Guys, I have found the last three posts really interesting - I have been wondering if/when people would relent a little on the all original aspect, so realistically, I am glad this provoked a few of you to say,"yeah, I would like the thing working, even if not all original. But you have to live with the reality that you will no longer have a
rare watch, only a
"collectible" watch if the rarest parts are cheaply obtainable. IMO, with the exception of high-end pieces that are high-end because they are all original, worrying about original modules and crystals IS a little silly....on mechanical watches people were always getting crystals and miansprings replaced, without a single concern as to who manufactured the part. A lot of people collect non-working items for their shear rarity and style....of course you wouldn't wear a non-working watch!!
Rarity...reminds me a Larry Flynt quote(founder of HUstler, adult men's magazine), something along the line of" Women are the ones who really control the world, because they control the pussy". Or this one:"The only question to ask yourself is, how much are you willing to sacrifice to achieve this success?"
Yes, make a Synchronar module replacement, since it seems to have a high rate of failure, is far-fetched(IMO)to consider fixing and the case/watch is highly desirable.
Re: 400 some people on this forum.
Virtually everyone who has posted on this site seems to have a pretty good command of english, yet less than half the world's population speaks english...so I am guessing there is more of a fan base out there than we think. There are probably another 400+ on asian sites, and a dribbling of them on Arabic and hispanic sites, as well as on sites for people who just don't want to "do" english, period. Sometimes it seems sad that so few people post, but consider how few people ever write to a local newspaper with a circulation of tens of thousands, or to a magazine with circulation in the millions?
I just receieced a TC1 with a chipped crystal...what to do?