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Showing content with the highest reputation on 06/19/2020 in all areas

  1. I didn't want to hijack my own previous post "mvt wont regulate?" so I thought I would start this new title which may be of some interest to those that have a liking for tool watches. My visit with the old time family friend watchmaker Luigi became very interesting when we were speaking of Rolex watches and how I was into the Franken watch version of the Rolex. He was very open minded about this topic and liked my F520117 noobmariner (courtesy of Alligoat) very much with how it served my purpose. He said to me whatever makes you happy is what matters. I would have worn something like that myself. He then pulled out of his drawer a couple of watches to show me which he valued as special to him, not because of any monetary worth, but because he thought were very under rated for what they were. They were a couple of 1930's watches known as "Wyler" They were both rectangular and both in stainless steel. One was labelled as water proof and the other was automatic. In the 1930's they were a great tool watch for that time. We hardly hear of them today, but he went on about them that he worked both on Rolex, Blancpain, Jaeger LeCoultre and Wyler, having a very soft spot for Wyler. I was discussing this over a sip of Strega Liqueur and upon coming home I did some research on this watch. I thought what a joy this hobby truly is !!!!!. Nothing else comes close. There are many websites that speak of this watch, but I thought I would add the following link which shows a picture of the watches that were eye candy to me from that visit. https://www.fratellowatches.com/automatic-wyler-crichettino/
    1 point
  2. The seller's in Italy, so you know it's 100% genuine shinola. https://www.chrono24.com/rolex/gmt-master-6542-by-pan-am-radio-dial-bakelite-bezel--id9937328.htm
    1 point
  3. I just hate driving out of town for 2 hours, but on this occasion, it paid dividends. I finally got an answer to my movement regulation problem & discovered something interesting about the Wyler brand and of the different automatic mechanism they patented. I was happy to see that this 90 + gentleman is still with us and of the conversation we had. In particular I was blown away with his story of what I mentioned in my previous post of his most challenging experience while learning his art, that his master gave him a hair spring that was twisted and made up like into a ball. His mission to pass was to get it straight, reshape it and get it working again. He had to replace it in the balance wheel and Collette and get it right with the screwed in balance weights. He then had to set it in beat getting it half way between the banking pins and got it accurate to almost chronometer level. That is BRAIN SURGERY of the trade area. It would not pay for anyone to do this today, as it would cost a fortune, but good skill developing. By the way for those are not teetotallers, I would try a sip of Strega Liqueur especially for the winter months as it is a good pick-me-up. Disclaimer I have no vested interest in this . https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strega_(liqueur)
    1 point
  4. Here's a mind bender... midnight on the Kobuk River, might as well have a weenie roast with some friends! When the sun refuses to go down, we just STAY up. Sleep? We sleep when we die. It's summer in Alaska!
    1 point
  5. Well Gentlemen, all I can say is thank you !!! I am still trying to work on replacing that fault with the balance and bridge, but I am relieved that I have an answer. It was driving me Nuts!!! I was happy to catch up with old time family friend Luigi with his amazing skills and wisdom of his art of watchmaking. His speciality was hair springs and told me how he use to make them by hand and to time the finished product without a timing machine. He mentioned of his most challenging experience while learning his art, that his master gave him a hair spring that was twisted and made up like into a ball. His mission to pass was to get it straight, reshape it and get it working again. He had to replace it in the balance wheel and Collette and get it right with the screwed in balance weights. He then had to set it in beat getting it half way between the banking pins and got it accurate to almost chronometer level. That is BRAIN SURGERY of the trade area. Now nobody would do this as no customer or watchmaker can afford this unless you paid big$$$$$$$ for this. But it was definitely skill building.
    1 point
  6. I built a couple of 16000 DJs back in 2008 and it was fairly simple. I used a 2836-2- back in the days when you could get a swiss one fairly easily. Then you need a DWO- date wheel overlay- you can pick those up from rafflesdials.com. The correct one has open 6/9s and round top3s. Hands came from Clark's but in your case CousinsUK would be an easier choice- DJ type hands for eta- 150/90/25. Also a movement ring- #2 from raffles is needed. You have to remove the dial feet from the DJ dial and glue the DWO into place- this is the tricky part and when that's done, you can use dial dots to attach the dial to the movement and you're ready to install the movement and dial in the case. You'll need some hold down tabs and a couple of screws. The Rolex 600 crown will screw on the movement stem, but you may have to trim the stem or if it's too short get another one. Ssteel is in the EU and you might contact him if you need some help. I'd show you a pic of my two watches but Imageshack is acting up today. The models I built were the 16013 and 16014.
    1 point
  7. Paul and Womart, eh? I remember having a watch from him that stopped the same time every day. Tearing it apart I found a very nasty, very curly little black hair in the movement. Ewwwwwwwwwwwww.
    0 points
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