scotty

Yikes.......marvelous. BUT - it's like 46mm dia...... Been googling but can't find a smaller version........

Hi. The watch in question I believe has passed through my hands...... Anyway - you can get a complete bezel and insert (with pearl) from cousins UK or Ofrei. It's not soooo expensive. Maybe around the 100GBP mark. And it solves all the problems at once, including the pearl which is usually the weak point on all Omega Seamasters. The question is whether it'll fit or not, and that depends on the case. The gen bezel assembly will fit the old school case. The watch you have is not the old school, but is a pretty good one. I think the gen bezel will fit. Do a search here as some members have already done that mod. Not just on the crono, but also on the standard SMP. What also needs checked is the bezel spring, as some reps have a different system to the gen. Again - do a search as I remember posts on this a while ago.

Hi - actually pretty close to my thinking after reflecting on this. The Seiko's are pretty affordable and not a huge issue if something happens. All part of the learning process..... Thanx

Hi Logan...... When he finishes a diving course he'll get the kit including a dive computer. Will give me an excuse to upgrade my old Aladin also...but that'll be in a couple of years time. But he's 10, and this is for snorkeling and stuff for now. Thanks for your concern though!

I got several springbars from a watchsmith friend to try to replace what had broken. He had problems getting the right diameter for where the end pin goes through the buckle wall. It seems to be a non-standard diameter. Then again related to the end pins - they have a section on the inside that seems swaged or compressed, so they hold in place on the inside (a little bump effectively). This means that on the pins there's a distance between the end and this bump that's effectively the same as the buckle wall thickness. To explain better - for the deployment you're looking for the right combination for the spring bar of * main body diameter - so that the springbar passes through the deployment lever bar with little play * general overall width - in the compressed state - to fit inside the buckle inner walls * end pin diameter - to fit into the buckle wall hole * end pin length from swaged / bump section - so that the pin doesn't stick out of the buckle wall on the outside All in all - special. My watchsmith sourced 4 different non standard ones (so harder to locate), and the closest fits overall except the main body diameter is a fraction small (so leaves the deployment bar a little wobbly), but more importantly the end pins after the swage or bump, are too long and portrude outside the buckle walls by about 1mm. As they're very fine, and it's all fiddly, it's not easy to 'trim' them and leave a flat surface. I tried and screwed up 2 in the process. Regarding the little half tubes; I tried experimenting with standard lug tubes from straps. But again - different inner diameter compared to the spring bar body, and again the problem of cutting to length without leaving burrs and so having a decent flat surface after cutting. Maybe I'm just cack-handed at this..... So what I need are the correct springbars and tubes, OR new complete deployments.........

Erm...much appreciated....but being of UK origin, my English is pretty good normally. My speed typing may provoke the odd error, but that's bye the bye. And generally the clasp is referred to as a DEPLOYMENT clasp or buckle. Butterfly type. Never seen the French term 'Deployent' used in any dealer website, nor any site offering aftermarket product. Even BOB (in Germany) uses the term DEPLOYMENT - see link below. http://www.waccex.de/catalog/index.php?cPa...0rg3ubcpdseoh46 And correct - the springbars are not STANDARD (standered- two too many e's there). I think I mentioned that already in the original post hence the reference to the PAM ones being special. In any case, thanks for taking the time to reply.

@ hublot 1 - normally I'd agree, but actually many 10 years olds are wearing watches around here. Fashion thing. As as he likes snorkling, has come to appreciate my watches, and also wants to learn diving (we'll probably start next year) my idea is get him something to cover all requirements. Plus it'll be a present to remember father/son thing..... He's 10, but in many ways a little older. @ bertieng - I'd considered the G Shock, but wanted to steer clear of plastic. That said thanks for the idea, and I'll probably have a look again in the short list. Didn't think they were water proof rated to 200m though...Going to find their website now....

Why are the spring bars on PAM deployments so flimsy... I've 3 deployments now that are useless as the spring bars (for the long strap side, under the buckle) have bent and snapped. And at the same time the 2 half tubes used to keep the deployment bar centred, have been lost in the process....... B******S Anyone have any spares? The spring bar and the half tubes? Will pay, but trying to avoid having to buy complete deployments.......unless absolutely necessary, or if I can find them at reasonable prices...... I've tried other spring bars, but the PAM ones are special for the diameter, and bar length from the inner stopper to the outer end. All help gratefully received..........

Gentlemen - thankyou all. This just confirms again adn again what a great community we have here. I LOVE the Swiss Army, and he's just had a look and said 'Cool' over the lume. Some great ideas here, and I think we'll go for 40mm+ even though a little big immediately, but as people have said - he'll grow into it. And better get a keeper. Thanks all. I'll post a wristie when we've got it sorted....

Thanks all. The Seiko Orange Monster is available via internet here (Solo stocks and similar). I quite like it on rubber for him, so will probably head round a few places and see what similar sized watches look like on his wrist. Being a 10 year old he doesn't have an Arnie (or Laz) type wrist and forearm, so +40mm may look nuts. But if he can get away with it, and if he likes orange, I reckn the Monster will be the choice to go with.....

Cheers.... Don't think those are available now in Spain, but more importantly they're bigger still ..... He's only 10 and my SMP looks big on him...... Like the Orange Monster for myself More opinions - I want to build a list for him to look at..... Thought about Zodiac also, but crown is usually just pull out and water resistance usually 100m (so nothing really)

Summer is comming.... Living by the Med. sea, my son and I go snorkeling summertime. Plan is later he does diving courses and then we can do more interesting stuff together....some reasonably good dive locations around here. Not Red Sea or Maldives standards, but it's not an abandoned quarry in the UK either My son is 10. Biggish for his age. He's after an all purpose watch for the summer. And he has his eye on my Gen Seamaster.....no chance.... So to avoid problems I thought of getting him something. I don't like plastic Swatches, and wanted something fun but with good basics, so it'll last more than one summer. * high water resistance (so rated as 200m minimum) * saphire crystal, or good hardened alternative * rubber strap * beach/diving style * Good lume (he loves lumy watches......like his Dad). He'd like chrono as well, but I think not necessary. If it can be had - all the better .... Searching around I've looked at Citizen's, Festinas and the like. Swiss Army, Hamiltons (bit too expensive) and Seiko. Was thinking of the Seiko SKXA35 Good water resistance, rubber strap, hardened glass, auto, good lume, and yellow dial so not too serious like a black face. BUT - it's like 43mm x 15mm (probably huge for him). Anyone got any views or other ideas?? Thanx all

Thought the correct way to go was WITH dimples between the lugs on the case. Gen's seem to have these to avoid thicker straps scuffing on the case in the middle between the lugs......

Thanks Z... I goofed originally as the auto is A7750, not A7550. Re the 6497 - how to be sure ???? Was described as Swiss ETA. I think is probably the swinese jobs, of Swiss base and Chinese plates and decoration. But it runs well, holds time, and ticks...... thanks for your help here. Much appreciated...

Thanks Zigmesiter (I can't get used to that.....) I just wanted an idea coz I should have one for sale soon. I'll also be putting up a 6497 panerai decorated movement - the old one with the wrong bridges and no swan neck. Probably good for a closed back project. Guess that's worth less. I really don't know what these go for.....

Does anyone have an idea what A7550 values are? The older slower beat, and the new high beat ones?

Count me out.......

Not convinced it's worth it. Better to get a watchsmith locally to service and waterproof.

Live long and prosper.....

Bluerex - read back in the thread and you'll see the statuses. In summary - only 11 of 39 people affected in RWG (there are others in RG) got stuff back. Last return was mid November and since then nothing (that's been published). Member interest in recovering their watches or contacting Jakub by whatever means, has simply died. I started this thread, but having seen the decline in interest months ago, have stopped posting. I still call Jakub's numbers and send an e.mail every so often in the hope that he'll pick up, but I'd say we've been well stuffed. He got away with a lot of items with a high overall value. Well done J......

You can try, but he may be too drunk or coked up to understand you........ perhaps too harsh over this reformed character, who was recently quoted as stating he'd never smoked a joint in his life ......... gem

Thanks for that Carl. The thread was heading towards simply rubbishing the dealers effort. OK - Rolexes are closed case backs. But this was a dealer asking for feedback, towards improving their product. That's positive from their side, no?

Thanx all. I've already passed sumamries of these comments to the dealer here. Personally I'm no Rolex fan so this was just posted to get opinions. Cheers

Hi - exploding Fiddy crystal was something linked to certain Fiddy's from Trusty and Josh for a while. Mostly related to the combination of saphire crystal and E0581 case, though there were 'explosions' in the E0117 case. If I remember right, basically it was because the crystal was very thin and stressed. The tensions in the fitting with the case meant that, at some point in time through expansion due to ambient conditions, they'd explode. I think they improved their crystal since. No problems with DSN / EL / River crystals, or others (PWC etc).

Thanks. Yep the strap really is a nice one, and developing a nice patina. The crappy pics don't really show the colour in full glory. If I remember it's the oxblood cordovan, though I may be mistaken as there are 2 cordovans very close in colour. Beige thread. Drew in Europeli was having a sale recently - maybe still is. The leather is very nice and wearing well. Recommended......and when new smelt wonderful. Still has traces...