Richard Tracy

Hi, First the 127 is 47mm.. your 26/22 should fit, though a 26/26 would be better if you like a wider band end. Many dealers have the 26/26 including this great guy Don. http://www.homestead.com/rlx/DON.html Who has excellent prices and fantastic service. I just ordered a Gator strap 26/26 for a sum that makes me smile..

That's what they used to say about "Made in Japan"... Which brings up another point,..Asian movements also include Japanese in some of our reps... Keep spending more my friend,.. I would love to see that Kodak moment when you discover that your cherished piece turns out to contain what you were running from all this time.. or worse yet it fails regardless.. Priceless...

That's why you get it lubricated, then you come out way ahead of the cost of ETA, which in my opinion is way over-rated when compared to today's top Asian movements. Rolexman... The swiss have been using China to assemble their watches for years.. do you think that the Chinese have yet to figure out how to put together a decent watch on their own ? They even build Tourbillions now in reps.. EL has one.. Do you know how Amazing that is ? ! Tourbillions are on the most expensive watches in the world ! Though I do prefer ETA in some instances.. I don't feel locked in to always spring for ETA in every circumstance. After all, these are still reps we are speaking of here, not to mention that variety, is the spice of this game, which spending less per watch = more watches.

Sorry to bring this thread off subject, but Hey Nanuq of the North.. I dig that Avatar... Duddley Do Right.. Right ? M5Man I have returned your pm.

There is one for sale over at TRC... it's a WatchMaster, same as MBW.

Finepics is Amazing ! So are you Arch !

A perfect ending to this thread Ethan ! Thanks & it was good doing the mind meld with you and JJ !

JJ,... a beer would be Great ! & Ethan, .. mine were all in good humor. Peace ! I post the whole TimeZone article below, for others like Watchwatcher, just in case they may be damaging their watches with their homemade winders. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As noted in section 2.1, collectors who have more than one automatic watch may have "difficulty" keeping any one watch going continuously. This leads to increased inconvenience if calendars and moonphases must be reset. A solution has been invented - the automatic watch winder. The idea is quite simple: strap the automatic watch to a motor, which then moves the watch enough to keep it wound when not worn on the wrist. That way, one can choose to wear any watch at any time, and not have to reset the time or calendars. In theory, this device should be simple and cheap. In practice, it's not as easy as it sounds. First, while an automatic watch has an overwind protection mechanism to avoid damage to the movement, if the overwind mechanism is constantly used for hours at a time (i.e. though constant turning, rather than the unpredictable movement of the human wrist), the lubrication of the mechanism is worn out faster. This means that watch winders must be designed to only make so many turns per day, and to let the watch sit. Furthermore, since automatic winding mechanisms vary from watch model to model, the winder must be designed to have an adjustable number and direction of turns per day. Finally, mechanical watches are considered luxury items, which means watch winders are doubly so - due to the small number of people who would actually want one. All of this means that manufacturers for the consumer market must not only make their winders mechanically foolproof to avoid damaging watches, but they often construct the winder comparably to a jewelry box. The upshot of all this is that most consumer watch winders with programmable winding are expensive - often costing several hundred or thousand dollars. While cheaper professional models exist, these often do not come with programmable settings, as the maker assumes that they would be used in a watchmaker's shop. Last word - winders are not a necessity, they are a convenience. You should decide whether they are worth it based on whether you feel inconvenienced resetting your automatics occasionally, and whether they are worth it to you as a luxury item. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Also this again for anyone that is considering purchasing one, know how to select their model. http://www.watchcases.com/automaticwat.html Peace Out !

I agree with all but the winder part,.. Now that you know how to operate it,.. you shouldn't have any problems.. use any additonal funds for more watches...

Whoa Nelly.. you don't mince words do you ? Let's keep it friendly,.. Weather you agree or not, read experts from TimeZone regarding the necessity of winders, and possible damage resulting from. http://www.timezone.com/library/wwatchfaq/...668591017665598 See 2.3 What is a watch winder, and do I need one ? As to the question of sales hype here is information from an honest Watch winder dealer... some of what agrees with your views.. http://www.watchcases.com/automaticwat.html though some of it does not... I personally have fallen into the purist stage, I will only own mechanicals, never a quartz, I will not own a faux function watch and will never own a watch winder, preferring to handle the winding and setting of my watches by mine own hand. Those are my views,.. so be ready for me to come into certain posts and comment.. and I hope you, and others on the other side of those fences can read my views without anger,.. that is what we are here for ... Right ?

Sometimes EL may have stock there.. though the majority of his line comes from Taiwan.

Oh Ethan, you love a party line don't you ? Besides the fact that this subject is tired, which I mentioned earlier.. and the crown stems, also mentioned earlier, {which I have yet to have any problems with, after Year upon Years.} I do want to reply to JJ's quote; "The watch mechanically has no idea whether it is on the winder or on your wrist." Below is an article one of many such that I found regarding winders. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Experts suggest that if you choose to purchase a watch winder to choose one with care. Since automatic watches are designed to store energy based on human body movement, watch winders should be created to mimic those movements as closely as possible. Carefully crafted and designed watch winders perform fixed number of directions and types of movement. Poorly crafted watch winders may not have as smooth or delicate movements thereby causing unnecessary damage to the delicate workings of your treasured timepiece. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thing is, most people don't know this when they go for their watch winder purchase, but the bottom line is that these specially designed winders are very expensive, so if there is no benefit besides convenience, just admit that you are paying out the ying yang, basically because you are lazy. and we will agree to call it a day....

Hi, You need to pull the stem out further than you think to set the time. The gas release is just for show, though it does unwind. Let me know how it turns out, just be sure not to pull to hard on the crown, or it may come out.

I don't take it personal Ethan, as a matter of fact I relish intelligent discussion. I just get a bit weary of the 'Who the heck are you ?' attitude from people that are not familar with my duration on these boards, which is substantial. Not saying that you came on such... Think about this, Mechanical Watches have been around since the mid 1700's from which there are many still in running condition from all decades,.....and Winders.. ? 2nd, these are gears pushing gears,. metal to metal, thus with any type of mechanical device, they have an in use life duration, that depends upon the material, the way that material is aligned and constructed, and the lubrication used, which there are many types. I would bet that Joe or The Zigmeister has seen the metal shavings and bits mixed in the old lubrication in watches that they have repaired. It's common sense, no degree required. The more use, the quicker that life is used, and faster on materials that are not the most expensive, or well constructed. Now keeping in mind these are reps... and most don't have the famous 7753, are you sure you still want to say that winders are beneficial ? As to the coagulating lubricant on sitting watches, that factor is non void with just one full winding per month. I have heard these facts on care, plus the 15% rule, which in my opinion is low, many times over the years from watch experts, while I hear the opposite from winder sellers. Who would you believe ? And in the face of mechanical logic, is there really any sound reason to augue for winders outside of convenience, the material of some crown stems, the fact that some are not good with their hands, or last but not least,... a need to justify a substantial purchase that one has already made ? I say no. Lastly, Having a winder or two for a few months or years does little in proof that you are not shortening the life of your replicas, even if they last five years,.. they could most probably last much longer without that constant wear, as long at they are given some occasional personal attention. In my own opinion of course...

It's also the first generation that I was referring to, which The Zigmeister owns and uses daily. The chronos are not the potential problem, but the movement itself. You can find all this info at TRC in the The Zigmeister libraries...

And there is your definitive answer,.. no one, I mean no one does better watch photo than Neil ! Hey Neil ever do women ?

It was my memory that The Zigmeister, who owns and uses his 7750 chrono several times per day in his work, said that the chronos were not the issue, but that some of these early pieces were dirty, un-lubricated, and just not well put together, while some, like his worked fine, besides a hand, he had to glue into place. However now that the new 7750b1 were out, as long as your small seconds subdial is at 9 then your only concern, is lubrication.

Addressing the issues of hand setting, I agree if one has only a few pieces, not careful or dexterious, or knowing the time periods never to hand set your date, then problems could result. Personally out of 40 plus automatic pieces over a 10 plus year period have never had a problem aside from a stem that came all the way out a few times on a Tag rep I once owned, which I was able both times to pop back in place,..also since passed onto the kids, which still runs fine post one year. I stress however that my larger collection made it possible for little handling, so if you have only a small collection, and are unsure how good you are with your hands, a winder may be your best bet, if you are sure that your movements are proper in material, lubrication and adjustment. Hope all the opinions here helps you.

I find that the new Netscape affords me with the functionality of FF but without the instability problems associated with newer browsers. I love the button that allows me to use either IE or Mozilla formats.

Hi, Let me make this more clear. The small seconds hand is the sub-dial that has markings from zero to sixty. That subdial is better when placed on the 9 O'clock positon, not the Six O', as in the 7750 it creates more stress on the movement, as I believe that the 7750 is made in the 9 seconds configuration, however some manufacturers alter the movment to conform to watches that have 6 O' seconds. The more modified, the more potential problems. As for lubrication I would send it to The Zigmeister, for that, he's a pro at reps.. a claim most gen repair people cannot. Hope this helps.

This is a very old subject Ethan, that has been rehashed many times before including posts from The Zigmeister. You will have to do your own homework for dig his opinions up, I already know what he thinks. Have I owned winders,... No, neither have I driven my car through automated car washes yet still understand that it's better by hand. My opinion is plain common sense, as River say's 'Don't treat Replica like Genuine'

According to The Zigmeister, the new IWC chrono has that movement and it's great. Just needs to be lubricated and it's good to go. Seems the only concern is the placement of the small seconds hand. make sure it's at 9 O'clock, verses 6.

Well since these are reps.. I don't think it matters as much, however know this, some top flight gen watch dealers advise that winders will cause a 15% increase in the time you will have to return for service.

I give the benefit, & hope for tlhe best ! I wonder though, who is mucking about with the posts over there if it's not him... Blade ????