Watchmeister

The bracelet on my 16520 is falling apart. I don't want to spend $800-$1000 for a gen bracelet but am willing to spend $200-300. Does anyone know who still makes them (complete with deployant and end links)?

Are they in fact making ceramic cases or using DLC on SS instead?

I too have been contemplating picking up a white dial so I can change it up from time to time.

Without proper lubrication no movement will function properly - Asian or Swiss. You just never have any idea whether a movement is in decent shape when coming from the dealers.

Very different watches. The JLC is probably the closest to gen. The gen is an $8k (or something like that). The Offshore is a gorgeous rep but as you can read elsewhere there are issues with case thickness, crown placement and hand tube size on the Offshore. It is a $25k plus gen when new. The AP Diver is a better comparison to the JLC - truly super rep of a $15k (??) piece. Generally, the automatics are better reps of watches with in-house movements. On the LUC I have never seen the rep. BUt IMHO the beauty in that one is the in-house decorated movement and the rep movement cannot possibly withstand scrutiny. So here is my order: AP Diver 3.5 JLC NSD Chopard

Looks great. That is a key fix. Kind of tough to explain why the depth guage is set at anything other than off when on dry land. Wear it well.

+1. I hope you were the buyer. It was a great price.

Great stuff. I had a pair with a different movement for a while before they were lost in a move. They come in all shapes and sizes and with SS , gold and even DLC (or something like it) casing. Here is a link: http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=watch+movement+cufflinks&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=17669929059&hvpos=1t2&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13944679001286247686&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&ref=pd_sl_2hjlv7al51_b

Did you put an SS bezel on a CP or its it the original all ti CP?

I had the opportunity to catch up with Lani briefly a few weeks ago and suffice it so say he is very involved in his community and of course has his priorities set up right. Great man, great history and I do hope the other elements of his life slow down enough to allow him to spend a little time here.

I vote for MBK as well. And as Drainaps says at a minimum it is refinished.

Great to hear.

If I am understanding correctly lowering the movement still doesn't get rid of the real tell - it is not so uch the height of the crown but rather that it is not lower than the two pushers and as someone else said that is due to the chrono module on top of the base movement on the gen versus the one level 7750. And so with that in mind it most likely isn't worth it.

Great comparison. What amazes me on the gen straps is the consistency of the number, size and placement of the horns. I have several and they all are almost identical on that front. Unfortunately the gens are also the quickest to to self destruct around the end link area when taking off or putting on a strap.

Wow, that is gorgeous. Stunning pics too.

If you are talking about using a stock ETA font datewheel the answer is they are different. The font on the AP is a more refined derivative of the original LWO 283 (2892 based module movement) based on a JLC datewheel. JLC up until 10 years or so made all the movements and then AP did some tweaks and changed the background color for some models.

Yahoo! Yahoo!

+1. Inspiring me to build one. Last one dates back to the original DW true mystery movement model.

If you are talking about the screws then they are blued using heat rather than paint. I have never seen a good paint. The interesting thing is that you can actually play around with blueing the screws yourself if arson inclined. .

+1

So if I am Michael Phelps swimming in the Mariana Trench I may have to go with the Deep Sea Challenge. On a serious note, here a tip for all you multiple piece PAM owners. If your watch hasn't been pressure tested don't use the rubber strap - that way you naturally take it off before you go swimming or hit the hot tub with that playmate. I learned that one the hard way years ago.

Great article. Thanks for the link. I vote for the Patek. The readability is better and I love the integrated main crown. Too bad neither is in the budget.

Another one of those frankens that gets ever more expensive to build. You used to be able to do it for $3500 or so and now it is significantly more. Of course the price of the gen has increased as well. I always wonder which price increase came first? The parts or the gen?

Too funny, it has only just begun. My wife refers the members of the forum as "my watchmen" and not with a smile on her face. Get used to it and enjoy the ride.

When it is too good to be true......