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Tag Carrera Day Date Chrono BROWN dial review - Franken Special ;-)

THXuk

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Chaps, ive been meaning to upload pics for a while, so hope you enjoy the read.

I had the black version of this watch a few years ago, but kept looking at all the black face watches in my watch box and thought I would let it go, so sold on.

A year or so later I was passing through Schipol airport and they had the brown dial and tried it on, I kinda liked it and thought what the hell I will pick one up, and got it from Tony.

In the meantime I managed to pick up a brand new OEM carrera strap, the newer type that had the curved ends, and used OEM clasp. So had this in preparation of receipt of the watch.

I had also contacted the modder Wiz in France to see whether he could do a movement swap as I also obtained an OEM Tag Calibre 16 movement off ebay (£245) after I got a "yes" I sent it off and also asked that at the same time the crystal gets new AR.

I was also offered from another seller in singapore an OEM hour and min hand from to go with it (£60) . So thought what the hell and sent those off to Wiz to. Then all went quiet as Wiz had an accident and was not taking on any work.

Fast forward one year, yes one year to finally get it back (due to the accident, and I chose to wait), having only had the watch for a day before sending off to France. I did get some bad news as Wiz did inform me that the movement needed more work as the chrono hand does not set back to 12.

I decided to try the new modder hear MSM1 to see if he can fix, and so it had a full breakdown/service, and came back in better shape. The chrono hand is still resetting a little off (ive only tried once), but wont try to get it fixed further. As it could be fixed just by rotating the movement slightly in the case to align to how it is now.

I also picked up an OEM crown, OEM gaskets that I sent on to be fitted at the same time the movement was serviced.

Funny thing is I have spent so much dime on this over an 18 month period, Ive actually fallen out of love with it, oh, and also for the fact the Singapore guy sold me the wrong hands as they were for the old standard date only carrera and although the same shape, the hands are a little shorter then they should be, though I still got the rep hands if i wanted to put them back.

The brown dial is really nice, but the original I recall does have a slight gloss sheen to it, where the rep is matt. also both the white and brown versions of this watch have the known issue of the wrong model number on the case back as they used the number from the black version, which was always the most popular version, as Tag themselves discontinued the brown, and then the white, leaving only the black officially still available, back in 2013.

Onto pics:

Original QC image:

2hdnvqp.jpg


movement service:

4h38ug.jpg


An OEM picture of front and back for comparison:

1z5q9uc.jpg


28c0qk5.jpg


and now onto mine :cowboy:

I kept the rep rotor, and sold the OEM standard calibre 16 rotor on.

2ypfb44.jpg


zlq2hl.jpg


Amazing AR

2dwdovc.jpg


watch shots:

1zdoh0k.jpg


2qiojo4.jpg


358qxro.jpg


OEM crown:

dwctgn.jpg


OEM Clasp - used condition

wjb32g.jpg


last but not least, the wrist shot :eek:

es23o0.jpg


It now gathers dust in my watch box :hi:
 

ag69

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13/9/13
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Very nice. This watch is on my buy list but I don't think I would make all the mods. Very nice!!
 

THXuk

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I had not planned to do all the mods, its just over time I kept seeing parts come up for sale and picked them up. If I add up how much I have spent, its scary!

Very nice. This watch is on my buy list but I don't think I would make all the mods. Very nice!!
 

kilowattore

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Nice story, pity you lost the love for this watch, it's a nice piece :)
 

chaw6125

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14/6/12
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It looks great. Welcome to the TAG franken club.

You should have kept the Gen rotor though. It just finishes it off IMO.
 

THXuk

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I would have like to have kept it, but needed to claw back some money.