panerai153

16613 Today Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have found that some watch repair folks, unless they are elitist types that look down on reps, are more than happy to work on reps. A lot of these guys are eager to get "real watch repairs" as many of them are spending most of their time changing out watch batteries! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Unfortunately, this is a very old post (2010). I'm not sure the member is active here anymore, as he hasn't posted anything in years. But if he is still around, maybe he will check in and answer your questions.

Beautiful work! You took a plain old Zippo lighter and turned it into a work of art. That pneumatic graver is really something!! Amazing work with it. Is the last photos a hilt for a custom knife? Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk A

Glad to have you aboard, there are some good guys from Texas, alligoat is from the Houston area I believe, and mymanmatt is from Dallas. Jmb is from up in the panhandle, which is a fer piece from Houston!! All you other Texans feel free to chime in and add your name to the list too No dealers, but Matt(mymanmatt) is a wizard with building the best Rolex Datejusts and DayDates around, jmb is the go to guy for engraving case numbers, Rolex 1016's and high grade case/ bezel milling. Alligoat has forgotten more about Rolex builds than most of us know. All of them are good guys. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

There was a discussion on the general discussion forum about this watch. According to Mymanmatt, it is gold wrapped which is the same technique that Rolex used on some of their gold watches in the 69's and 70's. Much more durable than gold plating. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks Ray, Glad to have you aboard. Looking forward to some fun items as well . Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sirius, Your factories work is very good. I assume that what you are doing is laser engraving, is that correct? Even with laser engraving, you still have to lay out the pattern. Obviously engraving has come a long way over the years. The original technique and still used by many engravers is the hand method, using hand gravers. The next step up was the invention of the Gravemeister, the first of the pneumatic gravers. Unless you are using Laser combined with CNC, all the rest are hand engraving which is slow and requires a very high level of skill. All that aside, I really like your products. I would love to have one of those engraved Cigar cutters, as well as and engraved watch case/ bezel. Welcome to the forum, glad to have you aboard. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Big A, you have me green with envy!! beautiful watches.

Which one was the quartz?

I believe that will depend on how much you wear the watch. a "gold wrapped' is essentially a solid gold sheet that is wrapped around the stainless steel case. I have seen Rolex gold wrapped cases that are from the 70's that still look like new. If it is a daily wearer, it will eventually wear through and the stainless steel below will show through. like kernow said, the plating will probably out live the watch, and the gold wrapped certainly will. If It were me, the price and popularity of the watch would be the determining factor as to which I would get. If you google "gold plating" and "gold wrapped" you will get a lot better idea as to the wear And longevity of these processes. I went back and looked at the listing you put up. The Calatrava is a dress watch, which I would suspect is not going to get much hard wear. Unless you wear a suit every day and intend to wear it as a daily wearer, the gold plated version would be fine. If you wore the gold wrapped version every day under a long sleeve shirt and coat, I bet it would outlast your interest in the watch. As Matt said, probably 20 years. So my advice would be simply this. If the watch is going to be a dress watch worn occasionally, get the cheaper plated version. If it's going to be used every day, go for the wrapped version. I have a genuine IWC Calatrava that is solid 14K gold, it was 20 years old when I got it, I've had it for probably 15 years and I expect that it will outlive me as well as my son who will get it when I leave this big orb!! By the way, when I bought it, I paid less than what Trusty is asking for the PP Calatrava gold wrapped rep!!

FC v3 day today. This crappy IPhone photo doesn't do this one justice!!

Very nice work. I believe the problem with the engraved DJ's from the TD, is the case is probably not really engraved, but stamped. Not sure how they could do this without distorting the case though. I do like the work shown above. Looks really, really nice.

there is so much money floating around the world, it's obscene. Someone starts a fad, and pretty soon everyone jumps in feet first. It's not just watches, it's vintage cars, firearms, etc. Right now vintage watches especially the ones that get "talked up" a lot are red hot. Who knows how long or high the prices will go? the vintage market has been pretty strong for a while now. But like all markets, no matter how popular now, are cyclical. I remember a good many years back when Ferrari's were red hot as well, they were being flipped over and over and everyone was making a profit, and then the Japanese economy tanked, the wealthy Japanese buyers disappeared and suddenly, the Ferrari market dropped precipitously. This has happened in the past in many areas of "collectibles" Now the upshot of this is the folks who have the funds and "intestinal fortitude" to buck trends, likely are able to pick up some real bargains. The only requirement is that you have the staying power wait out the troughs in cycles and be ready when the price picks up again. Having said all this, there are certain "things" that are almost immune to the ups and downs of markets. These are the uber rare items that exist in such small numbers in the world, that they create their own market. Cars like the Bugatti Type 57S, the Ferraris from the 1960-70's with authenticated racing pedigrees. There are so few of any of these types of vehicles that to own one, one must first find one for sale and then win the bidding war between all the other well heeled chaps who crave one as well. Same with watches, if you are seeking a special watch of which there are only one or a handful in existence, then you aren't going to get it cheap!!

It's a SD kind of day!!

Beautiful work sir. That one sets the bar even higher!! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I like it too Matt. I'm a lover of all things western. I have a pretty good collection of engraved buckles, knives, money clips etc. an engraved watch would fit in very nicely. I went InTime's website and the available dials were only in black, red and yellow! Might pick up one of these and have you work your magic with a gen DJ dial.

6542 today Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks Joey, Just from looking at photos, it looked like some inserts were darker, like the photos of Freddy's 6542 in the photos above. Did the old bakelite inserts darken with age? Another question, is your DG3804B movement holding up well?

Are those the only markings? I would suspect that is a copy of some genuine movement, as all the recognized brands mark their movements with name, movement number, etc. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Longines Hour Angle Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Looks very nice. You might contact some of the Rolex experts about sourcing a better dial. cc33 has built some outstanding vintage subs, he might be helpful in your dial quest. Honestly, a genuine DRSD dial in good condition will cost you a fortune. Might want to spend some time on the Vintage Rolex Forum marketplace. Search DRSD dials, at least this will give you a sense of price and condition. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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I believe he will build it using as many gen parts as you can afford or want, within reason of course. He built and Oyster Perpetual for my wife, and it is all gen except the movement. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

looks very nice. I'm sure she was pleased. There is no doubt that Matt is the "go to" guy for DayDate and Datejust builds. He has been building these for a long, long time, way before there were internet watch forums. Quality builds with a lot of genuine parts that your wife can wear anywhere with pride.