chrgod

While searching eBay for fun watches, I came across this "WW2 German Military watch" Actually, the seller is reasonabely honest in his description. "I bring to your attention rarest Swiss collectables mechanical wristwatch OMEGA AVIATOR LACO for German Army, Luftwaffe, and WWII period. An analogous watch was used in military Luftwaffe Pilots, but remained the privilege of officers. From pocket watch is altered in wrist watch. The dial was restored. But military actions, the natural phenomena and time have put out of commission the old case. Under the special order the case of model of that time has been created. The watch is in a working order, condition excellent. The watch restored, checked, adjusted by master in 2008. Getting such thing you do good capital investment. Every year the price for them will increase only! This watch is a stylish acquisition for collectors, good present or for everyday use!"

Great pictures! It sure looks like a hand grenade strapped to your wrist!

There are some good buys on genuine 7750 chronos out there. I bought this Movado Kingmatic Chronograph from TZ, 400 USD. The watch is from June 2007, all papers and hardly used.. It is not the prettiest watch I have seen, but a bargain price for a 7750 and a nice leather strap. Black datewheel.. Hmm, it would look good in an IWC 3717.

It is all kind of different information out there. That is why I just stick to only adjust date when "both hands pointing down"... It is always safe.

Ah... Vostok! Cool watch. That's a limited edition? 424/3000? My very first mechanical watch was a Vostok "Komandirskie" Submariner watch, bought in St Petersburg in 1991. Nice watch, which was my beater for two years. It even got some scars from a motorcycle accident. Date change and precision was rough, though.. Some month ago, I bought a Poljot Shturmanskie. Soviet Military Aviator Chronograph, with a second timezone bezel. Made in the good old days before capitalistic forces infiltrated the Soviet watch industry! A genuine vintage military chrono for 200 USD... Soviet watches are cool!

Yep, It is simpler to just remember to adjust both hands to be pointing "down" when adjusting the date. That way you don't have to worry about AM or PM. The day change on my 7750ties (gens) have always been problematic.. That is the main reason I have not bought the TAG Heuer Aquatimer or the IWC 3717. Usually, one can remember the weekday. Old stuff, but always worth to have in mind.

I had the opportunity today to compare my genuine Speedmaster Automatic 3510.50.00 to one of the Speedmaster replicas. Sorry for the quality of the pictures, it was not time to use a proper setup. As we know, there are no accurate replica of the Moonwatch, the classic manual wind Speedie. The subdial spacing on the ST-19 is too far to mimic the Lemaina movement. But there is a smaller 38mm version of the Speedmaster, using the ETA2892 with a separate Dubois-Depraz chronograph module on top. The ST-19 subdial spacing is very close to the one on the "Speedmaster reduced". The Speedmaster reduced is a well-built and handsome watch, but actually the replica feels even better. The replica is bigger ( I did not measure it) and the size feels better. Replica uses the "Speedmaster Professional" bracelet with two-button release and divers extension. It is heavier than the single-fliplock on the gen reduced. The replica has glass front and caseback, while the original has acrylic front glass, a homage to the classic Speedie. All in all, this replica is a curious mix of the big Speedmaster and the smaller reduced model. There are versions of the Speedmaster replica both with and without the numbers on the minute track. By-Tor made an extensive review of this replica HERE! Front view. The difference in size is obvious. Subdial spacing is very close. Replica has "Professional", while gen has "Automatic". Crisp print and correct matte black dial finish on both. Numbers on the minute track is the tell sign of the reduced model. The hand on the hour-register of the replica follows the main hour hand, as the ST-19 does not have chrono-hours counter. Position of the running seconds subdial is also different. Case profile. The chronograph-buttons on the genuine are offset to the crown, due to the separate chronograph-module added on top of the movement. Well made display caseback on the replica. To look like the Sapphire sandwich Speedmaster (bottom). Solid caseback on the genuine. No "First watch worn on the moon" engraving on this model. I don't know if this version of the Speedmaster replica is still available... but now I have for sure added one more watch to my wish-list. Just to sum it up; Two links to reviews of the original Speedmaster reduced: Chuck Maddox' thoughts on the Speedy reduced Speedmaster Reduced review

Yep.. China made... No regulator and blue screws on the movement also. "No box or papers" on such a new watch is also suspicious... Nice watch, though!

That was a very nice Chronomat GT replica! I was not aware that the older Chronomtats have been available as good reps. The only tell I can find at first glance is that the "B" on the seconds hand is a bit off, just as on the old Navitimer replicas. I hope I can borrow the picture and add it to my BCE buyers guide?

Have a look at THIS page. # Gents - No Date (Air-King, Explorer, Submariner, Oyster Perpetual) * 1560 - introduced in 1959 1002, 1003, 1004, 1005, 1006, 1007, 1008, 1009, 1010, 1011, 1012, 1013, 1014, 1016, 1018, 1022, 1023, 1024, 1025, 1026, 1027, 1028, 1029, 1030, 1035, 1036, 1039 * 1520 - introduced in 1963 5500, 5501, 5504, 5513, 5520, 5552, 5590 * 1570 - introduced in 1965 1002, 1003, 1005, 1007, 1008, 1009, 1010, 1011, 1012, 1013, 1016, 1018, 1022, 1023, 1024, 1025, 1027, 1029, 1030, 1031, 1035, 1036, 1038, 1039, 5512 * 3000 - introduced in 1990 14000, 14010, 14060, 14270 * 3130 - introduced in 2001 14000M, 14010M, 14060M, 14203M, 14208M, 114270

Interesting.. From the picture comparison the bezel numbers look ok, and the angle makes the pearl seems a bit low. The dials are different, though. I actually provided the seller with the last digits of the serial number from my rep, but did not receive any response to whether it was the same as on his. Anyway, I am not after buying this.

Thanks for the link. It looks like an interesting page. Thinks he must have made a mistake with the picture of the Chronomat rep? On the Ingenieur, he has posted a picture of a gen 1970ties model along with a rep of the current model.. But all in all, good work! No Omegas there yet, though!

This looks a bit odd.. A 45mm PO without papers and the typical low-set pearl. http://forums.timezone.com/index.php?t=tre...83943&rid=0 I sent an email to the seller, where I informed about my doubts about the watch. He seemed honest and surprised. ( Had traded a nice Doxa for this). He has had the watch opened by a jeweller after he bought it, and says it had a silver movement with OMEGA and some numbers on the rotor.. I wonder, do any of the PO replicas come with siver movement and decorated rotor? I know that some of the chronos have a nicely decorated rotor, but I have not seen this on the PO?

Fun thread! A lot of creative people in here! I am an senior engineer in the oil-business, work with subsea field developments and operations. It is busy times with todays oil prices. Previously I worked offshore, travelled to different oil rigs and ran drilling equipment (MWD). Quite hard work, but well paid and interesting. My Seamaster Bond replica stood well with me all the time offshore and gained a natural vintage look.

Welcome to the forum! It is not a bad watch you have, the sword hand Seamaster is a classic. I guess you have already read By-Tors Omega guide. ? It has all you need to know regarding Omega replicas. The Bond-Seamaster and Seamaster Chrono are very good, as is the Aqua Terra line.. Regarding who to buy from, it is down to personal preferences. All the dealers is the dealer section are good. Personally, I prefer Silix and Ruby. they are a bit cheaper, but communication and shipping time can be longer. Trustytime and Perfect-clones has a very user-friendly web shop. Good luck!

I wish IWC could really go back to the roots of the "FliegerUhr" and make a classic "Luftwaffe-edition", instead of "Top Gun"... Maybe a "Herman Goering" edition instead of hounoring a French author... And a " Messerschmitt"- model line instead of "Spitfire"...

A Fliegeruhr for a soccer team? Are they supposed to wear it when they play, and time the length of the match?? Stupid idea... The dial reminds me of the white faced Panerai Luminor, PAM113.

At the end of the day, it is down to whatever you like.. But I do agree to the GQ article. I have an average 7.3" wrist and feel comfortable wearing a vintage 35mm Seamaster or a 38mm Breitling Colt.. In fact I even wear a 30mm Rolex Speedking once in a while.. Sometimes it is nice to have a break from all the big stuff, and I feel more "dressed" when I am wearing a regular sized watch. Some of the smaller watches like the vintage Seamasters are timeless, and seems to be very good buys at the moment! The Speedking cost me 700 USD, and the Seamaster 275. With the replica prices of today, genuine pieces are tempting! 30mm Rolex Speedking, 1961. (The angle of the pic makes it appear bigger.) 35mm Omega Seamaster, 1962

I am considering buying the MBW/ MBW Nautilus and the new box set with all the booklets. I am normally not into boxes, but for a Patek, being the "King of watches" a nice set would complete the picture. This new box set, available from most dealers, looks very good. But, have anyone bought it and can comment on the quality?

Thanks for an outstanding review of one of the less known good buys! I will add this review to the "Bargain Replicas" thread!

I know some of you guys are lusting for a Valjoux 72 for building a vintage Daytona... So thought I should tip about a watch just posted on TZ Sales Corner. Enicar Sherpa Graph A nice looking watch in its own right.. The movement looks clean and well also, however the hour register does not advance. I am tempted myself, but have exceeded my purchase limit for some time. I have bought several times from the seller and can recommend him. ( I have however no connections with him!)

There have actually been a few replicas using a "microstepper" quartz movement, where the seconds hand moved almost smoothly. If I recall correctly, they were available about two years ago. ( TTK had a "Aquaracer" with that movement). They were never very popular, due to the subdial layout beeing different than the 7750 they tried to mimic. My superslim Patek replica is also a Smooth sweeper... No seconds hand, but the minutes hand moves a tiny bit every 15 second.

Great review, I also missed it first time around! The quartz Monza was actually my very first "quality" replica, bought on the streets of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2002. It was my daily beater for about a year. Actually, the inexpensive leather strap did pretty well.. A very nice watch! Slightly different from the one in the review, this is the retro "Heuer" version.

Blackbird for me... Fantastic watch. I was a bit worried about the modified movement, but date function and everything seems to work very well! I had Ruby to pick out one with an almost centered pearl. The clasp on the bracelet is not as good as on the Evo I had. Does not snap correctly. I prefer to use it on leather strap. That feels more appropriate for a Breitling.

An old post... But still a great watch! I guess b16a2 actually has sold this one now?