FloridaSam

How about this one? http://www.network54.com/Forum/207673/message/1332160860/FS+rolex+military+5513-5517+bezel+NOS

I love my GMTIIC rep but realized it was getting no wrist time due to the bracelet it was on. While nice, it was VERY sharp and uncomfortable. Add to that that the bracelet is actual a fantasy as it has the GMT bracelet with a combination Sub/GMT clasp that frankly just isn't right. There's a local dive shop down the street that sells Waterborne straps so I thought I would take a shot and see how I liked this, I love it! It really de-blings this watch and I can see myself wearing this a lot more like this. I am amazed everytime I wear this $80.00 Asian 21J version of this watch how reliable and beautiful it is. On a side note, I have bought many Waterbornes frome this shop in the past, all are in storage at the moment. I must say I'm a little dissapointed as the quality of these has gone down, the previous ones I purchased were made in Australia, they are now made in Taiwan and the stiching and hardware are just not the same. However, for $12.00 I still think these straps are a bargain and a half.

I think it looks great. You can look at 20 pics of this watch from online seller I know are gen and see at least 10 different shades. On a computer with a digital image its going to be hard to tell if its EXACTLY the same as a gen without a gen in your hand. Again, I think yours looks wonderful.

It's not like Rolex doesn't condone this nonsense.

Back has been off, its real.

Here's some more pics, first one just to prove this isn't a fish tale a copy of the receipt from 2/24. The next are just some glamour shots. We haven't seen the sun in a few days down here so getting good shots is hard, especially on a flat crystal like this. you can see that it has a bit of wabi, nothing a good service won't make look like new. I will certainly need a new clasp as the crown is nearly worn away. This is a tool watch and looks like it was used as such. I wasn't sure how I would like the no date, no-COSC on the dial....I've decided I wouldn't have it any other way. AND the icing on the already awesome cake.... the crown lines up PERFECTLY! My OCD tendencies luv it!

I swear to FSM that this is 100% true, its literally a dream come true... I have dreamt of a scenario like this and still can't believe it actually happened. I guess this is an unintended consequence of our hobby and one I gladly accept. We've all heard the stories of people buying what they thought was a genuine Rolex only to find out it was indeed a fake. Some fakes are excellent and hard to tell, some are franken watches. Regardless, the extent our hobby has come has made some people so gun shy of certain watches they don't know what they have. There's a pawn shop I frequent in south Florida, mostly for guitar and Hi-Fi related items. The owner plays in a band and is always moving gear in and out of his collection so there is usually something nice and unique, not the usual made in China garbage guitars or beat to crap usual pawn shop fare. As I walked in yesterday I started up a conversation with the owner, we talked guitars and I mentioned that I noticed he no longer had any watches in the jewlery case. He told me he is no longer taking watches in pawn. He said he was burned twice in the last few months on Breiltlings and would never look at one again. He told me he had one last Rolex that was being put on the shelf today but again he said he was burned on this one and it was a good fake/ franken. I asked to see it. He brought out a 1999 A series 14060 No-Date Sub. I did not want to tip my hand, and oddly enough I had just been reading up a lot on this model so I asked what made him think it was fake....could I open it. He said, "Don't bother, we measured this with a caliper and the dimensions are all wrong for a Submariner, this is the only way we use to determine fakes as the movements can be real.......blah blah blah" after that I turned off my ears. I knew what was going on.......... He was comparing the dimensions for a Date Sub to a Non-Date Sub. Well, that won't work! Different cases, different diameter dials, different bezel diameters...the only things that swap on those two models are the crown, hands and bracelet. I asked the price, he said to the best of his knowledge the bracelet was real, and since it was a "really good replica" he wanted $1699.99. A LOT FOR A REPLICA!!!! I asked if he could do better since it was a fake and he said he knew what good frankens went for and as the bracelet was real,and since it hadn't been on display yet he was firm. I checked this over with a loupe for a while, analyzing every last detail, then I said I wanted to think about it as I drove like a bat out of hell home to grab some cash, praying it would still be there when I returned 20 min later. I didn't want to put a deposit or give any indication I was as excited as I was. I got back there, asked to see the watch again,piut it on my wrist, plunked down $1802.99 the price plus tax, said thanks and drove straight to Tourneau. Checked out 100%. Went to Hamiltons, checked out 100%, Went to my local Rolex authorized repairman I use, checked out 100%. I am amazed. The fact that our reps have gotten as good as they are has resulted in me getting a watch I could NEVER afford ($3,500-$5,000 on used market) for a lot, lot, lot less. I have spent all day staring at this watch, waiting to wake up from this dream. I frequent the PMWF.com also and my entire collection is from pawn shops and flea markets in south florida. Its a unique area of tourists, older people and rich people living beyond their means. This makes for some unique and wonderful finds. It takes a lot of work and I devote many hours each week hunting for these kinds of deals. This one made the hundreds of fruitless journeys worth every last second.

I hit a pawn shop today and came home with what I assume is some mish mash of a Fantasy Panerai? Sandwhich dial, polished older style crown guard, older type movement and a bracelet. I immediately put a strap on it as I KNOW the bracelet isn't correct for anything remotely resembeling this. So...is this worth investing in a solid caseback...did a sandwich dial ever have a polished crown guard? I probably over paid at $200 out the door but it is a pretty watch, it had the bracelet which is pretty decent quality and this shop gives me a 30 day money back return policy so I took a cance. Any idea who sold something like this? I know a lot of questions but this one is stumping me.

Ha! 1976 Telecaster case. Good eye!

This past Thursday was my 40th birthday. For many, many years I have wanted a Datejust but I had some specific requirements, stainless steel only, I wanted a more modern solid link bracelet, a fluted gold bezel and a unique dial. A long time ago I saw a gray dial with the white lettering and loved how the writing almost dissapeared at certain angles. 6 weeks ago, to my utter surprise I found what I was looking for locally. Unfortunately it was a basket case. Unfortunately I don't have a beofre pic as I drove directly to my watch guy, didn't pass go, didn't want to get attached until it was perfect. I was contemplating using this movement for a DRSD franken but it turned out so spectacular I don't have the heart to break this one up...it literally looks like it was made yesterday not 40 years ago....inside and out. The movement worked but needed LOTS of work, in fact my guy said this was in some of the worst shape he's seen. But I knew the time he spent would result in an almost new watch and that's about what I got, a "new" 1972 Datejust with the dial, bracelet and bezel I wanted. A wonderful 40th birthday present for me....and the watch!

Wow, I bought a Rolex Date just before Xmas for peanuts as the movement needed lots of work. Its getting serviced locally and should be finished in about 2 weeks.... I didn't realize it was the same movement as the DRSD....I might have ANOTHER project in the works....it will be work though to make a true grail franken like this... but the movement part is done at least...how would I even start such a thing...

Is there a case with the proper He valve? I had a gen SMP Bond in 1994 when these first came out, it was very nice.... I might throw this movement into a franken IWC too...decisions, decisions...but if I do the IWC.. it'll be smaller too so I would probably keep the watch intact....I do so much want a vintage Seamaster 300....will this movement fit into a Ploprof.....oh my mind is swimming with possibilities

Hmmmm I just got an Omega 1120 (ETA 2892) chronometer movement.... this just might be the place to put that movement...... Beautiful build, its exactly what I was hoping to see today. Awesome.

I picked up a genuine Omega Seamaster 120 with an Omega 1120 Chronometer movement (ETA 2892) for pretty cheap this week. I love the watch but its a bit small at 37mm. I would love to use this watch to make a decent franken....what case would be the best for this movement. I know the vintage Seamaster 300 doesn't use this modern movement but it would make a nice watch... what would you make if you had this movement? Here's a pic of the gen...certainly a fine piece on its own with some NICE blued hands.

I would love to see those pics for educational purposes. Whether my band is solid or "wrapped" I cannot be positive. All I know is there is absolutely no difference in the metal where HUGE chips, gouges and divots are on the mid links. I bet this particular bracelet is 10-12k solid. It doesn't shine a deep yellow like solid 18k but mor4e like 10k. No matter what I love this bracelet and will have it restored, it will make a nice bracelet for a nice rep.

Ok, found tape.... its an ETA! neat older rep for sure.

Shoot. I have no way of opening it at the moment. I will go out later and buy some duct tape and try to get the back off.... I assue its ETA as the serial number hits on some older "super reps" from the 90's that had eta movements...

I stopped by a pawn shop today to look for a guitar amp and stumbled upon this. It was amongst a bunch of broken Armitrons and Fossils in the display cabinet. Its beat up pretty bad. The crown wouldn't screw down, its missing its pearl, it looks like it was used to grind rebar at some point in its life. I'm no expert at all but something about this intrigued me. First, it was certainly an ETA movement. High beat, and the feel and quickset are text book ETA. Secondly the band threw me for a loop. Its been abused. HEAVILY abused.......yet the gold shows no sign of wear. If this was plated, or even "wrapped" with the gouges, scrapes, scratches and chunks missing some base metal would show. None. My spidey senses were telling me this MIGHT have solid gold middle links. Due to the overall condition of the piece I offered $25.00 out the the door and my offer was quickly accepted. I took the bracelet off and saw what I expected... the W860168 serial number which upon Google search is a known rep number. I then used a bit of elbow grease and metal polish and the band shined up VERY nicely. A trip to a local jewler friend of mine confiemed that the bracelet links are between 10k and 14k solid! What do I have here? Anyone seen or have one like this? The watch itself is certainly no super rep... the date is off center, the crown is well....horrendous... but the crystal is superb, the lume on the dial is sublime, bright and grogeous cream color that looks great. The dial print is ok, not the sharpest I have seen by any stretch. The pearl is currently a piece of soap to fill the hole, and the watch is pretty dusty. Is the head worth sinking money into? It will need a new crown, tube and possibly dial, hands, insert and pearl. I'm not sure what to do with this...or just wear it as is, it has a unique patina of a almost 20 year old sub that's lived a rough life. For $25.00 I'm pertty darn happy with this bracelet alone....any idea what the bracelet is worth?

I've had the 21J version for 45 days. I've worn it everyday and I am amazed at the reliability so far. I have not had to set the time other than for daylight savings, it keeps excellent time and the GMT hand is spot on. Yes, the slower beat is a big tell but for around $100.00 I am MORE than happy with this watch.

A Noobfacorty GMTiiC. LOVING it.

Thanks! I was hoping it was Noob but wasn't 100% sure.

First some background. I'm a LONG time lurker and rep afficianado for many, many years. However, I've never owned what I consider to be a "good" rep. Mostly garbage I got when I lived in Washington, D.C. your normal Canal St crap. While at an Antique show 2 weekends ago I saw out of the corner of my eye a DSSD rep. I asked to see it and got into a conversation about reps with the nice seller. We talked for a while as I was checking out the Deep Sea. Then he said he had a GMTiiC aslo if I was interested.... of course I was insterested. I'd never seen a rep of this one in person and have followed the reps of this model since they first came out. It was wrapped up tightly in its plastic and he let me inspect it. I found it flawless...amzingly flawless... for a rep. The crystal was perfect (aside for the etched crown..) the cyclops lined up perfectly. The dial work is great, the bezel looks amazing. Even the rehaut engraving, while a tad crooked in an area lines up at ther 12, 9 and 3 PERFECTLY. Its obviously a ICHS and it has the 2813 slower movevment. The movement has been keeping Chronometer level time since I set it on Saturday at 10:34am. Amazing. I have set the GMT time to 24hr indicator and have no intentions of playing with it much after that. The only niggles I have are the SHARP esdges on the underside of the clasp and that it doesn't have the true 1/2 link as the gen...it actually has a diver extention like an older sub but with the new correct GMT clasp...weird. The endlinks are tighter and smoother fitting than the gen Sub I used to own. Bezel is tight with no play and clicks on the hours as it should. I gave the bracelet a WD-40 bath and it improved to the point I am amazed its a cheap bracelet. I've had gen Omegas, Breitlings, Rolex, GP, and others that didn't have bracelets half as nice feeling as this one. All in all for $80.00 I cannot believe the amount of watch for the money. I have had two people not believe it was a rep.

You have a beautiful collection, very tasteful and all wearable amazing pieces. I love old Explorer I's and yours looks perfect.

Played sax in high school and college, since then guitar and bass. I have a custom built Telecaster Frankenrep?!!?? I guess I hang out in the right place for that, huh?

Just want to say hi and introduce myself. Long LONG (days of TTK and before..) lurker but just got what I consider my first real REP and wanted to join the fun. If you ever hung out at the PMWF you may have seen me there, FloridaSam.