jktimepiece

Greetings RWG members: I've been around for a while, accumulating knowledge on this most interesting topic. I was a member of Replica Collectors and referred to RWG. It all started in Spain on vacation when I acquired two timepieces. A Breitling look-a-like, and a Submariner. I say look alike because I have yet to find an original which looks like this piece. It's a chronograph, glass bottom boat w/simulated Croco strap. Simulated because the coloring lasted about 2 years before fading, the date go's all the way to 39/00 days and the "Month dial" is stuck and will not rotate. That's not really a problem for me, I mean, I still know what month it is without looking at my watch and ! I have Max. 31 days to remember. The only explanation I have for 39/00 day indicator is it must be a Chinese calender thing. The "Sub is in pieces again after having a movement replacement last year While visiting friends in Italy, who by the way, both have real Rolex pieces, the Crown feel off that replacement movement of my Sub. Those in the know, or just starting out, know that movements are as plentiful as sea shells on the beaches of Naples Florida. So it is, that I've spent a fair part of my free time trying to ID the Sub movement which was replaced by a guy who does not want to be ID'd. OK I understand, I mean he works for the European Central repair facility for most major brands of watches in Europe and I got to him through, of all people, a Shop foreman at a BMW dealer, What a story, Hmmmmmmmm. Ya but I only paid 20 Euro for the replacement. The Crown and Stem were from the original movement. So me, the trusting soul I am, go to a jewelry store where I've done business before thinking they will help. She says to me, "Oh sure I can take that tinny brass sleve off your stem" she goes to her work bench and cuts off 3 millimeters and now the stem is to short and does not protrude from the tube on the, not to bad looking Stainless Steel case. Am I giving up, you Ask, not yet say I. I've pretty much narrowed it down to a ST16 automatic movement. So now I've only got three problems left. a. The threads on the tube are stripped, so I guess I need a "Tube remover and a Tube." b. I need a new screw-on crown with that cute LOWLEX crown and three dots underneath because the threads are stripped. c. And finally, a two Click stem which the crown will fit on. PS: Did I mention that the Bubble for the Date has a scratch on it? Finally, I live in the middle of Europe, no I'm not European. If you went to a bakery here, and asked for and Americaner you'd get a white cookie that looks like a cow chip with white sugar frosting on it. So ! What's the simularity between me and an Americaner. I'm a white male, with no sugar frosting. PS: I'm interested in serious constructive helpful replies. Thanks jktimepiece