alligoat

@ New Slice Master Is that a Silix vintage GMT? If not, I'd love to know who you got it from. thanks, alli

Interesting watch! Certainly very 50's, 60's with the smaller size, the alpha-like hands and manual wind movement. I like the 10K gold- it's interesting how they did more gold plating back then and certainly 10K is less expensive than 14 or 18. But it still looks good. I couldn't wear that watch everyday, but it would be fun from time to time like when you're dressing up.

I'd love to see them. Other than my knock-offs and my new (old) reps, everything I have is vintage. This ss Date is from '66 and the gold shell Date is from the early '70's.

Wearing my new vintage chrono to a party tonite: Powered by a V22 with 18 jewels, not the usual 17, solid rose gold case..

Having lost a loved one to diabetes, I know that losing a leg is just the beginning... of the end. And I remember TTK having problems with his eyes also. Certainly a sad ending to a sad story.

It's certainly on my 'to-do' list, clean up mess on watch bench! I even bought one of those Stack-on storage containers to try to make order of my chaos. So far no luck.

I actually thought about your MBW when I made that statement Nanuq! But jeez, I didn't realize you actually owned the first dinosaur. 13 years old, wow! It also has a 2824-2 as I recall, which is another anomaly. Indyberretta is another antique MBW collector, he was picking them up about the same time you got your 1665, he showed me a Rolex GMT a few years ago which he had picked up before the dawn of the internet. We sure have come a long way baby!

Yeh, the mods at RWI have a hard on for the twins, Josh and Andrew. They've been banned and if you reference them, your post will be edited. But Josh and Andrew are still decent dealers like kbh says. Don't know about the DSSD, but since it comes out of china, I would think most of the dealers are carrying the same watch. It's up to V5 these days- they keep making changes, some good, some not. Good luck

Well there you go lani! I guess it took the rep mfrs a while to catch up...

This looks like the old Silix 1494 case: http://www.silix-prime.com/rols036-p-1494.html But I also like this one: http://www.silix-prime.com/rols117-p-1767.html Can't tell if it's thinner or not...

The older Daytonas with the running seconds at 9 used to be available- they had the a7750 but the subdial spacing was wrong- too close together. In fact, Silix still has one: http://www.silix-prime.com/rols012-p-1477.html Once you service the a7750 you should be ready to go, but that's as close as you can get to a 16520 w/o using a Zenith/movado/ebel movement. I'm afraid moving the subdial pinions would be too much work for such a small audience. It's the same thing w/ the vintage Daytonas w/ the a7750- wrong subdial spacing, but you can always go w/ a V72 if you're a stickler.

Congrats Scooter, you have a new MBW! Now it's time to get on with the modding 1. drill the lugholes 2. reshape the crown guards 3. install a better bezel insert- I don't know if you could pop out your pearl and put an all acrylic pearl like the ones from Ofrei in there... 4. install a gen crown and tube 5. put the new DW from ETZ in with the correct flat top 3's, open 6's and 9's 6. 93150 bracelet with 585 end pieces or 580's if you can't find the 585's, 2mm springbars, also 7. Age the case, dial, etc. With the gen ETA in there, you in good shape for years of trouble free service. Good luck.

It's hard to tell when these things came about- of course, Rolex won't talk, so it really comes down to when everyone else picked up on the changes. I figured the etched crown for around 2004, lugholes went away around then also- 2003-4 (for a sub) and rehaut engraving- late Z serial to M - 2007-2008. V serial is new for 2009. Still waiting on the 116610- guess I need to stroll by the AD!

+1, that 30 caught my eye pronto presto!

No, a 3135 stem amd a 2836 stem are not compatible. You could use a drop of glue to hold your stem in the correct spot of the crown, but get your gen/aftermarket case tube installed first, then see where you stand- it's not uncommon to have to adjust the stem length so that it will function correctly.

Thanks B. Chuck just lists it as an improved 72... But that site needs to be updated, but since Chuck passed away a year or so ago, it probably won't happen. I've seen the 725 movement in Breguet Type XX's- it's a flyback movement.

Nice job, Mr. Bond, James Bond! Wear it with pride and let the aging begin.

Very nice Arthur! Wear it in good health, and if nothing else, buy a set of 580 end pieces from wholesaleoutlet990! Looking good.

Taking Freddy's response a step further on a franken... You buy a Yuki 1665 case, I don't know the price, but let's say $500 Buy a DRSD dial and hand set also, $145 on Yuki's site Rolex 703 crown- $40, say.. Then you have to find a 1570 date movement- maybe in an old 1500 Date or 1601 DJ watch- $1000 on ebay Service it for a couple hundred dollars Have a watchmaker put it together, w/case clamps, o-rings, misc part or two, etc., say $150-200, Oh, you need a vintage silver date wheel for the 1570 movt- $125. Eurotimez MBW 93150 bracelet, WO990 580 end pieces- another $110. At this point you have a working franken for a little over $2300, maybe... If that's too expensive, you can go the MBW route, better bezel insert, gen crown and tube, drill the lugholes, trim the cg's- maybe spend $750 or so w/ an eta movt, still a good beater. It really comes down to how much you want to spend! But remember, a franken will always be a franken, not a gen!

give us a link, B! I'm trying to recall what a 726 is.... guess I'll have to visit Chuck Maddox again.

Maybe the ETA 2671's are still readily available, in which case, it might just be easier to order her a whole new DJ. Of course that would also free you up for more important things, like modding your own watches!

Snap-On Tools makes a #55 cobalt drill bit which most people use for drilling the lugholes. Maybe it's 1.3mm. It might be that the gen holes are just slightly larger than 1.2mm or even 1.2mm for that matter. But who can see 1/10th of a millimeter? Rolex springbars are 2mm, but once again the ends are around 1.2mm- you can buy them on ebay, or from yukiwatch You may have to get different end pieces, but get the sprinbars first and then see. Wholesaleoutlet990 sells rep 580 end pieces for not too much. You'll also have to enlarge the holes in the end of the bracelet to fit the 2mm springbars. Helps to have a drill press, vice, and a 2mm bit. Same springbars and bracelets for 5513/1665/1680/16800/16610 early/14060- 93150 bracelet. 580 ends for 5513/1665early/1680 585 for later 1665, 593 for 16800, 501B for early 16610 and I think also 14060.

Well, I'm not an MBW expert, but the first thing I don't like is the laser etching. I have a Watchmaster 1680 which is basically the same as a MBW 1680 and the inscription between the lugs is much cleaner more like a real Rolex than the laser crap you have. But Cats would know more, because his is more recent. Maybe MBW/MBK has changed- cheapened up their cases, used laser etching, or maybe you just have the standard CN DRSD. You do have a thicker bezel, that's a plus. But remember, the CN group has copied the MBW DRSD also... Your insert is obviously not MBW- looks like the typical CN insert. You could buy a PMWF 5513 insert (or other 5513 insert for less on ebay)and see if it's a direct swap- that would indicate the correct bezel size. Same with the T-19- if aftermarket parts fit, that's good. BTW, MBW's have a non-functioning HE valve. If you remove your movement and find a functioning HE valve, it's definitely CN!

The William Marshall is a nice little Swiss knock-off with a 2824-2 movement. I bought it 3-4 years ago on ebay for $210 or so and it shipped directly from Switzerland. No one's ever commented on it, but I really get few comments if any on the watches I wear. I'm a firm believer in the 99.9% theory- 99.9% of the people could give a rat's a$$ what watch you're wearing. @ kbh, the insert/pearl reminds me of the vintage MBW's- same flat pearl! Lume's decent but not great.

I'm with kbh, grease the seals and have it tested. My two noobs are WR and a lot of people around here have had good luck w/ them being WR. this one's made a few laps in the pool When I scuba dive, however, I use a $200 scuba watch. This William Marshall has made it down 125' I don't wear my vintage gen subs scuba diving, ha, it ain't worth it!