PeteM

T48 is best option. T has just posted thread for his new batch

Basically due to a number of members raising isues with VDB a number of other members have come forward raising their own experiences. Points raised include Mis selling rep parts as gen Poor Quality - glued CGs, rusted movements, damaged parts etc Selling parts as specially made but being from standard suppliers like DSN etc Claiming to make and then selling at inflated prices 1:1 cases when they are Sillix cases Taking advantage of members skills and trading their own inferior parts for quality hand made dials, hands etc Over pricing Blaming every one but them selves Misleading and controlling certain forums and Vintage sections in several forums and using them to further their own product and belittling other vintage makers or removing their threads or posts if it doesnt suit their own purposes etc etc etc

I think you have misunderstood that comment mate...I meant VDB obviously has a skill or ability... its just not as good as his reputation and the quality is even lower than that. So I dont doubt his ability I do doubt his product and its value.....

I am sure the experts will chime in but as I recall at the time there were 2 possible 3 places making cases for OP but they all worked to the same dimensions so if there are differences I can only imagine they are consistency differences rather than manufacturing differences. I have not heard myself of differences comparable to that of say PreV to PreA or AC-CG etc etc Of course case series were easier to monitor once they brought in the BB, PB etc on the matriculation though 6500 or 6502 cases (with and without A prefix) did the same job in terms of identifying case series.

Sounds like the better option mate. Tony of course is cheaper

Nico Dont worry mate, I used a very small hammer and tapped very gently I just need to find a brick to get the crystal out and I am sorted Which one the Chrono hand?

Just tearing down the new 253 or rather trying to !! And thought I would post some pics of the dial without the crystal just to show the texture of the waffle dial etc.

http://www.panatime....pvdspbarar.html There are quite a few mate but service and quality is good from Stan Does Fedex so fast too !! In UK http://www.toshi-straps.co.uk/thumbscrew.html

D suggested the new 111J was suitable with slight modification for a PreV project. However a JF would not be... The EL cases vary remember he sourced many cases so just saying its an EL doesnt mean it will work for your project An old Helenerou case and Jackson bezel was pretty close and some of DSNs older cases. In fact DSN misuses some of his cases and you can find some good PreV cases in his contemporay models. I think Warren has passed the case project over to Tx now, try contacting him for an update and in the mean time maybe go with the 111 as a stop gap, its the cheapest option currently or study all PAMs that come up for sale you might be surprised by what people are selling, in terms of the case, without realising its potential..

Dont disagree on what you get both in terms of product or service .... As for value to an extent I can agree but the value in real terms is the work done is reproducing the better parts that you see from Oaky or Gordon etc for example and the work put into putting them together in a proper way.. VDBs value was more recently on his reputation IMHO rather than his product.. As with a lot of brands a reputation can easily be traded upon and used to take advantage of either the trusting or the lesser experienced....its a short term strategy that ends up crashing and burning and once lost is never regained.... and all that hard work put into building it up is wasted... Its a short sighted, cynical and greedy approach to your customers and your product.. People were drawn in by that reputation as we all can be in all walks of life... I dont doubt VDBs ability just his practices...

Come on Frank thats a bit strong mate !! Just because a buyer is willing to pay more for a rep doesnt mean he deserves to get stitched up... It dont matter whether you pay a $100 or a $1000 for something... getting ripped off is something we all hate to see no matter who it is...

Looks great mate Its always good to see these mods before the build.... otherwise you can easily underesitimate just what sort of effort goes into the parts you cannot see on the build As always Robs work is top notch

Blimey missed that mate but then English aint my first language !!

Welcome to Vous !! (Yeah corny I know!!) Start saving mate it will only get worse !!

I agree Murph but although its less distracting the stitch lifts out the colour of the dial gives the watch a classy look but still keeps a theme

Exactly mate, that strap would not even occur to me!! As I am sure stuff I have wouldnt occur to others and even if they do you cant visualise it especially on a particular model as they can all look like different watches depending on the strap Thanks for sharing mate

Having just experienced some very poor practices myself I am not surprised

I think a 1:1 crystal from Matt or the one in the sales section would really make a difference to this watch. Seems a shame to put that lovely CG on there without a proper crystal with correct corundum and distortion etc Then its just the hex crown to match CG ( I cant see RB so assume its the older version?) and bang you have a great looking rep The crystal is poorer on this than the 177. Nice pics mate

Love a good strap Always thought that the strap section should be a sub section in this section as its a real part of owning and enjoying a PAM As ST mentioned the majority of us stick to Brown a safe option but I would love to see more guys posting pics of the more unusual for a reference I have seen a few PAMs with straps I wouldnt consider in a lifetime but on the watch it looks completely different. I was/am always amazed at how say a 111 can look completely different with say a OEM Antique brown alligator to an OEM black Alligator same with a ammo etc etc just completely changes the whole look of the watch and occasions when the watch can be worn..

Murph congrats mate I didnt realise you had taste mate !!! Or did someone choose it for you Whats the suppleness like and how does the leather grain look around your wrist as it pulls round ? Very nice shade mate

Not being from Texas I wouldnt know.... but I have to agree. The 27 does take it nicely to the end of the lug bars Though if you get Stans better quality replacement liug & screw set his are a little tighter than the ones that come with the rep. Why not ask the Texan Bear here what magic he could work for you with a strap

Have you tried the stem mod?

I had this reply to my message last night, Hello! I wish you a good day! I thank you sincerely for your time to make your offer, make me aware, and point out the warning signs of the watch being a fake. Ever since Christmas, when I received it as a gift for my eBay store for luck, I have been comparing, researching, to know if this was a true Panerai. I've been told it was, got excited, wanted to keep it for myself, (but I'm a girl), and said wow!, This will look good in my EBay store! I posted A.S.P. to hopefully get feedback and know exactly just what I have, or. what am I selling? (why the asking price was so high)! yes, I was hoping it was Authentic, but still, I needed to know and learn! My question to you was genuine and I definitely got your hint of thumbs down on the watch!(Thanks!!) It's pretty hard to tell with just the workmanship and overall looks, even the name on the back exhibit plate is embossed on, does look pretty good in actuality than the Pics! The Numbers are painted on, nicely, movement fast and good, Looks really good in real life! The weight is pretty much there,but to me seems to be still lacking. My 1st instinct was it seemed cheap for what Panerais sell for! So I concluded It's gotta be about the movement. which I needed to learn about! Serial numbers where good, but thru my contnius research, since 2006 there has been fakes with that crazy same serial number! No, I could not live with myself if I sold a fake! Then there's the Reputation of my EBay Store at stake! I thank you very much for caring enough to let me know! People like you comming my way is my good luck, and not the watch! Wishing you the best year ever! All the best to you! Sincerely, I.L.F.

Looks good mate I think Uwe's AR is getting better from when I first got one from him.. Got one with him at the moment The digital LCD numbers look unusual with the breaks at the angles, I never noticed that before .....underlines how good the AR is I guess !!!

Personally I went with 27/22 though standard Rads are 27/20 for deployant. I had one made in 27/22 for deployant much prefer it to the one that came with it. I also have a 26/26 OEM JV with deployant for it and as The Bear says it dont make any real difference