Stephane

Oh, Jojo, splendid selection.

Thanks for these nice words Wow, if my home is hosting the reference 196, I hope I will be the best host possible Talking about details Amazing, isn't it.

some splendid pics here !!! Thanks for sharing, it's a very nice moment

Yippeeee, another opportunity here to see wonderfull subs !!! My new contribution: 1680 Red & White: The Couple 5513

Well, I forgot to mention that this is my first Chief watch (second one will be Bazz's Ingy that is on the way). It's my first North American time piece I love the effect on the 196. It is indeed not showing blue as often as a double AR but hey, in certain angles the crystal still disappears. Here is a shot I took with the rubber bracelet on today.

You what one says: patience is THE vertue in our hobby Oh, no, not the king...I show them off but many other Rolex vintage collectors here do not show them, that's it

You're so right, I'm really lucky to have obtained it, I realize that. And now I know what is single AR Never say never, but believe me this one, like my vintage Rollies and my 3717 are the last one I would sell and only if I can't feed my kids anymore I would even sell my gens first I think.

Saturday, same watch, different angle, other picture

I'll have a dozen Vietnamese cases please and a glass of Bordeaux

Yes, it is indeed and a little insane at the same time ... Now I realise it was ambitious for a noob to start such a hunt

@All, thanks for your kind words and taking the time to read and share my new lovely baby. Thanks Anton, I will when I need to approach water then I'm sure I will enjoy it for many years indeed. It's for sure one which is not going to leave my home ...unless I become homeless! Thanks again, I'm trully happy Wow, that is one fine Daylight too ! Congrats. Yes, sounds like if we want to look gen, we have to suffer I suspected that there were quite a lot of nice examples out there...Imagine how hard it was to wait for one! Now, I feel even more like a lucky bastard. I wonder why they are unpopular indeed. Seriously, if I had to choose between this one or another chrono, only the 3717 would be first, surely not the Daytonas. Thanks Monsieur Scoobs. Now we can post them in the wristchecks, both of us I see you are very patient Lani. I'm sure you will love it when it comes back from Ziggy.

Panerai 196 Dear All, I finally made it but wouldn't have done without RWG and a little help from a friend. The Grail Precisely 2 years ago I ordered the same watch from an eBay seller. I loved it but of course, as I didn't yet discover RWG, it wasn't "perfectly" accurate. Since then I tried to find a better example. Today it is on my wrist A nice story Now and then senior members were showing their Daylights here. One of them was the one I really would buy if it was for sale: Kruzer's 196. A true torture for me I started to let him know in every post where I saw his 196 that I loved it so much I recently spent some days in the Big Apple and had the chance to see this baby in the flesh. Kruzer and I had a lunch together and he did me the favour to bring it so I could touch it, sniff it Shortly after I returned I got a mail. I couldn't believe what I read: I received the first option on buying that beauty! :sorcerer: The watch It's an Old case 196. The case back is individually serialized 002; second one of the lot from the initial Honpo order. It is a genuine Swiss ETA 7753 that beats under a single ARed crystal by Chieftang. The date wheel is a Lello or Finepics one (Kruz couldn't remember). The combo is great the date isn't sunk and set by the quick set button at 50. The dial and hands have been lumed by Ziggy. Look at how precise the work is A genuine crown is installed and the CG is modified for solid fit and good lever movement. A true pleasure to use it. The following picture speaks for itself about the fine work done by Ziggy here also. Finally, a genuine Panerai brown alligator strap has been generously added to the watch by his previous owner The men behind the watch Ziggy This is my first Ziggyfied watch and believe me, the work is amazing, including under the loupe. I read so many compliments about his work that I'm happy to confirm he does a great job. Hard to believe that it is possible to lume this small parts that well. Congratulations Ziggy, I'm really impressed. Kruzer00 Well, he is a great collector of rep and gens for sure. Most of his rep watches are modded to perfection including this 196. There is something else I would like to say though. He is a generous and elegant person, no doubt. I'm not sure he really wanted to part with it, he was surely not looking for "a DEAL" I suspect a part of his decision to sell it is to do me a favour as he knew I was badly seeking one. I hope you had a good time! Thanks for looking and reading. Cheers Stephane PS: One question for members with Panerai knowledge I bought this strap a while ago. It's hard rubber, not the soft chitty one. Is it accurate to wear the 196 with that strap or is it completely stupid?

. . . This one arrived today! I have no words to say how grateful I'm am

I really like that idea. I'd love to have a PVDed Noob, bracelet included !

wow, these macro are sexy Wear it well Cheers Stephane

I second the Clark choice...it's insane to go for several hundreds for a gen superDome. When I bought my SuperDomes I paid 400

Do I read you well ? Perry, you have a nice opportunity here

I have no idea which is better...sorry. Maybe someone could shime in soon ...

Perry, Put the dome on the DR and get a flat for the GW You will love the flat !!! Cheers Stephane

Hi Perry, If you have the correct case back, then it's the updated indeed, which is cool. On the topic of what is accurate as crystal, there are so many variations that almost everything is accurate. I was very very nervous to get the absolute correct combo in terms of parts a year ago. But members here came with so many examples of the Rolex variations, specialy in vintage Rolies, that I am happy now. A flat or a dome is totaly possible with a GW dial...the white dial might have replaced a double red back then. Same for case back by the way. But I wanted the new generation case back on my great white so it is different from my SR and DR. I think yours is thus perfectly ok Cheers Stephane

@Cats: wear it well. It's going to be a hard time this week. I have to make a choice So, let's start with the young lady

Oh, there are so many members with wonderful time pieces! Impossible to name them all. So, I will name only one as the second one is flying to me while I type this reply ... No doubt it is RepAustria's 1655 Sorry, it is a stolen photo

Thanks, and it's not finished: the Great White will soon have its correct case back! As Kruzer says...the pleasure is also to continue to improve them