HauteHippie

He made it.

Frankensub for the weekend. Just replaced the drilled bracelet and gen springbars with an undrilled bracelet and TJGladeRaider springbars... Looks pretty darn good. Polished her up and threw her on the wrist.

Very cool project. And a great writeup as usual, Rob.

Not a Tamron fan myself (I've sold every one I've owned), so I'd push you toward the Nikon 105mm f/2.8 AF Micro-Nikkor - Super sharp, 1:1 macro capable, very well constructed, and I've seen 'em for as low as $350 (amazing deal) in good used condition. The AF is going to be super slow (as to be expected on this sort of lens) but for what you'll use it for, that's going to be a non-issue. And since this thing is so sharp, you'll probably find yourself putting up with the AF limitations and using it for non-macro photography as well. I'm a Canon guy and have Canon's equivalent of this lens, and it is by far my favorite lens for closeups of children's faces for example - in addition to macro shooting (which is definitely not my specialty) of course. My only beef with the Nikon version is the VR which really isn't necessary on this lens and drives up the cost as well as the weight. Link: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller...oughType=search

Bravo, Marco! Congratulations and many thanks for the excellent writeup! Let me add that light coats are indeed the way to go. It is best spraying technique to spray from a sufficient distance so as not to have any drips or runs. Tape the object to be sprayed to some cardboard and start by spraying the cardboard (and not the object) first, and then bring the spray across the object (dial) in a quick motion. Do not respray until that coat is dry. Then repeat. Obviously Marco has the technique down as his results look fantastic!

You have to go with a new one. How could you not. And between the two, the great white is indeed the winner!!

My 196 with palp crown, superlumed dial and hands, professional AR (soon), and hopefully someday a Finepics datewheel (when he does another run for his 7753 187?) is my favorite. If I sold off all my reps and bought a gen, I would get a PAM 196. My best rep is probably my franken 16610 submariner: TW Best Classic with centered drilled lug holes, deep cylindrical rehaut, Noobmariner dial with superlume, Noobmariner datewheel, Noobmariner bracelet, Noobmariner caseback, genuine bezel insert from proper time period, genuine crown and tube, reshaped CGs, superlumed Tudor hands (soon to be replaced), and serviced and regulated 2836. Yet, somehow, I could live without it. Go figure.

Normal side effect of 2.5x magnification.

Now I don't have a clue as to how accurate that ROO is, but damn, it sure is a looker!

I think you need to qualify this because I don't think there are very many reps that have proper double sided AR. So even if there's a "strong" blue hue to the crystal, it's probably coming from the interior coating. Most if not all Omegas and Breitlings should be double coated, for example.

I concur.

Nice pics. Your straps are on upside down though.

I just can't get enough of your PVD 196. I like it better than your gen 89 actually!!! Let me know when you get tired of it.

Very nice.... Very very nice. And big time congrats on going public!!! That'll be an interesting stock to watch. There sure are a wide variety of virtualization platforms out there now....

LOOOOL... The U2 would be a problem for me as well for very much the same reasons you stated. Such a shame, too, because I really dug U2 pre-Joshua Tree.

I have absolutely no idea what I'd get. But, having looked at all the options posted so far, I'd have to choose this one.

Unfortunately LV parts are tough to come by... Good luck.

Kruzer I have long been waiting for these pictures from you. They've all turned out fantastic so far. My old case 7753 196 is easily my favorite rep, and that datewheel makes me very jealous. I can only hope the 7753 187 is the impetus for a new run of wheels. But enough about me, congrats to you!! You have got to be thrilled.

Congrats indeed.

Hahaha. At first the topic scared me and now the post angers me!!!! LET US SEE IT!

Bob Frei hasn't responded to parts inquiry emails for years. 2200.50 is the 45mm black/white PO.

Nice, Pug.

Right. Ferrari can't confiscate your car any more than Cartier can confiscate your watch. However this doesn't mean they WON'T. Because who (besides me ) is going to sue over a $150 watch, after all? So I can easily see where they'd illegally confiscate the watch and bully the owner just as much as I can see them returning it (serviced or not). Still makes for a great story and an interesting one to follow.

Let me guess... Your first PAM? Took a while to warm up to PAMs but now you're in love? If so, then just get a thick strap now so you don't find yourself trying sell off your thin ones in the future.

$34.99 - I think this is a good deal on the 4 watch PAM case over at Paneristi. If memory serves, this is even cheaper than River's price. Email info@panatime to purchase. No affiliation, yada yada... Just pointing out a nice deal for fellow PAM addicts.