Thanks concepta If you happen to know any one who can get the part number it would be god and it may also open up a Chanel for parts if I can get the first bit ordered
I would say every time you break a seal with the exception of the crown That is if you want to know it is still resistant but as bobs story above proves it can happen even to the best
Ditto automatico I have done this and it is the hardest operation I have done, and it did not come out perfect! Is is almost impossible to drill all 4 hikes to meet up with the predrilled holes inside the lugs Be afraid be very afraid Another drawback of doing this on a rep case is the quality of the steel you will find hard bits and soft bits just as you are half way through a hole that is cutting well you hit a hard point and wreck the bit
The best tip I can give is build it new to start with and wear it hard, don't artificiality age it to start with you will always go to far and it will look artificial, once you have built it then you can re build it as your skills improve you will learn more but artificial aging always looks just that!
It Should be about a 3.5 but If it is a thin Case you may not have enough case to drill and cut a thread with out deforming the back or cutting into the o ring seat in the back of the case When I have fitted these in the past I have has to remove the threads on the tube drill the case and make a fit that way To be water resistant I make th fit so tight that I have to warm the case and freeze the tube to get them together
If you join the IWC collectors forum you can find out about, just don't come out and ask the value right off but they have some pretty good guys on there that are not so hung up as on vintage Rolex forums