Highflyingclive

Reps are made in China. So go to the source. As has been mentioned, reading previous posts will give you some guidance as to which dealers can be trusted. For what it is worth, I am in the UK and have never had a problem with delivery from Jos.

You obviously didn't try Tsingtao. Excellent beer. Why? The brewery was originally built by the Germans, when they had a concession in Quingdao city. The brewery is now Chinese owned and run - but they still use the same recipe and method originated by the Germans.

Avoid the multi-story market in Lohwu. You will spend hours there and see nothing but overpriced rubbish. There is an "International watch market" in SZ, but I haven't been there so cannot comment. GZ is where you need to be. The watch market there is huge - it covers several city blocks. Finding the good stuff will take you a while.

Wow! Congratulations, my friend!

My favourite was the Glashutte Senator that was around a few years ago - with the rotor carefully engraved "glashitte". I wish I had bought one when I had the chance :-)

Narikaa sent me a "sticky ball" some years ago. It works well - like magic, really. It has an inflation valve - make sure that it is pumped up. It won't work if deflated. BTW - it isn't sticky. Just high friction material. The only drawback is that I doubt although it will open most casebacks, I doubt that it has enough grip to tighten one enough to give a waterproof seal. I once replaced a Panerai caseback using only the ball. Then I applied the Panerai caseback tool - and it easily tightened it still further.

Hahahaaha.. there is no such thing as "too small"... :-)

www.ABP-paris.com make fabulous straps. Not cheap, but the best quality. All made to your exact specifications. I have also had some wonderful straps from HK Tan. Excellent quality, reasonably priced. But he does have a full order book so be patient. I hope that is information is up-to-date. I haven't bought any straps for a couple of years. But - there is no doubt in my mind that a quality strap will transform your rep.

Whoops.. wrong thread :-)

www.ABP-paris.com make fabulous straps. Not cheap, but the best quality. All made to your exact specifications. I have also had some wonderful straps from HK Tan. Excellent quality, reasonably priced. But he does have a full order book so be patient. I hope that is information is up-to-date. I haven't bought any straps for a couple of years. But - there is no doubt in my mind that a quality strap will transform your rep.

Hi.. I have been away from the forums for a while and now am completely out of touch. Is H K Tan still active? I thought he had a section on the forum here, but I can't seem to find it. Any link to his photobucket would be appreciated. Happy timekeeping, HFC.

"Man, Panerai is doing their best to thwart future mvmnt reps!" Never underestimate the Chinese. If they see a profit in building a look-alike movement... it will be built!

My mother told me that If I can't say something nice, I shouldn't say anything at all. So I will remain silent.

My Pam 212 on genuine alligator strap from Corley. Rembordered (edges wrapped), just like the OEM straps: Pam 029 on black goatskin: The same goatskin strap on my 063:

Happy Christmas to you, - and to Jennifer! You are a most fortunate man, Rob.

I bought my 183 second-hand, a couple of years ago. I was aware of the "problem" but am happy to report that my 183 crown tube shows no sign of stripping. In reality, it is probable that only a small proportion of 183s has this problem... but it doesn't take many reported failures to blacken a reputation. Which is, of course, no consolation to those people who do have a stripped crown tube on their 183. I treat all screw-down crowns with care... the technique is to depress the crown, then turn it, gently, the wrong way (anti-clockwise) until you feel the thread bite... then, and only then, screw it down (clockwise). If you do this, you should not have a problem. If you do... Davidsen and The Zigmeister are your friends. You should not let this dissuade you from owning a 183. It is a lovely watch. However, if you are still concerned, Joshua does have some Radiomir reps that do not have a screw-down crown. His 42mm 147 is an example:

The "click" on the Seagull "Lemania" is difficult to see through the caseback... the chrono bits get in the way. On this photo, the "click" is just above the "E" of the Panerai engraving, under the long chrono arm. Should be easy... well, quite easy... to get to, once the caseback is removed..

I bought a couple of new watches when I was in Guangzhou last month. Panerai... of course. One was a 42mm "Lemania" Radiomir chrono... identical to my 147, but in stainless steel. I'm not sure if a genuine version exists... but I expect that it does. Probably. Pretty little watch, anyway. Of course the supplied strap was rubbish, so I asked V to make something a little better for me. It arrived in less than a week! That is what I call fantastic service! So for your edification, delictation and delight, is the strap... and the wrist shot.

This today...like yesterday...and the day before. I have to find a way to get this off my wrist...

I'm 60. Where did all the years go?

@KnifeEdge... when you refer to the "main" second hand, do you mean the central, chrono second hand? If so, try stopping the chrono (press the pusher at 2 to stop, then press the pusher at 4 to reset to zero). Then wear the watch for a few hours and try again. The chrono needs a good power reserve in order to work correctly. Not having one of these I cannot comment on the "spring-loaded ball bearings". Can you post some photos?

Visit your optician. There is a good chance that he will have a suitable screw. Failing that, try your local model railway specialist... or camera repair shop. These people all use small screws.

I have been driven to distraction by Radiomir strap-changing, too! So here is my handy hint: Make sure that you replace the lug-wires and their screws in the holes that they came from. Don't get them mixed up... sometimes the wires are not identical.

This is Gran's technique. Note correct use of eye-loupe and movement holder...

Read, read,read. That is wht the archives are for...