DC109

8 minutes ago, oldtools said:

Do you have some calipers to measure the dial diameter? Maybe cut something to the exact dial seat diameter and measure that too.

Both great ideas--I don't have calipers.  The dials I tried are only too big by a fraction of a millimeter, so too small and precise a measurement for me to get with a ruler.  I know a genuine dial should be 27.4mm, so I'm hoping all the reps I have tried are just too close to 28 to fit the precise cutout for a gen case... but maybe I've just got to get some calipers.

Hello experts, I picked up a "gen" 16613 case years ago and it has been sitting in the parts drawer.  I decided to start a build, but found that the first several dials I dropped in are too big.  They include: a 2017 JF 16610 (back when some of them had slightly large dials/movements), a 2016 Noob V6 116610LV, and a TC KH dial.  Maybe this is because the gen case has tighter tolerances, but it has me worried the case is a very good looking but badly performing rep.  Here are some photos--I'm hoping others can weigh in!

You have a 93250 SEL bracelet on there.  Anything before 1999 would definitely have hollow end links. One more step!

I'd ask for closeups of each SEL-lug point.  Based on the bottom pic, it looks like it's nearly flush.  Unless it's just an off pic, JF bracelet fitment is generally better than that. 

Does this have the working HEV like Noob claims the 116660 does?

Can we see the front?  I'd love to know how the JF dial lines up with a TC case, given that the JF rehaut looks a little wokkier.

One other thing to consider: the real genius of a GMT is that you don't have to set the hour to change your second time at all.  Why not just use the bezel?  Remember these were invented for pilots who changed time zones often enough that they needed a way to avoid not only the hassle, but also wear and tear on the movement, crown and tube of resetting their watch with every trip.  To each their own, but to me, using the independent hour hand instead of the bezel to change your second time defeats the purpose.

The rounded top surface on all four lugs and the melted-looking ends of the CGs make pretty clear that this has been heavily polished.  I know less about dial details and second hand sizes than the experts here, but if the seller is claiming it has "never been polished" when it obviously has been, I'd view his other claims as suspect too. 

Good thing you didn't trade in your Explorer!

22 hours ago, dbane883 said:

The Italian guy's cases are Fake/rep. I forget his name. Starts with an "M" I think, but he's like the Phong of Italy. In fact, I think he takes phong cases and then reworks them.

The Italian seller is Marcello Comezzi, who is based in Italy.  All of his cases that I have seen on eBay have been great looking. Too bad he tries to pass them off as genuine on there, especially since he readily offers to make you whatever vintage case you want if you email him.  His site is http://marcellocomezzi.com

I have wondered the same, and never found any options.  As gen prices for 16570 and 16710 climb, it's surprising no one has made a GMT case. in the TC/Sean/Phong quality range.

The first bit of "Arabic" above the cannons doesn't say anything.  The part below seems to say "al-makramti," which doesn't mean anything, an isn't a name Google has ever heard of. 

Will post one tomorrow. In the meantime I notice the pics I have include the 'stainless steel' under the lug and have the lug serial facing the right way. I'm not aware of any factories getting that right yet, but am I wrong?

Talking to a new but seemingly very trustworthy gen forum member about buying a 300 Master Co-Axial.  I think PayPal's protection is good enough to take the plunge either way, but would love to know if you guys think this is gen!

I have tiny wrists too and there's one other solution not mentioned back then or in the revival threads: farmer's walks. Give it a few months and you'll need an extra link you can add to the back and balance everything out.

Angled. I have a gen Z series as well as a gen mid case T series (review comparing to TC overdue!) and both taper. The amount of taper increases slightly as you move from the case center out.

Looks ok so far, but if you can, add pics showing the the crown position. Get a shot from the side centered on the crown, preferably with no angle (i.e. The non-crown side lugs are lined up directly behind the crown side lugs, and you can't see into the midcase On the gen 16750, the crown sits extremely high. No reps out there doing this right yet. Also, get a few shots like the ones above but clearly showing the rehaut in focus. The only decent 1675 and 1675 rep cases still have far too wokky rehaut angles.

Proportions of the 12 o'clock triangle index are way off--not narrow enough.  I could be wrong, and maybe there was a short run of gen dials with this shape, but the only other place I have seen this is Yuki.  Of course the hands add to a picture of something here being not quite right.  All that said, I have this same dial in an otherwise gen 1675, and it looks good!

Amazing--after reporting I sent the guy a message asking him to take down an obviously fraudulent sale, and got this response: 

"Which price that you will buy the Rolex? We have both real or the replica one, which one you prefer?"

Reported.  Awesome pic of a GMT in the last shot there.   What an asshat.

Some say the rehaut is at a different angle, or is a different depth, or maybe it's an optical illusion created by a different finish/texture.  Either way, it can look a little different from gen.

If you have a V5 bracelet, the SEL is a giveaway.  The raised center portion sits much higher than on the gen.

Still I bet it looks great--post some pics!

The case at least is legit.  On the side shot, look at how the crown (which based on scale appears to be 5mm, comparing to my 1675 gen case) sits above center, and how the CGs fit around int naturally.  From the back, again look at the CGs and notice the nice V-shaped notch surrounding the crown.  I don't think 

Barring one of the top end Vietnamese or Italian makers, I'd bet the case is gen. 

Meant 'relisted.' Thanks, ipad.

Just emailed with a google translated message asking if they can do a sterile 5510 case. Will start a new thread if I can find out anything!

so did John Meyer buy this or was it Charlie Sheen ?

Neither--looks like it has been reliatd yet again. Definitely interested in the case maker, though. Wonder if he can do a decent 5510 or 6538?

I think it looks great. In addition to the hands and movement markings, there are a couple other minor tweaks that seem like they'd be easy to make for a V2: either the hour markers or hour hand are too short, since the tips touch on the gen. The dial here looks a little less textured, and the faux vintage lume is not quite orange enough.

Then again, with the rep getting out before the gen, even serious Omega fans might be hard pressed to tell the difference!

Looks outstanding!  Which "Vietnam" supplier did you go with?