ubiquitous

Yeah... I suspect it's going to be the exterior parts that are going to be difficult to find (and end up costing the bank). Genuine domed T-16's and T-17's don't come cheap... But I have a couple of ideas on where to find some A genuine bezel will be a troublesome part to source; aftermarket is out there, but unfortunately, gravely apparent that it's the incorrect piece for the watch...

I suspect that things will only get worse as the RSC's start refusing service of 15xx based watches. Imagine how crazy things will become once watches have to go to independent watchmakers for service; replacement parts may be limited to what a watchsmith has NOS from their old inventory back when they had a parts account with the ol' coronet. Imagine what that will do to the values and prices of genuine parts on the grey market. Maybe we'll start seeing 580's selling for $400 a pair

Hmmm... For some reason, I have scribbled down in my notes that the 5513 came around in '64; most likely my data is off, but is what I was basing my prior post off of Always a possibility that dial variations differ based on who the manufacturer was; a dial from Stern would be different than one that came from Beyeler. I don't believe that the watch was running when Ziggy took delivery of it today (he would be better to speak on that), though I do know that he got it for a very attractive price! With his talents, a sympathetic restoration of this example should be easy work; finding the right parts may be the most difficult part...

I've come to understand that many scenarios are possible; some have indicated that watches may have left the factory with certain end links fitted that conflict with information we know as correct today... Some watches were indeed changed up by dealers and jewelers, as the 93150 with xxx end link was considered an upsale to certain models (i.e. 1655's with 78350's etc). And, of course, who knows what could have been changed out when watches are serviced at RSC's. 593's tend to be the popular end link of choice for service replacement, at least from what I've seen. So, who knows?

The dial (to me) looks correct with regards to some examples of 5508's I have seen. Indeed... This s/n and production date put it right around the transition date to the 5512; I do believe this watch to be largely all original.

1530 would be correct for a 5508. The 6536/8's had the 1030's; models prior to those: 6204, etc. had the A260's and A296's...

1530 looks really clean! As does the dial! The dial is 80% of the value... So, having it in such great shape is a plus. Of course, I would recommend a new T-16 or T-17; domed would be of preference, but a genuine later replacement is acceptable as well. Perhaps a new bezel, bezel insert, and 7206 rivet bracelet would be nice. I would not do much in terms of heavy polishing of the case... Maybe a light polish, but mostly suggest just cleaning it up of the dirt. You may want to check the tube as well to make sure that it's still maintaining a seal. For sake of longevity, you may want to replace it along with the crown. Above all, make sure you keep the original parts with the watch; don't throw them away, as having them with the watch will increase the value. Knowing what you got this one for, I think it's a steal! That dial and those matching hands are

Indeed- I'm sure this has been a very expensive endeavor, though most projects worth doing usually are. I think your 6263 will be stellar once it's completed...

Fair enough, Stephen, but I do think a movement like this deserves a full service As for next steps... Well, you've covered it. Better dial, gen bracelet... Not sure what can be done about the pushers; sometimes gen pushers can be fit, depending on the case, but sometimes not.

M- I'm loving it! My 3 week vacation started 12-15-06, so I've been lounging arond the house, relaxing and spending time with the kids. Today has been especially nice... Glad to be inside on a day like today! Been kind of amusing watching my neighbor trying to shovel their walk... A pointless endeavor, as their path will just be covered up in a few hours anyways... Stay warm! Happy Holidays, and a Merry Christmas... All the best, R

Seems to me, at least from what I seem to recall, that the 'big crackdowns' seem to be rather cyclical, and happen from time to time, though with not much impact. So... Business as usual, then?

2nd that. Throw a nice 2894 inside, and you're set. Very do-able, in my opinion... Just copy the DD module...

Just out of curiosity... Why not just send to Ziggy to have the movement overhauled instead of having a band aid fix?

I dunno... Maybe it's just me. Personally, I like to get my gens checked over every year (or maybe even every other year at most), to ensure that my cases are sealed and water tight rather than finding out the hard way with a fogged crystal, or flooded case. Of course, YMMV... But to me, a quick $20 check up once a year is a heck of a lot cheaper than having a movement replaced because it's rusted. Just my opinion...

Damn... Talk about nostalgia! I haven't thought of some of those titles since I was a kid...

Must agree- A genuine watch is only as water resistant as it's last check up. For a watch to really maintain water resistance, one would have to have their watch checked periodically; say annually for good measure to ensure that their case is staying air tight. after all, seals dry, need replacing, need re-lubing, etc. Especially if they are subjected to harsh conditions often. Personally, I would do the same with my gens. As a matter of fact, if I go swimming, I typically wear no watch at all. ...But I do think that a properly tested, sealed and lubed rep can be just as reliable in wet conditions...

K- I do agree with that. Pieces like vintage MBW's will get you 80% of the way there... With the means to take it further, though that's up to the owner. Granted, the cost to fit genuine parts to a watch is a bit prohibitive, but I'm sure that if they offered a fully modded piece with gen parts, there would still be a market for them. I do believe that they purposely flaw the watches to an extent- Otherwise, why even bother making them 1:1 with the ability to swap gen parts? EDIT: Come to think of it... MBW can offer pieces modded with gen parts. I've seen 1655's with 1575's fitted, 6263's with V72's and so on... All from MBW, and un-modded by any 3rd party hands.

The 7750 wobble is a trademark characteristic for that caliber- Swiss or not.

Make sure that the gaskets are lubed properly and that the caseback is sealed tightly (but not over tight). Once those items are addressed, have a watchmaker run a test to check it's water resistance. Should be good to go, as the cases are machined to tolerances that are quite precise. Of course, no dealer will guarantee a rep to be water resistant out of the box; at least, not without having their own watchmaker go over the watch at an added cost. Most factories do not do much in the way of QC, so the quality control is usually handled by a 3rd party after the fact (either the dealer's watch guy, your own watch guy, or yourself if you have the equipment necessary to perform such tasks).

A very special watch for an equally specially occassion!

Oh... I also believe that the process of building reps differs from geographic region. A good example would be the vintage Rolex MBW's; for years, these watches have gone largely unchanged in terms of parts and overall quality. Of course, these watches are produced in Thailand, and I suspect from an actual factory dedicated to building these watches. The consistency in parts is what convinces me of this...

MJP- Once upon a time, there were a very short run of 'perfect' Omega SMP's that were produced. These specific pieces were near identical with the gen- true, actual 1:1 cases, variation in serial numbers, etc. The movment inside was a 2892 Seagull copy, but it certainly looked the part, and functioned the same (thanks to being a relatively simple movement). Apparently, the factory was raided and shut down as the copies they were churning out were so precise that the Richemont Group actively pursued this 'factory's' demise. Now... How much of it is true? I dunno. It's kind of like an old wive's tale. But, as with most rumors, I'm sure there is a bit of truth to the underlying element. Afterall, we've not seen an SMP nearly as accurate since. The ones that are available are close; but not the same...

Ahhhh... I'm sure some of you guys remember the perfect 'old factory' Omega Seamasters. Short lived and put out of commission due to being too accurate... ...or so the story goes

I agree with this, yet there are certain things that make me believe that centralized operations do exist. For example... Angus' Big Bang thread. Seems that perhaps it's one operation that's overseeing complete production of this one, from parts manufacturing to assembly.

I've seen a fair number of 1665's with 580's as well as some 1680's with 585's. Have also seen some with 501B's fitted, which I thought was even more odd. In fact, just this Summer, an all original white 1665 with 580's passed through my hands No rhyme or reason...