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It's a happy day, a new watch arrived at Ricky Lee's Home For Wayward Wristwatches! It's a happy day, a new watch arrived

Ricky Lee
June 05, 2010 10:50PM
 Registered: April 2005
Posts: 12,214 (2011-05)

A rather unusual one, too, as this is a brand-new watch. And a big Shoutout to Bro. Kevin Jankoski aka KMJ1966! Bit of a story..

I agreed to do some work for Kevin 'bout a week ago, on a barter basis. It's a job that pushes the limits of my modest abilities, frankly, and I was upfront with Kevin about that. I made no promises beyond that I'd take a look at the watch, and give it my best shot. Well, not only does Kevin apparently have more faith in my work than I do me ownself Blushing, he's a man that believes in paying in advance. And obviously he loves surprises, 'cause lookit what showed up in me mailbox yesterday:

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

Not the watch I'd agreed to work on. Oh no! A BNiB Marina Militare! WIS Honeymoon WooHOO!

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

I am purely blown away, not only by Kevin's generosity, but by the 3F level (Fit-Finish-Function) displayed by this watch. I've got several other Panerai homages (two of which are home-brewed), but this one blows them all in the weeds! First, there's the flawless workmanship. If there's a blemish anywhere, I can't find it, despite 10 minutes peering through me 14x loupe. Then there's the sure 'nough sandwich dial, a first for me. Even the strap is very nice - a black leather affair with pre-V buckle which uses a screwbar that matches the watch lugs, vs. the normal springbar. Alas, 'twas too short for me fat wrist, hence the wabified Waterbourne pictured here.

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

The movement is a nicely finished Chinese clone of the 6497. It winds smooth as butter, and checked in at a respectable +7 sec over the first 24 hours. I haven't had it long enough to determine power reserve, but if past experience is any indication it will be in the 42 to 46 hour range. The crown lock also operates very smoothly and securely.

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

The sandwich dial is a joy to behold! Thumbs up! I can't believe I haven't taken the plunge with one before. Crazy! Loco! Very stout lume, though not world-class in the longevity department. It's readable after ~ 5 hours, though barely. Still better than average, though.

Obligatory HWS...

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for larger photo

It wears Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr8! WIS Honeymoon

So. Still waiting for that fixer-upper to arrive, Kevin. O' course this means that I have to fix it now, even if it harelips everybody on Bear Creek. Laughing Failure is not an option. But, hey, that's OK. I work best under pressure. Wink

Thank you! from the bottom of me heart, Bro. Kevin, 'twas a truly grand gesture.

Cheers!

-Ricky
Messages In This Thread

Subject Author Views Posted

IHD! at Ricky Lee's Home For Wayward Wristwatches! IHD! Image Attachments URL

 Ricky Lee 267 June 05, 2010 10:50PM

Re: IHD! at Ricky Lee's Home For Wayward Wristwatches! IHD!
Hi all

Nice one! at one time I had nine among others, now down to two MM 44 and MM47 1950 Lefty, run pretty good considering the years...smile

 o1517 77 June 07, 2010 05:40PM

Nice... Cheers! -- Reminds me I have unfinished business (n/t)

 VoodooDance 81 June 06, 2010 10:54PM

Wow, that really puts the pressure on, doesn't it? Clapping! guys! (n/t)

 Dave Murphy 82 June 06, 2010 08:22AM

A little. Wink But, like I said, I work best under pressure. Laughing (n/t)

 Ricky Lee 88 June 06, 2010 12:35PM

Forgive my ignorance, >>
but what kind of work are you expected to do on this little treasure? It's a beauty!

 Hans_NL 89 June 06, 2010 02:37AM

Re: ..what kind of work are you expected to do on this little treasure?
Not a thing!

This is payment-in-advance for work to be performed on two other as-yet-to-be-seen watches. A 2-way dial swap, basically.

Quote
Hans_NL
It's a beauty!
'tis!

Thank you! mate!
 Ricky Lee 109 June 06, 2010 12:04PM

Looks good on that Waterborne too Thumbs Up (n/t)

 DELAURIAN 1000 87 June 06, 2010 12:13AM

Thank ye Shane! That Waterbourne, tatty as it is, is one of me favorite straps. WIS Honeymoon (n/t)

 Ricky Lee 84 June 06, 2010 12:33PM

Very cool and darned if that doesn't look perfectly sized to your wrist! Thumbs up! Cheers! (n/t)

 JohnnyT 105 June 05, 2010 11:39PM

Thank you! JT! Yeah, the 44mm Luminor case is a pretty good fit for moi. Wink (n/t)

 Ricky Lee 106 June 06, 2010 12:31PM

Very cool. First time I saw one, I really didn't like the Panerai >>>
but I am angry! you guys with all these posts, I'm starting to really warm up to the suckers. Still not a fan of the crown lock though.

 DJM 100 June 05, 2010 11:07PM

Re: Still not a fan of the crown lock though. Image Attachments
I was kind of cool on that feature meself, at first. Smile And I do like the Luminor-style case just fine without it:

Photo by Ricky Lee

Photo by Ricky Lee

But, over the years, I've come to appreciate the Luminor crown lock as a classic, unique, and functional design feature. Thumbs up!

Quote
DJM
but I am angry! you guys with all these posts, I'm starting to really warm up to the suckers.
Yet another Good Man done been corrupted by the Poor Man's Watch Forum. Eek!

Rolling on the floor laughing my ass off

Cheers!
 Ricky Lee 106 June 06, 2010 12:12PM

Re: Yet another Good Man done been corrupted...
You said it. And I really am growing to like that case design a lot, and would love to try a sandwhich dial in one at some point.

 DJM 92 June 06, 2010 01:12PM

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New combo It's a happy day, a new watch arrived

Ricky Lee
July 03, 2010 09:56AM
 Registered: April 2005
Posts: 12,214 (2011-05)

I've had this bracelet so long (5+ years!) that I'd forgotten all about it. Crazy! Loco! So when I stumbled across it last week, it was an IHD! of sorts! Smile

Here 'tis:

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

Sure, it's the KMJ Marina Militare!

Rather nice machined butterfly deployant...

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

..pity I didn't get the focus on the clasp. Oops!

Now, conventional wisdom says that the endlinks are less than a perfect fit. They 'swivel' a bit, leaving a gap 'tween the case and endlink. However, I've come to consider this a Feature Not A Bug. Wink

This bracelet came OEM on my MM GMT, and the endlinks were a rock-solid fit on that watch. However, this caused a problem of it's own. Frowning On the wrist, it resulted in an extreme angle between the endlink and 2nd-link. Here's a photo of the original, and if you look at the LH side..

Photo by Ricky Lee


..this angle is evident. That's pretty much how it wore in real life I am crying, and it always bugged the heck out of me. I am angry! Indeed, that's the reason I removed the bracelet and chunked it in the Spare Parts Bin. Smile

Now, though..

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for larger photo

..the endlink and 2nd-link align in a much more pleasing fashion. Thumbs up! So even though there's that smiley-face gap 'twixt the case and endlink, I find that it bothers me not at all.

Wears Grrrrrrrrrrrr8! Cool

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo


A keeper! WIS Honeymoon

Thanks again for sending this one my way, Kevin.

Cheers!

-Ricky

Ricky Lee McBroom
Messages In This Thread
Subject Author Views Posted

New combo It's a happy day, a new watch arrived Image Attachments URL

 Ricky Lee 164 July 03, 2010 09:56AM

Fantastic Ricky.Thumbs up! (n/t)

 Mark C. 70 July 03, 2010 10:35PM

WTG, gents! (n/t)

 Dave Murphy 67 July 03, 2010 01:04PM

Nice combo, RL! (n/t)

 MCV 66 July 03, 2010 11:54AM


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