p550racer

Hi Ken, Vacherons are very nice and classy. Unfortunately I do not know much about them. I would think that the classic simple ones would have the same basic rep issues as the Pateks. But maybe I am wrong. Is there a simple/classic "spot on" one out there that you can guide me to. Thanks & regards, Sam

You are absolutely right. I too have both the best versions of the Nautilus and Aquanaut, which are both sports watches. But I still cannot understand there is no demand for the ultimate dress watch, that is a basic Patek calatrava. There are a couple of basic/classic, good quality ones, with saphire crystals and Swiss ETA movements, but there is always some very obvious, glaring flaw. It seems that they do not want to go the extra step to make it perfect. For example the Swiss ETA with the silver movement and correct style gold rotor they put in the ultimate Nautilus is "very close to correct look" for any dispaly back simple/classic Patek. They use the same Swiss ETA movement is some of the high end simple/calssic Pateks, but with a wrong style silver rotor. Another example is that they will have the correct case, but wrong dial, or correct dial with wrong case etc. So it does not make sense

Well gents, any body has any input on this

Ladies and Gents, Does any one know of a source for High Quality Patek dress watches? I have been looking for years and coming up empty. Surely with such a simple watch as a hand wind or auto Calatrava, some body would make a High Quality and accurate rep. If the movement engraving is too complicated than a solid case back with no engraving (like the older Pateks) will do the trick. Another option is the SWISS ETA movoment with silver movement and gold rotor as in the high quality Aquanaut will work too. Quite perplexed with this one. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks & regards, Sam

Ladies and gents, Any one knows of availibility of a good quality rep of the Patek 5119 (36mm) in silver with a mechanical movement??? This is the bigger version of the 3919 (33mm). Thanks & regards,

PM sent. Regards

Also I do have a original Rolex Tropic 25 that I would like to trade for a Tropic 24. Thanks, Sam

Hi, Do you have an extra tropic 24 that I can buy from you. Regards, Sam

The DSN plexi seems to be too high and the curvature of the dome is too low. I have a gen Rolex tropic 25 but the diameter of the tropic 25 is too large to fit the DSN case. What is your plan on fitting a correct plexi? I even tried a MADASBOOT plexi (very nice one)but it won't fit the DSN case either? Do you know of any body who is making a replica plexi that will fit the DSN case and has more curvature on the dome? Thanks and regards,

Gents, Does some one have the correct domed plexi for a 6152-1 project. Using DSN new 6152-1 case. DSN plexi seems to have the correct side height, but the dome does not have same high curvature. PLease PM. Thanks & regards,

Thanks R, Every year I go searching for the basic stainless calatrava and after doing a lot of research, I only get disaponted. Such a simple watch but even with out bieng over critical, there is always some obvious flaw. It almost seems delibrate. Any way did the same this year and went to all the approved sites, including watcheden.com. So here is the quetion does any one has/makes the calatrava watch below, but in polished stainless rather than gold, with hand wind manual mvmt, in case size 36mm to 38mm and with solid closed back (not display) http://www.watcheden.com/patek-philippe-calatrava-manual-winding-rose-gold-casing-with-white-dial-i-12684-p-1.html If so, I will be willing to pay upto $200 rather than the $95 to $105. Any body? Regards, Sam

Who makes a high quality basic stainless steel mechanical hand wind Patek calatrava or Gondola, with saphire crystal & a solid (non display) case back? A basic 5119 the 39mm calatrava or a 31 x 47mm Gondola with white face, minutes, hours & seconds. These are such simple watches but I cannot find any replicas. Thanks for your help. Best regards, Sam

What is the Lug size of a Deep Sea Sea Dweller Gen? Is it 20mm or 22mm? Thanks

Any news of availibiliy of a SWISS movemnt on the BP V1??

Thanks guys. How do I go about getting more info and then acquiring the MBW version. Thanks, Carpediem

Please advise which dealer has the "Best"/"ultimate" out of the box Vintage "James Bond" sub with Swiss ETA. Thanks for your help. Carpe Dium.

Hi UJ, Are you talking about the DSN Pre-V case? If you use 2 screw drivers at the same time you can tighten so it becomes secure. after that with one screw driver it will still dance around, but will still be secure. Keep in mind DSN's 2 screw system is different from the Panerai Pre-V 2 screw system (or even anonimo 2 screw system) where the DSN female treaded tube is smaller diameter (and passes through the lug holes) and scews are larger, while the Pam pre-V & anonimo female threaded tube is larger (does not pass through the lug holes) and the screws are smaller. Carpe Diem

Hello UJ, Just to clarify the River spring bars are not Pre-V style, i.e. do not show screw heads on both ends. They are basically for standard vendome reps with stripped case threads. Carpe Diem

My post had a censored word (strange). The word I typed was F L A N GE. So the Ditch F L A N G E needs to be slightly taller/longer. Carpe

To ensure that the palp crown stays away from the case simply make the "ditch" as Siver surfer put it deeper, that is the [censored] of the ditch longer. In this case to ensure sealing one can always add a second crown gasket. The palp too close to the case just does not look right. Carpe Diem.

Rolex is one of the highest advertised comodity (not just watches but all goods period) in the world. This is a fact stated by any and all marketing statistics. Rolex is the ultimate poster child of advertising since it's inception, to date. On the other hand Panerai is the least advertised of any substantial watch brand. Yes, Rolex can be compared to Mercedes but Panerai is not comparable to Alpha Romeo, rather Ferrari. Panerai has done good market research and produce to supply less than 1/3 of it's market. This keeps the second hand market going strong and thus the fire of want burning bright. Sig Bonati is a smart man, however, Richmont is about volume, so one day Panerai now comparable to Ferrari may turn into Alpha. Hopefully, that time will not come very soon. Carpe Diem

That is it! The middle piece is a tube with female threads on each end and larger OD than the lug holes. small screws coming through the small lug holes. Need 2 screw drivers. Carpedium.

Thanks for the pics Bruce. Carpe Diem

Mil-Sub, Actually is the font is pretty dard close. Also the Logo is very close. The problem is the line thickness or boldness of the font & logo. It should be opposite, meaning the font LUMINOR PANERAI should be a little more bold (line thickness as the current logo) & the Logo should be a little less bold (line thickness as the current font of LUMINOR PANERAI, this will make the logo look smaller and thus the right size). Keep in mind the line thickness change is extemely small. The problem becomes obvious because you see both the font LUMINOR PANERAI & the LOGO together on the dial. DSN has done a wonderful job and yes he is very close to perfect. I think it comes down to how far down the production line you are to make the change & how pressed you are to recoup some of the prototyping money. It's about dollars and cents. I think it is an extremely good start, and a version 2 of the dial might fix this issue along with the 6 and the 9. Carpe Diem

NON-matching (different color on dial numbers/indices & hands) 201a and other Pre-V watches are the most desirable and they were the early Pre-Vs. The numbers and indices were painted with Tritium and then filled with Varnish. The Varnish reacted with the Tritium and gave it a dirty yellow almost orangish color. The Tritium on the hands was not treated with this varnish, hence the different color. Some customers returned their watches due to this flaw & Panerai redid the dials by using a different type of varnish that did not react with the Tritium. So in closing, the Non-matching effect on the early Pre-Vs is a flaw, but a flaw that gave the early Pre-Vs this unique contrasting look. This is the look that the world now drools over and why the Non-matching Pre-Vs go for 1/3 more $ than the matching ones. Carpe Diem