alligoat

The single digit dates always appear larger the the twenties. You see this when you look at the unmagnified date wheels. They're slightly larger because they can fill up the whole date window. The teens are also larger than the twenties because of the spacing. The one in the teens allows more room for the second digit and hence the overall date looks larger. Last week we saw where rehaut was less on a 16800, which would also affect date mag, but on the 16610's, the best deal is going to be to compare the same dates and then as Goi says, you're probably goimg to have to take into account camera lens, etc And of course, date mag on the 1680 is still greater than the 16610's because of the height of the crystal from the dial.

Well damn those Italians, Eunomians! But it does look like an interesting book, however, it would be nice if Amazon would carry it for those of us over here in the colonies!

Beautiful collection, Arthur. But I do have one question, how can you fit OEM hands to a MBW 1665? The MBW has an ETA movement, and the OEM hands will only fit a 1575 movement. Unless you pulled a Saabin!

This could be kinda tricky. If you have a CN GMT where the bezel pops off easily, that's good. But getting the inserts to snap in and out and keep changing them might be a little tough. If the insert is glued in there, you're going to have to reglue the other one each time you put it on there. First step is going to be take off your present bezel and insert and see if the insert is glued to the bezel ring. If it is, your best bet is going to be get a second bezel ring and the second insert, glue them together and just swap the whole assembly each time. If the inserts snap in, eventually I would think they will quit snapping in good and start popping out. The inserts aren't really made to be constantly changed. In the long run, you might be better off getting two separate watches.

I got an email from him Friday. He was having computer problems sending stuff (emails) out. He sent me an email showing his new watches on the second try- from Bootscarl- I guess that's his new alias.

I can't say that TTK's is exactly the same as the three ETA watches, but the cases all have the same serial #'s. Like Tourbillon pointed out, dial variations and date locations are always a challenge and may not match up. Likewise the pearl might be different, but it could just be a different batch. Neil says they're not from the same factory. As is the case, since we're not in China, we'll never know the whole story.

I did get my partner a two tone Ladies Datejust from Paul a year and a half ago. She liked it so much she went out and bought a gen off of ebay. Ironically, the Paul Datejust has a slightly larger date mag than the gen. You'd never be able to tell it's a rep unless you took the caseback off.

Thanks Mahler. I'm getting to the point where I think I pretty much know how to regulate these watches w/o messing them up!

So for the rest of us, a 3/16th or a 13/64 would probably do the trick.

small tap is 2.50 x 0.25mm and the large tap is 3.00 x 0.30mm. At least for the Ofrei ones. The ebay ones should be the same, but read the fine print and ask questions.

Thanks Marrickvilleboy for clarifying that. Also, rather than trying to put a 2836 in a TTK, it might be a whole lot easier to just order a new sub fom Paul, Andrew or Eddie Lee. The watches are the same, only with the ETA movt. In swapping out the asian 21j in a TTK for an ETA, you have to cut/file off the dial feet, get new hands to fit the ETA movt, transfer the date wheel to the ETA movt, or get another one, glue the dial to the movt or attach it w/ dial dots, put the ETa hands on and make sure the datewheel clears the underside of the dial and then put it all back together. I have the TTK, and my theory is ENJOY. I will trim the cg's eventually, but I doubt I'll ever put a gen tube and crown in, or ever do anything else to it. When you only spend a little over $100 on it, it just doesn't make sense. At least w/ Paul's, TWG's or EL's you have the good ETA to start with, and a watch that can be maintained for 20-30 years if you do happen to spend $300-400 modding it. The asian 21j just doesn't have that kinda future at this point.

I'm a 4-1/2 to 5. Thanks to RWG, I've learned to do cg mods, lug hole drilling, tubes and crowns, but I'm still on the learning curve. Next is on to TZ school level 1 thanks to the RWG lottery, but I'm afraid I'm flunking Photograhy 101 at this point in time! Also, my watchmaker is great and lets me watch him do stuff and I've learned alot from him.

The 2824 and the 2836 are similar movements, closely related , but not exactly the same. 2824 is 4.6mm tall, vs the 2836 at 5.3mm, I believe. 2824 is strictly a date movt, and the 2836 has a day, date feature. The height of the two movements means they fit differently into the watch case.

I think your dad might enjoy this watch and it's not a bad deal w/ the ETA movement in it. Certainly, the crown guards could use a going over and siliconing the o-rings is always a good idea to make it WR. It's not a MBW, but it's still a nice rep. The only other drawback is that it doesn't look like a 40 year old watch- it needs a little tender loving aging- throw it in the dryer with some pebbles for a few turns.

That GMT's lived a full life. I especially like the alternating red and black datewheel and that 1030 movt. Hey Randy, I was reading about PG and what was referred to as her lesbian band of girls in PG's Flying School the other nite. I guess that was one of the little nuances that I missed in the movie. But heck, I was only 12 or 13 when I first saw it in the 60's. Guess I'll have to watch it again sometime. Wish we could get a better shot of her watch

I'm with Klingsor and Nanuq. My fantasy watch would be this 6542, white dial, black bezel and a rivetted bracelet.

Beautiful job Randy! I'd definitely like to get a couple.

Is the gen a 6542, or a 1675? Date mag on the rep is kinda small, the bezel is different from the gen and it looks like a sub case- not the GMT crown guards like on the gen. But as XRT says, it's a start. Also, I thought they added the Date to Oyster Perpetual on the later 1675's.

That certainly is a nice 16613. From a Taiwanese gentleman, I would think it's the TW sub case and it's very well detailed for an earlier 16613- Swiss T<25 on the bottom of the dial, open 6 in 26, and of course the great rehaut, and excellent crown guards. A very nice watch. Of course, the other two are nice, also. Just not as mysterious. Three excellent watches.

The Noobmariner is a nice watch, but it is too modern- 2005-6, not 1982. A good place to start would be a TW sub case with the lugs holes. May not be easy to find, because people are realizing what great cases they are, so they're hard to come by and they are no longer in production, as far as we know. A gen dial, the older version without the white gold surrounds, cream dial as you refer to it, would be a great and from there a gen insert and Rolex crown and tube would complete the major parts list. An eta (2836) and an old style date wheel w/ open 6's and 9's would complete the package. Wouldn't it be great if the dealers came out w/ this watch!

A vintage MBW case is going to be smaller than a 16610 era sub case. Case diameter is going to run in the 38.5 mm range w/o the bezel. My watchmaster has 5513 on one end between the lugs and an L serial # on the other end- the L serial is bogus (1989-90). I've seen similar on vintage MBW's. A 16610 case is going to run 39.5mm to 40 mm and have 16610 inscribed between the end lugs. Serial #'s should have a letter infront, starting w/ R- 1988+ L E X and so forth, up to D for the latest, as I recall.

Very interesting! I don't know how cls happened upon this, but if the GAF boys did, I'm sure it could get ugly for Phong Dinh. Interesting how he says you'll make money on this. Of course, it looks like he's already made the money when you pay him! I wonder if the GAF boys moniter this, or the other rep sites???

Thanks for the link, Mickey. I happen to think that's a pretty good looking insert even w/ the stock pearl that it comes with.

Beautiful collection, Pug, and yes, your picture taking is excellent, too. It's interesting for me to see that you have a number of asian 21j's. I, too, have a number and just had one stop this week- it looks similar to the movement in your gold Day-Date. It was a great "beater". the kind you wear doing yard work, working out, etc. If it gets bunged up, you don't care, you just hate to see it stop running for no particular reason. Guess I'll see what the watchmaker has to say. That Speedmaster Moon watch is also a good looker- with the copy movement, whatever it is!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...p;rd=1&rd=1 Maybe you can click on this link