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Precisely. You can build a very nice little Big Crown for very little money. But if this is more than just an itch you want to scratch this month, if it's something you want to keep a couple decades, then you need a GOOD case, dial, crown, crystal, bezel and insert. Buying what Phong interprets as "good" parts isn't really the right way to do it. What looks right to YOU? This means you need to do your homework and figure out what's "right" in your eye. Then you painstakingly assemble that watch. It's kinda like the kid at high school and his parents bought him a Vette, and he knows absolutely nothing about it. I'd rather be the kid that brought an old beater back from the brink, rebuilt the engine, painted it, got some blood on the parts, and can tell you EVERYTHING about that car.

Hey I can enter this raffle!!

Well I can say that you got it at a decent price! Saw it on vrm, it's perfect!

Micky If by any chance you do manage to get an earlier flight I will be at Heathrow waiting no matter what time or day. AJ

^+1, very good advice.

Micky "so she’s now on a ventilator which is aiding her breathing" I do this for a living PM me any questions you might have.

So excited to get this thing all back together. Here's another shot from DBane with crown in and the strap I ordered from Worn and Wound.

Looks like ol' Jacob the Jeweler hired a real watchmaker. His crap has been a joke in the watch industry for over a decade, found on the wrist of rappers and such, all bling'd out with terrible movements. Ice-T had one, he said on Cribs awhile back that the thing actually just stopped telling time, but he still liked wearing it "cuz it shiiiiines." So silly.

Dayum, you guys seriously need to do a photo shoot when both of these pieces are finished. People are gonna cry mutiny if you don't, and I'll be leading the charge! [emoji1] [emoji12]

The owner is jacob the jeweler, went to jail for money laundering and dealing with the mafia..

Yes, been close a couple of times on the insert, but it seems every time I like the color/fade there is a fatal flaw like a crack on the triangle or some really bad gouge or they are way overpriced. I can live with the phong until I find the "one" It's the OCD......

Gotta love the guy above. His first post "I want it" nothing like getting to know the folks before you ask for some free stuff.

Very sorry to read this. All the best to you and yours.

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all parts are collected and build is happening now. here's the case with the gen long 5 insert. the rest of the parts arent really that interesting other then being gen, except the dial, which I have no shots of.

I looked at Phongs complete builds when researching build plans on my 6538. Nice, but I knew a few of the parts I would want genuine. For that kind of money total satisfaction should be the goal. So while a nice piece, my thought was that I would have to replace the crystal, crown, insert and bracelet with gen so decided to do it from scratch. Not to mention there is a much better dial and hands option. As CC stated, plan on 5K for a starting point and if you add a genuine bracelet and insert that increases quickly...Good luck

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Thanks! I am beyond excited. Watching this come together, learning from mistakes, trying some of the mods myself, selecting the pieces, working with these genuine craftsman we have here in our community... it's all made it truly very special. For what is typically, if found, a $35,000 to $40,000 watch I will have the same (pretty damn close) for a good bit under $5k. I couldn't have done it without you guys, and also seeing many other members immaculate builds that egged me on to do better. I'll post pics as soon as it's back together.

Macros. Case reshaped, beveled, rebrushed, polished, aged.. etc.. Before: After:

Quick update on the progress. The bracelet is somewhere between the PNW and China on its way to MY for a full restoration. Case is in NC getting engraved and everything else is with Dbane waiting patiently to be assembled. I was hoping to have this done before a long overdue vacation in the middle of May, but looks like we may be pressed to reach that goal. Regardless I cannot wait to see this baby assembled. Teaser pic from Dbane