mrnixon

It is a beautiful watch. I have been thinking about one as well, with Swiss ETA. Is tehre any difference between the ones offered, or do they come from the same factory? If they are different, which one is recomended?

I am sorry but I am not very good with computers and cameras. Still though I must say that it is a very nice watch. I have gone over the watch with a magnifier just to take a close look at the finish, and I must say I cannot see a single flaw. And then also consider that I have been a collector of gen watches for over 10 years so it is not that I lack references. So at this price, it offers a fantastic value for money.

I just wanted to give my very best recomendations for the Steinhart watch. I boght one a week ago and I must say I am very very impressed by the finish and quality. Much much better than one could expect from a watch with that price tag. The same day i also received an IWC Aquatimer (the previoius model) and in terms of finish I dont see much difference (I am serious). I also checked the luminova and after a minute under a lamp and then total darkness reveals no significant differences between the Aquatimer and the Steinhart. So if you are interested in a Big Pilot but not the price tag, this one offers a fantastic value for money. I bought the watch directly from their webpage. The guy is really good with comunication. Always a reply within 24 hrs.

Thanks for the advice. You're right. If I can get a new for 4750, it might be more attractive than a 2nd hand for around 4. I have never heard of this dealer, Alan Furman, is he wellknown and with a good reputation?

I must say I am very impressed by the watch from what I have seen from the pictures. Even at large pictures (4 times as big as the actual watch) I cannot see any major flaws. I also think that on a tool watch, it is almost suitable if it still looks a bit rough. And then again as stated above, at a watch for around 300, they of course will have to cut corners somewhere. And I dont find it strange at all that if the watch is twice as expensive, you of course will have get something with a nicer finish. But as I said, it is a beautiful watch. I will order one this week. The model with ETA/Unitas 6497. Even if a bomber watch should have a large second hand, I like the manual 6497 very much so I will go for it instead.

I just wanted to thank you guys, and in particular Geo. I am very very grateful for informing me about this. If it wasnt for your comments, i would have lost ove 4500 usd. It was going to be my 40th birthday present from my wife so buying a fake and loosing all that money would have been absolutely horrible. Many thanks!

Geo Many thanks for your reply. So you are 100% sure that the watch on the scan above is a replica? whoooooooo I got really worked up about this so I really appreciate your support. It is a seller who is rather well known at my regular watch forum. I add another picture. And thanks again for your comments. It can save me 4500 usd so it is highly appreciated.

I have a little bit of an odd questions. I used to hang a the Panerai department before but have now mainly moved more towards genuine watches although I still come in here to check up the latest news. I am planning to buy a gen Portuguese ref 3714-01. As usual when buying from someone I dont know I have to be very careful, and then I realized that the real experts to ask are of course you guys here who are discussing reps. So my question is if there is any easy way of spotting the difference between a gen and a rep? I have never attached pictures before but I will do an attempt to do so of the watch I have in mind. Most grateful for any comments.

I have heard about the thread problems with Davidsens before. Are Davidsens threads lower quality than other manufacturers? And how sensitive are they? Can you change strap 2, 20, 300 times before they are worn out? Grateful for answer from someone with experience from this. This seems to be the only fault/problem with Davidsen so it would be nice to know more about it.

A very nice piece. Impressed.

Have you considered getting a second hand gen instead? You can probably get a gen 2nd hand for a little above 3 000 usd. You will then get a perfect genuine watch, with the felling of a gen, which you can keep forever if you want and which you will be able to seel and get the money back if you get tired of it. I think getting a rep and then spend so much money and efforts to modify it, and you will still just have "just a rep" I am not sure will be the wisest even from an economical point of view. Just a thought......

I was looking at this watch http://cgi.ebay.com/UNITAS-ETA-6497-WATCH-...1QQcmdZViewItem The PVD on this one appears rather shiny compared with the ones i have seen previously. Are there different types of PVD or is it just that the one in the add is polished?

I would not dream of paying so much for a rep. Fill up a little bit more and you will get a second hand gen with a the feeling of a gen, which is serviceable, presentable as a gen and with a re-sale value of a gen if you some time in the future want to sell it.

I am not sure but I got the impression that it was only going to be the the anniversary/ltd edition that will have a green crystal, but that the other two will have a regular one. I might consider getting a gen if they are available soon.

Thanks for the pics, very interesting to see what they are comming up with. Am I the only one first thinking "wow, really nice watch" then having second thoughts about the whole concept of really complicated in house movements with functions rarelly used. For me this concept is something PP, FM, Lange, Glash

No I aggree with you, if it the customer was clearly informed that he had a lot reserved for him at a particular date and time, (eg "I have reserved 2 hrs on the 1st of Apr for your watch, Please make sure I have it then and I will send it back the same day") then it is very bad by the custor not to make sure that the watch is there on time.

I think, considering that this forum is for watch discussions, not a trading forum, you as a dealer/business man simply have to take a little bad with the good. You apparantly have had problems with 150 customers, but I guess you have also exposed your business to a large comunity and been able to make a lot of money on it. Having said that, I would also like to say that I do appreciate your posts on movements. Very educational. Thanks.

Maybe a silly question, but what is the difference between a regular crown guard and a destro version? I have allways thought it was the same just put upside down?

Not that I have anything to do with this, but isnt there simply a communication mistake? I think as a customer I could have done the same thing actually. I thought that when giving in a watch to a watch maker or like in my case sending it to the Rolex factory, he/she takes care of them in the order he gets them and I can expect a turnover time of of a few weeks, which is my experience from gen watches. Maybe if there had been better comunication so that both parties knew that this deal was going to be handled more like a doctors or dentist appointment, like for example "I expect to have your watch on Thursday to work on it between 14,30-15,45 and then it will be sent back maximum to days later" and a turnover time of 2 days. I have allways thought that watchmakers just take the watches as they come, not that you make reservations with the effect that if my watch does not show up, the watch maker will be idle for an hour or so. Anyways, I have noting to do with this and I hope you guys sort it out.

I would go for a swiss movement. It is a well known rock solid and very reliable movement which you can have repaired virtually every where and if you need spare parts or a replacement movement it is very easy to find. My priority/logic is that firstly the watch has to work properly, and when that is acheived one can start thinking about cosmetics such as fonts etc. The reason I think like that is that if the watch does not work, it does not matter how nice font it has since it will still serve as paper weight. Therefore I would suggest that you go for the very best watch available. To buy something cheaper and then start sending around for modifications I think will be more expensive.

I aggree with you that many of the modded versions are a bit expensive and that many sellers were asking for rather high prices. On the other I used to enjoy reading the adds more as a source of information and with nice pictures so I still miss the members trading section. The dealers trading section I also liked. I am not looking for anything particular and will probably never buy another fake watch (have 2 unlabelled pam 111/177 and it is enough), but it is still interesting to see what is going on.

The swiss movement should be easy to repair. Spare parts can be found every where and I think any local watch maker can fix it for you.

That was bad news. I have never bought anything from him but got the impression that his Pam 005, 111, 177 etc were the best ones around here. I also liked the fact that he was not involved in anything around that misrepresentation mess, aggreed prices etc. Can you please tell us little bit more about what was wrong with the watches? This type of info I think is very important to share on a forum like this. Thanks in advance.

Sorry for a little OT, but if you like the museum watch, you might find their new model interesting: http://f16.parsimony.net/forum28098/messages/109640.htm

Do you know if they put in an original 6497 without any modifications in the models with solid case backs? Or do they still try to make it look like a Pam movement, adding swan necks etc?