JoeyB

I paid my VIP dues and upon acceptance email I came back to be banned. I know it's a replica site, so I double checked to make sure I didn't pay with crypto dollars. Whew! All is good now!

There were variances in the perspex insert and the way it was mounted. Some were tabbed to hold them in, some not. From what I understood, Rolex had at least 3 suppliers of the insert. Pictures of the case do show variants. I suspect that due to them being hand finished.

Everyone should have what they want. If an homage 6542 is what you want that's fine. The genuine insert is removable from the bezel, as is mine. I'd think most all are, but I can't speak for others I haven't seen. Removing the paint and lume from an insert to re-lume and paint will depend on the material it is made from, the type of paint used, and finding a way to remove the paint without harming the insert.

My inserts were made of Lexan, the material used on fighter aircraft that is bullet resistant. They've not yellowed at all. The lume on the insert and dial of a genuine 6542 was radioactive. It was discontinued in the last few years for being dangerous. That's when they went with the metal insert. The genuine lume will glow for a very long time, but not anywhere near what they were 65 years ago. Mine glow in the same way, not as long lasting nor as bright as today's lumes. There is no late evening lume of 6542.

My two 6542s are each built differently from each other. Both have my bezel and insert, and both have the 4th hand and the '+' Brevet crown I modified from Rafflestime. The one I built using the 1655 from Trusty Time uses the DG3804B it came with. I took off the crown guards, which is the most difficult part of this build. I am not talented enough to get that side of the case flat, so it looks a bit 'soft' as though it was over-polished. It's close, and passable, but not perfect. The easy part is that the rest of the setup is used as is, with the exception of the alternating red/black date wheel overlay. There are two setups used on the DG movements for the date window. The standard is set at the ETA position, while the one from some suppliers has the overlay already installed in the Rolex position. The 1655 has it in the correct Rolex position. A 6542 dial (I used the dial that came with this 1655 and put my decal and lume) , alternate red/black overlay installed and it all fits together as it came. The other 6542 uses a case we called 'Tiger' because it came from a guy named Tiger. They are no longer available having suddenly disappeared years ago. I used this case to build my 6204 as well. It is thin, can be easily made to look thinner still, the stem is case centered, and it can house DG or ETA movement. I have the ETA 2846 slow beat, modified for GMT in it. Same overlay. The DG3804B and the ETA handstack are both correct for the 6542 and 1675. Rolex didn't change that until later models. The DG3804B and the ETA 2846 are slow-beat so more close to original. The Chapter ring measures 26mm, the early 6542 and 6204 used a 13mm minute hand. Later 6542s used the 12mm as is current. I don't know that I ever heard of anyone making a sapphire bezel, and having a sapphire crystal would make it an homage rather than a replica to me. Freddy is correct, the 115 crystal was used on the 6542, but being the only model it fit, and date window 1mm to the left (towards the center post) of later models, it is my understanding that 116 crystals were installed from Rolex as well as watchmakers. Both of mine have the 116. The first pic shows my water slide decal dial, 13mm minute hand and red date. The 2nd pic shows the 'over-polished' side of my DG 6542, and '+' Brevet crown. The third pic is the side view of my ETA 6542.

I saw those, the 2nd from the left would be good except the markers and crown are yellow gold colored, and I need silver/white gold. I talked to them and they cannot come up with one. The Seiko movement is priced right, DG movement range. I'll check that out. Thank you.

Thank you, but my son wants a blue one. Do we have any suppliers besides Raffles Dials?

I haven't built a newer watch in a while, and need some help in finding a dial for a 36mm Date Just. I'm looking for a blue Date Just dial with silver/white gold stick markers and crown. Does anyone have one, or can you tell me who is selling parts these days. I'm looking for replica, not gen, and less expensive. I tried Raffles Dials, right price, but none with silver stick markers. Anyone else? Thanks guys.

I think this pic of the gen offers a good idea of the dimensions of the hands.

When I built my 6204 I found that the Brevet Crown should be a 6mm. I used the Brevet crown from Raffles Time and modified it as outlined here: https://rwg.cc/topic/140709-6mm-brevet-crown/?hl=%2B6mm%2B%2Bbrevet#entry1046879 The minute hand should be 13mm from center hole to tip. The early watches used the longer hand. I bought mine for the 6204 and 6542 from Helearou That puts the tip right at the chapter ring, which has a diameter of 26mm. The hour hand came from a long time looking for a pencil style in the right length and hole size. If memory serves, I got it from OttoFrei and had to squeeze the center hole a tad to fit. The second hand is stitched together. :https://rwg.cc/topic/172220-look-ma-new-hands/ I used a 'Tiger' case, engraved with 'Brevet 6204' and serial number by JB, and ETA 2846 movement. The dial is a decal I made, pic attached welcome to use. . The bezel is one of those I had made for the 6542, modified and aged. The bracelet is unmarked, per gen. I really love the way the 6204 looks, and is my 2nd favorite by a hair to my 6542.

I made this decal dial for Donerix years ago. Any who wants is welcome to the decal pic.

For a vintage pearl I use a drop of 5 minute epoxy. It has a yellowish tinge to it when it dries. I usually put a touch of lume, then the drop of epoxy.

Be VERY careful! Back in 1968 my first car was a 1961 Ford Sunliner convertible with power windows. My best friend stuck his head out of the window and hit the button. He was really screaming as I went from 30 mph to about 65 mph looking for trees or mail boxes. Alas, he had no sense of humor.

Boston has a team now? Oh yeah, 2013. I remember them. Bobby Orr wasn't all used up when we got him. The Blackhawks won their last game, but would have needed a miracle to get into the playoffs this season. I grew up with the original 6, no helmets and goalies with no face masks at all. Imagine facing Bobby Hull's slap shot with no head or face protection at all.

And just when my Blackhawks were making their move.

Day 3 without sports. Found a lady sitting on my couch yesterday. Apparently she's my wife. She seems nice... In the U.S. I no longer shake hands not because of the coronavirus, but because of the toilet paper shortage.

Click on the links in my signature for the insert alone, or the matched and fitted set.

Boat tail

Where's the snow?

There is no correct caseback for the 6542 which originally is a two piece design. The one you picture for the 6538 is what I used. My dial comes from countless pictures and hours of work. The case I used was the first 'Tiger' case, no longer in production. I'd recommend taking the lower edge on the side of the case down a bit. I took it down with a buffing wheel taking off the sharp edge. It makes it look thinner.

Building your own would cost about the same depending on how and where you source parts. The ETA 2846 is what I used in one of mine and in the 6204 I built. I like the movement very much. A Brevet + crown would be a nice touch. I'd suggest genuine Rolex spring bars. I hope that the bezel is dark blue, not black, and red. Rolex did not make a 'coke' 6542 that I know of.