Pakz

I suppose so... The movement is "exactly the same" in terms of size, general architecture etc... So it wouldn't be a problem. The only thing is that some watches from the H Factory have "funny things" in the interior, like dial feet not in place, movement tabs not really long enough etc. So the movement swap could be more "interesting" than it really should. You could also (for cheaper and with less problems finding it, plus quite a few have done that already... ) put in a ST36 from SeaGull. These can be had for less than $40 (at Getat's for example). That's my plan... When the movement craps out, I'll get a high beat SeaGull (excellent movement, reliable and durable) and pop it in!

Indeed, the Asian "Unitas replica" movements are quite diverse... First, the matter of whether they are 6497 or 6497-2, i.e. if they are low beat (18k beats per hour) or "high" beat (21.6k). The one in the H factory reps is low beat... Not correct as per the gen, I believe, but since the seconds hand is so small you don't notice any difference, really. Then comes the problem of the assembly. OK the components are the same, more or less, but if the pivots are oiled correctly, if there's no dirt whatsoever in the movement, it will run better than if it's dirty, with not enough or too much oil. That depends on the factory where they were assembled, and even on the individual worker who did it. And the movements used by H factory, again are not on the good quality side of things, are not coming from Sea-Gull, the most renowned Chinese movement manufacturer. Still, it come to the luck of the draw. You can perfectly have years of good ticking from a "bad movements", if it just happens to have no dirt where it matters and oil in right quantity. But again, the probability of having a watch DOA is higher, the probability of having the movement craping out on you in the first few weeks is higher, etc.

Thanks... It's really a great looking watch... I only wish they had put in there a better movement... but for the money, it's still pretty amazing how much watch you get! And the lume's very very nice too!

Living not too far from the Italian border, in a city where the Italian influence is quite perceivable... I've grown to like some of the style of the Italian luxury goods. Pens and watches... Nice looking stuff, ain't it?

Some more... without coral

Making sure that the lugs are correctly screwed on a connecting well trough their tube is one of the first things to do with a rad... and after any change of straps, tugging a bit to make sure every thing's OK is a must... Better have the lugs detach from the body in your office than in the street and cry!!

It's ceramic. Or it could be (but I don't think it is) ceramic coated steel, but not PVD. That's very visible when looking at the back of the watch... The case back, crown and strap attaches are PVD steel, and the difference really stands out:

I paid $34.99 shipped for that strap, from their eBay shop. As for the watch, it is very beautiful, extremely close to the gen... (look for differences/tells between my pics and the one posted by projectologist)... I'd say it's 9.5/10 in terms of being true to the gen. However, the movement is supposed to be crappy... Mine works very well, so far, and keeps quite good time (gain 5/7 secs a day) but it feels not as rock solid as some other 6497 clones. It may well crap out rather soon, or be DOA... But a service on those is not very costly, and a good high beat SeaGull ST36 can be had for less than $40. Then it's just the matter of transplanting the movements... not something difficult for any watchsmith, or even amateur.

Thanks for the info... I wasn't very sure about that... Some gen pics look very white, some quite similar to my rep... So now, it's clarified! Thanks! I got it from Josh.

Thanks... The "tobacco hue" on the dial actually isn't there... I think it's the slight golden hue of the (otherwise almost totally colourless) AR that gives that impression on some shots!

Well, on a broken piece of coral, and her new(ish) shoes, a buffalo from BOB straps: and the lume shot: it's very bright, lasts fairly long... A C1+C3 mix that verges towards C3. Maybe not as white as we'd like in daylight, but very very efficient in the dark! Look at the second's hand to see how short that exposure was!!!

Sorry... Double thread... to be deleted...

I've got no clue on how to help H-factory rubbers... But on some other reps that I've with rubber straps, just a "bath" in warm(ish) slightly soapy water, while maybe brushing the strap with an old tooth brush for removing the grime, worked wonder to "revive" a strap that was showing signs of going south... Without killing the vanilla smell, quite the opposit...

Nope, the mustard strap is not a BOB (closest to that would be the "coconut") And yep, size for all radiomir models is 26/22 (actually it's more 27/22)

Mine obviously, as my strap is newer than yours by a very large margin !! Yeah, very lightly coloured straps seem to suit this watch very well (cf the JV and others). I'll certainly buy (soon?) a radiomir strap in light tones too...