freddy333

If you can afford a 31, you can afford to hire an extra large arm to wear it.

100% gen.

Avitt's is a model 6265 & mine are model 6239, 6263 & 6241, respectively. All are DW frankens (there are scores of threads dedicated to DW Daytonas that you can find by way of the Search tool) &, with the exception of my 6263 (which was purchased whole, but modded with gen parts), were constructed by their owners with the same base chronograph movements & many of the gen parts used in the original gen watches.

For those of you who were not aware, this is the subject of a feature article in the current (May 08) issue of International Watch (IW) magazine.

The 47mm Lange 31 is so named for its huge 31-day power reserve To attain such large power reserves requires the movement be fitted with an unusually large barrel. The barrel alone takes up 2/3 of the case & requires a separate winding key to charge the gargantuan mainspring (the crown is used for time/date-setting only)

For my money, it just does not get any better than this. I know that, technically, this is a franken, but it is still the highest form of pure horological art, in every sense of the word. And for any members who are not already aware, it was Avitt's watch (along with its black-dialed brother) that inspired/prompted these I normally have no idea what watch I will wear in the future, but I think I will have to make a point of wearing this 1 tomorrow

I have never used Everest, but Universal did a couple of dials for me, which took a couple of months & the work was beautiful. They did, however, return all of my calls. You might try phoning instead of emailing. If they have had your parts for more than 2 months or do not return your calls for 48 hours (2 business days), I would begin to worry.

I doubt the watch is salvageable. At least, not without having to replace virtually every component at a cost that would equal or exceed the actual value of the watch. Too bad........it looks like it was probably a nice watch.

Remove the movement from the case. If you still hear the noise, then the rotor or bearings are at fault. I would try cleaning & re-lubricating the rotor (& auto-wind module, if you are comfortable & have the tools to do so). If the noise is gone, then the rotor may be scraping against the inside of the caseback, which can happen if you tighten the caseback too much or if the rotor is installed incorrectly (the gear teeth do not intersect properly). It can also happen if the watch or rotor were machined poorly, leaving insufficient clearance between the rotor & the caseback (remember there is little or no QC with reps & the movements contained within them).

Some people like to use a razor blade, but I prefer a razor blade paint scraper like this (most hardware stores sell them) Carefully work the blade under the bezel & then continue around the circumference of the case. On some watches, it can take 20-30 minutes to work the bezel loose, but, eventually, it will start sliding up & you can then work it off the case. Every once in awhile, you may run into a bezel that has been epoxyed onto the case, which can be a problem. But this is pretty rare with quality reps.

Avitt -- Where have you been keeping that beautiful ticker? I have not seen it around (especially at that angle) for some time. More pics please.

I must have missed that post. That white dial is VERY sharp.

If the caseback is loose, it was probably installed with 1 of those balls. You really need to use a proper caseback tool if you want to be sure your case is sealed.

As I understand it, Lauren dissolved his Pam collection a few years ago.

The steel may (or may not) be the same, but there is usually a noticeable difference in the fit & finish, which is what accounts for the price differential. I can vouch for the Milano bracelets being nearly Rolex quality. You can often swap the unbranded clasp for a Rolex branded rep or gen.

Is this new? Hanging with my beater now Dining with a lady friend tonight ('She's not my special lady, she's my f-u-c-king lady friend. I'm just helping her conceive, man!') & I will probably wear this TGIF

If you want to swim with a watch -- rep or gen -- you should have it pressure tested (at least once/year) by a professional watchmaker.

How long do you think a gen Rolex would last sitting in a shop window with nothing to protect it but a plate of glass and a mannequin? I would guess less than a day......if that long. Ralph Lauren is a very avid watch collector (especially vintage Rolexes), which is why they often include Rolex watches when promoting the Lauren lifestyle & brand.

Apparently, a standard repgeek account is insufficient to access that page. Thanks anyway.

Not a Poljot in sight To each his own. You are surprised that a gen Rolex owner might 'blow a fuse' when you inform him that you are manufacturing fake Rolex watches?

Alot of these noisy rotors can be tamed by simply cleaning the rotor & its bearings in an ultrasonic (you have 1 of those I hope) & then lubricating with 9010 as per ETA's recommendation.

Remove the bezel & spray some automotive engine (high temp) paint on it making sure it seeps down into the depths of the engraved numbers. While still wet, take a soft lint-free cloth dampened (not soaking) with paint thinner and gently wipe the surface (do not press down into the grooves of the engraving) until the surface is clear of paint. You may need to wipe a few times with fresh clothes to get it completely clean. Let the bezel dry & reinstall. If you have ever installed a groated tile floor, the process is very similar.

Simon -- To each his own, but can you post a direct link to the seller's site for the watch on the right? Thanks.

I agree with Alligoat -- For only about twice the cost of a good DJ rep, you can construct a franken with a gen dial, case, crystal & crown/tube that will put any rep to shame. Although prices are heading higher, you can still find some gen cases with gen dials being sold in the $250 range. And the difference in look, fit & feel of a franken is well worth the additional cost for a watch that also gives you the option to 'upgrade' to a gen movement to complete the transition (if you choose to do so) at some time in the future.