I understand what your getting at.
Without the CG, the PAM is essentially worthless, except maybe as parts.
It does make a certain amount of sense to spend $90 to fix a watch that would otherwise just sit in a box, but....
It's a question of spending ~$100, waiting (and hoping) it makes it here from china, and then hoping the h-factory CG actually fits on my noob 243s case. If it doesn't fit? It's a wasted $90.
As much sense as it makes to get another CG, it's a gamble. A $90 gamble.
It would be a much easier decision if they could source a noob CG and I didn't have to take my chances with an H-factory part.
The alternative is to put that money towards something else that's less of a gamble.
Ok selling for parts you are not getting almost nothing, if you keep it like that in the box its a FULL loss, if you lose $90 more (lets say the part doesnt fit) you can always sell the part (maybe the Rep Pam's most valuable part to re-sell), if you do get the part to fit = success.
Id kindly ask an owner of a Pam 243 from HFac to take off its CG and measure the hole's center to center distance, you will need an offset center line caliper) you do the same on your noob and compare, they should match close enough and if not Im sure the tolerances wil be minimal an maybe with a small drill you can mod the case a little bit to make it fit.
Center line calipers are pricey but I had an idea, get plumbers putty and push it against the surface of the case to get a precise mould of the holes shape, curve and center to center line distance -once it hardens the compression modification will be negligible- send the piece out to an Hfac owner in the forum and ask him to try to screw the HFac crown on the plumbers putty piece, it should fit! if it does you can safely order the Hfac crown from Ryan inTime.
***UPDATE I realized you have to actually make a two part process for this, first the putty part (the negative part) and then cast that mould with silicone rubber to get the 1:1 3d model of the part you intend to test, I have done this many times in my work, Im handy with silicone rubber from Smooth-On, so if you wish send over the watch to me and I'll make the model for you to try, I can even try my CG from 535 on it, if it fits you can buy that one and its cheaper though it doesnt have the 1000m engraving on the top.
*you can also ship out your noob to an hfac owner and ask him to try the CG on, you will just lose the back and forth shipping fares but you will GAIN valuable information to ultimately decide what to do. Just use the cheapest rated USPS mail service.
