Toadtorrent

PLEASE...I'm from Canada.

Welcome aboard...and congrats on being a Supporter as well. Your support of the board makes it easier to encourage us to write the material that keeps the board the best. The issue for you shouldn't be being undecided about an Omega, Breitling or Ebel...but whether to order all three at once...or 1 every few months. Get those pics up!!

I think the easiest confirmation is that the bezel number printing is closer to the edge on the V2 than the V1/V3. You have the V2.

Congrats!!

I think the problem is that grading only works if there's consistency in product. Our problem is that there is too much variance in individually produced items...let a lone models. Water resistance is the perfect example. A watch's construction may allow water resistance to a certain pressure to exist...but QC may mean chrono pushers are made a little looser fitting, lack of greasing, forgotten gasket...and you're pooched. Dials may be made well...but when you have no enforcement of quality control...you may get missing markers, mis-prints, dirty dials, etc...and these variances are on each item. I may get a good AP ROO RB...but the next person's may be totally different. Makers fix mistakes like spelling errors, etc...but they don't necessarily change the model...so sometimes you might not hear that a problem has been fixed unless somebody does ANOTHER detailed review. This is the classic example of the GMT IIc. There are differences in the bezel insert printing, dials, hands...all for the same model...so trying to grade them only works if you can ensure getting the same product from the same collector consistently...which without quality control...ain't gonna happen!!

If they sell the watch back to the used market...it's a fraud industry...you can be sure they are remanufacturing whatever seals required to make the watch appear un-opened. They might even sell it as brand new for a 15-20% discount...and who wouldn't snatch it up if it's less than what the AD would charge? People keep thinking that repping these things means taking them entirely apart. There aren't that many pieces to take apart...and most people who have worked on watches here...could do what needs to be done. You only need to take apart: Bracelet Clasp End links Buckle (if required) Case Caseback Bezel Crystal Cyclops (or measure off the original) 6 Hands Dials Datewheel Bezel insert Pearl Pushers and crown Tube Box set and documents That's not a lot...low risk of damage...and probably takes <1 hr to disassemble AND put back together. The movement is what takes time...but they aren't touching this.

Many of my hobbies have been pushed to the side with having kids...watches had always been in the back burner...and are now of continual interest...even though my buying has slowed. I've bought the ones I've always wanted...and am eyeing a few more possibles...but the watches are something I'm able to follow with the time I have available to me...unlike my other hobbies.

There's a quartz Ebel BTR that is pretty good too.

No sweat!

WOW!!! . . . . . . . . Did I say WOW????

Read the posts linked in my reply...this is from some of the experts who have. It really depends on where the lever is loose (when supposedly locked, when it's open, etc).

Smokin'!! Great tutorial...and WELCOME BACK to the uber-posting!!

This is a common complaint of the PAMs. I don't have one...so I can't say...but I've read of solutions here in various posts. The Zigmeister makes a new pin and redrills the hole. Others: Grind down the guard feet Check the two screws that hold the CG to the case. Often 1 is loose. Silicon on the pin hole and the pin Plastic wire insulation around the pin Rubber gaskets below the crown where the crown sits on the tube Tape on the crown where the crown meets the lever Loctite in the pin SSSurfer posted his tips and explanations here: http://www.rwg.cc/members/Easy-loose-lever-fix-t4878.html http://www.rwg.cc/members/Loose-Crown-Lock...rai-t13800.html http://www.rwg.cc/members/Panerai-Experts-t17553.html

Beautiful watch. This was the one that got me interested in the brand!!

The plastic should likely be double sided sticky tape. If it's sticky...just scrape it off and reglue the insert.

Just buy her a couple and take her out for a nice dinner...and you'll be cleared for another few... Welcome aboard...and a great first post.

Heh heh...mmmm...Mobius...

Remember...the dealers ALL have had their issues with one client or another...but bear in mind that with 20,000 members, the overall rate of decent service is what keeps them recommended on the board. People all have their dealers they like...but issues I'm willing to put up with may not be what you are willing to put up with...so you may choose another dealer. I've ordered from almost all of the dealers...and had minor issues with ALL of them (wrong orders, dead movements, bad parts, etc)...but every issue was corrected to mutual satisfaction...and I ended up with pieces that are great in the collection. I've bought stuff from almost all the big box stores and returned things or had refunds...same sort of thing. There are other dealers members have used not listed on the site (well...now most of them are listed). Some of these seem to be fine...possibly cheaper...but higher risk as you don't have the same volume of feedback and membership experience to draw on as those listed here. Welcome aboard...the hunt is half the fun...or annoyance.

HAH HAH...depends on the look...visualize a Baldwin brothers type of Satan...one of the younger brothers...or a Buffy the Vampire Slayer type of vampire Satan...more cool...not all about the standard NZ All Black look. You could get the Armani suit Satan...anything goes...all about the creativity of the director.

That's right...Dave's the King of the Breit-blings!!

Me too. My fear is that they had to add extra gears to move things around, and skimped out on the jewells so the reliability will be off. As far as I know, the tricompax modded 7750s weren't a timebomb the same way as the seconds at 6 is...so, hopefully they were able to get away with just changing the positioning.

Good pick TJ. Or there's a FM with a roulette dial...that would work...or if you're going for the cool, non-black but more brown clothed wearing Satan...I do think a PAM would work as well.

There will likely be NO rep "stores" in Orlando or anywhere in North America. Stuff that's sold here is crap. The reps mentioned on this board are bought from dealers who do not buy from cheap product suppliers, but from high end underground factories in China...which is why they are all shipped from China. Read the Noob Guide linked in my signature for an introduction to the rep world. It will be daunting reading as it sounds like you're just starting out...but I assure you, it will save you time and grief, and answer a lot of questions you may have. Welcome to RWG...you just saved yourself from buying crap and at overinflated prices from other dealers.

I can't find the original post with pictures...but The Zigmeister found pubies in LordRasta's UPO...so it really could be alive...and I do trust you...just don't take offense if I wash my hands after shaking yours. Yuck!!!!

At least it's not like back in the same era, getting a 6263 for $500...trading it away for a toaster...only to buy it 40 years later for 100X that...and one that is more beat up than the one you gave away!!!