Ivorykeys

I think the best thing to do would be to make a template with some paper/cardboard to cover whatever areas you do not want 'matte-finished'. This gives me an idea for an IWC St. Exupery REP that I have that. One of the main visible tells is that the subdials are very glossy vs. the GEN, where they are matte. May get an extra REP dial and try it....interesting.

Thanks man. I'll start shopping now.

OK, fair enough. By null at 2011-02-23

Pete, I'm looking for that strap and I can't find it anywhere. Do you remember who your sourced it from?? Thanks!

Just gorgeous. This is a piece to show off.

Those bezels on ebay are not too bad. They are available by 1-3 dealers. I've purchased from this dealer before with pretty good success for my UPO. http://cgi.ebay.com/Bezel-Insert-For-Omega-Seamaster-Planet-Ocean-42-Black_W0QQitemZ200574616850QQcategoryZ10363QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp5197.m7QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DLVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D1%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D7344062677190436519 In hind sight, I would get one from one of the trusted dealers. Having been down this route before, I have found that the REP dealer that I bought my watch from actually had the best bezel insert (except for the GEN, of course). Keep in mind that that the insert pearl is actually kind of recessed with a metal ring around it. Some on ebay are a 'zit'. Just my 2 cents.

I like these straps. They are really understated on a classic (and classy) piece like the UPO (or PO), which is kind of what I like about it. Very cool and casual.

Ken, Thanks for the heads up....Pull the link if you feel its prudent. Arnie

LHOOQ, agreed that the last episode of the 1st season was incredible. Love those bloody scenes....at first you're taken by so much gore...but after awile you almost become desensitized and it becomes funny. Gotta love it!

Professional pianist/keyboardist. Primarily covers, and was in a Billy Joel cover band.

I believe the following are the parts that you need and can source from Ofrei. Omega Stainless Steel Crown 42184 ST 8100/3905W $38.00 Omega Crown Case Tube 090 ST 1232 OME-090ST1232 $6.60 If someone who has already done this would chime in, it would be appreciated. Please check just to make sure that the part #'s are the correct ones. It's relatively easy if you type the part SKU # (above) into the search function on the Ofrei site. Best of luck with your project...let us know how you make out. I am about to do a similar project and need to source them as well.

I'll take your word for it regarding the date wheel. I do have a swiss ETA datewheel, so that should do the trick. I appreciate the offer though! In the interim, I am in the midst of installing a bezel insert replacement that the dealer sent to me. I'll post a photo when it's done...should be by end of week. I was actually going to post a comparison of the aftermarket bezel inserts that I rounded up for compulsive idiots like me. Interestingly, they are all radically different IMO. I was going to order my parts for the UPO, and I was going to order the hands, but another poster provided a different part number, so I am holding off until I confirm. Here are the hands that I was going to order from Ofrei: Genuine Omega Cal 2500 Second Hand Silver Arrow Luminous With Red Tip 15.0 mm 066WZ4313 HAN-4222 $17.60 $17.60* Genuine Omega Cal 2500 Hour & Minute Hands Silver Arrow With Luminous 14.85 mm long 065WZ4312 HAN-4221 $38.00 $38.00* Are these the hands that you ordered, or do I have the wrong part numbers? Thanks again.

Not really an audiophile, but I enjoy nice clean sound. My 2 channel system consists of a Belles 150A amp & an AR SP16 Preamp driving some Meadowlark Shearwater Hotrods that I got several years ago....not really loud but nice and clean with nice imaging in my listening room. I got into SACD recordings when they first hit the scene several years ago and picked up a Sony SACD/DVD S9000ES that was my main unit for quite some time...I still love it. I moved for work, and during my move, I found all kinds of vinyl boxed up that I had during the 70's & 80's, so I later got into more analog and vinyl recordings (I'm a pianist), so I picked up a Rega Planar 3 and fell in love with 'live' recordings and the beauty of analog. Unfortunately with work, I find myself listening to more & more through my 5 channel Rotel system through the TV, but this thread makes me want to stop and smell the coffee through stereo again. Maybe I'll put down my mouse.....

Watcher, Again, this is an amazing looking watch, especially with the properly centered pearl/bezel insert...one of the biggest tells IMO. Question: Where was the gen date wheel sourced, and do you have the part number? That was the only thing that I have not included in my project. Thanks in advance.

Hi, I was also looking at doing the 'full mod' but rethinking it due to the cost....it does add up, but such a sweet result. Just wanted to clarify a couple of your Ofrei part numbers. Although I have not confirmed the correct part #'s yet, for the 45.5mm I had the following for the hands: Genuine Omega Cal 2500 Second Hand Silver Arrow Luminous With Red Tip 15.0 mm 066WZ4313 HAN-4222 $17.60 Genuine Omega Cal 2500 Hour & Minute Hands Silver Arrow With Luminous 14.85 mm long 065WZ4312 HAN-4221 $38.00 Also, if you wanted to really go over the top, I think I saw in either this forum or another that the caseback fits on the new UPO. If so, you can do this: Omega Case Back For Case 168.1650 OME-112ST1703 $118.00

Hey Watcher, I really would like to have the entire bezel and insert installed since it's $$ and authentic, rather than just the insert, but I will leave that up to whomever I choose to do the work. Again, I am like you in that I really don't care if the bezel is functional....just visually as close to gen as possible. I am assuming you did the work yourself and not sourced it out to one of our fine modders...correct? If not, please advise who did yours. I've been in touch with a couple of guys here that do incredible work. Not sure what your bezel insert looked like prior to the mods, but I attached a few photos so you can see that I'm going to do this mod sooner than later. I'm new here and to this wonderful hobby, so I've been lurking and learning. But once I get the mod completed, I'm going to post pix of before and after. I hope it looks half as good as yours.

Watcher, this is dead on beautiful, big congrats. I am in the midst of sourcing/ordering the parts from Ofrei myself to do the same thing (only with a black bezel insert)....just waiting for an aftermarket bezel just to see if it cuts the mustard. My gut is that it does not and I'll need to go with a gen. I'm switching out the white numbers with the orange ones, however. My question is this. Regarding the bezel/bezel insert issue, I know that the bezel insert is typically MUCH different from the gen, but does the gen bezel (not the insert, but the bezel) itself differ that much from the rep bezel...enough to necessitate changing the whole bezel assembly? Since I'm getting the entire gen bezel and insert assembly anyway, is it not easier to install the insert (with all of the sanding, etc...), or is it just easier to install the entire assembly, even though the bezel will probably be glued permanently to the case? I'm in agreement that the visual integrity is much more important than a functional bezel. Thanks in advance, and really great work!