sssurfer

Thanks for your replies and appreciation, gentlemen! I was also asking for suggestions, so even double thanks to Cats for letting one. Decision taken. It will be beadblasted case and lugs, polished bezel and crown.

I am now heading towards having the case beadblasted. I am just very unsure on whether to leave the bezel (and maybe also the lugs and crown) polished. What would you suggest, guys? In the meanwhile, another two pics with a new strap:

Yes as, btw, synthetic sapphire in Andrew's dictionary is mineral glass.

Oh my! My thoughts are with you and your family.

M, I just happened to stumble upon a watch exatcly like yours. $76: http://www.watcherstore.com/shop/product_i...ce7b5a88e06beb7

The largest collections of HBB are from Puretime and Timeshops. And their models do not come from the same factories.

Ciao Andi, benvenuto!

Are you putting a double AR crystal on a 048, DuDro?

As some of you may already know, on a couple of past occasions I had troubles on applying a cyclops on double AR coated crystals. The acetone I used to remove the excess of glue damaged, even if slightly, the AR coat. I now found a safe glue + solvent combination. The main thing is to use alcohol instead of acetone. Alcohol looked completely safe on double AR coat. The second thing is to use a glue that can get easily removed with alcohol. I found that the AF Minad glue perfectly fits the need. This is an UV glue that cures in just a few seconds under UV light (or, as they say, under strong sunlight). While the glue between the cyclops and the crystal becomes as hard as rock, any excess of glue unavoidabily remained around the cyclops stays quite soft (this is a miracle I have no explaination for, I suppose it depends on the glue staying in touch with air). Then it can get easily removed with a toothpick drenched in alcohol, then refining everything with a cloth wet with alcohol. Btw, a very inexpensive (7.95 GBP), handy, effective, and eye-safe UV source to cure the glue is this "UV diamond torch" from cousinsuk. On past occasions I used a tanning UV lamp, but now that I discovered it I am only using it:

Two Angelus movements! One man and two Angelus!

I stand corrected. Honestly, I would have never guessed that that was a genuine datewheel. I think I am influenced by sort of a "crown effect" -- the thicker, the better. Thanks for the explaination, and double congrats now!

This is the 2nd PAM w/ Angelus movement that I see in just a few days! I can't stand it! I want one too!

D, that watch is so awesome that now you absolutely have to do something to that datewheel! I suppose you already saw the effect of an Archibald sticker on my 090 (this cyclops was a little overpowered, please look at the DW font only): You should definitely persuade Archibald to print a few more of his stickers. And, btw, if you happen to be successful at it, please tell him to send me a few too. How did you/The Zigmeister manage to have the date quick change at the crown???

Awesome result, TJ! Very glad I happened to take an even minor part in it. Absolutely, the watch completely changed its face. It's not just a matter of readability (even if that alone would be enough), also the aesthetic effect is critical, IMHO. Now the dial is well balanced, the hands go good together, everything looks as a whole. Always amazing how great a difference a tiny detail can make. Also congrats on your first modding action. With so few tools! I think I can feel your satisfaction. I am constantly excited any time I start a modding (most likely because I end up by ruining half the pieces I put my hands on, so the final outcome is always a thrill ). And when it ends up in a good work, then wearing and enjoying the result is an appointment for good. Just be warned that the modding bug bytes hard almost as the rep bug. Well done my friend, M.

We nuts are here to help anyone else to go nuts themselves.

I contacted Jakub in August to get a few crystals coated, most of them mineral. He said he had a project running for AR coat on glass as good as on sapphire, and he asked if I could wait for the outcome of his tests. If he wanted to scam, he could just reply "sure, send me the crystals". Ok, a few crystals are just a few bucks, not like a whole watch, but then he might simply not reply my message. I think Jakub is a standup guy and he is encountering some major difficulties of some kind.

My spam filter might have deleted your reply out? I am going to kill it right now!

Those numbers are just C1 superluminova color, the way they look is very dependent on the pic. Also the CG looks different on different pics -- so different to make me even wonder whether different 164 series have differently shaped CG. All in all, DSN CG does not look so bad to me. His crown does.

I agree with stormtrooper: poor date mag & font, and crown a bit too off the case. I would also add I am unsure that the dial is anthracite like the gen, it looks pretty black. Also, the caseback is incorrect, and the cylops has a very evident double border. All in all, it might be decent value at that price though, especially if the dial is actually anthracite.

Awesome! Very close to 100%. I agree both on a perfect dial and a perfect crown if you will get them, but it is also a wonderful piece right now. Congrats!

Congrats, great watch and good mods!

Yes, and if the date in the watch you will get is like that in the pic, also a lello's DW. To make it perfect, also slightly lengthening the lume markers @9 and @3 (but I heard The Zigmeister is not doing it).

Ouch, now I am afraid I have an old/outdated email address of you. I sent to z*******o@yahoo.com. Did you change it along the last year? If yes, would you please PM me your new address? Thanks a lot!

I don't even know why I like your avatar so much... I am a fan of curly, dark-haired, big [censored], latina types...

Great! Mmmmhhh... thinking of it with AR...