Virgil Hilts

Quick question for the thread: Could this be an instance where reps could genuinely hurt sales of the gen? They don't sell in near the volume (or price point) of Rolex, Omega, Cartier, etc.

Or, will it help make watch fans more aware of how great this brand is and spur on sales of used gen Sinns, which can be had for well under the cost of a used Rolex, etc.? I'm close on getting the rep U1, but I've been eyeing some used gens.

Thoughts?

And remember, Sly is about 5'7", too. So, maybe not so redonkulous for those of us a couple inches taller. That's a pretty good price to take a flyer on one.

Damn, Kruz. Those are epic. Wonderful work.

This is the one I've always wanted. If there's any more details on what's being developed, I'd love to hear about it. I'd rather have a dead-on version of this than my DW VJ72 6263.

OS,

Just a giant bowl of fried awesome. Such a great read. Thanks for sharing.

What was used for the aged lume look? That shade of white/grey looks more like the gens than anything I've seen. Very nice. I've got a couple of Ross dials and I'd love to finish 'em to that level.

thinking of selling my gen. anyone?

Exec. V/P, Creative Director of an ad agency.

(I write commercials for a living)

I've got a Motown 25 concert story:

I was a college sophomore. A buddy of mine called me the day before the actual live show. He had an extra ticket. I told him I couldn't go because I had to finish a term paper or I was gonna flunk my English Lit class. What did I miss? Not much:

Michael's first Moonwalk.

One of Marvin Gaye's last public performances - it was a year before he died.

Diana Ross and the Supremes getting together and Ross being bitchy onstage (which they cut out of the tv version).

Tops and Temps.

Smokey and the Miracles.

My buddy calls me the next day and can't stop talking about how incredible it was. And I missed it because of an f'ing term paper. Damn, I wish I had just gone ahead and flunked that class. RIP Michael.

Tragic. Here's my 5512. I still have the original bezel insert, but it's a little fragile, so I put the replacement insert on it. It's a 1961. The original gilt dial is long gone, but the replacement is from the late 60's, I'm guessing.

nice, but it looks like a brand new RSC dial/hands. if so, what a travesty. OTOH, it looks like some genuine McQueen cheese around the bezel! someday you could clone him from those bits!

How very cool of you to drop by the site. I have Goldfinger on BluRay and he's 100% correct. Definitely going to get one of these for my gen 5512.

Hi Guys!

Thanks for noticing my Real Bond NATO project. This grew out of a series of discussions over on the Military Watch Resource Forum. It's been a long process and a bigger investment than I had anticipated, but I think everyone will be very pleased with the results.

As for the debate about the colors, I would urge everyone to go out and get the new early Bond films on BluRay disc. I highly recommend this new technology. Viewed on a 1080dpi television, the level of detail is amazing. On the Dr. No disc they have a special feature that is a short documentary about how they digitized the films for BluRay. They went back to the original negatives (almost unheard of when making prints -- usually a "master print" is used.) Each frame was digitally scanned at a resoultion HIGHER than the 35mm film stock, so every bit of visual information was captured. These BluRay discs look better than the movie did on the big screen. The bottom line: The red stripes are clear and obvious both in Thunderball and Goldfinger. The mystery really is solved.

If you are interested in getting one of the Real Bond NATOs, please register for my mailing list at: Sign Up Form Link This will put you on the early sale notificaton list and make you eligible for special offers.

Below is a photo of the actual prototype webbing of the straps.

Thanks again!

Cam from Corvus

Screw the datewheel...MOONWATCH NOW!!!

The guy is a regular seller on eBay with a good feedback rating and over 300 transactions. He offered to do the deal quickly on the bay (no use of the "R" word in the listing, buy-it-now for quick turnaround). Also said the GMT hand is fixed/only rotates around dial once in 24 hrs. like gen.) Still not sure I want to venture into these waters, as I'm still bleeding from the wallet over my VJ72 and VJ23 Daytona projects...and those were with people who were great and trustworthy to deal with.

Still waiting for some more knowledgeable Rollie folks to weigh in on case, movement, etc.

Say what you will about the chancy nature of ebay sellers (who, at least can be judged to some degree by their seller histories & buyers' ratings), but I would never buy anything of any value from an unknown seller on Craigs list. No way, no how.

Any more of our Rollie experts out there care to comment? I'm in talks with the guy, but I'm not pulling any triggers until I hear from you guys.

Does that case look the right thickness? Any other comments/criticisms? I sent an email to him asking a few questions. We'll see what happens.

On the bright side: WOLVERINE!

Seriously, tho, glad you weren't more seriously hurt. Hope you're better soon.

Here's mine.

Still working on my damn 6239 project. Anyone got a 6239 case that will take a VJ23, GUARANTEED? I've spent way too much money on cases from people (including someone on this site) who said it would fit and...no love.

Anyone?

Damn, Kruz, I have a gen and that's really, really close. Be pretty hard-pressed to tell the difference. Here's mine. It's a '61, sadly with the same factory replacement dial. Still trying to find the ever-elusive gen gloss gilt original dial for under two grand.

Nice project Tourby. Thanks.

I'm in in for a set of Cortebert hands.

Thanks Tourby for this nice project

Like RMC say, the one like on unitas are easy to mod for cortebert so maybe not the bestest choice.

The curved one for angelus are the one i prefer, fat with short hour hand.

in what color ? gold or rose gold ? ; i will be in it for 3.

And a second hand with long pin will benice as it take a lot of time to do one by myself; i will be in it for 3.

For the lume color, maybe the bestest choice will be to sell it free of lume, as it can be easily to lume it for the one who will buy it , no? if tritec is too hard to use(but i think no) i know a french old horogical shop who sell vintage lume little yellowish, ready to use , and who need only 1 minute to relume hands.

But for me , the hands i realy want will the blued ones with long hour hand with middle bar for 3646 cortebert , for this one i will be ok to pay a big price, as theire are no good other alternative(even if the one on cali rep can be correctly blued by myself, the hour hand is definitely too short).

Maybe for this project, for you to be sure it will be ok after you will made it and you don't loose money like on the T60 crown, you will need to take only pre-order and paiement before starting the production ? it will be ok for me

Thanks again T for this wondefull project

Mind-blowingly beautiful.

Is that one of the RMCSherry dials? If so, who did the finish on it? That's exactly what I'm looking for in terms of font thickness on mine.

Again...wow.

I sure as hell would.

I would buy that if it was repped

Here's mine. Gen 5512. III/60. Sadly, dial is a service replacement from the 70's, I believe. Finding a gen gilt dial is my grail. Still, pretty happy with it. I've had it for 18 years.

SWEET!!! Can't wait to get my dials.

And hey, what about that tutorial, R?

If only we had some way of getting better a better dial with good numerals and true engraving with correct fonts, then this project could be amazing...

Well, here's proof that he can. VDB made this for me earlier this year. Cortebert movement.

I've got The Zigmeister working on three right now - A VJ72 Franken, a VJ23 Franken and a DW. I'll probably be selling either the VJ23 or the DW when I get 'em back. Check with me in a month or so, after you do some more research.