JoeyB

Just an assistance in daylight. I use a lume that is in keeping with the age of the watch, and not strong or long lasting. Some say the near 60 year old lume would not glow at all, others have said it will. But if you need to see it at night, I'd suggest a modern super lume. It will only be seen at night and not take away from the look you want, and regardless if small arrow or large, it will glow.

I have no idea, and haven't read a word about that. Mine, both the acrylic (bakelite, Perspex) and Lexan are painted using gloss paint, if that helps any. But the shine is produced by the material.

The DG3804B that I have come across are the 2.0mm GMT pinion. Rafflestime has both large and small arrow for that movement.

I was surprised to find that I can see the small arrow hand easier than the large arrow hand. The reflection in the crystal and the longer shaft on the small arrow may be the reason, or the larger arrow 'blending in' with the hour markers, I'm not sure.

The small GMT hand does reflect in the bevel of the crystal. It makes it easier for my tired old eyes to see it than the 16710 with the larger arrow and sapphire crystal.

That would explain a lot of what I've looked at. And for $25, the key to this hand, I'd accept that explanation as gospel.

Oh, so the 'Donerix 2.0' isn't millimeters?

Measure the GMT pinion. If it is 2.0mm then use the one for the 2836.

Your Phase I was my inspiration. And I had the benefit of your trailblazing. But I wouldn't call it 'bargain basement', I think your genuine Brevet crown cost more than my watch! I was a regular on another site when I got together with RolexAddict about vintage GMTs. I knew nothing other than the 'Retro' 16710. He got my education started. We went on a quest to find the dial without the 'Date' lettering. I came here because this site has the very best and most knowledgeable people in vintage Rolex. That's when I saw your Phase I. The rest, as they say, is s good thing! It's a good thing to see so many 6542 builds now, from your 'Executive Suite' all genuine (Yes, the insert is a genuine 'JoeyB'!!) all the way to my 'Mail Room', and everything in between, now including the cartels. Your efforts made it all possible, and I think you deserve full credit for it. I would have never even known about a 6542 had it not been for you, and thanks to you it is my 'Grail', and my very first build. I'm building my third now, just waiting on the hand from Rafflestime, to be my daily watch. Like they say, 'You da' man!'. Now, enough of this mush. What have you done for me lately?

freddy is a perfectionist. If you want to know if your build is 'right', ask freddy. I am a 'cheapist'. If you want to know how to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear ask me!

Yep, freddy knows his stuff.

The hand sized for the ETA 2893-2 is the same as the size for the gen movement, 1.8mm. The hand sized for the Asian DG3804B and the GMT modified Asian 2836/2846 and GMT modified Swiss ETA 2836/2846 are the same, 2.0mm. I would recommend that you measure the GMT pinion on your watch because I have seen 'variations' from our Asian factories. I'd agree with freddy on the big GMT hand. Rolex used this small GMT hand on all the 6542, and on the 1675 through the 1960s.Sometime in the late `60s, I read 1969, they went to the big GMT hand. The factory might have changed them when sent in for service in the `70s and later, but only Rolex knows that for certain.

automatico suggested this, and it works well for me. If you get the insert off and can see the any of the bent wire retainer for the bezel, use a thin feeler gage and wedge it so that it pushes the wire out into the bezel. About 1/3 around will give you enough to pop the bezel off without any damage to it. http://www.rwg.cc/topic/142481-bezel-remover/page__hl__feeler#entry1065900

Could you do a favor? Could you measure each side of the genuine arrow head? It would be quite helpful. Thanks.

No. The pictures are of 6542s, and all had the chapter ring OCC dial and small arrow GMT hand. The 1675 used the small arrow GMT hand through the 1960s initially on 'Superlative' chapter ring dials, then on the open dials before changing to the large arrow.

The pics I posted from Stefano's site don't look equilateral to my eye. I think the base or bottom line is perpendicular, and might be a camera angle issue. I may have confused things, the hand is not 'mine'. Like the 6mm Brevet + crown, it is Ken at Rafflestime's. I only provided the request for both, pictures, nagging, measurements, nagging, advice, nagging, and a bit of nagging. And in all honesty I think the hand on par with Classic Watch Parts and NDT's hands, and at less than 1/3 of their price. And again, like the crown, a little tweaking might be in order. The last two 'genuine' small arrow GMT hands on Ebay sold for $875 usd, and a set for $1275 usd. The last genuine 6mm Brevet + crown sold for $300 usd. At $25 for the hand, and $31 for the + crown, and a bit of 1500 sandpaper, I think Ken accomplishes what many of us need, an affordable alternative to gen parts.

The price from Rafflestime is $25 usd. It's not comparable, it is less than half. And it is an aftermarket as well. And it is possible, as with the Perspex insert, that Rolex used more than one supplier for the hand. Here's a few from Stefano's website where the arrow head is longer than it is wide. Most of them there are not equal sides of the triangle. freddy, the more I look, the more I think there were variants from Rolex themselves, maybe by year. I think this hand is a good one.

Quite possible. This is on Ebay right now: There are many more that look the same as those you posted, the same as posted here, and a few that are a solid arrow with no lume or hole for one. And, as stated, some go past the chapter ring while others go up to the chapter ring. So, it could be modeled from an aftermarket or from a genuine hand. As with so many things with 1950s and 1960s Rolex, the factory consistency is non-existent. I think the issue is, is it acceptable. If so the price Ken asks at Rafflestime is quite reasonable and that helps the members here.

The arrow base or bottom line width is 1.3mm, the length from the base to the point/tip is 1.5mm. Not equilateral. I looked at many, most were this measurement, but most could have been aftermarket. It is copied off of Classic Watch Parts $65 hand. I found the very tip to be over or past the chapter ring, which I've seen on many genuine 6542s, and took 1500 sandpaper and a few gentle swipes to correct it. I didn't know if it was my dial or the hand. I wanted to get Ken's factory to make them to fit the gen Rolex and ETA 2893-2, 1.8mm, and capable of being broached to 2mm. They couldn't do that. Like most aftermarket parts a little tweak can be expected. And as always, perfection costs more.

"Asian converted" refers to any 2836/2846, Swiss ETA or Asian, that is converted to GMT function.

After a few months of working with Ken at Rafflestime we have an affordable small arrow GMT hand for the 6542 and early 1675. Ken has them listed on his site and on Ebay, and sizes to fit Rolex/ETA 2893-2, DG movements, and the Asian converted 2836/2846 movements. $25 usd. http://www.ebay.com/...=item231f005593 http://www.rafflesti...1675-GMT/Detail

I'm building one now, just waiting for the GMT hand. I don't know! I build the 6542 and 6204 so I know I've always got the crown guards right!

That is a 'Tiger' case, I believe the same as Rafflestime cases. I think it is a very good base case for the no crown-guard models. It needs a little 'massaging', bevel the top line on each side, and soften the bottom lines. The bezel is good for an older Submariner, but needs to beveled top and bottom for a 6542. (In these pics the top line on the bezel is not yet beveled)

OK, it's a DC57 Damasko.

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