NaviChief

Looks great, I wouldnt have even considered that!

Here was the best I could find when my bro wanted one. Found on iOffer a couple years ago. Actually I like it alot on its own merit, but not close to the gen. Citizen movement. 1024x768 1024x768 1024x768 1024x768 1024x768

Here is my old 21k Navi as described above (except with a ETA transplant ) Two other flaws with this one though are the subdials being too shiny and inverted, and Messerschmidt spelled wrong on the caseback (good luck spotting it). Love this watch.....double AR in the next run!

Perfect, thanks centurion!

Continuing my revival of the used SMP chrono I picked up includes a reworking of the dulled endlinks. I had seen a tutorial awhile ago on a gen forum about reworking the Bond bracelet. I wish I knew where I had seen it so I could link to it, but thanks to that original poster for the idea. That post went alot further than what I did here. First off, this is what I started with, notice all the links have blended together.... Now, certain links need to be highly polished while the rest remain brushed. The answer to this is to mark off the rest with tape, so you can use the dremel to polish the heck out of exactly what you want. I used duct tape after finding out that masking tape moved and rubbed away too quickly. Once you have anything in place, use the polish of your choice. The red polishing compound in a dremel kit probably works best, but is very messy. Also, I used a dremel with a polishing head. USE A DREMEL AT YOUR OWN RISK, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES WITHIN 10 FEET OF A BELOVED WATCH . I angled the head so just the edge was hitting the link. Even being extremely careful, flecks of the tape wore away. Check fairly often to make sure you aren't getting too far into a brushed area. Check out how much black the dremel pulled off, after this bracelet had already been polished by hand at least 3 times before. Here is the final results. Much better in person then I can perhaps show in pictures. All in all it takes an hour or so, mostly because of cutting the small strips of tape and placing them. I found using tweezers to place and smooth the tape worked much better than fingers. The same idea can be used down the whole bracelet with great results, but that is a job for another day.

I have posted these pics around before, but I've been going back and "remastering" my pictures thanks to Jiro's tutorials. Here are some of the first..... 1024x768>>>http://static.zooomr.com/images/3309443_884a49561d_b.jpg 1024x768>>>http://static.zooomr.com/images/3309451_96fde11075_b.jpg

I ordered a planet ocean bezel from Paul. I sent multiple pictures with arrows and explanations right on the pictures to make sure that I got the swiss version with the correct lines on either side of the 12 oclock triangle. He even confirmed it in words....yes it is the swiss version with the correct lines on it. What do I get weeks later? The asian version with completely wrong orange color, no lines, and terrible pearl. His response that the swiss version isn't made anymore, so thats all he had to send me. Nice, that was some wasted money.....

Thanks everyone! @SR....Thankfully I only had to break down the calender and bottom plates of the movement to get to the keyless works. The other side....forgetaboutit, I would leave that to The Zigmeister for now! The hour chrono register did give me some problems though, I put everything together and during a timing check I noticed the hour subdial was running all the time! BAH! A reread of The Zigmeister's tutorial showed that I had left the part holding friction against the subdial gear without tension from a TINY spring. I had to take apart and rebuild (including re-oiling) everything twice! Good practice I guess....

This project was over a year in the making. Mostly because I didn't have the time, but also because I didn't have the skills to complete the work at first! The story: Sometime last year I bought a package of 2 busted watches from a member who had bought them from the original owner. They were a early SMP Chrono and an asian SMP GMT. Both were in parts. I received the SMP Chrono without the bezel insert glued down, fitted with the bezel ring from the asian GMT (previous owner did a good job with that), and with a busted asian 7750 (pallet jewel gone so the watch was unwinding without being timed). The problems came from the poorly made crown and stem that had messed up the keyless works and eventually probably caused the internal damage to the movement. Also, the first owner had bent the original bezel ring trying to remove it to properly seat the insert, hence the bezel transplant. After being quoted $750 by a local watchmaker to replace the balance and pallet fork and service the watch (OK he thought it was genuine Omega and I was too shocked to correct him), I picked up a 17 jewel valjoux 7750 of eBay for a song. Now, everyone should know by now that the hand sizes are different between the asian and swiss 7750. After unsuccessfully trying to modify (ie destroying) the center seconds hand, I bought a genuine hand from Ofrei. When trying to test fit everything together, I foolishly used the old stem and crown and popped the keyless works on my swiss 7750. At that point I took several months off to study watchmaking and buy some top notch tools. I recently went back and fixed the keyless works (hacking lever was out of place and jammed) and serviced everything on that side of the movement. It would have taken so much longer if it wasn't for The Zigmeister's beautiful and detailed pictorials of the 7750. Finally, I shortened the stem so it can be left unscrewed and still be close to the case. This relieved the pressure that was destroying the keyless works on both movements. I didn't expect it, but I can screw down the crown much easier if I wanted to, but I leave it out most of the time. That's my new toy! It was running 4 minutes fast a day when I first got it all together. I've regulated it down to 30 seconds slow, and will try a couple more times to narrow that down. I hope you enjoyed the pictures and story!

You've got the right place my friend, but unfortunately this strap was the only one he had like it. He just buys up the excess straps that are offered to him so his stock constantly changes. You might also want to look at Don Ginsler (google it), as his custom shark straps are under $30.

Thanks, I got it off eBay from Rustwatch. The strap doesn't have a manufacturer's name on it so it was $24 instead of $70-80 for the Hirsch's or HR's even though one of them probably made it!

I've been wearing my PO on this shark chrono strap. What do you all think? I was surprised how soft and pliable it was right from the start. Originally I planned to color the stitching orange, but for now I think I am going to leave it white. I might try switching it to my sub just for fun.

Thanks for the compliment Pug! Interesting answers to the question. I agree that the PO can never catch up to the sub. I kinda doubt the sub will ever be widely labeled as "for old folks" though....now the datejust, thats a different story. Even if sales do dip on the sub for awhile, I'm sure another generation of wealth will come along and dig it up for it's classic coolness. The idea for the question came from a comment awhile back on how the PO is creeping into the young professional offices where everyone used to have to have a Rolex to be "in" with the crowd.

As part of my evolving watch photography love, I recently figured out some better editing program skills. So I came up with these....and trust me, there will be more coming! They are in 1680x1050 resolution, if you can't figure out how to make it look good on your monitor, let me know and I will try to adjust the size for you. As an added discussion in line with the theme of the shoot..... In your opinion, will the genuine PO have the same lasting impact and popularity as the Submariner has enjoyed?

Try this, hxxps://secure.eta.ch/CSP/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabindex=3&tabid=28 then search for 7750. The direct link wouldn't work.

It can be tricky to get to the keyless works because you have to remove a plate and get through the chrono motion works, including making sure it gets back together in perfect alignment. The only breakdown I have seen is the technical documents on the 7750 from ETA themselves. Which actually shows very clearly how everything is put together. It can be downloaded from the ETA website.

Thanks everyone! Yeah, I like to keep my watches polished. It is good for bonding with them! I use Never-Dull. It is a giant wad of cotton impregnated with petroleum based cleaner. One can of it will last years because you only rip off small pieces for each time. I don't use it on casebacks and I try to wash anything that touches my skin with soap and water after using it to be safe. Also if you polish too hard you WILL remove the brushed finish. Otherwise, scratches disappear like magic! I love the band too The Zigmeister, even though the gap near the endlinks can bug me at times. It makes for beautiful pictures, especially in the top three pics above. The problem is it is so heavy that it was compressing my median nerve and making my fingers go numb! I had to switch to a strap for now......

Thanks for all the comments! Here's a trippy addition.

With all the sad threads lately....its time to put up some pics I've had sitting on my hard drive. Yes, I save them for rainy days (so to speak). Keep an eye out for a set I have coming with this PO on a new black shark chrono strap. Enjoy! AR shot!

Thanks guys, I got the strap from Howard at hxxp://www.westcoastime.com/ It was supposed to be the same strap as timefactors but quicker shipping for US based people. However, I later found out what arrived is not the same as advertised on timefactors because the stock of 20mm bonds constantly fluctuates. Howard swore up and down that it is the best made strap available though.

I bought a new bond NATO for the summer, influenced in part by Pug's pictures of his. I didn't like it at first, but after working it in alittle, I love it. I also removed the loose insert, filed it down and reglued it with waterproof silicon caulk. I am really happy with the look of the crystal height and beveled edge. Next I think I will work on the crown guards.

It seems to be an enduring myth that the Breitling Serie Speciale replica has incorrect silver colored hands on the subdial. The genuine did, in fact, come with both silver and black subdial hands. The replica hands are correct to the genuine. Below are links to two ebay auctions for genuine Serie Speciale's, one with black hands and one with silver. Silver hands: http://cgi.ebay.com/Breitling-Navitimer-Fi...tem140096444089 Black hands: http://cgi.ebay.com/Breitling-Navitimer-Mi...tem160095831369 In addition, Andreww has an original Breitling catalog that shows the Serie Speciale with silver hands. That is pretty clear confirmation! Can anyone point out the original post where it says the hands are incorrect on the rep? Perhaps it could be changed to reflect this information. This would keep people from thinking that their watch is incorrect and let them choose what color subdial hands they prefer. Both are correct! Thanks for reading, enjoy those Breitlings!

sssurfer is so right....stay away from that watchmaker. The hands need to be reset.