Gen Parts Audemars & Vacheron inquiry

[Katerchen]

Hi folks!

Decided to post this thread rather than PM each and everyone of you

people that asked for availability and prices of genuine parts.

At the moment i have my contact asking on following parts:

Vacheron Constantin - Overseas (model build 2006)

ref. 47040/B01A - 9093

---> A set of hands (Hour and minute excluding seconds)

---> Crown for case

---> Datewheel for cal. 1126

Vacheron Constantin - Overseas (model build 2000)

ref. 42042/423A - 8722

---> Dial (silver)

Audemars Piguet - Royal Oak Jumbo

Ref. 15202ST.0.0944ST.01

---> Dial (creme/white)

---> set of hands (hour and minute)

---> Datewheel for cal. 2121

---------------------------------------------------

At the moment my source checks for prices and ordering time

for above listed parts - hopefully he might be able to get all

of them.

I will update the thread with prices and infos.

To all people that PMed and asked me:

I have your inquiry "in mind", this means if your requested parts

will be available - you will be the first person i will deal with!

If anyone chooses to say "No, thank you..." no problem.

I will let you know through this thread and maybe someone else

decides if he is willing to "jump" on this opportunity or not.

You can PM me when you have a question on AP - VC and PP parts.

Pls bear in mind, its not very "fortunately" for me to bother my source

at this time where there are inquiries pending for further watchparts.

This is somewhat a test run as the first "bulk asking/ordering" for parts and

i will first of all see how well this will work out with you and my contact

before i will ask for other parts. Ive been told that he can order/source many

different parts (of 3 brands above) but what he is not willing to do is for ex.

ordering 3 AP Dials or 5 sets of hands etc. etc.

I guess you understand... lets finish this "run" successfully and start a second

run for asking/ordering when this is finished.

I am awaiting affirmation on the above pieces during the next weeks.

For now ive just been said, that it can be possible to order -

it will just take some work and time!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have no problems with people asking here or beeing skeptical,

because i am not offering this for a profit - i am just working as a proxy.

Knowing how hard it is to obtain parts from brands as AP - VC or PP i try to offer

this to the members here because i have some kind of devotion to these brands!

The reason why i choose to hunt down these sources is and was because

spending hundreds of $$$ for the next "perfect" rep maybe wont keep you

that satisfied as owning a dial for a rare piece and build you own franken.

Another thing you should know if you decide to buy something is:

The parts are fresh from the factory - no used or second quality.

Ill keep you updated here - only thing i have to do now is wait

and hopefully this thread is going to be updated during next 2 or 4 weeks

with some GOOD news!!

The best to you!

George

[ubiquitous]

George,

Out of curiosity, is he willing to sell old, used take off parts from watches where hands or dials have been replaced with new parts? Just curious if he is willing or able to sell form any existing inventory of used bits or not

Cheers!

//ubi

[Katerchen]

PLS note:

Vacheron Constantin Dial i am requesting is changed (misunderstanding between me & Kruzer/Warren)

from ref. 42042/423A - 8722 to ref. 47040/B01A - 9093 this is the bigger "jumbo" Overseas model!!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

@Ubi

i might ask... best opportunity will be when we will meet next time -

phoned him today but he is always very busy.

Out of memory i literally saw "tons" of dials - an entire folder with for ex. ROO dials but

i cant remember having seen any watch movt./ movt. parts around.

Might take some time when i will see him again (dunno at the moment how much time asking for price

and secondly ordering will take him) but i will ask - you can go PM and drop me a line

as a reminder on this. You can also be more precise then, what parts you are thinking of.

George

[Panoris]

PLS note:

Vacheron Constantin Dial i am requesting is changed (misunderstanding between me & Kruzer/Warren)

from ref. 42042/423A - 8722 to ref. 47040/B01A - 9093 this is the bigger "jumbo" Overseas model!!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

@Ubi

i might ask... best opportunity will be when we will meet next time -

phoned him today but he is always very busy.

Out of memory i literally saw "tons" of dials - an entire folder with for ex. ROO dials but

i cant remember having seen any watch movt./ movt. parts around.

Might take some time when i will see him again (dunno at the moment how much time asking for price

and secondly ordering will take him) but i will ask - you can go PM and drop me a line

as a reminder on this. You can also be more precise then, what parts you are thinking of.

George

Thanks George,

Would the proposed dial for the RO fit the case recently acquired via Paul's group buy special order with MBW? I was displeased with the 'silver' dial option offered there and still am looking for a true white.

Kind Regard,

-P-

[Katerchen]

@panoris

Dont wanna "dampen" you... moding the mbw RO jumbo case is a hard one!

For ex. my RO 14802ST jumbo dial (nos) is a 1:1 swap into the case but

youll have to solve the movement problem --> ETA (no matter which one)

wont fit the gen hands unmoded and secondly ETA center gear/pins holding the hands

of the movement are definitely too thick for the hole of the genuine dial!

Last problem is the position of the date-window to the ETA machine.

Have no confirmation about prices yet - bearing in mind that a gen Jumbo dial

can be around "600 Euro +" without hands or maybe a gen datewheel for cal.2121

this is really a "hard one" to mod... "for lovers only"

George

Edited April 6, 2010 by Katerchen

[exper]

Thanks for finding out for us, looking forward to hearing how you get on !

[specialvat]

Thanks for your help George.

[donpedro]

Awesome news, and incredibly kind of you to put all your efforts in this service. Highly appreciated!

[james12]

For what it's worth, I'm looking for the same dial should this guy have more than one ( 47040/B01A - 9093 this is the bigger "jumbo" Overseas model!!) black or white if fine.

Or if anyone has any leads on a gen. for the 42.5mm men's version of the overseas.

Thanks!

[mossanti]

George thanks for doing this out of passion.

I'm thinking if you be able to find/ask for the next run anything for EOD - most important the dial and hands

Looking forward for your updates!

[Katerchen]

@all

Pls be patient...

Heard that most "all" important people involved

with enquiry are still in vacation.

Hopefully, i expect to know more in 7-14 days.

B/R

George

[gran]

Ok we will wait for more news

[Katerchen]

Ok guys... here are "the news":

Talked to him today, saying he is not able

to source/order parts at the moment -

he said the parts have become VERY restricted

from AP and VC or Patek.

No Problem for him to source parts if

i can forward him a gen watch for service or

overhaul - what he cant do on his own,

he gives away to his watchsmith.

He said the "service-points" of the swiss

factories are wanting to make the profit on

their own... a service for AP or other high-grade

swiss calibers is offered with 300-400 Euros by him

(& his watchsmith fellows) maybe refreshing the bracelet/case

also included! A brand as AP offers the same deal

at minimum 1000,- € upwards!!

I know he aint lying about this because i saw "the bill"

of the previous owner of my AP 14802ST dial from AP

and it was an amount of 1.200,- € entirely!!

For what work done:

Replacing the dial with a new one - exchanging the hands -

(NO movement service!) maybe a little bit of bracelet/case

cleaning but NOT explicit mentioned that they did

something like refurbishing the watch - this mustve been about

2000,- € then

He said that at the moment he asked but

he is not able to order these parts

"out of the blue" from AP, VC or Patek he works together with...

Also sad is that it might "stay" like this forever -

nobody knows if these and other brands will loosen

their restrictions/rules they just enforced shortly about

works that can be/must be done trough "service-points".

He knows a number (and so do i) of ADs located for decades

in the area Frankfurt/Rhein-Main - Germany - that once where

able to do good and also often service-works on your watch

at a "reduced price" compared to what would have been paid

if the watch would be shipped to the "service-point" of the

makers... these service points are located in germany and

of course also in suisse. From what ive heard, some works

are NOT allowed to be done even by skilled watchsmiths and employees

of the brands in germany but the watch HAS to be shipped to

suisse!! The brands force the watchsmiths to partake and spend

some vast $$$ on expensive workshops offered by the swiss

makers - and if you didnt run through these "advanced training"

they withdraw you the permission to work on their models...

no matter if you did before and have ability etc.

you have to "buy" these workshops and partake... thats

the opposite of outsourcing!

What he is willing to do is to part with

majority of his AP dials - mainly or most there are

AP ROO dials (NOS and dials from models still in production)

and tachy-scales for ROO - he might have some other AP dials

too - at the moment i convinced him to offer me some of his

AP ROO dials.

Feel free to drop me a line if interested.

He said NO second chance on a set of AP ROO hands too

which i bought for Watchmeister/ex. Kruzer... lucky you!

Anyway i will stay in touch with him and arrange a

second date to stay in touch.

Sorry - was disappointed too - thats life!!

Regards!

George

Edited April 23, 2010 by Katerchen

[sander]

That's too bad!

Seems like all the big names share the same policy

[mossanti]

too bad... I thought we can build our franken ...they are getting restricted...ARghh ...not god...

Maybe I might interested in Safari creame or the volcano ..there goes my EOD project ..very hard one!

thanks George

[Katerchen]

Hi guys!

My contact is on vacation right now...

I will try to meet him again and take a few pics

of what he is willing to sell, so i am able

to post some pictures down here.

From what i understood it will mainly

be AP ROO dials and tachy rings!

If there are any other parts available ill post here

All the best to you!

George

[Katerchen]

Hi gang!

Update

Will meet my contact and take some shots of the

majority of parts he is willing to part with next week.

As far as i understood it will be mainly NOS and

mainly AP dials and tachy scales.

Be aware to take a look at the pictures i will post,

because parts from AP have become very restricted

so i dont know if he will be able to order some spares

anytime soon in the future!

Anyway i will take this opportunity and shot pictures

of ANY parts he is willing to sell - i just cant tell you

now what else it can be.

I guess this will be "one time opportunity" for you guys -

i cant place a repeat order.

As for the people that asked me for a second set of

hands for AP ROO model, i can only try and ask again -

last answer on this was "NO" sorry...

First come, first serve!

I hope that we can bring some nice frankens on the way

The best to you!

George

[Lobster]

Can't wait, thanks buddy!

[mumum]

I will be watching. Thanks:).

[Katerchen]

Guys... Date got canceled today!

Been there but he wasnt prepared at all and had

no time... we agreed that we would phone again

to meet up during next 10-14 days!

NO pointer or evidence so far at all that

he somehow "changed" his mind - thats why i guess

the deall is still interesting for him to part

with some dials n parts

Ill keep you updated!

B/R

George

[gran]

[sander]

Thanks for the update