l3x Posted January 2, 2009 Report Share Posted January 2, 2009 After seeing some amazing vintage PAMs I decided to treat myself to one. I sent a PM to VDBrouke to find out how much one of his pieces cost. He prompty replied and told me he was just about done with one ... and it should be ready the next day and will send pics and specs. I felt like my daughter on Christmas Eve...I couldn't wait ...this was until he told me the price...I nearly fell out of my chair :eek: It was very difficult for me to justifying the cost...but in the end I took a chance and I bought it. The package arrived New Year's Eve. Absolutely great timing ... what a way to end the year. After opening the package, I'm able to see, first hand, what a beauty she was. Looked even better in my hands than in the pics he sent. Beautiful chocolate dial. The details are just phenominal. The case was fantastic with just enough battle scars.Crown guard was huge. The lever felt very firm when opening and closing. Overall I was very impressed with it in comparison to others. The crown also pushed in and popped out nicely and aligned nicely with the case. However, turning the crown, in setting the time, felt a bit rough at some points during the rotation.The hands were nicely aged. But there was a gap between the hour and minute hand (see pics below). Not sure if this is a feature or a defect.The movement was a .. ooo la la ... sexy cortebert 616 with Rolex engrave bridge. It looked fantastic in the case. The specs from VDB as to what was done: 6152/1 case modded 1:1 bigger bezel with concave plexicg pin modded vintage 1:1 crown reworked for casesize and stemsize brevetatto display caseback vintage cortebert/rolex cal 616 motor with rlx engrave bridge vintage messing movtholder vintage lugs springbars for strapsize Unfortunately, this beauty was not perfect, even though I wished it was I encountered some problems with the motor.After winding, it would just stop after some time. 20 minutes, an hour, 2 hours, it varied. Once it stops, after I lift up the crown guard lever, it would begin running again. The watch also gained 24 minutes in 24 hours. One minute an hour. I know vintage movements (on a good day) can gain 5 to 7 minutes but this is pushing it for me. I have not tested the power reserve yet...any ideas what I can expect with this? If anyone can provide input to my problems I would really appreciate it. Anyways...here are the pics: I'd like to thank VDB for this amazing piece. Despite the problems, which I hope can be remedied, the watch is real piece of art. It's obvious he's very talented in doing what he does. I can't wait to see what he puts out in 2009. Thanks for reading and for any feedback/comments you may have. ~Lex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
addingwatch Posted January 2, 2009 Report Share Posted January 2, 2009 Incredible piece. Regards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babola Posted January 3, 2009 Report Share Posted January 3, 2009 Very gen-like, love it ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ek300is Posted January 3, 2009 Report Share Posted January 3, 2009 Congrats on owning a piece of VDB's work, as I'm very much liking my same watch powered with an SF240. Wear it in good health! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VDBroucke Posted January 3, 2009 Report Share Posted January 3, 2009 this is the 2.watch in chrismas time crashec i mean the shipping is the result all my watches tested before shipping but no problem...watch back and i make this ... sorry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watchmeister Posted January 3, 2009 Report Share Posted January 3, 2009 It looks great. Wear it well. VDB is truly an artist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadog13 Posted January 3, 2009 Report Share Posted January 3, 2009 lovely piece...I like a lot the brown dial.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
l3x Posted January 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2009 Thanks everyone. A truly gorgeous watch indeed. Despite the movement probs, it was hard for me to take it off my wrist. This has become the favorite of my watches Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
l3x Posted January 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2009 this is the 2.watch in chrismas time crashec i mean the shipping is the result all my watches tested before shipping but no problem...watch back and i make this ... sorry Others have told me how much time and effort you put into your work. I'm positive you must have tested it and it must have running perfectly before you sent it. The ride from Germany to the US must have been a rough one. So no need to apologize. I appreciate you standing by your work and willing to take a look at my problems. My problem now is having to take this off my wrist and not having it for a few weeks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t Posted January 3, 2009 Report Share Posted January 3, 2009 lol this vintage movements are only for "show" but not for wearing every day. 70 years old poor calibers which had never any service since 70 years... and a cleaning of the movement is not good enough if not 80% of all parts been changed. If i would the seller... and my customers want a 100% perfect working watch... i wouldn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
l3x Posted January 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 lol this vintage movements are only for "show" but not for wearing every day. 70 years old poor calibers which had never any service since 70 years... and a cleaning of the movement is not good enough if not 80% of all parts been changed. If i would the seller... and my customers want a 100% perfect working watch... i wouldn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earlgrey-erfurt Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 As i have some background information from VDB Stephan i wanna go inline with the statement of T If you wanna have a perfect as new working movement in age of 70 years you have to look for every detail piece to get this assambled you need more than two or three movements. (and of course many time and a goodwatchman) one or two steps below and with luck you get one movement which needs only cleaning, but this one has 70 years of mechanical use behind too. I always say to Stephan that he sell his watches too cheap. No one can imagine how much time and getting grey hairs is in his watches. Sometimes the watch is pefecty assembled and then it stops again without knowing what happend... His favor is to build watches, so sometimes the way is the target and this is one reason that his watches cost not 5000 or 10000 dollar. But under the line they have to (This is not a post to raise the prices, but for those who want to have a cheapo cheapo perfect Vintage Watch) Cheers Helmut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 You make some very strong statements. I agree, vintage movements are very delicate. But if I had known that the money I spent was for a show piece that wasn't functioning properly, I would not have bought it. I know you are the person to talk to when it comes to movement. I really appreciate your feedback. Are the coteberts difficult to keep running? A member had mentioned that they are easy to service. Do other's with this movement or any other vintage movements agree with T? T, even though they appear to be out of my price range, I would love to see pictures of your pieces. Can you please send me information? I don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clint Eastwood Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 I agree with T , This vintage movements are very problematics, sometime runs perfectly for months, sometime only for days. I have two cortebert ones, the two works perfectly and keep accurate time, one is one watch for 10 months and watch was wear during around 3 months without any problems. I have 3 angelus, and quality is badest than a cortebert, one is on watch a wear every day since 4 months without any problems, except each day it take or loose 2 minutes, impossible to adjust it correctly, The other in new condition are problematic since i receive it, change 2 wheels, work ok for 10 days and have problems again, so will be exchange with the one who run for 4 weeks in my other watch. So now i will send 2 angelus for service for T. Vintages movement is not for everyday wear I don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
l3x Posted January 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 I am a total newbie when it comes to the mechanics of the watch. This was the reason I joined these forums. To learn, so that I can appreciate the work that goes into making one. I'm guilty of setting my expectations too high when I bought this. I was treating this purchase as a "LNIB in excellent condition" purchase off the sales corner. Apparently it is not. It appears I should be happy that the movement is acutally ticking T, thank you for being "real" and waking me up. Your point about using multiple movements just to get one working explains it all .... and also the fact that there are no real "new" parts for the cortebert anymore. I should have considered this before I maade the purchase. With this said, I certainly do not regret making this buy, else I would not have had the chance to have this discussion with you all I will focus on getting this baby fixed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadog13 Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 I will focus on getting this baby fixed. S will make it running again...his after sale service is excellent, no worries there... movements in general are delicate, vintage ones even more...especially the ones where the spare parts are rare... I wear my Angelus from S for the past couple of months and so far so good...let's hope it will continue this way! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0808 Posted January 5, 2009 Report Share Posted January 5, 2009 I don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t Posted January 5, 2009 Report Share Posted January 5, 2009 Accuracy of a movement is depending on many details... also on the owner of the Timepiece a 70 years old poor movement with a "low" first service after 70 years could run (+-) 0-2 minutes per day but i had also vintage movements with a accuracy of +10 seconds a day i think the accuracy of a vintage movement is not very important... be happy if it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0808 Posted January 6, 2009 Report Share Posted January 6, 2009 Accuracy of a movement is depending on many details... also on the owner of the Timepiece a 70 years old poor movement with a "low" first service after 70 years could run (+-) 0-2 minutes per day but i had also vintage movements with a accuracy of +10 seconds a day i think the accuracy of a vintage movement is not very important... be happy if it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t Posted January 6, 2009 Report Share Posted January 6, 2009 it could easily regulated from the balance... but it will change the accuracy from time to time and from different positions. So you couldn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
l3x Posted January 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2009 Beautiful. Looks like its made for royalty. The details are amazing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watchturbo Posted January 6, 2009 Report Share Posted January 6, 2009 that is a great looking vintage PAM. congrats. hehehe .... looks like it needs a new gasket seal (hands rusted look). but yes i know, that was the intended look of the piece Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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