Finally the best rep fiddy in the world!!!

[michalis6]

After a lot of searching, buying and upgrading different fiddies, I can now say that I own the ultimate rep fiddy available today. I had a chance to compare it to a genuine pam217 yesterday and all I can tell you is that I would never spend 10000 on a genuine even if I was a millionaire. My fiddy looks and feels exactly like the real thing. Bought from Ed two months ago features the newest swiss mvt with swan neck and perfect engraving. It was sent to Finepics for reluming, service, cannon fix and Davidsen's hands and crystal install. Mark also replaced a missing jwellery on my mvt. The watch rocks, I dont think it gets any better (well maybe it does, at least I dont care anymore!). I am a happy man! Enjoy the pics!!!!

The strap is my first attempt in strap-making (I really dont know if I like it or not, just bought some leather, glue and knifes and I made it Last pic is on OEM gen strap.
Opinions are welcome!
A big thanks to Mark for his excellent job and to Ed and Davidsen as well!

 

[Hambone]

Congrats and welcome to the Fiddy Club. Thats a good looking strap too, where from?

 

[michalis6]

Congrats and welcome to the Fiddy Club. Thats a good looking strap too, where from?

Thanks !
I made the strap myself

read my post again

 

[zetterdawg]

yah - the engraving on the movement is SPOT ON!

I wish other factories would use this movement... I asked EL if he could source just the movement, but no luck.

 

[michalis6]

yah - the engraving on the movement is SPOT ON!

I wish other factories would use this movement... I asked EL if he could source just the movement, but no luck.

Buy the whole watch and sell yours
This is what I did when I saw pics of this engraving

 

[razerreg]

congrats bro! very nice :shock: sell it to me j/k or let me know if you do lol

 

[michalis6]

for someone with only 10 posts it's good to see you figured out the key to the BEST scenario; it's not just bought off the catalogue from XYZ dealer. It's a compilation of MODs, however simple, that bring a result up to one's standards. Instead of moaning that none of the existing 1950s had all you wanted, you simply fixed that issue and got on with it.

enjoy that 47mm beauty.

Thanks master!
Ten posts here but plenty of posts in a similar forum!
It just took me a while to discover this wonderful forum

 

[crick]

wow sweet! were there any online tutorials u used for leathermaking? i'm wanting to start making my own straps for fun.

 

[michalis6]

wow sweet! were there any online tutorials u used for leathermaking? i'm wanting to start making my own straps for fun.

nothing i just used my imagination

 

[tomtofa]

Actually, I like your strap better than the OEM - makes it more of a tool watch.

 

[sexybeast]

so the fiddy is suppsed to have engraved bridges? i had no idea, are all fiddy's supposed to be engraved?

 

[SLK55]

so the fiddy is suppsed to have engraved bridges? i had no idea, are all fiddy's supposed to be engraved?

Yes sir. My fiddy is engraved as well.

 

[babola]

for someone with only 10 posts it's good to see you figured out the key to the BEST scenario; it's not just bought off the catalogue from XYZ dealer. It's a compilation of MODs, however simple, that bring a result up to one's standards. Instead of moaning that none of the existing 1950s had all you wanted, you simply fixed that issue and got on with it.

enjoy that 47mm beauty.

Mate, have a look at Michalis' posts on TRC forum, you'll then understand the extent of his "search for THE perfect Fiddy rep"...we're talking months, lot of $$$ and 3-4 Fiddys bought and sold until the Fiddy_nirvana state was reached He even got old Eddie Lee all fired up... 8)

@Michael,
I hope you finally found a peace with yourself, I must say I would have given up long time ago if I were in your situation...good on you for persevering and reaching the end of your long journey - finally !
Keep us posted on that new "Swiss" ETA mov't performance, it's very new to make conclusions at this early stage, nevertheless it looks like a fine base ETA mov't 'sitting' underneath those nicely decorated bridge plates

cheers,
babola

 

[ragerover]

So which case is correct? 117 or 581?

I do like the strap, nice work. I love the color and worn look. Compliments the Fiddy very well. Wear it well!

I would love a Fiddy (considering a 217 too) but still confused as to which case is the proper one? I've been holding off on buying one...now that the holidays are around the corner, I want to buy myself a gift! :lol: (assuming I pass all my final exams in 2 weeks :roll: )

Having read lots of posts on several forums (TRC, RWG as well as RWI) I am confused if the E0117 (which is the one you have) or the E0581 engraved watch is correct?

I thought the "581" case is more correct, but you do have the 117 case, which you said really is 1:1?

Or are both cases exactly the same and only the case back is different?

Thanks for any info.

 

[michalis6]

Re: So which case is correct? 117 or 581?

I do like the strap, nice work. I love the color and worn look. Compliments the Fiddy very well. Wear it well!

I would love a Fiddy (considering a 217 too) but still confused as to which case is the proper one? I've been holding off on buying one...now that the holidays are around the corner, I want to buy myself a gift! :lol: (assuming I pass all my final exams in 2 weeks :roll: )

Having read lots of posts on several forums (TRC, RWG as well as RWI) I am confused if the E0117 (which is the one you have) or the E0581 engraved watch is correct?

I thought the "581" case is more correct, but you do have the 117 case, which you said really is 1:1?

Or are both cases exactly the same and only the case back is different?

Thanks for any info.

Thanks guys for the comments
After comparing the fiddies in the market I think we agree with Dr. babola :lol: to the following:
581 case: wrong
117 case: 1:1
581 case dial: cream color and wrong font
117 case dial: light silver color but correct font
581 case mvt: correct swan neck - horrible engraving
117 case mvt: wrong swan neck - amazing engraving
Both crown guards cool
New hands, cannon fix, new sapphire, servicing are a must on both models for me

I prefered the cool engraving over the perfect swan neck and the silver color over cream which is horrible
You know the rest of the story..

 

[ragerover]

If you and "Dr Fiddy Babola" are in agreement, than it looks like I can finally pull the trigger on this one!

or should I get the 217 instead? LOL

 

[michalis6]

Plus the mvt in my fiddy does not have the flaws that ziggy spoted in his posts
According to ziggy the mvt that comes with the 581 case has a serious flaw that needs to be fixed

 

[madonna]

Ziggy have added some more info to clarify this. He have just received 2-3 movements that have this serious flaw, so it is not like ALL are bad.
( And it does not matter what case # you buy. I have a 117 case that also have this "bad" movement, but mine have no problems at all )

 

[babola]

LOL...apprentice maybe, but definitely far from Dr... :lol:

Guilty as charged...I have written tons of Fiddy_rep related posts on few forums we know, so will not repeat myself here once again.

Who's got "the best" Fiddy...well, noone so far but some dealer's 127/217s are closer to the gen in quality of manifacture and final finish than the others, there's no such thing as the 'perfect Fiddy' rep off the shelf...as number of us learned in the past. To get there, you'll have to do pretty much the similar Michalis or myself or many others did - buy a good one, then spend some additional $$ and time to get the rest of the bits right. It's a long and tedious porcess, but that's the big part of rep modding and enjoying the ultimate product. If nothing else, dealing with reps have made me a lot more patient person than I was before I got into all this "stuff".

As far as the case differences go, I mentioned this as well on TRC before - there are (reportedly) currently 2 factories in China (one of them in Ghangzhou) that make Fiddy cases. One is closer to the gen than the other, by size, shape and final brushed finish (grit and direction).

The one that's "not so good" can be recognised by a caseback Ser no designation e0851/1950, the "close to 1:1" bears the number e0117/1950 on the caseback.
Both casebacks are exactly the same, except for the ser number diferences, they will interchange on both cases. (I had both at some stage, and can attest to that).

e0851/1950 is slightly wider, and when you look at it top down you can see an extra 1mm of the case protruding from all 4 sides of the bezel. Gen fiddy case and e0117 case sides round up quite nicely towards the bezel edge, so when you look at the watch from the top, you shouldn't see (or just) the case edges @ 3, 6, 9, 12 o'clock.

The top of the e0851 case is also brushed with the bigger size grit, and although it's done nicely in concentric circular motion, the finish is quite "rough" compared to more like 'satin' brushed finish on e0117 case.

Lugs and area around them on e0851 case aren't nicely finished as e0117 - which is immaculate in that respect.

So there you have it, it's really up to you, both cases are good, e0177 being slightly better one. 8)

as always...just my 2 cents worth...
babola

 

[d4m.test]

sorry to disagree yours is the best. I got my own formula:

1. Andrew's fiddy http://replica-watch.info/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4925
2. put Davidsen's crystal (may not need to upgrade it) and hands in

That's it. Look at the CG on Andrew's fiddy. Nice and fat.

Check out the real thing:

Yours (Ed's), well, doesn't cut it yet.

Neither does Davidsen's.

And Andrew's comes SL'd already. That's at least $70 savings. I don't own it yet but I will.