The Technician

Somebody else on this board did all the gen part tracking down for me, I have to give Cwai credit for all the searching. The thread with links to the parts is here: http://www.rwg.cc/members/index.php?showtopic=8428 The only thing missing was the pearl, though he does link to the gen bezel which apparently will not fit according to Nouns Defions who did the expexensive experiment for all of us and bought the gen bezel and tried to make it fit. It is slightly smaller in diameter and since the "arrow" goes to the edge of the crystal, wasn't moddable without looking wrong. The gen clasp is also nicer, but I got mine to lock properly with a little work so I don't think I'll be spending the extra 96 bucks. Tools are basic, I used a case opener, rodico, #2 tweezers, hand setting tool, hand puller, the red Bergeon screwdriver, pliers, a drill press and a small vise with a wood jig made up to protect the case. To insure a waterproof seal on the crown tube, I drilled the case a very slightly smaller diameter than the tube and used loctite before I pressed it in. And when the pearl gets here I'll be using some epoxy or JB weld. I'm still doing a little sharpening of the polished angles on the case with a piece of flat brass stock and 2000 grit sandpaper, that I'll bring back to high polish with red and white jewelers rouge. (Not necessary, but I figured what the hell.) As soon as this is finished up I'll get to posting pics, I'll try to show how to do it without watchmakers tools, though to make it easy and do a decent job you should at least have a basic set of real watchmakers screwdrivers (AF Switz. makes a good cheap starer set.) rodico, a piece of pegwood and a blower. You should also probably buy the "Oring and gasket speed lubricator" from Ofrei, I use it all the time, puts the perfect amount of grease on the seals. Oh, and at least one good set of tweezers.

So after inspecting the gen 42 PO at the dealer vs. my 4th gen rep, I have determined that he case and bracelet are 1:1 visually. The crystal is very slightly smaller than the gen on the rep, but only side by side with a set of calipers. (the dealer is a friend, .....and was quite impressed) The bezel insert is perfectly printed and my particular insert is drilled at the the same location as gen. I'm awaiting a gen Omega pearl with baited breath to complete my project. I am a little luckier than most on these forums since I have a full setup of tools and 10+ years of watch-tinkering exp. to help me along with these mods, but this really is an easy rep to mod regardless. So far I have about $380 in gen parts + 150 for the base watch (Wo-mart) and once I get the pearl in the bezel, it should look 99.9% gen, (still missing the serial, which can be fixed with a nice mill job mark in the correct location at the proper lug. ("Gray market.....") I'll post a pictorial tutorial with do's and dont's and bit sizes and tool substitutions when I'm done with this. No need to send these to a "modder" at all if you have basic tools, patience, and a careful, light touch. One thing I noticed was the the "end link gap" isn't really an issue vs. the gen when I spent time pouring over the differences at the dealer. When I'm done, unless you open the back, NOBODY, unless they are really well versed in these watches will be able to tell the difference. (I admit that the gen back is sharper, but a little wear and that will be a moot point.) Of course, in the end, the only person I really want to fool is myself, and as a watchmaker the lack of a co-ax escapement will always bother me, but I am so happy with the way this has turned out that I don't know if I'll ever buy a gen of this watch. $530.00 and a little time makes a near perfect visual clone of the PO. In my opinion that can't be beat. BTW: With stock crown this rep tests to 5 atm in the water tester. (after gasket lube.) Also, if you want to replace/add missing crown seals the #9 from Ofrei from their mini swiss gasket assortment fits perfectly......It tests the same with gen tube/crown, but I can't go any further with my equipment. oops: Meant gen crystal was smaller than rep rather than vice versa.

Thanks much for taking the time to answer my questions. Maybe I'll do what Finepics did and hunt down another Omega bezel for the pearl. My pearl placement is actually vey good, luckily in the same place as gen. It will be perfect....perfect I say! Hahahahahahah! Ahem.

Is the gen bezel insert smaller than the rep bezel insert, or larger? What was the fit problem? (I realize the bezel itself doesn't fit, and that doesn't surprise me but it does surprise me that the bezel insert didn't fit, especially since the dial was drop-in perfect. What size and generation PO rep do you have?

Um, It's not a middle-range rep. The case is 1:1 visually, has sapphire crystal with ar coating (on the inside), has a working HE valve, and other than a tiny gap that is unnoticeable between the bracelet and the end link (which is very comfy and accurate) and a missing serial on the lugs it's now indisdinguishable from the gen (if I replace the pearl or insert)...and the mods I did only took me about a half hour/ 45 minutes. Alot less work than my MBW red sub, which needed crown guard filing, sanding and polishing, crystal replacement, the crown and tube replaced and the case retapped which required me to buy a tap and a rolex crown tube key, a new bezel insert and pearl, Tudor hands, and a better bracelet because the one it came with was awful. I enjoy modding these and the 42mm is a great base that is easy to mod. The 45mm is too big for my taste. And why would you be so rude as to tell me how to spend my money? I'd never tell you what to spend your money on or question your decisions on what you decided to mod or not. Thanks for all your help in answering my question.

I'd also like to know what the size difference is between the gen 42mm bezel insert and the rep insert is. I put a gen dial, hands and crown & tube on my 42mm 4th gen. It's pretty close to perfect except the bezel pearl (which has fallen out anyhow) and I'd like to put the gen bezel insert in but nobody has explained why the gen insert wont fit. Is it too small or too large? If it's too large by just a bit I'd like to chance it and try to make it fit, but I don't want to spend $200 witout knowing what the difference is.

True. Sorry. (I just think thay way.)

Pretty much all that has to be done is remove bracelet, unscrew the caseback, and remove the stem. (2 min)Then drop your movement under a cover till the work is done. The watchmaker will have to pull your old tube (5 minutes or so.) Drill the hole in the case a little larger and press in the new tube. (Another 10-20 minutes, assuming all goes well.) Clean out your case and crystal of metal shavings in a parts washer (30 to 5 minutes...) and fit the stem to the new crown. (This part can be a little more time consuming, but still no big deal.) Drop the movement back in and screw the caseback on and you now have a gen crown and tube........

I don't know what kind of followup Paul has, but the crown tube is replaceable. If I were you I'd order a gen crown and crown tube while you are at it. You (or your watchmaker) will have to remove the old tube, and drill the case a little to fit the genuine tube. Press the new tube in , give it a coating of loctite to insure waterproofing. Ofrei sells the parts, gen crown and tube is about $50.

It looks way better in person, I'm just a crappy photographer. (I don't know how to light or use macro well) The rep dial/print/markers look very fake next to the gen. The quality of polish on the markers makes all the difference. Plus the date sits in there perfectly with the gen dial, it's no longer too deep.

They may have more stock now. My hands and dial from Ofrei only took 4 days to get to me. (Your mileage may vary.)

Nice! Who sells this model for $95?

Ok, but I'm a crappy photographer! Sorry the pic is so bad. The dial markers and the hands have that perfect shine/symmetry that the rep lacks. Made a 100% difference. Plus the lume is insane.

Yeah, I'm not sure about water resistance with the HE open either. Mine is missing a gasket for the crown when it's closed (Anybody know the size?) but it does look to be designed like a real HE valve. Any experience with the inserts sold on ebay? Are the pearls any better than on the rep, or am I just going to have to make one? I'm pretty damn happy with this rep, with the gen dial and hands it really looks fantastic. The case looks to be slightly thicker on the crown side than the gen, so I may take some metal off there, but I guess I'll have to wait until I get the gen crown and tube installed to judge that properly. BTW: If anybody needs a 4th gen dial and hands (The second hand is slightly damaged (Not my doing, it came that way,) let me know. I'll let them go cheap.

Thanks! Is the bezel insert the totally wrong size? (I know I have to buy the whole bezel assembly) Also, in case anybody is wondering, the helium valve in these looks like it is real. I don't know if it actually works, but it isn't just a dummy crown. Maybe I should get a hobby lathe and make a pearl for the current insert. I wish it had the pearl of the ultimate 45 PO.

Hi everybody, I got a 42mm PO from Wo-Mart, all is well, except the divers extension in the clasp. I have already put in a gen dial and hands, (Fit perfectly and really worth it in my opinion) and plan on a gen crown and tube when I get around to it. I can live with the divers extension not locking for awhile, but its really starting to bug me. I see it's only about $100 from Ofrei, but I cant tell if it comes with the divers extension part. Has anybody done this to theirs? Also, has anybody bought a gen bezel- does it fit on Wo-mart's 42 PO? The pearl is driving me crazy.