Virgil Hilts

Absolutely.

Just got a week ago. Here are a few pics. Great watch.

As annoyed as I am, I'm with Euno on this one. I'm sure they'll get it right and probably sooner than later. This is what the factory spit out for now and the dealers are just trying to unload 'em. When they finally do get this one right, I'll be all over it. A buddy of mine has the gen BR-03 and it's a gorgeous watch. And as troublesome as my stainless BR-01 has been, it more than holds it own when set next to the gen BR-03. I hope they keep the price down too, as I've got a vj23 Daytona project going and a gen Tag Heuer McQueen on backorder.

It's #$&* like this that drives me nuts. One step forward and ten steps back. The finally get the size/back right for a BR-03, THEN THEY BOTCH THE DIAL!!! How hard is it to put in a freaking date module? And, when the finally do, you can all but bet the farm that the date will either be the wrong color or wrong font. Please, please...no one buy this watch. Let's see how quickly the changes come if we don't buy this oh-gee-I-guess-it's-close-enough version. Of course, I'm still annoyed by having to glue my lugs so they'd stay put on my 46mm version and never getting the replacements I was promised. I put a gen nylon/velcro strap on it and it looks great, but I still had to pay to have the rubbish movement serviced (although the seller did offer a replacement - at my shipping cost, of course). Sorry for the rant. Discuss amongst yourselves. This is why I've been concentrating on putting together Daytona Frankens. They cost more, but you get something that looks better and works right.

I've been in upper management for about 15 years now. Believe me, I've done my share of intra-office dating. But dating someone who works directly under you (so to speak) is patently insane. Doesn't matter who came on to who. The wrong woman tells the right story to someone above you and that company will cut you loose quicker than you can say Clarence Admin. I've seen it happen more than once to guys who thought they were The King. Do not labor under the illusion that you are indispensible. If you want to date someone at the office, go ahead, just don't do it with someone who works for you. Just trying to help. Seriously.

Nice job. Where'd you get the dial?

Nice. I'll be sure to tell that one in Miami because...I'M GOING TO THE GAME, BABY!!! GO BEARS!!!!! Yes, I'm freaking out.

Playlife, I'd love to see some pictures of your watch. Is the orange color on the hands uniform in it opacity? It looks like, on the dealer pics, that it goes a little white around the edges. Can you confirm? Also, how is the PVD? Is it PVD? Any way to compare the shade to that of a gen? There are pretty hi-res shots of them at bellandross.com. Thanks.

I figured that. But, the watch is accurate-looking enough it may be worth it. If I was willing to toss a VJ72 into a Daytona rep, this isn't that big a deal by comparison. If you actually know the price, let me know. Oh, and I forgot to mention the screws/pins on the damn thing broke when I tried to put on my genuine nylon/velcro strap. Why do we do this again? :black_eye:

Hell, mine broke down within two days of owning it. The dealer, to his credit, offered to replace the whole watch, but I didn't want to wait (and pay shipping) so I just had my local guy work on it. He said the movement was [censored], too. Anyone know how much a gen 2892 goes for? I meant to ask my watch guy but forgot. I"m sick and tired of overpromise/outright lies from the dealers. It ain't a 2892 and it ain't superlume. Anyone who has the pvd version...is it really pvd? Still, the watch does look good on the wrist, though.

I have a Cingular contract...and my company pays for my phone. June is gonna be sweet.

Just fyi, that first jacket picture is not of a genuine US military flight jacket.

Ubi, I'm going to give the ol vj72 some love right after I get done paying for Christmas. This thing has ended up costing me more than my wife spent on my genuine 5512 Sub. Of course, that was 16 years ago...

I didn't send it to The Zigmeister because he was so backed up with work and I have a guy here who can service it (I hope). Any observations about the watch and what to do next with it to get it looking even better are welcome.

Hey, All. It's my watch. Yes, I got the movement out of an old Zodiac. Still needs some tweaking to the movement, especially with the resetting of the subhands. Joe didn't do a full service of the movement, but he did get it up and running, which is something the last place I took it to failed at miserably. Joe also did some case work and drilled out the lugs to accept gen. springbars. The case is NOT a DW, it's from a guy named Cy. I welcome any and all comments as I'm always looking to make it better. My observations: The coronet is placed too high and looks too thick. I want a better dial, so if anyone has any leads, let me know. I'd like a silver dial, as well. DW was working on some better ones, but I've yet to see them. The pushers don't seem to come out high enough. Very hard to notice, but they seem a mm or so too low. The bracelet sucks. Anything else? Thanks for getting it working, Joe. Great job, as always.

I have a 5512 Sub from 1961, which is two years older than I am, so, yeah, I bought it used. It's now worth more than three times what I paid for it. At various times, I've also owned a Cartier Tank Francaise (both medium and large versions), an Omega GMT and a couple of other high-enders. I've bought them all used. If you're patient and know where to look, the deals are out there. Just be smart and be careful and you'll save yourself a lot of coin in the long run.

Over a ratty long-sleeve t-shirt, yes, it's just wrong. But over a dark-colored sweater, it looks kinda interesting, I gotta admit.

Silly, maybe...but screw it. I just bought one. Should get here the exact same time as the genuine velcro strap I ordered. Merry Christmas to me.

Actually, the date of mine (III '61) pre-dates the 5512, so the original dial for mine would not have had a COSC designation on it - they only started putting them on when they came out with the 5513, which is not certified. I've seen maybe one genuine dial available in all the years I've been looking for one. And it was $2300.

The first few years of the 5512 had the gilt gloss dial, mine included. Go to the Time Zone vintage Rollie forum - they've got tons of pics. I had one made, but I've yet to put it on - seems wrong to put an aftermarket dial on the real deal. I'll try and post some pics of the dial later. Happy Thanksgiving, all.

Here's a pic of my '61 5512. Bought used about 16 years ago for a grand. the dial had been replaced sometime in the late 60's early 70's. I own a couple of reps and a genuine Tank Francaise, but I always seem to end up with this on my wrist. Sure wish it still had the gilt gloss dial on it, but it's holding its own, value-wise.

I'm a creative director at an ad agency and it's not very often when I think, "boy, I wish I'd have come up with that." This is one of those times. Brilliant.

So I'm sitting on a bench at Water Tower Place in Chicago awhile ago, drinking my coffee, reading the Trib and minding my own business, when a guido-ish trader type sits down at the table next to me. We give each other the "hey howya doin" guy-nod and I get back to my paper. I'm about half-way throught the sports section when I hear Guido go, "Hey, nice Sub," in reference to my Sub. I smile broadly and say, "thanks - it's two years older than I am," which usually gets a smile. This is where Guido springs his intricate, well-planned trap. He counters with "I would have guessed it was made in Shanghai two months ago." I was totally dumbfounded, and not a little [censored] at this slick Rick calling out a watch I've owned for over 15 years, a watch I bought from one of the most reliable watch dealers in the city, a watch that has been serviced by Rolex in Dallas, a watch I had serviced at Torneau but one week earlier, a fake. And that's when it hit me. I told the guy "I'd like to show you something." He gets a little weary. "What?' I say "See that store over there? That's Tourneau." Come on in with me. I walk in, the sales associate greets me by name. The guy is starting to get a little pale. Take off my Sub and hand it to the sales guy. "Could you please explain to this gentleman that this watch is a genuine one? He looks at it for ten seconds and goes, "Of course it is, we just had it in here last week. 5512, made in the third quarter of 1961, pointed crown guards, 5xxxxxx series. 1560 movement. Beautiful watch." I thank the sales guy, put the watch back on and start to walk past the Guido. But at the last second, to save face, he blurts out "Well, it didn't have metal rings around the hour markers." I just smiled politely and said, "If you think that's a dead giveaway for a fake Rolex, you may want to learn more about the subject matter," and walked the hell out. It's not often you can get to smack down a guy like that. I just walked off, smiling.

Put a 7753 in it, keep it under $700 and, just as important, put THE RIGHT DATEWHEEL FONT on it and I'm very, very in. No point in having a perfectly sized/spaced datewheel if the font is still wrong. Having said all that, I still may pull the trigger on EL's latest. Ed's a good guy.

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