 6541, you've a 'glow' all of your own

Dial engraving is a much more risky and expensive procedure - also a bit tacky if you want to put a personal engraving on there.

I'd go for the caseback every time, as long as you're not writing a dissertation, there's more than sufficient room using the spaces around the periphery (not the centre hippocampus section).

See?

Hold on, I thought we were talking Viet-type vintage cases?

If all this is about making yet another frickin' Sub, then I'm clicking "stop watching this topic" right now

“Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative.”

Moeal of this thread: If the plan is good dreams can come true. Interessting read.

HappiestTimekeeping

Gran

Aye, remind me how are those custom RWG watches are coming along, Gran? We getting nearer a shipping date yet?

As the reg'd owner of the site, it looks like T has taken some legal advice and added it as a form of litigation-retardant underwear. Can't say I blame him to be honest.

The truth of the matter, is that my eyes are quite sensitive to bright light, so turning on a bedside light at 3 AM to read the time, is not only potentially disturbing for my wife, but also very painful for me, so it's much easier all round, if I wear a watch with a luminous hands and dial

Ok, but I'm still confused as to how you'd see your lumed dial and hands at 3am without turning on a light anyway? Even SL needs to be activated by photons, and even then the glow will only last for a short period of time anyway.

Since you have eyesight problems, here's a recommendation or two. For late-night blurry-eyed 'what time is it' moments, I have small Lexon bedside travel clock which has a nice blue but faint reverse LCD display when you touch it. Also for late-night bathroom visits, we have a series of red xenon bulbs installed alongside the white spots, normally used to preserve pilot's night vision and is superb at not waking anyone up too much or causing that painful effect. Nicked the idea (and supplier) from a fantastic hotel we stayed at in Barcelona a few years back. Helps though if you have an internal bathroom, to avoid awkward looks from the neighbours

Teejay, why do you need lume to be able to read the time? Do you have XP or are you a vampire?

I can only speak for myself on this subject, but personally speaking, while I think the watch looks awesome, the lack of lume on the hands would make it totally impractical to my personal requirements, compared to the hands of a Submariner, so I wonder if maybe others might feel the same, which might account for a lack of examples shown?

If you're using the 'lack of lume' as a rationale to avoid the 6541, then you're really not one for vintage accuracy. "Practical" is not a usual consideration as the highly questionable dial legibility of the otherwise cool retro-looking 1655 will attest. Ask Nanuq if he can read under the bedcovers by the light of his gen 1665's lume.

The 'Gaussy hands didn't need mere tritium lume, those Dauphine beauties were easy to read in the dark anyway. If you were one of the 23 or so people worldwide that actually bought a 6541 when new, then you worked in some underground lair surrounded by copper coils the size of houses, an ID badge that turned red with time, and were subjected to a daily scrub down with wire brushes by a couple of men called Hank and Duke in a makeshift shower tent on your way out of the facility.

The 6541 is unpopular because as Freddy says it's a [censored] to put together a decent project, gen parts are rarer than unicorn's teeth, and design-wise, like its 1655 nephew, it's a bit of an "acquired taste". I have a Silix/CWP hybrid rep, in fact it's the only cheapie vintage rep I have in my collection and is currently awaiting a new crystal.

Ditto, though $300 seems a bit high, even for a small-production run considering that entire rep watches of similar quality are routinely sold for 1/4 of that. The only difference between the cheapest Silix case & a properly dimensioned case are the dimensions. The material is the same & so is the process that creates the case. I would expect a bit of extra cost if the production run is below the minimum (250), but we all know that a truly 1:1 case of a popular vintage Rolex model would more than likely require repeated runs to be able to satisfy the insatiable demand that such a product would incur.

I agree about cost Freddy, but in view of the small run and the setup costs, I don't think 300 is exhorbitant. Expensive perhaps so you're right, 200 would be more like the magic figure. Yeah I know you can get a 1655 case set somewhere in HCMC for less than 100 clams, and believe me that thought grates (which is why on principle the likes of NDT, Phong etc and their $1000-plus sets can shove it up their [censored] ). But being honest, if cases to these specs became available in a small run, say at around the price of a standard A7750 rep, with a little kickback to one of our own in Alan, then I'd jump at the opportunity in a heartbeat. And so, I suspect, would many others.

If you want them selling like hot cakes then it's simple..... just take on the very accurate but obscenely priced Vietnamese replicas of vintage cases of a certain Swiss manufacturer that no longer give a rat's ass about their heritage anyway and won't even service genuine examples. I believe they're infinitely less concerned about these 'old' models than they are about ruthlessly clamping down on models like their recent extra-chunky diver watch for instance.

Can't keep this any more general so I'll say the 1675 would be a good starting point. These currently range anywhere from $500 if you're lucky to over $1100 depending on quality, dealer, hormonal time of the month etc.

Just a case/bezel set would be enough, as there are plenty of aftermarket crystals, redials etc. around for prospective buyers to go their own way. Think how popular the MBW 1665s have been over the years, and you have an idea of the money (and frankens) to be made. Would definitely be a USP at a reasonably sane price (say c.$300).

Safe trip home Alan

If you like 'em wide, there's always the Speedmaster Reduced Automatic.

Which is about the worst selling Speedy ever, and with good reason. I'd never recommend anyone buy the gen Reduced, as with the smaller case size and auto movement it's neither here nor there, as evidenced by its unpopularity and a resale value that will tank faster than a 37-month old Mazda. Much better off buying the old school Seagull rep if you can't go for the full sized manual Pro gen.

Anyway, an automatic in a Speedy is about as vomitworthy as the quartz you're sneering at here

Honestly Pug, we're all pleased to see you pick up a gen on the cheap and will happily humour you waxing lyrical about it endlessly but it's a bit cringeworthy to be acting all holier than thou purist when a newish member posts a very nice budget Speedy rep with great photos. Maybe you could do with taking a leaf out of Lani's book of humility

The pictures at http://www.watcheden.com/omega-speedmaster-working-chronograph-with-black-dial-i-18479-p-1.html

has Seamaster in the clasp, but the one I have says:

OMEGA

Speedmaster

PROFESIONAL,

It's quartz and the chronos work flawlesly. The crystal doesn´t need AR, the dial throught it is beautiful.

For 108$, inclusive the transport, could not be better deal

Great photos, but a few Qs....

1. Case size inc. crown?

2. Definitely slightly domed acrylic/plexi? Looks like a 'stepped' mineral to me, oh well, nothing a new HWS Sternkrauz won't fix.

3. Quartz movt - running secs on the what would be the main chrono hand? Or a ticker on one of the subdials (3 o 'clock say)?

4. Caseback as per site? The classic Hippo with black inked "First Watch Worn....etc."?

I'm as purist as anyone, but that's not the same as being a snob. Take no notice of the quartz 'vomit' comments, I think it looks fantastic for the price, and I know my brother would gladly pick one up as a daily beater - he's just had his 40th a few weeks ago and we clubbed together to buy him a 40th anniversary Apollo XI (silver medallion) Speedy. Gorgeous piece but not something for everyday wear in his job.

Not going to happen. There's no cheap handwind chrono they can use instead of the ST19.

Sorry to [censored] on your chips Pug but it IS going to happen with the new movt. It just won't be cheap.

Loctite in the UK is best known for "Loctite Superglue 3"

"Loctite is a brand of adhesives, which includes acrylics, anaerobics, cyanoacrylates, epoxies, hot melts, silicones, urethanes and UV/light curing adhesives."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loctite

But "superglue" is a generic consumer term that's often misused as a byword for "strong", rather than for its composition.

Lazoon - you say you've spilled "loctite", which suggests to me threadlocker adhesive (the only glue you'd be messing around with near an open watch dial I hope), which AFAIK isn't cyanoacrylate-based. If it's blue/semi-perm threadlocker, then heat will break the molecular bond and perhaps allow you to remove from the dial. About your only hope.

Do you guys think there is any chance that this may get replicated by any of the factories ?

Already in progress I'm told, so put some cash aside for the end of the year

The gen - in all three gorgeous variants (original sharkproof bracelet, new black or orange rubber deployant) - is sitting in my local AD's window. Tried all three on my wrist, and for me there's no question....black rubber every time, the new style clasp alone is worth every penny. This watch is a beast, and as gorgeously clunky, ungainly and yes, ugly watch as the PAM 187. And that's before you add in the heritage of the Cousteau connection, which the PAM will never be able to emulate.

Always do your own 'proofing', invest in a Bergeon caseback opener and a jar of silicone grease, will cost much less than having to fork out for another rep to replace a flooded one.

Another thing to watch out for on this model - well at least on the CHS version - is that the crystal has sometimes not been fitted correctly in its gasket, slightly off the horizontal. Needs to be removed and reinstalled properly using a crystal press.

LMAO!! That was good.

Can you redo that with Thatcher?

No doubt, Nanuq will be nursing a semi after that

Thatcher? Don't go there Pug. Aside from the fact it'll bring up the stomach contents of everyone present, it's a bit unseemly given the old witch has Alzheimer's.

This has been a more interesting read than expected.

Agree with a lot of it, and I find myself focussing on the human element, the distinct lack of 'characters', both malevolent (e.g. Neil) and benevolent (e.g. Eddie). Others who had a lot to offer but who went off the edge for some reason and were sadly never reached out to (Ryyannon springs to mind). The loons as well, both amusing and not so amusing. Then of course the ridiculous bores, some of whom occasionally crawl back out of the woodwork and some of whom have thankfully migrated to pastures new (MyFaceTwitBook), although sadly not without leaving a lot of unnecessary grief in their wake. Maybe my pugnacious Irish blood speaking but I also miss the amusing but petty little feuds, the sly digs and slightly barbed comments, mostly in jest and usually harmless banter. Dems will know what I mean Miss Understood isn't wheeled out anymore by her 'carers' and there are no gimps like FlipLockbuckle and PaneraiFreak active anymore to give us all a good laugh.

But there's a lot of neurotics about these days, say a slightly controversial word, and *bam* you get some jumped up self-righteous muppet on your case and your "reputation" level taking a hit I also think there's a massive iceberg of noobs who are here for a quick fix and have no interest in participating in any other way. Sign of our times maybe.

Content-wise, I agree about the slowdown both seasonal and economic, but also think there's a lot of 'fun' gone from the content, no more quizzes, guess the macro shot, rare vintage gen or frankens etc. It's all gone very 'commercial' in tone, and I half expect RWG will go the way of the ADHD kids playground (RG) given time. The only improvement I see is some members stepping up to the plate (and then some) when it comes to cosmetic mods and how-to's - Francisco especially deserves an honourable mention. But there's a lack of Off-Topic fun as well... .it's been 3 years now since we ran the Champions League prize pool, an 8-month thread of joy, despair, banter and yes, a little gloating at the end The Metrosexual Grooming Corner, however, has been a welcome newcomer, although that too has been a little slow of late.

Ultimately, my enthusiasm for watches has ebbed and flowed, usually in tandem with my life away from here, but I've always returned. But more to see and chat to old friends than anything else these days. And since I can contact them via email anyway, even that reason is becoming redundant. I sense another sabbatical coming on in the next month or so, and if I'm honest I feel like it will be a prolonged indefinite one. That's more personal than anything and not primarily to do with the way the board is going, but not entirely unconnected either.

Ofrei sells the genuine dials .. about 200 usd ...

Took the words out my mouth, if you're in the US the gen dial isn't much more than a relume, so the obvious default choice.

Cousins price in the EU however is the equivalent of 320usd

At least it's not from elephant hide or any other endagered species.

You really think all species of stingrays aren't on the "endangered" list? Think again.

Talking of 'exotic' straps, whatever happened to those infamous "chicken leg" straps? Not very popular, I wonder why

Wrong place to post....try HERE....

the movement in that one is a SF240...but the price is insane!!

for that amount you can get a complete Vintage Panerai from the master S! (and you have some $$$ left for the best Vintage strap)

I was under the impression that dial and particular desk set postdates the use of the 240, but whatever even if it is, that's still an obscene price. Lucky seller.

I just don't get the Angelus, not a beauty, nothing special or even *that* rare, well now of course stocks are thin, but there are far better movements out there. Give me a Cortebert any day of the week.

Gorgeous, definitely a keeper.

That caseback alone is a work of art

That's not even a SF240 in there! Buyer will be VERY disappointed, but if you don't do your research then tough luck, I have no sympathy.

There was a correct version with stem wind sold on the bay last week - 360181543178 - and I thought that got quite high - $1500

The days of picking up a decent Angelus for a decent price, say $200 as I once did, are long since over unfortunately.

I just made the strongest possible sea salt solution from boiling water and dissolving as much salt as I could. I soaked and swirled the insert for one hour with no change. I even tried some abrasion with my fingers.... No effect.

I'll let it soak all night tonight and see what happens.

Much as I hope I'm wrong here Nanuq, I don't think it'll be that easy unfortunately, even if you reached saturation point with the salt solution (which isn't quite the same composition as seawater anyway).

As I said before, that with the gen greyed inserts I suspect it was down to combined long-term exposure to both UV and seawater. You can't just hope to massively increase the concentration of each element and expect a reciprocal and indirectly proportional reduction in time to desired effect. Even if you've got a 13 year head start on the UV

Must find that recipe and list of reagents - sure it was at the other (low) end of the pH scale than bleach and definitely less corrosive, but can't recall the details.