Watchmeister

Very nice combination. Didn't you know 1:1 means they look the same.

He is a member. I am told that parts availability has gotten much more limited but best of luck in any case.

Very nice Mr. Z.

Very cool strap. Eric does really nice work.

Unless the Swiss movement is a true double chrono model I wouldn't bother. Owning a $900 rep without correct functionality seems silly. In truth I always preferred the larger one but can never get myself to buy a rep with incorrect functionality.

If you gotta go with one Pam I can't think of a better combo than a Pre-V with a W0lf case and ziggified FGD dial. a sublime combination.

All I can say is wow.

Great piece. New generation dial is a big improvement. Wear that one well.

For what model or brand? They are one of a few top of the line factories but different factories are better at different brands. Noob has the monopoly on AP's and many consider them the bet for the PAM's they produce. But others will disagree. Most likely, whatever specific model you are looking for has been reviewed....and often versus the competing factory so read away.

+1

Great stuff. And I will bet you have a warm story on the build for each one. I suspect that when you stare down at your risk and look at that masterpiece you think about the journey rather than the end product. Long live the franken. /)

What took you so long?

Very very nice,

5514 and 1665 for me.

Great stuff.

Whenever these come up I seem to be in the middle of another money pit project. What a great buy. Someone has to pick it up before I give in.

You can read it elsewhere on the forum but there have been major crackdowns causing disruptions to a number of factories. It is still unclear whether this is permanent change to rep industry or just temporary. IMHO, proceed carefully when buying.

Wouldn't the dial be thousands of dollars? I thought this was a $15-$20k watch. The one thing i have noticed is that gen dials price up amazingly high and corresponding to the increase in the value from that dial. For instance difference in price between Red Sub and vintage white sub is $3-4k and the dial correspondingly costs approximately $3k. That has always been the major weakness in frankens of more valuable Rolex dials. Who would buy the dial when you can pick up the whole watch for $1000 more.

Now that Ken is back I suggest you boys try and straighten it out privately. If not then come back here for the public spectacle.

IMHO, definitely just another refinished dial "reasonably" well done. Nice try by the seller but doesn't cut it. I have seen the "tinted" 16520 dials with the same improper coloring.

Unfortunately, my answer is welcome to the current state of reps. On the PAM, with the introduction of QC pics the burden (or opportunity) of selecting your specific rep falls on you. Until 2 years ago you literally blindly ordered and what you got is what you got. If it arrived functioning fine than the dealer has fulfilled his obligation. On the Hublot the fact that you were offered a refund is also the right answer. I don't know whether supply disruptions is a permanent thing but there's no question that the supply has had to take a step back. And so should you. In the 10 or so years I have been a member of this and predecessor forums there was a 2 year period where ordering a rep was as sure a thing of ordering from Amazon with the one risk that the watch wasn't working correctly. But for 8 of those years ordering was more of an adventure. Watches came and went out of stock (often quickly). Different dealer's had different stocks and you bought very carefully. For now at least it looks more like days of old.

Ken- Good to have you back. By the way if it isn't yours where did Nanuq get that extra nut?

This thread has been entertaining and tells me three things: 1.) There has been or continues to be some form of crackdown (we can read that in the Newspaper) 2.) Our dealers will continue to do the best they can to source what their clientelle wants; however we as consumers need to be more careful as to who actually has what to sell. Their clearly have been and may continue to see service disruptions. Our dealers have historically done an excellent job providing the majority of the membership with their "illegal" needs. That is their business. 3.) Those who have been dissatisfied with the dealers continue to be, albeit they form a small "vocal" minority

K- Wishing you and yours all the best in what I know is a difficult time.