bklm1234

Trusty seems to have the best and most accurate looking Explorer 2 among our dealers. One is Hour Hand Adj for $228, the other is GMT Hand Adj for $208. I know 2836-2 is a bad hack for GMT function thanks to The Zigmeister. But I want this watch so much that I can live with however long the movement will last (or will not last). So the question is what's the diff between those 2 models? Which is a better one to buy in terms of durability (assuming they have the same look and both can provide dual time zone function)?

Agree. Technical isn't everything. How are you supposed to see the action of the movement. For a skeleton, I think a simple hand-wound is best. It's so satisfying to see the pallets and escape wheel move. Look at Tourbillon1801's 6497 skeleton. It's so clean, so elegant, and so easy to see most of the parts. I'm saving money to buy from Tourbillon1801. http://www.rwg.cc/members/index.php?showtopic=11960

Don't worry what you wear. I wore my explore 2, IWC GST chrono all the time. Like you said, enjoy your watch during your vacation. It's more important that you use your common sense. That's true about everywhere you go. Sticking your arm out with a Rolex on from a car isn't exactly a smart thing to do in any country, esp. in China. Muggers and pickpockets pick easy targets. The latter takes advantage of messy situation where you are distracted from your belongings. Muggers don't like smart, big, fast targets. But you're drunk and alone. You are like wearing a 'Mug Me' sign. Also, be really careful when you're offered to go to a girl's place whom you barely met. Same goes for calling on hookers. Don't go out alone for this kind of business if possible.

http://www.tztoolshop.com/page80.html#796 $34.95. Is it good? Thanks.

Yours don't count, ubi. It's a reference watch.

trusty seems to have another sub on his website, $188, it looks like it's from same batch as PT's and eddie's. Correct window, inadequate mag. So we don't have one that has the correct mag. The conclusion is: wait or get one from wo-mart (perfect sub) or PT or eddie or trusty (the one from his website), do a cyclop or cyrstal replacement - another $100. Nah - not for me.

eddielee's, $250, I think it's not quite 2.5x, correct me if I'm wrong. Date window position seems correct josh's, $188, looks like the same thing as trusty's, same problem, window placement too far right, mag too much, window too big wo-mart's, $129, also like trusty's (same batch from the factory?), same problems wo-mart's so-called perfect sub, $139, mag still seems inadequate, could be correct, can't tell, window position correct, looks like same batch as eddie's. precious time's ultimate sub, $262, good window position, mag seems a little weak, have a feeling it's from the same batch as eddielee's

Everybody knows reps need mods to look more like gens. I think it's ok to have imperfections on bezel inserts and cgs because they are easier and cheaper to fix. You can't expect those to be perfect anyway. But on top of them, if you also have date window placement and mag problems, you are looking to replace the crystal or the cyclop, get a new dial, move the date wheel on the movement. That's a lot more money. So I think I will focus on a rep that doesn't date window and mag problem as my base for mods. The only mods needed will be bezel insert and cg reshaping. The cost of mods (parts and labor) should be around $200-300. That's acceptable. Otherwise, the other problems could add another $300 and up (parts and labor). With that said, let's take a look at our dealers' offering and see who has what I want: First, gen's pic (I don't remember the source of the pic. Could be a modded rep. Doesn't matter. The mag and date window are about right). That gives how much 2.5x mag looks like and the placement of the date window. Notice you can still see the minute marker at 3 o'clock. You will see in a moment some reps have the date window to far right that you can't see the 3 o'clock minute marker (I have one of those) : Trusty's, $398, mag too much (more like 3x), date window too far to the right and too big

I'm always ask r*lex mag questions, ain't I?

Trusty says Datejust (or Day Date, etc.) only has 2x mag instead of 2.5x on the sports watch. Is that true?

The date window is definitely too far right. The second picture shows that very clearly. You need to move it 1+mm to the left. I have a very similar dial and movement (position wise) on my rep. Even your mag and font look correct, I don't think you can keep the crystal and the date wheel (just like mine). I'm looking to replace the date wheel, dial, and crystal to fix this problem besides bezel, crown guard, .... I love my movement though (its a ETA) 'cause it's very consistent. BTW, I got my rep in ShenZhen, China for US$100. If you bargain, you can get one for $85. It looks very much like yours except the CGs are longer. The dealers on the Internet charge too much.

Thanks for the link. I found another thread that has pics of Paul's sub, same as Munk's, I think. http://www.rwg.cc/members/index.php?showto...462&hl=paul You can see the pearl on the bezel insert not quite correct. I don't know how to describe it, it's recessed like the gen's, but the pearl is smaller, the ring around it seems to thick. Look at ubi's gen bezel: http://www.rwg.cc/members/index.php?showtopic=10204&hl=. The date font is definitely wrong. Sorry, Munk. Also, the second hand is too long. It's touching the minute markers. The best basis for mod may be Eddie Lee's sub if the mag is correct, http://www.rwg.cc/members/index.php?showtopic=8192. None of the pics are actually clear enough. But the bezel pearl seems decent. If the mag is correct, all you have to do is reshape the cg. It's not gonna be a ubi franken-sub but good enough for many of us. Can somebody post some more Eddie Lee's sub?

Munk, Can you post Paul's link? I want to investigate his watches. Your sub looks very good. I know every rep has flaws. I want to limit these to CG which is easy to reshape. Next is bezel insert - getting a gen insert and the work needed is quite expensive. I think mag and date font problem would be nasty. If you don't mind, please take a few more pics of the date font. Thanks.

Ubi, Eddie sells 2 versions of sub: TW Classic Sub http://www.rwg.cc/members/index.php?showtopic=11475. But it's all sold out. and his New Sub http://www.rwg.cc/members/index.php?showtopic=8192. I bet yours is the TW Classic. Do you know his New Sub has the correct mag?

I can't tell from the pics. Does it have the correct magnification?

Tried the Repair forum, no reponse. This forum is amazing. I'm blown away esp. by the mods people are doing. I have 2 sub reps, 1 is probably not worth modding. The movement has the date wheel and date window too far right. Even though it's an excellent, consistent, supposedly ETA movement, I think it takes too much work. I have another that I think is a better candidate for modding. I want to know the rough costs for - bezel insert - crown and tube - hands - crown guard reshaping and possibly relume the dial what else? and then who will take my order (I'm dexterity challenged - can't trust myself to hang a picture properly on a wall) - palpatine (not in N. America) - The Zigmeister (Canada, good) - ubiquitous? - finepics? Thanks for your help

I have 4 automatics on a winder ready to wear (the winder takes 6. I will get another as my automatic collection grows). 3 quartz. 1 hand-wound coming from davidsen - a non-branded Panny Luminor Base knockoff. I'm getting a hand-wound skeleton from Tourbillon next month. Too many watches, too little time (too little money).

This forum is amazing. I'm blown away esp. by the mods people are doing. I have 2 sub reps, 1 is probably not worth modding. The movement has the date wheel and date window too far right. Even though it's an excellent, consistent, supposedly ETA movement, I think it takes too much work. I have another that I think is a better candidate for modding. I want to know the rough costs for - bezel insert - crown and tube - hands - crown guard reshaping and possibly relume the dial what else? and then who will take my order (I'm dexterity challenged - can't trust myself to hang a picture properly on a wall) - palpatine? - The Zigmeister? - ubiquitous? Thanks for your help

Take a look at the picture from Panerai official site. PAM112 seems to have flat crown guards. I can't say for sure from the pic if it's thinner above the lever. But I have seen a pic of another Panny (could be GMT or Automatic) that it's thinner above the lever. There could just be many styles of crown guards. Can't generalize. I wouldn't be concerned because just the Luminor Base has gone through so many generations.

you bet, read this http://forums.watchuseek.com/showthread.php?p=132026

you bet, read this http://forums.watchuseek.com/showthread.php?p=132026

My brother gave me this ETA sub. The ETA should be an Asian (all gold color). I'm sure many ETA reps use Asian ETAs instead of Swiss ETAs. It runs very consistently. I don't really think Asia ETA is inferior. Cost difference is big though. I saw it somewhere Asian ETAs cost only $15/ea wholesale. All the better for consumers. I'm thinking of extracting this one for a custom watch though. Anyway, I want to share with you the flaws of this sub.

or where I can buy the right crown guard replacement? Thanks.