docblackrock

Ry - compliment appreciated and reciprocated, miss your sharp and pithy posts, all too rare these days...unless you count sleep-deprived musings on the Shout-Out feature VB - please leave my 'wad' out of this although you may be right, it was perhaps a little overkill just the GPF 2/56 is a very unattractive design (only 50 made I recall, no other takers) which was binned afterwards and only briefly toyed with again during the dark days of the '80s when someone thought to dream up this aluminium monstrosity Hence, as you no doubt know, my Tevez-Rooney comment which referred to other more 'obvious' attributes than their (vastly overrated) abilities with a leather-covered pig's bladder.

Eeeeeuuuw....my eyes! my eyes! *clawing and scratching* Aah, the Egyptian Navy model (yes THAT elite fighting force), the one most Paneristi wet themselves over God knows why, quite possibly the ugliest Panerai ever thought up (and there's some pretty stiff competition there, along with the beauties ). There is a very good reason Ralph Lauren keeps his locked up at home Like some weird genetic throwback/missing link, it's appearance conjures up the result of one nights' drunken 'mistake' between a poor na

Antwerpen, fond memories... Let me guess, around Nationalestraat or Gasthuisstraat right? I always found it a little ironic the actual diamond district is actually quite run-down.

For Rolexman as promised, the paint remover has been out, needs a polish up though..... Serial no. correct for black dial

Indeed, as I said, history repeats itself....they canned the Monza back in the 60s and persisted long after with the Carrera and its many variants (Verona etc.), including the familiarly-named Daytona. Even the gorgeous Autavia or the venerable Monaco didn't survive long first time out, the Autavia even less so during reissue. I don't get it, Jack W Heuer was supposed to safeguard the heritage line of models, not bastardize it? I just don't understand them discontinuing the Monza c.36 for instance (for so long the flagship model) whilst they continue to churn out hundreds of me-too quartz and basic auto models. Oh well, makes these things more collectable/valuable in the future

At least there'll be no bitching about sunken datewheels p.s. still not my cup o' tea though

Tag are certainly not utilising the Valgranges chrono (yet), and they do love their 2894s I have seen these before, not sure what to make of them, quite a departure from the racing Carreras of old. Even at the larger size, they don't come across as having any distinct style, more an amalgamation of design cues from other brands; e.g. the Grand Carrera's Speedy-like bezel. History repeating itself at Heuer.....the lovely Monza dumped, meanwhile the Carrera flogged like a dead horse in as many models as possible

I need the insert not the pearl. Anyway, I have a spare pearl from that HK seller and it's not quite 100% as the genuine pearl, comparing side by side. Thanks Mickey - recall that thread but couldn't remember who, where etc.

Weren't some ETA UPOs and SFSOs being sold with Selita movements? Not Asian ETA clones I know but the move away from ETA seems to be gathering momentum. Until The Zigmeister reviews these clones and gives a glowing report, I'm steering well clear. Cloning a 2894 or a c.3135, is a pipe dream, not gonna happen. More likely will be a more 7753 clone, a reconfigurement of the Asian 7750, as most parts will interchange, althouhg right now I'd be happy for a more reliable and stable 7750

...says the OP

Self-explanatory really, my vintage insert needs replacing... Most usual sources (Cousins, Watchmaterial etc.) do good inserts but with modern pearl so holes are too large. Appreciate any leads. cheers DBR

These have been around for a little while now. Wake me up when they've cloned a 7753 or 2894.....

What no rubber?

Touch

Any chance of pics under artificial light, spots etc. please? Did anyone EU-side place speical order with Cousins? Any ETA given?

Oh they're appreciated all right, but IMO don't hold your breath for reps of anything other than the base models.

Ok I know it was a few month's back but with the event becoming even more of a sponsors wet dream, we saw most crews team up with their sponsors special edition timepiece... Got me thinking, of all these, which is YOUR favourite (and hence would love to see repped)??? My choice is the last one, by a country mile.... First up then, and winners of this year's event, we have the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Alinghi Team Chronograph...no doubt the ROO nerds out there will cream themselves over this so I'll reserve judgement other than to say, "yikes" Tag Heuer Aquaracer Calibre S, Team CHINA edition - nice understated design, interesting movt, a little small on the wrist and crew lacks glamour Girard-Perregaux BMW Oracle Chronograph - not my cup o' tea Omega Seamaster NZL-32 Chronograph (Emirates Team New Zealand) - will appeal to some (i.e. the old farts ) but a bit dressy and old-skool for its purpose, even on rubber Not a direct sponsor of a team, but this well-documented monstrosity included here as it's aimed at a similar demographic (albeit more the typical landlubbing, pink gin brigade Rolex seems to covet these days ) And finally, my favourite as mentioned up top, the gorgeous Hublot Big Bang Prada Luna Rossa - more than 8 models of HBB repped and the Monaco YC is the best they could do???

My thoughts exactly, get that man a strait jacket But I'll forego the thorazine drip on the basis that he bought a 91....my favourite PAM of all. IMO the c.36 was perfect for the Monza and looked wrong in the Link (not a series I like anyhow) so I get the pig/party dress analogy.

Not talking about the new Skyland - essentially an updated Ti Chrono Avenger in SS, no no no.... No, what I'm talking about the PVD (aka "Black Steel") version... Thought I'd share this stealthy beauty with you all.... I know, it has something of a HBB about it, but is actually attractive *cough* any dealers with factory contacts reading this? *cough*

Speechless, just speechless

Quite right, it's an EP400 in every way except "calibre 36" is also engraved on the rotor as well as the bridge (also marked with '400') made possible due to Zenith and Tag being stablemates under LMVH. A great movt for a great price if you can still find one. Pity the Monza variant has been discontinued, it was Tag's flagship piece, but Baselworld next year will see the new flagships V4 and c.360 finally make their way into production models, in a Monaco and Carrera respectively. Again, the day they rep a c.36/EP is the day hell freezes over. Right now they haven't even been able to solve the problem of making a stable (hopefully) tricompax chrono movt with accurately-spaced 3-6-9 arr. Whether that's a 2894 clone or a 7753 clone, who knows, but I'd bet on the latter given the availability of interchangeable asian 7750 parts.

Thanks R, I meant a possible quick fix prior to going down that obvious route....ETA swapout will probably happen anyway as you know

It's engraved and painted. As for your "budget", maybe you should practice some subterfuge ("oh I traded that one for this one, honest") or even better, apply the gift for you means gift for her principle. Works for me

Lovely Maybe you could post some normal sized pics using imageshack? Is that a PO rubber stitch deployant strap on there? Nice match with that 70s main chrono secs hand....