A Radioactive Box Arrives from Italy... Containing A One of a Kind Gen Dial?

[PaneraiAddict]

Just gorgeous builds and I can't wait to find out more about that dial, very interesting indeed!

Also really stoked to see more progression pics as they come along, awesome score on the H Fac hands!

Im also really curious on what those dials ended running you?? If you don't mind posting prices.

 

[d4m.test]

Im also really curious on what those dials ended running you?? If you don't mind posting prices.

Many thanks mate. I'm excited as well. As far as the price....LOL... I shant reflect on such things, it makes it hard for me to enjoy my new toys

 

[d4m.test]

Are QC pics allowed here? LOL
Toro was awesome! He tolerated my "fine tuned" (picky) eye through 5 sets of QC pics. Finally I got a good one
Clean markers...check
Bold date wheel...check
Straight bezel...check
Properly positioned crown...check
Polished Cannon pinion...check
the CG doesn't fit the case but no worries, it is totally wrong anyway. I am replacing it with a perfect Little Hero CG.

(Toro's QC pic.... These are not my dainty hands)

Also, my serviced ETA 6497 is arriving from Marlin today. Frankenstien's lab will be cranking up tonight!

Mystery T Dial Update: I have concluded that this must be one of the dials produced for the actual Mike Horn Expedition in 2006. What was this expedition, you ask? It was a trek to the North Pole.... (Wait for it) ....in total darkness. It stands to reason that they would give the expedition members tritium dials that glow without a light source.

This will be a Franken, with a dial so rare, there might be only 2 in existence. AWESOME!!!

 

[nalomb]

Looks awesome -- well done!

 

[Albieee]

Incredible, congratulations on your find and I hope the build is a success!

 

[trailboss99]

Have the 'risti calmed down from seeing it yet?
If it's worth reading PM me the link please.

 

[valante]

what a tressure........

 

[silverclaw]

You're wasting it man! I would take a gen 252 and stick this dial on! Then it would be the rarest panerai ever

 

[ALE7575]

You're wasting it man! I would take a gen 252 and stick this dial on! Then it would be the rarest panerai ever

Hummm....! :thinking:

 

[Bozz]

You're wasting it man! I would take a gen 252 and stick this dial on! Then it would be the rarest panerai ever

No mate. The seller, known collector and dealer, would have already thought, if it were possible ...

 

[trailboss99]

You're wasting it man! I would take a gen 252 and stick this dial on! Then it would be the rarest panerai ever

^^^ THIS ^^^

It's a gen dial, why would it not be possible? The seller simply did not realise what he had or he would never have sold it for less than the price of a house.

 

[silverclaw]

I don't think OP got it from a dealer, and a collector wouldn't have known, collectors rarely give up their *literally* one of a kind (or two of a kind) items like this.

 

[d4m.test]

^^^ THIS ^^^

It's a gen dial, why would it not be possible? The seller simply did not realise what he had or he would never have sold it for less than the price of a house.

It looks like you're as excited about this one as I am boss. I can't wait to build this!

I don't think OP got it from a dealer, and a collector wouldn't have known, collectors rarely give up their *literally* one of a kind (or two of a kind) items like this.

I very much agree with you. Believe me, I will be keeping my eyes open for a gen 252 at a reasonable price. The problem there is I would have a very hard time investing $8000 in a watch and then taking it apart. Once I get the gen dial and proper 089 hands on this build it will be VERY CLOSE to the real watch. This might have to be good enough for me.


The person I bought this from is very knowledgable about the things he collects and sells. But I dont think he really collects parts so-much-as he sells parts to collect watches. Also, he sells so many dials and parts that I don't think he took the time to ponder this one. He just said "I don't know, this is a genuine 252 dial from an official source." The topic of Mike Horn and his expedition is more widely known in Panerai circles than the general population, but it is still a very esoteric story. There are only a few that know it well, so it doesn't surprise me that the connection wasn't made when this dial surfaced.

 

[silverclaw]

I will be keeping my eyes open for a gen 252 at a reasonable price. The problem there is I would have a very hard time investing $8000 in a watch and then taking it apart. Once I get the gen dial and proper 089 hands on this build it will be VERY CLOSE to the real watch. This might have to be good enough for me.

The steel on some rep cases are soft as butter! IMHO the feel of the watch will not be like the gen, but what do I know..

For the original Mike Horn edition, I'd venture to say that the hands also had tritium lume on it, and there would be some modifications to the shape of the watch, as he wore it above a layer of clothes during the expedition (I think).

It would be awesome if you could get a pair of hands with tritium lume on them

 

[TimeWillTell]

You're wasting it man! I would take a gen 252 and stick this dial on! Then it would be the rarest panerai ever

i will show you what is rare in panerais Lol, seen a yellow pam before mate!? hahahhaaa

 

[d4m.test]

i will show you what is rare in panerais Lol, seen a yellow pam before mate!? hahahhaaa

MY spidey sense tells me Rolli will be making this dial not so rare. Rolli are you lurking out there???

 

[d4m.test]

So I took good look at the hands that arrived from South Africa last week and realized that they are 3 different colors! Nice job H factory!!! LOL

So now what??? Give up and settle for the incorrect rep hands? Try to find a new set? NOPE! Relume them!
Strip off the old lume with alcohol and tweezers

Get out your Holio Cornholio Special K Creamy Vintage Lume and fire away!

Eye-searing Torch-like glow. I love it. (This is the underside, so yes it looks sloppy)

Ah.... Much better!

 

[d4m.test]

So last weekend. Had all the parts ready to go. I tore down the rep watch from toro, modded a noob V3 CG to fit the case, then started to put it all together. Everything came together beautifully! The dial mated perfectly with the movement, the hands looked great against the yellow tritium lume....PERFECT....almost.

I proceeded to reinsert the stem and realized the movement would not line up with the tube enough for me to inset the stem. It appeared that the Gen dial was too tall. I left the watch for the night and went to go cry with a bourbon in my hand. Something just didn't make sense, i looked at the two dials and realized the GMT ring on the gen dial is actually half the thickness of the rep. There is no way it shouldn't work, unless, the rehaut was too narrow for the gen dial to fit all the way into the case! I got out my calipers and, sure enough, the gen dial is 0.5mm wider than the rep!

the answer? Sand down the rehaut by 0.5mm and we are back in business!!!

More to come!

 

[silverclaw]

Hey quick question: does that tritium dial still glow? Lume shot? I can't wait to see this build completed

 

[trailboss99]

It should still glow, it's not that old.