jmayfair

It's a beautiful rep, but the thumb scallop on the clasp is too wide and nowhere crisp enough, and the bevel on the date window is a disaster. Not even close. Is it stamp-cut instead of milled? Because it looks like the dial's warped.

Long story short, I've gotten my hands on a gen 3135 that I've fitted with a new hairspring, with the obvious in mind. Most of the sites that I've seen advertised here have at least one model of the DSSD, usually the ultimate with the Asian 25J or the optional ETA 2836. That particular model, which looks pretty good in most other respects, is advertised as being interchangeable with the gen except for the dial and movement. My question is whether that's accurate and, if so, what's the best rep that'll fit the gen 3135. Thanks in advance. - J.M.

Excellent review, but I'm confused. Isn't the 288 supposed to use a OP XII, not a XIX?

2 for myself.

Ubi, Do the newer dials fit the 400 subdial layout? If I take on this franken, I'm wanting a SS with a black MOP roman dial and I'm not sure if the placement shifted when they created the in-house movement. Thanks.

I've recently purchased a UPO and I've been very happy with it but now something odd has happened. It's keeping time fairly well (5+/-), but for some reason the action of setting the time has reversed. When the crown is pulled to the first position, the date is advanced by twisting forward as usual, but in the second position, I have to twist in reverse to advance the time. I haven't had to set the time since I got it because it's my daily watch and I'm fairly active, so I'm not sure if this is normal. Has anyone else had this happen? Thanks in advance. JMM

It's an unauthorized customization by a Swiss jewelry maker, a limited edition of 10 I think. I like the red on the dial, otherwise I've never been big on the whole powder-coating craze. I think it's just an attempt to extract an exorbitant amount of money on top of an already pricey watch.

How close is the existing 16600 case to the 1665, other than the difference in the steel alloy?

YW's double-red dial doesn't match any gen version. It's close to the Mark 0 dial, but the gen Mark 0 doesn't have 2000 after the red Submariner on the second line.

Any suggestions there about where I could source a gen dial for a 1665 that doesn't look like crap? And I'd like the lume to be white and not the vintage brown that floats around most redials.

Not really. The original band is practically destroyed, the caseback is a mess, and I've had to find replacements for the crystal and bezel. She was going to be a franken from the start, so in the purer sense, I wasn't looking to have a 100% vintage so much as a rather new looking 1665 "hybrid."

Oh, well. I guess I just scrap her then and keep the movement for reference. Thanks everyone!

But isn't the Mk VII just a replacement dial? I thought those were being issued as late as last year.

I recently purchased a DRSD at a sale and I'm doing my best to restore her to good order. I've managed to get everything gen, including the band, bezel and even a vintage acrylic. But I've had absolutely no luck finding a dial for it (and I prefer the Mark VII to its previous incarnations). Does anyone have any suggestions for sourcing a Mark VII dial for the 1665?

The dial and bezel are first rate but the satin finish looks terrible throughout. I don't know if it's just the light in the photos or what, but it looks like they finished this by hand with 40 grit sandpaper. Are all of them like this?