turbox7 Posted March 29, 2009 Report Share Posted March 29, 2009 I just received my Blacksteel from Hont, and the second hand is crooked - it's not parallel to the dial. Any advice on how to approach this? This is my first time dealing with out of US dealer - do I send it back? What are the preferred postal methods? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b16a2 Posted March 29, 2009 Report Share Posted March 29, 2009 Approach Hont about the problem. Can you post a picture of the problem? Have you tried running the chrono for a few minutes, and then resetting it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbox7 Posted March 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2009 OK - figured out how to upload picture to imageshack Sorry for the bad picture - but I managed to take it at a point where it's most noticeable. It's so tilted on one side that you can see the pin the hand is connected to when it makes the turn... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b16a2 Posted March 29, 2009 Report Share Posted March 29, 2009 Ah ok I know what you mean now. This should be a very simple case of removing the hand and re-installing it if it isn't on the hand post properly. This would be a very simple job for a watchsmith. I would try that first before sending it back, it would probably cost lest too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbox7 Posted March 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2009 Any recommended rep friendly watchsmiths in New York? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hooky Posted March 30, 2009 Report Share Posted March 30, 2009 Sending it back would cost you more than doing this yourself or by a watch smith. I don't even think you need to reinstall the running seconds hands, but maybe you can just gently push it in place with a tooth pick. Then first you need to get the movement + dial out. should not be a too biggie problem. start with looking here: http://www.rwg.cc/members/Installing-Valjo...ewh-t37058.html http://www.rwg.cc/members/Guide-replacing-...n-7-t24754.html or find some more info on how to remove the crown stem. Good luck and post us the update! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbox7 Posted March 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2009 @hooky - Thanks for the advice and threads! Some awesome information there. The work does look straightforward, but I don't have the tools to perform this change Further inspection (aka alot of staring), I am unsure if the hand itself is misaligned, or if the entire stem is crooked Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hooky Posted March 30, 2009 Report Share Posted March 30, 2009 a better (MORE SHARP) picture might help. what you always need with replica's are some (cheap) screwdrivers. You need one that will fit in the hole on the movement to push in to get the crown stem out. Easily findable on ebay. a rubber ball to get the case back open is also helpful. put in the search bar on ebay the words: panerai ball. and you will find what i mean. I had both pink and yellow. the yellow worked better for me, more stiff ball. Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbox7 Posted March 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2009 Ok got my hands on a cam that actually does macros Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arminvanbuuren Posted March 30, 2009 Report Share Posted March 30, 2009 i think thats the handpost problem.. i had this problem with my bce a couple of yrs ago.. i told my watchsmith to straighten it up.. but at the end of it they ended up breaking the whole thing.. so if it oesnt bother u .. just leave it alone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bwhitesox Posted March 30, 2009 Report Share Posted March 30, 2009 Send it back..Those 7750 hand posts are easy to break and the dealer would not take it back if this was broken by your watch person. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marianetty Posted March 30, 2009 Report Share Posted March 30, 2009 send the pictures to the seller and tell him you want to send it back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andreww Posted March 30, 2009 Report Share Posted March 30, 2009 I agree. Looks like either a bent post, or that the hand/tube assembly is a little off. Either could be easily broken, leaving you with a bigger mess to deal with. Best to contact the dealer and send it back for a replacement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hooky Posted March 30, 2009 Report Share Posted March 30, 2009 Agree as well. better send it back AND discuss custom risk of sending it back with the dealer. he might want you to use a specific shipping method for him taking custom risk! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbox7 Posted March 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2009 As this is my first time requesting an exchange from a China-based dealer, what is the proper etiquette here? Do I eat the shipping fees, or do I have the dealer reimburse shipping costs? I will contact Hont and will keep everyone posted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andreww Posted March 30, 2009 Report Share Posted March 30, 2009 Usually you would pay shipping fees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babola Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 I wouldn't do anything with the watch if I were you, meaning I wouldn't send it back yet. This is of course under assumption you have an access to a local watchmaker. Contact Hont and ask him to send you a replacement chrono hand. He has a good plug in with both the makers of V1/V3 and V2 Skyland Avengers and getting a spare like this would be a doddle for him. Then get it installed localy by a watchmaker. I'd only resort to sending it back for such a simple fix if I couldn't do it myself or find a watchmaker in my area that would do this. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hooky Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 I wouldn't do anything with the watch if I were you, meaning I wouldn't send it back yet. This is of course under assumption you have an access to a local watchmaker. Contact Hont and ask him to send you a replacement chrono hand. He has a good plug in with both the makers of V1/V3 and V2 Skyland Avengers and getting a spare like this would be a doddle for him. Then get it installed localy by a watchmaker. I'd only resort to sending it back for such a simple fix if I couldn't do it myself or find a watchmaker in my area that would do this. Good luck! Hmm, if i take another look at the picture, it seems that the running seconds hand sits higher on its pin than the other small red hands. Even though it looks funny to the side. this could mean that it is just not properly placed and still can be repaired very easily. I really suggest that you try that first, so get the case back open, get the movement out and reinstall the hand. If that does not work, than send it back. You can also ask a watch smith to try it. should not cost more than 15usd, because to get the movement in and out, all together should not take more than 10minutes for the experienced person. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babola Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 I really suggest that you try that first, so get the case back open, get the movement out and reinstall the hand. The hand is crooked, it's two-part construction, tube and hand that's pressed onto the tube and tube top that's press-rounded on top of the hand. While the tube appears Ok, the hand itself seems to have detached from the top of the tube and twisted. For someone like The Zigmeister this could be a simple fix but for most of the others without appropriate skills and tools, it would present a challenge. I still stick to my original suggestion...first Hont for the hand, then watchmaker for install ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hooky Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 I just double checked it with my own Black Steel V3. when taking a look at this picture: http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/4921/bspinup.jpg the running seconds hand seems quite high from the dial. I mean, you can totally see the tube. On my own Black Steel the tube cannot be seen by far. the small hand is almost pressed on the dial. Can't see the tube from any angle. You can also compare this to the other 2 small red hands. with them you cannot see the tube. So my first guess is that the seconds hands is not properly installed and has space to hang half on its pin, looking crooked like it is right now. And I would first try to see if the problem can be corrected by reinstalling the hand or by pushing it IN ITS Place on the running seconds pin @ 9. if that does not work, then sending it back to Hont, or get a new hand from Hont if the hand is not ok or ask a watch smith. Lately I am lazy with those things and I always let my watch smith arrange it. But then again, he also work on original expensive watches and is very good and very cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbox7 Posted April 1, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 Yes - compared to the other subdial hands, the second hand is really off. I've emailed Hont but he has yet to reply. This is my first time dealing with him so I'm hoping for the best. Can anyone recommend a rep friendly watchsmith in New York if a replacement is not an option? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbox7 Posted April 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2009 Update: So it's taken some time - but I finally got a replacement. Everything looks good - second hand is not crooked, lume dots look surprisingly good, and the replacement movement is even quieter than my first one. I was pretty happy that I sent it back - until I ran the chrono I started the chrono and now it won't stop. I cannot stop or reset the chrono at all. The pushers look/feel like they are pressed down already - pushing these don't do anything. Can anyone help? It's a beautiful piece - but so far no luck at all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hooky Posted April 24, 2009 Report Share Posted April 24, 2009 you should open the case back to see what is going on. and maybe make some pictures while trying to push the reset button. still think that the running seconds of the other model could be easily repaired. This one can be more difficult and maybe has to be sent back again if you don't find a rep friendly watch smith. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
importr Posted April 28, 2009 Report Share Posted April 28, 2009 This sounds like one of the bad batch of V2's? Some of the a7750s installed in SuperAvenger's and Skylands were a bit....crap. In your case, it sems like the levers are jammed. I'm not sure if I'd even bother to get it fixed. Send it back again. The QC should have been done on this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hooky Posted April 28, 2009 Report Share Posted April 28, 2009 It is not always who is right or wrong. it is balancing between choices about what is best for you with terms of costs of shipments, how many weeks you don't have your beloved watch and what to expect next with the other watch. Even if I have a warranty I always try to fix my watch locally with estimated costs under 45usd. If estimate costs are more I will ship them back to China. Normally Hont's stuff is very good. If you need to send it back again, I would demand an extra strap or something when they send it back or a huge discount on the next watch to cover your shipping cost and efforts. good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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