TeeJay

I've seen a Vostok Europe watch which I quite like, and it has some awesome cobalt accents on the dial. Although it's a diver's watch, it's on a black leather strap with white stitching, and I think it would look better if the stitching complemented the cobalt accents on the dial. Can anyone recommend anyone who could re-stitch the strap, or would it be as easy to use a permanant marker pen to dye the white stitching? Thanks in advance

I wouldn't like to say for 100% sure, but I think that strap is actually from a Breitling.

As others said above, the guy was being a jerk by ridiculing you in public like that. It's possible that he didn't know your watch was a rep, but was just jealous (You said he was young) so just trying to make himself look/feel better by trying to make you look bad. It's also possible that something about your age/dress etc gave you away. I had a similar encounter where a snooty proprietor called out my Submariner. The fact my Submariner has previously passed as gen with an experienced jeweller (untill he opened the case) meant that this other snoot simply figured from my age/clothes that I couldn't afford a gen Rolex, so called me out. If I wanted gens, I'd buy gens, I buy reps because they're better value for money

Thanks for the info, I'll check it out

Thanks for the recommendations, I think this might indeed be one to add to my list

Could you PM me Jurgen's site, please? I've been looking at Ofrei for the Omega straps, and saw that he couldn't shipt alligator outside of the US, which was precicely what I was looking for... Thanks in advance

Just a yay or nay thread really. I'm tempted to get one, but wondered how people would compare them to Omegas and Rolexes. Are they better, worse, called out more or less? Just a general all round question

If I was in your position, I'd go back, politely point out the problems, and ask them to clean inside the crystal and to put the crown guard back on the right way. I've never handled a Panerai, so I can't comment on how easy they are to disassemble compared to an Omega or a Rolex, but those are very easy watches to open up and clean the crystal. As long as you don't go in calling them incompetant morons, I'm sure they'd be prepared to correct things (which where, afterall, their mistakes) Best of luck

Another option you might like to consider, is ordering a very cheap rep of a Rolex Daytona with a leather strap. Throw the Daytona in the trash, and put the Submariner on the leather strap. That gives the watch a much more elegant look than either the SS Bracelet or a NATO strap. Best of luck

That's cool, I'm not going for a 100% accurate 6200 look, and certainly not a vintaged one. If anything, my intention was to do a modern homage to the 6200, a kind of how one might look if Rolex were to make one today with contemporary parts. Knowing what Rolex is like, they (as a company) probably wouldn't hesitate to use the bezel and insert that is used today rather than the original design. As for it not being a Sub, that's no problem, as the 1953 6200 wasn't a sub... It wasn't called that for another 2 years :wink: My other criteria for the project, was it couldn't involve too many part replacements (bezel, crown, crystal etc) as the Submariner I'm going to be buying will likely be less than accurate, so it was more a case of fitting a new dial, and then manipulating the existing case/crystal into something visually similar to the 6200 One thing's for sure, I'm likely going to put the watch on my bleached leather strap rather than keeping it on the SS Bracelet.

This has become a planned project to utilise the 'left over' Submariner watch from when I make my planned GMT Submariner (which will involve transplanting a Submariner dial into a GMT Master II) Initially, I considered simply getting a Tudor dial and installing it, but felt that that wouldn't be much of a challenge or project, then I thought of the Rolex Oyster Perpetual 6200. The watch Ian Flemming originally wrote for Bond to wear in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (Watch is identified by name, and described as having 'large, luminous numbers', and the 6200 circa 1953 is the only Rolex that meets these descriptions) This is what the watch looks like: I've managed to find someone who will produce the dial, and also sells vintage watch parts, so obtaining the correct bezel insert will not be a problem. However, I am making a minor change in the dial. Rather than the aged yellow, I am having the dial printed in the white/grey the Rolex uses on its contemporary watches. Essentially, I want this to look like a watch that has just been manufactured, not one that is 54 years old. Bearing this in mind, I recalled reading on another watch forum how when people sent their Rolexes back for servicing, the policy is to make them look 'as new', so any faulty (or simply outdated) parts get replaced, and the watch gets re-finished. This made me wonder, if Rolex were to manufacture a 6200 today, would they still use the same design bezel and insert, or would they simply use the ones from the contemporary Submariner? And that is essentially what I would like people's opinion on. Should I order an insert which is like those used on the original 6200s, or should I just keep the existing insert in place? Other planned aspects of the project, will be to remove the cyclops from the crystal (bearing in mind that the flat crystal is what Rolex now installs on it's dateless watches) and to totally remove the crown guards (yes, the modern Oyster case has crown guards, but the original did not, and I think that will be a nice homage to the original cases) What do folks think? Any advice, tips or questions are always welcomed

That's the one, awesome find, Dario The one I saw was grainy B&W, that's much better. Still a bit hard to identify definite model features. What's the likelihood he's had another model made like the Slytech?

It's the quartz version. The tell is that the 3 marker is larger than it is on the automatic

Nice to see another Submariner on a Daytona strap

I saw in a newspapaer today an article half ridiculing, half praising Stalone for doing another Rambo film. One of the photos, showed him (presumeably on set) with a Panerai strapped to his left wrist. It was a black and white photo, and pretty grainy, so no idea as to dial or strap details, but the D-Shape of the crown guard was unmistakeable. The watch was definitely black (so PVD) and on 'a black strap' (could've been fabric, leather or rubber but impossible to tell) Has anyone else got any info on this watch, or is this an exclusive announcement?

Ahh, assuming that's the case, would getting it running again be classed as 'regulation', or 'a service', in your opinion? I'm going to drop the watch into a the watchsmiths who were prepared to work on my Planet Oceans tomorrow, and if I can point them in the right direction, then that could help with the cost of the repair... I would, but I have a habit of fiddling with something if it's something I think I can do myself (the above mentioned watchsmith even told me to give it a try myself before definitley booking the watch in for regulation) It was gaining a minute a day, which to me, is unnacceptable. My other Omega reps have never gained more than 10 seconds a day, one was even at -2 a day, so for this one to be so far off COSC standard, (and given it was a consistent gain) was too much to ignore, and it didn't seem too tricky to attempt myself. Mental note to self: Do not attempt to regulate watches anymore. Part swapping is one thing, regulation is something that needs a professional's touch.

Freddy, would you be prepared to sell one of the bracelets? If so, how much would you be asking?

PM's not working, so I'll post the question here... I was trying to regulate my SMP, and it suddenly died on me. All I touched was the regulating arm of the movement, and it simply stopped (the same problem I had with trying to regulate my other Omegas) I can't think of anything I've done that would have damaged the movement, and the spring still seems in place. I'm not going to let this put me off learning more about mechanical watches, and, although I'm annoyed at myself that it has also died, I just wish I knew what I had actually done, so I could be sure not to repeat the mistake, but all I've done, is moved the regulating arm... Can you make any suggestions? Thanks in advance

Would I be right in thinking that this watch was something else that the Cartel have mis-represented? PMing you on another issue

I suspect the dealer I got my SMP from does personal QC, as her sales site says the items are shipped from China, however, the envelope that arrived was British, with UK post marks, so I suspect she orders them in from China, then sends them on from her own address. The dealer I got my Planet Ocean's from also orders from suppliers and then forwards the products on themself.

I just use a 1.5mm jeweller's screwdriver for bracelet or straps. With a strap, I just slide the tip between the strap and lug so it touches on the springbar, and then make minute 'scratching' motions untill it catches on the bar's ridges, then just press down fully and pop the springbar out Thanks I just wish the watch itself would consistently work... What was supposed to be an upgrade project, is now going to require so many different parts, it would be as easy to simply buy a new watch and swap the dial over, which makes the idea of the project pretty redundant...

You wouldn't say that if it was strapped to your wrist and you could see just how bad (and loose) the gape was I just tried putting the strap on my 2531.80 project watch (which has mysteriously started working again (in a somewhat erratic fashion) and the strap goes great with the black 'vintaged' dial. I think it'll probably be safe to go on the Aqua Terra I'm planning on ordering, and likely also the X-33 I'm going to order (I wanted a watch that would be 'Corporate Smart' just in case, and another that just wouldn't look expensive at all)

Indeed I do have the Omega rubber strap. I tried fitting it, but it has a really bad gape. For it to fit properly, I would need a second set of holes drilled in the lugs. Here's how it looked though...

Indeed, thw wrist shot was the more accurate representation of the color, as the second, the flas made the color of the strap much more intense. To describe it visually, I would classify the primary color as dark chocolate, and the color of the 'cracks' and stitching as a dark toffee color. I know what you mean, it did look classy, and as mentioned by chrgod, gives a look of, if not 'aged vintage', certainly 'inherited'. I think folks are indeed right, the SMP looks best on it's bracelet, and that's how I'll be keeping it. The strap will find a new watch to support though, so nothing has gone to waste

If I'm wearing a watch with an SS Bracelet while using the computer (or drawing) I take it off and put it on the desk. That said, I don't work in an office, and don't know how trustworthy your co-workers are. A leather bracelet might be a safer option