Drulee

Why does the lume pic have a green tint to it? I mean the whole pic, case included, not just lumed markers.

I love hey the call it an exact copy of the Swiss 7750 Date wheel also looks to be more sunken than my ETA 7753 250, and not sure the bezel is the higher one - too many damned watermarks... But they did lume the numbers on the 6'oclock sub-dial, too bad you know they'll have to be relumed and neither Zig nor Vac do those.

Check out Josh's site, Perfect Clones

I find the 3M ScotchBrite pads work best, just make sure to go along with the current grain, brush in one direction, and it is best to secure the case and apply light pressure at first then progressively harder until you get the result you are looking for. Also make sure it is 3M, not cheap grocery store knock off pads (these are made of plastic fibres). Try both the Green and Maroon versions.

I see from his sig that he's is now accepting PMs, but I now get a message saying PM's aren't being accepted from me. Is it just me?

Probably better off posting this in the Wanted section, and keeping an eye on the parts sales area. What you will need is the Ultimate hour hand, all the rest of the DSN hands are pretty much the same as the other Ultimate versions. No dealer sells the hand separately so you'll have to hope a member sells a set ....

Ah, that makes sense. It is just an A7750 rep, not the same as the one pictured, which is the much more expensive 7753 rep apparently. I say 'apparently' because I never knew that such a rep existed - then again, I was never a fan of the model

Yes mine is 24/22 as well, so if that one is 24/24 it is probably not a gen.

I'm fairly certain that is a gen one. I've got a gen Gator XL which is a bit lighter brown, but looks a lot like it - stitching, holes, plate pattern, etc. If you are trying to get a strap as close as possible to that one, without going gen, you could try a custom one from StoneCreek. I haven't ordered one from them yet, but was given the link by another member who swears by them. Lots of options available, including hole style, stitching style, gator patterns, etc ...

Your date wheel looks very sunken, as in 7750 sunken. Are you sure that your watch is supposed to be a 7753 powered 187? The date wheel pics on the linked site do not look as sunken. I was also under the impression that the original Honpo is no longer, but I could be mistaken here. How do you change the date on your model, by using the crown in the middle position, or with the pusher on the left side of the case?

Got 'em and love 'em all. Since the 029 was my latest acquisition, and my 089 is at Vac's, it is getting most of my wrist time. But I still love my 088s (one DSN dialed, and one Cartel dialed). Not very helpful I guess

Some VDB vintaged offering with an 8 day movement. Not my cup of tea at any price.

Shouldn't be a problem for me then, I always wind it with slow steady turns so that I can feel that first sign of resistance.

The ETA site has all of the manufacturing info for all of their movements here. Simply select the movement, whose date wheel you plan on modding, from the drop down lists. Then download the "Manufacturing Information" PDF for that movement. A few pages into the PDF, you will find all the dimensions for your datewheel, including tooth platform angle, tooth spacing, wheel size, number centering and spacing, font sizes, and pretty much anything else you could possibly want to properly layout your date wheel overlay or even manufacture a complete datewheel. You may also note that the CP dimensions, and other useful info for you franken nuts, is present. Have fun

Not much point in trying to compare the two, as this one is no longer available. I'm fairly certain that right now DSN is the only dealer who has the 177H. As for the Asian/Swiss question, if you get your Asian 6497 serviced it will be just as good as the ETA one. Plus the Asian movement is the only one available in a high-beat model (like the gen), without spending an addtional ~$200,

So we should just use some Loctite and wind lightly until the first sign of resistance? Good to know.

The 'stem' screws into the crown, and then inserts into the movement. If that is the part you are referring to, just do a search on eBay for "6497 stem", but since you are in Berlin, Tourby would be the easiest way to get one.

Very nice collection, but that is a 229, not 292 Is the dial actually Purple, or is it just the digital photo?

If everyone thought like this, there would not be much innovation in this world Come on Rolli, you're a long time member, you should know that in the rep world you have to work with what you've got

Easier than what? I'd think taking an existing DSN or Cartel one, then just cutting out the slots in the inner case would be easier than milling a brand new retainer ring? Or are you thinking of just using a plastic one that uses the case back to hold it in place?

Heroic18 Navy Green Gator Limited Edition

I don't think the crown tube would line up, but if it did then I think all you would need to do is cutout the tab slots in the right location, depending upon which movement ring used (DSN is a different size than the Cartel ones), and probably use a DSN caseback (as the thicker Cartel ones would probably push against the rotor).

You're right, best to leave it alone.

I'm about to put up my old skool 196, all flat dial, high bezel, etc. But before I do, I was wondering about that extra tic to the right of the "2" on the dial which the gen does not have. Do you think I should black it out, or just leave it? I was thinking if I blacked it out, using some matte or glossy (will have to take a close look at dial to decide which finish) paint on the end of a toothpick, it would make it a bit more unique

I realize it adjusts the time accuracy. I was just saying that I used to believe that all A7750 28.8k movements came without that needle, while all the 21.6k ones have it. Which I now know is wrong. So I would like to know how I can tell a 21.6k movement from a 28.8k one, just by looking at it (no measuring instruments). As an example, you can identify a 6497-1 movement fairly easily, by just looking at the teeth on the drum, and various other cogs - they have fewer teeth than a 6497-2.