steveb

Great looking watch chieftang It makes me want one even more... Thanks again automatico. I guess I'll start with the cheaper movement and see if that fits!!! I found this previous post by UncleJay that also mentions a 2846 in a 5500 case: http://www.rwg.cc/members/Rolex-Tudor-ETA-...mp;hl=5500+case I've tried searching to see if he went through with the build but I can't find anything. I'll try and PM him to find out. Thanks again, Steve

Thanks for all that information automatico!!! I've found a site that has some 5500 cases (Air King Explorer) and other sites that have 5500 re-dials. I understand that the rolex movement for the 5500's was a 1530 movement. As I don't have the money for a genuine movement just yet, what would be the eqivalent Eta? And most importantly would it fit the case? I like the idea of building one of these older models up but don't want to buy up all the parts then find I can't put it together... Any thoughts? Steve

Hi, Thanks for the replies. I'd spent most of my day at work on Friday searching for cases... After my searches here found nothing here I'd headed over to ebay and still nothing. Maybe I should have just posted here to begin with and got on with some work instead...But you know how it is I'd built a Marina Militare up last summer shortly after buying a Panerai replica from Joshua. It was the first watch I'd put together and as many of you know its really rewarding when you put it on your wrist for the first time!!! During the summer last year I visited the Ian Flemming exhibition in London. One of the exhibits was an Explorer 1. I don't think it belonged to him but for some reason it was there and I thought I wouldn't mind one of them!!! Originally I'd thought about getting a replica, but when I saw the one Ubiquitous had put together I realized a close to genuine was possible. Fast forward to Wednesday night last week. I got the really sad news that my Grandad had passed away One of his many talents years ago was repairing watches so I guess thats who I got my interest from. Whilst sitting at work and thinking about him last Friday I had the the thought of putting together an Explorer 1 in memory of him I want to use all genuine parts if I can (except the movement) as its going to be a keeper with lots of memories attached. I know I'm only new on here, but any help or advice that you can offer will be greatly appreciated. Heywood, if you could PM me the email of Steve-Roling, that would be great!!! Many thanks, Steve

Hi, I'm new to the forum Can anyone point me in the right direction of a genuine 16200 case set? I'm looking at building an Explorer 1 like Ubiquitous but I can't find a case anywhere... Any ideas? Thanks, Steve

Hello again, Thanks to everyone for replying to my original post . I was tempted to go for one of DSN's but having read about his recent QC issues I decided go for the Perfect Clone model from Joshua. I'm living in Japan at the moment so I was a little unsure about it getting through customs... I ordered it on the Monday night and on the following Saturday I got a knock at the door and it was the postman with a small box. After signing for it I noticed a label stuck to it. It was from Japanese customs informing me that they had opened it!!! I wasn't charged anything and they didn't confiscate it It came well protected in a card board outer box, a polystyrene inner box and the watch itself was bubble wrapped. I tried to take these pics at the same angles as the ones I found of an original. The original is the first one each time. I think it looks really good compared to it What do you think? I've got to say I was really surprised at the quality of the watch when I first saw it. As it was my first rep. I was kind of expecting something pretty cheap and rough looking. But this is totally the opposite. It has a great looking case that's well polished and feels very heavy. It has a tiny mark near one of the lugs but that's it. The case back is really well done also. I don't know how its engraved, but however they did it they made a very clean and crisp job. The crown guard sits perfectly with the case and the lever fits in virtually flush with no gaps. The crown is sitting a fraction further out of the case than it should but I'm sure this can be easily sorted out. I've noticed another forum member is hoping to produce some thicker crowns so I will try to pick one of those up and make the adjustments then. Its got a sapphire crystal with the blueish AR coating and although its not the same colour as the gen. one, it does make it look like a quality watch!!! The dial has the usual "A" problems but they are so small you don't even notice them. The dial markings themselves are again very well done and have very clean edges to them. It only has the basic lume, but if its had a good charge during the day it will glow away all night long. The quality of the lume wasn't important to me so it came as a nice surprise. It came with the standard cheap repro. strap which was too small for me so I had a go at making my own strap. This is the first one I've made and I know its far from perfect but It'll do for now!!! I've now had it for three weeks and the only problem I had was yesterday when I tried to adjust the time time and it wouldn't work I took the crown guard off and the crown and its stem fell out All I needed to do was take the back off and put the stem back in. I found that the tiny screw that holds it in place was not tightened up enough. It fine now though So for anyone looking at buying their first replica Panerai, I can certainly recommend this model from Perfect Clones. I've got a genuine Omega Speedmaster and it certainly looks good next to that Thanks again, Steve

Thanks for all the replies I'm still unsure which one to go for... I'm leaning towards the model from Perfect Clones. Mainly due to the price and it looks OK compared to the real thing. But I'm sure others will disagree This first pick is the real thing:- Next is the model from Perfect Clones followed by the one from Trusty Time. Finally Davidsens 01A with "Tritium" dial. So which is the closest to the real thing? In my eyes the Perfect Clone and Trusty Time models looks really good compared to the genuine one. I know the dials have slight problems with the font sizing but unless you have it next to a real one I doubt you would notice a problem. Does it have another major flaw that I'm not aware of cskent69? What's your reason for not liking it? With regards to Davidsens 01A. I can see that the crown is a better copy and the colour of the lume looks nice and aged. But as I mentioned before the colour of the hands is completely different. Maybe this was just an early model he'd made up and the ones he's selling now all have the same coloured lume. I guess an email to him might clear it up. The lume strength isn't important for me so I wouldn't be looking to have it re-lumed. Neither is the movement. If I really like the watch I might get a Swiss ETA fitted. All I'm looking for is a reasonably good copy with a good case and dial that doesn't cost a fortune. Just like everyone else is... Any thoughts?

Thanks TA8088, I've just checked it out and it looks really good:- Davidsen PAM 01A You say its had all the mods done, but from the pics. it looks like it has the short cannon pinion??? The lume on the hands is also a different colour to the lume on the dial... Which looks kind of strange. I guess they could be re-done. It costs $300 Do you think its worth twice the price as the one from Perfect Clones? Thanks for the advice, Steve

Hi, I'm new here and for the past three days have been reading post after post trying to gather as much information as I can. Originally I'd been thinking about ordering a custom finished PAM 111H through a member on another forum. Then I thought about getting all the parts together and doing it myself. It was through my search for parts that I found this site I had been thinking about going for a sterile dial but now I'm leaning towards a full blown copy One of the things about the 111H is that it has a display back. I'm not a huge fan of the look of the Swiss/Asian copy. I'd much rather have a solid back. So after a lot of searching I think I've narrowed it down to a PAM 001. I've only been able to find the models on two of the recommended sites:- Perfect Clones Trusty Time Which of the two would you you say is the better copy/quality. To me they look the same but as I mentioned I'm new to this. Trusty Times is $110 more but comes with a bracelet. Do you think the difference in price is just for the bracelet or are you paying for a better quality case? From looking at the numbers on the case back it appears that the two are different. The quality of the case is the most important for me. I know things like the dials, cannon pinion and crown guards can be upgraded or at a later date. But I don't want to buy another case.... Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Steve