smithy37

You'll be very impressed when you get it. Nik is a top bloke and a master craftsman. I know, I own one of his Franken 3717's! Don't forget to come back with some pictures!

Hi all, I got a replicas stainless bracelet for my IWC3717 Concepta edition and whilst I was fastening it to the watch head the deployant buckle became detatched from the other side. See Pic..... I have a feeling something has broken on it, but I was connecting it all on a table and I didn't see any broken parts come loose. It also doesn't look like anything has snapped as the edges are all clean, so I am hoping it may just need connecting back together? I have dropped Nik an email to ask him for his advice, but in the meantime I thought I'd seek advice here. Am I doing something daft, if so what? Or is it broken? Please help!!!

I sent my Omega Seamater Chrono Diver to Domi to have the stripped crown fixed. Whilst it was there I thought it might be a good idea to have some mods carried out. It was my first rep, so sentiment played a big part, but it was also a comfortable daily beater. Hence the 'comfortably lived in' look! Anyway, I have just had word that the work has been carried out and here are some pictures to hopefully whet your appetite. I opted for a straight movement swap from Asian 7750 to a 25j swiss ETA movement. I also thought it prudent to get a re-lume of dial, hands & pearl....... Thanks again Domi. Keep up the good work. Smithy

Crown & tube stripping is a common problem on most reps regardless of type. I spoke to Concepta about having a gen crown & tube fitted to my franken 3717 and he didn't have any spare parts, so I think you may struggle there. I believe Domi can sometimes shorten the tube to remove the damaged threads. This will allow the crown to pick up the threads further back. This can only be done if there isn't too much damage & is only a temporary fix as eventually those threads will strip. Buy a watchwinder specific for A7750 movement (Acetimer sell one & I hear they are quite good)and try to wear the watch as much as possible to keep it wound.

Edit - Price removed It was a bargain as it is as close to gen as you can get for a fraction of the cost!

A big thank you to Concepta, who provided the pictures and the most stunning watch I have ever owned. It has a Swiss ETA movement with Gen IWC Rotor Gen Dial & Hands Gen Day & Date wheel A Taka crystal with double AR (Which at certain angles makes the crystal look invisible!) Now for the pics: I hope you guys like.

I have been posting my experiences with Rocket over on RWI and see this forum is far more active so thought I better detail my experiences. Before I proceed I just want to state that I have read all of the posts currently in this thread and see there seems to be a bit of a divide forming as to who is right and who is wrong. I am not asking to be judged or asking for any help. I just want to detail what has happened and where I am at currently. I will hopefully update my progress as and when things happen. Now on with the show... I ordered a fully modded UPO from Rockeeter on the 26th of Feb, after a bit of fine tuning the order, paid on the 3rd of March. Communication started off very well and then went down hill. I posted a thread about contacting him on RWI and from then on in started telephoning him, as I was advised. Communincation improved again. I saw the status of Cheifs run, realised I had a crystal in that run and asked the question to the forum 'where do I stand'. Spoke to Rocket and he told me the crystal was bad and was scrap so he could only offer me a stock single sided AR coated rep crystal as a replacement. I accepted because I was getting anxious about the watch. A little bit of frenzied communication with Rocket saw the watch delivered to me. The watch had a damaged bezel insert which looked like it had been crushed. This prompted me to go over the watch with a fine toothcomb and I found the pearl was chipped. I noticed a few more issues, mainly the movement was loose, an intermittent hack problem & bent spring bars. I have spoken to Rockeeter and he has offered to replace the Bezel insert with a genuine Omega part. He is going to look into the hack mechanism problem & secure the movement properly. He will also give the ETA movement a full service & he has offered to address the incorrect logo for me. I will replace the bent spring bars at my cost as he is telling me they should be like that. I disagree, but I guess I will find out when I fit the replacements. I am 100% happy with this solution. I am very happy with the watch (without the problems). The plus side is the lume is excellent. The dial has been prepped nicely, the crown screws in nice & the straps (genuine) really set the watch off. I have told Rocket of the time frame I would expect this to be done in and also that I will drive down to Milton Keynes & collect the watch. That way I can inspect without prejudice. Today I spoke to Rocket via email. He has told me he is waiting for the bezel insert to arrive from Texas. I reminded him he had offered me a genuine Bezel and not one from the Bay (strangely enough, they are from Texas too). He assures me the part he will fit will be genuine. So, I sit and wait until the end of next week. Hopefully I will be travelling down to Milton Keynes to collect the completed watch. If not I may have to travel down with Pix, Rooster & everyone else. Anybody know a good minibus firm?

Truly is an awesome looking watch. Enjoy it you lucky man. I have tried to order one from PT and he said factory is out of stock and doesn't know when they will be available. You may just have an appreciable classic there!

Thanks guys. I guess I was half right then! His friend has bought a 'genuine' Daytona and it doesn't have either. I said it must be a nice replica watch that is probably a ticking time bomb due to the second hand movement. Although his friend vehemently argues it is genuine and he has 'papers' I think the fact it is un-etched prooves it isn't genuine. Papers must be easier to replicate than complicated watch movements!

I agree! It has taken me an age to get my wife used to my hobby. Now she is finally coming around she decided to buy a Tag with a black face and diamonds. This decision took weeks, then the dealer said the line was discontinued. DOH! Still, I am sure she will love the J12 she has just ordered, even if it did end up costing me an extra $85

Hi, Can anyone help solve an argument please? A friend of mine is claiming all new Rolex Daytona's no longer come with a hologram sticker on the case back and no longer have the coronet etched in the crystal at the 6'o'clock position. He claims his source is an AD, but I am sceptical. Can anyone confirm or deny this and finally put an end to our bickering? Thanks

You need to speak to Rocket at RWWP. He is a genuine watchmaker and has a legitimate business. However, so as not to alienate his clients he has set up RWWP sourcing, servicing and modding all manner of replicas watches. If you email him at Rocketeer@rrwp.co.uk he will send you a welcome pack detailing prices and services available. He is based in the UK (Buckinghamshire, I think) I have just pulled the trigger on a UPO which he is going to source for me, service and modify it. He has even offered to supply genuine Omega parts so I can make it truly ultimate. I decided to let Rocket source the watch to cut down on lead times. He is using Precious time on my behalf. I hope you get sorted with him and I will, in due course, post pictures of my beautiful creation.

The guy you need is Otto Frei. He sells all Omega genuine spares. http://www.ofrei.com/page_146.html Hope this helps