panerai153

Very nice photo review. I'm a long time member here, but I pretty much stick to Rolex watches, however this AP FC diver really is interesting and I am going to get one, but I want to get the most reliable, and "Anatomically correct" model. I've looked at both the H-factory from trusty, and the V3 from Puretime, which I would assume from your description is from the ZF factory. Considering that the two are priced about 130.00 USD difference, with the V3 being the most expensive. After looking at both, is it worth the difference in price? Another concern that I have is after looking at this watch and doing a fair amount of reading on here and repgeek, it seems like a fair number of these are arriving DOA. Any reason for this that you know of? I'm wondering if trying to stuff an A2824 into the case is compromising the movement?

I recognize the bezel on that Doxa!!!

As Pete stated, it would be helpful to know what watch you ordered and from what dealer.

Am I assuming correctly that the Joshua version is the H factory model, the same as trustytime sells? I don't buy much from dealers, and I'm often confused by the various sites that seem to sell the same watch. I would still like to hear from someone like watchman who has both as to which he prefers. Considering that their is about 130 bucks difference in price between the two. I'm really interested in getting one, but I would like to get a little more info from the AP experts.

A genuine insert would make a world of difference. Here is mine with gen bezel and insert. I have a gen dial and have been looking for a CHS movement, thus far with no success . Also has a gen crystal

I have never considered an AP in the past, no practically nothing about them, but this Carbon fibre diver is really, really nice. I may need to sell some that aren't getting out the watch box and get one of these. What are the differences between these two being discussed here, that would warrant the big difference in price?

I still keep up with him on Facebook. Neither he nor I post much there, but I see his posts on occasion. I believe that he is doing well, does have some business interests that probably are pretty time consuming. Like a lot of folks,myself included, get involved with other things in life and sometimes hobbies and outside interests get shoved to the back of the line. Another thing, people move on to other hobbies, look at the number of guys that were super active here a few years back, and now they are either gone entirely, or only visit the forum on rare occasions. Several different organizations have done extensive studies on recreational pursuits. The general consensus from some studies done several years ago showed that the activity cycle of most hobbies was around 7 years. It showed that while you had a core group that found a hobby or activity and stayed with it for many years, the majority of folks got involved and participated for and average of 7 years. After a time, they lost interest and moved on to something else. I believe that this watch hobby is probably about the same. People come in, get active buy and sell a few or maybe a lot of watches and at some point, they realize that they have enough, their situation changes, marriage, kids, job demands,etc. and they are gone.

Why in the world would anyone bid on a watch at 7000.00 USD, from a seller with zero feedback, and no real papers on the watch. A box and hangtag are NOT a sign of authenticity, and while real papers cards, etc. can be forged, it's not that simple. Not very familiar with AP's stance on reps being sold as genuine, but I'm sure they are somewhat proactive about this.

I agree with you. Sales proceeds stay in my PayPal account until the buyer lets me know that everything is OK. I have been buying and selling genuine watches for around 40 years, way back before the internet, when you sold by word of mouth or ads in newspapers!! I have encountered some buyers that were so crazy picky, that I'm not sure a brand new, never been out the box watch would satisfy them!! I sold a really nice MKII to a guy in Australia a few years ago. Watch had hardly been used, had a few swirlies, and a couple of scuffs on the back. Probably could be polished to like new in about 10 minutes with a cape cod (Which I didn't have at the time) I sent him 8 or 10 really detailed high def photos from every angle. He bought the watch, and a few weeks later he emailed me that everything was fine, and as described, but the little swirlies was driving him crazy and he was going to sell the watch on. I asked him if he actually wore his watches or were they all museum pieces. I don't think he particularly appreciated my remarks, but my point was " if you wear watches, they are going to get scratched up, that's just life. No matter how careful you are there is going to be normal wear and tear"

I've seen their ads before, probably legit, but their database is, I believe, limited to watches that are registered with them. Because the watches have to be registered, I doubt that it is very extensive. Like Pete said, contact customer service, and give them the serial# they may be able to help. Also check the sellers local police dept and ask them if they happen to keep a list of stolen watches. Problem is with the ease of moving all sorts of goods around the country and the world, a smart thief would get the watch to someone else across country or in another part of the world where the watch would appear to be clean, so no guarantee, unless the guy is a dealer or person with a good reputation for selling high end watches. Always buy the seller! If the deal seems to good to be true, it probably Is.

16613 You just can't beat genuine dials on these!!

I'm still curious, who initiated the chargeback seven months later, and why? This is really bizarre!!

Depends on what you like. The AP is going to be around 200 USD more expensive than the Tudor, so that is one consideration. Tudors fly completely under the radar. Here in the USA, they haven't been sold at retail outlets for years( that has just changed this year) so they are relatively unknown to everyone except a WIS. My final consideration would be can you pull the Ap off? This is a 23K watch, the Tudor is probably 3-4 K watch. So, if someone who was really familiar with the AP watches saw the AP on your wrist, would he think, well, that guy is a 40 year old attorney, or stock broker, it's probably real, because he can afford it, but if you are not in the economic strata that could afford a watch costing over 20k, then folks will be convinced that it s a replica. With the Tudor, they probably won't recognize the watch, and if they do,they would know that it's a lot more affordable than the AP.

Your have to use the A7750 or the Swiss Val 7753( subdials 3,6,9. Problem is the dial you have won't fit the subdial holes with the 7750/53 movements. I would ask around a bit more and see if anyone has been successful installing a A7750 movement in the cartel case. If it works, you will need to source a new dial and hands so in the end, all you would be using from your old watch would be the case and bracelet. Dial, hands, and movement would be new.

Very nice !! First one I've seen with the black dial. Silver sister says hello!!

Why do you guys want rep boxes? Not many members here fool with boxes, and if they have a really great super franken, they want a genuine box as well? Sometimes I'm a little suspicious of folks who want to assemble boxes, papers, etc., as their intentions are often not the most noble.

Contact Matt (mymanmatt) he's a a member here and a very good guy. He is also a wonder with Rolex watches, both genuine and rep!!

16613

Ebay is full of them!!

Nice 5513. If you are having it serviced, I would try to get them to change the crown to the proper one, if possible. AFA price, I saw one on the Vintage Rolex Market, 84' model in very nice condition asking 4450.00 USD and it sold pretty fast, so probably sold for the asking price or close to it.

I couldn't get anywhere in that site either. Tried to log in, couldn't. tried to register as a new member, couldn't do that either. Would love to go back and read some of the old posts, but ain't happening with that site.

That's pretty neat!! What's your recipe?

I would definitely say you are correct about genuine watches. I would suspect that since these are rep forums, the vast majority of folks are looking for reps. Here they are looking for modded/franken watches, on the others mostly out the box reps, but occasionally a modded, but I have never seen franken watches of the caliber here on the other forums. AFA genuine, I wouldn't waste my time posting a gen here, just not the right buyer market. I tend to use WatchUseek primarily, sometimes TZ. TZ has a lot more "Shoppers" but more "tire kickers" as well. If I were selling a watch that had a strong forum on WUS, that's where I would list it. Forums like Doxa, MKII. Ocean7, etc. that have official forums attract more people who are visiting the forums and then go to the sales forum looking for a watch. If I were selling something more unique, like a a Ulysse Nardin, Chronoswiss, IWC, etc. I would probably list them on TZ, as they have more traffic and sell more of the other brands. WUS lists tons of Seikos, so you wouldn't be wrong to list it there. Don't know about the Trazer, but why not, give it a shot, you never know.

Thanks Ken, That goes back a long way. One thing that you didn't mention that over the years, TRC was a very well run and well received board., lots of vey knowledgeable members and a generally nice place to be. There were a few renegades, but all in all the tone was to me, very much like here, not over moderated, but civil disobedience was frowned on!! Sad to say, over time, TRC sort of withered away, less and less folks visiting, less posts, hardly any watches and parts for sale. It was sad to all of us who had been around for a while, as it was sort of like watching a friend die a slow death. I think that all of us who were members were sad to see it go, but at the same time, it had run it's course, and RWG was a fresh start for a whole lot of us who came over on the first few days this forum opened up. I suppose the TRC death spiral might have started when blade disappeared, and the forum became pretty much unmoderated, seems like for a while there, it got pretty wild and wooly., and from that a lot of members stopped participating. My facts may be skewed, but that seems to be how I remember back them!

WOW!!! The prices are crazy. Conspicuous consumption which probably never left, is back with a vengeance. What is so incredible to me is the incredible popularity and stratospheric prices of Daytonas. Considering that in the late 60's and 70's Rolex could hardly give them away. I bought one in the late 70's and I believe I paid around 750.00 USD for a brand new one, too bad only hindsight is 20/20!!!