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automatico

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Everything posted by automatico

  1. The cases and bracelets on these watches are top grade but the movements are to put it mildly...junk. I have worked on a few. One quote: "In 1968, the Omega 1000 series calibres came into this world with what are said to be significant birth defects." If this watch was mine, I would sell it because of the movement but I would hold out for top price because of overall condition and the fact it is a dive style watch. Most 'collectors' do not know or care about the Omega cal 1020 and buy a watch because of the case/bracelet/dial. http://users.tpg.com.au/mondodec//Movement4.pdfa Check the 'bin' price on this non diver Cosmic on eBay, item number: 360542865727 (!!!!!!!!!!!)
  2. "I'm not aware of anyone repping the crown and there are a few rep tubes around, but those you have look gen to me." They look good to me too. I say this because I have not seen a replica crown with a crimped cap skirt. All the replicas I have seen had a one piece cap or a steel cap pressed over a base metal frame, but not crimped like genuine. I have been wrong before though.
  3. "But i still think that a lot of the modded stuff on here looks like its been attacked with a blow torch!" +1 'Naturally' aging: Dial...put it on top of a fence post sealed in a fruit jar out in the hot sun for the summer. Case/bracelet...carry the case/bct around in a jeans pocket with change etc for a few weeks. ...or let your wife/gf wear it for a couple days with the dial/mvt replaced by a picture of your ex.
  4. "Quick question, will a 3035 movement fit the newer no pin holes case (e.g. 16200) ?" No. Why? The 3035 stem will not center in a 16200 etc case tube because the 3035 movement is approx .4mm taller from stem centerline to top of dial (same dials are used on 3035 and 3135). A 16200 etc case can be modified (machine metal away from the dial seat inside the case) to accept a 3035 but then the second hand rubs the sapphire crystal. If you shorten the ss tube to lower the ss hand, the ss hand will rub the minute hand. If you lower the minute hand it will hit applied markers, hour hand etc, etc. A 3035 will fit into a modified 16200 etc case as mentioned above without much hand lowering/bending etc by using an actylic 135 crystal but you would not really gain much by changing cases. I know this because I machined a 16234 case for this modification in 1995 (16234 iirc). Quick questions sometimes require complicated answers.
  5. "how big a faux pas is it to wear the 7836 on a watch that came 10-20+ years before it?" Nothing wrong with it imho. I bought a 6605 made III 1959 a while back and it came with a modern style jubilee on it. The owner bought the watch new when he was in the Air Force and when it needed a bracelet, he bought what was available at the time. I have seen a lot of older watches with modern style bracelets on them.
  6. "Just snagged a Phong midcase/caseback, yuki hev, and clarks bezel assembly/crystal from fellow member..." I am looking at a Clark's bezel kit on my DW '5513' and it has a lower profile than the bezel pictured on the watch. I have two more off the watch and they have the same low profile. It all looks good though.
  7. "Please explain to me why a pepsi insert is worth $1300?" I know what you mean. It is amazing to me that old faded out rolex dials, inserts, hands etc are worth so much. I think it is because so many of today's vintage sporty rolex owners try to look like the Tuff Guys that actually wore this stuff in the 1960s and 1970s...therefore the watches have to look the part. Maybe not, but that's my guess. (sporty rolex = 'tool watch') Anyway, I paid less than $1000 for my last genuine 1675...faded pepsi bezel, bracelet and all. ...and the one before that, also sporting a faded pepsi bezel and a broken balance staff was $325. The last new genuine pepsi insert I bought was $35. Genuine vintage relax watches are out of reach for me now. It's Frankenstein or Nothingstein. Maybe I am living in the past. ...or maybe I am a replicant. Question of the day... Once you claim to be a replicant, can you recant?
  8. automatico

    1601 case!

    "depending on the shape (how polished) the case is, enlarging the lugholes to 1,2mm is not always possible" +1 from experience (but I went to 1.3mm)
  9. "...do you know the height of the sapphire bezel for the 16200?" The 30.4 to 30.45mm id figures above were from memory and were for solid gold bezels so I dug a few steel and gold bezels out and measured them: two used genuine 16200 steel engine turned bezels: 2.3mm high x 30.5mm id x 34.5mm od 2.35mm high x 30.5mm id x 34.45mm od two used genuine 16000 steel engine turned bezels: 2.0mm high x 30.5mm id x 34.75mm od 2.0mm high x 30.5mm id x 34.9mm od two used genuine 16200 smooth steel bezels: 2.33mm high x 30.5mm id x 34.4mm od 2.35mm high x 30.5mm id x 34.5mm od two used genuine 18kyg fluted 16234 etc bezels: 2.33mm high x 30.45mm id x 34.3mm od (4.9 grams) 2.35mm high x 30.45mm id x 34.3mm od two used 18kyg smooth 16233 etc bezels: 2.3mm high x 30.45mm id x 34.4mm od (4.9 grams) 2.33mm high x 30.45mm id x 34.4mm od two used genuine 18kyg fluted bezels for qs acrylic DJ 16013 etc: 1.9mm high x 30.48mm id x 34.35mm od (3.3 grams) 1.95mm high x 30.47mm id x 34.4mm od two new genuine 18kyg fluted bezels for 16013 DJ etc: 2.0mm high x 30.4mm id x 34.0mm od (3.3 grams) 2.04mm high x 30.45mm id x 34.2mm one 18k 'bark' bezel from 18kyg sapphire DD: 2.48mm high x 30.45mm id x 34.3mm od (5.5 grams) two new 18kyg aftmkt 16234 etc fluted bezels: 2.33 high x 30.45mm id x 34.48mm od (4.9 grams) 2.62 high (!!) x 30.45mm id x 34.25mm od (5.6 grams) The new 18kyg aftmkt bezels are die struck and finely finished same as genuine. The 2.33mm high bezel is ST, the other is unknown. All genuine gold bezels have rolex coronets stamped on the bottom side. All other gold bezels are like new so gold weight and measurements are accurate. All ss bezels are like new so measurements are accurate. All measurements made with Mitutoyo CD-6"P digital caliper. All gold weight measurements made by an Ohaus Emerald series scale...accurate but not certified for trade purposes. All typos are free.
  10. The 16200 steel bezel ID is 30.4 - 30.45mm. They are sometimes not exactly round after a few press ons and pry offs. Bezels for a 16000 and 16200 are very close to the same ID...the case necks are just about the same od too. The 16200 sapphire bezel is taller than a bezel for a 16000. A 16000 bezel may be too low to properly cover the crystal gasket when used on a sapphire crystal. You can get by with a sapphire bezel on a 16000 case with an acrylic crystal as long as the angle on top of the crystal is fully above the bezel. You can also sand the bezel down on a flat surface to thin it down a little. Sanding a small angle on the bottom of the bezel can help start the bezel over the gasket. If the bezel goes on unevenly it can cut the gasket and it may not show until it leaks. A sapphire crystal and bezel will fit a 16000 case but the second hand will probably rub the crystal. The dial on a 16000 mounts higher in the case than the dial on a 16200. All 16000 cases use regular 6.0mm case tubes. All the 16200 cases I have seen used 5.3mm case tubes. A 16000 case has a flat caseback gasket and a 16200 case has a round section caseback gasket...they will not interchange. A 3135 will not fit in a 16000 case and a 3035 will not fit in a 16200 case...without machine work etc. etc, etc...
  11. I remember when Sam's Wholesale Club sold rolex...but not for long. Rolex started crying as usual... http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/992/508/45128/ A few years ago omega beat Eddie Platts on the Broadarrow trademark but came out with a tie against Costco when they took a run at them in the USA 9th Circuit Court and wound up in the Supreme Court. It was a 4 to 4 tie. One Supreme did not vote. After the Supreme Court ruling, Costco can discount omega watches anywhere in the USA where the 9th circuit court (aka 9th lunatic court) does not have jurisdiction. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omega_S.A._v._Costco_Wholesale_Corp. "as a 4–4 decision, however, Omega only operates as mandatory authority in the Ninth Circuit and does not set a nationwide precedent" A few years ago on a forum, I read about an omegafreak who was going to pay about $2200 for a new seamaster pro at a 'friendly' AD'. Then he saw one at Costco for about $1500. Which one did he buy? The one for $2200! Why? Because in his mind, the smp was a $2200 watch, not a $1500 watch.  
  12. "To recap, there are 3 different Calendar retaining outer rings." "1.) For Pie-Pan dials found in 160x series Date Just (these have the sloping outside) (you don't want this, unless you do what I did. I swapped the part, or you can GRIND down outside shoulder.)" "2.) 1675 GMT's had a flat version as well, but slightly different diameter. Ignore this since you probably won't find one of these." The calendar ring for a 1675 GMT/1655 Ex II with 1575GMT movement is a little bit thicker too. The p/n is 7965...it is very hard to find, I have been looking for 2 years. "3.) The one you want is the same across 150x, 1680, 1665, 551x. So a 1501 Date is the same as a 1680 if you are going for 1:1." "Al these 1500 Dates on eBay, how do I make sure the right movement and calendar ring is in there. Could someone have swapped it out?" Generally a 1500 will have the right parts but you might find anything on eBay. I bought a no date 1570 last year that turned out to be a 1560 with a 1570 autowind assembly. I did not see the 'curb feeler' over the balance spring.
  13. I have an F520117 'noobmariner' from about the same period that looks like the one on the left down to the shallow 'rehaut', pearl setting, and crystal gasket that shows through the crystal edge. Same caseback sticker and what appears to be 3 piece end links too. It came from Paul at Abay/Womart.
  14. I've always heard it as hoy-yer. ot... I asked a fellow from Russia at a watch show how to pronounce Poljot and he said pol-yote (two long o short e).
  15. "I'm curious as to whether adequate quality replacement parts are available for aging Valjoux movements, especially the chronographs which appear to suffer predictable ailments, which one assumes will over time exhaust the small reserves of old watchmakers cabinets." I have gone through a few retired watch repair guys' parts and found very few V72 parts. It seems that most repair guys did not work on many V72 and waited until a part was needed and ordered one at a time. All I have left is a mainspring and they are relatively easy to find. I would guess the best way to keep one running today is to buy a parts watch.
  16. Nice Kermit! "I like the fact that the TC case takes a 3135." +1 It would be nice if more cases were oem spec on the inside...MBK for instance. It is a LOT easier to adapt an Eta to an oem spec case than to adapt a genuine movement to an Eta/DG case.
  17. "Its only on the new Rolexes released at Basel this year that have the cap from what I can tell..." Maybe they started using 'blind' rivets in the tubes in the ss hands instead of the 'hollow head' rivet method used on earlier models. Almost all ss hands on most brands just have the end of the ss tube turned over into a ring to hold the hand on the tube. Latest model rlx might use a separate rivet pressed into the tube like a bracelet hinge pin...they would have to be very small though. I never see the latest models because I have not been in a rlx AD for 10 years and since this is a Timex/Seiko/Citizen town, I will probably never see one in the wild.
  18. A couple years ago it took over 2 months to get two cases from DW and by then he had paid me back (ordered them on eBay). After they showed up, I returned them but afaik they never made it back. Got more cases from DW since then and they arrived in less than 2 weeks. "Maybe the mail services are slower because of the increased risk of terrorist using the mail to ship things that go Boom! Maybe the US Customs service is in slowdown mode because of the sequestration cuts, who knows? It's just frustrating to pay more for less." Imho it is all about the $$...if shippers can get by with slow, shoddy service for the same or more $$, they will always go for it. US Customs is out to lunch, always has been, always will be because it is a government agency. 'Sequestration cuts' should make no difference, it is political BS. The 'cuts' are in reality only a small percentage cut to the proposed increase in US government funding...they will actually take in a lot more $$ than before. Four things that will never have enough $$: Colleges Hospitals Churches Governments Examples... Harvard’s endowment fund was $37 billion (billion!) on June 30, 2008 before the stock market meltdown took its toll. In January 2010, the total value of Harvard’s endowment fund was 'only' $25.7 billion. They were 'broke' and crying the Blues. Now it is back up and they are begging for money every day of the week while raising tuition. The US government is always broke. Always will be. Why? Because it is run by career politicians, the scum of the Earth. .
  19. VRF 5-18-13 After someone said to give STM the benefit of the doubt when he recently got in trouble on VRF, all the blistered posters shut up like good little boys and acted like everything was Hunkey-Dorey. Well...now it looks like it's not. What it looks like is the blisters are coming to a head. Hunkey Dorey One of the boys am I, That always am in clover; With spirits light and high, 'Tis well I'm known all over. I am always to be found, A singing in my glory; With your smiling faces round, 'Tis then I'm hunkey dorey.
  20. "...but by and large outside of the MBW cases for SD's and Subs, most of the other cases are pretty problematic, at least the ones on my other modded reps." My experience exactly. When using an Eta movement and dial that will fit the case...MBK/MBW cases are about as good as it gets imho. There is simply no excuse for the mistakes that keep popping up on the $500 - $1500 'supercases'. $1500 junk is still junk. I bet if the characters selling these overpriced 'supercases' lived 10 miles down the road rather than half way around the world...their qc would get 10 times better real quick. They are insulated by distance and the fact that they can 'go silent' at any time and this allows them to sell what is basically pot luck junk at astronomical prices. Here is some of what I have learned the hard way: A $50 case is as good as a $1000 case if it works just as well. Eta beats any genuine rolex movement because of cost of mvt, service, parts. Eta is more rugged than genuine 1030/1530/3000/3035/3135. Why? Because a $100 movement is always more rugged than a $1500 movement in my book. Quick set beats slow set. No date models beat them all by virtue of simplicity. Very few people need a watch wr for much more than 30 meters. You have to learn to fix it yourself or know someone who can to make the hobby affordable. etc, etc...
  21. "...I've been doing this gold capped 1550 Date w/ an aftermarket jubilee." I like the dial! Gold caps are a good way to 'go gold' without spending a fortune. I have a 15505 with a g/f over steel stretch oyster 'hair puller' on it that will pass for solid gold as long as you do not turn the watch upside down. (15505 looks exactly like the 1505 but has a 3035)
  22. "I would also suggest that immaterial of being vertical, horizontal or any other plane, as would have been in a 'pocket' these movements were made robustly and have not lasted for 100 years or more for nothing and were often made to time the railways and indeed used for military purposes." Most of the higher grade pocket watches were adjusted in 6 positions so the resting position is not that important imho. What is important to these movements are the shocks and knocks encountered in everyday wear. I have a friend who is a gen-u-ine pocket watch guy (50 years at the bench) and he told me he has replaced at least 500 balance staffs in pocket watches...500! Why? Because they are so fragile. Otoh... There are some beautifully finished 12 size pw movements around and almost all are stem set. The 12 size is a lot easier to find a ww case for and do not look like a 'biscuit on the wrist'. Size 12 Hamilton, Waltham and Elgin are still very affordable because watch traders do not like 12 size watches and parts are everywhere (in the USA). These movements are about the same size as the Unitas/Eta 6497 etc. Railroad watches... Railroad Approved movements are not as suitable to wristwatch conversions because they are lever set. More or less universal USA RR Specs: 18 or 16 size 21 or 23 jewels (some RR allow 19 jewels) must have cap jewels on escape wheel lever set stem wind adjusted 6 positions accurate within 15 seconds per day Must be inspected by RR Approved Watch Inspector once a year and c/o every two years (some RR c/o every year). 'Transportation Grade' watches are the same externally as RR watches but usually have a 17 or 19 jewel movement, pendant set, and are not RR Approved...Hamilton 'Traffic Special' etc. With the advent of quartz RR watches, many of the pocket watch rules are no longer enforced. I have a Hamilton 992 (made in 1907) that runs on my desk pendant up and is always 6 or 8 seconds fast per day. The pocket watch guy made it out of odds and ends and put it in a Hamilton signed model 15 stainless steel case from the 1960s, it still has the original porcelain 'double sunk' dial, blue hands etc. The 992 had screwed in jewel settings and a regular alloy hairspring until the early 1930s when they were renamed 992E (E = Elinvar hairspring), then the 992B came out 10-15-1940 with friction fit jewels and all had the higher grade Elinvar hairspring. The 992B was easier to manufacture and was made from 1940 until 1969. Some 992 info: http://www.watchtalkforums.info/forums/american-vintage-watch-forum/38272.htm What did the Conductor say after he crawled out of the train wreck? "I don't know whether to sh*t or wind my watch."
  23. What might work would be for HiHo or someone with connections to buy case blanks and have the inside of the case C&C machined to the proper specs by a specialty shop. Blanks = oem spec 1680 and 5513 cases with bezels, backs etc finished and polished except for interior machining. Then have them precision machined for 1520/70 and 1575 while making sure the cases are machined to accept oem spec case tubes and submariner springbars. If they could find someone who makes cases with oem spec exteriors willing to sell a few unfinished cases. Most of the screw-ups with these cases is inside the case...oem spec dial will not fit, movement will not fit, stem will not line up etc, plus case tube/gasket will not fit. In this day and age, this would be child's play for a good 'job shop' type machine shop that does small projects. You would need to start with one case finished exactly like you want for 1520/1570, and one for 1575 to be used for samples. Since an Eta 2846 etc is an easy fit in an oem spec case, all you would need to make are 1680 and 5513 oem spec cases. ...and it is 100% legal unless you carve the brand name into them.
  24. "I don't believe that any of the rep manufacturers build them." Every one I have seen was in a 36mm case with 6mm crown...should be 34mm and 5.3mm.
  25. "The gens do that also - don't ask me why...." Because the swiss can not communicate precisely in chinese.
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