w0lf Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 My babies are back from the Great White North and I'm happier then ever! Huge thanks to the mega-talented R&J team and Watchmeister for helping these projects come to fruition While there is still one more on the way, I'm no longer PAMless Build/Parts lists: o PAM29B Honpo base w/ ETA2893 (OFFICNE full deco) Finepics relume (with amazing refinish by The Zigmeister) Finepics 2893 DW Chief Cyclops MM104 crystal (much clearer than stock Honpo or old cartel) OEM crown / Custom The Zigmeister tube Full OEM handstack OEM semimatte calf o PAM28A Honpo base w/ ETA2892 & Soprod 9040 (OFFICNE full deco) Original Honpo 1st gen dial The Zigmeister 2-color relume (white base + aged Tritium mix) Lello 2892 DW DSN 1st gen 1-piece crystal Genuine PVD crown / Custom The Zigmeister tube Genuine handstack Genuine semimatte calf Custom double-screw A-series buckle Honpo PAM27A Caseback (Correct millesimation/serial range for PAM28A) PVD by Jack@IWW o PAM48K MBW base EL 1st gen PAM48 dial relumed by The Zigmeister MBW matching relume hands Taka 7750 v2 DW Hi grade A7750 The Zigmeister custom fab polished & flush CP OEM antique brown gator A few more shots of the 28A since it's a huge crowdpleaser I'm debating whether I should swap the DSN 1-piece crystal for an MM104 crystal with SSSurfer cyclops or leave it well alone, I know it's a slippery slope. I featured this 29B in my Honpo writeup awhile back. It has since then been fitted with OEM hands, the dial has been refinished by The Zigmeister and since it's an older watch the movement received a full teardown service. Later I'll try do small a writeup comparing my wife's gen dial/gen handstack MBW PAM48K franken to this one with a masterfully relumed EL dial. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redwatch Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 Wow!!! Very, very nice!!! I like that 028A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watchmeister Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 Welcome to the big time. Seriously, gorgeous stuff. Wear them well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vlydog Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 Awesome all! especially like the 29B we are all so lucky to have the J&R team to call on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dluddy Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 Good stuff M. Love the 28 and 29 - still in my stable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prdubis Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 Where the 28 CG is coming from? Congrats, beautiful watches! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
w0lf Posted November 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 Where the 28 CG is coming from? Congrats, beautiful watches! It's the original honpo CG that came with the watch, The Zigmeister did his magic on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prdubis Posted November 18, 2011 Report Share Posted November 18, 2011 Thanks for your answer! It really looks great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaizka Posted November 20, 2011 Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 Very nice 28...have seen one of those in awhile! I remember back when I had a gen and i was on paneristi....I could understand what the big deal was about the arrowhand. Of course, now I know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dutchguy2 Posted November 20, 2011 Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 Wow, Fantastic watches. Makes me want the new 29 more and more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
w0lf Posted November 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 Well, the new 29 isn't going to be quite the same. Aside from the lack of dial minute markers and other changes like a historic roller lever crownguard, it also looks to be slightly different in the profile. I can't quite put my finger on it but it may have to do with case/bezel design. The older Honpo was designed with ETA2893 in mind, whereas the new upcoming model will be based on an incorrect and thicker 2836 movement. I initially thought that there's not enough difference in the movement thickness @ ~1mm, but more shots have been posted, and the new model's profile does look a little chunky. I'm not sure if it will be a showstopper when on the wrist, but thinner cases do wear nicer and look more gen-like. I'll know for sure when I had a chance to put them side by side and measure their thickness with a caliper. The 29B is actually spot on in terms of thickness and lug configuration, to the old honpo: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dutchguy2 Posted November 20, 2011 Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 I know but the old 29 come from unobtanium now a days. So, unfortinately we ave to do with the new 29. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HauteHippie Posted November 20, 2011 Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 W0lf - amazing stuff as always. Strangely I never saw too many completed pieces with my cyclops even though they sold out. Anyhow, enjoy these new pieces. They look fantastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watchmeister Posted November 20, 2011 Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 And lest we not forget the first cyclops project - "the watchmaster cyclops" quarterbacked by Ssurfer and Finepics and unfortunately sponsored by me. There are still a bunch sitting with Ziggy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
w0lf Posted November 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2011 W0lf - amazing stuff as always. Strangely I never saw too many completed pieces with my cyclops even though they sold out. Anyhow, enjoy these new pieces. They look fantastic. Thank you, Chief Your cyclops is simply a must, many times I wished that I stocked up when they were available but I didn't have a watch to put it on then. Later I was only ever able to find two pieces with Bwhitesox and Dluddy's help. Though not many of these high end models were made and most have settled nicely with their owners, I would like to suggest one more mod to everyone with old school ETA28xx models. I've talked about it before but I think it can bear repeating. Folks with original factory crystal should absolutely swap their crystal with MM104 crystal, transferring their Chief and SSSurfer cyclopses of course. This crystal comes from Jackson Tse / Military Time It's stock P/N: MM104- http://www.jacksontse.com/mm104.html It's one of the best rep crystals I found, very clear, neutral and with great refraction so it's a total must have, unless you were able to get a gen crystal and had the rehaut & crystal bed modded to fit. It works with all old Eddie Lee, River and Honpo 2836-2, 2893-2 and 2892 + 9040 based watches and costs only $35. It's truly a night and day difference as many of you now learned with top shelf crystals from N & H factories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dluddy Posted November 21, 2011 Report Share Posted November 21, 2011 I'm going to have to try one of those crystals Wolf. I still have the Factory Xtals on my 027/028/029/063..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
w0lf Posted November 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2011 Give it a shot, D, you won't regret it. And the great news is those crystals are exactly the same today (just ordered a couple recently) as they were when I got them 2 years ago for my 63 & 29, now that's a rare occurrence in the rep world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mapman57 Posted November 21, 2011 Report Share Posted November 21, 2011 Wow , Wow, Wow M! Its amazing how certain features, or details leap off the page..... The Honpo/The Zigmeister CG is just the business on the 028. The side perspective shot of the 029 crystal is awesome - what a thing of beauty to look through - look at the clarity in that cyclops from side on? We can all see why these are your faves! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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