Toadtorrent

Sounds good!

Exactly!! Obviously the movement itself in terms of timekeeping will be more accurate...but if you're $30,000 gen should have a smooth sweep and you've got a loud tick-tick-tick in your rep... As well...many (not all) of the quartz reps use cases, dials, handsets, etc that are not as high quality/accurate as the more expensive ones written about here. Mind you...for 75% less cost...the big question is if the level of accuracy in a quartz rep is close enough for the wearer...NOT close as possible to the gen!!! These are 2 different issues. As to what am I smokin'? I'll give you the first baggie free...just remember where you got it from.

...more accurate...but a heckuva lot more money, time and risk!!! A reworked A7750 with servicing will still be half the price of the movement along on an El Primero project!!

A very funny story. You should post your Monaco in the rep on worst reps...especially if you can capture the dial becoming unglued. Welcome aboard...you're writing is clearer than a lot of native English writers if you have any concerns about that. It sounds like you're well on your journey of rep fun!!

Are you looking for something in particular?

If you're really concerned about maintenance and reliability...stay away from mechanical watches in general (rep or gen)...and look at the quartz reps. Much simpler, cheaper and easy to maintain. They just aren't as accurate or "glamorous".

The SMP Chrono is amazing...one of my fave watches of all time. For both you and the original poster...read the links in my Noob Guide linked in my signature for info on taking care of your mechanical watch...date setting warnings, etc. Have fun, congrats, and welcome aboard.

Awesome. I look forward to this one for sure!!

Thanks for the update Josh. Here she goes folks...the double eagle...possibly this one??:

I love the shot!!

I have a query about that too. If the Asian movement fits the same sized hands as those used in the cheaper reps...that will work...except when trying to find good GMT hand options...then it becomes tricky...and possibly a fusion of parts from somewhere!!

Beyer has the Galapagos at 7600 CHF / $6759 USD. The Deep Two is a whopping 18,300 CHF / $16,274 USD!! Yikes. I want the Deep Two!!! hxxp://www.beyer-ch.com/en/fair-news/news-2009/iwc-aquatimer.html

Congrats on the pieces. Those provide a good broad range of styles for good options. I can't say I'm a big B&R guy...but hey... I do like the PO Chrono though. Impressive watch. If it has screws...you can likely pick up a small set of screwdrivers on the web or from a specialty tool shop that carries precision tools (for the smaller size) and do it yourself...or go to any corner jeweller guy. They'll have better tools than you have now...and they'll be fine.

It is a beautiful watch. I tried on the gen a few times. It feels like butter on the wrist and FEELS smaller than the Skyland because of the thinner case and the taper of the lug horns...but it is a bit big for me. If only they would make a watch like this in maybe a 43mm footprint. Perfect for me...even 44mm.

Thanks A!! I'm in the info gathering stages here. I have to find out who's carrying decent quality cheap Asian GMT IIcs, or bases for a 1655 or something I can make a decent lower cost 6542...so many dreams...where to begin. I'm not in the league to think of modding a gen movement!! Yikes. I appreciate the offer. I may be contacting you yet!!

I assume so...not sure. They don't have this spec.

It's funny how we attribute certain design aspects to a particular brand/model.

Hi folks. I was looking at the Somal Canada parts list, and they have a couple movements available...well...maybe a couple hundred...but one that stuck out was the DG3804B listed in their Asian mechanical section. It's listed as a 4th hand second timezone movement and has the following hand specs: DG-3804B: 4th GMT hand, date Diameter: 26.00mm Thickness: 5.97mm Handsize: 100/150/200/17 Ofrei has the hand size listed as the same Now, the DG 2813 has the following details: DG-2813: 3 hand, date Diameter:25.60mm Thickness: 5.87mm Handsize: 155/100/17 Ofrei hand size: 1.00/1.50/0.17 A 2836 has the following specs: ETA 2836: 3 hand, day date Diameter: 25.60mm Thickness: 5.05mm Handsize: 150/90/45 My question is, by all accounts, the assembly of the GMT modded movements seems to be crap according to The Zigmeister. BT has indicated his experience with WHS ETA modded GMT movements has been good (from a reliability perspective as opposed to The Zigmeister's experience trying to service one). I'm wondering about going the cheap Asian GMT route (e.g. Rolex GMT IIc)...and if encountering movement failure...just swapping in a DG3804B given they are only $20 CDN!!! The 3 main hand sizes look like they will fit the DG2813...which seems to be the standard for Asian movement hand sizes...but the 4th GMT hand at "200" is a mystery to me. Is the 200 size the same size GMT hand for an ICHS ETA GMT hand? How about a gen Rolex GMT hand? How about the Asian movement GMT hand? Does anybody know if this movement given the dimensions will fit where the Asian GMT fits? I seem to recall there being cheap <$150 Asian 21j movement watches with GMT hand that had the same cases as the ETA versions. I know of this older thread here: DG3804 thread Thanks for any info.

I'm EST...so I think 4 hours forward from LST (Lani Standard Time)...

I only have what info I posted. I don't know if this places this watch in the category of most expensive Panerai or not...but it's up there for one of the more expensive vintage ones. Remember...new complications from UN, Breitling, Omega, JLC, VC, etc routinely hit $300,000 - $500,000 price tags. Throw in enough jewells, platinum and a tourbillon and you're automatically at $150,000. ...it's a big deal for a vintage watch to reach $30,000 as most were stainless steel and were either free or <$300...even though they might only be 30-60 years old. The most expensive Rolex ones are like the prototype non-HEV SD at around $200K, or the 6541 at $190K. Obviously I'm not talking about the historically significant ones like Lincoln's watch or whatever. The quote is from the Antiquorum listing and summary from their news release talking about all the records they broke. If they say that only 6 pieces of the Rolex 6154 are known...that's probably a pretty good estimate. These guys are pretty on top of the global collection scene as they want to sell these watches and want to keep tabs on who might have valuable collections they can represent. I don't know about the 30/31 pieces for the brown dial...that number I've seen mentioned in various posts on Paneristi, TZ, etc...but not from anybody of any authority or backed up with any references I would trust. Just because a watch is old...doesn't mean it is more valuable than something that is newer. AND there is no direct correlation between rarity and value either. USUALLY there is a relation...but just because something is rare doesn't necessarily mean it has more value than something that is less rare. The collectivity, and desirability of the item has to be factored in...and that rules all!! There'a an interesting article on vintage PAMs here: hxxp://panerai.watchprosite.com/?show=forumpost&fi=717&pi=2779481&ti=463631&s=0 It doesn't touch the 6154 at all...but talks about the differences in what you find pre/post V (i.e. 1936-1946 and post 1946). I haven't seen many listings for these watches. I saw another listing on a private site from 2005 and the guy was asking for about $130K...but there were no pics...so I'm not sure of condition, verification of dial, etc. I'm no PAM connoisseur...I just hang around a lot of general art experts and connoisseurs...so am used to researching trivial details.

Name the task...we'll do what we can.

I use a 21mm sometimes...and there is a gap. If you use the standard springbars that come with it...the watch will come flying off because the gap is enough to allow movement that can pop the bars when you pull your arm in and out of jackets/coats (that was my experience with heavy coats in winter at least). I upgraded to heavier 21mm springbars and that seems to solve the problem so far. Your lughorns might not be so bad...most people use a 22mm if they can't get a 21mm strap...so you can determine at time of arrival if you need to soften the edge or not.

The 3717 is 21mm. The lughorns might be quite sharp and may cut into larger straps...but if "softened" with sandpaper or whatever, will take a 22mm strap. I'm not sure on the SOSF.

Nice pics and nice write-up!!

As others have said, a gen 6154 is rare indeed. When they do go for sale...either you know about it...or you don't. What I mean is, if they sell on the "open" market, they make the news. Others "may" have sold...but through the closed doors of the elite watch trading circuits to which we would not have access to, unless you regularly trade in these levels...and likely have $20M in war loot hidden in your basement. The last one I know of that got sold was sold late 2007 in Geneva for 2x it's estimate at $188,000 USD (221,500 CHF). You have to be careful on this one...as there is a PAM 6154 made in '53 and a Rolex dial 6154 made in '54. The really rare one is the Rolex dialed one...both with the same movement and case shape. The PAM one is a sandwich dial with similar case (possibly identical??), Rolex movement: The Rolex one has lume applied straight ont he dial, Rolex marking: From the auction listing: "The Ref. 6154 is identical in case and movement to the watches supplied by Rolex to Panerai, under the same reference number. The difference between the watch made by Rolex for Panerai and the present model is in the dial. The Rolex dial is a traditional single plate with luminous coated indexes, whereas the Panerai dial is a two-plate dial, the first plate being coated with luminous material and the second plate pierced through for the indexes and numerals. Rolex Ref. 6154 is mentioned in the combined reference booklet sent by Rolex to their various retailers and workshops in the 1950s. To our knowledge only 6 pieces were made of this model; this is the first one." This is from the valuation experts...SIX known pieces with the Rolex dial. With that many...the price is unpredictable.