TeeJay

An idea I had which I thought would look quite cool, and wondered what people thought... Black dial Railmaster with Planet Ocean hands. What do people think? Worthwhile replacement of the hands (from a visibility/uniqueness point of view) or simply not worth the hassle? Thanks in advance

Is there absolutely no way the crown will re-insert and lock back into position? It sounds like the crown might not have been properly engaged inside the movement, which might explain the stopping and it coming right out... Best of luck with repairs or the return

I think I'm quite a way off stripping movements for a while I'll probably get round to it eventually, but for now, I'm happy to do swaps and let pros build the movement (as I've no way of regulating them) I've been thinking about this, and although the sentimental in me says keep my bracelet, the fact is I wouldn't use it, as I simply prefer the Planet Ocean on rubber rather than SS. I've already got my Submariner on SS, and an SMP on the way... However... As both bracelets have already been adjusted and are missing links (I've actually lost the spare links for mine) would you be interested in both bracelets so you could take parts from both to make one decent bracelet that would fit you? The bracelet from my watch has six links either side of the clasp, and the other bracelet has five links one side, six links the other. The clasp on the smaller bracelet actually has better etching than mine, and the clasp (including Diver's Extension) closes more securely. The etching reads Omega Seamaster Professional (Rather than Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean) If you're still interested, just let me know

I suspect Corgi is thinking that such comments, which are quite tollerated at RWGI, also flies as humor here...

Really? I have to admit, I wasn't expecting it to be very comfortable at all, but was pleasantly surprized. Personally, I find that the velcro sports straps are the most uncomfortable.

Although I like the Submariner on SS bracelet as a 'smart' watch, it doesn't see nearly enough wrist time, because I know the chances of someone my age wearing a genuine Rolex are slim. I needed to buy the strap for my Casio dive watch, as it's own bracelet got broken, but, I think the strap might also serve to give the Submariner an occasional outing. Having looked at the ToyWatch site, I rather liked the look of the Submariners on NATO, as it has a more rugged/casual look, and, by wearing the watch on a strap rather than the original bracelet, viewers might think it was inherited rather than a recent purchase... Without further ado...

After a troubled few days, my black Planet Ocean is back on my wrist As you will note, the second hand is shorter than the hand originally fitted (but I understand this shorter hand is accurate to the 42 PO) and the replacement crown has been swapped with the crown from the Pumpkin Twin...

PM sent

Thanks guys, the black Planet Ocean was never intended to be a project watch, simply a gift my fiance bought me for christmas. My only goal was to get it running again so I could wear it for my gran's funeral next week. My Project watch, I think might have indeed breathed it's last, but, I'm still going to take it in to see if the movement is repairable. If it's a case of a simple movement transplant, I'll do that from the donor watch I'll be getting for the new hands, bezel and insert. I'm still planning on putting it on a dark brown leather strap Goldeneye Style, and when finished, that'll be my 'going out with friends' watch. The Planet Ocean is a nice watch, but I don't want to run the risk of it getting banged about during an evening's activities, and a self-assembled watch would certainly be a better talking point than a rather quick "it was a gift..." (as well as being more 'disposeable', for want of a better word)

From my own recent 'experiences' with movement regulation, I would think it might need professionally regulating. Might be worth taking it into a small jewellers/watchmakers and seeing what they can do for you. Best of luck

I think killing my black PO and project watch were necessary steps in the learning curve. I'd taken my watches into a jeweller to be fixed, but, following my success with the dial replacement, I went in this morning and retreived them... I've performed a full movement transplant between my Planet Oceans. Black now has Orange's movement, crown and second hand (shorter than the hand it had) so is now looking more accurate, running perfectly, and still has the original dial with white numerals rather than the pumpkin numerals. Orange now has the faulty movement, and, I actually bent the hour hand removing it (had no problem with the other ones though) so I'm debating wether it's worth getting a watch fixed that I wouldn't wear much, or if I should break it down and sell it as parts... I think the movement in the black PO still needs better regulating, but I'm not touching that, that's something I'm definitely leaving to the professionals, but the actual transplant went without hitch A big thankyou to everyone who posted to advise what I might've done to my project watch, and a huge thankyou to Edge, who's guide on breaking down a Submariner showed me how to remove the movements and gave me the confidence in my ability to do so.

Interesting watch, but definitely not my cup of tea...

Even stranger update. Emboldened by the watch getting a 2nd Wind, and reading Edge's guide to disassembling a Submariner, I decided to go for broke and change the dial. I got the crown out, movement and dial out, hands off, dial off, all without problem. The dial was not a perfect fit, but a little filing of the edges, and it soon fit. The hands weren't too bad to get back on (I'm pretty pleased with myself that I did all this without a loupe) I then put the movement back in the case and re-inserted the crown. The watch started straight away, so I put the back on, and thought a job well done. But. The movement then began as it had been yesterday. Running for a few seconds in a face down position, but stopping in any other position. I'll take some pics tomorrow to show how the dial swap went, but I'm very pleased with the results. So pleased infact, I shall be going back to the jewellers tomorrow, re-claiming my Planet Oceans, and doing the movement swap myself (and leaving the project watch to be examined) If that's as easy to swap as this was, I'll soon have my Black PO back on my wrist

This was the only picture I could find, but it does the job...

I have not seen an SMP chrono on a leather strap, but, at the beginning of Goldeneye, Sean Bean and Pierce Brosnan were both wereing their 2541.80 SMPs on leather straps. The seen at the end where Bean compare's his watch to Brosnan's 'New Model', shows that it is a dark brown leather strap. Looks pretty sharp

Unexpected is an understatement. Although it worked yesterday while face down, any other position, and it would just stop, which was why I suspected some kind of balance mechanism out of whack. Had it on since my post, and that has involved about an hour's brisk walking, as well as sitting quietly watching TV. It appears to be keeping perfect time... Looks like the project has resurrected itself, so indeed, more pictures of the project will be shown as the project progresses

I haven't got one on order, but I do have Omegas (in various states of functionality ) on rubber strap. (same strap, different watches) I would make your decision based on when you are likely to be wearing the watch and the image you want it to have. If you want it to look rugged, then go with the rubber. If you want it to look elegant and smart, go with leather. Another small detail, is I've yet to get either 2531.80 or Planet Ocean under a shirt cuff while worn on a rubber strap. SS bracelet, not a problem, but a shirt cuff? No go... Best of luck with your decisions

I can't explain how or why, but I just looked at my project watch, and it has decided to start working again Up, down, left right, it's still working regardless of the position I shall keep a very close eye on it to see how it maintains time and function, but even if it decides to stop again, this is certainly a strange occurence... Glad I didn't throw it in the bin this morning afterall

There's been another 'death in the family'... I was trying to regulate my Planet Ocean (moving the correct lever this time) and it just died. I've taken it (and the Orange) into a jewellers and they're going to get back to me. I've asked if the if the movement could be repaired if it is fixable, and if it's not, then I've said they can use the Orange as a donor for the movement. They're going to be getting back to me about the costs and possibility. Another 'blow', was that I first tried the watchmaker who had fixed my Submariner before. Yesterday they said they wouldn't do anything with the project watch as they couldn't guarantee it would work, and they didn't want to charge for when they couldn't be sure it would work, but today, he denied (talking to his assistant rather than me) even touching the Planet Ocean and said he wouldn't swap the movements. Now, if he's got enough work that he doesn't have to take stuff like this on, good for him. Personally, I think he couldn't tell the difference between the 2531.80 yesterday, and the Planet Ocean today (neither on straps for ease of carrying) They said yesterday that although the could pressure test a watch, they couldn't actually do the waterproofing themselves. Call it sour grapes if you like, but I get the hunch that this guy doesn't really know as much about watches as he should, and didn't want to get involved with a mechanical movement for fear of totally wrecking it. (when I took my Rolex in last, I asked for it to be regulated and it never was) Seriously lost faith in the guy. As a result, I am 'in mourning', and, as pennance for killing the watches, I am forcing myself to wear this: I shall wear it untill either my SMP arrives, or my Planet Ocean is fixed (told that could take 3 weeks)

I thought (key word being thought) I rememered which piece I needed to move to regulate the movement. It was the - + signs and the scale by the 'large screw' that made me think that that was the piece I needed to adjust. I should've checked what I was doing, and it was a stupid mistake to make, but, it's one I can learn from. I've been trying to regulate my Planet Oceans by adjusting the correct lever with some mixed results, but I think I've got them just right. If the worst comes to the worst, I'll just have to take them into a jewellers to be regulated professionally, and let the expense be another reminder to properly research what I'm doing, and not just rush in

That's not a problem. As I said, my dad used to work for an F1 company, and although I didn't follow him into engineering, the projects we've done together have given me a very accurate eye for detail (ie lining up the edge of a lever with the edge or curve or something of another part of the case) A loupe will indeed be an aquisition, but for now, I'm having to work by eye, so I'm being extremely carefull with what I'm doing, and only moving things a hair's breadth at a time... With regards to the Position A to Position B and back to Position A again scenario, would such a location and re-location of a lever revert the rate to as it was (or as close as possible without an analyzer) before the lever was moved?

I'll be wearing this for the forseable future

No, a very cheap 2531.80 Although using an analyzer is the only way to accurately adjust beat rate, if the lever was moved from Position A to position B and then back to Position A, would the timing rate return to how it was when it was first at Position A? The only way we learn is by mistakes, the key thing is to learn from them and not repeat them