SMP Chrono

My watchmaker machined/milled a tiny brass tube to avoid having to glue the Gen crown tube to the case. I'd consider this as the "perfect ultimate" solution (apart from an Gen case, that is *g*)

Got a severely frankened Chrono in the works too. Gots to be finished any day now. Watch out for my other thread...

Would definitely purchase a Rep Daytone the very day a really close version comes out... I have been spoiled by my SMP Chrono, I must admit even more so when it will be finished...

Nice franken, where did you source the parts?

Had a bit of luck... fellow members and ebay. The offers just came when I needed them

Would you be able to post a side by side picture of both of the dials?

Once the watch is finished, I will use a better digicam and do some close-ups. I already planned to put the Rep dial next to the watch for a comparison, so stay patient, can still take 2 weeks... but I already seriously doubt that the final result will be distinguishable from the Gen in any way

- this was a double posting, dunno why -

I'm looking forward to seeing it, are you doing the mods yourself Oliver or do you know someone who can do it for you? Matt

Partly myself (bezel, spring bars, bracelet [i just sourced a used Gen bracelet, too!], caseback and such), but I leave the delicate things to my local, totally Rep-friendly and ultra experienced (50+ years in business) watchmaker.

P.S.: Only yesterday I discovered the feedback system here... of course gave you a plus could you be so kind and rate me, too?

Finally the main hour and minute hands made it here too, so off we go... stay tuned!

yea, thanks for your input!

I know that already, though.... that's why I won't have the small red hands replaced, but just painted to match the red on the Gen dial and Gen chrono second hand. The Gen chrono second hand will fit after following Franciscos's guide to replace the Rep chrono second wheel in order to correct the minute inaccuracy issue as described in my original post.

Still no post from Canada - damn, why does that take SO long? I had hoped to get my watch back in all its new glory already in May...

I especially like how the poster claimed to have received the watch from an AD!

From what I read in the thread, he even went so far to simulate a Gen buying process... like asking for what AD was the best, claiming to have been drooling at the AD's window (ok, I can believe THAT) and so on... trying it on and stuff... probably that's why they didn't want to believe to beaing cheated in the first place

I seriously doubt my SMP Chrono would be ripped apart when it's finished - even if I walked into an AD with it some day to look at some other watch ;-)

WOW. That's going to be the benchmark SMP Chrono. Amazing. Yup...the watch matches your nick.

Yea, that's the target! But also the way there is fun already

I even had my nick name changed to match the watch a few weeks ago

Good work on sourcing the parts.

Good work on providing all the information @all the folks here! I am now really thinking about becoming a supporter. I totally like this place now. Not only it is loaded with the stuff that really matters, but I only experienced friendly guys here, even the very knowledgeable ones. A big thank you to y'all! U know who u r

Pop a Swiss 7750 in there and it will be at the next level!!

This is one of the early batch SMP Chronos which has a nicely engraved and decorated "Omega" genuine-like rotor... well, if there's a gen 7750 for very cheap, I might do so... but it gots to be really cheap, as my A7750 runs flawlessly - I had it just fully serviced and it runs to COSC specifications. As I am having the minute flaw corrected, only time will tell whether I put a swiss 7750 in or not...

P.S.: As for the differences between Gen and Rep dial... the Rep dial on this watch is actually very accurate. But if you see them, removed from the watch, side by side, you notice the following on the Rep: 1) "swiss made" too high and slightly too bold 2) date window frame slightly too bold 3) 3 and 9 o'clock marker have not the same sizes 4) wave pattern not as prominent and slightly out of shape where it intersects with other elements of the dial 5) the color is too "blue", as with the Rep bezel, too 6) the chrome frame around the totalizers is too narrow and of course 7) the lume is [censored] compared to the Gen dial

So this is the one-and-for-all myth buster that the Rep dial was indistinguishable from the Gen dial :-p

One month ago, I aready modded my beloved SMP Chrono with a gen crown/tube, gen date disc, and gen bezel - first level

Now, parts finally start to arrive left, front, and right *g* Still waiting for the gen minute and hour hands from Canada - can only take a few days more, maybe Monday - who knows - and then my watch gets the true overhaul with gen dial, gen minute/hour and chrono second hands, plus a gen chrono second hand wheel to correct the minute inaccuracy issue as described here: click

After that, I only need a decent gen bracelet - and my SMP Chrono will be spot on! JFYI, I can source the Gen caseback for €50 + shipping - NEW! Maybe I will try that out, too. To boldly franken, such far as nobody frankened before... it's really fun! Thank you guys who infected me

(will post finished project in this thread when it's done!)

Well... I am from Germany - but from western NRW, not Munich, unfortunately... is it something that only a munich resident could help with? Lemme know if not!

Perfect! I would do mine, if I didn't have the crappy date font. It's just not worth it on mine..

Mine had the crappy font, too - a replacement date disc is cheap and can be thrown in by any watchmaker.

Ofrei and H.W. Perrin will likely have the gen dials available (new so more pricey than you may prefer).

extremely more pricey :-o oh damn...

I don't mind the rep bezel...but know the low pearl is annoying and would swap that out instantly if an economical solution existed.

First I also thought it was just about the pearl... to repeat myself: once you see them side by side, nothing's gonna be the same again... hehe

The differences are subtle enough to not show up clearly using my cheap digital camera, but strong enough that they scream "Gen" or "Rep", respectively, to a true Omega-nerd.

On the other hand...I don't mind the rep bracelet...even though many folks find it lower quality. The main flaws to me are the quality of the finish on the INSIDE of the bracelet...while I think the viewable outside looks close enough for me.

Exactly. That's why I won't force a Gen bracelet.

The dial wave pattern isn't as deep...but I don't mind this. The lume isn't great...but hey...not a huge priority for me on this one...and that I think is the primary reason to get a gen dial.

Also here: Once you see a Gen and a Rep side by side... the hands ain't that bad at all, it is just the lume, and that they're reasonably cheap bought new.

Right now, the watchmaker has my watch apart for a repair... and I missed an auction on a Gen dial 2nite So I need to find a dial while the watch is still apart... *sigh*

A gen bezel insert would be nice to have the pearl moved up...but for me, NOT at the cost of having to get an entirely new bezel.

Check the eBay auction I spotted (other thread) - will probably go for about $100. One has to see both bezel side by side to notice how bad the Rep one really is...

Apparently the new release of this watch has the bracelet with pins instead of screws if you're so inclined. I couldn't care less about this either.

Interesting. But for the price of a new rep, well maybe there comes up a good condition Gen bracelet some day - this isn't something any close to the top of my list, either. Right now I really need a Gen dial

The newer asian 7750 28,800 version has different hand sizes to the genuine 7750 and the older 21k asian. I forget the measurements but they are on the board here somewhere.

So genuine hands won't fit without some modifications

Yea, that's what I learned here too - at least for the chrono seconds hand. Information is not totally clear, though, as for the other hands. Maybe somebody did this himself recently? Mine is 28k8.

We should really collect information about this specific watch in one thread... as there's so much that can apparently be frankened on it

Lookee here: Gen SMP Chrono bezel From the pictures it indeed looks immaculate.

This will make a really great and simple upgrade to your watch's appearance. Did it myself just recently... read more about that here: My SMP Chrono w/ Gen bezel

Is your SMP A7750 or quartz?

(A)7750 of course. Are there really any quartz SMP Chrono Reps out there? Must rather be an Emoga Seamonster then ;-)

Already got Gen bezel, crown, crown tube, date disc, date wheel.

Anybody who got something to offer - don't hesitate to PM me! Can pay by paypal immediately.

Howdy,

now as I am infected with the Franken virus, I am looking for a Gen dial and Gen hands for my Seamaster Chrono. Anybody here selling such parts?

I understand that the chrono seconds hand won't fit, unless its wheel will be exchanged, too (what I maybe will have done to my watch, too, along with the chrono minute counter corrected). But do all other hands fit? And the dial, too?

Thanks!

AMAZING! Now I need somebody in Germany to do this to my beloved SMP Chrono... and at a price I can afford!

Francisco covered it HERE

Thank you VERY much!!

Now that's interesting. My SMP Chrono also has this flaw, the chrono minute hand starts to tick over at 58 seconds and jumps to the next minute at 59 seconds. This sort of annoys me. I have learned from this thread that this is indeed a design flaw. Can't the responsive (poorly made) parts/gears simply be exchanged by their respective genuine ETA counterparts? If so, what are they?