Finepics

Only just got to this thread which is why I have not replied sooner. Firstly let me say that I normally don't have an issue with anyone creating competition - it's a free market - however this is a slightly more specialised subject than maybe making straps or buckles and with the nature of these things I think it would have been sensible to have kept an eye on what was going on. Lello you disappeared a long time ago after some criticism from members about the quality of your work and because of that everyone here assumed that you were no longer involved in these projects or the boards at all for that matter. Having decided to try to print the 7753 datewheels (a project I actually started well over a year ago now) I also was asked about the 2893's etc so since you were no longer around I decided to give them a go and I opened a thread to take numbers of interested parties. As a result of that I purchased approx 75 x 2893 wheels and 25 x 2982 wheels since that allowed enough to supply the demands of the board (these have already been paid for). Had you bothered to come to the boards with updates on your projects from time to time I would not have entered into mine with such a large number because I am now comitted to this number as I cannot return any of the wheels. I would have made a profit if all of them sell but now the likely outcome is that I will be lucky to break even on this or maybe make a loss and this is what bothers me more than anything as frankly I am not so willing to give my time and effort for free - nor the endless phone calls or postage back and forth etc etc which have all cost me money. I have spent dozens and dozen of hours working on this and it has taken months of work to get this far. In fact I am right now working to correct the faults with the sample run that I just received as they are not right. This now means my wheels will not be ready this side of Xmas as I will not supply them to members unless they are absolutely perfect. My printers are using a Swiss pad machine and will be having special metal printing plates made rather than using clichés (nylon screens) which should mean a perfect print which is why it is taking time to get it absolutely right. So members should be aware that my 2893's will now not be ready until the new year. Just to clear up any confusion with other wheels etc - the 7753 wheels were not possible to source in advance so my printers have re-printed members existing wheels. This service I will continue to offer as the printing plates for these are being kept for future runs but I will still not be able to supply new wheels (ETA do not sell these as spares). The 7753 wheel does not fit the 7750 - they are a different size and I am not doing the 7750. @chieftang - sorry if I have not replied to you - I am very happy for you to offer an alternative US based AR service as again this has been hassle for me. Also this will work out well for US members as getting this done in the UK is not cheap against the weak dollar which makes this very expensive for any US customers so I might end up sending them to you as well!!! Thanks to all those who have continued their support for me - I have decided that these will be the last projects I will undertake for the boards as a whole as frankly it's just not worth all the hassle and I have become thoroughly disillusioned with the whole thing.

Thanks slay - already discussed with madsboot so he knows the deal now!!

PM sent

Oh yeah - thanks Pho - found it now!! Actually I had had a little tipple but not so much that I was totally non compus mentis!!

Gen - what gen - I don't have one, I flogged it last year!! I reckon my vintage 6152 would be alright - they might even appreciate it as it's a "homage" not a fake!!!!!

So what happened - was it because I used a possibly naughty word in the title even though I starred it out??? Is this US censorship playing it's ugly hand? No [censored] or swearing of any kind at all on terrestrial TV type thing?

An envelope arrived today for me with the following inside!!! So which watch do I wear - have asked this already but thinking of a vintage as that is not going to be seen as a blatant fake!!! I blanked some bits out as it's not something you can just turn up to (just in case anyone thinks they can!!!)

An ETA is an ETA whether or not it is made in Switzerland or their Chinese ETA factory. The quality control on these is exactly the same - the only difference is that the ETA's made in the Swiss factory usually have a Rhodium plated finish (a silvery colour) and the Chinese ETA's have a gold finish. This is the only difference, the Chinese ETA's are not asian copy swiss movts. So you do not have a copy movt but it might have been decorated by the rep factory. I have an ETA 2893 and a 2892A2 which are both Swiss made (rhodium plated) but the rotoer on both movts have been engraved with PANERAI all over them.

That does look nice - what's the problem with the movt now?

Hey Angus - my first of several shipments from you just arrived today - lovely jubbly!! Thanks a lot for sorting out that special item for me, I am very very grateful for that. Looking forward to the new stuff coming - you're going to bust my wallet soon!!!

I am hoping that the first sample will be with me this week so stand by people.

Thanks for the support fellas and Lello I didn't want your return to marred in any way - just that the timing wasn't great is all - and you probably know only too well that this type of thing costs blood sweat and tears as well as money!!!

Certainly not pre-sold as I have deliberately avoided taking money (apart from a few members) until I am able to show a finished working sample which should happen this week, although now I'm wishing that I had taken firm orders. The delays for me have been as a result of holding back on this until the 7753 wheels were satisfactorily printed and that the printing company could produce a predictable result. Also the printers have had a lot of learning to do with the new machine that is specially designed for this kind of thing as this was also an experiment for them. I am not knocking Lello, it's a free market, and I'm glad to see him back - just concerned that just as I am about to have the finished item read these appear which will no doubt result in some members who committed to me initially now not honouring that commitment. Given the time, effort and money that has gone into my wheels that is a situation that would leave me rather [censored] off to the point that I shall simply not bother doing this sort of thing in future.

I sincerely hope that I'm not going to be sitting on a pile of unsold wheels as a result of this!

This wheel will not fit the 2892 which is different.

If you are reducing a DSN dial then 1mm needs to be removed from the edge. I have used an old regular rep dial and placed that carefully face to face over the DSN dial. The using a dowel to locate them both through the centre hole score round the rep dial carefully with a sharp point. This will score the paint and is less likely to chip when grinding the DSN dial. Then using a cutting bur in a dremel (I have a dental motor which is similar) carefully grind down the edge. Then I use a rubber polishing wheel to carefully smooth and remove any swarf. Be very careful not to slip and scratch the DSN dial.

Not quite as these dials are T dials so the C3 colour is a little too yellow/green. This would call for a custom tinted lume job.

You know I am wondering what that means - you mean your taking a long [censored]!!!!!

Not sure if this will happen as the set-up costs too high. There might be another avenue I will explore and update when I know more.

I think it's just the photo - I have a lot of Antiquorum pics and they all look like this.

Well spotted Narikaa - hideous piece if you ask me!!

It will do no harm to wind the 7750 movt before wearing it for the first time. 20 turns is enough to power it up then wearing it keeps it topped up. The only movts that require gentle slow winding are the ETA 28xx series as their clutch mechanisms are different so need care.

That should hack so something not right with it. Other option is to remove the rotor and let power run down before setting the date so it rocks the date.

Yep - Bazz is right. Set hands so date is just rocking - that will be 12pm.

Kruzer already in!! Yes I did put this over at the other 2 forums. I guess when I post a photo of the finished article the orders might come flooding in.