PAMman

The stem for a ETA 7753 is the same as an ETA 7750 and is available in both 0.9mm and 1.2mm. Confusingly these are often referred to as TAP 9 and TAP 12, but this is not correct. The respective, correct TAP size is TAP 10 & TAP 7 (Google: esslinger watch stem tap chart) As the stem you need is available in two sizes only, the smaller 0.9mm may be described as 0.9mm, or, correctly as TAP 10, or incorrectly as TAP 9. So any description with a 9 or 10 is the smaller dia and 1.2, 7 or 12 is the larger, more common size. Regardless of how they are described it should be easy to identify whether it’s the larger or smaller stem dia. It’s much more difficult to buy a generic crown by TAP size. Hope this helps.

Now sourced two genuine crowns for the hand wind 6497 models. That leaves one of these builds 100% genuine, apart from a Swiss ETA 6497-2 movement rep caseback & hands. Even all screws and movement clamps are genuine Panerai. At this point I’m tempted to use a sterile display back, which will mean no rep/fake parts at all, as I can also get gen hands.

Swiss ETA parts The 3.15mm cannon pinion # 00240.6497.03 - 134017 The 2.15mm matching hour wheel ~ 00250.6497.03 - 134014 Do make sure that you get the parts ending .03. The same part ending 02 is not tall enough to allow for the thickness of the dial in these watches. While you may only need the cannon pinion (it's the one that appears in the centre of the min hand) getting the corresponding hour wheel will ensure that you have the 1mm for the min hand to mount. These should be readily available from any material house, e.g. Cousins UK, Borel, Ofrei etc. Do not be fooled into paying the ridiculous prices on eBay. These are not expensive parts.

Buy the Swiss ETA cannon pinion and swap them over.

I haven’t been active on any of the rep forums for a few years but still enjoying the few modded watches that I’ve held onto. However, I’ve still got a couple of projects that, for various reasons, were never assembled. Both of these are classic 44mm 6497 based models. I have two genuine base dials, a 002/004 and a 0010 and a genuine D series case, with crystal & CG, but no crown. Also a complete Jimmy Fu case set, with CG, but these did not have a crown. So I need two crowns which are as close to OEM spec as possible. The intention is to assemble the white dial into the genuine case, using a Swiss ETA 6497 - I have two NOS movements with CdG striping. The aim is to have the Jimmy Ju case set PVD’d to create a B series 004. So I’m really looking for advice on the best source for the crowns I need and the best place to have the PVD done to OEM spec. If anyone can help I’d appreciate it. Many thanks.

I haven’t been active on any of the rep forums for a few years but still enjoying the few modded watches that I’ve held onto. However, I’ve still got a couple of projects that, for various reasons, were never assembled. Both of these are classic 44mm 6497 based models. I have two genuine base dials, a 002/004 and a 0010 and a genuine D series case, with crystal & CG, but no crown. Also a complete Jimmy Fu case set, with CG, but these did not have a crown. So I need two crowns which are as close to OEM spec as possible. The intention is to assemble the white dial into the genuine case, using a Swiss ETA 6497 - I have two NOS movements with CdG striping. The aim is to have the Jimmy Ju case set PVD’d to create a B series 004. So I’m really looking for advice on the best source for the crowns I need and the best place to have the PVD done to OEM spec. If anyone can help I’d appreciate it. Many thanks.

I have two, used genuine cases and a couple of dials. One case is close to mint (one scratch) and the other is older and well used. Drop me a PM if you would be interested.

The gen 'E' 111 dial is the same through the B to F series so why not go ahead with a closed caseback build as per the B, C or D? There was an excellent B series rep caseback made a few years ago.

Just a heads up. This appears to be a 100% genuine Limited Edition Monaco for little more than the price of a lightly modded rep. It may need a polish but I don't see anything too bad. The value of the additional, genuine fresh strap and deployant buckle make it look like a bargain. Just an honest 'heads up' - I have no links with the seller. If I was in the US I would be going for it myself. http://forums.watchuseek.com/f29/fs-heuer-monaco-cs2110-chronograph-re-edition-well-worn-extras-3234570.html

Very very nice. Now I need one for my 201A. Where can I source one please? The original also had a fold over liner to protect the watch from the sides of the box.

Jimmy Fu used his own 'C' (or possibly 'D') series watch for his project, so his cases were 1:1 copies of that series. However, since 1997 Panerai had become part of the Vendome Group (now Richemont, S.A.) and, for the pre-A had used the remaining OP stock of 400 cases, together with 600 of their own production, so the pre-A utilised cases from both companies’ manufacture. While there were two, separate series of the 1000 pre-A watches, during 1997, the OP 6500 (500+) and the OP 6502, I haven’t noted any record of visible case differences during that period. Given that there were only 400 Luminor cases inherited from the preVendome OP and 600 ‘new’ cases, it follows that, at least some of the 500+ first series (OP 6500) must have been the newer production. Then, particularly as it was anticipated that Panerai would only ever be a low volume, niche brand, it is highly unlikely that, having tooled up for production of the first 600 Vendome cases, that the design would have altered for the next few years' low volume runs. Therefore, unless there is any evidence to the contrary I would conclude that they are identical.

Would a 5218-201A FDG dial be of interest? I have one, still in my watch but waiting to be swapped by one of Rolli's.

They were the best; so good that I know that a significant number were used to recase worn preA, A & B series watches, which were then sold as 'minty' collectors pieces. I was able to get one of the older genuine cases that resulted from this process. I also had a number of Jimmy Fu case-sets and used one of these, together with a genuine preA1 dial, gen tritium hands and a CdG Swiss 6497-1 to build my all time favourite 'rep'. I still have one unused JF case-set, gen crown and a genuine 002 'L' dial, plus a genuine white base dial. Jimmy Fu was/is a well respected Panerai collector, who decided to produce his own 'homage' watch with a sterile dial and plain display back. He had 200 sets manufactured and was intending to get them assembled, using Swiss CdG striped movements, when the potential of legal action from Richemont knocked it on the head. I bought a number of sets from him (I think I have 9 or 10 of his dials still lying in a drawer) but still have only one built watch (the preA1) and one unused set left. The rest ended up within the forum, either as unused sets or in various reps that I built and subsequently sold or traded to other forum members. There's bound to be a few still out there; I can't be the only person that hasn't got round to doing anything with theirs yet??

I think that you should try for a full Jimmy Fu case set, including CG, with a gen crown.

What 'franken' work are you intending to carry out?