panerai153

It is a pretty decent watch, but it's not 17000.00 or even 14450.00 decent. 14450.00 walk out the door, no tax no duty was the price I was quoted today as well. Another point. Which I forgot to mention in my AP Diver thread, was the cyclops AR. Not having mine to compare it to, makes it difficult, but even though the cyclops is supposed to be well AR'ed, I don't think it is any better than mine with the stock cyclops and guru Crystal. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I agree with most of what you are saying, especially about the modding in stages. That's exactly how I started out with my GMTIIC, first the bezel/insert, then a few months later a gen Crystal, then a year or so later a gen dial and then a couple of months ago, a converted Y3135 gen crown and gen hands. Because I started this project a while back, got some parts for considerably less than what they are selling for today, I have a lot less in it than say someone who started right now and bought all the parts over a short period of time. I reckon I've got between 22 and 25 hundred dollars in the watch, doubt that you could do it for that today. Like you said, if you aren't planning on selling are the key words.I doubt that any of the folks here and other forums had any plans of selling their cherished Frankens when they were building them, but as you and we all know, very few of us have been able to maintain a static collection over time. Tastes change, financial situations change, and sometimes a new watch is and itch that can only be scratched by selling something else. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Mr. A, Very well said sir. I have always thought the same about reps, unless it's one that is so blatantly bad that you can spot it from 20 feet away, it's going to boil down to the credibility of the wearer. Either you can or you can't, and of course that varies with reps. Pretty much anyone that has a decent job can afford a genuine Rolex sub or and Omega PO or a Panerai. Most of us could, with a little stretching, afford at least one gently used AP. When you start getting into the rarified air of Patek and Richard Mille tourbillions and some of the other 200k plus complications, I know that I would feel uncomfortable wearing that type watch, because I know there isn't a chance in Hell that I could afford the genuine. So if you are comfortable in your own skin, and are confident that what you are wearing is in your budget range even if it stretches it a little, then you won't have any problems wearing nice reps. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Sorry my friend, there isn't anything humble about any of your watches. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Look over in the IWC section, it may be there!!! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

My wife and I are on a cruise right now, doing the shore excursion thing in a couple of ports(lots cheaper to pay for a beach excursion than a day shopping in places like Georgetown Grand Cayman)!!!! Well this morning walking through the shopping area at the cruise dock in Falmouth Jamaica, I noticed a jeweler with and AP sign. Thought it was a little odd, small shop, cruise port that pretty much caters to RCI. On the way back this afternoon, had a few minutes to kill so we went into the store. Surprisingly, they had quite a good stock of AP's. New Tour Auto, Safari, 44mm FC, and the one I was really interested in, the new SS Diver with the open Caseback. Salesperson was very nice, took it and the Safari out and I tried them both on, primarily focused on the Diver. I have my V7 with me, but another watch on today. One thing I noticed, the dial seemed a little more gloss than the V7, although it could have been the lighting in the store. Other than that, there wasn't a whit of difference. My watch has an AR Crystal from guru on RWI, and the difference between it and the gen or microscopic if at all. The open Caseback is nice, and the movement is really a thing of beauty. The rep manufacturers attempts at duplicating the genuine movement pale in comparison. Since mine is the closed Caseback, that isn't a consideration. Here's the kicker. Walk out the door price, 14450.00 USD, discounted from over 16k. I probably have around 1k or a bit more in mine including the Powermatic 80 movement, guru Crystal and Donerix shark strap and the cost to get the movement swapped out and the Crystal installed. My final conclusion, if I won the powerball lottery, inherited a fortune or was already pretty well off, then I might go for the gen, but for me, there isn't a 13k+ difference in these watches. Wish I could have gotten a wrist you of the gen, but I felt like that might be pushing it a bit! So here's mine. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I know that a lot of guys enjoy the hunt for parts, and the build process, I include myself as I have several pretty much "modded to the max" watches. There are some however that defy economic reality when it comes to a build. The SS Daytona, and the 16610 are both examples of that. I see guys here putting together 16610's with gen dials, hands, bezel/insert, movement, Crystal crown/tube. You have a really nice watch when you are finished, but you also have 80% of the price of a good used 16610. If you are building a watch that you plan to be buried with, then it's probably OK, the problem here is those "Grail" watches tend to fall out of favor after a while, and something more "Graily" comes along. Now you have a real problem. It's incredibly difficult to sell a multi thousand dollar franken, no matter how good. It's still a a franken, and you are never going to wake up in the morning and discover that it has transformed into a gen! There are only a few places you can sell your "super franken" 16610 or Daytona, this and a handful of other Replica boards. And if you aren't a well known member with a good sales and participation history, you may well not get permission for a high value sale. On the other hand, A well taken care of gen 16610 is readily salable on a multitude of venues and you can usually get back most if not all of your purchase price. I'm not trying to discourage you or anyone from pursuing their high end builds, I just want to play the devils advocate and throw out a few observations gained from 12-14 years on Replica forums. Everyone deserves all the facts, that way you go into a project with your eyes wide open and know and accept the problems going in. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I am not a Daytona expert by any means, and there are lots of guys here that have built some awesome Daytonas. AFA the dial, you need to find out if it is a dial for the A7750 or the Val 72. They are not interchangeable. If it's a 7750 dial, you are OK, otherwise it's a no go. The hands are not interchangeable either, so you pretty much have to stick with 7750 compatible parts all the way. Cosmetically, you can install a better Crystal, gen crown, and that's pretty much it outside of a gen bracelet and endlinks. There are some fairly decent 7750 dials around, but the best 7750 is not going to be as good as the best Val72 dial. Hopefully some of the real experts can chime in and give you more and better advice. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Jamaica Mon!! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Here is your dilemma, sending it back is going to cost you as most dealers won't pay for shipping back. You are also going to expose your watch to customs twice, both shipping back to China and then return shipping to you in the EU. Watches get seized, they get lost, and best case, you send your watch back and a couple of months later you get it back. Toro is a great dealer, and he will surely work with you, and he may pick up part of the shipping and get it back to you sooner, but there are lots of problems with shipping back. More than likely it's and easy fix, and Ssteel is a well skilled watchsmith. Shipping to him has none of the problems associated with shipping back to China. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Off to see the sights in Cayman today. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Not sure, but as we have seen, it's possible to fake anything these days!! Time, patience, ingenuity and the right equipment and you can reproduce most anything.. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Well, since this one is apparently dead, then it's going to need changing, as it is not usable in it's present form. I believe Matt was the one that said the only way to overhaul this movement was to remove it, place it on a sturdy surface and hit it smack in the middle with a large hammer!! Then replace it with something else. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

The 702 is what you want, but pretty much all gen subs that went back to RSC's for service in later years got the 703 crown as a replacement. Back in the old days before these watches became somewhat a collectors item, owners were happy when their beat up sub came back from Rolex with a new crown,Crystal and frequently a service dial and hands. Lots of older subs and SD's ended up as non-stock because of Rolex's policies. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Try either mymanmatt or misielkped, I believe that either of them could install the tube/crown for you. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Scuba Tuesday Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Happy Birthday Martin. 1665 Today at sea!! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Agree, Loctite is for threads. Get a small set of 2 part epoxy, mix it and just a tiny amount in the top of the pusher. Too much and it may extrude out and when it sets, you have a permanently fixed in place pusher!! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Before After Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

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You absolutely cannot go wrong with Matt. He has forgotten more about DJ's and DD's than most folks know!! Remember Matt is in Dallas, the home of JR, Big Oil, Big hair and lots of wealthy folks and even more that aren't but want you to think they are!! I bet Rolex sells more of these models in Dallas and Houston than they do in any two other places in the world. Matt has been building these outstanding watches for a long,long time, way before the Internet and watch forums. Useless trivia Texas State animal -Armadillo Texas State car - Suburban Texas State Official Uniform- Stetson Hat, Alligator boots, Wrangler jeans, Solid Gold Rolex DayDate You might not own an Armadillo, but you sure need the rest!!!! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Great post Pete, amazing how many variations of the dial have been issued since the relatively recent introduction of the DSSD. Great reference for those that are interested in the DSSD. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I agree, what I or others here are just our opinions. You have to follow your heart, buy the one that you think fits you best. Opinions are great, and it's good to get ideas from others, but in the end, it's you hitting the "buy" button. What you decide is what's right for you. And genTLe, you are right, these old watches pretty much are off the radar. Just not many around and in active everyday wear anymore. Maybe guys my age who grew up with these and old watchmakers that worked on the old SD's and Subs might know, but they are few and far between. Outside of WIS they are unknown. Most folks who own gens don't wear them much, as replacement parts have gotten so darn expensive, and unless they have been recently serviced, the water resistance has to be considered suspect. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I would have to be skeptical about this one. Just doesn't look correct to me. Bad photos, engraving between the lugs looks like they are worn out, dial is suspect. Too many alarm bells! Also the seller has a GMT 1675 for sale that looks like it has a gold numbered insert, and the photos are equally bad. Case is really beat up, pitting and no engraving between the lugs Also the Caseback engraving of the year looks like someone obliterated it with a chisel. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

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