freddy333

I agree about the XK8 being a beauty, but, unfortunately, Jag has only just recently begun to improve their build quality. Still nowhere near what I would call a reliable set of wheels, but an order of magnitude better than they were in the 70s, when Leyland (Jag's parent company & the GM of Britain at the time) was plagued with strikes, in-fighting between sister brands & constant battles with ever-moving US emissions/fuel effiency/safety laws (which were what ultimately killed the XKE along with many other famous British marques). For whatever it is worth, although they tend not to spot the floor as much as Jags, Audi considers burning a quart of oil/week within specs for most of their cars.

panerai - I feel for you. In my youth, I trained as a Jaguar mechanic & the dealership I apprenticed at also sold Land Rover, so I know what you mean. That said, Jags, if rebuilt correctly & not used as daily drivers, can be reliable cars (mine was) & I have had 0 problems in the years I have owned the 'Benz.

If Ziggy was unable to do it you may have a problem. But it is always possible that Zig's socket is worn & slipping, so I would take it to a local watchmaker to give it another try. Another option would be to try some WD40 or similar type of penetrating lubricant overnight & try again with a proper bench case opener.

These are all great cars, but the coolest has got to be this 1972 Ferrari GTB-4 Daytona With runner-ups being 1st gen Jaguar E-Type & Mercedes SL55 W230

Are you using the wrench style Bergeon caseback remover or a bench type?

Post a pic of the caseback.

Unless you plan to wear the watch on a strap, I would not worry too much about the serial number since it will be hidden beneath the end links.

I did a test fitting to be sure the movement fit the case (it does) But a few things remain to be done - 1. I need to re-epoxy the chrono seconds hand 2. I need to modify a pair of bridles to lock the movement into the case (the movement lacks the Rolex locking screws) 3. As you can see, the minute totalizer pinion is slightly off-center, which is due either to the hand tube being bent or the dial hole being cut off-center

Update - I may need to re-epoxy the chrono seconds hand as it appears to be slipping a bit, but, otherwise, 1 step closer to completion of Goldie's transformation. Here are 2 quick pics of the mounted dial/handset

With the exception of the now-defunct Maybach line & some of Rolex's custom models, neither brand makes claims at being the ultimate or pinnacle in their respective market. But I think your example of the new Sky-Dweller makes my point. The Sky-Dweller, like the new S-Class, contains alot of advanced technology, which comes with a high price tag. &, although Rolex & Mercedes both produce more affordable models (Explorer & C-Class), both are generally purchased by the well-heeled & those that aspire to be well-heeled. Similarly, over the years, both companies have had their detractors - claiming they produce garish products targeted at an unsophisticated clientele, but they have also been criticized for just the opposite - being too conservative & staid. It is difficult to be all things to all people, especially, when you have so many competitors, all of whom are looking for an angle to grab market share from the leader.

It looks like a photo of a rep. I am not that familiar with modern Sub reps, so I cannot tell you which rep it is or who it comes from.

Looking good so far.

I am not familiar with the brand, but, in terms of numbers, it is likely rare. However, in terms of its value to collectors, it is probably not high (ie, it is worth what you paid for it).

Rolex & Mercedes hold similar positions within their respective markets & for the same reasons. Both have long histories (they began at roughly the same time), target high income earners, have long lists of notable patents & inventions, & maintain aspirational status because of their relatively high price & level of quality. While I ultimately disagree with Rolex US's decision to restrict the retail sale of parts, I can understand their reasoning.

As they say in the 'Benz world, a cheap used Mercedes is the most expensive car you will ever own. Like Mercedes, quality & prestige are expensive & that is part of Rolex's appeal. If Rolexes were cheap to maintain, everyone would have 1, so no one would aspire to own 1.

Back in the day, DW was a godsend to vintage Daytona lovers. He supplied reasonably accurate cases @ a reasonable price that fit (though, sometimes, requiring a bit of prodding) gen parts. Before DW, there was no real way to construct a credible 62xx Daytona without spending alot of money. But this business is tough & he went through alot of rough times along the way. Hopefully, he will reappear sometime.

Gentlemen, please keep it civil, regardless of who you think started it. DO NOT PM me about this! As far as DW goes, I do not know why he went AWOL. Very strange since, up until he vanished, I considered him a friend & a very honest & honourable fellow.

1. 1575 datewheel 2. 1575 in old MBW mid-case (may require some grinding of case interior, where/how much depends on your particular case) 3. As far as I know, serial numbers are fixed on MBWs. 4. Easy, if you have access to an engraver.

All of the watch parts houses sell tools. For starters, try ofrei or cousinsuk.

Very nice choice. Well done.

I think you went a bit too shallow on the DRSD thin case's rehaut, but, otherwise, well done & good luck on the last franken build.

Sorry, I misunderstood the reference. In the case of Maron, he, like most of the big name auction houses, is not infallible. As to the alignment issue cited above, I have a handful of others in my pic archives with slightly misaligned text (the dial looks gen to me)