XRT

Here are some more pictures to compare with my 44mm "Mini Fiddy"

Just look at the lugs on the Debaufre case and compare their shape to the ones on the Steinhart in Tourby's first picture. They look quite different.

The Azimuth watch has received numerous complaints about the crown digging into the wearer's wrist. I suspect that the fact that the case is 12mm (versus 14mm for the Debaufre) makes all the difference. The 14mm thickness gives the Debaufre a very substantial look.

I apologize for posting this non-IWC rep in the IWC section, but I wanted to get the attention of as many BIG PILOT enthusiasts as possible.

The watch is called the Nav B, and this is not the first post of the watch on RWG. An earlier (limited edition) version of this watch was only available in a gold plated model...too gaudy looking for me. I was hesitant for a long time to buy this watch...but a decent IWC Big Pilot rep has continued to allude our Chinese factories, so I broke down.

Steinhart (now renamed in the U.S., for potential trademark/copyright problems, Debaufre) has used the Unitas 6497 movement to create the closest rep to the IWC Big Pilot available to date. The limitations of using the 6497 to knock-off the Big Pilot is the lack of a datewheel function and the positioning of the subdial at 9'oclock (instead of at 3 o'clock...which doesn't matter to me at all). That said, this watch is beautiful and BIG (47mm). I have a puny wrist (6") and I can't stop wearing it.

The crystal is a slightly domed saphire with AR coating on the inside. There is a saphire crystal display back. The big crown is fantastic and looks almost identical to that on the IWC Big Pilot. The strap that comes on this $540 USD watch is very high-quality, but was too long for me so I replaced it with another one that I bought from Time Connections. You can see the original strap on their website (looks similar to the aviator strap on the IWC with two SS rivets on either end.) I have a thick (5mm!!) antique brown gator aviator strap with SS rivets being made for me now by Aaron Tan.

The blue AR coating is only on the inside of the crystal, so it not visible unless the light reflects off of it at just the right angle. The hands are "blued" but appear black most of the time, again until the light hits it at the right angles. The crystal's dome is very slight, but it creates a very cool distortion effect on the dial when viewed at angles more acute than 30 degrees.

The crown does not screw down so I will definitely NOT be taking this into the ocean with me. Having worn this watch for the last week, I was quite concerned that the large crown would dig into the back side of my wrist. So far that has yet to happen- probably because the watch is 14mm thick and the crown sits about 2mm above the bottom side of the case.

The watch shipped from Florida and was at my doorstep in 2 days by FEDEX. It came packed in a nice padded display box with the color Debaufre logo on the top.

Here are some of the pictures I took of the watch this AM.

(Details from their U.S.website) Link to site

Features:

Stainless steel case

Diameter 47 mm, including crown 53 mm, 14 mm thick.

See-thru case back with blue screws and a special "Cote de Gen

AWESOME project!!

I too will be excitedly watching this post for updates.

Beautiful watches!!

As Eunomians already mentioned, Aaron (HKTan) makes some awesome straps - customized.

Link

Wow...that lume job is spot on. Fantastic precision.

Very nice work. Congratulations on a job well done!

look great....

is that a MBW to start off with.???

Thank you. Yes, it is an MBW.

I bought this watch from a member off TRC a couple of months ago. It came with a genuine Superdome installed. Great deal too!

I had RBJ vintagize the case, drill out the lug holes, replace the movement with a slower beat ETA and a silver datewheel (while awaiting for the Watchmeister datewheel )

He repainted the dial markers...looks fantastic (very smooth and even)

The insert was replaced with an aftermarket version and a genuine pearl was installed.

count me in

All mods done by RBJ.

Great watch. The dial is incorrect (in the Comex 1665 below) in that the 600m version should not have the word "date" following "oyster perpetual"...but beside this 'obvious' flaw, it is a great piece. You can have a custom painted dial done for you to fix this if you want.

All mods on mine were done by RBJ (slow beat ETA, insert/pearl, case work, silver date wheel, lug holes drilled...)

Unfortunately, the genuine 1675 dial is too small for the replica case opening...we found this out the hard way.

if some1 has a GMT-Master like that for sale please contact me !

No one else has one with the properly shaped "pointy" crown guards. RBJ did the work on this watch...he can make more if you have the money

Thank you.

The 1665 is now fashioned with a white SD dial that has been repainted so that it looks perfect (pics to follow later...but basically looks like the paint style on my GMT dial.)

The 1680 dial is being repainted with the same new look.

A COMEX 1665 is being done this week as well.

Slower beat movements are being installed also.

Now I am just waiting for the UBI Watchmeister vintage datewheels...

Those mods are 100% for me!!!

That summarizes how I feel about spending what I do on my rep mods...it's well worth it for me since I get so much pleasure from just wearing them and looking at them.

I wonder if you instead started out with the Wo-Mart case and just grinded down the CGs completely, then tried to fit a MY bezel to it?? Does that bezel fit I would be fine with it not rotating as long as it looked about the right size.

Here's my WM Milgauss. It does sit about 1mm too posteriorly, but it really is not enough to make a noticeable difference when seen on the wrist.

Perhaps there is another movement that might work.

WHEN OH WHEN OH WHEN is someone going to make a believable 6542?

sounds like a challenge...should be relatively easy though (if you have the $$.)

start with a WM or MBW no-CG case (like the Bond Sub or the Milgauss)

buy an aftermarket Michael Young bezel, insert, small GMT hand and dial

And if you are really picky, you'll need to cough up more for a genuine movement with the alternating red/black numerals...or you can have one custom made to fit a slower beat ETA...oh the options

I thought they added the Date to Oyster Perpetual on the later 1675's.

This dial is supposed to be an older style dial, like that on the no-CG 6542

It can also be found on the pointed CG version of the older 1675's (one on the left)

It's a starting point. This style of dial should read "Oyster Perpetual" (without the word "Date")

This dial most often is seen on a pointed CG case with the small GMT hand.

The lume is way too yellow.

The bezel is too thick.

The crown is nice though.

damn! I missed these. I hope you make more.

If we can get half-a-dozen commited folks who want one of these from you, maybe we can convince you to make some more.

Sorry, the damn pic is so large.

I'd like to perhaps attempt creating a pointed guard case for my OEM 1675.

I bet you could install your OEM movement in the Paul case, but the OEM dial is a hair too small in diameter to fit...we tried this with an OEM 1675 dial that I bought off the Bay

In terms of making these pointy CGs with all the correct angles and facets...it is a true work of art. I can't take this watch off.