docblackrock

Good find, the 12892 is a great movt but in the DJ case, I would imagine you needed to use a spacer ring? Also I'm a bit confused, a modern gen date disc (looks like modern font so c.3055 or 3155?) apart from not fitting a 12892 well, would not change dates in the right CCW direction. Or am I missing something?

Yes I did as it happens, shows how much the 1675 case evolved across much of it's long lifespan. Your '64 GMT wasn't that long out of pointy CGs, and I actually prefer the early chunkier squared CGs. By the late 70s and early 80s, the various GMT models' cases were undergoing some sort of yo-yo diet, including CGs clearly. As for an MY small hand, I think it would look bloody fantastic with that gilt dial, that would really be the icing on the already-gorgeous cake Sadly, from an accuracy POV, tiny GMT hand = no or pointy CGs only no exceptions ....aaah, but who gives a stuff, do it man!

Yes, I have indeed got an interesting find for you Nanuq from a dealer here in the UK, something which confirms your suspicions... Look familiar??? And dial confirmed as original. So your dial is a bit of an Ashton Kutcher, about 15 years too young And a comparison shot side-by-side in case there's any doubt... Almost-last serial 1675 prior to introduction of the c.3075/16750. So perhaps just our mutual friend 'Siegfried' in Geneva playing around with dials one bored Friday afternoon??? Would not surprise me since we know Rolex at this time didn't have a clue strategically or design-wise, about how they were going to progress the evolution of the GMT. A complete balls-up really, which is why we saw the 16750 pulled within a couple of years to be replaced by the 16760, not to mention the 16700 still hanging around like a bad smell just to confuse everyone further. Still, glad to see the pressure to go gilt is increasing, thanks Heywood. Go on, you know what she REALLY wants to be wearing is this...

^^^^ Well, I've already given my thoughts on the 91 Almost ahead of its time, the anthracite dial was deemed a little too contemporary which is a shame. The Ti case and SS/Ti bracelet just sets it off perfectly, can't explain in any other way that would make sense. IMO you can stick your 111H's where the sun don't shine, when faced with this beauty - I had the chance a couple of years ago and made the mistake of thinking about it for a couple of days.....by the time I returned it had gone Ah well, ships that pass in the night, maybe one day *sigh* p.s. interesting bit in the film, where Woody comments on PB's character's lifestyle, complimenting him on the Pam before asking 'how much?'...to which PB replies...'about a couple of grand...WTF?! Now hold on, if that's USD then I'll take two . Woody later goes out and buys the same watch, very uncool.

Actually it's not correct for the 65XX Bond Subs, only the 6204. But still proves the point, rare original vintage parts are going exponentially skyward. Agree with your point re. seller, he set a low reserve and let the vultures fight over it...good luck to him. Still crazy though when you can have MY's excellent aftermarket bezel and insert for less than one-tenth of that price and do some DIY ageing.

Save yourself $900 and look HERE and HERE... I'm deadly serious.

Would love to see the gilt dial, any chance of a swapout? Regardless as to the rarity of mystery dial on there now, it is at least 5 years' too young for a '64 1675, judging by the elongated minute indices. The gilt dial would set this off perfectly IMO.

Torn between and Latter emotion borne out of pure seething jealousy you understand. First the 1665, now this, what next, world domination??? Wear it well my friend p.s. there is another possible theory on the dial, but I need the check something first, will PM....

VB, it's the dark sultry looks combined with the sexy accent, not that difficult to work out surely Back OT topic then, yes great film (no Oscar winner but you don't feel cheated out of 2 hours of your life...) even moreso as the Panerai in question is my all-time favourite, the glorious (and now sadly discontinued) anthracite-dialled PAM091. Wheaton has one here, and is still resisting my efforts to prise it from his wrist. C, you reading this? One day my friend, an innocent little poker game when I'm out in the Islands and *BAM!!!* she'll be all mine, mwahahahaha....

On the "Black Steel", Breitling use a ti-carbon nitride-based PVD process that gives more of a gunmetal finish similar to the Bamford PVD vintage Rolexes (rather than that deep black B&R, Kobold, military type of PVD). I'm in no way an expert in PVD, and can't comment on the "PVD" used in the rep B&Rs, HBB, DSN Pams etc. but I'm reliably told that the process is not particularly difficult or expensive to reproduce, so here's hoping. As for double AR, I'm told it is a given

Well, I would like to think there are still plenty of heirloom owners out there, but maybe you're right, you only have to attend one watch fair to see the majority of 'collectors' out of their garden sheds in droves, obssessing about this detail and that detail. Quite honestly, I think it's sad as in pathetic, it's being a WIS for the sake of being a WIS, delta-male mindset combined with alpha-male disposable income. I think the majority of these people need to take a step back and appreciate the simplistic beauty of exactly what they're collecting rather than fixating on the minutae....you can often see the same types in galleries standing right up close to a painting or sculpture, thick guidebook in hand, muttering to themselves and ruining the view of others. Hence my comment about the line between being a connossieur and having Aspergers'. Now THAT I couldn't agree more with, it's almost laughable, the irony...witness mine and Nanuq's musings on a hypothetical conversation in the Geneva RSC c.1960s.... "...hey Siegfried, I neet unt dial for zis GMT....vhat do you av in your drawer?....(*sounds of rummaging about, bits being discarded*)....oh ok, zat looks like it vill fit, who care novone vill know anyhows...danke mein heren." "Siegfried vat is dial you geev me? You see it von't feet. For moment lend me file, eh?" (sounds of a vice and a flat file being worked around a dial) "Darn, look Siegfried, a ring is come off. Ah vell, we take dem ALL off now! Hand me pliers please" One or two, no. But several major players buying up and playing safe queen, releasing both watches and parts in a controlled fashion, is a very different story. The most obvious example of which I already gave, the 'Steve McQueen' 1655. Euno and I have talked about this many times. To think that market manipulation does not go on and is not affected by a small number of key individuals in what is a highly tracked collectors market, is a little na

they don't make them like Kenny anymore, feel privileged to have watched him in his prime.

'Fraid I disagree Pugs. IMO, it IS stupidity's triumph over common sense and logic. Let's be honest, those operating at this level are predominantly high end collectors - most vintage owners care little of RSC swapouts, and prefer their heirloom watch is kept in 'good' condition', not seeing any inherent value in a beat up dial. From that point, it only takes one collector to pay such a price, and all of a sudden you are in a position where the market absorbs that precedent and sets it as the standard, essentially leaving the market to drive itself ever-exponentially upward. Ultimately, they're creating a rod for their own backs, but since these guys (and some of us know of them personally or by reputation) have both endless time and obscene amounts of money to burn, the increasing prices mean absolutely nothing to them. Of course, this market shaping is not always entirely by chance.....you can't tell me that the 1655 Explorer market has not been subject to some premeditated supply and demand tampering over the last few years, can you? I know it was just a throwaway remark, but your art world analogy is also flawed....hard core art collectors (as opposed to investors like global banks etc.) here are paying for individuality, provenance, history, whether the bloody thing looks nice/impresses clients on their wall or not. Most pieces of fine art (from Rennaisance to Old Masters to 20C works) have all been restored to some extent, as forensic X-rays will confirm. It does not detract from their value per se, in fact can sometimes add to their provenance (this mark is from such event etc.) whereas an area of decaying media will hamper value. In this sense, your 5k-dial-purchasing 1665 'collector' is in my opinion, less of a connossieur, more of a maladjusted completist with borderline Aspergers' tendency. Not everything should be about maximising monetary value, and a vintage Rolex is not a hedge fund. Honestly, I despair at the thought.

Don't get me wrong, I'm more aware than most that vintage parts are going skyward. And I also think this guy is just chancing his arm hoping for a collector with more money than sense (there's plenty of those around). However, I'm just incredulous that things have reached this far so soon, when someone can ask the price of a modern Sub for a nasty looking beat up 1665 dial, using very bad pics, with what looks like water damage around the minute indices, and further damage to the dial text and god knows what state the original lacquer is in??? I could understand the price if we were talking a pristine NOS-like red dial, but we're not.

If that got a *twang*, god knows what sound your squishy grey walnut made when you finally gave into the 187??? For me, my snap came with the Ti Chrono Avenger....hated Briets, still do mostly (fussy Navitimers etc.), but the TCA virus just wormed its way into my brain and began replicating.....

Watch this space gents, someone is already ahead of the game it seems

Looks like the standard SS Chrono Avenger with Asian 7750 available from most dealers....not sure what you mean by "VERY expensive", hope you didn't get a new one ripped???

Speechless just speechless I've come across the seller before and very much legit (hence why not posted in Auction Scam) but still..... Surely no-one's THAT stupid........are they? click me and prepare to snort in derision....

Thanks for the warning. On inspection the prongs on my clasp are of equal length and after some inspection seem very secure and both engage and hold when the clasp is closed. Can't open the prong cover as prongs seem securely fixed. So possibly just a QC flaw rather than a design flaw? No consolation I know.

Touch

*cue cheap jibe suggesting that's EXACTLY how cornerstone's great-great-great-grandfather came to "emigrate" Down Under* For your reference then....

I believe Italian literature holds a more accurate description of your feelings....lode della donna brutta....in praise of the ugly woman. p.s. please stick with the Lempicka avatar, always good to brighten the place up

Best worn around ankle for full effect You know, you could be onto something there.......same thing with the fearsome 'black ops' Swiss Navy