Watchmeister

Ubi- Between the Daytonas and some other watches I have seen in your collection I don't think I would be kicking myself too hard. But thanks for the sentiment. Getting back to the debunking topic there is now a second L Swiss L on Risti: http://www.network54.com/Forum/353390/thre...iamonds......... It is just too funny that I have been searching for this evidence for 2-3 years and in the space of two days we see two of them.

I agree. You never know where you will find those parts.

Gold plating never looks like 18k - so your rep never looks like the gen. Plating maxes out at 5mm. Old school gold filled at 15-20mm looks much closer to 18k (or 14k if that is what it is). So your watch is unlikely to look like the gen (every manufacturer has his own slight differences in color) and you live in fear that the gold will wear away. Having said all that there are some very nice gold reps out there. You just have to be careful.

Unfortunately, you can't buy them. Jimmy discontinued making them 6-8 months ago.

Lanikai- Sorry to hear of your issues and kudos for you for bringing it up. I am sure Ziggy will "reinvigorate" it. Hopefully the person who did it will read this and be mindful. If you hear of others having problems I hope you will reveal who it is. JMT- The gen hands are on the left. On the crowns I am swapping the Palp for a gen. The reason is that both watches have Jimmy CG's and the Jimmy CG is properly proportioned (right size hole) such that the Palp crown looks way too big (IMHO). I will use it on a standard CG where the size of the crown will better fill the larger hole.

Just remember it also has a button unique too.

The hands are a little long. But you tell me - are the gen hands worth $300 or more now? One of them has the gen set (but bought when they were $199). And while we are at it the one on the left has the Palp crown versus the gen on the right. That watch is back with Ziggy for the crown swap..

Nice of you to show up. Oh yeah, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

100% Fantasy. But enjoy the fantasy.

Big Pilot first. Then PAM 8 day.

Those particular cyclops were made explicitly for the GMT by a group for forum members. They are the proper 6mm size and good magnification. But their is a limited viewing angle and they can have reflection as is the case with the gen. Panerai has significantly improved its crystal/cyclops combination over the ensuing years. With lenses that small and tolerances tight installation can have a huge impact. You may be talking about the gen though as none of the rep pics show the date. The cyclops you have may be the same one as what is on mine. Here are some pics of the date with that cyclops on a pair of GMT's. By the way, if you look closely on the gen pics you can see pics in the background which show the date and the gen cyclops are better but have the same issue. Sssurfer may have a better version out now. PM him. If you like what you see on mine let me know and I will go look and see if I have any left.

They look great. That DSN vintage looks familiar.

Great to be back on line.

For all those skeptics who said there never was a 29 L Swiss L here is the first listing I have ever come upon for sale - and it is a B series. http://www.network54.com/Forum/353390/thre...rmal+attire---- Here are the pics from the sale below superimposed with my 029. Mine is fully loaded with Watchmaster Cyclops, Lello Date wheel, Jimmy Crown Guard, Genuine Crown and Relume. Big thanks to Ziggy who has put up with my sending it back and forth for more than 2 years. I hope you agree it was worth it. My pics aren't great (a combination of my photo skills and my kid's camera) but you get the picture. Gen: Rep: Gen: Rep: Gen: Rep: A couple of sidenotes: Ziggys lume is perfect. It looks off in the pictures as a result of shrinking the picture. The differential in the angle of the bezel on the rep versus the gen is not as big either. It is a result of the camera angle.

That is good info. If you speak to him again ask him whether there is a second cyclops on the movement. Thanks.

Even if you are not into modern art they do a fabulous brunch on the weekends on the lower floor. It is very kid friendly. And if contemporary is not your thing walk up 10 blocks and go to the Met. Or down 20 blocks and go see the new MOMA. It is phenomenal. Even if you don't like the art the facility and the installations are unbelievable. I am going to keep a certain RWG dignitary busy looking at all these things.

Euno- I am loving that strap. Can you PM me who makes it.

V- They are routinely sold on the bay. Just search under Panerai. I am too lazy too look. You do have another way out of stripped case threads as relates to the strap holders. Ziggy has used a very specific aircraft epoxy which fills the case hole, forms counter threads around the bar and yet does not stick to it. I have two watches like that. And the 199 is pretty crappy. It has nothing to do with Paul if you are talking about the one with "correct date font and magnification". By the way it ain't correct but it is better. On that one the bezel is absolute garbage.I am thinking about swapping out the movement and crystal into a better made submersible -m y old school 24A. Out of curiousity, has anyone taken apart the 199 and can tell me whether the better magnification is achieved with simply a better crystal/cyclops combo or with a second cyclops on the movement?

This is not a cartel driven watch. I am still hopeful it will be slightly cheaper than CD and that they add the additional teeth to the inner bezel mechanism to allow for better alignment. I do want the bracelet though.

Veni- Very nice. I actually think the white face is just as flexible in terms of strap color. IMHO, a brown strap looks better on a white face than black. When wearing a dark suit a white face with black strap dresses it up.

If you guys are really interested please email me at watchmeisters@gmail.com. If I get enough interest I would try and get another round. I think I would need to get demand for 10 SS pieces or so. I have 4 or so requests including Lani. On the ti I am under the impression I bought all he had which was only a few. I am not going to get a chance to try them on the hand winds until Rob comes back from vacation though.

It is the new deployant but unless you are running around with a J series watch it is not the right deployant for the watch. On the gens I don't have a camera but am wearing one right now. The engraving is not all that much better. I too polished a rep and compared it to the gen. It is still not that different. You would not notice it without putting it right up against the gen. And by the way, the first deployant I ever broke was a gen. That was the old version though. IMHO, the real difference is in the quality of the rubber on the gen strap.

Must reading for anyone contemplating a chrono avenger. Fabulous review Andreww. You are giving By-Tor a run for his money.

They are readily available on the bay. Just make sure they are double deployant and have two posts for the strap hole. You are looking for one with a little bit deeper engraving. Also just double check against a pic of a gen. If you have one you are considering and post a pic I will give you a quick opinion. It is actually pretty tough to go wrong. The dealers may well have them separately as well. Does anyone know if Homer is selling them on the bay these days?

No pics so no comments. There are plenty of after market deployants available if that is what you are talking about. There are some that are very close to the gen. I own good reps, bad reps and OEM. You certainly can buy a 99% rep for $30-40. The only difference will be better finish and a tad deeper engraving of the logo. Where you definitely see the difference is if you are looking for a polished version. On the reps they only come brushed.