marcl

Actually, in 1939, the US did not have a great army or air force. In fact, we (badly) lost the initial battles against the Germans & Japanese in WWII because we, like the French (& Brits), buried our heads in the sand, believing that, after The Great War (WWI), no one needed great armies anymore. Unfortunately, we also failed to take a thug (Hitler) at his word. Today, there are numerous thugs who are very clear (at least to their own people) about their intentions. And as much as I like China, wait until their oil needs outpace their supply. History has proven, repeatedly, that those who do not plan for war are condemned to be overrun by it.

I do not want to steal this thread, so I will leave it there.

Yeah well said. Now what did the OP say, who has the best sub?

Marc - You make some good points about France's quality of life. This is especially true with their health system. However, the other side of the coin is that while the individual is well-cared for by the state, the state is a shambles, socially. Have you been following the goings-on within the Muslim community there? It is a virtual powder keg, just waiting to go off. And when it does, it will be interesting to see how the average French citizen's quality of life fares. Also, whenever France is attacked (think WWI & WWI), they either surrender or get overrun. Why? Because France has chosen to favor social programs over defense. I am not necessarily criticizing that, but it is important to note that the US, which (at least up until now) has always chosen, instead, to maintain a strong defense, always bails France (& other countries that choose not to adequately defend themselves) out. Again, this is not so much a criticism as it is an observation. The point is that every choice comes with a consequence.

I think this kind of leads back to Rolex's decision not to incorporate features like a date & auto-wind into their early Daytona models. While these complications would have been useful, I think they chose to put their efforts, as usual, into those improvements that resulted in more accurate time-keeping & greater longevity. And, 40+ years later, it is the Daytona that commands serious prices, not its (dated & auto-wind) competitors.

I agree Freddy, you can't have both, the defense and health care are good examples, not cheap! But which would you rather have, today I mean? In 1939 a great army, navy and air force was a must for us, but now in 2011? with the UN. I would rather have the health service. Having a large army can be a real pain in the [censored], Whenever there is trouble in the middle east it's the USA and UK who foot the bill, or at least most of it.

As for the trouble with muslim community in France, the problems are no where near as bad as the press lead you to believe. France is quite rightly saying you cannot wear a burkar in public. A. because we need to see your face, especially when you walk into a bank and B. because a lot of women are forced to wear them by there husbands and the French feel this will help them out of any possible oppression.

The funny thing is on the British news, all they showed on the subject were people protesting and fighting the ban, but go onto the smaller more detailed news sites and channels and you find muslim women saying they are happy for it to be banned.

I hope I haven't caused any offence.

Marc.

How is that a problem? Our standard of living has gone up.

I personally hold the opinion that most people, myself included, own too much junk, but I also don't think it's my place to pass judgment on how much stuff someone needs or "should" have. Why, after all, do you "need" more than one shirt? You can take that line of thinking quite far. Why does anyone "need" even one mechanical watch?

If some families have 4 or 5 cars in the drive, God bless them and the autoworkers and car salesmen and insurance agents that their spending helps to employ. It's not my place to say that they have too much stuff.

I don't have a problem with our 'better standard of living' the problem, as I call it is the fact that, as we Earn more, we buy more, Whether or not we need it. Or in some cases, actually want it or not. And that drive prices up. Simple supply and demand and that is the discussion here. We didn't buy as much years ago, mainly because we didn't have the availability of credit as we do today, and therefore demand was lower and so were prices.

Now as for our standard of living being better, I'm not convinced it is. Just because we have all this stuff doesn't guarantee a better standard of living. There have been numerous studies into the fact that children have all these gadgets and toys now a days, and are more unhappy than ever.

It always surprises me when I go to France (I am half French) They earn less than us in the UK and work less hours but have a much better standard of living, better education and the best health service in the world. in France it's about life not stuff.

I not passing judgement or how much stuff you or I may have, just making an observation as to why prices have gone up so.

Kind regards, Marc.

Very interesting subject. Something I love discussing with my Father, a lot. It seems to me that, in the UK at least the last 15 years are when stuff in general sky rocketed. A few examples: At about 22 years old,(I'm 34 now) having been a year or so into my career, I bought my self a Moon Watch. The list was £1275. A year or two ago I looked out of interest and the list price was double! My earnings haven't! A year later I bought my first house, I paid £65500. My local estate agent told me, as the market is very slow right now, if I wanted a quick sale, She would only get me £165000. Thats some rise!

When I was 23/24 years old I went to a Rolex AD I was about to buy a no-date sub, £2575 list and he offered me a discount! look at the price of subs now.

The problem is, in the UK and the USA, we spend too much, we are too materialistic and retailers know this. I know that I may get a barrage of offended responses, but most of us have too much money. A generation or two ago a Man would buy a watch to tell the time for the next 30 years. Now we have 10 or 20+ watches sat in winders. Some families have 4 or 5 cars on the drive, it wasn't that long ago that there would only be 1 or maybe 2. Even Kids have too much stuff PS3, Wii's and iphones. I had a football.

Kind regards, Marc.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-Luxury-Quartz-Mens-Wrist-Band-Metal-Gift-Watch-56-/400207979185?pt=UK_Jewelery_Watches_Watches_MensWatches_GL&rvr_id=223755959664

Best I've seen in a long time. Just a shame I missed this for April fools!

Marc.

Of course, as the bastardized gen in the picture doesn't have SELs. It's an older T<25 model.

But yeah, the other last link seems to be loose.

Yes of course your right, but I just have a habit of calling them SEL's instead of end links.

Kind regards, Marc.

P.S. I think it's Fook ugly as well.

I use olive oil, It's a little messy for a couple of hours after soaking, but works superb and no nasties in the stuff.

Kind regards, Marc

Someone was asking not too long ago about the LV insert from Cousins here in the UK so I thought I would order one and see. I'm building a Sub LV based around a gen dial I have bought and was going to source a gen insert but this Cousins insert colour is spot on for me. I thought I would just post a couple of early pics and give you guys who want a nice colour insert an idea how it looks. Dial has not arrived just yet so it is just the case set for now.

I bought a TW case set from BK not long ago and have removed the rehaut engraving and fitted a gen crown and tube set. The crystal is great so I will leave that alone.

The insert has a nice Olive green look to it and not too vivid like some aftermarket inserts I have seen. It does have a gen pearl in it which is the only negative I guess with the crappy pearl it had fitted but you can source better pearls.

Last pic in direct sunlight.

Hi Watcher,

That was me that asked that question, so thanks! much appreciated! I had put it on the back burner since getting a 5512 and 1680 from josh. Been too busy modding them. But now I have seen your insert I may have to order one, looks very good.

Kindest regards, Marc.

My Noobmariner has better SEL's!

Marc.

He is probably bored at home, in front of his computer, then thinks:

'I know I will go on a few forums and troll about being a complete c0ck! yep that should pass a bit of time before my doctor gets here'

Muppet!

I'd you look a few posts up you will see before your eyes the Tudor dial in this case

Fits lovely!

So tempting to do one of these, but my wife says we must feed the children soon.

Marc.

How did you do the markers? I like what you did to them!

Water based paint, no2 artist brush, no loupe. I used to do fine art and have very good eyes . Of course there is no lume but there wasn't before and all the mods on this watch have cost zero! I could do a lot better next time, its the first time iv'e done any mods to a watch, but to be honest it looks perfect until you look through a x10 loupe, and looks miles better than the colour it was, to uniform before. Crown guards look excellent.

If you need any guidance ask me I will be happy to talk you through every stage, step by step

Kind regards, Marc.

Remove the crown from the stem, put it in a drill chuck and using a flat diamond file on sand paper, shorten it. But the most important thing is to reshape the crown guards. When you have done this, I guarantee that they will be fine.

I have the 5512 and 1680 from josh.

First I refinished the hour markers in a more realistic colour and look.

second I reshaped the crown guards

Then I gently and I mean gently tapped the case with a large nut (no jokes!) Just to make a few marks, and then re-polished the case using a sisal wheel and black compound. This polishes the metal so a shine, but not a mirror finish, which is how you want it. It also finishes the metal to the right colour. Much brighter.

Then I do the crown, make sure you put a bevel on the inside of the crown.

Then I polished the bracelet in the same way as the case.

Then just re assemble the watch, Looks super fine now!

I will get you some pics and post them later.

Kind regards, Marc.

Here you go!

The last pic is before i did any work on the crown guards.

Kind regards, Marc.

Hey guys,

Ordered a 5513 but have read that the crown is too big

Anyone found a solution to this? heard that the genuine crown wont fit the rep tube.

Has anyone found a rep crown that does work?

Interested to hear any solutions to this oversized crown issue.

thanks!

Remove the crown from the stem, put it in a drill chuck and using a flat diamond file on sand paper, shorten it. But the most important thing is to reshape the crown guards. When you have done this, I guarantee that they will be fine.

I have the 5512 and 1680 from josh.

First I refinished the hour markers in a more realistic colour and look.

second I reshaped the crown guards

Then I gently and I mean gently tapped the case with a large nut (no jokes!) Just to make a few marks, and then re-polished the case using a sisal wheel and black compound. This polishes the metal so a shine, but not a mirror finish, which is how you want it. It also finishes the metal to the right colour. Much brighter.

Then I do the crown, make sure you put a bevel on the inside of the crown.

Then I polished the bracelet in the same way as the case.

Then just re assemble the watch, Looks super fine now!

I will get you some pics and post them later.

Kind regards, Marc.

Thanks for the information, found my dealer and watch

See you in couple years or when I need another rep...

K n o b jockey!

Feel free to post your apology along with your donation.

It will probably be a long time before we hear form him again. In about a year or two:

'Do any of you plonkers know where I can get a replica Ferrari Enzo, I don't want to get my real one dirty'

Unreal, Marc.

Thanks Z

Based on the much appreciated education you provided, it appears there are no good daily-wear rep options for my genuine 5508

There may be but you won't find it asking like that.

Marc.

Sorry,

Thought you were talking about the strap for your 5508. The one from Mrs king looks pretty nice.

Well panerai153

That told you!

Marc.

Overall the watch looks OK. Only real standout irs the short CG's. I'm afraid that even with a genuine crown, they are going to look really short. possibly when you take some metal off the sides and thin them down, they will appear to be longer. You know" slim women look taller, fat women look shorter" Got to lose that big ugly crown though. Where in the world did those guys come up with that monster? From the website propoganda they are supposed to be a undissected 1:1 replication of a genuine 1680. the replicator must have missed the crown!

Yeah the CG's are a bit small, but they are better in person than in photo's. They are too fat and I will mod them next week and put some pics here. To be honest they actually look a lot like the new C sub crown guards, they do need making more pointy.

To answer your question with regards to the replicator, I would say that the watch makers probably have got it 1:1 or something very close, but they just don't bother with the crown. It looks almost identical to my noobmariner crown. I am planning to shorten it though, we'll have to see how that goes.

Kind regards, Marc.

I am just dying for some 1680 pics...

How many more do you want?

That's all I've got to be honest, only got the watches yesterday already painted the dials. Will work on the crown guards and crown next week and get some more picture for you all.

I am planning to mod this watch for no cost whatsoever. And I'm sure I can. I think the crystal needs re shaping (on the 5512) that should be easy. Then soften the case a little and the bracelet and we're good to go.

And just to think I was always afraid to mod my watches in case I did something stupid.

Kindest regards, Marc.

Hi Marc,

can you post some pics of the datewheel ?

is it white - centred ?

thx

Frank

Here you go Frank.

Kind regards, Marc.

Hi Marc,

can you post some pics of the datewheel ?

is it white - centred ?

thx

Frank

Hold fire Frank,

Just getting some for you now.

I think it lines up fine but the mag is so strong that its hard to tell.

Kind regards, Marc.

Hi Marc, what's the progress with this project? Did you get the 1680 from Josh?

Asking, because I am also interested in it. I would like the red

1680 more, but I guess the red writing on the dial is too dark.

Cheers,'J

Hi J,

Jesus talk about timing! Just arrived yesterday. I ordered a 1680 and a 5513 from Josh, both cheap a21 movements. They are very nice but they do need some mods.

First of all I will tell you that they are high beat movements I guess that makes them 4813's. Now I have never had one one these only ETA's but I am super impressed, they are smooth, wind well and tick nice and quiet.

second the bracelet does feel a little cheap compared to the noobmariner, but I guess it was like this on the gen, so soften the edges, oil it (I use olive oil)and it feels great!

I have already painted the hour markers because they do look a little to yellow and to uniform, Now they look amazing! but no lume as I used water based paint simple as that, but it does look great.

The biggest problem with this watch is the crown guards, but now I have the watch all I can say is, trust me, they are not as bad as they look in pictures. However I will be modding the outsides of the CG's and shortening the crown, Then they should look perfect.

As I am typing this I have just taken some pictures for you, they won't win any awards, but just to show you the new colour of the dial.

Kindest regards, Marc.

P.S. sorry about the dust on the pics.

Possible, but most of the time rep tubes are platted, you will have an ugly yellow surface which will rust or fade,

also on all tubes -gen/rep- the surface in front of the tube and retaining the inside little O-ring is very thin

imho, - and it was what I did, to seat the tube a little deeper is the best, as the outer O-ring area stay wide enough

How did you do this? Can you just screw it in a little more or does it have to be removed and re-seated?

Kind regards, Marc.

I have a gen 7mm crown, but need to buy a 7030 tube as the crown doesn't fit the stock one. My question is does the standard 7030 tube tool fit the stock one as I need to buy one.

Also can someone let me know the process of crystal removal and fitting.

All the best

Simon

Simon,

Just pop the bezel off and the bezel ring, Then get a craft knife under the crystal retaining ring. Once that is off you should be able to lift the crystal out. I used bluetac to lift it out. Sticky tape would do.

This is one of the easiest watches to mod, it all comes apart nice and easy.

Good luck. Marc.