praetor

then yea, my vote for the 5514, with a correctly engraved caseback, it's going to look awesome. There's lots of history behind the 5514 being in use by professionals rather than the 5513 being used by James bond.

logo or non logo 5514?

my bad, to correct my previous post, the prototype in question does not have a helium escape valve, which is why there should be no engraving on the case back. Regardless, the case shape, case back etc should be similar. But you know, if you look at it from another perspective, 350 dollars is how much the public thinks how cheap your non shiny vintage rolex is worth. Haha...makes me feel safe wearing these watches. @ Ronin: what they were talking about were the combination of a thin case + mark III dial. Which, in vintage rolex terms, is not a surprising find at all IMO.

It is the SRSD. However, in the DRSD evolution, the biggest case change happens when they go from Mark II to Mark III, where they switched from thin --> thick case. Therefore, The SRSD and Mark I should have a similar or the same case. Also, there should've been an engraved case back. Still, that guy is one lucky bastard.

So do I, I have OCD now...haha. Frankens ftw I even plan to create my own parts because....just because

funny how he "changed the crystal" and then proceeded to ask the question " how do you open a caseback?" :bangin: It makes me wonder whether that watch was a franken or not since the pics are too lousy :g: I found pics of a prototype version...

OT: I'm definetely getting pateks one day, a simple calatrava ref.3923 and a chronograph ref. 130 like below. I don't care if I do go bankrupt trying to buy it lol. But to me a ref 130 represents all that is good in swiss watchmaking during the golden watchmaking era in the 1930s. If you guys are interested, there's also a video of patek philippe's museum's collections. It's simply stunning. It kept me gazing at the screen for the full 10 minutes.

Good choice on going the gen route for the 16610. Crown position and 904L steel is the least of the problems for any rep 16610. The biggest tells for reps, IMO, would be the bezel teeth shape and sharpness, the lume application, and the dial fonts (with a loupe). ALso, no rep can ever replicate the insert/pearl or the crown for some reason. Still, good job on that sea dweller.

well, as long as it's not a modern Rolex or a PAM, I wouldn't worry about wearing anything that's not blingy. Especially if I'm wearing jeans and t-shirt, no one would even give a second glance what watch you're wearing. Most people I talk to think that vintage Rolexes are worthless and never even heard of Patek Philippe, which makes me happy because I can wear watches in peace. We all have our grail watches right? and they mostly cost beyond 5-6k. And what s the point of owning it if you never wear it? Off Topic: I'm drooling @ a pic of my grail ... A patek ref.130, est $30 000 -$50 000, 33 mm, using a valjoux ebauche (but I don't seem to care b/c it's tradition afterall)

Thanks guys. I only ended up missing around 3 places; central park, UN building and Statue of Liberty =( because they were snowed in.

With a twist. My parody of the vintage Rolex ads. Liberty State park: Brooklyn Bridge During Blizzard...damn it was cold Museum of Modern Art Empire State Building And Finally, I should've taken more wristies. The blizzard practically ruined my trip because NY has the worst snow removal system I've ever experienced. Thank god I live in Canada. I was amazed how poor the city was and how there was a lack of a middle class strata, but that's for another story. But I'm so glad that Wempe was still open. And I saw so many watches it was like heaven, including a $100k A. Lange Double Split Chronograph. Saw some one of my grail watches, an A Lange Datograph and found a new grail, a Patek 5146 in white gold; which had a stunning creamy enamel like dial with a moonphase =D. Also saw a guy trying to buy a two tone Rolex talk about an investment money pit..

love the NATO too, makes it feel more vintage military actiony watch. The oyster is more classic though.

Thanks, but trust me, you don't want to buy this watch... I got it off watcheden: http://www.watcheden.com/panerai-luminor-marina-unitas-6497-movement-with-swan-neck-i-20647-p-1.html because I thought that I don't like Pams that much and that this should satisfy me >.> Everything except the case and movement belongs to the garbage bin. The thing about the case is the lugs weren't sharp and were not flat to begin with. I had to work my ass off trying to flatten it, after which it was 1000% better. I'm determined to think that I didn't waste my money on it,but I got somewhat lucky I guess. I've read somewhere that you can take off the bezel, since it's machine pressed and replace it with something else. I think jackson's case, only $30, is good to replace this bezel with.

Hi, I bought this 111 thinking that I just wanted something decent, but it turns out that it's just a POS. However, I'd like to think that I didn't just blow $100 on it, so I wanted to use this case for modding. so I filed down the lugs to a flatter shape, but I can't seem to get it too flat for some reason? help? Thanks for any input. Positives: - no case dimple? - short fat lugs Negatives: - bezel needs to be replaced (jackson tse?) - and rehaut is too thick (maybe a thicker custom dial?)

I agree that it's a good move for Rolex though. Bigger and shinier things sell better, especially to the younger generation, whose main purpose of getting a Rolex is mainly a measure of their success. Notice how Rolex changed their advertisements from "The toughest watches in the world" in the 60s to "A crown for every achievement". But for those who appreciate the history of Rolex as tool watches, vintage is always better than new. It's funny because when I bought my first Rolex, (a wm9 16610), I began to like vintage Rolex watches more and am now planning to build a 1665 DRSD and a 5514. I guess I'm one of those rare ppl that go that path haha.

PAM288 - start timing those laps you're forcing kids to do.

I like how comex watches has a tool watch history to it. Do you guys have any comex stories to share or read? I found some good ones on other forums: makes me want to buy a comex rep... "Hi, i am an ex-Comex diver starting '74 Nigeria (before'65/72 petty officer, clearance /combat diver Belgian Navy ( one training both specialities).Back to the '70 as far as I know no one was interested in Comex watches we just used it like any toll ! .On some riggs two or more of this watches were just kept in a drawer,open to all divers.Since most of dives were conducted and had surface communication assistance (umbilical lone dive,open bell and of course saturation) we really didn't need the watch BUT we had one probably more usefull on the surface than down there ! The importance of number ,5513,5514 or later type was unknow to us ! in fact most of the guys preffered the last new models ! so that's why most of the old divers are no watch experts at all ,certainly not me,but i still have my 5514.Rarety ! yes they are ,i can't remenber how many i've seen lost ? the best one happened when ??? diver surfaced after a short intervention dive , took off his gear ,washed his hands and watch in a bucket and while giving report ......forgot the watch in the bucket and ....YES cleared the dirty soapwater with the Rolex overboard ! one less !! " "Never forget... these watches are DIE_HARD toolwatches. Used by professionals... who stayed in the most extreme situations.... and where people on a ship.... missions for weeks.... rough/tough people!!! Often EX- MN or SAS or SBS.... in the 70th/80th... I even know stories of divers smakking the watches against the locker to see if they are strong enough. ALso don't forget... in the 70/80th these watches where an essential tool!!!! Livesaving! Not as today as they are diving with computers. ..... That made me wonder...... the 5513's are issued from about 1971... the 5514 from when i remember well (pleae correct if wrong) about '74/75...... and the 1665 later... around '76/77.... So why did Comex use the 5513 and 5514 before the 1665.... when we all think the 1665 was developed in 1969 and we see MK3 DRSD's.... from about 1972/73..... Wh invest in the others then..... was quite a puzzel to me! Well the answer was simple.... money LOL!..... Comex tested the 1665.. already in the 60th... but most of their work was in depth not deeper then 200 mtr... and there are even papers of SUBMARINERS going on missions deeper then that..... Simple.... the 1665 was not needed on most of the missions... and therefore to expansive for the main toolwatch. That explains the total of about 1100 5513/5514 against 300 1665...."

nice job The Zigmeister. Sometimes you need a thick dial to make the rehaut thinner looking. You just brought the perfect solution.

I don't know, I suck at this. 1665, 5514,5514, 5514, 16610? the middle 5514 is odd, the 200m line is on the bottom.

600 for a datejust on ebay? shirley you can't be serious? 0_o your priorities are so different than mine

^ agreed, set a budget limit, around 1k max if you ask me. If I were you I would just get at least gen crown +tube, gen crystal, dial, then finally bezel. Even that is pushing it though. As for me, gen dial, gen crown and gen insert will be max. I've already gathered up the last two parts but shelling money for the dial is a bit really tough for me; I can get a new rep for that kind of money or start my own pad printing. Anyways here are general cost breakdown: Use this as a guide to budget up. Breakdown: - WM9 V3 (~$600) - wm9 v.15 (~$400) - 3135 movement (~1850) - gen hands (~$200) - gen dial ($250-$300) - gen bezel assembly (~$400-500) - insert alone ($70-150; depending on condition) - gen crystal (~$200) - gen crown + tube ($120?)

^ nice... is that old style or new style MBW case? what's the difference anyways?

Lol @ shop next to the hublot shop. I see they also have daytona inspired watches

my opinion of Hublot just went from bad to "take that [censored] off" :thumbdown:

ditto...the lugs do look thin, even thinner than submariner. I think it was like that even before any bevelling. Otherwise it's great. I like a modded MBW case better though.