Tom

I'm looking down at my wrist admiring my new 45mm Navitimer World and I can't for the life of me work out what the long hand with the red arrow on the end is for (at 10 O'Clock in the image)? It can be moved using the crown and isn't anything to do with the chrono. I've tried to find out on the internet but to no avail - please help a Breitling virgin.

Ok, I have seached the forum before you ask and not come up with much. Finepics is a bit busy at the moment and I've found a couple of industrial companies that are willing to coat one watch case and back for.....

Check this out. Since seeing the Hublot Black Magic and the B&R Phantom, I have wanted to try and do my own all black rep. I've wanted to do this on a Radiomir but couldn't work out how they did it, after all, how can black glow when it doesn't reflect light? Anyway I saw this link over on RWI and it looks like he's cracked it. I've PM'd him to find out his sorcerers ways so hopefully I can relay them to The Zigmeister and get the work done. http://replica-watch.info/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21634 Can't wait.

Rob, Go and see Sean at "Watches To Go" in Piccadilly Underground Station. He's a grumpy old sod, but he does all my work, normally on the spot and rarely charges. Its a tiny little booth in the centre part of the station. Not too hard to find. He opens every day at about 11am until 6pm

Can anyone advise me on this issue. I have a Rose Gold PAM Radiomir 231. I have bought a swiss 6497 on Ebay which is gold coloured rather than silver, as I thought that this would look pretty sweet through the glass case back. I've suddenly thought though that it may not be as simple as I thought. Before I embark on the swap, could anyone tell me if it's likely to be 'plug and play' with the hands or will I need different hands to make it work (Davidsen?) On inspection the cannon pin looks higher than on the Asian. Any help would be gratefully appreciated, Regards, Tom.

All B&R reps have this problem. For some reason the screws are glues in with loctite. I got so angry I cut the leather strap off mine with a blade in a fit. I finally admitted defeat and took it to my friendly watchsmith. He placed a screwdriver in a vice and locked this screwdriver in one screw. Then he got a tiny screwdriver with a very large handle (you need this for leverage he told me - with a small one it will move around in your increasingly sweaty hand) he managed to jimmy it the screw on the other side. It took a professional about 10 minutes so I would bite the bullet and pay someone $5 to do it for you. Good luck.

Can anyone help? I have seen somewhere on this forum a link to a watch enthusiasts website which has a comprehensive step by step guide of how to strip down and rebuild a 6497 movement. It photographs for each stage and comes with descriptions. It was very informative. I cannot find it anywhere and have been looking for ages. Can anyone point me in the right direction or let me know where another good guide would be. Thanks Tom

Last night I received a black 45mm PO with ETA mechanism from a forum member in the USA. It arrived in perfect condition and I couldn't wait to wear it. However disaster struck and within 10 minutes I tripped down the stairs with it in my hand and it hit the ground. There is not a scratch on the watch but the mechanism has stopped and nothing seems to be able to make it tick. The very same night I have destroyed my orange PO chrono. I won't go into details, needless to say I wanted to get some dirt off the dial and....oh dear. It's all over. So I am devastated. I think the chrono is for the great Rep grave yard in the sky (I hadn't even worn it), but I just need a new mechanism for my 45mm PO. Does anyone have any ideas where I can start looking? Any help would be appreciated - I want my PO back.

Obviously there is a good reason why the "Officine Panerai" engraving is upside down on my 217 and other Destro's - the mechanism are simply cribbed from the standard reps, and so are upside down. But yesterday my girlfriend who knows nothing about watches let alone reps, looked at the back of my watch and said "Why is this writing upside down?". Is there anyone out there who does a destro rep with correct markings? It just seems such a massive and obvious error, even allowing for the fact that not many people are going to see the back of your watch. It just annoys me now and makes me wonder why I bothered with the cannon pin fix etc

Can anyone tell me what the hand (looks like a second hand) with the red arrow head is for on a Navitimer World? It appears to move with the hour and minute hand and is moved by the crown and not the chronograph. Im confused. Help a Newb out.

Anybody? I'm could do with the advice

Just a quick question. I know that this is a very skillful art and can only be done by trying trying and trying again, but i just wanted to ask a simple question (please don't worry - I've already bought lumed Davidsen hands) When you relume hands do you paint within the border (by masking or just using a steady hand) or do you remove the old lume from the bottom so that there is a space inside the hand and start again by filling it? I hope I've explained that clearly enough?

Nice one Stilty - I'll give them a call.

Hello, I am trying to search for a Miyota FS20 mechanism, preferably in Europe. This is the mechanism that comes in the Chanel J12's. I have done a google search but drawn a blank - does anyone know of a good shop that might sell me one of these? Long shot I know but any help would be appreciated. Tom.

Have a look at this http://www.justchina.org/china/moving-to-china.asp Chinese customs have put watches/clocks as restricted items - real or fake - they will automatically confiscate them at customs if found or declared. There is no rational reason - they don't like cameras or bicycles either. Royal Mail in the UK won't even take them if they are headed for china. I've lost three sending them back so I don't send them anymore - just emphasise to my dealer the importance of quality control before the watches are sent out. I've asked the trade office at the Chinese embassy and they say that have no idea why watches and clocks are prohibited - maybe the Communist Government don't want the people to know what time it is...

Question answered and then some. Will give it a very wide berth. Of course it does mean I'll have to buy a black PO now instead

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BEZEL-INSERT-FOR-OME...1QQcmdZViewItem Does anyone know if this will fit on the 4th Gen PO ? I've got an orange bezel version and fancy a change to black. If this doesn't fit does anyone know where I can get a change of bezel? Any help would be gratefully appreciated

I've been looking around the forum and keep seeing this mentioned with regards to Panerai. This is generally the first mod that people sort out. But what is it? I have tried to search for an explanation. Is this the pin that holds the hands onto the watch? What is the difference between the reps and the gens - how do you rectify it? Is it really obvious or just something for the anally retentive. I'd be glad of the pointers.

I've heard the puck and vice method is about as much use as Anne Frank's drumkit. How about the 'hammer and rubber' approach Seriously though - I'd rather not take it to the watch repairman if I can help it, somebody.....anybody...come to my rescue.

It's a Miyota FS20. Cracked it - thanks guys. It did have a hold which said "press" near it, but the hole was so tiny you'd have been lucky to get a human hair in there. Also the stem needed to be all the way in to release it Thanks for all the help.

I've just ordered a Davidsen Sapphire after some Poltergeist caused my 217 crystal to explode in my watch case. I've got a crystal press but the largest attachment I have for it is 37mm. I think if I used this the pressure on the centre of the sapphire would shatter it. Do I need a larger attachment? If so what size should I try and get hold of....and does anyone know where I could find this.

I want to put black hands on my 217 and unfortunately Davidsen only does gold and blue. Does this mean you cannot get them anywhere? I have tried to paint a spare pair I had and it didn't work. Can anyone help?

Can anyone advise me on how to remove the stem on a quartz mechanism. There is no holding screw as with the UNITAS - it appears you simply pull with needle nose pliers, but this leaves you very open to damage. Would be grateful for any advice as I need to get the mechanism out of the case. Thanks in advance

Hello Marco - still loving the watch. All I want to do is alighn them so they all face the same way. It is anal I know but I want to do it - I don't actually want to remove the bezel. I wish someone made a rep box for this beauty.

I want to open this and obviously don't the correct tool for removing the bezel on the Big Bang. Does anyone know what is called and where I can get one that small. Can I fashion one out of something else? Even my smallest screwdrivers won't fit and I am worried about sratching the surface.