jtiis

Not that model Citizen!

"ear on right but right handed....so beat the crap out of my watches..." Note to self - never buy a watch from chris5264

Hey, don't knock my bid... I'm up now and think I cal pull this off. The thought of owning an early PAM moonphase prototype... what are the chances!

Sorry to hear about this. I think circumstances rarely allow for it - but just as a potentail FYI for others - if you have bought a high value piece and the unopened box arrives that can't house the goods ordered... or even if you suspect something is not right - this may sound silly - but... open the box very carefully and DON'T touch the item inside until you can see that you got what you ordered. If clearly not - as in this case - you're in a nice position to have prints lifted. That way - if a seller says, "I didn't sent that - the buyer stuffed that in my box and said that's what I sent him/her... then, he's in a hard way to explain how his/her prints go ont he bad goods. The weight listed by the post office can also be of help... call an AD and explain your situation and ask them if they can give you (or a friend can give you) the weight of the Gen box housing the watch.... if the listed post office weight is off (and unless they planned very carefully it won't) - then they could not possibly have send the right stuff just because of the off weight. Hope you get a refund or the seller gets his act together.

As an O fan myself I just love this. Nice companion piece also... that's a 1450 isn't it? (just gone mine last week)... so much more comfy than the 1498s and such... Enjoy both my friend.... and, nice write up.

Just bumpin' this up - still hoping someone will give me more info. I'm getting the impression this is ETA but really still have no idea...

MY JOURNEY TO 1665 … Now that I’ve got all the watches I’ll ever need (hahahaha)…. Let me begin again… Now that I’ve got a small but meaningful cadre of watches serviced and ready for every day wear, I thought I’d take some pics and describe them for my own remembrance and appreciation… and… to share with my good friends here on RWG. I start (the other watches are to follow) with a piece I only have because of some patient explaining and reassuring by some very long time members/Admins of this forum. I had purchased a GREAT modern Sub (a TC Frankened) by our friend Justasgood some time back – but decided as good as it was it was too modern for me. Even though a 1665 is a much more expensive watch in fact, its styling generally allow for it to be worn with less attention getting than it’s cheaper/modern siblings – and – for most people who really don’t know or care what you’re wearing – an old Rolex looks more real/believable (at least this is my view of how it works) than a new one … so, I wanted to get a nice “old” 1665 DRSD. I really was prepared to buy a nice but significantly cheaper piece, but when a member from across the pond posted this beauty I knew I had to have her. Here’s the details: Old skool MBW case rounded/buffed/vintagised by Palpatine Drilled lugs to accept gen springbars by Palpatine Ubi vintage datewheel, perfect alignment 'Stamp' caseback gen-look mod by RepAustria Gen springbars on Mary’s 7836 bracelet with gen clasp (here pictured on a uber-comfortable Black Textured Kangaroo Tail Nato which is my preferred mode of transportation) Gen crown and tube Gen bezel insert and gen 'latte' tritium pearl Gen tropic 39 superdome MY(CWP) dial Colour matched hands ETA 2836 serviced November 2012 HeV "trompe l'oeil" mod (zero risk leak) Now, the seller (docblackroc) was very gracious in the sale so there’s no complaint here on my part whatsoever. That said, there were a couple of areas I wanted to improve on the piece. First, she was not keeping COSC time and my new watchsmith (see below why he’s new) said the type of oil used to seal the back/gasket (not the movement) was not appropriate for the insides of a watch (he said it was almost WD-1040-like). Also, the metal movement ring was good but it has some play which had a minimal but noticeable effect on winding/time setting and on the date wheel’s visual alignment. Lastly, (and one thing I love, love, love about this watch) is the gen tropic 39 superdome – and I do mean super! But, the bezel and insert were pushed so close to this mountain of plexi that it was nearly impossible to rotate the bezel. (I didn’t know what was causing the difficulty in turning the bezel at first… only that it wasn’t as I’d like). Now – how did I get a NEW watchsmith via this watch? Well, I wanted my OLD watchsmith who was OK but a bit of a hack (but the only “smith” I had so…), I wanted him to see what could be done to improve the bezel ring movement. So, I took it to him and he placed this beauty in a cage/vice of some sort to hold her put while he worked on the bezel and – wham – or crumble – or some such catastrophe – my beautiful and expensive gen “latte’ tritum pearl was history. (Originally, I thought the pearl had simply fallen out – but when I got back to the seller he said she was in good, tight and proper (and I’m quite sure he was telling the truth) – so, the only time this damage could have been done was during this work so… ugggh.) I felt bad and just swallowed my tongue and said to myself – “J, you just gotta find yourself a more competent watchman.” As a consequence I found a super watchsmith (PM for contact info) who doesn’t mind working on reps. His shop is a joy to visit (great equipment both new and historical) and he can do it all). Anyhow, I’ve taken him all my watches and his work is really good, quite fast and reasonably price. That’s not meant as a plug as he’s plenty busy as it is – but it’s my much relieved experience to now have such a guy locally. Anyhow, he looked at this beauty and said he could enlarge the movement ring (by adding metal to it), could smooth up a couple rough spots on the crown, would narrow the bezel spacer and mod the underside of the bezel if necessary to make the bezel operate as gen, he’d give the back of the case (not caseback) a slight clean-up, do a full service and pressure test… all for $.... well, I won’t say how much but it was amazingly well priced. Yesterday, I headed down to San Jose and picked up my “upgraded” 1665. I’d replaced my runaway pearl with a modest Yuki replacement. She’s not bad and color matched the dial so I have no complaints except that she’s no tritium gen (maybe someday? – If I go there, I might also move to a 2846 and get the speed more on par with the 1570). Now she’s ever so COSC and just a joy to strap on. I’m so thankful to the seller in helping her come my way and again, to the several who helped me reach a little higher in my search for a “decent” 1665 DRSD (you know who you are). I’ve got just over 2K in her but it’s a happy 2 and she’s playing nice with her non-Rollie brethren. Sorry for the ramble, but it’s just my way. And now, photos of the only Rollie in the herd. Cheers.

I leave tomorrow for a trip but upon return can reshoot the balance wheel and such. Maybe someone else will know more and say so before then...

The rotor is know to be IWC rep. As that clips some portion of the movement I will get that replaced. My thoughts are about the rest of the movement. Haven't seen a clip like that on the one jewel... Photos from sales thread:

OK - need some help from people wiser than me here. Got a nice email back from the seller (and I do mean nice...not being sarcastic here) - and he says this is SURELY Swiss... he bought it from Domi for 400 Euro etc. Now I don't know Domi - but I've only heard good things so I'd expect that side is tried and true... He (the seller) does seem on the up and up to me (great communication) ... but ... my new smith has all kinds of training and has been doing every watch under the sun for a couple decades... his shop is full of Rollies, Blacpains and the like. Just finished I big job on a very early Daytonna I'd kill for... custome makes parts for movements too... So, (and sorry the pic isn't better) - CAN this be Swiss? Could the jewel holder have been changed but the rest all be Swiss? I'm at a loss. She's keeping GREAT time (1-2 secs still)... just would really like to know FOR SURE there Swiss... for me... and - shudder the thought - for a future buyer... All insightful feedback welcome! Cheers.

I have the same feeling... but I think it stems not from the watch itself but from my head. As I posted earlier - I have an A7750 unmodified from 6 years ago I thought was just OK - now, I know she's running 6 sec/day off... not many of my gens would be doing that 6 years later. So the reps -... or at least SOME reps - a darn good... but... it's nice looking down sometimes and knowin'... it's the REAL deal instead of a real DEAL (as in bargain).

So, I sold my PAM 027a and told the patient buyer that I'd like to have the timing checked on her before sending her out (I'd done the pressure test and forgot to check the timing... duh!). Well, my smithys' been crazy busy with his kid doing the SAT (he's Asia so you know how important that is ... if you know Asian families at all)... Anyhooo, so after a few days delay I finally get down to him (in San Jose). He'd seem my 3717 I bought which was all gen but for an ETA 7750. Now, I'd had him test it's timing before and it was great 1-2 sec/day. I was pleased as pie. BUT just from handling it he told me "somethin's loose in there". Well, I was in a rush and it was running great so I said - let check it out later. Well, tonight was my "later" - so he opened her up. After a minute he said, we'll she may be running good but she's not ETA 7750. Got a Chinese in here. Sure enough - this what we should have seen (look at your red jewel bloc): And this is what was there: Darn! I don't know if toto on RepGeek knew it our not. I just wrote him tonight to let him know. I bought it - I don't know how long ago ... maybe 3 months or something... so that's what it is... but when a watch seems to be running well you don't want to open it up just for the heck of it. His shots of the watch showed the movement - but NOT the tell-tale part (at least not tell-tale to me). Maybe there are some markings that show on his movment (a scratch or something) that would prove its the same movement - but so what... I doubt he'll do anything financially back my way (I'm not looking to return the watch... I love it but for this). And, the 3717 I sold to somemone else (in Europe) as this one was coming - turned out to have more issues that I knew about so I return him $100... so, I'm out on both ends. Hmmm - guess good, honest sales are hard to come by. Live ... shake your head... and learn...

On TZ do a search for "strap".... some nice handmade croc sellers will come up - I buy from peter... 150ish but very good quality.

Yup, no good reps on the Speedies... just gotta bite the bullet!

Next time you go for a little ride, I got dibs on the Tudor! seriously, glad u b o kee * cornerstone (above) your sig is a hoot.

You'd only need to guess and pray with the first one right? After that you could due a longer/extended bit and drill down thru the first completed hole (unless the first hole wasn't aligned right in which case you might "extended" off course on the far side lug.

I saw Toro has one that looked interesting... handwound as I recall. (Look under the "other companies" or some such area of his site.

"How can somebody do that ? When the holes are on the inside ?" Diamond encrusted toothpick and spin baby spin.

As of this morning they had Pandas... unless I got the last one <img class="bbc_emoticon" title=":)" src="http://www.rwg.cc/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.png" data-cke-saved-src="http://www.rwg.cc/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.png" />

Just ordered a Panda from Toro. Half price is stupid good.

Wow, Utheman - that's terrible. I'd steam over that one for awhile.

My very experienced watchsmith thought my (unopened) Speedmaster Date was gen (black/red version). When I told him he just said, "Wow, very well replicated!"

I don't recall exactly when - but probably about 5 years ago I bought my first TD sourced reps. I bought a BCE that is long since gone - and the Omega Speedmaster Date (the supposed 1:1 red/black one). It looked nice, felt solid. I decided to use the "Don't service the Asian till she's troublesome, then service or go ETA" route... Well, it's now 5 years later. I've not worn her all that much but fairly frequently... thought she might be dry (as many are from the dealer - trusted or not... BTW the seller was Mary)... so, the other day I saked my watchsmith to time her and see if she needs a service or what. After 5 year (A7750 mind you) - he said she's off 6 sec/day with the amplitube just a bit week... to keep her in excellent condition he said - service her in a year or so. Wow, made me feel pretty good about both Mary (no longer selling I think) and the watch. Impressive for a fakey. Was gonna sell her - now - think I'll stay put.

Yup, this one is good too. I have the red/black. Very nice.

I'm in (already a member but what's not to like 'bout an upgrade)... First post - the serious, what I like about RWG... I like RWG because RWG focuses on something we all like (watches) and not the other stuff (ethnicity, race, religion, income)... and... I like RWG because as a group we have shown that we care about the "other stuff" too. That is to say, RWG is a nice place to come at the end of a light day and "work" on our little hobby... and at the end of a hard day, to help "get away" from it all, enjoy some camaraderie and regroup for the next 12 hours awaiting me "out there".