what2

She might get one for 4th of July, had not thought of that... meant to be in my thread below

I remember seeing several topics on the best methods to create all those little scratches and marks for the old look. Can't find them, what are your favorite methods to give the appearance of decades of wear?

I had not looked at Pauls site, I like the 3-6-9 5513. Does the old "close enough for government work" fit in regards to that watch.

I am not worried about somebody asking me if it is a fake 5513, just like the look and trying to get close enough and be able to beat the cr$p out of it without wincing everytime I am mowing the lawn like I did when I had an original.

ok the first answer was kind of depressing, sounds more or less like it is impossible to get a trusty 5513 anywhere newr right, how about his 1680's, are they any closer to realistic?

I've more or less convinced myself to buy a trusty 5513.. I know it is not perfect but at least it has the basic look I am after until I mod it. I can coffee stain the dial and and hands, and bleach the insert. What needs to be done to the case, and is there anybody I can send it to? I am dangerous with a dremel. I realize a mwb is closer but I am not willing to spend the money. Or I am better off buying a different model and putting in a 5513 dial?

anybody still selling MBW's? I know Kent Parks can do some pretty good things with vintage Lume.

looking at the trusty 5513's, and I like the ones on the rivet bracelets... I want a vintage looking 5513 on a rivet bracelet that has an aged look. I can beat it up, and coffee ground age the dial and bleach the insert. But what watch to start with at a reasonable price? I have even bought gen 5513's in the past, but did not feel comfortable wearing them since it seems that any watch I wear gets beat.

So, if you were going to buy a 5513 rep to wear on a daily basis, that looks "close enough" to gen without a whole lot of work which would it be?

that is actually the watch I am after, the factory that prowatch, trusty (and most others it seems) use are out of those cases. Wondering if any other dealers might actually have some still "in stock."

looks as if even those are gone

many of the normal dealers show them for sale, only to reply no stock when checking with the factory. Anybody have a "secret" source, or something that does not drop ship, where I can get one? Not looking for an MBK, too think.

I have had the Pam111 version and the mbk, neither was prefect, the MBK in particular I thought was too thick. I am probably going to order another pam111, sold my other one and miss it

I used straight bleach, took a minute to realize that the paint was coming off, but "floating" above the surface. I touched to see why nothing was happening and my finger had a black spot from the insert.

now that is a set of instructions even I can follow... and to think my wife thought the new toaster oven was for her to use

oh she knows, she knows

sure, once I get it in the mail

instead I bought a gen vintage air king or precision and put an "aged" explorer 1 dial and handset into it... from what I have read they have the same case and movement? I bet there is a tudor from the same era that shares the case and movement that would be even cheaper, and the case would already be aged?

Am I on base with this?

and just think, when you were little I bet you got in trouble all the time for beating the #(@&* out of your toys.. who would have thought it would now be a valuable skill

came across some pictures by Kin Tan of an explorer 1 he aged, looked like it had spent the last 10 or so years in a cement mixed.. or the last 15 minutes being played with by my 4 year old. All beat up, can hardly the see the almost decrepit looking dial through the glazed, scratched almost opaque crystal and the riveted bracelet looked like it was held together mainly by the dirt, sweat, and gook you would assume is inside it from years of wearing. Naturally I cannot get this beauty out of my mind and now want one just like it.

The point of this rambling is which rep would I best choose to start as the base watch? Thanks

I was thinking the same thing about the tube these are the crowns I was trying

thinking that the case end of the tube can be turned smaller

I will post more pictures after it arrives, but my understanding is that it is an early MBK no crown sub case.

the problem with the 8mm crown was that the tube was too big in diameter to work with the case even if the case was tapped to fit. Basically the crown I bought came with a tube that was too large on the case end. I should have both the case and the tube in the next week or so. I am thinking that if the case end of the tube was turned smaller and threaded, hopefully to the same diameter and thread size as the case, then it might be able to fit.

was more interested in the look than absolute authenticity. MBK case, serviced replacement ETA movement, vintage lume, new seals and a pressure test so that I can wear it the beach.

I tried to get a 8mm crown installed but the tube would not fit in the case.

What2, with all due respect, "I will check on it for you" is a vaild reply. Most dealers probably do not know all the specific about all the watches they sell . I personally appreciate an honest "I will check on it for you" as opposed to a quick and possibly uniformed answer. For me, the test would be...does the seller actually get back to me in a timely manner, with an honestly researched question.

my question was can I get the hands and dial in the same color lume, 3 times over the last 3 weeks and no answer.

I want to order the 6538, but I cannot get a response from Eurotimez on a pretty simple question about the hands, all I get are "I will check on it for you."

Just noticed this model over the weekend, any chance there is a happy owner out there who can share the dimensions? I am wondering if it is closer to the 37mm wide of the original, or the 40mm of the rest of the no crown sub reps out there?

Any comments on the quality of the bracelet would be great too.. am I correct in assuming that the MBK bracelets are higher quality just like the rest of the watch?