Tom

Thought the Bell & Ross watches were hideous until I bought and wore one and the same goes for the Big Bang. Really regretted spending so much on the original SS (although it seems cheap considering todays prices) but the moment I put it on I loved it. The watch I don't care for at the moment is the Royal Oak Offshore....although I keep thinking about it....keep looking at pictures of it....keep dreaming about it (yes sad I know). Oh dear...it'll be in my watch box within three months.

My Girlfriend has just started doing some PR for IWC and while Im hoping I might be able to get myself a gen Aquatimer I think this is a little hopeful. She should however be able to get me a bracelet for free. Question is, will it fit the IWC Aquatimer reps? Bit of a waste if it doesnt. Any ideas?

I feel the same as I did when I first saw the BR01-92 - thought they were ugly and that i'd never have one. Now I have two. I've tried the PVD version on and it's great, although weighs a tonne. I think we'll see this rep'd within a year based on the success of the previous B&R reps.

They are hidden away within the website for reasons best left to them to explain. The best thing to do is to email the dealer and they will send you the link to them.

Thanks for this. The mechanism which comes in the BR01-92 is only 3.6mm in height and I cannot find one of this height anywhere on the internet, the 4.6mm is the nearest. Back to the drawing board...

I had a watch arrive in 4 days and the next one took 15 - The tracker just says it left China and thats it. Don't worry it will arrive safely.

Right, well on further inspection there are a number of differences between what you get in a 46mm B&R and what you get in the 39mm. I alway thought they were conning us a bit with the B&R 46mm, but it is indeed a special mechanism - it looks identical but is about 1.5mm thinner than a standard cheepo chinese mechanism. I cannot find a chinese one even 1mm near to this mechanism and think they must have been specially built for the B&R reps. My hunt goes on, but at the moment hours spent surfing the web for a chinese mechanism which is under 4mm thick have proved fruitless. Anyone with a 46mm Bell and Ross watch - look after it because that mechanim is more difficult to find than the genuine ETA

Ok I have measured it and while the mechanism is outwardly identical - the mechanism I am trying to fit it twice the thickness. Can anyolne shed any light? Please!

I have had to try and replace the asian mechanism in my 46mm B&R PVD/Orange as it stopped ticking. I did some research and settled on the Chinese DG2813 mechanism from Cousins as the photos looked absolutely identical from the one I took out of the watch. However I tried to fit the mechanism today and although the stem fits as do the hands its seems to be too deep. I have yet to do a proper measurement, but I am sure they are the same yet they dont appear to be. Can anyone tell me what the mechanism used in this rep actually is? I am desperate to get it back up and running

Hmmmm that'll be a no then - far far too tricky for me. Thanks for the advice though.

I know i'm in the minority, but thinking I really wanted a bracelet for my HBB, I went into Harrods in London and tried a gen on and I think it makes the BB case look too chunky on the wrist. I like the way the rubber strap makes the watch sit. Just my two pence worth. The genuine bracelet was $2200 buy the way!!

I missed this thread - excellent news and thank you for pointing it out. Maybe as a forum we should stockpile them!!!

I would like one thanks. It's for an Omega Chrono so I don't need the day, just the date - I think I can still put a day/date into it though?

Someone has just given me an Swiss Centina watch with a 2892 mechanism inside it. The watch is very tarnished and has no resale value but the engine is fine. I want to use the mechanism and thought I might be able to put it into my 46mm B&R BR01-92. This of course will probably be a nightmare job, if it is possible at all but I wondered if anyone could shed any light on whether it can be done, as the dealers claim that their replica watch runs on an asian 2892 clone. I'm hoping they are the same size and take the same hands - unlikely but hey. Thanks Tom.

I've asked all the main dealers and they have come back and said that the factories are protecting their supplies and they cannot sell me one? I have an Omega Chrono which has a lovely superlumed dial/hands and genuine sapphire. which I want to bring back to life and I am reluctant to simply buy another and change the dial, leaving me with a whole load of spare parts? Can anyone advise me on what to do? There must be somewhere I can get one of these - I don't care if its the old or new version, I just want my watch to tick again.

I'm looking too. That link is very useful, but I think those are genuine straps as they are

I'm putting together a couple of projects at the moment with unitas mechanisms, but don't want to use PAM hands or the one or two other, rather old fashioned options that Ofrei gives you. Does anyone know where I could source any other styles of hands for a 6497? I would really like some hands like the ones on the PAM Arktos but they are for a 7750. At the very least it would be really useful to know the hand sizes for the 6497 (and yes I a have already searched the forum but couldn't find a thread on this) Thanks in advance.

You certainly don't have a problem with your taste in watches. The jacket you wore with the Newman on the other hand....I think that might be the problem

I've only had this watch for 48 hours and already the crystal is cracked. I desperately need a replacement crystal and will do anything to get one. Mine has developed a huge crack in it and its getting bigger. I've tried Davidsen but he doesn't stock these crystals. The watch is useless without it and stocks of this rep are rapidly diminishing. I cannot believe that a cracked crystal means this watch is now dead and I'll have to buy a whole new watch. Can anyone advise me on what I can do? Can I send it Ofrei or Cousins and get them to match one up for me? Your desperately, Tom.

I've got an original HBB in SS and I would buy a ceramic bezel if offered. If the price was reasonable I think anyone with a non-ceramic bezel would go for it...why not? I would actually buy any bezel if offered as I've had this watch for nearly a year now and the bezel is very marked and chipped from daily wear and tear.

To anyone thinking of DIY lume, please please take my advice and don't try it on your precious watches until you've practised on something else. You wouldn't try and respray your car, just because you had the paint and a spray gun would you? No, you'd let a professional do it. One slip and your watch is ruined. Even sandwich dials can mess up - trust me, I've got two messed up 217 dials to prove it (and had to shell out another $100 for two new ones). My attempts at luming have cost me more than $300 and more pain, frustration and heartache than you can imagine. I know its fun to try new things but I agree, if you really want to try it don't go near a watch - practise practise practise on something else. My clumsy forays into DIY watch repair and luming have meant that my rep graveyard is far fuller than my precious box of complete watches. Save up and get a professional to do it. You won't regret it.

The Saab of the watch world. People with money to buy the usual suspects buy one of these instead just because they want to be different. I find Graham watch pretty offensive and I haven't found anyone who thinks to the contrary.

I've been away for a month or so and I can't see the watches for sale and many other things. Where have they gone? Do we have to subscribe now to see the full forum? Can someone let me know? Cheers, Tom

Does the orange bezel light up on the gen? I thought it glowed bright orange but I could be wrong.

What were the flaws in the 2006 version? I wasn't interested as it looked a bit boring but I'm a sucker for anything with Orange. I'll wait until it's out for a while I think. Seems to be the best way. Also a bit silly to have a rep of a watch before the gen's even been released - bit of a giveaway!!!