offshore

Yeh, beats up on super reps a bit! O/S

Oh Max, we got hold of him a month or so back! Trust me, he's in good hands up here in the Sunshine State...in fact he's already been visiting, and been face to face with a couple of RWG'ers! Offshore

Under a grand......WELL under a grand! O/S

As some here may know, I dabble in buying and selling gens. This last weekend I was offered 3 watches (amongst a host of others) which I bought ...for not a lot of money! First up was this 1940, Gold plated Tudor Oyster, with an inscription on the back, dating it as 1940. Has a screw down crown signed "Oyster Patent", an unusual quadrant dial...and runs like a gem, in fact currently at 3 secs/day. The stretch band is obviously a new addition and will go for a more appropriate strap. My quick research shows these are selling at somewhere approaching $1k, so this at well under $100 was a nice pickup methinks. I am however interested in any feedback from those here more knowledgeable on this and the others here. Next up is another oldie, that I think may have some serious value. A solid gold "Rolly" which dates to 1920, 30mm diameter, solid lugs, and could even be an original strap. This one also running strongly and a couple of collectors who have seen it since I got it are making noises about " Many thousands $" Don't know about that, however it does pay to keep all your contacts working. This one came from a guy who scavenges the local tip...I grease his palm with half a dozen cans of beer each week, and he brings quite a few nice old timers for me to buy. It was also under $100, so this may be a real killing, or it may even have to be retired to the O/S safe. Finally something a few here may be a bit more interested in, a lot younger anyway. From 1967 I believe, 5513 movement, I will leave it to the WIS to tell me all its faults, (if any) The no date subs are a bit rarer? No? BTW, all these are shown, exactly as I received them, so a bit of spit and polish may (or may not?) be in order. So come on guys, give me your feedback on these 3 acquisitions to the Offshore fleet...... And who has the best Sub?...maybe Offshore....at least at under 1 grand! O/S

I was talking with a couple of watch collectors today, and happened to have some photos with me, of this project. They were blown away by both the process, and the quality offered. A truly inspiring watch build. Offshore

Fairly typical for this place actually! But a wonderful gesture once again Ubi. Class act. I am regularly inspired by the quality of members we have here. Just "pass it forward", whenever the opportunity exists. Great stuff. Offshore

Hi Dr, I certainly don't dilute any of my cleaning fluids, and if you did, you would use X55 (White Spirit) or similar, definetly not water. And as X55 is a major constituent anyway, you would only be altering the ratios. What I have found is effective in the Ultrasonic, is to put the cleaner and parts into a small beaker, and then put the beaker into the Ultrasonic bath which is full of water. The pulses still travel through the water , through the beaker, and work equally well on the fluid in the beaker. This way I am using much less cleaner on each wash. Offshore

No arguments from me on that one BM I don't have the metallurgy background to know the whys and wherefores, but certainly our Chinese friends have some serious work to do, either on the base materials from which they start in the manufacturing process, and/or in the hardening/tempering areas. My guess is that if you start with crap material, it will never be finally a top product, and the Chinese manufacturing process and mentality is always geared towards "cheap". My suppliers always offer the cheapest product initially, and are always surprised when I ask to see the more expensive versions. In fact it becomes an ongoing battle to continue to obtain supply of the higher priced items, they will often try to quote and supply the cheaper lines, even after I have purchased the top line model and made it my "standard". Another "funny" thing is the reproduction by other companies, always at a lower price, of a line which has become a winner due to its higher quality. So the 2nd and 3rd incarnation of a product, can be from a different manufacturer, and revert to the "crap" standard! Tis an ongoing battle to continue to receive better quality items, however not too many get under the radar. We do know that the letters QC, must not appear in the Chinese alphabet, as they have no knowledge of them, or their meaning I am in accord with your experience. Offshore

Oh, a few have...I have one...but pricing just now is plain silly! My take is that they are up to their eyeballs with orders from the little boutique guys, and it will take some time before we can get much sense there. O/S

Hmmm, You will get a BIG argument from me over this one! I can definetly say that a LOT of "Swiss" tools are now of Chinese origin...I know this to be fact, and have seen it with my own eyes. The problem is this- The Chinese manufacturers, will make 2 or 3 different levels of quality, and I freely admit some is absolute rubbish. However they WILL and DO supply the various grades IN the SAME packaging, at various pricing levels. I just today saw 3 screwdriver sets, various prices, they ALL look the same, but they are NOT! The final sell price can be $10 for the junk, $20 for the middle road stuff, and around $35 for some very nice sets. Now these last lot, will be sold as "Swiss" at around $85-$120 by the "top end" sellers. And yet the "Amazon:" sellers, who are only interested in maximising profits, buy the cheapies and get as much as the market will stand....it makes it bloody difficult when you try to sell the higher grade, ( which appear the same) at a fair price. Have a good look at the WP tester we sell. If it has a "makers label" it is around $1000 wholesale. I KNOW this item is sold as a Swiss product.. If I choose to buy the unbranded version, I can resell it, as I do, to the members, at around $350! Big difference methinks! And I can show the same sorts of instances through a large number of products. There are some items which the Chinese still cannot get their heads around....driver blades is a classic example...they are either too soft or too brittle....I freely admit it. Best course of action here is to buy Horotec blades from your local distributor, and pay the premium! ( Even the Bergeon supplied blades of late have had many questions asked!!!!!!) Maybe the taps are of a similar situation, they are something I am yet to investigate and test, but in this you could well be correct. But don't knock the Chinese tools across the board, all it takes is a little research, testing, and judicious buying, and you can fit your bench out for many, many $ less than previous. Sorry Mike, but your statement is too all encompassing....yep there's s**t around, but there are also some great value tools available, if you just care to look, and test! Offshore PS, Sorry to crap your thread FW, but I couldn't let this go unchallenged. So now... Please return to normal viewing!

"In like Flynn" None other than our great Aussie hero- Errol Flynn. Molester,womaniser, alleged rapist, just a wonderful role model! Offshore

@FW, We supply this as a tape- http://watchbitz.com.au/shop/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=267 Far more economical than dots, there is enough for literally thousands of refixes on 1 roll. Offshore

I believe that one is still to be released. Offshore

Hi timtim, The WTB area is for supporting members only. However you may wish to consider upgrading to VIP or Platinum status.(The link is under the search box) Otherwise welcome and spend some time getting all the useful information we have here. Good to have you with us. Offshore

And a most enjoyable conversation was had...and you would think the chances of a 3rd member dropping by would be almost incalculable....however thats what happened! It was great to finally put some faces to names. Offshore

@FDG, The bevel is pretty small , something around 0.5mm, and it looks to be 45 deg, but its so small its very difficult to measure. I saw today one of the "replacement " crystals from the dealers, and it looks to me just the same as the ones which are delaminating! Certainly is the same measurements! I also pressed a 287 into the case for a comparison, and that one is certainly getting to the loose point. Also saw one of the 21J Ploprofs, the finish on the case on this one, was far inferior to the other case I have here, although without a very close inspection, it looked in all ways identical....maybe the cheaper version gets one less final polish? Have decided to try sanding the original crystal 0.1mm, and doing a reinstall/reassembly. See how that goes. O/S

@FDG, I today pressed a 288 mineral into the case I have here, to check that it was the correct size. It is nice and firm in the existing retainer, so I do think its the way to head. ( The 289 is just too tight!) The one I test fitted was only a 3mm MG , however I think it proved the correct diameter, as the insert only grips about 3mm anyway! I hope this is the correct direction to solve this problem.... I certainly think so. Offshore

Hey TFD, The guys here know if they go to - www.watchbitz.com.au And log in and sign up, they actually get these for A$2.60! Just one of our MANY items.!! Offshore BTW, Thanks for the promo!

It is when the replacement movements are not available at low prices to those who only want/need small quantities. 100,000 = $10 10 = $100! O/S

This is the key to a lot of issues. However I don't see a future which includes parts for the clones. Which is going to create some major heartache, (if its not already doing so.) A major byproduct of the ETA ( read Swatch) decision, is that things are already becoming "difficult" when trying to obtain genuine ETA parts. In this country the genuine parts suppliers (Swatch) are less than helpful, in fact make life bloody difficult in trying to buy any ETA part. Each inquiry is now brand specific, ( you can no longer ask for an ETA part, it now must be the Omega number, or the Certina number as an example) and if you don't have a specific parts list for that brand, and can specify the "brand" part number.... "Sorry we can't help" If for instance it is for a Tag, ( which is marketed here by a 3rd party,) you will be referred to them....and they (Tag Distributor) don't carry parts! (The just refer you back to ETA/Swatch....who won't assist!) So don't kid yourselves that things will stay the same....Swatch are taking the high road, and will make life VERY difficult, and our Chinese friends care less about parts for their movements...they only want to sell 100,000 of the one complete new movement to the manufacturers, and don't and won't run spare parts departments. Whilst we have been aware for years that this was coming, it will be all these little side issues, and policy changes on parts, which will finally have as big an influence on movements,supply, servicing and repair. I can foresee the day when the corner store watchmaker will need to have a huge spare parts bin of used movements, to scavenge and rob to keep movements running, and if they wanted to, Swatch could just say that all movements requiring service, must be returned to their service departments for any work....ala Rolex! Today I spent a couple of hours trying to source some common parts for a 7750. They were "not available" as ETA parts! (Although I was quoted a price, just NLA!) (BTW Cousins still showed stocks of both items) When I then quoted the Omega movement number, (1155) one part was found to be Omega specific, ( It had its own specific number for supply into an Omega movement, which I believe only had to do with the color of the item)..( and the pricks wanted $235.00 for it).and the price of the other item had escalated from $8.60 to $32.00 as an Omega part! On top of this I am told that post and pack for a 1mm dia size part is $25.00! Do you know what the owner of that Speedy said when I quoted him for supply and repair? "I may as well send it back to Omega!!!!!!" So maybe there is more to the this decision than meets the eye....it certainly puts Swatch back in the drivers seat....not withstanding the inevitable "restriction of trade" cases which will be mounted. Some learned gent here in Oz once said......."Life wasn't meant to be easy!" Offshore

Thanks to the research one of our dedicated members-Patinga- we have been able to get a link to a series of files on Rolex. Lots of info here for the Rolly brigade. http://rapidshare.co...ch_Drawings.rar There is a heap of info here, and its a large DL so be patient, its worth the wait! Thanks mate. Offshore

Just spotted this now...Gee I'm happy you and yours are OK, and as others have said, most everything else can be replaced. Glad to know you are OK and upbeat about such a bad scenario. Offshore

Read this- http://www.timezone.com/library/workbench/workbench631654780793976672 or this- http://www.pmwf.com/Watches/WatchSchool/WS%2020%20Patek%20Nautilus%20Quartz%20with%20Split%20Stem%20Battery%20Change/WS%2020%20Patek%20Nautilus%20Quartz%20with%20Split%20Stem%20Battery%20Change.htm Some come apart very easily, and others you really need to fight with for a while. At least here you can see the principle. Offshore

If its a mono case back, it will have a split stem. Once you get the crystal out, you split the stem close to the case ( between dial and case) Search "split stem" O/S

I particularly liked the "warranty". Ahhh, so 1 year more than manufacturer...however you give your own warranty and service in house eh! If it walks like a duck and goes quack! Offshore