Watchmeister

Can't take my eyes off it.

Don't hate the player. Hate the game. It is a great caseback for a Luminor 1B. I filched it from my 03 T which is getting the new Davidsen caseback. Actually this one is not a keeper for me. I had offered it for sale as either parts or a complete watch a few weeks ago and built it based on upon the buyer's wishes. Unfortunately the seller had to renege for personal reasons so I will put it up for sale again. But this is not meant to be a for sale post. I thought I would show off the results while I still had it. In truth, I am off for the holidays and don't want to deal with it while away. I will formally re-offer it on the forum as a completed watch upon my return in January.

Remember these parts? Full Jimmy Case/CG with custom case tube and gen early crown: Gen dial and hands: Now they are back from the North with a properly bridged swiss movement installed and an overall case polishing. Here is the result. Per usual - big thanks to Ziggy. And here it is compared to a a base gen.

IMHO, nice thought but totally impractical. A watch is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it at that time. And a pawnshop only exists to make a profit (or even in a charitable sense make enough money to continue operating). RWG has no capability to act as a warehouse for sellers watches and I don't believe many people will want to buy their watch back at the end of the day.

Watches or under age boys?

No but you can go for the wall clock.

No.There isn't one.

What do you mean? AP wants to charge me $2,000 for a non-alarm quartz movement for an old European RO. Isn't that the standard price?

TT- What has the world come to. You are getting sentimental on us. On a serious note, all the best and happy holidays. RWG does get better and better and you are a big reason why. ATB and Much Thanks- Kruz

Halo- If you are seriously considering buying it you should check the bay. I believe they come up reasonably frequently and usually sell in the $1500-$1600 area (or less). Watchuwant are very reliable but typically not well priced.

I am away through the New Year but if you only need one or two screws I have spares that I bought on the bay quite a while ago. You will have to wait until the first full week in January though for shipping.

PO.

Can't wait for the final version. The latest are incredible. The funny thing is that the gen and he aforementioned are more akin to plumbing parts in the way everything screws in than a watch case. Then again, they were built for undersea missions.

I have full confidence in you. I really don't think anyone is going to mess with you. Ergo, you pull it off. As for me, I am too old for anyone to care.

It's a white Christmas.

Genius! Obnoxious but genius! I am definitely in.

Dani- Absolutely stunning piece. The PVD came out beautifully as did the whole watch. Wear it well. In fact, the whole team's results have inspired myself and a certain mutual friend and skilled watchsmith to do it for ourselves. ATB- Kruz

Your choices include white, brown, blue, anthracite, carbon fiber, etc.. Take a look at one of the dealer offerings.

Skyland Blacksteel Chopard Mille Miglia Chrono XL Graham PVD Chronofighter

Lani- Not trying to be a grouch. Yes, I think it is an ugly watch and on the gen they should have stopped after the first (or maybe the second) version. But of course everyone is entitled to their own opinion. More importantly though, I know how time intensive reviews are and knowing you how limited your time is. Since this is the third iteration of this watch I would much rather see you use your time on a new watch. And yes the first is the best. You can't beat a commemorative watch which has a piece of the boat for which the watch is commemorated. When they are reduced to coloring in the caseback.... perhaps it is time to stop reissuing. -Kruz

Nice pics but I wouldn't spend a lot of time on a review on this one. There are at least two previous versions and I know what the demographic is for this watch.... Cousteau fetishists who need to have every piece of Cousteau memorabilia. IMHO, this is their worst version yet. And as for the crayoned blue on the caseback.... This watch has gotten less appealing to me every year. Time for IWC to move on.

Apologies to all as the first batch are not going out until tomorrow. A combination of extended travel abroad and coming home just in time for a snowstorm has slowed the shipping down. Ken has delivered his end. I just have to do mine. But everyone please keep sending final payment and shipping info. I am shipping no more than 10-12 at this point and there are a multiple of that still awaiting final payment and shipping info. ATB and Happy Holidays- - Kruz

It is right up my alley. There are two issues which come to my mind in what is otherwise a brilliant replication. The first is the crystal. The gen clearly sits much taller in the bezel (i.e. the dome begins at almost twice the height off the insert) akin to the vintage plexi rolexes. A fairly easy aftermarket plexi project can solve that but we would need to find someone with a gen. The other more difficult fix which we should pass on to the dealers (as it is an easy fix but one only they can do) is to better finish the date window. The gen has a better shaped "bezeled" date window while the rep has a primitive cut-out. That is something that can be easily fixed but only at the factory level. That would be my v.4.

If you want to go the radiomir route try a 232 (47mm) which is a solid case back and brown dial. But as everyone has said, solid case back is the only way to avoid the movement problem.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...bayphotohosting Any questions?