Watchmeister

Strap and the watch look great. The only question I have is whether you want to brush the buckle. I have owned Pre-V straps over the years(down to one now though given the prices people pay) and the ones I have seen were always brushed. But someone else who knows better can chime in.

They made one a while ago but if I recall there was something very wrong with it like they didn't get the hash marks right on the bezel (either too long or too short). Also the overall feel of the bezel and the date section (cyclops and datewheel)sucked back then.

On the hex crown Pete is referring to the fact that more modern PAM's have a hexagonally shaped crown tube and as a result need a hexagonal contact point. Also the RB refers to the roller ball on the tip of the CG lever. The 196 had an earlier CG without that ball bearing. If you are going to buy one of the A7753 Daylights I would do any except the 188 or 196 for those reasons. Those "upgrades" did not exist on the 188 or 196.

They look good but I would reject the gold AP. The screws and their inset into the bezel are not up to par.

Congrats. Time well spent. It is a big improvement to the piece as gen parts always are.

The only thing I got was a great set of snow tires on OEM rims for my audi. Kids can wait.

Watcher- Great review. In spite of the differences I had no idea they were that close.

Following the black theme: Actually today-

G- That is outrageous. Very cool, but nuts. Unless you are a Panerai dealer of course. - W

After you price it out with all those mods you should check on the price of the gen. They are the lowest cost gens to buy as they are not nearly as popular as the Luminors.

Well, the value of the dollar isn't working in our favor.

Prsist- Are you sure it is a gen?

You should be good to go.

Nik- Congrats on your upcoming wedding. I say wear the watch you are most proud of. It is going to be in pictures you will have forever. No regrets on the wife. No regrets on the watch.

What is funnier is that you don't know why he knows your name. Cheers.

And here is the black version (El Primero, gen dial, hands, crown and pushers, crystal and bezel and one-off case). In fact it is off to Ziggy for the gen pinion upgrade.

No matter how good a rep/franken is your friend still got lucky. There is enough Rolex expertise in the world that you never know. He could just as easily have found a person who took one look and knew.

Years ago I concluded the best way to access parts is to focus purchases with one or two dealers so they actually know who you are and want to be helpful. Back 3-4 years ago Angus was phenomenal about getting parts but Josh and King were helpful as well.

Could take a while though (the trial and error part). If you know someone with a timer it will be a lot faster.

Very interesting discussion. You guys are much more disciplined than I am. I could never build any super rep for 20:1 or 5% of current cost. So I go a different route. I never do a project unless I have one or both of a gen dial or movement or it is under $700. And depending on the gen part component I am willing to go to 25% plus. I have gone as high as 40% of gen. But the gen parts are always re-sellable and if you buy parts wisely the one thing you never take a loss on is those parts. I understand Rolex is far and away the most difficult. Rolex parts seem to zoom up to the level that makes the gen worth what it is worth. A red sub dial is $3k plus (I am guessing) which is 75-100% of the differential between a Red Sub and and white and 40% of what I can buy the gen for. Ergo I am not building a lot of Rolexes. So I have to say that as long as the majority of expense is gen parts I am comfortable going much higher. Someone had mentioned the 16520. That is a great example. You build that for $3-4k (40% of gen) and there are a long line of people waiting to buy it who either can't get the project together themselves and/or who don't want to spend or have the money for the full $9-10k.

I hope they make this 1:1 REP sooner rather than later. I walk by the AP Boutique every day to work and just drool over the Boutique diver. Seriously does anyone know what the movement is? Does it have a lower crown too (I know there are no pushers).

Honpo did 63,27,28 and 29. All movement rings should have perlage. At least one model does not have drilled circles on the movement ring. Can't remember which is which though.

What brand do you want to franken?

In Italian it translates to save $6-15k

That was before idiots like us were buying them for evil purposes....