chiman12

Thanks E...I know that a croc strap is not historically correct for this watch, but I really like the looks of the Donerix croc on this watch. I can even wear it with a dress shirt. Maybe I'll get a NATO and tropic strap just to swap out for occasions...

Thanks guys...next up for this project is a couple of thin rubber gaskets for the anti-mag cover and caseback. The crown has an inner o-ring, so it will seal the watch from that prespective, but at least I can wear the watch until i source the correct screw down crown and tube.

I was never quite satified with the DSN reps of the Fifty Fathoms, maybe it was because it employed a newer movement or the fact that it didn't have the proper two-piece case back with the anti-magnetic cover. In any case, I bought my share of these reps, try to convince myself that it is a pretty good rep (which it is!) and then turn around and sell it back out in the rep market again. Well...truth be known is that I actually have two sets of the Vietnam/Phong Fifty Fathom case sets, so I decided to build a Fifty Fathoms out of one these case sets. At first I used a 2836 and a DSN LIP dial and hands set. BLAH...I said to the movment...too new, not vintage enough. I went on a discovery to find the perfect movement. According to my research, some of the vintage Blancpain's employed an AS (A. Schild) movement. So I found an AS movement from an old Mudu watch. With this, I also had an engraved Blancpain rotor, so I swapped it with the original... I really like the DSN dials. The silver printing on dial is thick and crisp, much like the original dials and the vintage lume really set the dial off. BUT the dial was too glossy and new and I wanted the vintage look; so I took it upon myself to apply a vintage look to the dial... Next up was the case...there was no crown tube on the case! I was pounding my head on the wall and scavenging my parts bin to find a suitable donor, then by the stroke of luck, I noticed a spring bar on the desk..."LIGHT BULB". I searched for a spring bar that had the approximately diameter as the hole in the case and also tested it with the winding stem...success!!! So I trimmed the ends of the spring bar and extracted the pins and spring. I then test fitted the tube onto the case. The diameter was slightly larger than the case hole, so I gently tapered the tube by filing down the tube. Using a small brass mallet, I gently tapped the tube into the case. After 45 minutes...successful... Another test, make sure that the winding stem fits and engages the keyless works properly... What the heck!?!?!? The case set I bought is missing the anti-magnetic cover! So I dug into my parts bin again, found an actual vintage anti-mag cover from a deceased watch. Trimmed the edges slightly to fit the case... Sure it is not exactly correct, but there is now an anti-mag cover. Finally, reinstalled the case back...end result Now...what am I going to do with the other case set??? Anyone have a spare "No Rad" dial???

geez...maybe I should take some time to read the post

What the big M said...what needs to happen is to mark the position of the where movement tabs are located on the movement ring and use a square hobby file to make notches into the ring.

That is a beautiful build andy...of course I wouldn't expect anything less from you!

Seems like there has been no improvements on the dial or the sub-dial spacing front...

WHAT T!?!?!?! It's not a PAM!! Very nice! I personally would have went with an InGod dial and swap the hands out for gen ones and relume the pearl to match the vintage lume..

E...I just love that 6542 of yours...

That is stunning...and I have a spare 873...hhhmmm...

Hopefully he'll have the 16520 case completed that has been in the works for longest time!

Very nice B!

I think River also sold one a few years back...maybe contact him... come to think about this more...WM9 also sold a GMT way back when and I think he used a 2893

As Darth Vader would say..."Your skills[powers] are getting stronger...Impressive...most impressive!"

Canada is on a roll lately...a hot freediver and a transgender Miss Universe contestant!

GO CANADA!

WSO is fine to deal with, had no problems dealing with the seller. Plus you are a buyer and protected, so no worries. Go for it! Finish the project and enjoy it!

Very nice vintage pieces M! So glad that they weren't gutted for their movements. That Gallet really cleaned up well!

What a great comparison V!

I like it!

V...fwiw My gen 78350 clasp... round 3 Rep bracelet that came off the newer cartel Daytona with asymmetrical pusher config...flat 3

sexy...dead sexy...

That is a nice strap E! I like it!

Make sure that all the lug screws are in place...Great piece btw...I love mine!

Dang sexy M! You can tell if it is a 702 by unscrewing the crown and checking if the tube has a long section of threadless sleeve.