HauteHippie

Ok I missed the fact that you're using a 1570. The quality normally sucks from Slimeball, from what I have always been told. I think it's best to obtain a 1570 with silver DW already intact.

What's wrong is they come from Mr Slimeball... I have a silver MBW overlay if you want.

Good stuff, R. Have you been on California Screamin' yet? It's one of the top 10 coasters in America. Have fun!

Or ... we're both out of sync. I had set my watch wrong -- Friday wasn't the 1st!

1/3 the cost of a gen on a good day for buying gens. Not too shabby!!! Besides it's a beautiful piece, and having built it by oneself is priceless!

BTW, the $475 price on this one is a great deal if it's the automatic version. I've never seen it that low!

Cost of gen case set? These days I don't know. If the crystal alone is $400, I'd hate to think what the case, caseback, crown/tube, and crystal set goes for.

Threading issues? No. But it doesn't screw on smoothly like the gen does to the gen case. It's noticeable, but then again, how often do you take the caseback off/on? What's most noticeable is the bulk. The gen case + caseback compared to the rep combo is noticeably thicker. Set them side by side on a flat surface, and you'll notice it. And you can see the difference on the wrist as well.

You're not going to notice a difference in sapphire quality to the naked eye, I don't think. Even with a scratch-dig on the low quality end of the spectrum, the naked eye probably isn't going to detect it unless there is a really bad manufacturing defect in the rep crystal (which might not be too far fetched in some). But I had just become used to my rep crystal with my own AR, and it was crystal clear. Now with the gen crystal and gen AR, I get these pesky reflections all the time. Annoying to say the least. It really detracts from the watch. Some peeps worry about AR "accuracy" per the gen. Me? I want my AR to do what it's supposed to do... and I'm ready to strip and recoat this gen! $400 for a gen crystal?!? Absolute highway robbery!

I've always liked the one below also. I don't think it's produced any longer, but I did hold it in the flesh at this place: http://www.countycomm.com I think the one you picked up is currently in stock according to their site: http://www.countycomm.com/presar.html This is the one I used to have my eye on. I saw a custom DLC job someone did on one of these too. That was the nuts!

Ah yes. I've had my eye on a similar Marathon for years. They're beasts!

The crown and tube indeed do make a surprising difference. The gen crown really sparkles compared to the rep. With the gen case set I would rank each item in this order: 1. Gen caseback - adds bulk that is noticeable on the wrist compared to the rep and is contoured differently. 2. Gen crown/tube - the crown sparkles, and the internal threading is night and day compared to rep. 3. Gen case - the edge chamfers are crisp and noticeable compared to the rep, the gen lugs are slightly longer and contoured differently. 4. Gen crystal - yea it's gen, but the AR sucks.

I'd say a TT jubilee would be the way to go with this one...

Hmm, kinda different, kinda interesting. Movement ETA 2895-2 elaboree Swiss automatic watch movement with 27 jewels and small second indicator 42 hour power reserve; 28,800 A/h oscillating frequency Case 316L surgical stainless steel watch case Sapphire front crystal with interior anti-reflective coating Exhibition back | scratch-resistant K1 hardened mineral crystal Screw down crown 40mm diameter x 11mm thickness 10 ATM (100 meters) water resistant Dial Matte black dial, recessed small second subdial 24H markers on inner chapter ring Super-LumiNova on 12, 3, 6, 9 hour indexes and hr/min hands Watch strap [*] Black naturally tanned leather strap with Italian cork lining [*] Pushbutton release butterfly clasp with engraved Xetum logo [*] Watch strap attached with 20mm springbar Other [*] 2 year limited warranty [*] 30 day returns [*] Free US timepiece shipping [*] In stock: Normally ships within 2-3 business days Thoughts?

Welcome home!

Nicely done! The only reason left to go with gen pushers would be for waterproofing, and maybe the ever so slight color difference...

The framers of the constitution did not want the federal government to have this power. They actually wanted to guard against the type of runaway inflation that the old "Continental Dollar" had experienced. Our brilliant politicians, however, later found a way to essentially confer power to themselves not granted by the constitution.

Not every dollar. The US issues bonds to many different private entities other than the Fed, and to sovereign entities as well. But the Fed is by far the largest creditor to the US government for sure. However China is the 2nd or 3rd largest. Yes, the Fed collects interest but it does offer a significant rebate to the Treasury as well. "Economists" will tell you this represents net income to the federal government because wouldn't exist if the Fed didn't hold the debt. The Constitution does not give the federal government the power to print money. In fact, early drafts of the constitution did include a provision for doing so, but it was struck down. So, as is the case with many things, over the years the federal government decided it needed more power than the Constitution granted, so in this case it established a "private" entity known as the Federal Reserve through fiat which has essentially allowed it to exercise power not granted to it through the Constitution. No, I didn't suggest any relationship between income tax legality and the purpose of collecting such taxes. I was answering your unrelated question as to how the income tax was used. As far as legality goes, tax protestor kooks often site the 16th Amendment not having been properly ratified, and even that the 16th Amendment somehow isn't worded properly. But much of those debates have to do with the constitutional definition of a "direct tax", which surely differs from the definition provided by the tax protestor kooks.

No. It's not seriously true. Federal income tax is lawful. The last time I checked, public debt interest payments were the third biggest item in the federal budget, behind the military and social security. I'm not sure what connection you're making between interest payments and fairness/equality though?

That's one heck of a reference, D babes!

Not only is it possible, but it might be a given. My experience with Phong cases is on the 16520 side, and he certainly has multiple 16520 case variants. There is only one variant that is desirable/accurate. And sometimes it'll take two or three shippings to receive the desirable case from Phong.

Thanks, guys. She's a very versatile watch. I'm tempted to redo the gen crystal with chieftang AR, however. :-) Strap: http://lonestarwatches.com/Chronissimo.htm

Well I have had this gen case set, gen crystal, gen pushers and crown lying around for months on end, and having finally finished a huge project a work had some free time today to make use of it. I transplanted her from the original rep case into the gen case and slapped on the DiModell. I like the look! At the next service interval, I'll have The Zigmeister slap on some gen hands and a German DW. PS - I really have to say that the gen crystal is very annoying. Why can't IWC use better AR??? I need to talk to them about that!

Lookin' good. I'm not a fan of Tag, but have to admit to liking the calibre 36.

Looks fantastic, R.