fishgodeep

"Top Drawer" VDB ...just keeps getting better !! Enjoy FGD

Fantastic - Three of the Best !!! Cheers FGD

I have a high res Gen 002 from Antiquorum that's pretty good for lifting the dial text PM me with email address as it's too large to load here. FGD

Compared to my gen polished version - the construction and engraving looks correct on this for an OEM brushed clasp. There isn't really a great deal of difference between the better quality rep versions and OEM as far as cosmetics is concerned - the feel and operation is different though! Good luck FGD

Without doubt one of the best PAM 24A's I've seen ...excellent work by Ziggy and superb photos!! It's one of those watches that grows and grows on you ...such a distinctive Panerai style that's a collectors classic! Enjoy FGD

That whole combo looks superb Dluddy .... Rolli's PVD is excellent IMHO and the whole watch is just brought to new levels with RG's aged tritium lume and the improved SSS cyclops ...just one step away now! An Iconic "neo-vintage" and all time favorite PAM for me. I just got mine back as well and it hasn't left the wrist since!! Congratulations and enjoy !! FGD

Wow R I'm blown away by this insight into your true skills in action. Seeing the level of precision you operate at and your capture of such perfect macro shots is really like looking at pages in a professionally produced watchmaking book! It's a "Ziggy's Master Class" in the making, with the end result being nothing short of an improvement over a gen rather than any kind of rep! Cheers S FGD

Mighty good work V ...loving hide and craftsmanship and the buckle looks like it's spent plenty time "swimming with the fishes" You have mail FGD

Ditto ... the Panerai engraved swan neck movement is the higher spec and premium finished movement for display back models. A stroke of luck I'd suggest and possibly a rare piece ?? FGD

Sweet ....very very sweet indeed!! Great work T....you'll be wearing that often I expect!! S

I'd suggest this is THE exception to your rule Chief! Mother Nature / evolution (call it what you like) has a lot more experience under her belt than a handful of delusional glory hungry doctors - and probably why the females of our species have only two feedings stations as standard and not 8 like your average canine. FGD

Oh My .....they are very very tasty D ...enough to make a man like me think twice about another PAM... Especially liking the IWC 3717-04 Chrono and the Nautilus!! All the best ...in your box!! FGD

Oh dear ...having just seen the VDB's 2533 and 3646 I realise I have a big BIG infection and there may be no cure!!! Cheers Helmut!!! FGD

Oh my .... I thought I'd seen the best already on this forum ....but it just keeps getting better and better VDB....these are INCREDIBLE!!! Congratulations and huge respect!!! FGD

Thanks for the comments and support guys .......RWG really is a great place .....full of some great people!! Best regards FGD

I hungered for a vintage Panerai having seen the amazing "works of art" posted on these boards over the years but as I seldom venture over 44mm for daily wear I never thought I would enjoy one on my wrist as much as the photos. But my tastes in Panerai models was turning retrospectively more and more each day , pursuing the Pre-A and Pre-Vendome dials was my personal labour of love and I wanted to dip my toe into the vintage pool one day soon. I had the idea of making a contribution to the hobby, kind of like taking a bottle to a party ....I didn't want to turn up empty handed, so I had the 1:1 GPF Mod Dep buckles made and worked with V to perfect these over a period of about 9 months. A very limited and one off production. V has since made some superb straps and ensured that a good portion of these buckles ended up on vintage lovers wrists. With my buckles , I sold/ traded /gave a few of these away and made some great friends and contacts which is where the incredible part of this story really begins for me. RMcSherry - provided me with a fully working Cortebert 616 - which I believe had been re-furbished and repaired by Madasboot R also gave me a case set , case back , hands, a beautiful aged brown MM dial, CG Madasboot Plexi - basically everything needed to build the perfect watch Having attempted to "vintagise" a 3646 case previously and being disappointed with my own results - I knew this deserved the hands of an "artisan" to finish it to the standards I admired. So I replied to a "WTB GPF Buckles" post on RG from Clint Eastwood and soon knew I had hit the jackpot !! I sent all of the parts to Clint , who advised me on additional parts required and then proceeded to carry out the following list of mods for me -slimmed, reshaped, rounded and vintagised the case -reshaped the lugs -custom made single side vintage springbars -reworked CG, without the RG TM, perfectly re-brushed and with new custom made domed lever pin- perfect tight closure on the crown -caseback perfectly re-brushed and domed plexi installed -tube modded to allow for thick dial and perfect lever closure -Madasboot Plexi installed and the white nylon pressure gasket coloured brown -Dial aged and indices aged , first resin filled and then lume applied -stem re-tapped -Movement regulated, the watch keeps more accurate time than my Gen 002-D!!!! Whilst all of this was going on with Clint, I sorted my first strap out. Having seen a "74" vintage reproduction by Old Skool (Zak @ Red12) I knew this was the perfect combo for the watch in progress I traded a few buckles and OS made me THE strap I wanted....100% perfect with sublime details, patina and texture. The really incredible part of the story is that I didn't pay a penny for any of this - just traded buckles and parts with some truly great members on this board. I'm struggling to find words that sum up my gratitude to everyone involved but I am indebted to RMcSherry , Madasboot , Old Skool and last but by no means least , humbled by the generosity and skills of Clint Eastwood for bringing all the parts together to create such a perfect watch. Huge thanks to each of you :notworthy: :notworthy: There's only one flaw , unfortunately some of the paint came away from the dial (at the edges between 8 and 12) due to the thickness of the dial , but know that with the friends I have on this board a new improved dial will be just around the corner Anyway , enough of my ramblings - here's the "ticking" proof of what's possible when RWG brings such people together!!! Thanks and enjoy!!

Can I send my wife to Ziggy then .....?? PS ...my G-Shock Army issue has been going strong for almost 10 years now ...great to to check & regulate any mechanical movement with!!

I have to second what RMcS says ....not only is this watch truly a fusion of art and passion , but Clint Eastwood is a highly talented craftsman and a gentleman with a genuine "Old School" attitude to this hobby. I am yet to post some photos of the watch that I received back from Clint last week, work is just not letting up at the moment , but suffice to say I am honoured , lucky and humbled to be the proud new owner of my 616 powered 6152. All of that said , great respect is due to other the long standing vintage Panerai "artists" , RMcSherry , Madasboot and VDB to name the few I am grateful too. Without these gents my first step back to the 1940's would not have been possible and I am fortunate to have met them through the incredible forum RWG continues to be. All the best FGD

Great photos ...what a beast that Egiziano is ....a great collectors piece but not an everyday beater I'd suggest... Keen to see what DSN can do ...hell of a project to undertake!! FGD

Cheers D...great read and thanks for sharing ....I'm really liking the 331 and 326 ...could be the nicest daylight yet ?? FGD

Beautiful watch ....sorry for not noticing earlier!!! Enjoy it FGD

That looks excellent and a lovely combo ...thanks very much for posting pics !!! Cheers FGD

Robert in SoCal - Looks perfect - just right - I'm waiting for my 6152 to arrive and I'm pairing the same combo up .... Did you ever get one of my GPF buckles ....they are a nice finishing touch IMHO Enjoy FGD

I butchered a 6498 to get mine ...not the way to go on price I also manged (once) to modify the hole on an cheap asian gear to fit a Swiss - not pretty as I only used a swiss file Is it worth swapping out the whole winding gear/ barrel from a good Asian 6497 copy ? I wish some CN manufacturer would make OPII engraved bridges instead of those foil plates as well FGD

Arch - you spoil me with your kind comments ....I'm sat here with my chest all puffed out with a cheesy grin :D This is the new dial - un-lumed indices at present so they look a tad wider in some of the shots as the sides and base of the etched markings merge to the human eye. The last shot shows the actual width of the etching which IMHO is circa 98% accurate to original ? The brown/ white-ish colouring is the raw steel that is exposed via the etching process - just waiting to have some lume applied in a Pre-Vendome stylee!!! Cheers FGD