Watchmeister

Justin- Great collection.

These watches range from excellent out of the box reps to frankens to gens.

Oh come on! Red sub dials start at $3,500 - even crappy ones. Anything less than that and you are wasting your time. I am a firm believer that you can on a very rare occasion find an entire watch at a ridiculous price but never something like a dial. Anyone who goes to the trouble to pull out a dial or "happens to have a random vintage dial" laying around is out to scam you.

Very cool Longines.

Great post. My approach is similar but a little simpler. I take a hand held dust vac, clean it out and then vaccuum away. It has a built in chincy filter and the metal part stays in that.

Great stuff. Freddy- That is sick.

i am away for the weekend and randomly grabbed a couple of my current favorites. And it occurred to me that once I get out of the Panerai mindset I automatically gravitate toward the chronos. I JUST LOVE THOSE SUBDIALS. Here are my current favorites. Nothing new here. Please add your favorite chronos as well.

Looks really good. The funny thing is I prefer the bleached look to what really happens to the watches I have owned or seen. All that happens over 40-50 years on watches I have is a couple of scratches and the color and finish looks roughly the same as new.

Lots of older folks still around. Spend a little time looking around and I think you will be amazed how far some of the reps have come.

I thought that movment looked like the one in the original Josh 36.

Great project and article. I am a fan of the 5514 as well. Wear that one well.

I don't know if it is the pics or the strap but it looks great.

Gen folks do this all the time - swapping dials into different metals. So if you like it I say go for it.

+1. Corrosion on hands usually means moisture in the watch. Moisture can hurt the movement and even the dial and hands. Time for a service.

Ubi Daytona for me.

I bow to the master.

Great watch. Wear that well.

I don't have the strap with me but someone needs to measure the buckle end.

Pete- In the U.S. there is no charge at the Panerai Boutique in NYC for shipping the watch and getting a quote.

Great build. Wear it well.

Wow! Wear it well.

Nice to see you back. Can't provide the best advice as to which new rep to get as I don't own any of them but from the pics that have been circulated the 005 looks really good and you are not dealing with a clear case back. The movements have gotten a heck of a lot better but of course they still don't look gen.

You would be surprised how easily moisture can get in. You leave your watch in the bathroom while taking a hot shower and steam works its way in, etc. A C series is now a few years old, gaskets wear out on the crown tube, at the crystal, etc.Obviously your preference is to find the part and have a standard watch smith service it. If not say hello to your AD. If you have never had the watch serviced than it is time. But be forewarned your AD will charge you at least $400-500 on the service. They won't take a watch in for repair without providing a service since they are supposed to provide a 1 year guarantee.

Yes oh mighty Obi Wan, but it is a Paul, Cartel or Eddie Lee?

Wow! Great build. Wear that one well.