anton

In a sense, wouldn't you say that all our reps are rare?

Consider this oddity that I've calculated myself:

Let's say you own a watch no one else has. How rare is it?

World population = 6.6Billion people (as of 2007)

1% of that population = 66Million people

You = 1/7000000 of 1%.

How rare is that?

In additional to the angle of the winder (although I"ve never had this problem so far), you may want to consider that the 7750 winds ONLY IN ONE DIRECTION, unlike other automatic movements that can wind in both.

Speaking of oils, I feel that it is best to keep the watch running at least periodically instead of letting it sit for long periods of time. I may be wrong, but you don't to run the risk of the oil drying up in the movement, thus adding more friction than necessary to get the gears moving.

I would consider the rarest to be the Roger Dubuis Easy Diver.

I've seen it in websites and am surprised to see that it has rarely appeared in any threads and never in wristchecks.

Surely I thought someone would appreciate the design of it and purchase one.

lol, you think this is perfect? Have a look at the "Officine Panerai" nameplate It's upside down

Correct me if I'm wrong...

The 217 is a Destro model, that's why it's upside down.

Hello.

Let me re-introduce myself.

My name is Anton, and I've been on the rep forums for the better part of ten months. Nearly 700 posts later, I wanted to remind everyone about the wealth of information there is to be had and how constructive criticism and input has helped me become a better watch person and it has taken me to a much deeper level of collecting than what my membership in a certain Gen forum will provide.

In ten months I have gone from the "virgin" noob to someone who is emerging to the fray of modding/repair (purely speculation right now) and this is in large part to the fellow members here.

It's funny how being duped into buying a rep (thought it was a gen) and my complete distaste in them is what caused me to join the forum and read, read, read.

Now I'm considered to be a convert and see the reps not for the negative factor, but rather the positive attributes that they can offer.

But of course, I still stick to my mantra of vowing NOT to buy a rep Breitling, as I am a enthusiast.

And of course, joining a rep watch forum, at least for me, does come with its' downfalls. It may not sound like such a big deal, but I've made the mistake of telling my wife how the quality of the reps have changed over the years and now most people "couldn't tell the difference".

Over the past ten months, I've purchased five gens. The first words out of her mouth were "is it real?"

It gets annoying now.

But back to topic, without this forum, I probably would not have had been so deeply engrossed with watch collecting as I am now. And although I could give more back into the community, all I could give now is thanks being grateful for the kinds of members we have here.

A toast to the last ten months, and another toast to many, many more.

According to Wiki, they call her the "Woman Who Thinks Like a Cow". Funny, I always thought that was my old Headmistress (thank you thank you, I'm here all week).

Make sure you tip your waitresses.....OVER!

You can always sell them as "custom-made" and aftermarket parts.

I'll give you a real-life example:

One night where I was ignorant about knowing how to operate a 7750 (A7750), it was 12:40AM and the day was in a "changing over" mode.

My wife and I went out to see the sights @ Orlando, and me, being self-conscious about how my watch looked, I bothered to fiddle with the day corrector so that the correct day showed.

24 hours later I found out that I ended up jamming the daywheel.

RBJ had last been seen posting in RWI late September last year....AWOL since.

Don't know where you get YOUR information but I get mine from the forum software....

Last post: Wed Mar 05, 2008 1:16 am

Last visited:Thu Mar 13, 2008 7:41 pm

Excuse: Marriage.

Not to downplay your incident, but another member on RWI has sent him is DRSD to be modded two and a half years ago. What he got so far was a picture of it being in the modding process.

As I am a moderator on RWI, may I see a link to that case?

To the thread:

redbigjoe69@hotmail.com

&

http://www.replica-watch.info/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=84

Good luck!

If I'm wrong, then politely tell me so, instead of playing me out to look like a jack*ss.

How about this:

For the 7750, never set the date between 22:00 and 02:00 as you risk ruining the date-setting mechanism.

speaking of private sales, people (in general) are completely oblivious when pricing their watch.

if it broke, take some $$$ off because i have to spend some to fix it.

if there are dents, take some $$$ off too!

and yes, I do care that you send your crystal off to Poland, had it serviced in Canada, and etc. But how do you factor in your prices? Do you take me for an idiot?

and the dealers, they will push the threshold higher and higher to know what our limits to pay are. you know, no matter what they charge, someone will always be the early adopter (like me with the HBB).

EDIT: Piratedzeus corrected my facts.

All yours for $19500.00. I just wonder if Rolex would service it?

Click HERE for the story!

I'm pretty sure that Bamford & Sons and other "boutique" custom shoppes have a contract with Rolex that they would cover the watches in case of service. How else do you justify the $10K+premium for PVD treatment?

Hi all

Can somebody confirm this info for me please.

from the various posts i have read i gather i cannot change from a A7750 28800bpm to a genuine valjoux 7750 with out doing some work to the hands?

On one post i gathered i had to enlarge the subdial hand mounts but on another it said the opposite.

What is the correct way needed?

Do i have anything to gain by doing this swap or are the A7750 reliable enough?

Many thanks Andy

The A7750 and Valjoux 7750 have all different hand sizes, except for the Hour and Minute hands.

To reiterate:

A7750 hand stem sizes:

subdials = 0.20mm

chrono seconds = 0.20mm

hour = 2.00mm

minute = 1.20mm

VJ7750 hans stem sizes:

subdials = 0.17mm

chrono seconds = 0.25mm

hour = 2.00mm

minute = 1.20mm

and BTW, it is also hypothetically possible to transfer the stems over from the A7750 to the VJ7750.

I don't mind posting my collection up on the 'net, but anyone who has known me has said that I'm not a very good person to make friends with.

I used to be very conversational, but realized that saying such things (wether it be good or bad) can come back and bite you in the rump roast. People often complain that I am very private and reserved and I was once angered that someone suggested that I have AsPD (Antisocial Personality Disorder). But so many people are looking for an easy, cheap opportunity. I just choose for them not to get it from me.

But back on topic...

No matter what you are, having something taken from you is an upsetting feeling. We all know that the likelihood of this man receiving his comeuppance would be slim to none, but my hopes are that this man will be one of the few who will have a positive resolution out of this.

Wow, some very rare pieces were taken from this man's collection. It makes you wonder if his home being burglarized was the result of a random attack, or was it intentional?

I hope he has insurance on the pieces. I bet he probably does; who wouldn't on a collection valued at over $200K?

In case you were wondering, the guy in question whose items were stolen is a Neurosurgeon in SoCal.

A premodded watch would be the most economical choice...as all operations are done "in house", but I still have my bias towards buying the "base" , then having it modded later.

You'll see that the services of one modder can easily prevail over another, and there is no one man who can just produce it perfectly for you.

My opinion? Spend the extra $$$ for the "later in time" custom mod job. You'll be very pleased with the results.

Wempe, aside from Kenjo, are the only AD's I've been to where I don't feel pressured to purchase anything.

Whenever I walk into Wempe, it's like I am having a conversation with an old friend. Like I am talking to one of you guys. Last time I went, I was greeted by a salesman who happened to be a watchsmith and artisan in his spare time. We talked nothing but how beautiful some watches are and how their designs are blatantly ripped off by other manufactures. Needless to say, he despised the HBB; as he viewed it as an obvious copy of a ROO.

Although he was localized in a JLC area, he wore a gen Rolex 116520 with 116509 hands. For some odd reason, I was in awe over that much more so than anything.

I wonder if this thread would have the same kind of input if Dani were talking about a different animal. Like a lamb or a muskrat. Because the topic is now far from being salvaged. And the topic should have been more descriptive than "china and animals".

Ever wonder what those "little numbers" on the Breitling Navitimer dial bezel were for, or if you've wondered about the utility of the Slide Rule and how it can help you in land or in air, then I have constructed this guide for you.

If you're deciding to disregard this guide because your rep Slide Rule is inaccurate, don't discredit it just yet! I will show you how you can use it for common calculations and other novelty functions that you can gain for your advantage when being asked by friends and admirers what the feature does! Don't be embarrassed by not being able to know the functions of your own watch again!

The slide rule on the Navitimer series (and other Breitlings/Sinns that use this feature [does not include Bentley lines]) is based on the E6B flight computer; a computer not in the sense that it's not electronic, but a tool for pilots to aid in calculating fuel burn, wind correction, time en route, and other items. In the air, the E6B can be used to calculate ground speed as well.

Paper version of Slide rule:

This is the little nifty card of the slide rule that comes with all Navitimers that would help the prospective user to figure out how to use it, which is accompanied by this diagram that is included in the manual:

A full-scale version can be downloaded here:

Full-size scan of paper slide-rule

Full-size scan of diagrams

As you can see, there are ten functions that accompany the slide rule, and each can be used in conjuction with everyday life; whether you are a air pilot or land junkie. Let's go step by step on their functions:

1: Multiplication

To multiply with the Navitimer, use the unit index (number "10" in red on the inner scale). Always set the multiplier (the number by which another is multiplied) opposite the unit index on th einner scale and read the answer on the outer scale opposite the multiplicand number (number to be multiplied by another) appearing on the inner scale.

Example:

To multiply 7 x 12, set 12 (the multiplier) on outer scale opposite unit index ("10") on the inner scale. Opposite 7 (the multiplicand) on the inner scale, read the answer 84 on the mobile dial.

2: Division

To divide with the Navitimer, also use the unit index (red "10). Place the dividend (the quantity to be divided by another number) on the outer scale opposite the divisor (quantity by which another is divided) on the inner scale. Opposite the unit index (numeral "10" on inner scale), read answer on outer scale.

Example:

Divide 120 by 4. Place 120 on outer scale opposite 4 on the inner scale. Read answer, 30, on outer scale opposite unit index (numeral "10" on inner scale).

3: Calculating Ground Speed

The mobile outer and fixed inner scales are used for determination of ground speed problems. Two of the following quantities are available for its solution: time, distance, ground speed.

Example:

Known: Distance and Time:

Required: Ground Speed.

A pilot finds by the use of checkpoint that he has traveled 104 miles in 35 minutes. What is the ground speed?

Solution: Move the mobile scale until 104 on the mobile scale is set opposite 35 on the fixed scale. Opposite the hour index (the arrow marked "MPH" directly over the hour 12) read 178 miles per hour on the mobile scale.

4: Calculating Ground Speed (Function 2)

Example:

Known: Distance and Speed.

Required: Time.

A pilot wants to know how long it will take to go 486 miles at a ground speed on 156 miles per hour.

Solution: On the mobile scale set 156 opposite the hour index on the fixed scale. On the inner scale opposite 486 on the mobile scale read 187 minutes (or 3 hours and 7 minutes).

5: Calculating Miles per Minute

This may be read after the speed in miles per hour has been obtained. The speed given in miles per hour on the mobile scale when set opposite the hour index on the fixed scale can be readily converted into miles per minute by reading the number on the mobile scale appearing opposite the figure "10" on the fixed scale. The figure "10" is often referred to as the "unit index".

Example:

In the previous example, the ground speed was 156 miles per hour. With the 156 on the mobile scale set opposite the hour index, what is the speed in miles per minute?

Solution: With 156 miles on the mobile scale set opposite the hour index read the speed in miles per minute, or the figure on the mobile scale which appears above the figure "10" on the fixed scale, which is 2.6 miles per minute.

There are times when a pilot may want to know the time required to travel a short distance, such as the distance from the cone of silence to the edge of an airport, or between the inner marker and range station. Since the distance is short, the time required may be less than a minute, in which case the time has more siginificance when expressed in seconds. In such cases the "second" index is used. This is the figure "36" on the inner scale (there are 3600 seconds in an hour).

6: Calculating Gasoline Consumption

Two of the following quantities are available for gasoline consumption problems: Total gallons used, time, rate of consumption.

Example:

Known: Time and rate of consumption.

Required: Total gallons used.

A pilot wishes to know how many gallons are necessary to fly 3.5 hours at an average rate of consumption of 11.5 gallons per hour.

Soultion: Opposite the "hour index", set 11.5 on the mobile scale. Then, opposite 210 minutes on inner scale on the mobile scale read 41 gallons.

7: Calculating the rate of climb or descent

Two of the following quantities are available for solution: total altitude of descent, time and rate of descent (or climb).

Example:

Known: Rate of ascent and total elevation in ascent.

Required: Time.

A pilot climbs to 7400 feet above his starting point at the average rate of 500 feet per minute. How long will this require?

Solution: Set 500 on the mobile scale opposite the "unit index" ("10" on the fixed scale). Opposite 7400 on the mobile scale, read answer, 14.8 minutes on the fixed scale.

8: Calculating the distance of climb or descent

Two of the following quantities are available: Distance, time, speed. The methos used in examples 4 and 5 should be used.

Example:

The pilot in the previous example wishes to know how fat he will have traveled when his climb is finished. His average true air speed is 120 miles per hour and he is aided by a tail wind of 20 miles per hour.

Solution: Set 140 miles per hour (120+20) on the mobile scale opposite "hour index" on fixed scale. Opposite 14.8 minutes (computed from example 7) on fixed scale read 34.5 miles on mobile scale.

9: Nautical and statute mile conversion

On the fixed scale both nautical (Naut.) and statute (Stat.) miles are shown; also shown are Kilometers (KM) (red mark just to the right of the MPH). The conversion from statute to nautical or nautical to statute miles is read directly on the mobile scale.

Example:

Known: 60 statute miles.

Required: Nautical miles.

Solution: Set 60 on mobile scale opposite "Stat." on fixed scale. Opposite "Naut." on fixed scale, read 52 nautical miles on mobile scale.

10: Nautical and statute mile conversion (Function 2)

Example:

Known: 60 Stature miles.

Required: Kilometers.

Solution: Set 60 on mobile scale opposite "Stat.". Opposite the "KM" mark (the red mark, just to the right of "MPH" on the fixed scale), read 96.5 kilometers on the mobile scale.

And you may have once thought the Slide Rule was just placed purely for cosmetic purposes. Look at the utility that it will provide you in the future!

Now that you've been armed with this information, go out there and do some old-fashioned hand calculating!

Is that a flat CG on the rep 048 or is it slightly curved at the top?

I'm no expert on PAM crowns/CG's, but I own a Gen C series (074, though) and that CG, although slightly curved, does not sit at the same level as the top of the case.

@peepshow: thanks! I guess there must be different CG designs between the Historic and Contemporary product lines.

Excuse my recycled pictures!

Machismo:

Understated Elegance:

Hi, Folks,

Any watch repairmen in Canada besides The Zigmeister - I presume he is back logged by not accepting PMs until some time in April?

Did a real stupid thing - used a pin to release the crown and stem - and of course the keyless works went for a dump - now need it repaired.

Looked at the great keyless works tutorial and figure it is just beyond me at this time.

Maybe you might give me a shot.

I'm in the US and will fix it for you. Depending on where you are, it may not take long to have it shipped to NY, USA and I have a fast turnaround time; in most cases I take less than a week (I do this as a side business).

PM me if you can't find it local. At least it's better than waiting until April for The Zigmeister and being turned down by "rep-unfriendly" watchsmiths.

I always thought being known by name @ the OP Boutique was a very special feeling to me. Although it is still special, it pales in comparison to what Uncle Jay has emblazoned on his two PAMs.

I've always dreamt of having my own personalised PAMs that were recognised by AB himself, but who would buy the other 49 watches of my "RWG" special edition watches?

I'm glad you bring that up. I've had many (as you can imagine) messages on that same subject, so let me answer it publicly here and now.

Yes, I'm a Panerai collector and have shared many great times with "Team Panerai" and the Panerai collectors community....but I don't work for them. I go where the good atmosphere is and where I can have some fun while maybe contributing a little as well. I don't feel (as others do) that Gen collectors aren't REAL collectors because the watches they collect aren't real. That's BULL! Community starts in the heart .... not the pocket.

I have been enriched by my association with all the great folks at Panerai, Paneristi, TimeZone, and ViaPaneristi and still have great respect for them all. So, I'm here (after lurking for a while) because of your community here and I can only hope to put back some of what I get here ..... besides, you guys are AWSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Uncle Jay, would be alot to ask to see pics of your AP EoD?