madasboot

IMHO it looks just great! Far better than some praised "professional" work I have seen on RWI. As for the letters leave them as they are now. They look like they should be. If you insist to have them whiter rub a white wax crayon over the lettering. Since they are engraved the wax will fill the cavity and you can take off the excess on the outer surface with something like benzine. best, Marco

Great watch. Caseback looks nice also! Wear it well. best, Marco

Are the lugs welded as in the gen or are they screwed? Please post a pic of the caseback. Anyway it looks great! congratulations! Marco

My dear Tourby... where did you get those wheels!? I am trying to find a couple of them. Can you help me? I would love you forever Marco

Hey Sherwin! Your stuff will be ready soon. I will try to source you also the plain wheel. Marco

Welcome back to this side of the pond!! A real stunner! I will vintageize you a dial if you want and also can get that bridge engraved. best, M.

Hey Tourby, you old devil I am back from some wonderful vacations in NY spent with my good friend Skcheng. BTW I also have the Arktos and find it to be a damn good watch (paid 90usd for it to a street seller!). I am now looking for a 089 anthracite dial...

Deco Bezel is not my cup of tea but I must confess that the The Zigmeisterfication got me astonished!!! Brilliant piece of work, skill and patience... Enjoy it! M.

Wonderful watch R. It will match your denim shirt (now also a classic ) wonderfully! best, Marco

Thanks for the help!!! I believe is not too late for me to learn german but for this caseback I believe it is too late to correct the problem. M.

I can get you a pair of vintage gen tapered blued hands. Only difference from the ones used on gen panerai hands is the fact that the minute hand has a tick in the middle as the hour hand. I had some sent to Flavor Flav who can give you opinion / pics about that. BTW the work you did is awesome. M.

This is one of my favorites. Major credit goes to my good buddy Mark (Finepics) who did a terrific joob on this dials and hands. And since this forum has turned to strap showroom this one has a good old nato style strap specially crafted by watchinger. Maybe this is one will be my last topic since I believe I have nothing more to show besides my vintage projects. Thank you all, M.

Here they come. Hour wheel and cannon pinion were special tailored for this baby. It makes the difference!! And the strap is the best one I own. Made by a local leathersmith so if anyone interested on one please PM.

Straps are always an interesting subject!

More will be posted tonight. All details later. M.

sorry for the torture but I will only be able to post some pics next wednesday as soon as the watch is fully modded. The mvmt is working properly and looking like new!!! best, M.

I would go for the soaking method. If its fading to gray effect you want try adding large amount of salt into some water (it reaches the point when as soon as you taste it it makes you puke!). Cover the dial with that solution and wait till a thin layer of salt forms over the dial. Expose it to sunlight for a week and then wash it carefully and let it dry in the sun again and you will have it done. Best, marco

Dunno if this helps. http://www.rwg.cc/members/index.php?showtopic=17942&hl= Its a family unupdated photo missing all my vintages. the 3646 california dial on the far left is similar to the 249 (which I also own). Latter is a bit bulkier and slightly bigger (47mm) best, M.

tourby is always right. Just do not forget that even between 616, 618 and 620 or 620R are differences in height and diameter. You will need spacer rings specially tailored to fit those little bastards in a vintage case. I must tell you that for a 618 is a more complicated operation since the mvmt has some recesses and is thinner than the average mvmts the vintage rep cases were designed for. It will have to align the stem axis with the crown and the upper border of the ring will have to align with the lower inner border of the bezel. It will have to be built with height enough to be pressed between caseback and bezel. The upper wall of the ring will have to be thin enough to align with the interior wall of the bezel and simultaneously house the dial inside. I will try to capture the details on the photos I will post next week. Since the mvmt is also thinner than the 616 you will have to build new hour wheel and cannon pinion as well and also a work out and fit a higher pivot on the seconds wheel. If you want an easier job you must definitelly go for a cal. 616 and a RXW case. I am stubborn as a mule and I almost drove my watchsmith nuts since I insisted on build this vintage from a fiddy case with a 618 and insisting on the subsecond version and not the regular base model. but a man gotta do what a man gotta do right? ... and as mr. Churchill would say "who dares wins"! best, M.

Rolli, Thank you for your comment. and sorry to kep you curious about this one. I wouldnt mind to take some pics if I had a good camera available right now. I prefer to post some good pics with all the works finished and done. I believe this to be my ultimate (and last) vintage project. Its my 5th accomplished vintage and there is not much more to do on vintage Pams (besides a 2533 maybe... ) and since I do not like other watches I think I have reached the end of the line. Problem is I started to like all the process involved along these projects and I have learned a lot along the road. My resources and contacts are now unique and I am proud to say that I have been working with the best watchsmiths, "crystalsmiths", leathersmiths and engraver around... Sadly they are old men and their art, skills and techniques will die with them. I cannot describe the joy involving their work on these projects of mine and their willingness to teach. Unfortunatelly my profession doesnt allow me much time to stick around with them. I would like to say that besides the coordination of all the tasks the results are all to their credit. I wish them all the best and long years ahead. As I sincerelly do to you and all the friendly members here who have been contributing to my motivation in what I call the worst months of my life. Thank you all for that. Sincerelly, M.

Just to share a brief moment of happiness with you guys. My cal. 618 powered 6152 is finally (almost*) finished. Major part of the work was accomplished today afternoon. specs are: Fiddy polished case (the "Reg. T.M." was brushed off the CG) bought from Chris 4 months ago; Luminor Panerai Marina Militare with subsecond dial bought from Sigi and vintageized using my latest technique... Corteb

A nice present indeed and if you wind it on the wedding day you do not have worries with it during the honeymoon. Its an 8 days power reserve right? Good luck with the watch and all the best in your marriage! best, Marco

... and the denim shirt strikes again! Congrats for a damn fine combo (as usual)! M.

Rolli is a true gentleman. M.