halley

I say black dial if the text is perfect

So true, forgot to mention that I NEVER use chrono on my watches...

I enjoy my DW about 3-5 times a month to the very least (sometimes I wear it for 3 straight days!!) Never missed a beat for 11 months now...and the movement looks soooo crappy... VJ23 can be bought for 300-400 usd, not a bad price to make it reliable.

The daytona of all the daytonas, simply incredible I'm in love with this watch!!

Funny, I received my replacement 009 few days ago and the crown guard is also off: Compared to the first on I receive, it's blasted and pvded like it should, BUT the lever is really too thin and weak: it moves up and down when open unlike the lever on the first watch (unworking) I received from davidsen that was so thick and sat so firm that I had to use a knife to open it !! The part of the lever that contacts the crown is also much thinner than the other members pics or the one I received back in may, looks like the correct version was out of stock and a previous version of the crown guard was used. There is also no pin hole visible that maintains the lever on the upper or lower part of the CG, unlike the correct CG version, Finally the CG doesn't sit perfectly flush on the case so you can see daylight where the CG and case are in contact , when the anterior version was a perfect fit and the gap between the bridge and crown appears bigger and the crown looks smaller in my eyes then, but it could be a visual effect, I'm awaiting confirmation on that. In one word: wrong and frustrating after awaiting more than a month for a replacement. But I know Davidsen will make this right again, the gentleman already offered to refund me, I declined, I don't want that, I simply want my 009 looking like any other 009 from any other member, and probably can replace a CG myself, even the crown if I have a Panerai opener no problem. Beside I have a Smat distressed cashemere that is a killer on the watch. The rest of the watch is simply a bomb with a 49h PR!

This one will be the ultimate, I could not wait for a bridge or rotor... Only the movement is not gen rolex part?

Same here with a dremel, best I found so far !

Very nice, I specially like the polishing job, DIY?

On my side, I'm still studying, making soooo few money a year, but I have absolutly no debt, no credit card whatsoever, and bought a 2.850€ watch earlier this year that is about 5 time the price of my GF car. I can afford a gen 116520 or 16520 and probably go that route in a few years...Because I don't have lot of charges and spend very few, I'm well dressed but never hide behind expensive brand names (more watch money) but always look for fabrics instead (suits always 100% quality whool and nicely tailored, silk ties always, tailored shirts...), only thing I spend are shoes but they mean a lot for people like it's been said above (so their social function is comparable to watches) - I wear almost every day a suit so a nice watch is not out of place with the way I look in the street. Funny thing is now I don't even have a car, owned an Alfa romeo GTV V6, demanded 8.000€ in 3 years of ownership for only 10.000km, this is the expensive [censored]. Driving at max 3.000km/year, I 'd rather spend that money on watches, makes a nice gen every year, and walk and use public transport. The most expensive looking rep I have is my vintage 6265 and it needs a connaisseur to be called out and to know its value. Other than that I stick with only 2.000-7.000 watches that I could afford, but I certainly couldn't afford 8x7.000, lol !! but all those watches in a scatolla del tempo box look real anytime Finally I'll add that a guy who leaves next to my mother's wears the unsexiest short I've seen, with those white sport socks up to half calf and a poor watch...but then again parks the carrera GT he owns among others to enter his Enzo inside what you call a 3000m² house, has a company that makes several Million Euros a years but he isn't looking he is up to those standards! Apparence yes, but anybody can appear anyone he wants.

the 222 from EL is also the lone PAM PR one with a 7750 with PR module AFAIK? I don't know if a date change is possible manually, but if it is the case, then a swap is possible.

You've been finally brillantly understood on that point and I believe I am one of the first to thank you !

Is king 2892 conquistador the same as Josh's? Appears to be the same but I can't tell about the bracelet and small details? Anybody who has king's version has some infos and pics? thanks I'd also like to get my hands on the box: http://www.etaworldgoods.com/franck3b.jpg

Well I'm too getting tired with reps, to the point where I reduce my collection to the few excellent proven "keepers" and rarities. I must say that I wouldn't be that tired, if 1/factories presented more new models from VARIOUS brands!!! We don't have new big reps out now, seriously what does it take to make a good blancpain 50 fathoms, a santos chrono, a good mont blanc timewalker ??? I'm sure if there was an offer on those products there will be buyers, not only panerai uses 7753 for exemple. Now we have most of the time only new improved 5 gen "panerai, rolex and omega..." 90% of the good reps are of those 3 brands, the few others are mainly sport watches... 2/ better controls before shipping a $300+ watch I have more than 75% faillure on reps trought the years of collecting be it mechanical, cosmetical problems or incorrect watch received...and I bought almost each time swiss and from the best dealers out there. I spent more than 1K$ in april for various watches from MBW, davidsen, josh.... all tremendous sellers...all have been replaced once, and so far the replacement was also faulty in some sort, currently awaiting for the replacement 009 and man am I anxious that the replacement is faulty too! I plan to keep around 5-10 reps that I can imagine will last due to the movement inside (safe an asian 116520), but my main objective is now to go with gen.

It's the silver dial I showed you Randy, Radial finish exists but is quite weak. IMHO not as good as Tony's from Timeman... In some pics it looked like a YM dial, but it was due to the flash and the pigments' reflection... On this dial AFAIK (dial is not with me now ) the corronet is lowered and the A does appear to have a flat top 'A' however like Bob said, no serif, once the perfect dial is out, I take 5 immediatly...

Sorry to resurect a longtime dead thread, but the latest dial I received from DW appears to have a flat top 'A' on 'cosmograph', I'll post better pics when I get the dial back AND... the corronet is placed to the right position, probably the greatest improvment on it, in my eyes to the least as I did not even notice before reading this post that the gen dials had flat tops 'A' on the 'cosmograph' !! here is a gen dial

Would it be possible to swap case with a brushed one without the date pusher?

I tend to keep my rep collection low only 6-8 watches (currently only 5 left DW6263, MBW1665, PVD009 coming -knock on wood- 116520 & 16610 that I try to part with) plus two 6263 projects that I die to see finalised! I try to get the best model out there now, because I plan to keep them as a base collection even if the 116520 is probably not reliable in the long run. I also try to perform all the mods needed to get as close as possible to the gen it demnds money that keeps me away from buying new reps every months...I believe I'm now 3-5 reps away from completing a nice collection. I found that the first rep I bought was also my first expensive gen: Monaco Mcqueen, I will probably put myself on the SS daytona wait list in the next months if it is possible... I'll try to always buy gen what can't be duplicated because the movement is not used in the rep: like El primero's movements, VJ72's, F Piguet's, 2894s

I had the VC overseas I screws were like soft plastic, unable to remove them, I split on or two links just to be able to resize the bracelet! But it was one of the best rep around, unfortunatly minealso had a 2892 with quick change date problem, I'm buying a new one this week.

Absolutely stunning Panerai! On top of my wish list also! Wear it well. Anybody knows where to find panerai gold buckles, the one on the 231 rep is not the one used on the gen: http://www.panerai.com/img/2/prodotti/dett...5_d_00231_3.jpg

swiss orasian version?

happy bday

they are not very thick, I'd say 4-5 mm; but still soft on the wrist and appear to be of excellent quality, I received yesteraday that one with sew-in PVD great value for $59 shipped. http://s31.photobucket.com/albums/c388/pam...oldcashmere.jpg Anyone has a clue for mating the PVD from the pvd buckle? water sand paper ?

I'm sure of that too...

Any news about the Improved version of the Santos 100? I'm thinking of commissioning a new dial with correct numeral spacing if the new version is still far away and if no chrono version is out anytime soon (come on, it's within reach of the factories) , any interest on this dial?

I can't wait to receive it !! We'll see how good/bad it is once it's there, I believe one of the black leather spacer for strap watch is missing already ! I will try to order one directly from SDT. Now I need to buy a VC or 2 and some gold watches, lol !!