Finepics

There you go - two for the price of one!!

Another thing you could do to make it unusual is to nip off the tail of the second hand - I have a lot of photos of gens with exactly this.

Actually I think they are perfectly ligit. Remember that Ghuangzhou is where the rep wholesalers are and where most of the reps are made. I would not be unusual for a re-seller to set up a website - difference is that there is only one level of price markup which is why they are cheaper - I'm actually tempted to try them sometime. They certainly don't seem to be gen photos - why would they need to do that. There are hundreds of dealers in GZ!!

I would be in on the gold hand version - I wonder if we could get a choice of strap colour as well - black for me.

Yes. Still no bloody OP or serial numbers.

Ghaungzhou based (the home of reps!!!) and cheap too - our dealers maybe should keep an eye on their prices!!

Thanks for that - it's only my second attempt but I found a whole load of photos of Vintage PAM's that I have been studying very closely. As a dental technician I have a lot of tools/materials at my disposal including a laser welding machine and polishing machines etc and am used to working with metals and plastics so I am very lucky. Good luck with this as I think you have done a great job - and the best part is that it's a whole lot of fun doing it - even if they don't turn out right!!

Modified ETA - 4.27mm Un Modified ETA 4.16mm Asian ETA - 4.10mm

If I remember right you do not need to change the cannon pinion - just the hour wheel. I had to very slightly ream out the minute hand hole (as it is to small) to make it fit. The hour hand should go on as normal. The movt itself should be the same size as the existing Molnija so not sure why you are having problems there.

The 196/188 crystal is slightly smaller than the standard 44mm PAM's - no go.

I very much doubt this is a problem at all. I would think there is a simple arrangement of transfer gears to move the running seconds (something like the gears that make a 7750 into a 7753), provided they have jewelled bearings and are properly lubricated.

Exactly

Yes from Cousins in the UK - www.cousinsuk.com - the part number is "ETA2836-2/#415 Ratchet Wheel". Or you can buy a complete loose pack movt (that means it does not come in a box!!) for £48 from them here - http://www.cousinsuk.com/default.aspx?disp...;productid=5574

Nothing like it - one says Luminor Panerai the other says Marina Militare!!!!! Yes - where did you get that pic? Or - where did you get that watch and compass!!!

Absolutely - this is what you have to do when converting the PAM's with asian 7750 to swiss as the asian pinions are longer in order to clear the sub hand transfer gears. They are a straight swap and work perfectly.

The rotor and winding crown act on the same parts so the wheel will snap out of engagement to allow the rotor to wind the watch. As has been said this is quite normal for this movt.

Wayne - sit back and relax. We are all gens here!! Your only real problem is knowing when to stop and judging by the new IWC Portugese chrono I havn't learnt yet!!!

The gold version should really have rose gold numbers and hands - a minor detail, and the chrono pushers look as if they stick out a little more than the gen. This is really nice. There will obviously be a transfer gear to move the running seconds to 6 o'clock. I thought I only liked PAM's until I saw this!!!

True - but the bigger question is where are the broken bitts - I would guess they are still floating around inside the case? There is nothing wrong with hand winding these movts, they are designed to be hand wound initially. There have been a lot of QC issues with these asian assembled ETA's and it is possible that the movt was not brand new to start with. A lot of people complained at one time that Pauls watches were assembled using old movts.

You should be able to order the part from O.Frei or Cousins - ETA2836-2/#415 Ratchet Wheel. Part should cost no more than a few euros - I can get it for you if you want.

Usually you will need to press it to replace the stem. Be gentle - don't press too hard!!

Buy the car then get given the watch!!! - free!!!!

When replacing hands, especially where there is a date you need to wind the movt so the date is just changing then stop the movt. Then seat the hands. You need to gently press the hands so they grip the pinion and obviously position them so that the time hands and the chrono hands are all at the 12 o'clock position. The sub hans need to be pressed onto their pinions so that they are just clear of the dial.

There are sellers on ebay that sell a metal hex wrench suitable for the 44mm PAM's - but they are only suitable for 44mm PAM's!!!

Wrong - real ceramic is Zirconium oxide - the toughest stuff on the planet next to diamond!!!