Watchmeister

So I assume you tried the full wind. Sometimes a movement does need a "kickstart".

29M looks awesome to me.

You got it. Often the Asian rotor is very noisy out of the box. It can be improved but if you haven't done it before have a watchsmith do it. Whenever I am considering a chrono I factor in a service as an insurance policy. On an automatic or hand wind I let them remain ticking timebombs. If and when they blow up replacement movements are usually fairly inexpensive as is the service if you go that route.

Just to add, the term service can refer to a true break down of an entire movement with reassembly and proper lubrication. But it also can refer to a simple "dip and swish" where the person simply dips the entire movement into a vat of lubricant (okay, I am simplifying a little). You will never know what you are getting. And I am not convinced the dealers even know as they are not doing the servicing. By using someone with a reputation you are getting someone who wants to keep it. I also think that even if the dealers are making sure watches are properly serviced you are still better off getting it serviced after it has been shipped as you never know what it has been through along the way.

That is what I noticed about a lot of the parts dealers. I always assume they either have a second job or sell to steady customers and come to ebay when they know they can be around to fulfill the orders. I have always assumed that Ingod dials are showing up in someone's reps.

I am with Ziggy. With a properly serviced 7750 running the Chrono has always worked fine. And for that reason when I do by a chrono I always budget in a service. With standard automatics and handwinds I let them run until they die. And then I get them serviced if I still like them. And as for uses there is nothing more exciting for a kid than being timed doing something and seeing where that hand is sitting on the dial. In the real world I use it for plane flights, making sure the pool tester has 15 seconds to check the levels, etc. I thought about it and I use it at least a few times every week. I do have one question for those in the know. Does running a chrono impact the power reserve of a watch? Anyone?

On the hand jumping I thought that only referred to setting the GMT hand. Or put differently, when you set the gmt hand it automatically clicks in hourly increments such that it is in alignment with the main hour hand so they stay perfectly in sync. This was the problem with the earlier truly indepently settable 2836 GMT movements. You could set the GMT "wrong". Once the watch is running though the GMT hand should move in synch with the main hour hand.

I will go with my longer term two faves: But I am hoping to add one or two in 2012. And here is an ode to some of those lovely PAMs now long gone:

I do think it is a stunning piece but I am not a fan of the crystal. The distortion looks way off to me. But I am still dying to buy one.

Can't wait to see pics of the Patek. Unless things have changed quite a bit since I lived there you will be one of a select wearing one. And this is coming from someone who grew up there, still gets back from time to time and attended a certain "junior college" in the Boston area.

Gorgeous watch. Wear it well. What I want to know is what watch you are waiting for. That is a heck of a "holdover".

Consider yourself warned, I ordered the 7032 set when he had his sale a while back and received nothing. Factor everything else mentioned: getting out of the game, aunt, grandmother, etc. and it all spells disaster but that is my 2 cents.

You certainly had a great year. Wear those well. And glad you decided to hang around.

Nothing to say other than ignore it. That is bizarre.

No way to avoid the $500 price tag without going to the second hand market. Study carefully before buying. Later models will have better date placement, date font and even crystals.

Very nice pics. It looks really good - very genish. The one concern I had when it came out was that the green was not lime green enough. I had just seen it at an AD. So unfortunately it sounds like that is the case.

I would be more focused on getting a movement where the GMT hand jumps rather than Swiss or Asian.

If you are loving it I am impressed. Did they get the engraved bezel right (layout and size of the numbers)?

Stunning watch. The gen dial makes all the difference.

Great set. Loving the Highways. Wear them well.

If it was registered mail wouldn't someone have had to sign for it?

Aaah, throw it out.

ST- Thanks for the Plazawatch suggestion. I hadn't ever seen it before. Of the traditional ones I have looked at I always enjoyed Revolution as well. It looks like they are just now offering a mobile version via the Apple Store? Am I reading that correctly on their website?

Does the JLC datewheel fit the movement?

I am not knowledgeable enough to know whether every part is gen but I would pass as I don't believe that is an all original watch so I would have no idea what I am buying.