HauteHippie

The gen DW... I don't recall. Over $100 USD. But don't get to thinking that it will fit in the 2892-A2. :-) I was going to see if Taka would do both 7750 and 2892-A2 versions though. As to color, I would probably just want to do white, and have anyone who finds it necessary to do the coffee ground treatment themselves. I've seen plenty a gen with a white DW, that I don't want to produce off-white only.

I hope to work with Taka on this. Actually there are two variations of gen DWs. One with a fairly white background (I have one in the flesh), and one with an ivory background. So there's some difference there too.

The bezel screws on reps can drive me crazy as well. Use those "QC pics" from your dealer to reject any APROOs with major gaps between the screw heads and the bezel. Although I have a seen a gen or two with gaps, it's very uncommon.

I might add another "tell". Bezel screws... on the reps, it's common to see variation on the slot width of the bezel screws. Most gens seem to have consistently machined screws without any variation in the driver slot width. But!! Take a look at the rubber clad above. It sure looks to me that the slot on the 11:00 screw head is wider than the slot on the 1:00 screw head. Much like we see on our reps.

AP ROO frankens are starting to become more and more popular. As I studied some of the finer details, I'd become certain that a couple tells were still readily apparent between a franken and a gen - much more apparent than the < 1mm difference in case thickness. The first was at the end links. In most pictures I've seen of gens, the end links are tight to the case. Tolerances look precise. To be expected from a $18000 watch. With the rep, in comparison, it's common to see small gaps. The end links on reps seem sloppy and loose compared to the gen. However, I now direct you to picture #1 below of a gen white themes. Notice the gaps between end links and case. So much for that theory!! The second was the cyclops. In so many pictures, the gen cyclops appears to have a good AR coating that inhibits reflections, whereas the rep does not. In fact, with the rep, it is sometimes hard to even make out the date, depending on ambient lighting conditions! Well, I direct you to pictures #2 and #3 below. Notice in picture 2, the date is very difficult to read under all the reflections. This cyclops does not look AR coated to me. Notice further in picture 3, that you can actually see the reflection of the photographer in the cyclops. He appears to be standing in front of a window, and you can see the light reflections from behind him. And now picture #4. This time a white rubber clad. Same photographer. Presumably same lighting conditions (maybe not). But look at this cyclops. Totally reflection-free! Wow, what a difference from the white themes! So we already know there are date font variations based on movement generation. And it's pretty clear now, that at some point fairly recently AP started putting AR on the DW cyclops, as an improvement. I suspect, but can't verify, that newer gen AP ROOs with AR are using a sapphire cyclops, compared to plastic on the rep. I think it all goes to show that some of the details we obsess over need not be an obsession! The variation in even an $18k gen is quite remarkable.... PICTURE #1 PICTURE #2 PICTURE #3 PICTURE #4

That's a really nice piece. Those bezel screws look almost perfect. Personally I think that honey/cognac croc band with the black stitch is the better match for it. But it's sharp either way.

zorro, i hate to say but these prices you're seeing on these parts are very high, except for the strap (which I assume is a TT bracelet). . . Mine clocked in at about $3.8K USD or so, all said and done - a significant savings vs $9.5k to $10k for a gen. I really think you should be patient, and look for a gen at the right price. You might have to purchase it from outside the UK.

That's a nice piece. Haven't seen that one before!

39 bucks. You get what you pay for. Looks like a piece of plasticky junk, to be honest.

PS, Marty, You know what road you're on right? You've really got to go all out now with a full franken gen, me thinks!

That's a good point. In fact, I have even seen the 16523 slightly under $7k at times. I was thinking we were talking 16520 here, but was mistaken. Nevertheless, yes, that Zenith movement will work for a franken.

Coming back for a second look..... and still in love with it!

Thanks buddy. Dark Side of RWG did give me the pallete icon, and I was able to reduce the font size.

Yep. This is the engine inside mine:

I've been to Bangalore. Even if I had no obligations to anyone other than myself, I'd not be able to move there permanently though. However I would definitely say that moving to India, China, or parts of South America would be economically expedient moves in terms of future wealth accumulation potential, if coming from many first world countries such as the USA, the Euro Zone, among many others.

<Post Deleted> Sorry for hijacking, I was thinking this was one of those "post your Daytona eye candy" threads. Pics removed.

Hi T, all, Does this version of the forum SW provide user configurability in terms of color scheme (skins?), font sizes, posts per page, etc? I haven't yet found these options in the user control panel. Thanks, B.

The 16520 is one of the most physically accurate and satisfying builds out there, and not without its challenges. Best of luck and I look forward to seeing the final product. Here's mine:

I know the feeling.... both feelings. LOL Congrats!

And welcome from the SF Bay Area.

This is a post and a half! Who's going to pin it? :-)

Ubi, you quite simply do the best CG work around.

Ya I'll second or third the preference for the bakelite on this one. I guess that makes it a 7031, right?

did you stick the dial in the lye?