Watchmeister

The stock ones sold on the bay should work with both Jimmy's and gens. They are sold several at a time.

There is no comprehensive guide to the PAM reps. There are way too many. You should decide what type of model you like - 40 or 44mm luminor (with cg), 42 or 45mm radiomir or one of the 47mm models of either. You might start by looking at one of the dealer's sites to get a sense of what is currently available. Then people can steer you in the right direction.

The watch looks great. I love the gen movement and the dial came out beautifully but I have to ask a funny question. I would guess the cg is gen as well but if it is I think the pin may be in backwards. Here are a couple of close-up shots of a gen Fiddy CG. The rounded side is on the bottom. Could just be the pics though. Definitely need to show this one off with largers pics in any case. The beauty is in the fine details on this watch. Wear it well. It is a rarity and gorgeous watch.

No worries guys read the description. It "was authenticated by a jeweler".

Swapping handwinds for the first couple of days this week:

It truly is a matter of which you aesthetically prefer. Prior to the H series the only sandwich dials were the radiomirs, fiddy, etc. What also might factor into your thinking to the extent that you are buying a watch with a clear caseback is which movement you prefer - Panerai Panerai or cotes de geneve bridge plates. I prefer the Panerai Panerai bridge plates so that restricts you to a-g watches. Just thought I would make it more confusing.

If you attempt it you are doing so to make yourself happier (which is the best reason) but not particularly closer to gen. On that particular movement the long plate is cut much more deeply among other things. And T's comments are right on. Completely different engraving and finish. Here is another pic to give you some sense:

Assuming the movement is in good order you cannot overwind it. It will stop winding when fully rewound.

m- Both are looking great. Congratulations on two excellent projects. And needless to day the date looks great on both. And IMHO, the date area is the most obvious tell for me from a distance so I think those cyclops are priceless.

Yesterday: Today:

If I were a betting man, whatever it is today - it will be 30% less six months from now. IMHO, it is very difficult to buy a vintage gen right now without a minimum 5 year hold and not worrying about taking a loss. Can't wait to see the upcoming non-Antiquorum auctions.

Heck, if these unique vintage Rolexes keep going down I may buy one. But I am figuring second quarter of 2009 unless one of the big collectors goes belly up and has to liquidate in the iinterim. But in environments like this (at least in the USA) you never know when someone gives in and simply brings in the Rolex he was given as a boy (let's assume it is a Double red ) and you just have to be there to get it.

In the current environment it is pretty tough to figure out what to buy in the gen market. Especially since prices most likely have nowhere to go but down (at least for the next few quarters anyhow). I do agree with you Freddy that in the long run (10 years plus though) there may be a real opportunity to buy vintage Rolexes in the next 12-24 months with some real long term appreciation potential. Just don't ever wear them since you can't get any parts - and not from them either. What goes around comes around. IMHO, they will lose control over their dealer network's actions and all bets will be off. The grey market inventories (new items off-loaded by dealers at cost (or close to) which resellers sell substantially below where dealer are allowed to sell) in my town have ballooned in the last few months. No different for Panerai or Breitling though. Watch markets look like the securities markets. When there is no market an item will only get what the next guy is willing to pay. And all those Newman daytonas which are going unsold at $25k will at some point get sold for $15k.

Congrats on a beautiful watch. What a nice way to finish out 2008. Perfectly timed for Christmas - the perfect Christmas gift to one's self.

Never. If you are not wearing a $50 rep with worn down gold plating or a watch which bears no semblance to your life the likelihood is probably pretty low. And if someone is wearing one that is that obvious people don't normally ask. There is no point. You know. They either don't know (99% of the time they do) or you are just embarassing them. Of course, if you are wearing a different watch every day in front of the same 20 people and prior to that you wore the same Timex for 3 years in front of those same 20 people...you better be claiming you won the Lottery

Babola- Thanks for the info. At one point I was wearing a 196 without the luminor on it before I opted for a 162 instead (no luminor on that one either) and so I thought the entire g series 196 had no Luminor. Live and learn.

22 offers and all declined. The question is whether the top offer is $30,000 or $180,000. TT- Pretty impressive taste there.

I didn't know any 196 G's had Luminor on the top. I have seen H's with it on it but never G's. Live and learn.

Actually Rolex is one of the brands most at risk as a large percentage of its new sales are entry level for high quality watches (graduation, first job, retirement, etc.). And yes I would guess we will see their watches beginning to fall. Whether they ever get below dealer cost as new I doubt but those used Daytona's are well on their way down to $8,000 and the vintages have come down quite a bit - not the ask but what people actually pay. Speaking with one of the few large Rolex collectors I know he figures that the high end stuff has easily come off 20-30% off the highs. I couldn't afford it in the first place so it was never an issue for me but I found it interesting.

Easy answer on the case back. One of the versions of the 188 Asian 7750 came with Luminor on the back. As far as I know it was never put on the g series gen 196 - only the 188. Most importantly, very nice piece.

Iceberg0 Whatever model you have you can check with Kronos Club that has an AP ROO club. They list every model and usually have pics. Here is the link: http://www.kronosclub.com/ROC/ PAM- Very nice collection. I am jealous of your dial collection. I am using the original blue dial and just waiting on a custom movement spacer to finish mine up. For a movement I ended up buying a new Ventu at a good price so that I can get the movement serviced (replaced) by Concord.

I take it you have some recent relatively painful experiences.

If I remember correctly, Rolex was one of the leading lobbyists when the trade groups went after Ebay trying to allege guilt for facilitating the sale of fakes. As you may recall they lost in the U.S. and won in the EU. Also Rolex has the unique problem of being the brand most copied and with the most accurate fakes and frankens sold. Perhaps all you Rolex fans should vote with your wallets. Stop buying. I completely lost respect for them anyhow when they stopped supporting their vintage watches.

Gentlemen- Fabulous review. The collaborative effort was well worth it. And yes, it is now at the top of my must have list.

They are no longer madeThe limitation was the gen dials and hands. You would have to put out a Want To Buy.