This is an article concerning the conversion of a PAM-196 replica based on a heavily modified ETA-7750.  The task: make the replica more accurate to the genuine watch by making some severe modifications and part swaps.  Definately not for the weak of heart, this shows in detail the complexity of modern replica watches.

So I finally got up this morning and after my errands and a tea, sat down to attack this project.

These are the issues concerning making a ETA 7750 into a quasi-7753 with the understanding that some Asian parts will have to be transferred from the Asian movement to the ETA one.

Here are the issues:

calendar bridge and mechanism needs to be swapped from Asian to ETA.

Why?
Because the Asian model calendar bridge is modified to accommodate the 30 minute timer transfer gears

Concerns?
None, as long as the bridge fits, there is no reliability issues at all, the 30 minute bridges and gears are a non-issue when the reliability of the movement is considered.

Results
The bridges are identical except for the additional holes to attach the new 30 minute transfer gears. sub-dial posts are too short, 30-minute, 12-hour and running seconds.

Why?
Because the Asian 7750 is bastardized to be a quasi-7753, and by doing so the distance from the dial face to the movement in increased to accommodate the new 30-minute timer bridge and gears.

Concerns?
Will the Asian gears fit? (30-minute, 12-hour, and 2nd wheel will have to be transferred from Asian to ETA) 30-minute timer is not a concern as it sits on the Asian bridge which is being transferred over to the ETA 12-hour counter could be a problem as it will sit in the ETA mainplate 2nd gear is the biggest concern, as it sits in the middle of the movement and is driven by the 3rd wheel and the escape wheel. Is the Asian one the same diameter, has the same tooth pitch, the same pivot sizes, same pinion gears etc.

Results
They all fit and are interchangeable between the ETA and the Asian movement.

So here is the results, total time from the start to the finish, about 4 hours, as for cost, well since this was a trial, and an unknown, so we made a deal, me and the owner of the watch. For reference, if I was to do this for someone else, it’s more work than overhauling the movement, so the cost would be the standard overhaul price and I keep the scrapped out 7750.

I call this the ZIGGY 6500 (pat pending) lets not forget that the owner was the one who took the challenge up and bought the movement and decided to give this a go, he deserves some recognition for his contributions

Here's where we left off, a bunch of parts laying around, now lets see if we can make a movement out of them

First problem to address, is the running seconds 2nd wheel, if this is not the same, game over
Here is the ETA next to the asian one, ETA is the shorter one, 5.8mm ETA, 6.2mm Asian.

Thankfully they were identical except for the length, so here it is in place.

Various assembly pics

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