Ok RWI, here goes a review/diy mod post in one.
I just got my wife a Tag Heuer Aquaracer 27mm from Timeshops.net and am very happy with it so far… but required mods out of the box to be wearable. This is NO reflection on Timeshops as a dealer because they were perfect, fast communication, fast QC and fast shipping. A++++
Onto the watch; it is the Aquaracer with white dial (which has a silver tone to it) and is iconic by the Green and Red Tag Logo. The G on Tag has an arrow on the middle part but not the top, so a little inaccurate there but it is not noticeable without looking really hard for it.
Packaging from Timeshops was amazing. Cardboard box, with foam box inside, with foam wad, with watch inside all wrapped separately, taped to the high heavens.
Inside was the watch, so I pulled off all the protective films. The clasp like most watches when opened, doesn’t have great pin alignment, so looks odd when open, but sits where it should when closed. The TAG HEUER engraving is great.
When I got to the band unwrapping, I ran into my first supprise, the bracelet fell off the body… ok no big deal, grab the tools… oh wait, I can’t get the spring bar to snap in… more on that later.
So now that I have to get into some tools, lets fix it all up. I looked at the case back… which was amazing with detail and accuracy (tested a few watches out 2 weekends ago with the wife) had some scratches in odd directions. So I grabbed the Scotch pad and placed it face down, with pressure in the middle I turned the face to get a circular pattern, when done … perfecto.
With the case open, I popped out the crown and gasket (which was bone dry), applied some thick silicone grease in the grove, placed the gasket back in, more grease then the case back… same on the crown.
Caseback back on.
Ok, so my jaxa gave me some troubles on my fathers Rolex back so at work, we have bumpers for some products and it’s a metal insert with a medium rubber on it (50 shore). This with a little pressure works wonders to close up stubborn cases.
Ok now to the end links.
So the spring bar is bent…
Now I get into my spare part case and find one the same length (or one that will work)…
Guess the next problem. The barrel is 0.12mm to large… oh well, lets take some pliers and bend the spring bar back … success, it didn’t break
Now I took the end link by its self and looked at the fit… nice gap. So I inspected the end link and the corners that fit into the case of the watch wernt chamferd (ground down) so I grabbed some 320 grit and did it myself. The other end link had them ground down already… so missed in the factory… and also missed in QC (how didn’t the bracelet fall of then when it was apart when unpacked).
Finally, the divers extension would pop open just by the weight of the watch, so quick little bend in and volla, it is a tight hold
Last but not least, the proof. Here is her two good watches now (she has another but lost in her drawer or purse… the deep abyss).
Hope you enjoyed… did this in a bit of a rush. I hope to spend more time writing when I do my 16610LV build (parts coming from another member)… should be fun.
I just got my wife a Tag Heuer Aquaracer 27mm from Timeshops.net and am very happy with it so far… but required mods out of the box to be wearable. This is NO reflection on Timeshops as a dealer because they were perfect, fast communication, fast QC and fast shipping. A++++
Onto the watch; it is the Aquaracer with white dial (which has a silver tone to it) and is iconic by the Green and Red Tag Logo. The G on Tag has an arrow on the middle part but not the top, so a little inaccurate there but it is not noticeable without looking really hard for it.
Packaging from Timeshops was amazing. Cardboard box, with foam box inside, with foam wad, with watch inside all wrapped separately, taped to the high heavens.
Inside was the watch, so I pulled off all the protective films. The clasp like most watches when opened, doesn’t have great pin alignment, so looks odd when open, but sits where it should when closed. The TAG HEUER engraving is great.
When I got to the band unwrapping, I ran into my first supprise, the bracelet fell off the body… ok no big deal, grab the tools… oh wait, I can’t get the spring bar to snap in… more on that later.
So now that I have to get into some tools, lets fix it all up. I looked at the case back… which was amazing with detail and accuracy (tested a few watches out 2 weekends ago with the wife) had some scratches in odd directions. So I grabbed the Scotch pad and placed it face down, with pressure in the middle I turned the face to get a circular pattern, when done … perfecto.
With the case open, I popped out the crown and gasket (which was bone dry), applied some thick silicone grease in the grove, placed the gasket back in, more grease then the case back… same on the crown.
Caseback back on.
Ok, so my jaxa gave me some troubles on my fathers Rolex back so at work, we have bumpers for some products and it’s a metal insert with a medium rubber on it (50 shore). This with a little pressure works wonders to close up stubborn cases.
Ok now to the end links.
So the spring bar is bent…
Now I get into my spare part case and find one the same length (or one that will work)…
Guess the next problem. The barrel is 0.12mm to large… oh well, lets take some pliers and bend the spring bar back … success, it didn’t break
Now I took the end link by its self and looked at the fit… nice gap. So I inspected the end link and the corners that fit into the case of the watch wernt chamferd (ground down) so I grabbed some 320 grit and did it myself. The other end link had them ground down already… so missed in the factory… and also missed in QC (how didn’t the bracelet fall of then when it was apart when unpacked).
Finally, the divers extension would pop open just by the weight of the watch, so quick little bend in and volla, it is a tight hold
Last but not least, the proof. Here is her two good watches now (she has another but lost in her drawer or purse… the deep abyss).
Hope you enjoyed… did this in a bit of a rush. I hope to spend more time writing when I do my 16610LV build (parts coming from another member)… should be fun.
