Watchmeister

I think you need to differentiate between reps and frankens. Ubi's twins ain't no reps.

Congrats. I think it is a very good move to buy it. And now you have the fun of identifying exactly which box is the right box. Did it originally come with nothing, screwdriver only, screwdriver and extra strap in which case you will need a screwdriver holder on one side and strap holder on the other. Box buying is an art unto itself. Keep looking for someone offering a complete set on the bay or risti with complete pictures and take a good look at that box. I am still trying to figure out exactly what box came with my 162.

CBR- Thanks for the heads up. Just getting up the nerve to order one but that is a good thing to know. - Kruz

My holy grail is still the AP Boutique Scuba. No pusher issues.

My first choice would be a vintage with Angelus 8 day movement. One of the first multi-barrel hand wind movements. Folks still emulate this today. No pictures for you - yet.

I didn't know the hands were that off. Is the datewindow color incorrect for the white with silver sub-dials as well?

I also would have guessed aftermarket PVD. Is there a caseback shot? I was considering doing it to a gen base. It is true that Panerai have used 2-3 different coatings and numerous sub-contractors over the years but that is the darkest, shiniest coating I have ever seen. Looks like Jack's coating to me - established risti or not.

Congrats on a great project. It looks really good on the rubber strap. The strap tones it down.

You widened the holes so that the Davidsen would screw into the standard case? I guess the difference was small enough that the screws would still hold the cg taut against the case.

I don't have the two options in front of me but I wouild say the following. Most likely they both have the identical #117 case with wrong BB number. But people will be noticing the rep movement long before they are looking at case numbers. At this point the crystals on the most expensive ones should be identical except that Davidsen uses double AR and there should be virtually no hint of AR. The gen uses a very light "white AR". And I have confirmed that the Davidsen and one on an older Fiddy of mine are both sapphire. My biggest issue with all of the newer versions is the dial. All the lettering is just outright the wrong color. The lettering should be much closer to white than grey. Davidsen's original dial came with lighter lettering but he is out of those. The gen did in fact comes with 2-3 variations in dial (I have seen 2) and although there are modest differences in the number sizing and cut-outs they both had substantially lighter font. Davidsen's hands are vastly superior to anyone else's as well. Here is a quick pic of a first generation gen dial versus the current Davidsen. But if you take off that jeweler's loupe, the Fiddy is one of the best out of the box clear caseback PAM reps out there.

I would have guessed 48 tine rep crown but I can never count teeth in a picture. IMHO, if V's CG requires any shaving on the lever you may want to think about changing the crown. There are and will be better choices.

Off to a very nice start. You may have the gen world licked but there are a few more in the rep world that come to mind.

That's what I always say too. But I never got around to buying the duplicate with box and papers.

I buy watches without box and papers all the time. Boxes are a dime a dozen and if you are getting the right price you can send it in to Panerai for service and defacto certification. At $3800 that sounds like a decent deal. I wouldn't have said that 6-9 months ago as Panerai Panerai handwinds were readily available at $3500 or less. My last one was $3200 or something like that with box but no papers. Lately it seems the price with or without box and papers has been inching up. I am a believer that 25 years from now the original decorated movements and painted dials will be worth far more than the CDG and handwind sandwich dials.

http://theluxurybazaar.com/timepieces/webf...p;type=overview As far as I know this particular version (1940) comes only in precious metals. It lists for $30-40k and sells in the second hand market for just under $20k or so. It has a completely redone Valjoux movement in it. You can find the SS original chronograph with less refined movement (which lists for $15k or so) for $7k or less.

I came from a similar background of gen buying - but not for investment. I liked wearing them. I then went through a series of disheartening adventures with a number of the higher end brands - Pateks that didn't keep proper time no matter how many times I shipped them back to Switzerland, an AP where water ruined the watch and AP refused to honor the warranty, etc. I became completely fed up with watches, sold most of what I had and simply kept one nice watch and a cheap sport watch or two for daily wear. I then stumbled on to the original RWG 1. It was my first interactive internet forum and I loved it. I think it was more about the camraderie than the watches. I did buy a couple of watches from the old school guys. At that time Eddie and River were the high end guys. Neil, Josh and Andrew were largely selling $100 knock-offs and Paul was having "crazy sales". And ultimately it reinvigorated my interest in gens as well. Today I play in it all. My pride and joy are the Frankens and the vintages. It is not about how much money you spent or how much you saved. It is about always trying to improve your watches and most importantly it gives you the opportunity to move forth on any number of projects with other obsessed people. Reps and this wonderful forum have enabled me to meet wonderful folks from all over the world - US, Canada, EU, Asia, etc. And it is reps (frankens and vintages too) not gens that have provided this opportunity.

Wow! Can't wait to see it (not that I have any idea which one this is). My holy grails are the Worth Ave. and the AP Boutique Scuba (no chrono ergo no misaligned crown and pushers) with beautifully engraved back. Can someone answer the question whether the screws are white gold on the SS gens?

Slay- We all wish this one had a separate chrono module. Then we could get those chrono pushers higher than the crown (or rather crown lower than the pushers and we would have one perfect watch. This one is set up with transfer "gears" but at least it appears to be properly engineered unlike our original seconds at 6 daytonas.

Wow, fabulous post Lani. Blown away by the quality. I officially give in and will have to get one. Now a couple of mod questions. Is there anything on the original first generation MBW AP ROO that someone should consider swapping out on this one? Crown, bracelet, etc.? Should the screws on the gen be white gold in which case it might be well worth it to get it plated. Anything else of this nature? Based on your movement review it doesn't sound like it is worth it to morph in a Swiss 7750's parts. Lastly, you always have a good feel for what is coming down the pike. Your guess on the upcoming ROO models?

RR- Both are looking really good. Wear them well.

Sounds like a lot of fun. And a very elegant get together at that. I have to say that I have never been disappointed with a GTG with another member.

Very nice collection. Straps are half the fun and you have got great ones for each watch.

Lani- Fabulous pictorial (as always). Wear that one well. I am getting ready to give in and order one.

Assuming you pick up the dial for $900 the movement for $1,000 (although Michael's is long since sold to another forum member who is in the midst of his franken project) and can find a worthy automatic ti case with crownguard I have a gen ti crown. You will still need a movement spacer and caseback to go with it. You are probably into this one for at least $3,000 and the gen is readily obtainable at $7,000.

Beautiful combination. I am loving the watch. Wear that one well. Is that V's CG? What a great use of it. I will have to try and make one of those.