Pugwash

One day later. The hands did indeed catch on the Omega logo, but refitting them with some cleveritude (lightly curving the hands up) worked wonders. The smoothness of the sweep is quite incredible, especially from 18" away. Sure, like all our watches, you can see the ticks up close, but moving the watch away from your face, they disappear sooner with the 2892. It's keeping ok time (a minute or so in 24 hours) but that can be regulated given time.

Holy crap! That's impressive.

First off, it's not a UPO. It's just a 45.5mm PO. UPO stands for "Ultimate Planet Ocean", which refers to a specific high-quality copy. Secondly, you're better off picking up a proper UPO, preferably with the Swiss ETA movement.

It's difficult to give any credence to an article that gets it wrong in the first sentence. Watches are set to 10:08.

Sunday:

http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/presscenter/nr_20081006_monster_energy_drink.html Also: "Under the agreements, a "significant portion" of Monster Energy

I set the camera up beforehand on a tripod with the cable release to hand. I find photographing my work relaxing and it stops me getting stressed when it gets fiddly. If I didn't have a tripod and lighting (the area I work at is also where I take my watch photos) then this would be near impossible. And yes, if I had to stop half-way through and set up the camera, then no, I wouldn't do it. It's only because I had it all set up before I opened the first caseback that it was done. Thanks for the kind comments, The Zigmeister. We are all your students.

This job inspired me to look at one of the two remaining 2892s. One was cannibalised for spares and the other seemed to stop for no reason. Armed with this: http://pugwash.info/eta/2892A2/2892A2.html I decided to have a look. I got to do stuff I'd never considered, knowing both movements were going to be chucked in the parts bin, and I even removed the escapement and winding sections. To make this fun adventure even better, I found the problem was that the pallet fork wobbled across the vertical. Rather than work out why, I stripped the cannibalised movement for the pallet fork and pallet bridge and fitted them. After reassembling, everything worked. I now feel confident that I could strip a 2892 if I had a cleaner. Such a great feeling.

They're less than a fiver at Cousins.

You'll know when you see it.

The Seagull ST19 is mind-bogglingly reliable. Bomb-proof is the term I usually use to describe it.

Don't for a minute think I'm even close to being in the same class as some of our modders. I'm a rank amateur with a 70% hit rate at best. It's why I won't do mods for anyone else now, because I reckon I'll get it wrong often enough for it to cost me more than I'd make. It's ok to botch my own stuff and take a few weeks over it, but there's no way I can make a business out of it.

Such a difference I'll have to put one on my UPO now.

Unusual choice of strap. Still, it's a gorgeous watch.

Rolex don't use AR coating. Omega do, but not on everything. Breltling do too. Why you're seeing it more in IWC trades is odd. I don't know why this would be the case.

Same movement, same problems.

Recently, I won an eBay auction for 4 ETA-2892 movements in varying states of repair. Basically, it was 4 broken Raymond Weil watches, out of which I was able to make a working Gen for Mrs Pugwash and have a pile of bits left over, including two working movements. The reason I picked them up was in the hope that I could transplant them into a Planet Ocean and a future BK/WM9 Sub I'm bound to get. Apparently, 2892A2 movements are drop-in replacements for 2824s. Apparently. Here's what I learned in 30 photos. Click to embiggen any of the photos, and sorry for their lower-than-usual quality. Taking good pictures was very secondary. Both patients on the table. Donor ETA 2892A2 To be replaced ETA 2824 from a 4th Gen 42mm PO Take out the PO innards ... Prep 2892 for new gen datewheel. Remove old Raymond Weil datewheel Fit white on black. Note the other 2892 with the dark red dial and my testing of PO hands. It's wearing my old UPO hands that I replaced with genuine parts. Look at the difference between the rep and the gen wheels. I'd like to thank Ubi for pointing this out. Yes, I do have another for my 45.5mm UPO Dial on the 2824 Oh crap. Recessed datewheel. Recessed pinions. Look at the height on the 2824 Much lower on the 2892 Profile of the 2824 Profile of the 2892. Oh crap oh crap oh crap. Height of the hour wheel on the 2824 Height on the 2892 Take a break. Here's a reference photo of a 2892 ... and of a 2824 ... and a donor 2892 (not an A2) Dial from the Weil. See how thin it is? Dial from the PO with ... oh, hang on. is that ring removable? Pleasepleaseplease. Yes, it is. That looks much better with the ring removed. Phew! Still not really enough clearance on the hands, but as this is really a dry run for when I get the gen hands, I can order taller wheels at the same time. Oh, damn. If I fit the dial, the dial pins are so long without the spacer that the rotor doesn't turn. Wire cutters. Snip! Better. Next problem. The plastic movement spacer is for a 2824 and the 2892 is ever so slightly wider, so out with the files and skim off a mil or so off the inside. Next, the stem and crown. This is another step I'm allowed to botch as I have a gen tube and am getting a gen crown later. The 4th Gen crown and tube are not very realistic at all. Yes, I use a spare drill chuck as a pin vise. I bought a pack of three long stems for the 2892 so if I make a mistake, I know not to cut it that short again. Luckily, I got the cut exactly right. Hands on, they're a bit close to the dial, but they do work. The watch with its old movement. On the wrist. Note UPO in the background. There were several points where I thought it was not going to be possible to get it finished. Luckily I managed. I'm going to monitor the patient for a few days in case the hands drag or catch anything. Next, new hands and taller wheels! Oh, and a gen dial if the hands scratch this one. Comments?

No, you have Apple. The Mac is the computer, Apple is the company. Common mistake.

I love the works peeking through the dial. It makes it unique and special.

Is this a joke?

... and you wonder where the noise on the Macro shot comes from?

What four-thirds back are you using?

It's odd, but I think I prefer Nanuq's.

Well, yes. Me too. Most connoisseurs would agree.