offshore

WELCOME Hope that's big enough! Great to see another modder join our ranks. Offshore

One problem with stem extenders....think it through...... the extender increases the dia of the stem, and in a lot of cases you then can't then insert the stem from "outside". (Stem tube is too narrow.) I have frequently had to fit stem to movement, fit movement to case, ( Jiggle it to get stem into stem case), then fit crown to stem. A real PIA to get stem length correct...etc. And a bigger PIA for anyone trying to work on the watch in the future!!!!!!! Gotta look at all the angles. Offshore.

If you can't identify it, give thought to a stem extender, for the old stem. O/S

So pull up a chair, grab a drink, and have a chat and a wander around! Welcome. Offshore

Welcome exeekias, All watch lovers are most welcome here. Enjoy your stay. Offshore

OK, so everyone wants a shot of "that mongrel watch". As I have never posted a "wristy" thought I would use the opportunity to kill a few birds! Here, for your viewing pleasure, is "tmw". Also my daily beater, gen Mido Oceanstar, the RWG ring, and note at bottom the bandaid! You don't wanna see the cut! JTB knows the Mido, think he still has one the same in his armoury, courtesy of an ill conceived wager about cricket, some years back! An interesting note about the Mido, is that is promoted as the worlds most waterproof watch. Only has 2 points of entry for moisture, as it has no caseback. So crown or crystal, and the crown is a specially designed seal system which uses cork gaskets as well as O rings. Also note the concealed crown, makes for a much more balanced watch IMHO. Offshore

@spider, I have always felt that duct tape, sticky balls and the like, only work when you have a reasonably loose case back. I have had a couple of case backs, that refused to move, even with a proper case back tool. Admittedly all my tools are hand style, I really need a decent pressure/screw down opener! Maybe try leaving the watch in a sunny area, and see if some heat may expand the metal enough to crack it open. Offshore

It is great to see that you have come to grips with this, so early in your quest! Unfortunately, this is not ebay, nor Amazon, nor CQ out, or any of those other "easy" purchasing options! (And certainly we offer plentiful advice with regard to those "Swiss...AAA" on line rep sellers!!!!) The great thing is that, a resource for all to use and research, has been set up here. And if used wisely, will give you a most positive result. However, if you need to rush in and snap up the 1st deal available, your buying experience may well be not exactly as planned. The options are easy....stay, research, and do the yards....or jump in to the great unknown. Trust it happens as you want it to! (My siggy tells the way it is!) Offshore

Looks like an Oz invasion of late Quite a few of us already on board mate. Pull up a pew. I have actually been doing a few Seiko restores of late, so there are like minded folk here now. Welcome Offshore

Quite a few Oz here mate! Make yourself at home. Offshore

There are 3 guys you could talk to- Gibney, Anthony & Flaherty, LLP JK! O/S

Apart from bending them, you can actually buy curved springbars. Mainly 1.3 & 1.5, have seen a few 1.78's! What size do you need? Lug to lug, and overall? (plus diam) Offshore

@801run, If you don't have this- https://secure.eta.ch/CSP/DesktopDefault.as...=3&tabid=28 you may find some useful DL here. As Toad says- good luck. Offshore

That may be most timely! Strike another one, for the "good guys"! Offshore

Most of the wholesalers have crown seal kits, and they are not very dear. Try http://www.julesborel.com/ and look at P103 of their catalogue. MQA-5 kit @ $5.95 for a kit of 50 mixed. Offshore

To the best of my knowledge, at least here in Oz,all Rolex service from an AD is carried out by the Rolex Service Centre. (in Sydney.) In fact some of the higher cost for a Rolex service, is attempted to be laid on the extra cost of freight and insurance. It must rankle with those AD's who have their own service departments for other brands, to be forced to send work off. Maybe this is an AD trying to retain a bit more profit? And isn't it a fact that Rolex now won't supply parts? Hence the need for service centres? I realise a base service could be carried out without too many parts needed, but one would think at the very least, an O ring would be replaced? And heaven forbid that an aftermarket, non genuine part was used Doesn't for one moment excuse shoddy workmanship however....in fact what Zigg shows here is beyond shoddy, bordering on criminal. Offshore

Another side effect Freddy, is that regular servicing is being "put on hold" as a money saving excercise. My mechanical service jobs are down almost 50% these last 6 months, I do service a lower socio economic area, but I am amazed at the reaction to quotes. It is only the true collectors who continue to have their watches serviced. Even battery replacement sales are down. Previously I would have women arriving with 6, 8 and up to 20 watches , all requiring new batteries. These mass replacements are being put on the back burner, waiting for "better times" So the ripple effect will be that, for mechanicals anyway, we are also going to see more wear damaged movements in the future. Maybe it may result in some new sales sometime in the distant future, but I am not holding m breath, waiting for those $$. Offshore

In some circumstances, silicon may be used as the adhesive. Need to be careful to use only very small amounts so it doesn't "ooze" to areas it shouldn't be! My local wholesale guy, who is also president of the local watchmakers assoc, recommended it to me as against buying dial dots, (even though he sold them!) Cheaper, and in his words, "silicon gives a better flexibility, shock absorption, and is easier to remove" I do a large number of quartz movement replacements, and silicon does the job most times. If it does go wrong, it is pretty easy to pry apart and scrape clean. The one thing I have found, is to use very, very small amounts, for fear of the aforementioned oozing, and to not make the join too thick. I caution to add, that this is for "cut and shut" quartz movement replacements, I would seek better alternatives if I was working on an expensive genuine. Offshore

A heads up for our Rolex repairers/modders! This appeared recently on Cousins UK website.

@Toad, I admit that I didn't pick the connection, however that said, why not buy from within...you may get a better price anyway. And certainly a higher level of accountability. O/S

Others have, and I haven't heard any rave reviews! Stick with the people here, at least there is a measure of accountability! O/S

Gee, appears they need to set up camp here! Looks like someone spotted (and heard) the "tells" Offshore

John, I must admit, I can't find anything there either. I'll ask onze, and come back to you. Offshore

Whilst it hasn't officially been announced, Col and I have been talking about the finish date for this raffle. May I suggest we set it at 2400 hrs AEDT, next Sunday 22nd February 2009. I'm sure Col will chime in here, and advise, if he has other plans! Offshore

A little background, for those members, who are wondering what this is all about. Trailboss, (Col) has been a member of all these forums for a few years now. As it happens he lives just "up the road" from me (about 200kms), and we had an opportunity to get together recently. That meeting was an absolute pleasure; a nicer bloke you would ever hope to meet. Whilst chatting about all matters horological, he mentioned he also captained his local CFA. ( Country Fire Authority) brigade. When the devastating blazes recently broke out in Victoria, it appeared his group may have been needed to back up the local brigades, who were so desperately tired, in Victoria. Thankfully, the slack has been taken up by firefighters from closer neighboring states, so Cols' group, whilst still on alert, appear to be remaining here in Queensland. Earlier this week, he commenced discussions with ourselves, his "home" forum RWG.net, and RWI, with regards to raising some "horological" funds, to aid the victims in Victoria. And so this plan was hatched. He has worked tirelessly to put this all together, (including a CFA call out at 3.30 am last night), and you now see the offerings of this labor of love. We all, (Col included) were concerned, with how to deal with the transfer of funds. Transfers through bank accounts, accessability to Credit Card facilities, whether we should enlist Pay Pal, to offer transparent accounting and the like. He finally came up with this ingenious plan, to have the funds paid directly to the authorised Red Cross Bush Fire Relief fund, and to use the e- receipts, as the tickets to the raffle. Foolproof, we trust! On behalf of the Admin team, here at RWG, I ask all of our members and supporters, to give a long hard thought, to contributing, just a little something, to this most worthwhile cause. Who knows, you may also be lucky enough to win one of the great prizes, we have here. Our thanks also to the prize donators, we know we have a pretty special group around us, and this effort only reinforces this. Thanks again for the effort Col.... and come on one and all, dig deep, and let's show what a dedicated bunch of watch lovers can do. Please, anyone with any queries whatsoever, just contact any one of your admin team. Offshore