supermanx

Some here would say service... If you get a watch without defects they are the same watch, if you have a problem its how the dealer responds that dictated whether one is worth 90 more or not. For me, im buying from paul based on his recent feedback.

Hey if you asked someone nicely they might ship one to you.

I'll second raymond lee, purchased an omega smp bezel and it was great, first one got bent in the mail and he shipped a new one no questions asked. Now I'm waiting on my lv bezel from him, will update you guys to let you know how it is.

Keller / SK are one guys initials... And yeah its exactly like the vietnam zippo, they were not engraved uniform, each guy did his own thing and few were done by the same person. Its seams they had a few differant dials, the rolex/radiomir/california with either cal 5513 (cortebert 618) or cortbert 616 movement.

Probably not, more then likely its sometype of plated copper, it will be bronze/copper if you sand it. You could follow the smp guide to making a pearl, they are the same style though, I do not know if they are the same size.

I've had the opposite reaction when I tell some people that a watch is a rep, they think im lying so my wife doesn't know how much I spent. Once I convince them they want to know where to get one.

If you need the movement, this gives you a good head start on a custom vintage project. I would almost get one for the movement and case if I thought the 217 was really saphire.

You can improve the clasp on the rep by prying apart the two bars for the divers extension with a small screw driver. on the extension there is a slit looks like ==0 connecting the clasp to the bracelet, that is where you adjust.

Wow $98.00 for the clasp isnt bad at all, either is $46 for the gen hands. I dont think the insert will plug in, someone posted before on the measurements but since you have access to a gen why dont you whip out the micrometer and check the inside and outside measuments. If its only a slight differance maybe it can be ground down to fit. Joe's done alot of work on his po, maybe he'll know if the dial and insert would fit or what it would take (but i think hes on vaca). If they all fit you would have one hell of a fraken for under 1k. Also is the case differance as noticable when holding the two as in the pictures (second side by side set I noticed). The rep looks like a fat older brother to the gen, just look at the crown side, the case should stop at the bezel but on the rep the case is cut in to fit the screw down crown. I think the rep needs to go on a diet, stop feeding it pizza leitz.

The pearl is a dead giveaway, but come on the lume shot just made it too easy... Rep is awsome though, I would buy it too, except I'm planning on ordering the orange.

I was planning on getting it serviced and relumed, so this will just speed up the timeframe it gets sent in. A walkthough would be good, always enjoy learning something new.

gen hands? and did you mill down the case to match gen?

I know, I know... I screwed up, but how bad? I was removing the crown on my sub lv and accidentaly used a pin instead of screw driver (same pin I was using 20 minutes early to release the crown of my navitimer). It appears I pushed the release pin in too far, I'm guessing thats the reason for the screw driver slot to prevent you from pushing it too far. Now the crown wont reinsert properly, how bad did I screw this up? I know that I probably will not be able to fix, but is this something that any watchmaker should be able to fix relatively easy or is this a job that only a The Zigmeister can do?

TTK is right, and if your kids know that you are monitoring them they will find other avenues to circumvent (friends, library). Admittedly it wouldn't be a fun conversation, but how would you rather find out your daughter is traveling to the middle east to be with some guy she met on myspace, keylogger or evening news.

The spring bar tool you linked is for actually removing the band from the case.

No they just make 2 watches slap a generic dial on one and a pan on the other, then slide the pan out the back door. Not my pic, borrowed off of ebay:

Looks like glare to me.

Congrats on your purchase.

That watch is worth every penny WM was asking and then some.

Only problem with the pictures is the right picture is way brighter then the left... But the watch on the left is just as shiny. Makes it a little easier to tell them its the plat. I would guess if you took the same picture side by side in the same lighting the differance is pronounced. Not to say I think the rolex is worth 30k, just this isnt a fair comparison.

Those are all pretty standard fare around here. You'll find some reps are alot closer to gen then others, but as long as you stick with recommended dealers you pretty much always get a nice watch.

The other problem is when you buy 4-5 reasonable reps in one month I've been using the exuse that I've been trading watches that have been collecting dust. Plus it helps that im that guy people would not have a hard time believing just dropped 5k on a "stupid watch".

$60USD seems low for servicing any watch... but way to low for a chrono. Unless its a friends price, but even then I would be wary unless you're buying him steak dinners occasionally. Joshua may not provide serviced 7750's because it is more time consuming then the ETA.

Buying gen doesn't protect you either... just makes it easier to find a watch person to fix. Hopefully for the gen owner it is still under warranty, otherwise it will cost a lot more to fix it as well. Did I hear somewhere that panerai is no longer performing minor repairs without requiring a servicing at the same time.

I would buy a gen sub or po for 1200-1500. But as it stands now, I dont see that value that Rolex brings being worth 4500 more then the subs the dealers here provide. The movement on the current eta subs is not bad, and with a servicing its will perform date and time functions on par with the gen and should last as long. Also rolex "requires" servicing every 5-7 years currently costing ~$400.00 usd. Which will just about buy you a new movement/servicing and new crown/tube or a new rep + servicing.