CptTripps

Thanks for your great offer my friend, but my understanding is the black gen insert requires a little fettling/sanding to get it to fit the TC LV Sub Type II whereas the gen green LV insert snaps straight in.

I've already got it on my TC now. So it's not a problem if you want it.

I have a gen black insert you can borrow (while you're waiting) if you want. PM me and we can work it out.

BTW: I'll say it, in case others don't...

Congrats on a great watch! That's real cool. I'm glad one of the "good guys" here got one.

Pics of the crown side? That's the piece I was thinking was going to be the real "tell" on this watch.

Also, what's the weight like? I imaging it's real light.

Unfortunately, I forgot that I'd already shaved the one insert to fit a rep case, so when I tried to put it on a gen bezel today, it was loose. Bummer.

I'm going to do it to the other insert later today. Then, double-dip the red section to see if that has a better effect on it. I'm also going to wax the back, so it doesn't fade at the same rate. Genuinely faded inserts aren't faded on the back. ;-)

This is going to look real cool on a Pan-Am dial that I have. Should make for a bad-ass watch!

Second thought, submerse the bezel up to the color change line and dampen the intensity of the red.

Thought about that. I may do it tomorrow. Just to see.

I have another 1675 on the way, so I'm going to load this one up on that watch to see what it looks like. Should be cool.

Now...do I have the stones to do it to my gen insert?

...not yet.

(But I sure won't be buying an "aged" insert any time soon.)

Here's what it would look like on on gen 1675

(Just placed it over the other one.)

I got a few generic inserts to play with. Lets see if I can do 40yrs of aging in under 2min.

Step 1: Buy an insert.

Step 2: Buy drain cleaner.

Step 3: Find a plastic dish and add 1/4" of aforementioned cleaner.

Step 4: Grab a kabob skewer or something WOODEN to pull the insert.

Step 5: Be careful not to touch the insert with your fingers. Grease=bad. Plop the insert into the cleaner and watch it. At about 45sec, you'll see it start to change. At 60sec...PULL IT OUT WITH THE WOODEN STICK.

Step 6: Run it under hot water for 30sec.

Step 7: Run it under cold water for 60sec.

Here's what you get!

Viola!

Wearing a camo t-shirt today, so I put a NATO on my KW-312. Works real well!

::: the plot thickens :::

If I'm suspicious, I ask for a picture of the [item] with a spoon, or a remote control. No way a pic exists like that in the wild, and it shows that they are paying attention.

I'm waiting for the G series. I'll get that one and do a comparison with my Gen.

My 89 is one of my longest-term watches I've ever owned. Had it about 3 years now and it still gets wrist time. Looks great on a NATO, or a Croc strap. It's just a very versatile watch.

PM Sent

It most definitely is...have a look at the sub-dials.  It is confusing though as the 116523 has the exact same dial...

Ah. I didn't realize that a 116523 dial would fit in a 16520 case/movement. I'd have bought a very different dial if it'd known that!

Good luck. That's a monster build for sure.

That not a zenith dial. Should be an interesting build!

What are the parts?

I think he was just out of his comfort zone and didn't want to admit it. In an hour, I was able to get my datewheel issue fixed, oiled the noisy piece of the rotor, and put the hands back where they belonged. I DO want to send it out to have someone year it all the way down and re-build the movement and lubricate it properly. Mike has too many of my watches right now, so maybe I'll see if I can find someone else CONUS to do it.

I got her torn-town, and back together. Should be in good shape now. I AM missing one screw though. One of the casement screws. I need to buy a bunch of those.

If there's one thing this hobby has taught me...it's patience. (That, and to have $ available when the time is right.)

According to Andrew, there were 300+ pre-orders. That's over $120K in funds that he's been sitting on for a few months now.

Anyone else nervous?

I'm just hoping I can get it back to where it was when I took it in to him!

Next time...I may go that route. I'm "pot committed" right now though.

It turns out that the sound it was making was from the wrong screws being used on the rotor assembly. so they were rubbing. I could have fixed that myself...if I'd just known. At the time, I was afraid of pulling movements apart though. I'm still a little weary...but am OK with the less complicated movements like this one. (The Zenith on the other hand...that's a bit out of my reach still.)

Some of you may remember a thread I started about a funny noise that my 1655 was making. It's a Phong case, with a gen movement. The rotor was 'squeeking' and I wanted to get it taken care of.

I found a local watchmaker that worked on vintage watches. He had a pretty good rep from the 2-3 people I talked to. So on May 30th, I took it up to him to investigate. He looked it over, and thought I could pick it up on Monday. (YOu see where this story is going...don't you?)

A week later, he needed more time. It wasn't running right.

A week later he needed more time...he needed to replace the cannon pinion.

A week later, I didn't get a response to my email or TXTs.

A week later I got an apology, and that he wanted another guy to look at it.

A week later, I didn't get a response again.

A week later...same.

A week later (Friday) I sent him an email and said I'd be coming in on Monday to pick it up.

When I arrived this morning, his face turned white when he saw me. Went in the back to work for a sec...and then came back with my watch. He said he was having an issue with finding a cannon pinion that was the right length, and that the second hand wasn't staying on. He gave me my watch back, and also told me to take the pile of things that I'd gathered from his store while I was waiting for him. (3 leather straps, and a few other misc parts.)

The watch was running when I left, but the date was resetting at 6p...and the GMT hand was nowhere near 12 when it happened.

I pulled the hands when I got back to the office, and reset them back where they belong. I need to work on getting the datewheel to center, but that's a 'nice to have' as, right now, the seconds hand moves with the minute hand, and a little faster than it. Interesting. I'll play when I get home.

So I'm back to square one, and after a little research here, I see that there is a modification you need to make to the cannon pinion to make it work with the older GMT 1570s. I can't find anything that tells me WHAT the mod is though.

Any guidance? I'd really like to wear this watch again. I had it for 2 weeks...he had it for 8.

Wish I could find a green insert. I went black, because it was convenient...not because that's what I wanted.

The title should be what is mike going to build for you lol jk

I've completed a few on my own now...just not the uber-complicated ones! You're my dude for sure though.

*I'm* going to finish the 1016 when you send it back. I'm getting real good with hands and dials now! The 6263 needed to go back so you could look at what was going on with the movement.

I fount the crystal caseback. Looks like it's all for a 117. Just need the movement and a dial. I can manage that!