HauteHippie

Interesting design. What is the dial diameter?

I wonder if you could find a plater who could match the gold color?

Panerai 'customer service' . . . . if you can call it that.

Great work, Marty. Really. Very, very nice!

Some. Others have 6mm cyclopes. 6mm is for the 40mm models and the older A-C (some D I think) serials.

A gen PAM crystal with 6mm cyclops and AR?? Something doesn't quite add up here...

Nice stuff, T!

The patina is tough to get right, but when it's right, it's

Let's see it JoJo !

I like it !

Just absolutely love this guy's finger-style arrangements. And it doesn't hurt that he performs a lot of my favorite music of all time. This one above is a real gem, and originally written for the piano!

Let it bottom out in the bezel. It should be slightly recessed per the gen. If it is a snug fit, then no glue. Definitely not gorilla glue!! If anything, GS Hypo cement.

This is what I do as well. Use Opera Mini and don't view the mobile version of the site.

I once saw a watch maker use some sort of watch making vice that was bolted down to hold the case while he unscrewed the caseback in a situation like this...

Yea, the Disney Hotel is dated now. Either of your other choices will be winners though!

Totally agree, Ubi. It's likely that 90%+ of the people buying a shiny new Rolex don't have a clue that Rolex isn't standing behind their heritage. They're not collectors, connoisseurs, etc. This policy certainly wasn't born in the marketing department; it isn't a ploy to get you to buy a new watch, etc. It was an economic decision of choosing bigger fish to fry. It's a symptom, in my opinion, of prioritization and cost controls by company with limited resources who is now (mass) producing a product that is sold in every corner of every shopping mall across the world. Their marketing plan, to be sure, is genius. But this certainly isn't a part of it.

Heh, and my super franken SA with gen B13..... is the only chrono I have that DOESN'T reset perfectly to 12!!

It's definitely out in the open not only on Ebay, but VRF, TRF, etc, etc... and as you say, has been for some time. But I guess I can still imagine that there are unknowing 'victims' on those forums, and they are right to raise hell. Personally, though, I have to chuckle when the occasional VRF mod posts the "No Franken Watches" reminder on the sales forum.

One has to wonder how many of the 'indignant' members of VRF actually know quite a bit more than they are leading on....

Days will probably be in the 80s, and feel 5-8 degrees warmer than what you're used to due to extra humidity. Nice and toasty, usually. A few days at the parks (Disney and California Adventure), and a day or two at the coast (Laguna Beach, Newport Beach are easy driving distance) makes a very enjoyable vacation for that time of year!

I'm neither denying nor agreeing that Yuki is involved in this (because I really don't know), but if he is then he CERTAINLY is not the only one. And at this point I'm fairly convinced that there are a select set of cases out there that, when used in fully pieced together franken projects, are going to not only fool EBay buyers but Rolex SCs as well. And I'm quite skeptical of "recent service papers, but no punch guarantee" sales of some specific models. I suspect it's more common than not nowadays.

Right on. Once you spend enough time around reps - wearing them and using them ... and around rep forums - reading detailed reviews and viewing even studying endless macro photos ... and then still find yourself buying the genuine article, aesthetically it's for the little things, not the blatant. It's in the minor, yet pleasing details. And also, as you mention, for the things unseen yet appreciated that are hidden inside the case. I bought my wife a genuine Datejust last year. Oyster bracelet, smooth bezel, white dial with Roman numerals. The bracelet is dainty and silky smooth at every joint - probably lighter (not heavier) than the rep. There are no sharp edges on the clasp, and the clasp is neither too tight nor too loose. And it fits like a glove between the lugs. The power reserve is impressive, and it winds smoothly, effortlessly, and with no discernible noise. The dial print is precise and crisp, but not overstated. Yes... MINOR differences from Josh's $200 version. All the difference in the world to me, however, and yet I am also quite aware that the run of the mill person off the street would never understand or even be able to notice these things if shown side by side. But I just don't care. Maybe it sounds snobby... but it's not. The few gens I've owned over the years, I may have never owned if not for the rep versions which only heightened by appreciation in the first place.

Heh... and this guy's response, well, I can't say I disagree. And of course there's a causal relationship between his premise and complaint: "The governments of the world print fake money so why not have fake everything else. When prices come down to earth the profit in fakes will be gone and the fun will come back to the enthusiasts. The prices never should have gotten so crazy to begin with...these are all just old watches. We can like them...but we don't need to worship them."

What's behind the attraction to anything? The attraction to Rolex as a brand is fairly straight forward, and the vintage pieces carry premiums due to shortage, etc. Then of course there is a lot of irrationality that drives up prices. I think the thrill of the chase might outweigh the thrill of ownership to a certain degree when it comes to the older models. But, as for size, yes I agree the 1680 feels small on the wrist. I had one and sold it. Very nice to look at, and I loved the vintage tritium patina. But for me, it did just feel a bit small and lacking in overall presence. It's a personal thing.