sneed12

I use the slide rule on my Nighthawk literally every time I am wearing it! Just ordered a 7750 Serie Speciale from Josh, I guess we'll see how my luck with the slide rule markings goes...

I have a cheap rep Explorer II white dial, and I'm thinking of painting and reluming the indices. I'll let you know how it goes if I ever get around to it.

and correct datefont. I would pay out the nose for those two things. If someone could show me a serie speciale in blue, with good slide rule markings and correct datefont, I would pay through the nose. Even better if there was a Navi World out there with those two things and no sunken datewheel. The Navis are the only reps I've never been happy with. Anyone else feel that way?

Just to point out--sometimes things happen. Not that it makes it ok, but if he's been out of contact for a couple of months, maybe he got deployed to Iraq or hit by a car or his mom died and he had to go to China, or something. I know that getting scammed on a watch sucks, but we have to remember that sometimes real life gets in the way. I know if I sold a bunch of watches and then got run over by a truck on the way to the post office, the last thing on my wife's mind would be to get on paypal and refund everyone's money. Maybe it'll work out. Sorry to hear about your troubles.

The wings fell off the dial...

I watched the sales forum till one came up. I think it originally came from Stan but I don't know for sure, I got it used.

Yes, that's exactly right, although I'm not using a stem extender at the moment--I loctite'd the stem into the crown and like 2 threads are engaged, I'll have to take care of that eventually. Actually I'm thinking I'll just buy a long uncut ETA stem and cut it to size.

Since there doesn't appear to be a GMT IIc built with rehaut engraving that is correctly lined up, I ended up having to piece one together. My faithful GMT IIc with Swiss ETA on the left, an A21J model I picked up on the right: I got the A21 model specifically because it looks like the rehaut engraving lines up. Closer inspection shows that the ROLEXROLEXROLEX is quite good in terms of lining up with the minute markers, but the serial number at 6 o'clock isn't any better. Bezel numbers are fatter on the a21j insert, and surprisingly the bezel on that case clicks between numbers with far more authority. The R lining up at the 9 marker is the thing that I was most interested in. Uncasing the movements was straightforward, the only annoying thing was that the crowns didn't interchange. The ETA stem in the crown from the a21j case was slightly too short when screwed all the way in, it just barely clears the threads when pulled out to the date adjust position. I'll need to get a stem extender eventually. Quick pic of the two uncased movements next to each other: The lighter color on the GMT hand, and the larger minute index marks (on the 21j, on the right) seem to be the only differences. ETA movement in its new case. I figured this was a good opportunity to polish the band, so it'll live on the NATO for a couple of days.

I don't know that it's a standardized part. I have two "GMT"-ized 2836's and neither one has the same GMT hand size as a 2893 (I know this because a 2893 hand won't fit) but I don't know if they're the same as each other or not.

What are you using for the datewheel? Does a datewheel with overlay already installed from a 2836 fit on this movement, or do I need to install a datewheel overlay on the 2893?

Mind if I ask who you're buying from?

Ah yes, you're absolutely right.

The ICHS GMT hands I've seen have been geared directly to the gear that drives the date change mechanism... are we talking about the same thing?

Date change at midnight depends entirely on how well the hands were set during assembly of the watch, has nothing to do with the overall quality of the movement (assuming that it is working correctly, I mean). Same deal with the GMT following hour hand, assuming the modifications to the 2836 are reasonably well-done there should not be any problems with the GMT hand drifting out of time--it is geared directly to the date wheel.

Crap. Now I need one.

And thanks for the heads up fellas! I found it http://www.manbushijie.com/productinfo.asp?id=969

Did the slide rule markings line up? That would be a real deal killer for me.

Looks like that lingling watch is from the Parnis factory, so there might be other places I can source it. Thanks fellas.

I just emailed to ask if it was available with sapphire and if I could get a discount if I bought 5. Thanks for the heads up.

While that's technically true, I find the fact that the datewheel overlay covers the notches makes it pretty hard. Maybe I'm just dumb.

I'm starting to think maybe PAM style would be easier. Jackson has the sterile PAM 063's, and 44mm sapphires aren't impossible to get. I ran a quick dial mockup I just thought the Explorer style might be a little more, I dunno, classic. Not everyone likes wearing a 44mm watch.

If it's just the datewheel, you can take off the datewheel cover (it's the silver plate at 9 o'clock, on the other side from the keyless works) it's only 1 screw. The real PITA on datewheels with overlays is getting the new one on. A stock ETA datewheel can be installed through the notches in the cover, ie you can put the cover and spring on first, then the datewheel, then take a pin or whatever and pull the spring into place. Rolex-style datewheel overlays cover the spring though so you can't do that. I've found the easiest way is to place the datewheel down, reach through the inside and pull the spring, then try and get the spring and cover screwed into place. It's a pain in the butt but not difficult or dangerous (ie, you might have to try a few times but you're unlikely to break your watch this way).

I'm getting married in September, and after a lot of thought I've decided to build watches for the groomsmen. So I need to source 5 or 6 (haven't decided if the best man is getting the same thing as everyone else) of the same watch. I'm thinking a white-dial Rolex Explorer II *style* watch. I'm going to print custom dials with their names, etc, so I don't care about the quality of the rep or if its a homage watch or whatever. All I require is sapphire and a reliable movement. Anyone have a suggestion where to get 5 or 6 of these things fairly cheap (and new)? I was thinking maybe Alpha, but I don't think Alpha uses sapphire... Is there something like the Noobmariner in the $100 range but in an Explorer? I really want black markers and hands, and GMT if I can get it. I think that style with custom dial printing would look really sharp. EDIT: Also, the Alpha doesn't have black markers...

Well, the DG movement has different hand sizes. So, you'll have to get a new set of hands. Also, the dial has feet in different places, so you'll have to clip the dial feet and/or get a new dial. The ETA 28xx movements have the date window in a different place than the Rolex 31xx, so you'll need a date wheel overlay for the ETA movement--the one from your DG almost certainly won't work. Finally, you'll need a new stem. In short, basically all of the guts. Mind if I ask why you want to do this swap? Is it because you want a high-beat movement? If that's the case what I'd recommend instead is switching the 2813 out with a 4813, the same movement except it runs at 28k.

What do you mean "seems to"? Is it keeping time or not? Do you not use the GMT function?