ubiquitous

W- That watch is just

Mrs. Ubi says she wants an orange one!

The one I inquired on was $17k... At the time addingwatch has this one, I believe... Though I think the price has increased, I don't think it's gone up to $30k (at least, not this specific one). But I'm pretty sure I know which one you're referencing on the hand made one... And if it is... Then I would agree. It would probably never get called out.

Ahhhh... This would be a great method, especially if the bezel is snug/tight to rotate, but not so tight you can't turn it...

7032 for Fri...

Yeah... No ulterior motives there! [/tongue in cheek]

A couple things to keep in mind on this one... 1) There aren't many Patek 2499's around, so a piece in this condition is a rarity in and of itself. 2) It's a Patek. 3) It was purchased by a private museum. I am not sure what the term 'museum' alludes to, but I would think an institute of some sort vs. a private individual collector. Patek Philippe themselves have been known to outbid many private collectors for pieces to keep in their own museum; the act of which has gone into question by many as they are essentially driving the values of their own brand via their heritage. It could very well be Patek behind the 'private' museum party, though I think it would be fairly obvious if they actually end up displaying that watch. Or perhaps they would simply store it in a safe, hence taking a rare piece out of circulation and boosting their own value in the process. All speculation on my part, nothing more... And to be honest, I think Patek would be the type to not hide or try to disguise such things (they probably wouldn't even care about such matters). As a by the by... There is an 18k gold replica/reproduction out there if anyone's interested. The last time I asked for a price (a couple years back), I was quoted $17k US; it's probably gone up a bit with the current spot price of gold having risen over $1200/oz ($1k US/oz at the time if I recall correct). Steep, especially for a replica, and no matter what gen values are in comparison it's still a rep...

I wonder if we'll look back on this a year from now and STILL be waiting for the Ploprof to come out?

Yeah... Your write up on your self made watch from a block of steel looks anything but lazy...

While quite effective in keeping one's timepieces safe and secure, I'm probably not going to be heading into any major war zones anytime soon; I dunno that I need anything to that level of severity, vly Plus, I'd hate for TSA to think it was a bomb or something. Especially with a ticking mechanical watch inside. It already looks military/weapon-ish as-is... I'm sure they'd have me on their radar carrying something like that around.

With your skills, you could make some killer bespoke time pieces...

Good detail on this by gavidoc... Several good points made with regard to meeting specification of gov't standard as well as details that should, or should not be present in such a watch. In addition, I would think that such a rare and limited number issue Rolex with military provenance would have a bit more of a following by the collectors. 5517 MilSubs, for example are quite rare, yet there is a significant amount written about their existence, and a core group of collectors that actively seek out these pieces and discuss them publicly, even if on a limited basis (understandably so). There is no following of any sort at this level or otherwise for the so-called 1690; I would think that with all the factors contributing to what would be a rare military watch, there would be more vintage Rolex collector interest in them if they really were legit.

Quite possibly one of the coolest how-to's I've ever seen. This is the sort of behind the scenes stuff that one never sees otherwise. Good stuff, J!

Seems about right...

Checked baggage?! The only person in my family that checks in baggage is Mrs. Ubi. But that's only cause she has a ton of stuff that she can't live without while away from home. No, no... I definitely need something small enough to carry on. I'm thinking Scatola del Tempo is looking quite nice...

Mesh mesh mesh! But the Vintage Tenente strap is way cool too!

a new, pristine never used gasket would probably be most ideal, since it's never been flattened or pressed with the installation of a crystal That would be the best example to pull mesurements from...

Very interesting process, and some of your pics have given me some ideas with regards to a possible project (I'll PM you offline sometime about it). Not sure why flange is censored for you, but I can honestly say that I have heard the term used when describing the appearance of a specific female anatomical detail in situ with a pair of thong undies...

A gen of that watch may exist (afterall, they would need something to model the replication after), however I believe that the consensus is that many of the examples, including the possibility of the Antiquorum sold piece, are indeed forgeries. AQ (along with other auction houses) have had their ups and downs with authenticating certain pieces over time and what's not public information is how many auction sold watches are actually returned post sale because of improper pieces. As for the question as to whether a unique fake can have intrinsic value; I would say yes, as oft times interesting high quality forgeries and unique duplications become collectible in their own right (and not just watches either)...

First step I would take is ensuring the bezel and all related parts are clean, free of dirt, glue or any other binding agents that might prohibit function. If all parts check out clean, I would then try and narrow a tight bezel down to the component. Start by removing the insert from the bezel, and then remove the click and the washer. With the insert removed, press the bezel back down onto the retention ring, and check rotation; lack of insert will allow you to inspect visually while turning. If there is still a good portion of resistance with those components removed, it's likely to do with the fit between the bezel and retention ring. I would try a very light coat of lubrication between the bezel ring and retention ring; if rotation eases up a bit, then there may be an issue of either the bezel or retention ring being too small or large respectively. A light sanding of the diameter of the problematic component may reduce enough to allow for cleaner, easier rotation; I highly suggest taking this process slow and test fitting often as you do not want to take too much material off to maintain correct fit. If the bezel rotates fine sans click and washer, start re-introducing those parts one at a time until you run into resistance. With the insert removed, you should be able to isolate where the trouble is, and hopefully it's origin.

If you have the entire assembly, then there shouldn't be a whole lot of risk involved; just a matter of reversing to the original MBK parts if things don't work out

preacher- If you have the entire bezel assembly, it should work. The construction looks the same as gen, so if you swapped the retention ring, the washer, click and bezel ring, you should be good. Fitting just the gen/aftermarket bezel ring to a rep retention ring is usually where the issue is.

Personally, I think the overcast, slightly cloudy days make for the best pics in natural light... And I think you've managed to achieve some excellent photos! Very well done...

That's the kind of collection that I think many strive for. Quality over quantity. Great line up, buddy... Well rounded and diverse selection that gives you a little bit of everything. Very nice indeed!

GREAT pics, Deniz! You really captured some great images here. I especially like this one... Indeed, the SA is a HUGE watch! I tried on chieftang's when he was in town; big doesn't even begin to describe this one. But I found it to fit rather well thanks to the turned down lugs, which didn't overhang on my 6.8" wrist too badly. For that reason, I think a smaller wrist could pull it off, but it's size makes it quite the attention magnet. I think you made an excellent choice with the white dial. Looks great!