gioarmani

I've got a shot of the ol' "Vitamin D" for second from the left...

I wouldn't worry about it. I'm satisfied with the rep as is.

Any input from The Zigmeister on this?

Definitely genuine. IWC changes the looks & finishes of their movements as often as the reps do.

Here are some pics of my gen SMP for reference:

Check out www.engrish.com

Easiest way to reomve the pearl from the insert without destroying it is to simply push it out from the back. I've gotten the larger pearl to fit a number of differing manufacturers inserts (already installed on the watch) by simply putting the small, sharp end of a knife or box-cutter's razor, point down into the insert's hole & twisting the blade in circular motions to widen the hole. Works every time.

lol!

Word.

Gotta love it!

lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZA1NoOOoaNw

Love this piece! Trim the CGs and your 90% there! Nice.

Good calls, gentlemen.

My mistake on the 5512/5513 difference--thanks for the catch! I think I like the 5513 dial better though, so I'll try to change the title of the thread. As I'm not that into the vintages (albeit, "yet"), I'm reluctant to shell out too much at first to mod a piece I might not keep more than a few weeks. But the one from Andrew I think I like; wouldn;t mind taking a shot at it. Are there any serious/glaring flaws on the model I pictured at top?

Normally, I try to share what little I know with others who are trying to acquire the same, but now I need to ask some questions of the experts. I have zero experience with modding vintage pieces, but this is the only one that strikes my fancy: Having no experience with this sort, where would one buy an MBW version of the 5512, or is MBW even worth it? Is the one pictured good enough to work on? Also, what mods would make this a bit more believable than "straight-from-the-box" (besides the ubiquitous CGs & insert)? Does a T-17/T-19 crystal really make all that much of a difference & why? I'd also like to throw a folded-steel 9315 bracelet on it, but I'm unsure if an older 9315 was standard on an early 70's 5512. In regards to the older, folded style bracelets, were there any gens that came with clasps similar to that below, or were they all Oyster flip-locks? Please feel free to post any pics of your 5512s for reference, as well. Thanks again.

Good to know. Thanks.

As far as the date mags go, a lot of the Newbs are closer to gen, than the old wives tale of a date window that fils the cyclops eye: But a different crystal and/or cyclops eye doesn't make that much of a difference in magnification. It's primarily the depth of the rehaut that determines this (like objects appear bigger in a magnifying glass, the further you pull the glass away); the deeper the rehaut, the bigger the date mag--but again, the problem with some reps is because of their deeper rehaut, the date mag is too big. As far as the bracelet goes, the Newb bracelet is the best, but the clasp stampings leave something to be desired--just buy a $48 "perfect" bracelet from Josh, and swap the clasp & buckle out.

Possibly. Unless I'm mistaken, the all brushed back only applies to the older 16520 Zenith models (here's some gen pics of both): If you've got a newer, non-Zenith 116520 (like the one you have pictured), the back is both polished & brushed: Unless someone has the older Zenith dial with the charcoal sub-dials, the all brushed back looks incorrect.

3 questions, please: 1) Does the chrono-function work on the watchebay model, and is the seconds sub-dial smooth? 2) What is the overall case quality of the watchebay model? 3) And last, do the bracelets & lugs line up properly on swapped cases, or are they interchangeable? Thanks

Nice.

My SMP chrono was good to 6 ATM. Both my subs & SSD were good to at least 10 ATM. But I don't recommend water testing "out of the box". At the very least, the tube & crown, and back gaskets should be grease first.

Cool.

Don't watch TV, but do get something good every-so-often from Netflix. Love the Sopranos, but recently got a copy of a 90's series with Eddie Izzard & Minnie Driver called "The Riches". Decent, so far.