Using powermatic 80 to replace 2836/46

[dashindark]

Planning to replace my 2846 with a powermatic 80 as the final step of modding my diver.

Is it a direct swap? No need to thin/cut the dial or the movement to make it fit, right?

 

[dashindark]

I just bought a powermatic 80 which is regulatable and serviceable. It comes without plastic parts and has some decent finish. It is supposedly made with some blue steel screws but I was not lucky enough to get one with the blue steel screws. Error is at +1 per day, brand new. Price is about $200. Pretty expensive but I think it is worth it as long as it can last.

It looks very different from the commonly seen pm 80 movements that people posted in the forum before. I am not sure if it would fit.

I am happy to post pictures if someone wants to see it.
I plan to install it in this weekend.

 

[Karlus]

I just bought a powermatic 80 which is regulatable and serviceable. It comes without plastic parts and has some decent finish. It is supposedly made with some blue steel screws but I was not lucky enough to get one with the blue steel screws. Error is at +1 per day, brand new. Price is about $200. Pretty expensive but I think it is worth it as long as it can last.

It looks very different from the commonly seen pm 80 movements that people posted in the forum before. I am not sure if it would fit.

I am happy to post pictures if someone wants to see it.
I plan to install it in this weekend.

Would be interested in seeing it and if you would reveal, how we can source similar. I have wanted to convert myself, but don't want to destroy an existing watch to harvest the movement if possible.

 

[dashindark]

I have just done a ton of reseach online and found that there is a stem height difference between 2836/46 and Powermatic 80/ ETA C07.111/ 2824.

Powermatic 80/ ETA C07.111/ 2824 is 4.6mm height

2836/46 is 5.06mm height

And unfortunately the height difference is in the stem part. FML. I cannot figure out if I would break thing by swapping a PM 80 into my watch. Maybe someone else who reads better could help me out. The thread is here: https://rwg.cc/topic/120333-2824-2-and-2836-2-dial-side-to-stem-measurement-difference/


By the way, the photos as promised:

 

[dashindark]

Would be interested in seeing it and if you would reveal, how we can source similar. I have wanted to convert myself, but don't want to destroy an existing watch to harvest the movement if possible.

See photos above. I bought one with tissot rotor, brand new, but a little bit different from the one you see here. No plastic parts and the beat is 21600. I was told by the seller that these are better options than the ordinary PM 80 movements you find in the donor tissot watches, but I really don't know much about this specific ETA C07.111 (PM 80).
The Rado one is the most expensive ETA C07.111 I have seen on the site. Asking $270 for a 2824-based mvt is highway robbery.


Not sure if it would fit., I really fear that I may break some part like the dial or hands in the movement replacement due to the 0.46 mm stem height difference between ETA 2846 and PM 80 (C07.111).

Anyways I plan to give it a try unless someone here advises otherwise. It seemed to me that the seller, who seems to be an expert in fixing watches, could not care less about the movements he sells, but I was convinced that I can return the mvt for full refund if it does not fit within 3 weeks from delivery.

 

[bobandshawn]

That amount of difference will break the stem - or torque the movement to where it no longer works well. Why not just go ETA straight swap?

 

[dashindark]

That amount of difference will break the stem - or torque the movement to where it no longer works well. Why not just go ETA straight swap?

Because as you know the 3120 beats at 21600, the options then are then limited to ETA C07.111 and ETA 2846. ETA 2846 mvts are way too old and may not last for the next many years. I kind of want something that may last longer.

 

[Garuda]

dashindark you didn't read mickeys guide on rg. you buy wrong movement. https://www.repgeek.com/ap-tutorials/293557-diver-choices-low-beat-movement.html

 

[dashindark]

OK. Got useful information from the seller: I can only get C07.621 or C07.121 to swap with 2836. bye bye PM80.

 

[dashindark]

dashindark you didn't read mickeys guide on rg. you buy wrong movement. https://www.repgeek.com/ap-tutorials/293557-diver-choices-low-beat-movement.html

Yeah I rushed to the wrong option. Gotta return this one and decide between a C07.121 (low beat) or a MIDO ETA 2836 (looks more stable to me) tomorrow; both are cheaper than the one to be returned. Lost $0.5 on shipping. No big deal.

 

[FTW]

Yeah I rushed to the wrong option. Gotta return this one and decide between a C07.121 (low beat) or a MIDO ETA 2836 (looks more stable to me) tomorrow; both are cheaper than the one to be returned. Lost $0.5 on shipping. No big deal.

There is a Powermatic that works for your Install. It is the one with the day/date. That one is a direct swap for the 2836/2846 that you have. You bought the Powermatic for the 2824 (just date, no date) See if you can get a day/date one.

 

[dashindark]

There is a Powermatic that works for your Install. It is the one with the day/date. That one is a direct swap for the 2836/2846 that you have. You bought the Powermatic for the 2824 (just date, no date) See if you can get a day/date one.

THX. I have found it and it is called C07.621 from MIDO. I plan to buy a well finished one.

 

[dashindark]

Update:

I have bought a C07.621 from MIDO, 21600 low beat, brand new, with nice finish and (finally) blue steel screws! No plastic parts, 80 hours PR.
The price is about $260. The price is pretty high but unfortunately I can't find a better deal.

For those who has a diver with 2836-based movements inside, I suggest that you get C07.121 or C07.621. These two movements are better deals than the modded 2836.

I originally wanted to get a modded 2846 but could not find a decent one. I believe a heavily modded 2846 from a famous Swiss brand would be the best deal, but I simply cannot find it in the market, so I had to go with the second best option.


The movement I just bought is ETA C07.621, also called MIDO C80. It is 2836-2-based. I am happy to post pictures if someone is interested.

 

[dashindark]

OK, I was just told that the movement is a chronometer one, meaning it is more accurate than others. I guess that is why it is so expensive.

 

[FTW]

OK, I was just told that the movement is a chronometer one, meaning it is more accurate than others. I guess that is why it is so expensive.

Exactly, and that is not a bad price. For all my 2824 based divers I had to buy new Tissot watches ($400 each) to take the movements out for my divers. I have 4 divers with the PM80 & of course Mikey datewheels in them. Now I have my 2836 XF off to the master for low beat movement swap and Mikey Datewheel. Expensive hobby, but 5 divers (one of them the XF FC) costing me about $5000 total, it sure beats $80,000 it would have been for all those Gens. I can beat them (only as much as you would beat a $1000 watch) and not worth about killing all that money. Them I wear my Gen watches when I am in a more refined mood.
$1000 for a rep sounds expensive, but it is nothing compared to the gen cost. Now my Franken APs are another story, they cost a fortune!

 

[Karlus]

I just bought a Tissot watch with a C07.111. It's going in a closed back Diver. Unfortunately I can't find a Mikey DW

I will let everyone know how the swap goes after my watchmaker does his stuff.

 

[FTW]

I just bought a Tissot watch with a C07.111. It's going in a closed back Diver. Unfortunately I can't find a Mikey DW

I will let everyone know how the swap goes after my watchmaker does his stuff.

Mikey stopped making them

 

[Pam297Pam299]

I just bought a Tissot watch with a C07.111. It's going in a closed back Diver. Unfortunately I can't find a Mikey DW

I will let everyone know how the swap goes after my watchmaker does his stuff.

Is the swap done? Any surprises?

 

[Karlus]

Is the swap done? Any surprises?

Its funny you asked. I just dropped it off with my local watch guy. Things got busy around the holidays and my hobby took a bit of a back seat. I will update when I get it back.

My understanding is that its a 1:1 drop in, so might not be that exciting of a result

 

[samkad]

Update:

I have bought a C07.621 from MIDO, 21600 low beat, brand new, with nice finish and (finally) blue steel screws! No plastic parts, 80 hours PR.
The price is about $260. The price is pretty high but unfortunately I can't find a better deal.

For those who has a diver with 2836-based movements inside, I suggest that you get C07.121 or C07.621. These two movements are better deals than the modded 2836.

I originally wanted to get a modded 2846 but could not find a decent one. I believe a heavily modded 2846 from a famous Swiss brand would be the best deal, but I simply cannot find it in the market, so I had to go with the second best option.


The movement I just bought is ETA C07.621, also called MIDO C80. It is 2836-2-based. I am happy to post pictures if someone is interested.

Do you mind telling us where you bought the movement from? thanks