lhooq

I don't recall too many 76100s, unfortunately. Snowflakes get all the attention. Sorry, I'm only a theoretical modder!

Great stuff, blix. Have you thought of "lollipopping" the Mercedes hand on your 76100? alterego: Beautiful Monte Carlo (and others)!

Really nice, alter, and fantastic job finding those parts!

Open it carefully, then sell the packaging on VRM for EUR 200. Wait 15 minutes for the first "I'll take it." Problem solved!

I'll take woof*'s lead:

Luckily, the caseback on my DW 7032 is completely flat! Hmm...

E: The Yuki 7206 should really be your first stop for the 6542, as it's the most accurate aftermarket bracelet out there. The only downside is its problem with accepting 2mm springbars.

Fantastic work, J! When I saw it on the WC, I had no idea just how much effort had gone into making the dial.

Now's the part when someone posts a killer Zodiac. Anyone? Anyone? This WC took a dark turn right after C's Number-of-the-Beastly Benrus showed up! woof*: Zulu or Rhino?

I'm always liking that one, J! Heuer of '69, it was the best "TAG" of my life:

Bring lots of pictures with you--not of gens, but of the specific reps you want. (That assumes you've done the research beforehand.) Keep them on your phone if you want to travel light, but it's hard to beat printouts. Sometimes it's best to hand the paper over to the seller, who then dispatches a runner to retrieve the rep from God-knows-where. As much as you may think know about reps and tells, the bounty of Guangzhou (i.e. millions of crap watches) quickly overwhelms the senses and taxes the memory. And do try to arrange a guided tour of the markets with one of the trusted sellers.

siesta181 sold those three parts for ~$65 last November. I believe the total cost has exceeded $100 since then, but I could be wrong.

Hey, it's January 2008 again! How about that stimulus? USD 170 billion sure is a lot of money, but it'll be worth it if it gets the economy going again!

Google is not your friend, but I am. Honestly, if you suspect you can live with a 30-minute counter, keep it as-is. The parts required for a conversion have become scarce and expensive.

Sorry if it sounded like I was disparaging your 6542 in any way, but that quote was just a 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail' reference! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGAYk5VWkTw Honestly, your search for those last few movement parts at watchsmiths' and jewelers' stores is exactly the Labors of Hercules-type effort I'm talking about.

I said I'd have some more later, so here are some pictures. DW 6239/7750 (3rd generation) DW 6263/7750 (2nd generation) DW 6263/V72 (avitt c.2006: 1st generation?) Note the following on the first-gen 6263: -relative thinness of the case side -the indent/counterbore beneath the crown -the thickness and shape of the lugs compared to your first photo Hmm... After seeing the crooked contour of the 6239's mid-case, I'm starting to wonder whether the level of finish isn't as good as I thought it was.

I think the biggest crime is that the post and pictures were as dull as dishwater. Even a rep lover can appreciate creative destruction. But a hammer? That's the best you can do?

Way, way beyond acceptable to me!

Always have a camera in the shower, eh, asf? Heigh-ho, it's my one and only Sub for Wednesday:

Some caveats: I've only been at the DW Daytona thing since late 2009 so I missed out on DW's earliest output. Also, I'm currently at the office and away from my pretties. I might have more to say when I get home and take a look. Anyhow, here are my early impressions: I think there are three generations of DW Daytona cases. The first generation is what we see in classic 6263 builds from 2005-2008 like avitt's, vlaletom's, freddy's, and even ubi's early ones. These had thicker lugs and a generally good level of finish, by DW standards. I believe your 6263 is a 2nd-gen case, which had thinner and more slender lugs. Build quality was inferior--sharp edges and loose tolerances, particularly inside the case. Generation 3 began when DW introduced the 6239. I believe your 6265 is from the new generation. Overall finish is at a much higher standard, and the blunter shape of the lugs is a better match for earlier Daytonas. Personally, I think the slender, pointier lugs of the earlier DWs are better suited to 1980s-era 6263s and 6265s. Unfortunately ,the new DW case also introduced "the tumah" which is the exaggerated bump underneath the crown. (Yes, I know the later 6239/6241s and the 6263/6265s protruded a bit on the right side, but not to the extent of DW's case. I've placed my DW 6263 right next to a gen from '85, so trust me on this!) Finally, I think that all of DW's Daytonas have slightly thicker mid-cases than the gen, and pusher placement that is very slightly higher than on the gen. Final caveats: There is a huge amount of variation among genuine Daytonas, even in the few that I've had the privilege of handling. The mid-cases evolved continuously throughout the model's nearly 30-year lifespan. Ultimate disclaimer: All of the above may be completely wrong!

I personally think that you can have a grail, find it after a long search, then rest on your laurels. Or maybe I just want to believe. What irks me is how frequently the term gets tossed around to mean any watch you might want at any given time: "That Liquid Metal Planet Ocean is my grail! So I placed a deposit at the AD." There's got to be more effort to it than that, and working hard for de money shouldn't count. Chuck Maddox (RIP) searched far and wide over a period of years to find his Grail Speedmaster, and spun a ripping good yarn after doing so. I don't expect "Le Morte d'Arthur", but there ought to be some semblance of a quest. Doesn't have to be genuine either. freddy's 6542 is an excellent example of a grail, even if "it's only a model." Re the Pepsi Indy watch: I wish it were mine, but sadly it ain't. It has a real "This is a photo of Sean Connery signed by Roger Moore" quality to it! (For you kids out there, Last Crusade was famously associated with a Diet Coke commercial.) PeteM: I think one Radiomir would've been heavy enough!

What he said. (LHOOQ looks wistfully at two ruined Tropic 21s in his parts drawer.)

You have all chosen... poorly:

Big improvement, J!

woof*: Mm... I'm loving that original 1171 clasp. And the Carrera continues: